5 Years...

Although not the 29th, this is the day we use three years in four to mark Jo-Anne’s death. This year has been different and it's hard to explain why. I think that it is going to be a year full of hope and expectation. One of our best friends Emma is going to be married to John later this year and by the summer (DV) we are going to be grandparents and move into a new phase of our lives, something Lorraine and I have been looking forward to.
We have by and large been able to live the first two months of this year, instead of dreading them and it is wonderful to see the healing that God is working inside us all. Jt & Elaine are doing fine, and are gearing up to becoming parents and everything is starting to fall into place for them.
We have a number of obstacles to get through this year. The credit crunch has had a severe effect on our plans to build a new Church because of the difficulties within the Presbyterian Mutual society. The potential loss of almost half a million pounds of hard earned money is a disappointment to say the least, but already we are making new plans and looking to the future.
One of the hardest challenges for me personally this year will be the retirement of our minister Billy and his wife. As friends Billy and Margaret have been wonderful and great examples of what true Christianity is all about. As a spiritual leader Billy is second to none, his teaching and preaching all full of love and compassion. I know we won’t be loosing our two friends but we will miss their warmth each Sunday.
Later on today we are heading up to Belfast and will be going for something to eat with Jonathan & Elaine. Don’t forget if you are on the roads please SLOW down it's just not worth it for the sake of a few seconds. It's better by far to be a few moments late.

New Elders for Ballydown

We had the Ordination of four new Elders at Ballydown on Sunday. Left to right front row; Jeremy Young, Trevor Campbell, Moderator Rev Andrew Watson, Elmer Armstrong and William Porter.

Ben Allen 2

Ben is working away at the restoration of the Golden Venus, by F E McWilliam. One side is complete and most of the damaged tiles have been replaced. He now faces the laborious job of polishing the individual tiles until they are like gleaming Gold. When sunlight hits this piece it shines like a golden beacon and is very impressive, It wont be to long until Ben has it restored to its wounderous glory.

( as always click the thumbnail for a larger image )

The Shack

I am not one for reading novels, but Lorraine talked about this book so much that I thought I really should give it a go. I was immediately drawn into the story of the book as in the opening chapters the author tells the story of a man called “Mack” whose daughter “Missy” was abducted and murdered while they were on holiday. I have never identified more with anything than how the author describes the emotions that Mac had gone through and “The Great Sadness” that had by now consumed so much of his life.
Not having a great imagination either I was really at a disadvantage as the story progressed, but this book really gets you to “think outside the box” and question many of the preconceived ideas we have grown up with
I won’t tell you much more about the book but if you only read one book this year then this would be an excellent choice.
This book although not obvious from the start, is book of fiction and the reader needs to be careful to balance the content with the truth of scripture.

The Shack by William Paul Young

Holly

This is Rachels wee dog Holly, she is stating to get bigger and fill out.

Winter Garden

Just a quick snap out the front door this morning, seems that we are set for more snow this week.

(Click the thumbnail for a larger image)

Down and around Newtownards

Still looking for Architecture images this time at Grayabbey, hard to walk pas such wonderful clouds.

Bert & Ernie

I have been trying to get this photo for a long time. Every time Bert saw he camera he would move and disturb the cat. The Cat [Ernie] really has him wraped around her wee finger. Some how they communicate with each other. During the summer the cat gets Bert to open the back door for her, he stays out and she walks on into the house. The pictures of her sleeping on top of him are not a rare occurrence it happens all the time. It has just taken me a while to get it on film, so to speak.

(Click on the thumbnail for a larger image)

Ben Allen

Ben Allen is an Artist and Sculptor. He is working at the F E McWilliams Gallery and is restoring one of the pieces for the exhibition. I photographed him in the studio as he worked on a mosaic piece. I will probably taking some more photos of him as the work progresses so as they say more to come....

Eve

On Sunday Lorraine and I were invited by my good friend Conor and his wife Caroline to the baptism of his first child. She was born on new years eve and was aptly named Eve.
I was very much in two minds as to take a camera with me or not, as it turns out there was no problem with taking photos, in fact the priest encouraged it.
The ceremony was very different to what we would be used to at our own church. Lorraine and I were made to feel very welcome and it was a very relaxed atmosphere. We both found it very interesting and we could see that it was a very special occasion for all the families taking part, I think there were six children baptised.
I only took a few snaps so they are shown below.

( as always click on the thumbnail for a larger image)

F E McWilliams Gallery, Banbridge

On Saturday I was able to take some photos of the F E McWilliams Gallery in Banbridge. This is a new gallery opened by Banbridge District Council to exhibit some of the works of its famous artist F E McWilliams. The gallery is essentially white and has many challenges for a photographer. These images will be used for my Architecture project.

(as always click on the thumbnail for a larger image)