EVE OF BAPTISM OF OUR LORD. FIRST OF 2013.

SATURDAY 12 JANUARY. EVE OF BAPTISM OF OUR LORD. FIRST OF 2013. Having decided to make less entries this year, I now continue! HAPPY NEW YEAR! I welcomed the New Year, 2013, in Dublin, with my sister Bernie. We managed to enjoy the Annual Viennese Concert, attended a crowded Mass and the day continued peaceful! My resolutions included Passport Renewal! Back in Belfast, greetings continued and on January 5 I traveled to Cork. I was happy to see Elma waiting and following a good meal, I visited Good Shepherd. Met a few of the Sisters plus the staff who had traveled to Angers in September and left greetings for Sister Alex, who was on the road from Limerick, and other members of the Community. Inchydoney was mild, calm sea and all was right to enjoy W0MEN'S CHRISTMAS. The days that followed were full of visiting and greeting relatives and friends and many delightful moments. Discovered there had been two engagements in the younger generation with wedding bells in the year! Each day was mild, with sunshine in Garryvoe and Kinsale - really Summer weather! A chat with our Albanian Community included chat of a Volkswagon CADDY - and I had traveled all that day in a VW CADDY! Belfast again, and NEW BEGINNINGS! I went along to the local ALPHA Course introductory evening where I connected with four young and two more senior neighbours - all new to me. I look forward to journeying with them in the coming weeks. The local Clergy attended. Our speaker, a Presbyterian Minister, had supper with us before he spoke and our retired Canon was also there. A tiny flavour of Belfast! Yesterday, we had a Ungandan catering chef working here. Due to buses being hijacked and cancelled and taxis were not functioning, I offered to drive him to his residence. We were turned back three times, twice by protesters and once by the Police. We succeeded in the end by going via the City Airport Road and all was well. It seemed so strange that 20 organised protests were allowed while an international Rugby match was being played! Another NEW experience today! I went to see a new movie, on the word of another Sister! "LIFE OF PI" was superb. I really enjoyed seeing such an acclaimed film, that already has many awards. More importantly, it has a truly Christian focus. Blessings on each reader and peace in your heart until I write again!