Valete: Mollie

A most affectionate little cat called Mollie, who visited our garden frequently and played there, was hit by a vehicle on our road at about nine-thirty this morning and died. I didn't know till I saw several passers-by stopped at the scene.

The driver who hit Mollie didn't bother to stop.

I cannot believe how upset I am; I did become very fond of Mollie though. I shall miss her.

Our neighbour has contacted the owners and left a note; and I have covered Mollie with a tarpaulin in our garden.

Countrywise In NI

Did anyone watch ITV1's excellent Countrywise series from Northern Ireland this evening? It was broadcast at 7.30.

Tonight Lough Erne and its environs featured, including articles about the coastguard, RNLI and Belleek Pottery.

From County Fermanagh the programme ventured in a north-easterly direction to Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland's largest off-shore island. The multi-talented Liam McFaul, who has five jobs on the island, explained his roles as a coastguard, fireman, fisherman, farmer and wildlife warden.

The Manor House, Rathlin

The Manor House at Rathlin Island was home to the Gage family for over 200 years. The last member of the family to live there was Brigadier Rex Gage, CBE, MC, who died in 1973. I understand that the Gage family left the house in 1975, but still spend holidays on the island at the Old Glebe House. The Gages added a walled garden, other walled enclosures, a corn mill, a boat-house and a kelp store.

The Reverend John Gage bought Rathlin Island from Lord Antrim in 1746 at a cost of £1,750.

Mark Bence-Jones describes the Manor House accurately as a long, low range of buildings on the water-front of Church Bay; incorporating work-rooms for weavers which were built in the 1760s by Robert Gage, former cottages and a two-storey, six-bay late-Georgian house. The house is entered by a porch at one end - and at the extreme left-hand end of the whole long range - with a doorway of rusticated quoins surmounted by an oculus, or oeil de boeuf.

Various additions were made in 1816; a stone archway was built in 1819; and still further additions in 1831. Some of the rooms have Victorian marble chimney-pieces.

After 1975, the manor-house lay vacant and derelict for a period till it was restored by the Rathlin Island Trust. Following his rescue off the coast of Rathlin on his hot-air balloon in 1987, Sir Richard Branson generously donated £25,000 to the Rathlin Island Trust towards the restoration. The National Trust acquired the Manor House in 1998 and it opened as a guest-house shortly thereafter.

I still have a pamphlet about the guest-house dating from 1998 and a single, en suite bedroom cost £26 for bed and breakfast then. The price, eleven years later, is £40. C'est la vie.

Addendum: A single bedroom can be reserved in 2009 for £35 per night, including breakfast.

Rathlin Ahoy!

I have reserved two nights' bed and breakfast at the Manor House on Rathlin Island in thirteen days time. Just to be on the safe side, I booked a place on the ferry too.

Rathlin Island's closest town is Ballycastle in County Antrim. We have visited the island before, on a day trip. We had a snack lunch at McCuaig's Bar.

I hope to hire a cycle and tour the island by that means.

The Manor house is owned by the National Trust.

Lunch At Muriel's

Who, in Belfast, sells Lacoste polo shirts? There was no sign of them in the House of Fraser or Debenham's stores. I've a feeling there used to be an outfitter's shop at Lisburn Road who sold them ages ago. Warnock's! That's the place.

I cycled here and there on my bike, which is quite an advantage if you can be bothered; it instills a feeling of freedom, and there is no concern about car-parking.

At about ten past twelve I parked the cycle at Muriel's Café-Bar in Church Lane, perused the menu outside and tentatively walked in. It was still quiet, being early. I inquired if the room upstairs was open; so wandered up to have a look. Muriel's is rather Bohemian in character, the first-floor lounge-bar more akin to a Parisian salon. There are velour-cushioned, coloured sofas and arm-chairs; so it's really quite flamboyant.

My initial impressions were slightly negative, because none of the staff came near me for ten minutes. In fact I decided to sit downstairs. I found a table at the rear and sat down with a menu. I was just about to walk out when a member of staff approached me and took my order, bangers and mash accompanied by Martin Miller's gin and Fevertree tonic: quite a concoction altogether.

While I waited, I had an opportunity to study the surroundings: three or four tables; six customers seated and one on a bar-stool; washing lines suspended from the ceiling with women's knickers and thongs (all freshly laundered, no doubt) on clothes-pegs; old photographs attached to the ceiling horizontally; display cabinets with items of millinery (was Muriel a milliner?); and a sort of parquet floor.

One good point is that the bar is well stocked with premium spirits. My Miller's gin cost £3.60; however, the Fevertree tonic-water set me back a whopping £2.70! The bangers and mash came to me suspiciously swiftly. Surely the meal must have been re-heated? What was it like? It was like bangers and mash, no more and no less. It cost £7.50.

I think Muriel's would be a lounge-bar to consider for a few drinks now and again. It's certainly not a run-of-the-mill establishment by any stretch of the imagination.

I cycled home via Mersey Street, which was not an agreeable experience given the uneven surface, pot-holes and humps courtesy of the Roads Disservice.

Contact Lens Trial

I cycled to my optician this morning in order to have a new contact lens fitting and trial. They are daily disposable lenses - Coopervision toric. I'm attracted to the idea that I could wear them occasionally, when it suits me.

I tried the monthly contact lenses almost exactly two years ago and didn't go ahead because I sustained a nasty cut whilst chopping an onion at home, wearing the lenses.

That has been the major snag for me: I need to wear reading glasses - not just to read, but for near sight - when I'm wearing contact lenses. I think it comes with age! I'm wearing reading spectacles as I tap away on this very key-board.

So it's a compromise; and that's why I'd get daily disposables, just to use occasionally. I shall even attempt to squeeze two days out of them by storing them in a case with solution overnight. Hygiene is, needless to say, of paramount importance.

There'd be no harm in buying an initial supply from them and also ensuring that I get the contact lens prescription. They checked my eyes and that cost £17.

Prince William, Barrister

In what has become an honorary and traditional appointment, Prince William has become a Royal Bencher at the Middle Temple in the City of London.

HRH has assured us that he shan't practice, except for the odd speeding ticket!