Politics aside…being from Northern Ireland has often led to confusion over the years. I find most people still use the word Ireland to describe as my country, Ireland isn’t in fact a country, but is an island consisting of two countries, Northern Ireland (of six counties, and of British occupation but whose residents are free Read more about BEING NORTHERN IRISH: an identity crisis??[…]
I remember coming home from school to watch this one live, I think it was on BBC2 Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland had a really really decent side at the time (well in my opinion…). We boasted some World Cup stars such as Nigel Worthington, Alan McDonald, Colin Clarke and Mal Donaghy (who had a very Read more about Yugoslavia 4-1 Northern Ireland (European Championship Qualifier, 1991)[…]
Imagine the surprise and disbelief of me driving through Hobart in Tasmania in May 2010 and seeing a van with the word “Tayto” on it!!! The Northern Irish crisp! And next to the sticker on this white van was another sticker with “Norn Iron” on it. I thought for once in life my eyes were Read more about Small world? You bet! Tayto Van at Glenorchy![…]
After tasting the honey at Lower landing it was onwards past two station stops, neither of which are used any longer…but added a bit of history to the journey…we passed by the King River several times. An excellent view out of the train window coming round a corner. Just after this we got to “Teepookana” Read more about West Coast Wilderness Railway Part Eight – Teepookana and Lowanna[…]
When I look back on Newcastle, my main memory will be the transition from trousers to shorts. Having lived in Tasmania the previous few months, and then drove up via Melbourne and Wollongong, it was the heat of Newcastle that got me that day. I left off my last part of the road trip after Read more about Road Trip Part 15 – Newcastle[…]
From the “Chinese” experience of Wollongong I drove up hills and through pretty mountainous areas on route to Sydney, which I intended to by-pass and get through quickly without stopping. But I ended up bang in the middle of Sydney bang in the middle of rush hour and it was total mayhem. It took me Read more about Road Trip Part 14 – Rush Hour in Sydney, Torrential Rain and A Sleep at Ourimbah[…]
I’d heard of Wollongong and I often confused it with an old tennis player – Yvonne Goologong, also Australian but with no link. Wollongong is a city south of Sydney on the coast of New South Wales. While staying in the Chilli Blue hostel in Sydney’s King’s Cross I always noticed prominent road signs for Read more about Road Trip Part 13 – Nan Tien Temple, Wollongong[…]
From the free maps and guides I got at Foster the day before, it was obvious that Kiama was a “must-stop” at place along the way and it turned out that way. A beautiful quiet peaceful seaside town with charm, ocean waves and natural beauty. From my petrol stop at Nowra, Kiama was a mere Read more about Road Trip Part 12 – Kiama[…]
I had heard of neither location. Nowra Ulladulla or Narooma. My solo road trip was well underway though. I had left behind the states of Tasmania and Victoria and was now back in New South Wales. I had just watched Spain beat Honduras 2-0 in the World Cup and drove for a breakfast stop at Read more about Road Trip Part 11 – Narooma, Ulladulla and Nowra[…]
I grew up and was raised in Marlo, a small housing area in Kilmaine in the south of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. That is where I’m really from. This year I have thought about my childhood a lot, probably too much. I liked some of it, but not all of it. I miss the Read more about Road Trip Part 9 – Flashback to my Childhood at Marlo[…]