Museum Trip

Once Upon A Time, by Arlene McPadden

I visited the Ulster Museum briefly this afternoon.

Stranmillis Road was as busy as ever, so I drove across to College Gardens, almost opposite Deane's at Queen's restaurant.

There was an exhibition by the Royal Ulster Academy at the museum.

A painting of Paddy Mackie at Castle Espie, County Down, by Julian Friers particularly impressed me; as did an exhibit by Arlene McPadden.

Thereafter I went for a stroll at the University quarter.

Almost all of Upper Crescent is for sale or to let.

It's such a shame that the present owners allowed this fine terrace to deteriorate to such a degree.

Nevertheless, let us hope that new owners shall be more sympathetic to one of the city's finest terraces.

Princess Royal in Belfast

The Princess Royal, Patron, the Mary Peters Trust, accompanied by Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, attended a Fortieth Anniversary Dinner at City Hall, Donegall Square, Belfast, on Saturday, 28th November, 2015, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast (Mrs. Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle CBE).

Island Taggart Trip

I've spent the day with seven other National Trust volunteers on Island Taggart, one of the largest islands on Strangford Lough, County Down.

We met in Killyleagh and took the little boat from an old quay across to Taggart.

Today we were mainly gathering gorse and brambles for burning.

We have a new trolley cart. It is black, with collapsible sides, and can carry up to about 300 kilogrammes.

This cart, which has four pneumatic tyres, proved useful for the logs and tools.

I lunched on tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches today.

Judicial Damehoods

THE QUEEN has been pleased to approve that the honour of Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) be conferred on Siobhan Roisin Keegan QC and Denise Anne McBride QC, following their appointment as Justices of the High Court. 

The Hon Mrs Justice Keegan was called to the Bar in 1994 and took Silk in 2006. She was elected vice-chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, 2014.

The Hon Madam Justice McBride was called to the Bar in 1989 and took Silk in 2011. She was vice-chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, 2012-14.

Patrick Carlin VC

PRIVATE PATRICK CARLIN VC

Patrick Carlin was born in 1832 at Belfast. When he was about 26 years old, he served as a private soldier in 1st Battalion, The 13th Foot, later known as The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's).

In 1858, during the Indian Mutiny at Azumgurh, India, Private Carlin carried out the deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:

CITATION

The Commander-in-Chief in India directs that the undermentioned Soldier, of the 13th Foot, be presented, in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty, with a Medal of the Victoria Cross, for valour and daring in the field, viz.: Private Patrick Carlin, No 3611, of the 13th Foot, for rescuing, on the 6th of April, 1858, a wounded Naick of the 4th Madras Rifles, in the field of battle, after killing, with the Naick's sword, a mutineer sepoy, who fired at him whilst bearing off his wounded comrade on his shoulders.

Patrick Carlin died in the Belfast Union Infirmary on 11th May, 1895, and was buried in the Friar's Bush graveyard, Stranmillis Road, Belfast. There is no memorial.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Somerset Light Infantry Museum, Taunton, Somerset.

First published in May, 2013.

Yakety Sax!

Last night we had hoped to dine at Avenida restaurant, Corralejo, though it was fully booked by six forty-five and there was a queue.

Consequently, we opted instead to walk the short distance to Calle Iglesia, where the street band La Familia Flotante would be performing later.

My friends and I ate at an Italian street restaurant called, I think, El Burro Loco.

Corralejo has a large Italian community.

We all had pasta and the wine, a little Sicilian number, was dearer than the food.

I find that pasta tends to cool very rapidly if the plate or dish is not hot.

Don't tell me that scorching hot plates are banned for Health & Safety reasons!

At any rate the meal was perfectly satisfactory, as was the €22 bottle of white wine.

Thereafter we strolled up the street to the Bar Bouganville and found ringside seats or, to be more precise, rattan chairs, for the performance by La Familia Flotante.

This great band consists of saxophonist, guitarist, drummer, tom-tom player, and female singer.

The final piece is usually Yakety Sax, better known as the Benny Hill theme tune.

New DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

Mr Denis Desmond CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, has been pleased to appoint

MRS HELEN MARK DL

Limavady

County Londonderry

to be a Deputy Lieutenant of the said County, her Commission bearing date 29th October, 2015.