Katie's Graduation

Well, yesterday I entered Queens as a Graduand and left as a Graduate of psychology. The weather was amazing and the day was fabulous. Mum and dad came with me for the ceremony (I didn't trip on stage, even though I staved my toe the day before!) and then I went and got my professional photos taken. Afterwards we went out for a lovely meal and then lay in the park for a while. At 3.30pm Rick joined us and we had Strawberries and Cream while soaking up the rays and listening to a lovely dixie band. Afterwards we went to Winnies, had a wonderful day, never to be forgotten! P.S my hood was blue and green (although I did see pink fluffy ones and would have preferred one of those!)

Thriving Life Church BBQ

Hey guys,

This was the first ever Thriving Life Church BBQ and it was a fantastic night. It was organised to coincide with the world cup quarter finals and boy was it exciting. The weather was great, the craic was ninety, the venue was perfect, the food was yummy and the photos speak for themselves...

2-1, 2-1 ,2-1...and that isn't the football score!

Hey everyone,

after a long time and three years of work I got my results of my psychology degree on Friday and you guessed it. I got a 2:1. I am very very pleased!!!!
Friday night Rick and I went up to Portballintrae and met my mum, dad and bro and we all went out to celebrate. It was a good night.

Last night my wee bro was singing in the park in Ballymena as part of worship Ireland. It was a lovely night and the park was bunged. The night was brill.



I graduate on Wednesday morning so photos will follow soon.
xx

oh dear...

its been a wee while.
partly due to the fact that I have been temping and am not allowed on the internet in work and partly because the weather has (past tense) been so good that I didn't want to sit in front of a computer screen. My photos have been suffering too so i need to start taking my camera places again soon.
So yes, I have entered the world of work , temporarily, as rick and I have taken July off to spend some quality time together lol. Currently in filed boxmore in Mallusk as receptionist and administrator. I actually quite enjoy it and am there for 3 weeks. Saves me up a wee bit of money!
Find out on Friday (23rd June) what degree classification they give me so starting to get a wee bit nervous as I can't face sitting exams in August!!
L+L head away to Canadia soon ( I think it should be Canadia as it is Canadians who live there and Dave, or else it should be Canadans!, what you think stace?). Then when they come back I get to go on holiday- woo hoo.
Well thats it, need a few photos to brighten up the page, words are sooo boring.
Chat soon xx

UNIVERSITY- THE PLACE OF STUNTED EDUCATION

Well I haven't been in the best of moods for the past wek as I found out last Monday that my exams had been cancelled and I would recieve a 'predicted' classification. Also discovered that any written coursework including my thesis is not being marked or taken into account. I was not best pleased, and since speaking to the vice-chancellor of QUB nothing has been resolved and it is still a shambles. I will just have to wait and see what I am given!

Was working for age concern this week, aaren't some old people really funky! had good craic.

well thats it so far.

nothing too exciting im afraid. oh, rick has started to clear and work on the back garden, its looking good!

we've done lots in a week

well lets update this since I (katie) have now finished all my pieces of coursework. I was so fed up looking at a computer screen I just couldn't update this thing!
Anyway, the weather here last week has been lovely! Rick and I went for a walk round Ballyholme and along the beach, was really pretty!
Then on Friday night we went out to see Ulster play the borders in their last game at the present Ravenhill stadium. Thankfully they really slaughtered the borders, 60 something 17. It was a really good night, ended up back at Winnies! And of course I got my rugby burger with fake chees and onions ... mmm



Finally today, we christened our BBQ which my mum and dad bought us as a wedding present. We had the mills clan, stewart and elia round for a splendid day of food and craic!



So thats us up to date. see you soon x

woooooooooohooooooooooo

handed in my thesis this afternoon at 1.00pm. Thats a whole 3 hours before the deadline!
what a burden lifted off my heavy shoudlers! Took it to my thesis advisor this morning and worried he would rip it to shreds hours before it was due. Of course he didn't because I am wonderful. Anyone who wishes to read my investigation into deaf and partial hearing children's perception of rhythm feel free to let me know lol!!!
Anyway, it is a super feeling. One more essay to go, two exams and then... well who knows?



This is Lauren and I (ex roomie and psychology buddy), with our final thesis' bound and ready to go!

how is anyone meant to get any work done?

I just thought I would put up a quick post to remind everyone (STEWART AND LILIAN AND WINNIE) that the second series of Lost starts tonight on Channel 4!!! I am so excited although it is a double bill which means I need to stop at 10pm and watch it....
if you have never seen it you should watch, I was hooked in one episode! I plan to get rick hooked so he will watch it with me.
anyway here is a pic of Jack for all you ladies (he is yummy!)

and to entice Rick and the fellas here is Kate aswell!!

happy viewing. xx

ahhhh...7 days and counting

Well katies thesis is due this day week. still lots to do which is why I (katie) am writing blogs etc. of course! My nana and papa are just home from visitng my aunt, uncle and cousins in NY. They also spent a few days in Montauk and seem to have had a ball. Just thought I would post a picture of them. This is what I want to be like when I am 80!!!

Buzz off

feel the need to tell you guys about this. It is a game for the playstation that is sooo much fun. every player gets a buzzer and it is played like a real gameshow. So far we have introduced it to Rick's mum and dad..and GRANNY C! Katie's mum and dad and her wee bro. Steve and Steph (friends of ours) were over last night having a go at the big quiz (the new game). good craic I have to say. Next game out is the sports quiz...looking forward to it!
the website is www.buzzthegame.com check it out and buy it...endless hours of fun!


p.s Jason Donovan does Buzzs' voice...oh what a fall!

HAPPY EASTER

Well everyone, hope you all had a good holiday and I hope everyone got a holiday.
Over Easter we were out in newtownards handing out bottles of water and flyers for the church. Good service on Sunday and then onto Ballymena for a lovely Easter Sunday lunch mmmmmm.
Today we celebrated Lilians Birthday and went on a wee day trip to Cultra. It was a lovely day and it didn't rain much!
Head down now though, rick is still working with the trainees and I have three weeks left to complete all my assignments including my thesis before my finals......panic?????

here are some pics from Lilians birthday outing/Easter outing

Birthdays Galore

Well I just asked rick if he wants to write anything for him but he says all he is focusing on now is what songs to do for tomorrow so...maybe later.
We were at a friends 21st last night. Good craic. Back end of nowhere like (Rathfriland), we could have been to Dublin and back by the time we found it! Alot of my friends are turning 21 at mo so we have been roaming the country, going to parties!
This is a pic of the group of girls that I lived with at Queens, now i have to live with a boy!!!!!!!!!


So other news, not much really. Up to our eyes with church stuff and next week is a big newtownards outreach thing so prayer would be very much appreciated! Well. we'll keep you posted!

Slam dunked

Hey all,
Just to let you know how proud of my wee brother I am. Rick and I were at Stewart's baptisimal service yesterday. It was a great service and as his testimony he sang a casting crowns song called 'and now my lifesong sings'. Its the last song off the Lifesong album and the words are simple but amazing! I encourage everyone to check it out.
As you can see from the photo they dunked all of him...when I got baptised my ponytail was dry-oopps.
And for stewart- Philippians 4 v 13! CONGRATULATIONS!

Hurry on Friday...

Well I have to admit (Katie) that I am missing Rick and think I may start a petition for all us wives who husbands have to go away on business or work related things. This is the THIRD week I have been abandoned since September and I don't think its on anymore. Well he is home tomorrow after a weeks residential in Newry!
I have had to stay in the house all by wee self and I don't think I like it (apart from the nights I stayed with my mum and the other night I stayed with Lilian!!
Roll on Friday so I can get my husband back!!!!!!

I should also write that last week Rick did cook the steak before he ate it and was so proud of his dinner that we took a photo...

The excitement

Just have to report how unbelievably over excited Richard is today. He is off work as he is working the weekend. We went into Greyabbey to get some groceries and Rick decided he wanted steak for his dinner. We then went across to Angus' Farm Shop where Rick started jumping with excitement at the butcher cutting him a big ugly red piece of meat with bits of cow hanging off!
Aparently nowhere can beat an Alberta steak (so I'm told) but this one is pretty good! So how appetised are you now...

Long time no write...

Well it has been a while since our last post but i don't think anyone is reading it so it doesn't really matter! What has been going on in the world of the Allens these days. Katie got her hair cut, much shorter, much handier and so highly recommend it.
St.Patricks day we scrambled up the mournes on a bit of a geocaching expedition, our first ever, with the Allen folks. Extremely cold but we had a really great day. Ended with a bit of a birthday bash at Grannie C's! Think we are hooked on this geocaching thing, can't wait to get up the mountains again!

wow- people have replied.

hey guys,

good to hear from you. as we have replies I guess we have officially entered the world of blogging.
glad to hear as is well.

we have been in portballintrae for a few days chilling out...had an amazing time and the weather was really lovely!






glad all is well in Canada, and lovely to hear from you Lyn! Not much happening here at the mo.
second series kicks off in church this sunday- all is going well. we have had between 45-25 people through the first series which is encouraging. keep praying!

Katie goes back to Uni tomorrow after inter semester break and rick is still training people on how to put out fires and stuff.

well now i know this works i'll try and figure it out some more!
R&K

WE'RE NEW

Hey there,
we just discovered that Dave and Stace (and Caleb) have one of these blog things so thought that we may give it a go!
Very proud to have become an uncle and an aunt!!!!! He looks adorable!

Look forward to getting into this blog thing!

R+K