Mount Stewart Structure

I have received an interesting message and photographs from a reader who visited the site adjacent to the former swimming-pool at Mount Stewart estate recently:-

     "There is a long pond running along the inland side and the floor of the building is under water, making me wonder if it wasn't some sort of boat house, but there were no doors big enough to support this theory."

     "I was able to get a look in through a window this time and was amazed to see a vaulted ceiling with quite good brickwork. Upon exploring the other end I found what was left of some ornate stonework."

     "I am now drawn to the conclusion that it might have been some sort of "Ice House", and that the stairs and stone columns may have been added at a later time than the original building, turning it into some sort of summer house with views over the lough."

     "As if this wasn't enough, I also spotted another building that was built on stilts at the most northerly corner of this strip of land."

     "However this one had a more military look about it. It was built of red brick and looked like some sort of observation platform, perhaps related to Ards airfield or something. But it just adds another bit of interest to this area for me."

     "I would be most grateful if you could use a few of your contacts to find an answer to the mystery buildings for me."

Princely Breakfast

Never one to be found wanting in the race for the food-trough, Timothy Belmont has been amused by a piece in today's Daily Telegraph about the Cambridges, who stayed the night at The Crown in Westleton, near Southwold, Suffolk, enjoying a glass of champagne on arrival with friends.

I relish a full English breakfast, second only to the highly esteemed Ulster Fry. The traditional British Breakfast is a national institution of which we ought to enjoy a degree of pride.

Do not get me wrong, readers. I indulge in such feasts only occasionally.

     "Even those of us who do not usually have a proper cooked breakfast – and statistics put it at more than 90 per cent – change our behaviour when staying at a B&B. It’s “Full English” then. 

So it was no surprise when The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, staying at a nice old pub near Southwold after the wedding of some friends, enjoyed bacon and eggs the next morning. 

In fact, this was restrained of them, for they could have claimed a plate piled with bacon, eggs, sausages, black pudding, tomatoes, fried bread, mushrooms, baked beans and sautéed potatoes. Or there were kippers, a challenging morning menu. 

Perhaps Prince William is used to such breakfasts in the officers’ mess. It is hard to think Her Royal Highness tucks in daily. 

Like the Royal family, the English breakfast is a benign survivor from history. For us commoners, acquaintance with either is welcome but rare."

HM Royal Marines

I was listening to the radio a mere five minutes ago and heard a most beautiful rendition of the hymn, Eternal Father (For Those In Peril On The Sea), by the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines.

Such a haunting tune, played with such pathos by one of the finest military bands.

Town Foray

I cycled into town for a spot of research at the Linenhall Library this morning. Unusually, a fire alarm was sounding and everybody was required to evacuate the premises.

While I waited outside, at Donegall Square North, I admired the top of the Scottish Provident Building, one of Belfast's finest late-Victorian edifices.

Opened in 1902, its six-storey Glasgow sandstone façade contains four panels reflecting Belfast's industrious roots of shipbuilding, printing, rope-making and spinning.

Dolphins, sphinxes, lions' and queens' heads, and yet more carved heads denoting England, India, Canada, Sudan, Ireland and Scotland, can also be spied on its exquisite Edwardian exterior. 

Back in Business

The BT technician has come and gone. The fault was at their end, viz. the Stormont Exchange. I'm getting a fair 4.49 mbps speed at present.

Now I shall write a letter to the Customer Service Director.

Still No Broadband

Timothy Belmont remains without the broadband connection, reliant on BT Fon (a connection from another BT customer). I do the best I can with the means available. In the interim, I await a BT technician.

BT Complaint

About time British Telecommunications plc pulled their socks up and looked after their long-standing customers.

I am still without BT Broadband, after thirty-six hours. They are sending a technician to Belmont GHQ tomorrow morning, not without warning me that the privilege will cost me £100, if the fault is not at their end.

My draft so far:-

I should begin by explaining that I have been a BT customer for very many years indeed. This household has had BT services since 1962.

On Monday morning, 30th April, 2012, I turned on my computer as usual. I have a BT Home Hub 2.0. The lights were a steady blue, except the broadband light, which as flashing yellow.

I phoned BT  and reported this. I was advised to unplug and re-plug in various sockets, which I duly did. I took the hub to the master socket, where I unscrewed it and attempted to get it to function, in vain.

The adviser told me that the fault would be reported to the technical department and I’d receive a phone-call. I was called and told that they would phone me on Tuesday morning, 1st May.

At some inconvenience, I waited at home on Tuesday morning till 12 noon and there was no call, so I spent about 40 minutes waiting on the phone in order to speak to another adviser, who apologised and agreed that I should have been phoned back on Tuesday.

I was advised to go through more checks, including unscrewing the master socket; then I was told that an technician would call on Wednesday morning, 2nd May. Furthermore, I was politely warned that if the fault was at my end, I would be charged £100.

I have been without Bt Broadband for... to be finalized.