SHEEP SHEARING FESTIVAL AT BURT

A small typo on the clothing meant that there were a LOT of Stewarts in the crowd.....

Check out their site

The Amma stall

BUNCRANA 5KM ROAD RACE

Sean Furey from Furey Insurances Ltd, the sponsors of the event with the President of the Athletics Association Northern Ireland Brian Downing and his wife Pat at the finishing line of the road run.

NEW COUNCIL GARDENING FACILITY OPENS IN BUNCRANA

The new trophy in memeory of Phillip Diggin who did so much in getting the facility and working to create the Tidy Towns Group

Councilor Paul Bradley had a laugh with George, the town gardener

Council workers and local councilors officially opening the gardening growing facility in Buncrana. Mayor Dermott McLaughlin cuts the ribbon,

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 59

Moving Rocks

A little boy was spending his Saturday morning playing in his sandbox with his box of cars and trucks, and his bucket and spade. In the process of creating roads and tunnels in the soft sand, he discovered a large rock in the middle of the sandbox.

The boy dug around the rock, managing to dislodge it from the dirt. With a little bit of struggle, he pushed and nudged the rock across the sandbox by using his feet. (He was a very small boy, and the rock was very large.) When he got it to the edge he couldn't roll it up and over the little wall.

Determined, the little boy shoved, pushed, but every time he thought he had made some progress, the rock tipped and then fell back into the sandbox. he grunted, struggled, pushed, & shoved; but his only reward was to have the rock roll back, smashing his fingers.
Finally he burst into tears of frustration. All this time the boy's father watched from his living room window as the drama unfolded. He walked over to the sand pit and said, "Son, why didn't you use all the strength that you had available?"

"But I did, Daddy, I did! I used all the strength that I had!"

"No, son," corrected the father kindly. "You didn't use all the strength you had. You didn't ask me." With that the father reached down, picked up the rock and removed it from the sandbox.
Do you have "rocks" in your life that need to be removed?

Are you discovering that you don't have what it takes to lift them? There is One who is always available to us and willing to give us the strength we need. Isn't it funny how we try so hard to do things ourselves.

5 MINUTES WITH - RAY DOHERTY

Ray Doherty lives in Greencastle with his wife Fiona and two children Charlie and Alfie. Ray was number 13 out of a family of 19 children (11 sisters and 8 brothers). His parents, Mary Francis and father Harry (the greaser) had all of the boys sleeping in a mobile home in the garden whilst the sisters got the house, before they moved into a larger home in Moville. Ray’s father was the manager of Fingal Clothing in Moville and in 1999 he (Harry) set up Moville Clothing, following in a long family tradition of tailoring. Ray and his brother Hillary now look after the business that produces clothing that is sought after all over the world. They have a website www.movilleclothing.com where you can check out their fabulous range of clothing. They also have a shop on the premises, which is just up from the Co-op in Moville. Open 5 days a week. You can contact him on (074) 9385882


What music are you listening to at the moment?
I like U2, they have been around a long time and made some great music. My brother Colm put me onto Johnny Cash a couple of years ago; his CD’s get played a lot. My wife likes him too.

What are you reading at the moment?
I look through newspapers when I get the time. If I am away on holiday I will read a good autobiography. Roy Keane’s, just called Keane, Sir Alex Ferguson who called his “This is the One. There are a lot of U2 books out but I enjoyed the one written by Lola Cashman titled “Inside the zoo with U2” It’s a real fly on the wall documentation of life on the road with the band.

What was your favourite childhood game?
Playing army with my mates, especially Damien McLaughlin (Ballyfaddy) We would build dens and camped out in the summer for weeks.
Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
I went to see I am Legend starring Will Smith who is the only survivor after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters. He struggles valiantly to find a cure….. It was scary and good at the same time

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I’ll turn to the sports pages. I am a big Manchester United fan and like to keep up to date how they are doing.
What would you never throw away?
I have a pair of scissors that have been used in the family for generations, my father, his father and his father They were all tailors.
Most embarrassing moment of your life?
Mickey Pat McLaughlin, a good friend of mine started crying one night and telling me I was his best ever friend. This was only about four years ago….he had had a few at the time….

Favourite TV programme?
I enjoy Born Survivor on the Discovery channel with Edward Michael 'Bear' Grylls. Grylls is a British adventurer, writer and television presenter. He is one of the youngest people to climb Mount Everest, doing so at age 23.
Favourite meal?
Lamb chops, potatoes and baked beans. My mother made it when we were young and it was delicious….my wife now does it well too…..

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
To be in the army. I joined the F.C.A reserve army when I was old enough and stayed for five years until I was seventeen. I got involved with other things like working in the factory so gave it up. I still think it’s a great thing to do when you are young.

Where was your best holiday and what made it special?
Four years ago I went to Kenya with Fiona for our honeymoon. We were there for three fabulous weeks on safari. We have a reminder of the time as most of it is on DVD.
What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Bear Grylls, although dinner would be a bit dodgy, seeing what he eats. Anthony Hopkins would be another guest. He is a great actor. I was really taken by Aidan Quinn when he came to the factory to buy clothes. He would make a very amiable dinner guest.
What do you do for a special treat?
Fiona and I go out for a meal. I particularly enjoy The Exchange in Derry.
Favourite animal?
The German Shepherd dog. We used to have one called Ben. I find them obedient, intelligent and affectionate
Biggest thrill?
My name was pulled out to go on Winning Streak in 1998. I won ten and a half thousand, not bad for one day’s work….
What was the best present you ever got?
My baby boy Charlie three and a half years ago and Alfie, my other boy just over a year ago….

What was the last thing you bought just for yourself?
I was on holiday in Majorca three years ago and treated myself to a G-Shock watch.
What charities do you support?
I support the Foyle Hospice, it’s a really beneficial cause and I also donate clothes to a Romanian charity that go to a children’s orphanage.

The world’s most irritating/most useful invention?
Light bulbs are the most useful, they have lengthened our days considerably. Like most people the mobile phone is up there on top of the most irritating list. Everyone knows where you are, there’s no escape.
Favourite past-time?
Playing football and gardening. I play with a group of friends and have a kick about, nothing serious. I am thinking about growing some vegetables this year, I’ll have to start soon though to catch the season. My father has a great greenhouse where he grows his tomatoes.
Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
I am very happy with now……
What do you have for breakfast?
A bowl of porridge, a cup of tea and a slice of Daniel Doherty’s wholemeal bread with knob of Kerrygold butter on top and raspberry jam.
Do you have a favourite cartoon character?
It has to be Popeye. He has a unique way of opening cans of spinach.
What was your first paid job?
I worked at the Welcome Inn bar on the Malin Road under Audrey and Joe Bredan. I was there part time and was paid 35 punts.
Best/worst household task?
The best is cleaning the toilets and the worst is taking the ashes out. I came from a big family and we were all well trained with every aspect of domesticity.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
When paying for something, always use someone else’s money. I was told that ages ago, it works for some people but not for others. You have to shop wisely and know what you are buying… and be able to repay the loan of course….
Personal philosophy?
My mother and father are great role models for all of us and they told me to always be good to people and look after people who can’t look after themselves. Live life to be a good example to others.

Nyreen Porter gets married

The chief bridesmaids and the grooms mother outside the church on Sy Mary's Road in Buncrana.

Nyreen Porter walks to the church from her house. Billy ,her father gives her one last peck on the cheek before entering the church

Good-bye at Berlin and B1

Saturday night was ladies' night dinner at Berlin in Itaewon. Sadly (or happily) everyone will be moving soon.

One person received her dish ten minutes before the other dishes. I've noticed that Korean restaurants often serve food with no regard to timing. I don't know how many times I've eaten my appetizer with my main course or while my husband watches me hungrily. The reason? Since Koreans normally share dishes (pancheon, grilling meats, etc.), timing is unimportant. We joked that our friend should not wait for our meals to eat. As the oldest person at the table, she was suppoed to eat first by Korean culture!

We shared two pitchers of sangria. In Korea, the younger person should pour drinks for the older person. You should never pour your own drink. Here is one of our designated drink pourers:
After dinner we strolled to B1 to meet the guys. (They were having their own dinner.) We drank Suburbans (my friend's signature drink from her bartender days) and snacked on a cookie gift box from Shinsegae Department Store:

A few minutes later the guys came downstairs. My husband was carrying his protein shaker bottle! In a bar!?!

Breakfast in a Crock-Pot?

So I am a sleeper, as in I could sleep till noon everyday of my life if no one woke me up. However, my husband is an eater, meaning his stomach wakes him up by 7:00am every morning. As you can see this is not exactly a match made in heaven. That was until I discovered... Breakfast in a Crock-Pot.

This is so cool! You put all of the ingredients in before you go to bed, set the cooker on low, and then in the morning you wake up to a hot breakfast that cooked itself.

BBA: Light Weat Bread

Okay I know this recipe is skipping ahead, but I needed a good PB&J bread for this week's lunches.



My proof box! This works so well. I microwave a small cup of water for about 5 min. Then, I stick the dough in with the now boiling water and it proofs perfectly.

Looks pretty good huh? Read on :(

Still looks pretty good...

Eeek! We can't make sandwiches out of holey bread. So here is my question for all you bread bakers out there What went wrong? I think I have narrowed it down to two possible culprits.
A: I do not have bread flour only all-purpose so in order to get the gluten-high that makes bread so tasty I added some wheat gluten. Here is my first thought, maybe I added too much? We did the calculations so that the flour would be about 16% gluten, but maybe we were wrong.
B: Sometime after the proofing before the shaping the dough did not deflate all the way (didn't get totally punched down) and thus when it was shaped a giant air bubble got trapped? What do you think? Please, let me know.

At least all is not lost this bread made fantastic croutons!

One thing I didn't mention is that this bread tasted INCREDIBLE!! It was quite possibly the best sandwich bread I have ever had the privilege of tasting.

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 58

The Donkey in the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a spade and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realised what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quietened down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, the donkey got closer to the top

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up. Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less.

ARTLINK EXHIBITION BY PAUL KERR

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Artist Paul Kerr held an exhibition at Fort Dunree in Inishowen this week. Called Somewhere Else , the images reflect the isolation and nature of the area.There was a good turn out at the opening with local and national artists attending.

5 MINUTES WITH - NOEL BRADLEY

Noel Bradley lives in Buncrana with his wife Rosanna and their two children Ruth and Peter. Noel was born in Buncrana but moved away for a while and worked in Nigeria as a missionary priest for The Society of African Missions. Noel has trained as a spiritual guide and pastoral counsellor in Loyola University, Chicago. He works as a community facilitator and counsellor. He is currently sending out invitations for a new workshop called the Transformation Game starting in Loreto House in Linsfort. Spiritual missionary and author Donal Dorr will co-facilitate the course which starts on Monday 1st June and runs for five days. The game was created in the International Spiritual and Holistic Centre in Findhorn, Scotland. If you are interested in participating in workshop you can contact Noel on 074 9362390
What music are you listening to at the moment?
My wife Rosanna sings with the Gateway singers here in Buncrana and tends to practice around the house a lot. That’s all the music I need to hear! The choir has just returned from a trip to Wales on an invite by the Welsh Treharris male choir, who came to Inishowen recently.
What book are you reading?
'The Recession and God' by Gerry O’Hanlon SJ. In the book he proposes a vision for a common good inspired by the values of equality, justice and solidarity. Gerry is suggesting that this is a marvellous time to question the whole economic model that has put us in this mess rather than try to patch it up and get back to 'business as usual'. He wants a more sustainable future with a place for ethics in economics.
What was your favourite childhood game?
Rounders, the Irish kids form of baseball. We used an old hurley stick instead of a bat.

Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
We went to see Gran Torino directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. It was about a disgruntled Korean War veteran who sets out to reform his young neighbour and ends up redeeming himself. It’s a very good film.
What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
The letters page. I like to see what topical issues people are writing in about. Literature, the church, society…It’s all interesting.
What would you never throw away?
My books…I still have all of my books from when I started reading and I still go back to them to read chapters and use them for reference.
Most embarrassing moment of your life?
The one that comes to mind was when I got caught with a ¼ stone bag of apples. I went to the chapel to pray and to ask what to do and was moved to go to his house and promise that I would never steal apples again….He took no notice and went to my parent's house to show them the spoils. My mother wanted to hit him over the head with the bag… out of embarrassment of course.

Favourite TV programme?
Questions and Answers with John Bowman, it has a good mix of celebrities and politicians.
Favourite meal?
I love salmon and a good plate of fluffy, dry potatoes.
What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I wanted to be a fire fighter. I wanted to save the world and rescue people with my big ladder.
Where was your best holiday and what made it special?
My wife and I went to Florida on our honeymoon ten years ago. I remember we met Martina Hingis in a restaurant, the Swiss tennis player who was at the top of her game at the time….
What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson and Seamus Heaney. All three of them have made wonderful contributions to humanity.

What do you do for a special treat?
I treat myself to a milky coffee. I try to stay clear of the chocolate digestives now though.

Favourite animal?
I like dogs and cats but an animal that I particularly like is the owl. It stands and waits patiently, taking everything in.
Biggest thrill?
When Donegal won the All Ireland final against Dublin in 1992. I was in Chicago watching it on a big screen TV and cried tears of joy. I played and loved Gaelic as a young fellow.
Biggest Challenge?
In my professional work that would probably be combining spirituality with social justice. As a parent to be a good husband and father.
What was the best present you ever got?
My wife and two children….
What was the last thing you bought just for yourself?
I bought a café latte and a big wedge of chocolate cake in a café in Letterkenny last week. It was a wet day and I couldn’t find who I was looking for so I thought “Why not?” I couldn’t get through all of the cake though….
What charities do you support?
Concern and Trocaire, both very worthy causes.
The world’s most irritating/most useful invention?
The best is the electric rice cooker we have. The worst are the election posters we are seeing everywhere. Why don’t the councillors just get together and say 'no' to putting them up. They are a pain to look at and spoil the town. It’s a waste of resources. If they can't co-operate on a little thing like that, what hope is for a new kind of politics?.

Favourite past-time?
Reading and watching television.

Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
Ancient Greece in the times of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. There could be loads of discussions about politics, ethics and logic.Not the time of Jesus, who knows I might have ended up on the wrong side?

What do you have for breakfast?
Porridge with raisins and toast.
Do you have a favourite comedian?
The Two Ronnies were very clever and I also enjoyed watching Harry Worth….remember him?

What was your first paid job?
I was a message boy on a bike. I worked for my dad at the Bradley’s grocery supermarket that was in Main Street, Buncrana. I got the princely sum of 2 shillings and sixpence for my work.

Best/worst household task?
The worst is taking out the ashes… very messy. The best is getting into bed.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
My mother once told me “This too will pass.”

Personal philosophy?
Try to be honest and fair. It is only with the heart that one sees properly, what is essential is invisible to the eye and that 'all shall be well, all shall well, and all manner of things shall be well..."

Burt v Naomh Columba

Intermediate Football Championship match between Burt and Naomh Columba. Burt lost and now have to win away to get the third decider.

Chinese Food Pizza

I had a great idea for a new pizza, so I had to make it. This is like the last pizza, but instead I used fried wantons, fried rice, mongolian chicken, princess beef, and ho fun. I was thinking it might turn out to be a real mess, but it was really great, even if it was tough to eat the fried wantons on there.

[Pizza Picture 1]
[Pizza Picture 2]
[Pizza Picture 3]
[Pizza Picture 4]

Here is food description paragraph #2: I cook these pizzas for about 15 minutes because I have determined that to be the correct amount of time to cook a pizza. The cheese was melted perfectly, and it was super tasty. I was thinking about pouring cock sauce on it, but the princess beef was already spicy, so I figured that department was taken care of. Now that I look back though, I think it needed more cock sauce.

Daegu Olympic Triathlon

Despite the rain, we drove to Daegu for an Olympic triathlon. I had a meal of hobak juk:

And a tiny piece of bread:Plenty of beta carotene but not enough calories! Later I bought a red bean bun at Family Mart. We stayed at a love hotel. Usually love hotels charge by the hour, and you have to pay cash. Instead of a key, the clerk buzzes you up. The parking lot entrance is shrouded with a tattered plastic curtain for car privacy. The rooms have always been really nice, though I don't know who would use the community toothpaste and hair brush!

Anyway, the weather was perfect the next morning. I swam and biked just for the chance to run:Every lap I passed a table of choco pies (a staple at Korean races), bananas, gatorade, and water. The race is too short for a choco pie, in my opinion! My SO swears by the Korean cake rolls for his long runs, though.

Every athlete received a meal upon finishing:The meal included seaweed soup, rice, vegetables, kimchi, and breaded meat cutlets. When I briefly walked away from the meals, an old man approached and picked up one of the boxes! I hurried back and grabbed the box from his hands. He looked as confused as I was. Then he used hand gestures to ask me to get him his own box! Mind you, he was not in the race. I pretended I did not understand.

In retrospect I should have given him the meal. I didn't eat it. Concentrated calories and simple sugars are best directly after a race. From what I've seen at Korean races, people either don't know or don't care about optimal recovery. Perhaps the Korean post-race meal is for celebration, not recovery. In which case, the meal was perfect!

Hwaguesa Temple

I spent a Sunday afternoon at Hwaguesa Temple, near Bukhansan: A monk greeted us in French and led us to an eating area for foreigners:

Everyone else ate in the noisy outer area. Our meal included rice and various sidedishes and fruit:

We accidentally sat at the "monks only" table and ate their black bean rice cakes and oranges:

Since you should eat everything you take, I filled my bowl conservatively. Mushrooms, pineapple, tofu, and rice:

The meal was free, so I wondered how many hikers stopped merely for the food. Donations, of course, were welcome. After the meal, we headed upstairs for 1:30 of meditation. Talk about challenging. I much prefer a 4am meditation to a food coma post-lunch one!