Our Family & Our Life

Dear Diary, Well, after a night of not-so-good sleep, we found out this morning. WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!!!!!!!! We'll just have to reschedule our trip to Tahiti that we would've loved to take from the profits. It's a sign of the economic times but we're happy, relieved and contented just getting it sold. BUT in Northern Ireland the closing process is different than in North America. Either side of the process can back out for any reason whatsoever until the Contract is signed. From my experience working in a law firm, this can be either 1-2 days before closing or even hours before closing! I am so relieved and thankful that we are 90% complete selling our house. We'll miss it, we really liked it and it's sentimental to us because it's our first house together. Here are a few photos that our realtor took just before we put it on the market a year ago: Yes, that was my granny car - 2002 Nissan Micra - don't laugh, it got me around and it was cheap

Dear Diary, As I mentioned yesterday, we went for a drive and walk around the coast at Ballygalley. It was a lovely afternoon, warm at 11 degrees but more importantly, no rain. Here are a few photos.... The above photo is of Stephen McIlwain and his two sons who we met on the beach. Stephen's family also attend our church and as you can see youngest son Ben is a bit of John Deere fan. Everything about him is John Deere right down to the baseball cap!!!! Too cute. There is a retriever in the above photo and the last time we checked he was half way to Scotland. This silly dog kept going and going and going, much like the Engerizer Bunny! Who said there were no polar bears in Northern Ireland?!?? I was contemplating life or was I watching the dog swim by? Hopefully the last photo of just the two of us!!! Yes, I wear Colin's oversized sweaters since not much else fits! 'Til next time, Heather and Colin

Dear Diary, Mom and Dad safely arrived in Belfast on the morning of 14th September for a two-week visit with us in Northern Ireland. After a days recovery from jet lag, we ladies did a bit of shopping in Larne town centre and the boys were sent away to Lisburn to watch Larne get beat by Lisburn Distillery. On Sunday, it was church and a quick vist with Colin's mom to say hello. We left for County Donegall on a very windy Monday morning and we made a few stops before reaching Mallin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland. The waves were huge in Castlerock Lunch break stop and photo session We eventually made it up to Mallin Head and if we thought it was windy back home, we weren't prepared for Mallin Head! The terrain is very rocky along the coast The hotel where we stayed for the night A roofless chapel in a valley We returned home late Tuesday afternoon, had dinner and Colin took Mom to the church hall to play bowls with the church team. According to the master

Dear Diary, We went to a Garden Show at Hillsborough Castle this past weekend. The world's largest rhododendrum plant is located at Hillsborough Castle (this isn't it). Colin, my navigator... There is not much new news although today we were in Manchester and to discuss the possibility of taking GPC to North America. Well, as it is now, Colin and I have been assigned to determine the scope of the market, if any. Before any commitments are made we are required to get at least 6 customers, or at least very interested customers, which would make the North American taxi market profitable. There is one in Chicago so we have five more to find before the end of next weekend. Hopefully, we won't have a problem but we'll start making more calls in earnest, tomorrow. As always, we'll keep you all informed. Hope all is well. With Christian greetings, Heather and Colin

Dear Diary, We enjoyed a lovely day off on Monday and these are the photos to prove it... Newcastle, County Down - about one hour south of Larne: We travelled along to a National Trust Site called Bloody Bridge: After we did a bit of hill walking at Bloody Bridge, we continued our coastal journey through a town called Annalong which had another spectacular view of the Mourne Mountains: As we drove we came across a site called the Silent Valley which were created to provide Belfast with water. As you can see, there was a massive slope just begging me to roll down, so I did but by the time I got to the bottom, the world wouldn't stop spinning... I recovered enough to watch the ducks and a ferret that was teasing them... Colin and I like to think we saved the ducklings from the ferret.. We had a great day together and it was nice break... If only we had another week... Til next time.. Enjoy the weather wherever you are... Heather