random photo of the day: revealed retro

 

Old signs revealed during work at the Fountain Centre, Belfast.

Derelicte my halls: Jordanstown

I haven't come across many new abandoned buildings in recent times so today I revisited this beauty that I pass on my way to work. It is terribly fire damaged but signs remain of a very elegant building, including this gorgeous Victorian tiled porchway. I'm sorely tempted to arrive one day with a hammer and chisel to prise the tiles up but that of course would be illegal.

The building is just one of many that are abandoned and lying open to the elements on the edge of a school complex and this house was obviously used as a school at one point because there are blackboards and half-burnt desks lying around. Nothing salvagable unfortunately. And believe me I've looked.

Magic

My mind is officially blown.

Ever heard of moss paint? Me neither. But today I came across this phenomenon via my current favourite website craftgawker and you can find the instructions here on instructables but essentially all you need to make a masterpiece like this is some buttermilk, sugar and a few lumps of moss. Put them into a blender, mix into a paste and then just paint it on to a wall to whatever design pleases your good self.

The hulking great concrete wall in our back yard is just screaming out for this treatment but I'm not sure what our landlady would make of it. If you own a house or business, please go out and do this immediately and let me see the results!

a bit of bees knees

Occupy Belfast

We called down to the Occupy Belfast rally on Saturday outside the old Bank of Ireland building in the city centre. The Occupy protesters managed to get inside the building a week ago and it's fitting that it is an old bank building and significant that it has been allowed to lie derelict for years when so many people are being evicted from their homes.

It is hoped that the gorgeous art deco space will be used for emergency housing for those who need it as well as a space for teachings and sharing of ideas. People are currently going about cleaning up the building and are hoping to get the running water. Tellingly the only damage so far has been caused by police who broke windows and doors despite having no legal right to evict the protesters.

Check out this video filmed on day two of the occpation. And why not 'like' Occupy Belfast on facebook; they're looking for equipment to set up a working kitchen so if you have anything lying around that might be of use then why not bring it down to the protesters camping out at Writer's Square.

Workers of the world, unite!

Going deeper underground

This is Danny descending the wooden staircase down 54 floors into the Wieliczka Salt Mines near Krakow last week. Luckily there was a lift to take us back above ground, although that was quite an experience in itself because they insisted on squeezing 9 of us into a space that appeared made for no more than two. Below, Dan and Mary wait in the cold for the bus to the mine.

The mine is like nothing I've ever seen before - we went 135 metres underground but only saw one percent of the mine. But what a percent! There were sculptures, underground lakes, huge chapels and amazing salt chandeliers, all made by the miners in their spare time over the last few hundred years, and the mine has been in continuous use since the 13th Century.

This is the mind-boggling St Kinga's Chapel which is carved entirely out of salt including the floor tiles and crystals in the chandeliers. Like most visitors I licked the wall, just to check. And yes, it tasted of salt funnily enough. Most amazing of all is that this chapel and all of its sculptures were carved by three men, working one after the other. That's dedication.

The salt looks almost like granite most of the time but the light behind the statue below shows how clear it actually is. This was one of the most interesting places I've ever been and it helped that our guide Sebastian had us in fits of laughter the whole time.

Now if only I could have fit one of those chandeliers in my hand luggage.

New Year in Helen's Tower

Our good friends (and relatives) Fiona and Phillip had the bright idea to rent the amazing Helen's Tower in Clandeboye Estate outside for Bangor for this New Years.

Husband Danny and our lot went to the Palookaville carry-out disco for New Years again this year and then today Dan, his sister Lucy and I drove out to see them today. The path up to it is a bit of an off-roading experience but it's worth the effort - check this place out!

Helen's Tower was completed in 1861 in honour of the owner Lord Dufferin's mother who was herself the grand daughter of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, the great Irish playwright, orator and politician.

It was built as an idyllic retreat and poems were written in its honour by Tennyson, Kipling, Argyll and other luminaries of the nineteenth century literary world, and I can see why. Huddled far away from the seething masses with a roaring fire, it was a very special afternoon, accompanied by an impressive bottle of Champagne. Okay, Cava.

There were views from the roof of the tower over Bangor and the metropolitan Newtownards as well as to Scrabo Tower on a far away hillside. I hate those foreign landlords who came in and stole our land, but they sure did leave some nice buildings behind.

This place can be rented out through http://www.irishlandmark.com/ (I'm not getting paid for this) and would be an amazing venue for a wedding or handfasting.

Random photo of the day

Dunluce Castle and the skerries outside Portrush in County Antrim. I took this photo when my brother's girlfriend's family were visiting us from Sri Lanka a couple of years ago and we got this gorgeous evening to visit The Giant's causeway and the coast road.

And the sunset really did look that good.

Another mini adventure

Yesterday was a cold and initially foggy day but the sun soon made an appearance so my mum and I took another long walk, this time on the other side of the river in Castlerock. We walked through the Black Glen towards Bishop's Palace, the C18th estate of Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and bishop of Derry. I've been to the Mussenden Temple on the cliff edge countless times so instead we walked out to the mausoleum.

Above is the view back from Castlerock to the mouth of the river, beaches and Portstewart is barely visible through the haze. Below is an ancient burial cairn which I never knew existed until today, Bishop's Palace visible in the background.

Mussenden Temple, the North Atlantic and one of the most scenic train lines ever.

My mum approaching 'Belvedere' folly. Methinks I have found a spot to camp for the summer solstice this year!

One of my school friends grew up in this house which forms part of the demesne, (complete with walled gardens, dove cote and ice house), so many summer days and parties were spent roaming these fields and ruins.

Bishop's palace and the Mausoleum.

A lost house: Portstewart

This lost house is in my home town of Portstewart. It's a real labyrinth inside and full of junk. Lovely.