Ducks (everywhere)

Victoria Park - as soon as you turn up here lots of cheeky ducks and a few swans crowd round looking for food. These birds are so unafraid of people, its amazing (and a little bit frightening).

George Best

Underpass, east Belfast.

After he died in November 2005, a lot of murals commemorating George Best appeared in Belfast. He has even turned up on banknotes. Information on George Best and his commemorative foundation at : http://www.georgebest.com/

Rainbow

After a night of wind and heavy rain, it looks like it's clearing up a little...

Sales aren't what they used to be

The sales are on. I spotted this fabulous bargain in Marks and Spencer this morning - a rack of nighties reduced from £10 to, er... £15.

Samson

Samson (or possibly Goliath) viewed from Victoria Park.

Massive twin cranes Samson & Goliath are the landmark structures in Belfast, built during the late 60s/early 70s when we still had a huge shipbuilding industry.

(Oddly, Samson is actually taller than Goliath - 106 metres high to Goliath's 96 metres.)

The cranes are still apparently in use - mainly for ship/oil rig repairs - and have been awarded historic monument status.

Robin

Little robin in Victoria Park, Boxing Day morning.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Belfast!

Cregagh Glen

A hidden treasure, just a minute's walk from one of the busiest roads in Belfast. A lovely walk right up the glen - about 1km in total, coming out at a rath (earthwork). The only blot on all this beauty is the number of dog walkers who use it and don't clean up ...

Sheep

Didn't get any photos worth showing today so here are some lovely sheep - photo taken in Donegal a couple of weeks ago...

Athol Street, City Centre

The last remaining terrace house in Athol Street - just beside Longs Fish Restaurant (a.k.a. the oldest chip shop in Belfast. Review of Longs at: http://www.inyourpocket.com/ni/belfast/en/venue?id=NIBFENX0249

Cranes

View from the city centre through to where the massive new Victoria (Shopping) Centre is being built. Belfast's skyline is full of cranes at the moment - which has to be a good sign. And it was announced today that IKEA will definitely be opening a store here next year (hurrah!)

Sweetie shop

Scruffy little shop window, east Belfast.

City Hall

Christmas decorations on the city hall.

The Strand

The Strand Cinema on the Belmont Road, one of the last independent cinemas in Northern Ireland.

Sunday

Taking it easy in a favourite cafe for Sunday lunch.

Cold Morning

Early Saturday morning - lovely sky, low cloud hanging over the Cave Hill.

After Christmas shopping

Waiting for the bus in traditional yuletide weather (drizzly rain...)

Breton biscuits at our Christmas Market

This market comes every year to the City Hall grounds. Stallholders from all over Europe selling, food, crafts etc. The food is an especially welcome change, though a lot of it is surprisingly pricey - £5 for a loaf of bread?

GOH

This is the Grand Opera House, referred to in Monday's blog. Opened in 1895, it has recently undergone major refurbishment and extension.

http://www.goh.co.uk.

Nearly Christmas

8.45am, twinkly lights in the trees outside City Hall.

View from the office

From my office window I used to have a lovely view of the mountain. Now it is mostly obscured by the new extension to the Grand Opera House. The extension is fairly controversial, mainly as a lot of people don't think it blends with the victorian opera house - photo to follow, see what you think.

First Post

The view from my kitchen window, out over Belfast on a damp Sunday night.