Amazing Grace - Hayley Westenra (Live)

Woke up this morning with this song in my mind - beautiful hymn, I am off to Church!

HMA

Ecklinville - Ulster Scots Cooking Apple

Thanks to two local folk the Ecklinville Cooking Apples are once again growing in Co. Down – with two other trees near Londonderry.

Research carried out by Mr. Mark Thompson identified the Ecklinville cooking apples arriving into Co. Down, in particular Ards Peninsula – over 400 years ago. More information can be found at Mark’s Blog – Blogging Fae the Burn and Darren Gibson’s Blog – Fae the Han o a Low Country Lad.

Today, we planted our Ecklinville apple tree in the back garden in North Down – Matthew, Christopher and Dudley gave me a hand.

I look forward to the first crop of apples – I can’t wait for an Ulster Scots apple tart / apple crumble!

HMA

Agent ZigZag

I just watched the a most interesting BBC Time-watch Programme - If you have an hour to spend and like war stories, espionage, intrigue, and a love story - well this is for you!

Click on the link to the below for the BBC iPlayer.

Following on from his hugely successful BBC2 documentary, Operation Mincemeat, based on his book of the same name, writer and presenter Ben MacIntyre returns to the small screen to bring to life his other bestselling book - Agent Zigzag.

As part of the Timewatch series, MacIntyre reveals the gripping true story of Britain's most extraordinary wartime double agent, Eddie Chapman. A notorious safe-breaker before the war, Chapman duped the Germans so successfully that he was awarded their highest decoration, the Iron Cross. He remains the only British citizen ever to win one.

Including remarkable and newly discovered footage from an interview Chapman gave three years before his death in 1997, the programme goes on the trail of one of Britain's most unlikely heroes - a story of adventure, love, intrigue and astonishing courage.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b017ctqp/Timewatch_Double_Agent_The_Eddie_Chapman_Story/

HMA

Autumn Re-Image

Folks - just a re-image, the other design - although I like it, was just getting a little boring and needed a lift.

Well, we could all do with a nip, tuck and re-imaging now and again!!

HMA

Lambeg Drums - A Selection of Painted Shells 21

Here is a selection of lambeg drums with portraits of local men - who undoubtedly had a keen interest in the lambeg drum musical tradition.

I am unsure who owns the drums, other that they all look great and of course each shell has a story to tell.

Thanks to Bobby Magreechan, who continues to permit me, to publish some of the photo's from his 'The Ulster Drum' book - 2010.

HMA

Ulster Snack

Those of my blog followers who are unsure what a traditional Ulster snack is - well here a couple of the essential ingredients.

1 Veda thickly sliced (door stoppers) spread with some butter or margarine topped with a thick slice of Ulster mature cheese, touch of pepper.

I cup of tea and a packet of Ulsters finest crisps - Tayto Cheese & Onion flavour.

You don't need to have too much culinary talent - just strong chewing jaws!!

I am off for a few slices now.

HMA

Remember Us

One of my students came up to me recently and handed me a poem that he had written - I took it from him and read it later that day.

Sam is an average student, I began to teach him fife around 18 months ago, Sam lives for football and music, everything else simply passes him by.

It is a simple poem - but one that I enjoyed reading.

Sam Gyle is 13.

Remember Us

Boom! What’s that? That’s the sound of death calling

Dragging you to eternity

It’s that fear you see in your comrade’s eyes

As he wallows into a pit of despair

The puff of smoke as their lives evaporate

Ahh

Can you hear the screams as they drown into the fog of gas

Their very screams that haunt you as you lie awaiting

Wandering what death has for you

Help me!

You can feel yourself being dragged into the chaos and destruction of this futile war

You ask yourself why?

Why is it that so many had to suffer?

Suffer so that you can live in peace and harmony today

They fought for you and gave one plea

Remember Us!

Sam Gyle

HMA