We have had the most wonderful few days celebrating family in all sorts of ways. In between we have been to Mount Stewart, which had gorgeous gardens, and despite the fact that the National Trust have the place all packed up because it is being renovated, it was really interesting to see the processes involved in storing,cleaning, restoring everything from chandeliers to silk curtains. They aim to save as much original material as possible, rather than replace with brand new. Well we found it interesting.....and we bought some wheaten at the fete in the gardens - one of our favourite Northern Irish treats. Today we went up the Antrim Coast to Carrick a Rede rope bridge, which I very bravely crossed. During our trip we came across these woolly people on their way between paddocks. Good fun - especially when they didn't stay on the road for long. Then on to Hezlett House and the Downhill Demesne. The house was an authentic Irish farm house; I had no problems but the doors and ceilings were very low.....the Downhill Demesne was the product of the imagination of an eccentric Bishop. Grandiose and spectacular, the structures were built close to the cliff top but he got bored, and the combined effects of WWII, the weather and a fire left only a sad shell behind. We headed back down the A26 to Belfast, and finally the rain hit with emphasis. We had avoided it for most of the day, so we can't really complain. The Giro teams are starting to arrive ..... It's getting a bit exciting....