159/365:2010 Dromore Mound

Historically speaking, this is the best preserved example in Ireland of a Norman Motte and Bailey fort, located in Dromore, County Down. The photo isn't the most impressive though!

158/365:2010 Puppy Cushion

I think that's what I've turned into, the amount of time Pippa spends lying on my knee...

157/365:2010 Steering Wheel

A bit of a disappointment of a photo, really - today I was preaching away, at Upper Falls (which is really very upper Falls, as it's actually the Parish Church in Suffolk), but it was raining when I was coming out so didn't get a photo. In the end, I did a bit of driving, so I suppose the photo represents my day! Maybe I'll be back at Upper Falls some other time to get a photo...

156/365:2010 It's a Dog's Life!

Lying sleeping on my knee, so I sneaked a shot. Over the two weeks we've had her so far, she has grown so much (although still a tiny dog) and we've gotten to be very attached!

155/365:2010 Build Me Up Buttercup

The bluebells in the garden have been replaced by the buttercups!

154/365:2010 Dromore Cathedral

This weekend they're celebrating 1500 years of Christian witness on this site in Dromore, County Down. This is the current building on the site, the Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer.

153/365:2010 Netted

A bag of lemons gave me some contrast between the net and the lemons.

152/365:2010 Daisy, Daisy

Some rain this morning but it made for raindrops on the huge daisies down in the garden.

151/365:2010 John Deere

Not a sight you expect to see in a quiet avenue in East Belfast. A tractor parked up at our neighbour's house!

In other news, I took a wee run into town this evening to get a fancy burger from the Continental Market before it leaves Belfast, but the burger stall had stopped serving by 5.20pm even though the Market is open until 8pm! Very disappointing!

150/365:2010 Dashing Dog

Home from church and Youth Group, and I'm greeted by Pippa the puppy going a bit mental. Her head and tail are both blurred because she's moving so very quickly!

149/365:2010 Light and Dark

A late one, and so I captured the pattern on the dining room ceiling.

148/365:2010 Yellow Rose

Remember the yellow bud just a week ago? It's now in full bloom in the kitchen.

147/365:2010 Dog's Dinner

A kind of a saying tonight, but also Pippa getting her supper.

146/365:2010 Coppers

A bedtime picture. Every night I have to clear the coppers out of my pocket. Quite a collection and they soon add up. I liked the shine of some as the light hit them.

145/365:2010 Taking Down A Peg Or Two

Inadvertently, this seems to be proverbs week, after Sunday's effort too.

I much prefer taking things off the line than hanging them on the line. There's maybe less effort, or perhaps it's more satisfying to clear a line of washing than to fill it?

144/365:2010 Testing, Testing

MOT today and the car passed! Hurray! A week of holiday began today so there's lots of wee things to get sorted this week, as well as getting to know Pippa!

143/365:2010 Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!

Pippa taking a well deserved rest after lots of excitement. Let's hope she sleeps tonight better than last night!

Oh, also, don't worry, this isn't going to turn into a 365 dog set - Pippa may appear from time to time but won't feature every day.

142/365:2010 Introducing...

Pippa our puppy!

141/365:2010 Empty Bed

Ready and waiting for it's new occupant...

140/365:2010 Rose Bud

This yellow rose is just beginning to open up. Another day spent in the house recovering...

139/365:2010 Behind Bars

Looks like the Queen has been imprisoned, but to be frank, it's just how the Royal Mail stamp their authority over her.

138/365:2010 A Wet Evening

This is possibly my worst 365 photo to date - it didn't work at all, but it was the only photo taken on the say so it'll have to do. I think I was aiming for the silhouette of the church tower and Cleland mausoleum, but it doesn't stand out properly. Didn't take any more as it was raining so I wanted together home having popped out for milk!

137/365:2010 Empty!

These lasted almost three weeks - a birthday present, but all gone now, the chocolates which were housed in these little compartments!

136/365:2010 Preached!

Sunday again, and tonight I was preaching from Genesis 29 on Jacob finding a wife and getting two.

135/365:2010 Getaway!

Ladybird trying to escape from my camera... Spent some time out in the jungle cutting the grass.

134/365:2010 Wedding Shadowing

Today was the first wedding in St E's since our arrival two years ago, so I was shadowing Tim to see how he leads it, given that we have five next year! Congratulations to Philip and Joanne on their special day!

133/365:2010 A Couple of Carsons

Took another pre-lunch walk in Stormont estate, just up and down the hill, but stupidly forgot my earphones! I don't do enough exercise, so these walks are useful, and also a good opportunity to listen to sermons or music on my iPod. Not today!

At the top, I was looking at the new interpretive signs and spotted this angle for two views of Sir Edward Carson for the price of one!

132/365:2010 Yellow Flowers, Yellow Cranes

The Harland and Wolff cranes in Belfast are a famous part of the skyline in the Titanic Quarter of the city. The whole area is now being redeveloped.

131/365:2010 Laser Point

Am I just seeing dots now? This is my 'clicker' to wirelessly move on PowerPoint presentations at church. It also has a laser pointer, hence the red dot.

130/365:2010 Dundonald

Coming down the Carrowreagh Road this morning, I noticed this great view of the village of Dundonald, so this is today's photo. On the left, you can see the old and new churches of St Elizabeth's, and in the distance at the top right corner, towards Tullycarnet/Gilnahirk/Braniel.

129/365:2010 Are You Listening?

Short on time and inspiration late on Sunday night and my iPod earphones fitted the bill. The pink background is a Moleskine journal (not mine, I hasten to add!).

128/365:2010 Changing the World

My latest read is all about changing the world - through effective youth ministry. Very challenging, but excellent stuff!

127/365:2010 Family Fun Night

A great evening at church with lots of families coming together for some fun and food! I didn't get the chance to take any photos at it so this was the signup sheet when I got home!

126/365:2010 Election Night

Indulging my inner politics geekiness watching the election results.

125/365:2010 Isn't Mushroom In There

A combination of a late photo, a lack of inspiration and a very bad joke brings you today's entry. Which reminds me: why did the mushroom have lots of friends? He was a funghi to be around!

124/365:2010 CD in the Letterbox

One of the less well-known ministries of our church is the CD ministry. Elderly and housebound members of the congregation are visited each week with a cd copy of the morning and evening services. While I'm not elderly or housebound, I get a copy of the CDs to upload the sermons onto the church sermon blog. Last Sunday's CDs arrived today. Thanks Frazer and Carol!

123/365:2010 Where's the Yoghurt?

A wee afternoon road trip to the Mournes and a stop at the Spelga Dam. Sadly we didn't see the yoghurt in the dam though!

122/365:2010 What Time Is It?

For me, it was almost time to go to church, but I got a photo of the dandelion clock in the garden before I left.

Incidentally, I'm not much of a gardener - apart from the dazzling display of dandelions... they're flowers, aren't they?!

121/365:2010 On The Shelf

A wee day of exploring which ended in Omagh. This was the first time I'd seen my book in an actual bookshop since it was launched two years ago. My previous job was with a Victims' Support Group working with victims of the brutal terrorist campaign in Northern Ireland, particularly in the County Tyrone area. As part of that work, I researched and delivered classes in Irish History, which were used to produce 'Journeying Through Irish History' - only available from Carlisle's in Omagh, or through West Tyrone Voice, or directly from myself...

120/365:2010 Distance to Empty

The car's computer gives several measures including this one - distance to empty. The number of miles that you should be able to cover until the tank is empty.

Today marks the first third of 365 completed (in terms of months!), but there's another 245 days until we're done. 245 more photo ideas to come up with.

(Plus, just for Wils, we listened to Radio Ulster - the Colin Murray late night programme in Friday nights!)

119/365:2010 Happy Birthday to Me!

Please don't think I'm a greedy gorb having eaten all this cake by myself. This is the remains of it following staff meeting and afternoon tea! 29 on the 29th.

Select Vestry (the church committee) is on tonight which is a great way to celebrate my birthday!!!

118/365:2010 AAH

117/365:2010 Granny's Birthday!

This is my Granny Jean, on her 83rd birthday.

116/365:2010 Nuala at Night

This statue at Thanksgiving Square between the Waterfront Hall and Queen's Bridge on the River Lagan in Belfast has been given many alternative names. My favourite is Nuala with the Hoola!

115/365:2010 Full Moon

A quick and lazy shot tonight after a busy day, preached and did childrens' talk this morning, led the evening service and preached at youth group. This is the moon through our backdoor.

114/365:2010 Arachnophobia?

Bedtime and this massive spider was on the stairs! He got a wee trip on a piece of paper and a holiday outside. Let's hope he likes it out there!

113/365:2010 Back to School!

This morning I was taking a School Assembly in our local Primary School. Those election posters get everywhere, but then I suppose it's a place where lots of people congregate, and also the place where the votes will be cast on the 6th...

112/365:2010 Late Night Shopping

It's handy to have a 24 hour shop nearby when things are needed late on! Sadly I thought the big red sign would be lit up and it would make for a good reflection on the car roof, but it wasn't, so instead the big red letters fade away into the night.

111/365:2010 Happy Birthday to Her!

It's the Queen's 84th birthday, so I fished in my pocket and found three pound coins with three different portaits on them. Hope she's having a good day! Of course, this is just one of her two birthdays, with the official birthday in June. Does she get twice the number of
presents???

110/365:2010 First On The Doorstep

So there's just over a fortnight until the elections, and the first people to come round the doors were the Conservatives and Unionists. Can Trevor Ringland unseat a certain Mr Robinson? Here in Dundonald we have a bonus by-election to fill the seat on Castlereagh Borough Council vacated by a Mrs Robinson. I wonder just how much paper is used in the election campaign and ballot papers?