Setting Belfast on Fire!

It’s been a hectic few weeks!!!

On the 5^th Aug, I went off to Superdrive NI in Portadown with a group of blind friends to do some rally driving!  Seriously!…..Former Rally driver, Jim Crosier, took each of us around the track calling out directions!  I kept her lit, had the car sideways at one point and even managed to send a few tyres flying into the air!  It was a terrific experience, although Jim may not agree, lol!  Take a look at the video footage on my FaceBook page!

The following week-end I went off to Edinburgh with hubby Paul and friends from the Ferrari Owners Club, Ireland.  Ever the speed demon…..although you will be relieved to hear that it was Paul who was driving this time!  Lol.  The Scottish club had a lot of things organised for us, including an open top bus ride, a tour on board the Royal Yacht Britania, a visit to Edradour, the oldest whiskey distillery in Scotland, finishing with the large Festival of Speed on the Sunday.  We covered over 500 miles and it was a fab week-end!

My friend Jill and I are like the birthday twins, as we share birthdays only a few days apart, so as a special birthday treat, our hubbies organised a wee break away to the beautiful island of Malta!  It was a fabulous surprise and it was good to feel the lovely warmth of the sunshine on our faces, as Malta experienced it’s hottest weather in over 100 years!!!

On 25^th Aug, I was delighted and very honoured to be a Flame Ambassador for Lisburn City in the run up to the Paralympic Games.  The Paralympic Cauldron was lit very early on a soggy Saturday  morning by DSNI Chairman, angela Hendra MBE in the grounds of Stormont Castle, Belfast.  The Flame Ambassadors then had their lamps lit from the Cauldron and were then responsible for transporting the Flame to their respective Councils for further celebrations.

I was thrilled to be nominated to carry the Paralympic Torch as part of the Flame Festival on Saturday evening in Belfast.  We paraded from the Waterfront Hall to Belfast’s beautiful City Hall, where I then had the wonderful honour and privilege of lighting the Paralympic Cauldron on stage.  As part of the Flame Festival, there were various sporting activities going on and a concert with XFactor star, Joe McEldry and other artists performing.  The weather was kind, the streets were lined with people and Belfast was buzzing, as I carried the Flame onto the stage to lite the Paralympic Cauldron!!!  With help from hubby Paul’s guiding hand, I lit the Cauldron and thankfully, not the stage!!!  Lol.

The atmosphere was electric and it was a very emotional moment and one which I will treasure forever!  It made me very proud to be from Northern Ireland!  My sincerest thanks to DCAL and DSNI for nominating me.  

Here I am being interviewed by the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19392536

There are 8 athletes from NI taking part in the Paralympics and I would like to wish them all, every success and the very best of luck for the 2012 Games!