HOME TOWN

I so admire the article that Clarissa McMaster wrote for the wonderful Ballymoney Times dated August 17^th.

It was entitled Ballymoney – The Cow Town World of Our Own.

Clarissa sums up the essence of the town and I can confirm that the goodwill extends to Dunaghy, Calhame and beyond.

The husband and I were born and bred in Portstewart. It was once the best place in the world for us.

But things changed as second home buyers who were out to make a killing and students attending the university moved in. Parts of the Port are derelict now, including our old house and the flats next to it in Sunset Park. When I was a kid we lived in Stuarts Gardens and it has been a derelict wreck for many years. Someone made a killing alright … they killed a lovely town

Ballymoney is our adopted home and we have been made extremely welcome.

Like all places there is the odd person who only looks out for themselves and takes advantage of others. Thankfully they are few and far between and are alienating themselves from the good folks. The bad’uns know who they are and so do I as I have had the misfortune to be at the sharp end of their nasty nature’s …

But the good peeps sure make up for the bad. I love going into the toon. And I love Andy and David bringing the post for Royal Mail and John and Liam bringing the store bought mail order stuff. The lovely John boy had a triple heart by-pass … Brutal. He looks fantastic, though I bet he was sick and sore for a long time. He is such a trooper. Liam always leaves my parcels in a safe place for me. No one could ask for better guys to bring their goodies (okay! Some bring bills as well but you can’t have it all rosy in the garden).

They make a huge difference to the lives of peeps that live alone in rural areas. But I don’t need to tell you that. You already know.

Now for a wee bit of gentle moaning.

Smurf and the husband and I went back to Coleraine for yet another Big Mac Meal. I miss you Burger King (even if they are cold when you get them). As I wasn’t hungry I brought my burger home. More on that subject later. There was this kid who was getting lots of drinks from the machine at the same time and she let one overflow and I alerted her. There was a big puddle and she splashed it on my boots. I really hate sticky. Next thing the mad kid makes off with our food and we have to grab it back. There is definitely a pattern emerging … we attract nuts! There is no two ways about it. It may not be me as the two hungry hounds are as mad as hatters.  

I packed up my burger and we rushed off to the Jet Centre to see Horrid Henry. It was really, really good fun. At the end I got up a boogied on down to the sound track. Smurf ran out a hide. HaHaHa …

It’s not only mums and dads who can embarrass their kids. Aunts can do it as well. TeeHee. The smurf and the husband and I are going bowling next. Watch this space because me knows it is going to be another memorable occasion. I once got my thumb stuck in a little bowling ball because the adult ones are too big and heavy for me