mcmillens bar in bangor

Working Wednesdays: Barman in McMillen’s Bar & Restaurant, Bangor, Northern Ireland☘️🔴✋

It wasn’t until 2001 that I first worked in a bar (probably by then I had spent enough time on the other side of over 100 bars). I got the job through my good mate Darren Latimer. I was employed mainly as a barman on the downstairs bar at McMillen’s Bar, Bangor. The bar is Read more about Working Wednesdays: Barman in McMillen’s Bar & Restaurant, Bangor, Northern Ireland☘️🔴✋[…]

car hire northern ireland

A1 Car Hire! (1995 – 1997)

Reminiscing on previous jobs and previous experiences recently brought up this memory of not working, but being in A1 Car Hire, watching my Mum work. What’s the story? Well my kid brother was born in 1994, so my Mum, Muriel Blair, hadn’t been working but looking after young Daniel! Then my Mum got back into Read more about A1 Car Hire! (1995 – 1997)[…]

Jonny Blair a lifestyle of travel Bangor blogger

“I threw a brick through a window” – ending things appropriately in Bangor Grammar School

 * This is a very old post, I cleared things up a bit better on the Great Exam Heist and the Aftermath on those articles. This story also appears in my book, Backpacking Centurion Volume 1 – Don’t Look Back In Bangor!   It was June 1997 and I said my farewells to a school Read more about “I threw a brick through a window” – ending things appropriately in Bangor Grammar School[…]

Jonny Blair lives a lifestyle of travel but he once won the Northern Ireland BB cup with 10th Bangor

10th Bangor Boy’s Brigade⚓: Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️Champions🏆1997 – 1998

It’s a great honour and a privilege to play sport and to take part. What is an even bigger honour is to tell people that you were the champion at that sport in your country. I was and we were. I am proud to say I was and really, I wouldn’t have had it any Read more about 10th Bangor Boy’s Brigade⚓: Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️Champions🏆1997 – 1998[…]

Kilmaine Lunchtime Premier League 1991 – P7R 3-3 P7T

Back in 1991, while in P7, final year at Kilmaine Primary School we often had football matches at lunch and break time. To this day, only one match from that period sticks in memory and what a cracker it was. The primary school used to let us eat lunch in the classroom and in warmer Read more about Kilmaine Lunchtime Premier League 1991 – P7R 3-3 P7T[…]

Jonny Blair in Bangor in the 1980s wearing a vintage Northern Ireland kit - he now lives a lifestyle of travel

Bangor Amateurs FC…and just any football team really…and Joe Blair…

While growing up I just loved football. And ANY football really. It was my Dad who got me into it to start with, but if he hadn’t I’d have got into it anyway through the friends I made whilst growing up in Bangor. My first real football memory was watching Algeria versus Northern Ireland with Read more about Bangor Amateurs FC…and just any football team really…and Joe Blair…[…]

Working Wednesdays: The Silence of The Lambs...Life As a Butcher At Steenson's Ballyholme

Working Wednesdays: The Silence of The Lambs…Life As a Butcher At Steenson’s Ballyholme

“I am an architect, they call me a butcher” – Nicky Wire. If I ever owned a butcher’s shop, I’d call it ‘The Silence of The Lambs’. Literally thats what it is, and plus I love that sort of comedy. If you don’t get it you need to catch yerself on for fuck’s sake. My Read more about Working Wednesdays: The Silence of The Lambs…Life As a Butcher At Steenson’s Ballyholme[…]

Jonny Blair and Michael McClelland HWGA Northern Ireland fans

Here We Go…Again – The fanzine undeniably infatuated with the Northern Ireland international football team

Having been a massive enthusiast about the Northern Ireland international football team since the 1986 World Cup, I had slowly worked my way to the point where I wanted to do something with my knowledge and passion. Initially this meant just turning up at Windsor Park to watch Northern Ireland matches. I used to go Read more about Here We Go…Again – The fanzine undeniably infatuated with the Northern Ireland international football team[…]