Good Morning Belfast

Did you wake up with the birds this morning? I did, the only problem is that as the light gets earlier and earlier so do I which is a bit of a pain when it gets light at 4 o'clock in the morning hay we shall see, that's what black out curtains are for.

Have you ever been to mount Stewart? I went down on Saturday and it really is a little piece of paradise on the edges of Strangford Lough, simply beautiful. They are having a dawn chorus walk later in the month but you have to be there for 4.30. Would anyone with a hangover be able to do that ? maybe if they never went to sleep?? But it was beautiful ............

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-mountstewart

If you have never been you should go as it simply gives you a shapshot of Northern Ieland history what it was like for the landed gentry and the minister of defense for the UK during the second world war, Winston Churchill used to come and stay to get away from it all, now you know why Newtownards has an airport. It was the only way the minister could get back and forward from London. I wonder if Peter Robinson is thinking of getting one installed in Castlereagh??? I noticed in the Sunday Times at the weekend he is sticking to the programme for government even though it was based on selling off land revenues and money from the UK that has not materilaised ?? Maybe with the £600,000 odd it costs to the tax payer to keep him and his lovely wife Iris in the manner that they are accustomed too he doesnt realise just what it takes to budget in a time of economic crisis. Not bad for a couple of people who went to Castlereagh tech???

Sorry back to Mount Stewart, a lovely day out and there is a tea room,(always important) and something new they have is a webcam which is out in a hatching next in Strangford lough where you can see over the next few weeks some of the local wildlife coming forth. Having a look in the shop there I could not help thinking it would be nice to see some more local producers selling their wares, the problems with it being National Trust is there is a central purchasing policy which means little oportunity for local producers, if only everyone thought of sustainability issues, sorry there I go again.............. anyway have a good week, be nice to people. Ive got a busy week and I'm off to an Art Fair in Scotland later in the week