Christmas 2011 - Northern Ireland

Day 3 - Dublin

Wake up call at 6am followed by egg and toast for breakfast.

Mum dropped Dad and I off at Central Station at around 7.15am ahead of the 8am departure to Dublin.

Upon boarding, Dad and I settled quickly into planning our Dublin schedule while the train passed south of Lough Neagh through Portadown and Craigavon before snaking south to the border over the Boyne, through Drogheda and easing smoothly into Connolly Street station, Dublin for a prompt 10am arrival.

The weather was exactly as forecast - cloudless, blue, sunny sky and crisp December air.

We walked along our planned route down Talbot Street and onto O'Connell Street (The GPO pictured, right) to locate the tourist information centre. First on our list was a visit to the Dublin Writers Museum on Parnell Square (Parnell monument below), with all sorts of artefacts and literary information on the Irish greats, including Joyce, Yeats, Wilde, Beckett and of course Heaney. I was particularly taken by Behan's personal life story.

Then, we were off to Ireland's most visited tourist spot - the Guinness Storehouse.

Hopping off our blue and yellow-livered bus, we struggled to find the visitor entrance, before finding it hidden away on the backstreets. Full of interesting facts about the brewing process and history of the legendary stout, I was most impressed by the architecture of the place.

Visitors step off the escalator from the reception into a huge, open glass atrium were you stand in awe at the bottom of the world's largest pint glass rising up through the centre of the 7-storey building with elevators leading to and from the Gravity Bar at the top - where a complimentary pint of Guinness awaited.

Guinness in hand, we were treated to 360° panoramas of Dublin - I could have stayed there all afternoon, but we had to move on to get some lunch.

Lunch was provided in the Winding Stair restaurant on the banks of the Liffey overlooking the Ha'Penny bridge, before heading off on some more sightsetting trips to Trinity College, the Aviva Stadium and last but not least - the pub!

McDaids pub it was, the time was now around 5.30pm and Dad and I came in from a cold but brightly-lit Grafton Street into a dimly-lit old-fashioned McDaids pub and settled down for a couple of winter-warming pints of Guinness before catching the train home.

It had been a day to remember.

Christmas 2011 - Northern Ireland

Day 2 - Dads birthday

Woke up at around 8.30am this morning. Weather cold but dry.

Dad cooked up a birthday breakfast for us both (Mum was working) with bacon, eggs and toast and after a session on the guitars we were out the door at about 11ish to catch the bus into Belfast.

On the agenda was a meet-up with Dad's mate Tom Melville, who was over from the USA.

We jumped off the bus on Adelaide Street and running behind schedule, we sped through the packed streets to make up time. Passing through the Christmas continental Market (pictured above), with a scent of roasted chestnuts hanging heavy in the crisp December air, we spotted Tom, shook hands and headed off in the direction of the Ivory restaurant for some lunch.

Perched at the top of the new Victoria Street shopping mall, the Ivory was modern and chic - and surprisingly empty on a working day lunchtime slot.

The views from the top were breathtaking, and I opted for the local ale battered haddock with mushy peas, tartare sauce and chips. What began with a coffee and chat quickly turned into a 3-pint job (pictured, right) and we had a good chinwag about soccer, the States and family.

Dad and I caught the bus home around 4pm, meeting up with Mum in Saintfield to head back out (again) to Nicks Warehouse restaurant in the Cathedral quarter of Belfast to celebrate Dad's birthday.

More liquid refreshments were in order but it was the food that stole the show - wonderful starters with warmed pitta bread and a trio of exquisitely zingy olive, garlic and humus dips followed by the most exquisitely tender steak, garlic-roasted chips, rocket and peppercorn sauce.

The history of the restaurant was fascinating too.

Neglected until 1989 as a red-bricked eye-sore and pigeon loft, crafty Nick spotted a business opportunity, capitalised on its good location and transformed it from derelict relic to delightful restaurant, preserving many of the old interior structures and large windows with dim-lighting - perfect for an elegant dining experience or special occasion.

After dining at Nicks, we headed home. Hit the sack about midnight.

Christmas 2011 - Northern Ireland

I kept a diary of my trip to Belfast to see Mum and Dad. Here's my notes.

Day 1 - Arrival

The flight from Luton was easy and on time.

I caught the Translink 300 shuttle bus from Belfast international airport, arriving at a frigid Great Victoria street station about 40 minutes later.

It was around 5pm now and Belfast was looking brill. They'd done a great job with Royal Avenue, with new street furniture, street art, extended shop frontages and trees decorated to the nines in Christmas glitterati, all lined up majestically before a golden-lit City Hall.

A sense of pride tingled inside as my home city turned on the style, with the Waterfront and Odyssey Arena areas looking just as impressive.

Dad was looking lost as I met him in the station and we headed swiftly for Morrisons pub to grab a winter-warming pint, me foolishly walking gloveless to the watering hole. It was freezing.

Morrisons turned up few surprises.

The dimensions hadn't changed a bit since I'd last been there. Sure, the seating layout was different and they'd got rid of the Crown-esque booths (note to Belfast City Council - can you regulate your pubs properly please! Stop landlords removing the pub booths that give our traditional pubs their character), but you could now pull your own pint at your table! (pictured, right)

I was surprised to see so many continental European beers on tap. Only Harp, Guinness and Smithwicks were on offer - no Bass, Belfast Ale, Caffreys or other such like tipples to greet Irish economic migrants like myself.

After a swift dinner at home, we went to the Errigle Inn for the pub quiz. Under the name 'Saintwick', we lasted only five rounds as it didn't start till 10.30pm and we were knackered.

Headed home. Sang Dad happy birthday at around 12.10am (it was now 6 December) and hit the sack.

Santa comes to town...on 3 December

Quick update on things.

Got the Christmas tree up today, a tad early but I'm off to Belfast next week to see Mum and Dad - and anyway, it's the first weekend in December so it's just about justifiable right?

We took the boys (pictured - breakfast this morning) to the Christmas Fayre at Ben's school today, and had a little surprise in store when we arrived. The sports hall was packed, with volunteer parents and teachers sat behind tables with bored faces selling all sorts, from sweets, smellies, cuddly toys and Chrismas garlands, with parents and kiddies bustling around trying to get a look at everything.

We jostled our way to the exit to Ben's classroom where a large notice advised parents that 'Santas Grotto' was just down the corridor. What a nice little surprise. The boys would love this - they hadn't seen the old man before in the flesh.

So we queued up for what seemed an age.

Ciaran was getting very impatient, not least as he had another rotten cold, and I wondered how he'd react when he saw Santa (he was too young to understand the whole mularky properly last year). I feared he'd be one of those kids who'd scream when he saw the big white beard.

He was a little frightened at first, but then settled into Santas calm conversation and reassuring Q&A session. Santa left the boys with the thought that his reindeer do need feeding y'know and if it wouldn't be too much for an old man to ask, could they please have a word with their parents to ensure there was some food and drink available on Christmas Eve for his reindeer and, not least, him. The fat man needs to go on a diet if you ask me. Blueberries and greek yoghurt it will be.

Santa then handed the boys two presents from his sack - and the boys opened them as soon as we left the Grotto. No waiting until Christmas day for these two!