Next year would have marked 20 years in journalism for me, but after a media career that's taken me from radio to TV, print and digital, tonight I'm signing off on my final BelTel shift and getting ready for a new chapter away from news. Don't think it's sunk in yet!
A large tree taken out by the roots lies in a field after collapsing the edge of the road as it fell in Storm Éowyn
It's not that long since we got the road built back up after the last downed tree took a chunk of it out with its roots, but #StormÉowyn has claimed another one 😬
Still no power at home - leaving the office after just the 14-hour day to go back to radio silence, no 4G, no phone signal, nathin' 😬😬😬 #StormÉowyn
Heavy snow at home, but thankfully not a flake in the city!
Hopefully not as bad, although the hopes of the power being restored any time soon are dimming 😱
In less important news, I've just had ##TheTraitors completely ruined for me with the final result in the headline of an article when I've had no way to watch 😭😭😭
A fallen trees blocking the M2 motorway onslip in Ballymena
18 hours and counting of no power, 4g or phone signal thanks to #StormÉowyn - have had to make it to the office through a blizzard a) to put a shift in and b) to mainline hot tea not made on a camping stove! 🫠 At least the M2 was clear, unlike yesterday, but not a road gritted.
Oh good, the snow's back on and the last lot has gone precisely nowhere...
Pretty snow, but commuter says no - not after last night's trek home! That's definitely working from home weather, especially as it looked less appealing at 5.30am ☃️
Good solid 90mins to make the journey home in a mini blizzard - and for once parts of the M2 were nearly the worst bit, at least until I hit the proper rural roads...
Favourite moments so far include the former diplomat who claims to be cool in a crisis showing that in a hostage situation he'd be more likely to negotiate himself a spot tied up beside the victims, and a traitor lecturing on how to traitor before promptly getting made and voted out. Gold.
Finally binged the new season so far of #TheTraitors - had to catch up before I ended up seeing any more spoilers in work! Still love it, the cinematography, setting, music, Claudia's wardrobe lol... Not sure this set of Traitors will get far though - I'm actually surprised there's only one gone!
Gotta love the high-handed dismissal of Belfast commuter woes from politicians: "Get public transport or expect congestion." How about you play your part, decentralise civil service jobs, stop cramming in office tower blocks, encourage wfh, improve affordable public transport...
A large tree blocks a rural road having being brought down in strong winds during Storm Darragh.
You'd be amazed at the number of drivers undeterred by this - would love to see the paintwork afterwards 🙈
Thrilled to be sat here the day after turning 42 listening to pundits pore over the future of #LFC's King Mo as if he's ready for a retirement home at the ripe old age of... *checks note* thirty-fecking-two! 👵🏻
Sad day in chilly Ballymena saying goodbye to broadcasting legend Ken Reid, but what a great eulogy from Mark Simpson. Heard so many stories today that would have made Ken chuckle, hope they bring his family comfort.
Utterly depressing. Attack a building that's there for the good of the community because you don't like that a politician was invited that you claim has "done nothing for the community". Make it make sense.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
To be fair to Sky, it's not as if this was some big "shoehorn in a pop star" moment - Ed Sheeran choosing to saunter in put them all in a very awkward position and giving Amorim the out by joking about him being an Ipswich fan was the best of a bad lot of options. Where was the crew to intercept??
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How it normally looks, obviously taken before the snow...
Flooding out back where a normally tiny ankle-deep stream can usually not even be seen given the height of its bank. I've lived in this area, on and off, for 40 years and I've never seen it even close to this.
One of the problems on this site is verification (possible, I know, but requires work from our website developers) so I've put together a starter pack of Belfast Telegraph journalists & columnists, which I'll add to as others join.
Class day for NIE to put the power off for maintenance works 🥶🥶🥶
Drove home from Belfast and it was dry as a bone the whole way to Ballymena, in a "pfft, weather warning, what weather warning" kind of way. Two mins further along and it's snowing and the roads are like skating rinks. #CulchieWoes
Sad to hear of Ken Reid's passing. You learn so much from newsroom big hitters, but the small moments often stand out - in my case, having Ken's company on a train and swapping my tales of work woe for his of political intrigue. I got the better deal.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
Changed my wee car a few months ago after driving my Mini for 14 years and it has taken me this long to learn to love it. First skiff of snow and we've fallen out again - took four goes to even get out the lane when the Mini would not have flinched... 😬
Two weeks in to a reluctant trial of preventative migraine drugs, a route I haven't gone down in a long time due to the side effects. Today, downed by a proper stinker of a migraine, complete with throwing up. I know I can't expect them to work this soon, but still feeling hard done by. 🤕
What a weekend - didn't know I was flying to Germany til I got to the airport gate in Dublin, didn't know I was going to Friday night's DEL game and then got surprised tonight literally outside Technikum in Munich with tickets for my favourite ever musician Myles Kennedy! Spoilt pup! 🥰
Munich's beautiful architecture - if this was Belfast, they'd prob coup it for student flats...
