TREAT IN BELFAST

I had such I fantastic time on a jaunt to Belfast on Thursday September 8.

I walked into the Europa Hotel and got a room to die for. Thank you for booking me in Andrew.

The guys and gals in the Europa can’t do enough for guests. There was another Andy and Linda on the desk and they all seemed to be there round the clock.

As soon as I unpacked I headed over to The Crown (as you do). That’s the place Claire Bear and I went and that was the cause of us missing not one, but three trains.

I met this lovely guy who told me that the very best place to eat in Northern Ireland is Clenaghan’s in Moira. I am sure going to give that a try and bring the gourmet with me. Tim is either thinking about food, cooking up a feast, eating in or out or writing about food (the man makes my mouth water).

I then met Brain. He’s a local gentleman. Then another Brian and his babe wife Colleen from Vancouver who happened to be on a pub crawl. Talk about Craic!

I happened to say I have hay fever because I kept pulling my hankie out of my bra (no pockets) and I said it was SNOT funny. Well, they started singing songs such as … Tom Jones “It’s snot unusual to be loved by anyone” … and any other songs they could think of with not in so they could change the not to snot. Totally hilarious. Love you guys. Everyone at the bar was in fits.    

Bobby, who has had three strokes, hung his stick on the snug and did his level best to get his leg over me. You are a game boy. As I told you Bobby I am a lethal weapon. Part Black Widow.

Bobby’s lovely Grandson Michael was taking care of him until he met a beautiful Spanish girl from the Basque region. I did my “Hola, buenas noches como estas” what are you drinking? I seem to lack a little bit of cultural finesse. Michael Love Googled my Blog on his phone! I was well impressed.

Without Clare Bear I was able to make it back to the Europa without zigzagging across Great Victoria Street with a taxi bumper up my bum. And with helpful directions I found the Piano Bar. Aidan and Rory are wee honeys. After a Manhattan, some more fermented apple juice and a few Jack Daniels I was speaking fluent Spanish (or was it Swahili?).

I surprised myself by getting up for breakfast. Stephen is the best restaurant manager. Okay … so you sneaked up on me and I screamed but as it was only to tell me to get some orange juice in me the rest of the guests forgive you. Stephen says one needs vitamin C after a night in. Aidan #2 brought me a glass of juice.

The lads and lasses in the Causerie are wonderful. Talk about taking care of me. If you are a women travelling alone and land in Belfast the Europa is the place to stay. You will be safe and cared for.

After breakfast I sat down beside the fire and met Joe and his lovely wife Diane from Tennessee.

What a fantastic conversation. I could have talked to them all day.

I have a hankering now for Tennessee and the southern states of the USA. The weather is brutal in the US though. Uncle Bud keeps me up to date. I thought it was bad here with all the wind and rain and power failures. Wake up call … I need to stop moaning about our weather.

On Friday I say Barry McGuigan on the way upstairs and had to say hello. For one of the most famous boxers of all time and a bloody great singer to boot, Barry is the loveliest approachable guy. He sure has a handshake that I will never forget.  Dread to think what it was like getting the right, left, right hook from him.

Veronika got me a cure. Never ever eat a kebab at 4.00am. I thought I was going to die and had to cut my trip short and go home for the husband to hold my head while I barfed. Why did I not get room service?