Author: boomingbanter

Those of us from the best wee city in the world know that BOUT YE is Belfast speak for « how are you doing today dear ».

Yesterday our Buddy Maggie posted a whole series of sayings from the homeland. This gave me a great laugh. Our language is unquestionably filled with the spirit of the city. We are down to earth, modest, honest and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

So here is a challenge for those who hope to visit Belfast anytime soon. Translate the following three phrases into the Queens English

I’ll give you a clue!

Krishna may have occasion to say  the following to Aaron when too much sparkling beverages has been imbibed by the lady of the house.

Blessing #156 – Laughing Out Loud

 

 

 

Whether in Fahrenheit or Centigrade the days ahead are going to be COLD!

There is one sign that scares me on the forecasts and that is freezing rain. It is unbelievably petrifying. My first experience of it here in Ohio resulted in the car sliding almost all the way down the driveway. We missed the mailbox. JUST!

So tomorrow I am planning to negotiate with Aaron that I will drive him to school! We will see if he agrees!

There are some joys to cold weather. My cousin Becky reminded me of one yesterday when she posted about lighting a scented candle. A good fire and a glass of wine or a big mug of hot chocolate slip down nicely too.

Those happy Danish people have even a word for these special treats. They call it Hygge! Like a big hot hug!

Whats your favorite winter time moment?

Blessing # 155 – Cosy Comforts

Today Krishna’s brother and his wife are returning home to Indian after their month long stay in the USA.

It was great to see them even if it was just for a day.

We wish them safe travels and look forward to their next visit or perhaps we will go see them sometime soon. It has been too long since we visited India!

Having been an only child it is so beautiful to see how much the siblings in my husband’s family love each other. Even though they don’t meet often they reconnect like they had never been apart.

Kamala, the eldest in the family, who passed away some years ago, told me a story each time I met her that I will never forget.

She explained that as kids they never had money to buy sweets except on very special occasions.

Once Krishna won a competition at school. I think she said it was a spelling bee which would not surprise me!

On the way home from school he told her all about it and he broke the single sweet in two to share with her. She never forgot that gesture!

Even thinking of it brings a tear to my eye and reminds me always of Hebrews 13 1-3

Blessing # 154 – Brotherly Love That Continues

At the beginning of June and in preparation for a new chapter in life I started Blessing Hunting.

This has given me a lot of pleasure. It’s a daily challenge and something that has made me more mindful of the benefits of thankfulness.

This morning Facebook sent me a little message to say we have reached a milestone as the Booming Buddies page hit 💯 likes.

In social media terms this is but a blip in the big bite ocean but it made my day.

Facebook is suggesting that I finance the promotion of the page. I’m resisting as we hit 💯 organically, as the business world would say and I’m sure we can grow even further just by ourselves.

In the food industry we are always thinking about bugs and how we stop them multiplying. We know just one little bug can quickly become one hundred then one thousand then ten thousand. We call this exponential growth and we try to stop it.

So today I ask you to help with an experiment. Pretend you are a bug. Invite one or two of your friends to like our Booming Buddies page and let’s see how far we can grow and go!!!!

Blessing # 153 – Encouragement

Today as we remember the end of the First World War bells are peeling all across the United Kingdom.

The bells will ring in a timed sequence across the entire country throughout the whole day. They will ring out for PEACE!

At my home Parish of Holy Trinity Ballylesson County Down the bells will be rung at 6:30 pm. So I am posting this message to coincide with their ringing.

These bells call us to Church each Sunday morning, rejoice with us at our weddings and help us say a fond farewell to the loved ones we lay to rest.

As we hear them now in spirit if not in person let us commit to work for peace and do our best to ensure that bells never again have to peel for loss in war.

Blessing # 152 – Timeless Connections

On Thursday we attended a wonderful lunch where Anthony Chan the chief economist at Chase Bank was the speaker.

The setting for the lunch was lovely, the food was excellent and most importantly the talk was very informative and entertaining and so was the Q&A.

So what more could you ask for? Well as we were leaving one of the hosts asked if we’d like to have one of the center pieces.

This was so unexpected but so appreciated. All though lunch I’d been secretly admiring the flowers that are magnificent and that smell so good.

Now they are home and bringing joy and beauty and sweet smelling memories of a great day!

Blessing #151- Surprises

This morning when we got up at six the lights gave a few splutters and went out.

There was a power outage all over the neighborhood for who knows what reason as it is only raining not storming.

Panic!!!! There’s a lot to do in half an hour but the lad swings into action jumps in the shower and is downstairs in five minutes with no prompting.

First find the matches in the pitch black darkness! It’s always good to know where you’ve hidden them! That torch on the IPhone sure is helpful and now I know how to use it I won’t forget!

Next light all candles that are around the living area. Good job we had them to hand along the hearth,

Get the breakfast and lunch made! Gas is Good all the time all the time Gas is Good!!!

Finally, the biggest challenge is to get the garage doors open. Need a tall lad for that!!!

Just imagine that not so long ago most of our grandparents got by by candlelight and many people around the world still do!

Blessing # 150 – Candles and Gas and ELECTRIC Power!

Watching a young man buy his girlfriend a birthday gift is such a good feeling.

The first step is cashing the check you have worked hard to earn and then comes the decisiveness of knowing exactly what that girlfriend would like.

It has to be a bracelet because he already got her a necklace and it has to be silver because she likes that best!

Of course on this special day dinner out is also a must!

Many of you will have lived through all this and must have felt like we do now. Happy about autonomy but anxious until that car pulls back into the garage.

Pays to remind ourselves also that this once was us!!!

Blessing # 149 – Growing Independence

Today is the weekly trash collection day in our neighborhood. In the UK we’d call this Bin Day.

Many years ago, in the late 1950s,  when bins were noisy little tin cans my Mom was very impressed by a sermon our pastor Reverend Sanson preached on thankfulness.

Many professions were mentioned in his message, teachers, doctors, nurses, soldiers, and policemen but the take away was that we should never forget the “Binmen”.

My Mom made sure that she regularly passed this message on to me and many others in the years ahead,

Trash collection has come a long way since then. We accumulate so much more trash today than we ever did back then. Fortunately  we have the ability to recycle but we still waste way too much!

When I was taking the bins to the kerb today it was still dark but Venus was bright in the sky and the stars were beautiful.

It was a glorious start to the day but come rain, storm or snow those who provide us with our trash collection service will come out to take care of us.

Take a moment to reflect on the key role this plays in maintaining hygiene and in disease prevention.

We are so fortunate to have this great service unlike many people around the world who still don’t.

Blessing # 148 – Civil Infrastructure

 

Today the wind could easily knock you off your feet. All the leaves are swirling and there are few left now on the trees.

Amazing what change a day or two can bring!

There are some very tenacious plants around though including the beautiful Burning Bush.

For most of the year it is quite discreet but right now it’s the star in the landscape.

The leaves have turned a deep and vibrant red and are popping out all around us. They contrast so beautifully with the blue sky.

This color always makes me think of Santa and his red coat as if to say that Fall may be over but there is something wonderful to come in the weeks ahead.

Blessing # 147 – Stars that know when to shine