My favourite waste of time of Facebook….
I have to limit myself to 3 goes at breakfast time, and this has made me late for work on more than one occasion!
Filed under: gadgets, photo | Tagged: game facebook play | Leave a comment »
Photohunt Symbolic
Posted on March 10, 2012 by lindaharley
Belfast is certainly not short of examples of symbolism – flags, murals, peacewalls, painted kerbstones, they’re everywhere you look!
But in recent years there have been more positive changes. And one of the themes that Belfast has found to come together behind is the Titanic. Quite why a maritime disaster engenders such a response worldwide is a bit of a mystery, but the Belfast shipyard where she was built has realised rather late in the day that there is a tourism potential to be exploited.
The 100th anniversary of her launch was last year (31 May, my son’s birthday so I always remember it) but it is the 100th anniversary of the sinking in April which is being prepared for.
The area of the city around the shipyard has been named the Titanic Quarter, and this new visitors centre is almost ready to receive the hordes of tourists expected to visit.
It’s a stunning looking building: The 4 pointy corners represent the prows of the ships built here, and from above its a star shape for the White Star Line. The metal cladding reflects the light in such a way that it looks like shimmering water.
The race is on to have it completed in time for the anniversary on 12 April!
Filed under: buildings, photo | Tagged: photohunt, symbolic, titanic | 2 Comments »
Photohunt Drop
Posted on March 3, 2012 by lindaharley
Why do we use the word “drop” meaning to go down a couple of dress sizes? And why is it a “dress” size?
I’m a real bargain hunter, especially when it comes to clothes – I can smell a sale-rail at 30 paces. And of the reasons I fell in love with my husband was his theory that “sale rail bargains don’t count as shopping”
I found a fabulous pair of jeans in a “pop-up shop this week – it took me several goes to find the shop open at a time that I was passing, but my patience was rewarded with a brand new pair of Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, price tag showing original price of £150, for a tenner. And the size? A 4.
Now, they do promise to make you look a size smaller. And they are skin tight. And that’s an 8 in UK sizes. And they’re sort of stretchy, like jeggings rather than stiff denim.
But I cannot wipe the smile off my face. This time 18 months ago, my trousers were a UK size 16.
Filed under: relationships | Tagged: diet, drop, jeans, photohunt | Leave a comment »
Photohunt Loud
Posted on February 25, 2012 by lindaharley
A bunch of mikes being used at a works do in the Europa Hotel.
And some very loud patterned carpet.
Filed under: photo | Tagged: loud, microphones, photohunt, stage | 3 Comments »
Quinoa salad
Posted on February 19, 2012 by lindaharley
Cook a cup of quinoa, in water or stock.
Take one large or 2 small courgettes, and cut into rounds. Lightly oil a griddle pan, and cook the courgette rounds so that they get lovely stripes on each side.
In a dry frying pan, toast a handful of pine-nuts.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, crumble some feta cheese into it, and add dressing of your choice.
I used a balsamic dressing, which was probably a bit strong – lemon juice would be nicer.
I think it could be made more attractive – maybe some halved cherry tomatoes would make it more colourful.
Filed under: Food | Tagged: courgette, quinoa, recipe | Leave a comment »
Photohunt Point
Posted on February 18, 2012 by lindaharley
This is the new Peace Bridge in my home city, Derry. The picture was taken a few weeks before its official opening.
It’s a curving S-shape, representing the road to peace which isn’t a straight line. And it connects the mainly nationalist city side of the River Foyle with the mainly loyalist waterside. It goes from beside the Guidlhall, scene of some of my earliest dancing performances, to a new peace park in the grounds of a former army barracks.
As well as having lovely pointy support spires, I’m amused by the fact that the word point is close to pont, French for bridge.
Filed under: photo | Tagged: bridge, Derry, peace, point | 1 Comment »
Photohunt Heart
Posted on February 11, 2012 by lindaharley
I had wanted to put a photo of my husband’s chest scar, after his recent heart surgery, but he wouldn’t let me unleash that on the internet!
While he was in hospital, they recommended that he take off all jewellery. So I wore his wedding rings around my neck, symbolically next to my heart, while he was there.
It was a real comfort to have them so close to me – every time I missed him, or wanted to tell him something, I could just reach for the chain around my neck and give the rings a little caress.
Now, he did put them back on when he’d recovered and was out of ICU, but he took them off again for a final X-ray. And currently cant find them. The search continues, but in the meantime this photo is even more important than ever.
Filed under: photo, relationships, wedding | Tagged: heart, rings | 3 Comments »
Recipe: roast roots
Posted on February 8, 2012 by lindaharley
This is one of my favourite recipes – roast roots.
Dice some squash, sweet potato, and carrot (parsnip is good too)
Tuck in some herbs – rosemary and thyme work well. And some whole unpeeled cloves of garlic if that’s something you like. Season with black pepper and sea salt.
Toss in some oil – I used canola, but olive or sunflower would be fine.
Put in a roasting tray, and pop in the oven at about 180 degrees C for 30 mins, stirring half way through.
Add in some cubes of haloumi andchorizo.
Back in the oven for another 30 mins. Though this is very forgiving – another 10 mins while you finish cooking a slab of meat will not be a problem.
Serve.
Omit the chorizo for a vegetarian side dish. Blitz any leftovers with some stock for a winter soup, served with grated parmesan, or shards of parma ham crisped under the grill.
Filed under: Food | Tagged: chorizo, haloumi, squash, sweet potato | Leave a comment »
Photohunt Flat
Posted on February 4, 2012 by lindaharley
The weather this week has been bitterly cold – I know it has been severe across parts of Europe. One of the local indicators of temperature is the lake in Hillsborough forest. It was frozen this week, causing the many ducks and swans to waddle uncertainly across the slippery surface.
This is one of my most common dog-walking routes. And its popular with many locals, the car park is usually full, even on a mid-week morning! It was Mini’s first experience, and she seemed to enjoy it immensely.
Filed under: Lisburn, photo | Tagged: flat, frozen, Hillsborough, photohunt | 1 Comment »
Photohunt Fluffy
Posted on January 28, 2012 by lindaharley
Here’s baby dog, Minerva.
Compared to her big brother Max,, she’s decidedly fluffy! Weimaraners don’t take a lot of grooming, with their ultra short coats, but Mini’s had to have several baths, and be blow-dried with a hair dryer afterwards. My friend Marleen was enjoying making her hair stand up in a Mohawk 🙂
She’s starting puppy training class, and is a very good sitter. Now we’re working on recall, and walking nicely on a lead.
Filed under: Dogs, photo | Tagged: dogs, fluffy, photohunt | 1 Comment »
Dancing At Lunacy 