Tag Archives: Belfast Bloggers

Sunday Sunday….

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Posted as part of One Topic / Forty Opinions via The Belfast Bloggers Network.

Sunday. What can I say about Sunday?

It used to be so different, when we started living in City Centre. Nothing was open before 1p. Well, things were open, i.e. Primark, at 12:30, but you couldn’t actually buy anything until 1p. True fact.

Then the Tesco Express opened on Dublin Road. Just around the corner from our flat. And it was open at 7. Very handy when we had a small boy and had run out of milk. Or needed some croissants. Especially chocolate filled ones.

Because the opening laws are based on square feet, you see, and that was the right size. The law hasn’t changed.

And I was a bit sad, handy as it was. It had been, for years, that, unless you were going to church, highly unlikely in this Jewish/Atheist/Something house, you not only had no where to be but no where you could be.

You had no choice but to be lazy in bed. Or on the sofa. Cruising the ‘net, watching a movie, eating a huge breakfast, what have you. Until after lunch.

Now, living here in Finaghy, several stores are open on Sunday morning. And Simon likes to run and get the Sunday papers. Sometimes Adam can be convinced to join him.

But he really is my son.

He’d rather watch a movie on the sofa with Mummy and wait to turn on the kettle when Daddy gets back with the paper…and apple cake…

The Free One Tastes The Best

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Posted as part of One Topic / Forty Opinions via The Belfast Bloggers Network.

As I told the gang at Belfast Bloggers, I don’t really go out to eat. Well, Simon and I might catch a sandwich on a Friday before an afternoon movie date, but eating out at night? Never happens. Unless my mom is in town.

Coffee, on the other hand…that I drink out. Some might say a lot.

And what’s my favourite?

Clements Coffee.* Hands down.

I first discovered Clements not long after I moved to Belfast. Coming from San Francisco, the land of Peets, I had high expectations for my coffee. Peets roasts their own coffee, in small batches, for distribution to their small chain of California stores. They do ship, nationally and internationally, but there’s nothing like stopping at Peets for a coffee. It was the last thing I did on my way to Belfast when I was moving. It’s the first place I want to go when I get back.

So I went looking for Peets in Belfast. I tried, I am fairly sure, every coffee shop, chain or otherwise, in Belfast City Centre in my first year living here. But the only one that came even a little bit close, was Clements.

At that point, nearly 10 years ago, I only knew about 2 Clements, the one on Donegall Square West, which was the first, and the one behind what is now TK Maxx and used to be…something else. 🙂 It was the one on Donegall Square West that I tried first. And wasn’t sure I liked the atmosphere. It’s a very oddly shaped shop, if you haven’t been there, long and narrow with no tables but more bars with stools and a series of sofas and chairs.

But I knew that I loved the coffee.

And now I pretty much only have Clements. Usually at the one at Queen’s Student Union, even though you can’t get a 3G signal in there to save your life and there is no Wifi unless you’re a student. I can forgive that for a large skinny latte with an extra shot.

And now that I have a three year old who loves “going for coffee” (he has juice) and sitting on those stools at the Donegall Square West location, I like that one a lot, too.

And I have filled ‘drink 10 get one free’ cards by the dozens.

And, it’s true.

The free one tastes the best.

*If anyone from Clements ever reads this, I’d like to point out I’m a web designer, among other things, and you guys need a site… 🙂