The AUDE Conference finished on Wednesday and it was one of the best and most useful conferences I have been to. It was really great to meet people doing the same stuff, facing the same issues in a different place than me. The presenters were all very good and the social programme was excellent.I think the highlight for me was the formal dinner in the Great Hall at Queens. The was so much pride and tradition but humility and sincerity at the same time. The VC Prof. Peter Gregson spoke about Queens, universities and the contribution that Estates people make not only in the UK but internationally. It was good to hear a VC who understood how Facilities/Estates fitted into the overall scheme of things, how important they are and acknowledging the contribution those who look after them make. We were then treated to a speech by Irish war correspondent Fergal Keane on his experiences in Northern Island, South Africa, the Balkans and Rwanda. There was hardly a dry eye in the room by the time he had finished.
There must be something in the Irish air because Deidre has tried both cider and whisky (the Irish variety) since we have been here and liked both, in fact we have been having a “wee dram” each night before bed.
As I reported in previous posts the weather has been atrocious, bitterly cold with snow falling to sea level around Belfast and up to 1 m deep inland. Everyone has been apologising for the unseasonal weather a bit like we do at home I suppose.
We awoke on Thursday to blue sky and a spectacular sunrise. I still haven’t quite adjusted my internal compass and the sun still seems to be in the wrong place and the morning sun just doesn’t look right. We picked up our rental car and went back to the hotel to pick up our baggage. It was only then did we discover the cigarette lighter wasn’t working and therefore our GPS wouldn’t charge. We went back to Budget and they changed our car although we did have to drive from the city to the airport to pick it up(we now have a black Ford Focus automatic saloon as opposed to a silver Ford Focus manual hatchback) and our GPS worked.
There must be something in the Irish air because Deidre has tried both cider and whisky (the Irish variety) since we have been here and liked both, in fact we have been having a “wee dram” each night before bed.
As I reported in previous posts the weather has been atrocious, bitterly cold with snow falling to sea level around Belfast and up to 1 m deep inland. Everyone has been apologising for the unseasonal weather a bit like we do at home I suppose.
We awoke on Thursday to blue sky and a spectacular sunrise. I still haven’t quite adjusted my internal compass and the sun still seems to be in the wrong place and the morning sun just doesn’t look right. We picked up our rental car and went back to the hotel to pick up our baggage. It was only then did we discover the cigarette lighter wasn’t working and therefore our GPS wouldn’t charge. We went back to Budget and they changed our car although we did have to drive from the city to the airport to pick it up(we now have a black Ford Focus automatic saloon as opposed to a silver Ford Focus manual hatchback) and our GPS worked.
Carrickfrgus Castle
Drain Bay
The trip to Portrush was good but a bit rushed because of the problem with the car. We spent an hour or so in Carrickfergus looking around the castle and the town, sat by the sea at Drain Bay and had lunch while watching the ferries come and go, stopped at the rope bridge at Carrick Rede, walked out to the Giants Causeway and finally arrived at our B&B in Portrush somewhat tired and hungry.
Portrush is a sort of seaside holiday town with lots of B&B’s, hotels, caravan parks and large property developments. It was surprisingly busy because of school holidays. There were even 10 or so brave souls surfing in the not too shabby surf.
Our B&B was really nice and after a traditional pub meal in the town we returned for a nightcap (Bushmills Black Bush Whisky) and sleep.
Sunset at Portrush
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