passages (through broken pathways): a family affair but also titled... "a guinness a day, makes for… well, a better day."

the reason why i visited ireland in the first place, was to spend time with my sister and brother-in-law, who live in belfast. they warmly welcomed me into their home, and let me store countless cans of guinness in their small fridge. of course, the beer never stayed in the fridge for very long. they also showed me the ropes to surviving in belfast. mainly how to cross the street and not get hit by a car. ah, the U.K. and driving on the left side of the road (more about that later). as street saavy as i think i might be, i still had difficulty navigating the street crossing and j-walking thing. but in the end, after a month there, i think i was finally 'getting' it… just in time to leave. the time i was able to spend with judy and leigh was wonderful, sometimes we all chilled, doing our own thing, sometimes we hung out and went for small trips to bangor to stay with leigh's mom in here lovely home, complete with 2 fireplaces to keep you warm while staying up all night processing photos (more about my photos later too!). my 45th birthday, was spent with judy and leigh. dinner at a nice restaurant called shed. and some gifts of hand knit goodies (by judy) to keep me warm this coming winter. i attended a couple of yoga classes that my sister teaches at a nearby community centre. it had been many years since yoga and i touched hands, and it showed! but, all in all, i felt good for partaking. there were also the 2 day trips that leigh's mom took judy and i on, one to newcastle (mourne mountain), and to dunluce castle.

then, there was the process of learning how to play "the settlers or catan", as complicated as the instructions led me to believe, i soon caught on and felt the surge of beginners luck pulling me ever so closely to a first game victory… but only to be thwarted twice my by brother-in-law. in that very last minute. victory snatched away from me, not once, but twice! needless to say, i disowned my brother-in-law for those brief moments. but then slowly planned my payback :) it is a fun game, and i much enjoyed learning to play it.

and of course, a visit to belfast would not be complete without a visit to the famous crown bar for a pint of guinness.

so, that was not all that we did together, but those are some of the moments that resonate with me the moment. in time i'm sure i will post more about belfast when they may become relevant. i don't think my words can describe my appreciation for my time in ireland with family. so, i will just leave it at that and will have to return again soon.

some photo sets out and about in ireland