Ceol na Mar

After a roasting hot July, August finally arrived and the heatwave was cooling down. It was time for me to visit my family.

So I packed and said bye to my flat as I was leaving my bed & my shit for a whole month!

As I made my way to the train station, the first stop was to Manchester to see my favourite man; Gayie and we went to see Evita with a BSL interpreter. As I am a huge fan of the film, the stage version was enjoyable especially with the very hot Marti Pellow from Wet Wet Wet fame •cue music• #love is all aroooouuuund#

It was lovely to spend time with Gayie and looking around Manchester, there are many wee gems that I would like to carry on exploring more. There is an Imperial War Museum, it was a bit interesting as there was an exhibition on war medics and it was fanaticising to see how medicine is used in the war zone.  The main display next door had huge pictures as well videos streamed on the walls. I quickly got bored as I didn’t understand, so imagine how I felt when I found out that if I walked 10 more steps I would have seen a wall with a BSL signer being projected signing the voiceover •facepalm•

Ta Gayie for hosting me and putting up with me as when I am restless I can be a pest!

After the wee trip to Manchester, I finally hopped on a train to Scotland. It was a long trip and I arrived late and finally got to the parents’ house, I pretty much relaxed for a few days before I headed to Northern Ireland * Footnote (N.I for short as I was informed by a reliable source that only a stupid English woman would say the full name!) with my parents and one of my brothers for a wee break in the rural countryside of Co.Down where one of my aunts own a home by the sea where my grandparents used to live.

This place is often called Rossglass in the family, and many members of my family who grew up visiting my grandparents have extremely fond memories of what is close to a perfect childhood.

It is where I locked myself in the bathroom when I was 3 and my grandfather had to break the door down, it is where I had to go to hospital after getting a shell stuck on my finger, it is also where I first discover Enid Blyton, blackberry picking, long walks in the countryside, playing in the sea, sitting next to a roaring log fire, tending the vegetable & fruit patches, my brother crawling in the kennel with Rebel, the dog my grandparents owned.

Sadly my grandfather passed away when I was nearly 5, which mean I did not really have an opportunity to get to know him and from what the family tell me, I would have loved the chance to learn from him. My granny passed away 10 years later which was extremely heart breaking as she was a wonderful lady whose grandchildren adored. Even now as I write this I still get upset at her unfair death- a short battle with kidney cancer, which lasted 6 months from diagnosis to her death. I really wish I had more time with her and to treasure the time we had so all I have left is my happy memories.

It had been close to 12 years since I last visited Rossglass, so when Mum said she was thinking about going there, I jumped at the chance to go and suggested my brother would love to go too as it has been far too long for both of us.

I always know when we are nearly there, I can smell the seaweed among the beach, the first sight of the Mourne mountains, the sound of the sea and the feeling of being at ease knowing that I am indeed home at last!

Despite being in Northern Ireland for a short period of time which meant a rush to fit in everything. We visited the Titanic who provided us a transcript via email so I was able to edit it and to make the font bigger. It was an awesome tour and highly recommend to anyone who want to visit.

          Afterwards a trip to Victoria Square, which Mum, hasn’t seen in years and to explore the shopping centre, which used to be a train station. I think!

            Two of my friends came to visit me in Rossglass and I think Waaman was pretty surprised by how beautiful the area is and that the sea was literally my front garden!

            Countless of visits to and from relatives who own houses nearby was fun as it enabled me to catch up with everyone and learning how to do a beach fire. One of my aunties went swimming in the bloody freezing sea, which I think she is bonkers.. well most of us do think that but it is also brave of her to do that!

I do wish my extended family would learn how to sign in order to communicate without my hearing brother having to interpret but they are a pretty awesome family though.

It was a lovely trip and I hope to go back there soon, esp. with friends :D

Fact: Ceol na Mar in english is Music of the sea