A short break in Dundrum, County Down

June 9, 2025 ~ Ashley ~ 28 Comments

Two heads,
Surface near the quay;
Harbour seals.

We had a short break in Dundrum, County Down, staying in a fabulous apartment that overlooked the bay. We were a little unlucky not to have the warm sunny weather of the previous three weeks, however, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. There is a small supermarket and petrol station, a pub and a couple of restaurants and eateries! I shall add a couple of links at the bottom of the page.

Here are a few of the photos from our visit:

There’s a ruined castle to explore and some really wonderful walks around the area, Murlough National Nature Reserve being exceptional. There is also a Coastal Rowing Club; one of my photos shows a couple of boats being launched. Just a few miles south of the village is Newcastle with plenty of shops and places to eat.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/6345709?source_impression_id=p3_1749475035_P3OXqYmaL4EnlnNC

https://dundruminn.com/

https://www.tonnruray.com/

Donaghadee, again!

March 27, 2025March 28, 2025 ~ Ashley ~ 25 Comments

There is something about this County Down seaside town that keeps drawing us back! Perhaps it’s the history with its connections to Scotland, perhaps it’s just a great place to visit with its variety of little shops and places to eat; my wife’s Scottish DNA may have something to do with it! Whatever it is, we’re back again, this time for a couple of days. We stayed at a wonderful location, right on the front:

Five Star Luxury – Sleep by the Sea

We were able to find out about One Shore Street through the TrekNI website:

Home

I’m not a historian but here are some things that might interest readers with history on their minds:

There is an Anglo-Norman motte from the 12th century. It must have been great defensive site. There has been a permanent RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) station here since 1910. Grace Neill’s bar has been in existence since the 17th century although it began under a different name. We had a wonderful meal there. Here is a link to its website:

Home

Here are a few photos from our short visit to Donaghadee:

We chose to walk along the path south towards Millisle. Looking back to the lighthouse was a completely different view. We met and chatted to lots of friendly people, many with dogs getting their daily exercise.

Perhaps this is where we should have returned to, 20 years ago! On our day of leaving, the temperature dropped and it felt like winter once again (come on Spring!) Nevertheless, what a great visit.

Ashley

February 2025

February 1, 2025January 28, 2025 ~ Ashley ~ 69 Comments

February;
Springtime brings the light,
And hope.

Green tongues,
Sense the growing light;
New shoots.

Mid way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox is Imbolc, a pagan festival of renewal; I read that in Old Irish the term means “the belly of the Mother” (Earth). In Christianity this time is known as Candlemas, also a time of renewal and the returning light. The earth is stirring from the cold of winter, plants are beginning to grow and since the Winter Solstice in December, the days are perceptibly longer.

All my photos were taken at Rowallane, near Saintfield, County Down. It was a day for hat and gloves but every now and then the sun shone brightly. As we entered the walled garden we could see the work already done by the many volunteers who joyfully tend these borders. Whilst there were few flowers there was one exception, Daphne bholua “Alba” (see my first photo). This shrub was covered in wonderful little flowers and in this walled garden the scent was heavenly. If there had been a seat close by we might still be sitting there!

Have a wonderful Spring.

Ashley

#Note: WordPress have once again made changes, resulting in me not adding as many photos as usual and I found it very frustrating producing this blog. I know of one or two others who’ve had similar difficulties.

#Note: my email notifications were filled by someone “liking” many of my posts and as usual WP asks if I’d like to check out this other persons blog which I did and I was taken to a website that shows my blogs but on someone else’s page! Beware of SPAM!

More drawing – week 2

October 13, 2024 ~ Ashley ~ 37 Comments

20241006_133503

You may remember that last week I had my Covid booster and winter flu jab, at the same time. Well, below is how I felt that evening and for the next couple of days. Not ill, but every joint and muscle from head to toe was sore! How I managed to do the morning after drawing, I now cannot tell.

I suppose that after my inoculations the following chicken-scratch of a sketch was inevitable!

Then, there was a day out to the coast and everywhere I looked among the drumlins of County Down, there was a ploughed field. It’s a scene I love: neatly ploughed fields after harvest time, showing the beautiful brown earth.

Here are some more patterns. Perhaps I’m expressing an inner textile designer. Too late to consider that career now.

Finally, Saturday arrived and I paid a visit to the green woodworking club that I belong to. It’s been a couple of months since I last attended, so it was a great morning of socialising around a big camp fire. I took another batch of books to pass on, no charge, and I only returned home with one unwanted book. That I’ll add to another boxful to take to a charity shop.

Whilst there, I discussed how to do some spiral carving, hence my final drawings. I have a couple of walking sticks I made that I want to put some carving on. I like the idea of a spiral hand grip on a staff. There were some new members at the club and one of them was making a longbow! That sparked a conversation that took me back to my days as an archer. Making bows and arrows was my thing for many years, although only one longbow was a success. Scratch the surface and I’m still a toxopholite!

Here’s hoping I can keep up with my drawing. Little and often is how I’m approaching it. I don’t want to frighten the creative drive away as has happened before. I have no plans to paint a masterpiece just yet.

Have a great week.

Ashley