live to be social...

Friday, Muriel and I had a fun outing. We stopped at a beautiful golf club for our lunch. I had scampi which was amazing and the most beautiful Pavlova I have ever seen. It is always so nice to have a good meal and to have the time to just chat with Muriel and others whom I have met here. This week I have two dinner invitations to look forward to doing the same thing with others from Fortwilliam and Macrory. After our lunch we braved the awful day and headed out to a butterfly farm, not all that far from Belfast. The greenhouse type room was a nice change from the cold of Belfast. We saw a decent amount of butterflies, and spent a while trying to get them to land on the oranges they had for you to use. We wandered through the bird room and laughed at the noise a tiny animal can make! The pictures, unfortunately didn't come out as clear as I had hoped, I guess I took them too close and since my screen is broken I can't check them until I upload them. It was a great thing to see, and not something I would have been to go to on my own because of the location. We got a cuppa afterwards in the tea room and chatted. Again, I am reminded that friendship crosses the generations.


Sadly, yesterday I failed to motivate myself in time to get down to St. Georges Market to find the new Texan who has a stall featuring proper BBQ, ya know, pulled pork to all those whom call grilling barbecuing, and Corn Muffins! I am even hoping for some sweet tea! I will be there next Saturday and will be sure to inform you if one of my very favorite Americanisms is being properly represented! Instead I spent the day doing some cleaning and organizing. The volunteers don't know how good they will have it! This house is immaculate! (WHAT happened to the messy Libby we used to know, you might ask... no explanation can be given, cleanliness is next to godliness! haha)

Last night, Michelle invited me out to dinner with her and her sister as kinda my birthday and my goodbye dinner from her parents. I was sad they didn't join us, but it was so thankful to them. They have been a wonderful family to know during my time here. I am sure to call down to their house for a cup of tea and to say thank you in person. We went to the Chester, up the Antrim Road, where I had one of the most beautiful meals I have had in Belfast! Duck spring rolls have got to be my most favorite starter in the whole world, with a close second at calamari. My main course was the surf and turf, which I have never before ordered in my life! I had a perfectly cooked medium rare steak, and Michelle, Clare, and Orla were both disgusted at the way I have it cooked. Over here, medium well to well done are the norm- AWFUL! For dessert- yes I know, I can't believe I ate dessert, it was painful- I had a wonderful strawberry cheesecake and I will let the presentation speak for itself:

We headed to the bar afterwards and had a great time. I met Michelle's new boyfriend, who is lovely, and a few more of her friends whom I have met before came to meet us. It was a great night, complete with second hand birthday balloons from a girl who was leaving and fun dance music. After church today I spent a long time trying to pump of the tires of our bikes, gave up, and settled for a walk with Alison. It is the first warm and perfectly sunny day we have seen in over 3 weeks! To walk in running shorts and a T-shirt was so nice! Sadly, I don't think its sticking around for too long : (


Tomorrow morning I start my two weeks with the summer scheme at the Vine Community Centre. I am looking forward to it and am sure to keep you posted on how it is going! Have a good week! Enjoy the heat for me!