365/365:2010 Expiry Date

Well folks, it's the end of my 365 project of 2010, and very appropriately, the parking ticket also expires on 31/12/10. Thanks for looking at and commenting on the photos this year. I've learnt a lot - including never to do a 365! My photography will continue, just not a legalistic photo per day. Happy New Year!

This blog will remain as a memorial to my 365 project - here's a slideshow of this past year:

364/365:2010 Foggy Fivemiletown

The fog never really lifted today in vast swathes of the province. This was the scene tonight in Fivemiletown.

363/365:2010 Orange Antlers?

Pippa's new toy, and a last minute photo this evening. It's like a mini space hopper, with a squeaky noise.

362/365:2010 Out of Reach

Just about! Pippa sometimes needs to take time out from playing with her ball, but she can now almost reach the top of the washing machine. Here she's just staring up at it contemplating her next move!

361/365:2010 Shopping the Sales

We hit the shops in Belfast today and got a couple of bargains...

360/365:2010 Mulled Wine

A wee pot of mulled wine warming for a nightcap before bed. Non-alcoholic, in case you were wondering!

359/365:2010 Christmas Dinner

This bird was having some dinner on Christmas Day out in the garden as we were doing the dishes.

358/365:2010 Chocolate Santa

Christmas Eve, and I had a wee chocolate Santa!

357/365:2010 Christmas Soundtrack

Wrapping the presents we had a good selection of Christmas carols, including this one.

356/365:2010 Christmas Communion

Home Communions today with some of our housebounds.

355/365:2010 Wrap Star!

Well, ok, I'm not very good at wrapping Christmas presents, but at least these ones have now been wrapped up to stop prying eyes seeing what they are before Christmas morning!

354/365:2010 Red Ribbon

Attached to a very kind gift which was sitting on the doorstep this evening when I got back from the staff Christmas dinner.

353/365:2010 Oh Crumbs!

Didn't take any pictures at the Carol Service, so my toast crumbs will have to suffice!

352/365:2010 Mince Pie

A seasonal supper

351/365:2010 O Christmas Tree!

The Christmas tree is up!

350/365:2010 One Snowy Night

I think Dundonald was one of the last places in Northern Ireland to get snow tonight, but it's certainly falling thick and heavy now. This was taken from inside the warmth of the front room looking out!

349/365:2010 Testing the Tangle

Checking the tangle of Christmas lights to make sure they're all working. Not sure if I'll string these up the stairs bannister this year as the puppy might make short work of them and be electrocuted in the process!

348/365:2010 Dundonald's Christmas Tree

Stands opposite the Ulster Hospital in the park - Dundonald lacks a real village centre at the heart of the community.

347/365:2010 Christmas Bokeh

The Christmas tree in Conway Square, Newtownards with the out of focus bokeh effect. Cliche, yes, but where would we be without cliche?

346/365:2010 Carol Concert

The RBAI carol concert was this afternoon. The view from the very back row of the balcony!

345/365:2010 Ravenhill Return

I was fortunate to get to Ravenhill for the Ulster v Bath Heineken Cup match thanks to the kindness of a friend. And they won this time!

344/365:2010 Twenty to Midnight

Bedtime and no photo taken!

343/365:2010 Bauble

The only photo I took today, and it's shaky... The church Christmas tree is up!

342/365:2010 Stormont Snow

The snow was still lying in Stormont estate today, making for some nice pictures.

341/365:2010 Seniors' Christmas Lunch

A great event this afternoon for our older parishioners. Two course meal, catered by McKee's, comedy from a Jimmy Cricket impersonator, Bible Talk from Raymond Magowan, and carols by the P5 choir from the Primary School. We even managed to set alight a party hat and a tablecloth in two separate incidents with tealights!

340/365:2010 Christmas Cheer

Went out for a meal with the youth group from church tonight - Johnny had a great time, as you can see!

339/365:2010 Cutting Edge Photography

Scissors!

338/365:2010 Belated Birthday

A little family party for our wee niece (and her mum) who both recently had birthdays.

337/365:2010 Snowy St Elizabeth's

The new church and the old church side by side, in the snows of December 2010. Sadly someone had already been for a spin in the car park by the time I got up to take some photos!

336/365:2010 Christmas Markets

A quick look around the Continental Market.

335/365:2010 Fresh

Late night photo with toothpaste for inspiration.

334/365:2010 Ards Advent

Ards Shopping Centre.

333/365:2010 Mini Darth Vader

The idea for this photo came from this one, but I was thinking of how to use the Darth Vader mask for a while. Perhaps appropriate given that the news of the death of the director of The Empire Strikes Back was announced today.

332/365:2010 Snow Sunday

Out the back, we've got some snow!

331/365:2010 Snowy Donard

A brisk day in Newcastle with snow still on the top of Slieve Donard.

330/365:2010 Birthday Girl

Margaret the mother-in-law, on her 60th birthday.

329/365:2010 King Kong

Pippa's chewy toy, the Kong, gives her plenty of fun. You can even hide food inside it for her to try and get out.

328/365:2010 Devouring the Classics!

Pippa has developed a hunger for great literature - or at least wanting to chew on the corner of my copy of CS Lewis' The Great Divorce. Dog-eared in a different sense... Low level bookshelves maybe aren't such a good idea when she's around.

327/365:2010 In The Spotlight

The last time out for Pippa before bedtime. Cold and dark, hence the torch!

326/365:2010 Be Bold!

Two books I'm reading at the minute both have the word Courage in the title.

325/365:2010 Collared

My full (Roman) collar, which I rarely wear. I much prefer the wee slip-in collar rather than this one, which once it's on, it's on for the day!

324/365:2010 Portadown Found (ry)

Spotted this on the corner of a building at a lane in Portadown. The ironwork came from the Portadown Foundry. Suitably worn over time.

323/365:2010 Webcast

This spider's web has appeared on our black bin, and it was catching the sunlight when I went out to it earlier.

322/365:2010 Running Low

Arrived home tonight with not much petrol left. Are we sometimes running on empty?

321/365:2010 Fellowship Group

Tonight at Fellowship Group I was tasked to take some photos for inclusion in our Christmas parish magazine, and here's what the finished article looked like. We have five groups of varying sizes meeting through the week in homes and halls studying the Bible in a small group and encouraging one another to live for Christ and his glory.

320/365:2010 NIMA Day 2

The second and final day of NIMA for this year, with Vaughan Roberts preaching from Titus in the closing session.

319/365:2010 NIMA Day 1

The annual Northern Ireland Ministry Assembly began today in Lisburn, and this is Bryan Chapell, the President of Covenant Theological Seminary, St Louis, USA, and Trevor Johnston, one of the steering committee and Ireland Team Leader of Crosslinks.

318/365:2010 We Will Remember

Remembrance Sunday, and the poppy was used as my illustration for the Childrens' Talk at Church this morning - black centre reminds us of our sin; red poppy reminds us of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for our forgiveness; green leaf reminds us of the new life that is ours through Jesus' death for our sins.

317/365:2010 Wife's Birthday

Lynsey's birthday, but I forgot to bring my camera when we went out for afternoon tea, so this was the shot for today, one of her cards!

316/365:2010 Half Moon

Probably not a brilliant photo, but I was just seeing how these things turn out.