Le Scaphandre et le Papillon

Writing about http://imdb.com/title/tt0401383/ and http://www.lescaphandre-lefilm.com/

I am not articulate enough to express how I felt about this film, other than to urge you all to go and see it (with plenty of tissues and a strong stomach).  A huge thank you to Paul & Sarah who took us to see it at the gorgeous Queen’s Film Theatre.

Filed under: Belfast, Films, Friends, Holiday, Shopping

The Crown, Fries and Crawfordsburn

It’s been a bit busy at work what with one thing and another
recently. I think I now understand a bit when people say “Oh, I’m too
busy to keep a blog.” I’ve always been adamant that writing a blog
entry takes no longer than sending an email – but I think actually it’s
about finding the headspace to think things through rather than finding
the time to write things down.

Anyway…

I ridiculously forgot to pack my camera when Himself and I went to visit P and S for a long weekend last weekend.

(Happy 30th P – and thank you both for having us should you chance across this blog entry.)

It was a weekend of revelation – I never knew that Northern Ireland was so pretty.

Crawfordsburn Country Park was a poem of different shades of golden
leaves on your right and rocky searing blue cormarent-covered sea on
the left. (See other people’s pictures of the waterfall and the beach and the viaduct)

Holywood was picture-postcard material with its own maypole and bagging a snug in the National Trust-owned Crown Bar for an entire evening with P’s family and friends was perfect.*

Best of all though I was introduced to the “Ulster Fry” – this
really is a fry-up with gilded knobs on! It was, in my first experience:

• Eggs (however you like them)
• Grilled Tomatoes
• Mushrooms cooked in butter
• Steak sausages with cracked pepper
• Bacon
• Vegetable
  Roll – absolutely unique – it’s a big roll of spiced sausage meat with
  spring onions (never seen any other vegetable in its life)
• Soda Farls
• Potato Farls
• Scotch Pancakes

The last three, in Northern Ireland, all come in a special “Fry
Pack” from Tescos – 2 of each. I’ll be starting immediately to campaign
that that genius concept is brought over here.

And just to be really utterly greedy I’d probably add white and black pudding!

Finally, I’m reliably informed that in some places in Scotland a
kind of a fried malt loaf slice is also added. Does anyone know any
more about this? (Just to complete my study into hangover heart-attacks
on a plate!)

^{*You can read even more about the Crown Bar and its history at www.thecrownbar.com}

Filed under: Belfast, Food, Friends, Holiday