Blog Listings

Merely a timely reminder to new readers that I have many categories on the left-hand side of my blog, including an index of hereditary peers in Northern Ireland; baronetcies, both extant and extinct; major country houses, listed in a county basis, including lineages for their owners.

Most of my country house articles pertain to my native Northern Ireland; though I am currently adding many from the Republic of Ireland's counties.

I also have current lists of Lord-Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants in Northern Ireland; Honorary Burgesses of the City of Belfast; Illustrious Families and their lineages; and selective Belfast buildings and heritage, including Belfast castles.

Fuerteventura: XIV

I dined at La Taberna last night, with one of my friends from County Westmeath. Juan, the proprietor, was absent due to an important engagement (The Real Madrid soccer match!).

Nevertheless, the staff recognised me and suggested a good table at the window. As I intimated on a previous post, customers are afforded considerable courtesy at this fine little place.

The cutlery gleams; table-cloths are spotless; cloth napkins are used; and, not least, service is friendly and respectful.

During our meal, the waitress approached me to apprise me of a personal message from Juan himself, sending his compliments.

As was customary, very fresh, warmed, bread rolls were offered with their sublime alioli.

We ordered a bottle of Spanish white wine.

Cognizant that steak is a speciality at La Taberna, I ordered the beef fillet in Roquefort sauce. My partner chose the Beef Stroganoff.

My steak was medium-rare and completely lean - not one morsel of fat. It was served with thinly-cut saute game chips and their signature ramekin of home-made coleslaw.

We were given some complimentary Ron Miel liqueur prior to our departure.

Fuerteventura: XIII

Fool, Belmont! I have suffered a modest spot of sun-burn on top of my head, having spent yesterday afternoon with my friends, enjoying a few glasses of white wine at a pavement cafe.

I possess every conceivable kind of hat for most occasions. I have a rather fine, foldable Panama hat which I could have brought with me.

Next time I spend an hour or two in a similar situation, I must resort to wearing a cheap Bandanna I brought with me for the beach.


THIS EVENING I am dining with my County Westmeath friends at a favourite restaurant of mine, La Taberna.

Juan always treats his customers like royalty, so I look forward to introducing my friends to his restaurant.

Fuerteventura: XII

An absolutely remarkable coincidence occurred today: At about noon, I encountered my dear pals from County Westmeath, whom I had met about eighteen months ago on Fuerteventura.

I waa strolling past Music Square, when I heard my name exclaimed..

My friends were enjoying a San Valentin and some carrot cake; hence I joined them and, despite my pledge not to have any alcohol today, imbibed their tipple.

I told them about Michael Portillo's Great British Railway Journeys

We enjoyed a great chin-wag: I recounted my delight at meeting them.
 
After several more glasses of wine, we agreed to meet at La Taberna on Tuesday evening for dinner.

Railways Future

I have read that there is to be a public consultation on the future network infrastructure and development of railways in Northern Ireland.

I am generally enthusiastic and in favour of the re-establishment of former railway lines, where the track-bed remains.

I believe that, in 2008, an independent proposal was suggested to Translink for a £460 million expansion of the network called Northern Ireland Network Enhancement (NINE).

This proposed the re-introduction of the network to several towns that have not had access to rail services for many years.

The main part of the proposal was that the Londonderry-Portadown line be re-opened, which would link Omagh, Strabane and Dungannon with branches to Enniskillen and Armagh.

In addition, this plan would see the re-introduction of services into the centre of Newry through a short spur from Goraghwood; and the introduction of the long-proposed rail link to Belfast International Airport via the Lisburn-Antrim line.

It is a pity that the Belfast-Newcastle line cannot, presumably, be re-instated. Do any readers know how much, or to what extent, the track-bed remains on this line?

Fuerteventura: XI

Yesterday proved to be an eventful day for Timothy Belmont. I decided to take the bus to El Cotillo, a fishing village round the coast from Corralejo.

I have a plastic bus card for this service, so I duly boarded at Corralejo for the ten o'clock service.

It's not possible, in my experience, to know exactly what the balance is on the island's bus cards, since there is no paper ticket issued.

I arrived at El Cotillo at about ten-forty and walked in a northerly direction towards the lovely little beach, where there is a beach-bar called La Concha.

As I unpacked my towel, pillow and sun-cream from the bag, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd forgotten to bring my little wallet, which contained my cash, key, EU health card and other bits & pieces.

This made me wonder ~ and hope ~ that I had an adequate balance on the bus-card to get me home.


IT SUBSEQUENTLY became very windy, so I packed up and left the beach in order to get the three o'clock bus back.

When I placed the card on the reader beside the driver, he pressed a few buttons and exclaimed " One euro". I had dreaded this moment. I tried to explain that I had no money, to no avail. The driver was adamant.

He got off the bus for a smoke, where I asked him what direction to take in order to walk back: "Walk? You go by the beach; it is fifteen kilometres".

I desperately asked a few passengers if they had a euro, a waste of time and effort.

I proceeded to walk, wearing my flip-flops, as best I could along the rugged coast. I trekked for miles, one hour and forty minutes. There was a rough track, no tarmacked road.

Eventually, a car approached me and a middle-aged couple slowed to speak. They were my saviours. I told them my story. It transpired that they were from Norway, staying very near me in Corralejo, close to the harbour.

"What a coincidence!" I exclaimed.

The distance back was certainly further than I'd imagined, and I intimated that I was very glad and grateful for their lift back.

The first thing I did, when I retrieved my money from my room, was to buy a box of chocolates (Cadbury, of course, given my nationality) for them. I immediately conveyed the choccies to their apartment and, again, expressed my appreciation.

So there you have it, dear readers: Never forget your wallet or purse. Or else.

Fuerteventura: X

The trusty old nose-bag was in overdrive last night for another grand nosh-up at The Temple, an oasis of culinary delight in central Corralejo.

John, originally from Belfast, capably runs and, indeed, is its proprietor.

I sat up at the bar counter, where I sipped a modest cola "light".

I was presented with the menu and ordered the stuffed chicken with vegetables. When it arrived, it was as tasty as usual, in its creamy sauce.

The dish of vegetables comprised whole baked potatoes, carrots and cauliflower.

Alas, I simply hadn't sufficient room for pudding; which is a shame, because the dessert menu includes cheesecakes, apple crumble and chocolate fudge cake.