Travel Tips

One of my favourite hobbies is gardening. I love it mainly because I love being outdoors in the fresh air and also because I like to watch plants grow and change through the seasons. A year ago, my garden was a mess of misplaced wildflowers (I don't like to call them weeds!) and overgrown plants. I bribed my sister, Linda, into visiting and she single handedly re-landscaped the back garden. It is now a beautiful space to sit in and read or just soak up the rare Northern Ireland sun.

I am a big fan of the ericaceous plants and in particular I like rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias.

This photo was taken almost one year after the transformation.

This is my mate, Tom. He lives next door with my neighbour, Bud, who is a great teller of stories, being well into his 80's. Tom 'helps' me in the garden, mainly by keeping me company. In his younger days, he would jump up on my back everytime I bent over. Thankfully, he is getting too old (and too fat!) for that now.

These photos were taken by my other neighbour, Herbie.

**Update - Tom went to the Happy Hunting Grounds in April 2008. He will be sadly missed**