Forgotten Photographs.

In 2010 we attended the Belfast Chilli festival and one particular stall caught our attention. It was a vintage stall. The first item my husband fell in love with, was a 5ft replica of a gold Oscar. Nice piece but we just didn't have the room in our semi detached house!

Moving on, we came across a large box of black and white photographs and almost immediately one photograph caught my attention. 


       





I have very little information regarding this photograph. I am guessing it was taken in the 1940's, note the prefab homes in the background. I was told that it came from a house clearance in Belfast. I love the boy's Christmas style jumper, the wrinkles in his shorts. The dog's smile and eyebrows are delightful.


The second photograph to catch my attention is this one. Four children and a female on a beach on what looks like a cold and windy day. The children still have their socks rolled down though.








So where was this taken, who are these people in the pictures? Why are they not displayed in a family album for future generations to enjoy, who gave them away, was it a family member or the photographer?

Both photographs have Crown Copyright Reserved on the back with A and M on either side of a crown.

I would love to know who these people are and would, if required, reluctantly return the photographs to their rightful owners. Anyone with any suggestions,  please leave a comment below.
Until then, I will continue to enjoy appreciate the importance of my grandfather writing the date and place on the back of photographs.  

Lyn and Fiona, Ballintoy July 14th 1975

 

Spare Time

I Love Yer Ma, Belfast.

 www.gotobelfast.com

Thought I would do things differently this time and let you see some of my

favourite photographs which I have taken over the years.

The shop above is a vintage shop in Belfast and my husband spotted

the t-shirt in the window.

Portstewart Strand. Co.Londonderry. N.Ireland

 www.northcoastni.com/

Beautiful Portstewart, is where we like to stay and this was taken 

this year on a late summer's evening walk.

Mijas, Spain.

www.andalucia.com/mijas/home.htm


I took this on Instagram during a local festival.

Africa, Taken from Gibraltar.

www.gibraltar.gov.uk/

Taken after a visit to see the monkeys on the rock.

Two's Company.

Another Instagram , couldn't believe my luck when the wasps landed.

Dolls.

My Children had been playing with these dolls in the garden.

I think they're still outside!

Pier, Marbella, Spain.

www.marbella-guide.com/


Instagram again , love the shadows.

A Pony Called Littlefoot, Fermanagh N.Ireland.

                      www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-cromestate

Taken about 5 years ago, my daughter still talks 

about this pony.

Mourne Mountains. Co.Down. N.Ireland

www.discovernorthernireland.com/Mournes


 Taken during a camping trip. This was our view.

Husband at Hare's Gap, Mourne Mountains, Co.Down. N.Ireland.

                                                    www.walkni.com/Walk 


                          Love this one of my husband taking in the scenery.

Portstewart Strand Co.Londonderry N.Ireland.

 www.northcoastni.com/


My eldest daughter playing in the sand.

Geocaching. 

www.geocaching.com/

Geocaching is a global treasure hunt,

go on look it up.

Crawfordsburn Beach nr Bangor. Co.Down

www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/crawfordsburn.shtml


A favourite beach of mine.

Flower Taken in Mount Stewart Co.Down

 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mountstewart/


Mount Stewart House and Gardens, well worth a visit.

Looking Out to Sea.

Taken at the weekend, out with mum and dad.

Wall at Brompton, Co.Down.

 www.bangor-countydown.co.uk/


Taken during the weekend walk, have walked past this wall so many times.

St.Annes's Square, Belfast.

 www.discovernorthernireland.com/The-Cathedral-Quarter-Belfast-A2


Discovered during Belfast Festival Culture Evening.


Thanks for looking.

A Wee Bit Of Culture Is All It Takes.

 I defy anyone raised in Northern Ireland to say that 'the Troubles' did not effect their childhood in some way and for me, now in my forty's, it is clear that a child growing up in Northern Ireland missed out on so much but my goodness how we are making up for lost time.
I recall as a child, in the 70's, we would occasionally venture into Belfast, mum needed her M&S fix even back then, bombs or no bombs. My parents were understandably cautious and we always had an emergency meeting point in case of a bomb scare and on several occasions this plan came into action. I still remember walking up the large ramp, waiting to be checked by the security personnel. I can still hear the sound of shoes clattering on the metal and have an image of a lady with an ample bosom taking, what I found, to be an unhealthy interest in the contents of my toy handbag.
Thankfully, my children of 7 and 10 are lucky enough instead to experience a warm and vibrant relationship with Belfast. A trip to St.George's Market to buy a large Smarties cookie whilst listening to some jazz is a favourite.
So when a friend posted on Facebook about Belfast Culture Night we thought we would give it ago. 
Cobble streets, lined with strings of fairy lights, magicians, curry popcorn, stilt walkers, circus schools, recording studios, fire eaters. Streets and places I did not know existed, St.Anne's Square in the thriving Cathedral Quarter where my children enjoyed the open space and the opportunity to create a colourful mask. 
St.Anne's Cathedral is more than a place of worship, it is steeped in history, bombed in the blitz and then in recent years, modernised to include a fabulous spire which from inside appears to have been stabbed through the cathedral roof.
More culture on Saturday night when I was lucky enough to attend The Aspects Irish Literature Festival in Bangor, Co.Down.
Duke Special performed with the help of his quirky instrumental companion, Chip.
Duke Special, who was born and bred in Northern Ireland entertained the crowd, linking his songs to literature and stopping occasionally to explain the link or to readjust his long dreadlocks. His performance was both witty and intimate. 
After the show I was lucky enough to catch a few words and get my photograph taken with the man himself.
What a truly cultured weekend.
P.S. Have X Factor on Sky+, I'm just so cultured!

Being Social.

I'm back! I've been lazy and selfish, consumed in free time, now that the kids are back to school and I have another excuse for my lack of blogging, Twitter.
This blog comes with a warning. DO NOT ENTER THE WORLD OF TWITTER. It causes messy kitchen floors, unbleached loos and worst of all contagious Tweeting sessions with complete strangers.
I used to be normal, Facebook and the odd packet of Doritos satisfied my cravings but instead, I now shamelessly follow celebs, arty farty dads and even worse, discontented mums.
It was my husband's idea.

Me, a moment without Twitter.

"Use Twitter to spread the word, improve your networking," he said and then something under his breath about the rising price of Doritos. 
So what have I gained from all this recent Tweeting? An offer to replace Sandi Toksvig as the columnist in Good Housekeeping, an article published in The Guardian maybe? No, instead rants from strangers about the world in general, the price of gas in N.Ireland and one very boring vlog (video blog) made by some wannabe fashion designer at London Fashion Week who arrived so late she had to film the whole thing from such a distance it should have been renamed Flee Fashion Week.
So have I put you off yet?
On the positive side though, you quickly realise that Alan Carr is funny all the time, even celebs lose luggage, other peoples kids throw up, Holly Bell from the Great British Bake Off bakes A LOT and hey, you can make cushions from yacht sails. I rest my case!