Our last port of call in Norn Iron this trip. The flowers - crocus? - are from the beautiful gardens at Mount Stewart (which also has some glorious mature gum trees), the onetime Northern Irish residence of the Marquesses of Londonderry. One of them was the Aide de camp to Wellington at Waterloo. The wife of another, Edith, was the brains behind mobilising women into support roles in WWI, as well as being involved in the suffragist (not suffragette, they Were quick to emphasise) movement. Politicians, governors .... we have been here before, but the house was all packed up for renovations, so we thought we would go back and see it in its splendour. It is decorated in the style of the 1920s, and feels very lived in and a family home, not grand and sterile.

But we have seen so many places, enjoyed the company of so many dear people, it will take a while to process everything we have experienced.

Ross joined his cousin Samuel and his Square Wheels club-mates on the Strive-for-five ride, a diabetes awareness raising event, from Ballyshannon on the Atlantic coast of Donegal, across to Belfast Titanic, a ride of 100 miles, with a return ride back to Benburb the next day. I had a lovely day out with other non-cycling McLoughlins, first at Malahide for breakfast at 11am, followed by a spectacular walk along the cliffs at Howth. Such a beautiful day : sun shining, smooth blue ocean sparkling and shining with joy, happy crowds of tourists enjoying the day and its sights. We returned to a tremendously fun family dinner at Loughgall, and the next day after church at the ancestral congregation, wandered down to The Argory for a return visit, and to test the theory that I might find a latte palatable. It is a constant concern to our various hosts that I don’t drink tea or coffee. So, going with the hypothesis that a latte is milkier and possibly more appealing, I tried one. Yeah, nah. Got half way through it! Apparently I should have tried a half shot .... so I am still drinking water.

Moved onto Lisburn, revisiting The Mountains of Mourne, Kilkeel, Annalong, The giants Causeway, favourite places with dear memories, and also meeting new members of the family, the next generation.

And then today we returned to Belfast, looking forward to more warm reunions and revisiting favourite family haunts.