War on Ragwort

Today was spent at the southern-most tip of the Ards Peninsula, County Down, viz. Ballyquintin Point.

We all met at the old schoolhouse on Portaferry Road and proceeded by National Trust trucks to our destination.

Today we were uprooting the remaining ragwort in a field known as Spence's Field.

Although we only numbered about eight, we all managed to complete the task.

It was clement enough weather till lunchtime, when the rain arrived, so we had our packed lunches in a large barn.

Salmon and cucumber sandwiches were on the menu for self today.

Hans Sloane, 1660-1753

Should we, in Northern Ireland, not be even more proactive - viz. tourism and marketing authorities - in generating enthusiasm and knowledge about one of our greatest sons?

• Born at Killyleagh, County Down, in 1660 
• Lived in a thatched house close to Killyleagh Castle 
• Credited for introducing drinking chocolate to the British Isles 
• Founded the British Museum 
• Pre-eminent royal physician 
• President of the Royal Society 
• Baronet 
• Sloane Square, Hans Crescent and other places named after him.

I am, of course, alluding to Sir Hans Sloane Bt.

The Hans Sloane website contains a wealth of fascinating information about Sir Hans and his numerous accomplishments.

Let us rejoice and remind those whom we ever encounter at the British Museum that it was founded by an Ulsterman.

First published in September, 2011.

Divis Trek

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

I took it upon myself to motor up to the National Trust's Divis & Black Mountain, in the Belfast hills, this afternoon.

Light (!) showers were a possibility and, true enough, I managed to get saturated in the middle of nowhere.

I passed the Long Barn and Divis Lodge (below), before turning left onto a track which seemed to lead to Nowhere.

Half way along, there was a kind of construction site. Heavy platforms had been laid over the bogland to - you guessed it - Nowhere.

Later I was apprised that this is a film set.

Striding back to the car-park, it began to rain heavily. I was wearing a shirt, shorts, ankle socks and light walking boots, and a peaked cap.

I got soaked to the skin. Still, no harm done and all is well.

Clanbrassil Arms

An old illustration of the armorial bearings of Hamilton, Earl of Clanbrassil.

Erne Arms

A wonderful old illustration of the armorial bearings of the Earl of Erne, drawn ca 1884.

Mature Port

Can any readers suggest a port, vintage or otherwise, eminently suitable for laying down, for eighteen or twenty-one years?

Air Conditioning

Whilst out on the open roads in the two-seater last weekend, I turned on the air conditioning.

Despite turning the knob fully to its lowest setting, warm air blew out.

I asked a pal about this and he suggested that the air conditioning unit needed to be "gassed".

Consequently, I drove this morning to a local garage which specialises in such matters.

They plugged the air conditioning into a machine which does the requisite business, and after about twenty-five minutes Hey Presto! It was re-filled.

The problem for me was that this did not fix the problem. It continues to blow hot air.

If I wish the air conditioning to be fixed, I shall need to have the two-seater booked in again.

The "gassing" cost £50. I shudder to imagine what the next bill will be.


INCIDENTALLY, a rather flashy Bentley saloon passed me in County Fermanagh, on the road to Crom. It was a silvery grey, with the distinctive registration number "W1".