BOOK EXTRACT

MIDNIGHT AGAIN

Below are extracts from Midnight Again, which is a selection of the alert and animated letters that Helen Ramsey Turtle wrote back to her family in Denver, Colorado, during the Second World War. The letters home kept her American family abreast of her domestic life in Belfast and on Mahee Island, Strangford Lough. And abreast, too, of the conduct of the war on the home front as well as the European front: its impact on everyday life. As an American liberal pacifist, she was converted to the cause of war and hoped her country would join the war against itler’s Germany.

20th August, 1939

This week should decide whether there will be a war or no. It is awful to have that big black cloud always hanging over us and to feel this awful insecurity from year to year...

24th August, 1939

It certainly looks black tonight and by the time this reaches you heaven knows what will have happened... We have been hanging on the radio all day - now it is 11.30 and things look worse than ever.

4th September, 1939

So far the war has made no difference to us apart from blacking out our house and car lights. Everytime I seriously think about it I can’t believe it, and it makes me clear sick to think about it. I can’t imagine anyone I know having to drop bombs or fight anyone

We haven’t decided where to live - Mahee is obviously safer but if petrol is limited and food is very much rationed, we will be cut off not only from supplies but from our friends I am beginning to think that our peace of mind here at Mahee will be worth the loneliness and inconvenience because we are so near the airport in Belfast that those constant planes would have us jittery day and night - however, we can only wait and see. Time will tell and meanwhile we live from day to day - we have no future... International marriages have their disadvantages, but this is the biggest drawback yet.

5th October, 1939

I’m trying to think what would be of interest to you from our ‘Home-Front’. Half the people are furious with America for not coming in and think that if America had come in earlier, there would have been no war, and half don’t blame her

31st October, 1939

There is a variety of opinion as to what to do in an air raid - I think that the A.R.P. advises rolling yourself in a blanket and lying against an inside wall away from any windows with your gas mask on and a pencil between your teeth to keep your ear drums from getting the shock of noise or something like that - what a picture!

11th January, 1940

...As for us, we’re getting along famously - this war makes you value what you have so much more than normally, that it gives that zeal to life that you only get in times of stress and probably impending catastrophe.

30th July, 1940

Every time I go to town I notice a) how crowded it is; b) how full of military of all kinds; c) how many wives and kids of military are here. orries, motor bikes, camouflaged army cars of all kinds pour through the streets and the sidewalks are stiff with men in uniform. Also, there are public shelters being put up every place. There are two huge ones in Donegall Place - one across from R[obinson] and leavers and one outside the arlton

January, 1941

veryone is cheered up over the Italian flop in Greece and Egypt but everyone expects an invasion “in the spring”, which means from February on. The mere thought of it gives me chills and fever because I know how scared I would be. Everyone is saying that Hitler will probably do his worst to crush England this year - and the opinion on gas is divided between those who think it will come with the total war of the invasion and those who think that Hitler will only use gas if he sees that it is a question of one last fling or failure.

February, 1941

Just in the past 3 or 4 weeks food has been gradually disappearing - bananas, grapefruit, onions, spaghetti, jam and marmalade, oranges, lemons, chocolate, sweets of all kinds, biscuits, tinned things of all kinds, packets of jellies, etc. are going, going, gone. And the meat ration is 1/2d per person... butter 2oz. a week, sugar 4oz., tea 2 oz., bacon (about 2 strips each), margarine 4 oz., chickens are each ggs are still nearly a do en However, despite all these snags, we are as happy as kings with the garden full of snowdrops, Spring around the corner and the daylight until nearly o’clock One of the big advantages of country life is this next-to-nature move that makes us appreciate every rag of sun, every bird that sings, not to mention the bees and the trees.

6th May, 1941

You’d never guess what we have in the house tonight! 5 evacuees. I picked them up walking along the road from Comber with their little bundles. These people weren’t bombed out but are just scared out. Not a single person on their street is living there any longer - they have just left their houses and fled and go back in the daytime.

I asked a censor about what is allowed to be reported about a raid, so I hope I can get an account over to you which is harmless and won’t give away any secrets. The papers and the BBC described it as a “vicious attack” and vicious is just the word for it Anything like the sound of the bombs dropping can’t be translated into words - you have to hear it to get the full force of the awfulness of it.

23rd December, 1941

Subtly and gradually, England especially and Ireland incidentally have become so socialistic. Maids are gone in Eng. Big cars are out of sight, dukes and earls ride in Baby Austins or walk or take the train, anyone with a car gives lifts to anyone walking, there can be no ostentation of dress or food or entertaining and most noticeable of all is the spirit ire is more jittery than ever since America has come in. They have no coal and no candles and no para n oil for lamps and no petrol. The train services are awful and the passengers have to get out at peat bogs and help gather peat to stoke the engine.

3rd May, 1945

How near we are to V.E. Day you will know when you get this. I think it will be today or tomorrow. I am going straight from here to buy the biggest American flag I can find our English one is at Mahee - we will get it on Saturday Gay and ulie are worked up to fever pitch - they rush down to read the headlines every morning and have been very interested in the paper since they started guessing how many miles the Russians were from Berlin...

Antonia Malcolm and Dilly from Hidden Huntley walled garden.

. Stephen Todd and Jenny McCullough.

Norah Christie and Michelle O’Brien.

DOCS IRELAND FILM FESTIVAL

Docs Ireland Film Festival recently held an outdoor screening of ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day’ at Hidden Huntley walled garden, Dunmurry. It was a wonderful evening of music and cinema to see out the summer evenings.

Jane and Guy Edwards.

. Paddy Fee and Bethan Ratcliffe. . Abie and Keith Stewart.

The Martello jazz band playing in the walled gardens.

Erin McIlwaine from Newcastle Yacht Club and Lauren McDowell from Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club.

RYA NI YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Excitement was in the air at Carrickfergus Sailing Club recently as more than 137 of Northern Ireland’s Youth and Junior sailors took to the water to compete in the RYA Northern Ireland Youth Championships. Racing took part of over two days on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September and it was a thrilling weekend as 121 boats battled it out in each of the seven categories.

Bobby Driscoll. Ellen Barbour.

Kate Brow.

Tom Coulter. Daniel Palmer.

Larne Grammar students. All the prize winners.

WHEN A CAREER AND PASSION COME TOGETHER

Ulster Tatler’s Michaela Colgan speaks to David McClure, owner of Twisted Wirestarter about his thriving business.

What is Twisted Wirestarter?

Twisted Wirestarter is a passion project which has grown from many years of artistic endeavours. The name is a play on words from one of my favourite, old school, tracks - Firestarter. Instead of fire, my medium of choice is wire - twisting it and shaping it to form intricate items of jewellery. At the time of deciding upon the name I was only starting on this journey so all the pieces seemed to fit together perfectly. The name and the branding around the items I create are an integral part of the process for me as I want each piece of jewellery to be a full experience for the person who buys it.

When did you create the business and why?

TW was born back in January 2020. I have always been artistic and have worked on many projects encompassing web/graphic design, t-shirt design and enamel pin design. With all of these projects, some parts of the process have had to be outsourced for printing or manufacturing and I always felt that I wanted a 100%, hands-on product that I make from start to finish.

Cut to 6 months spent exploring and refining my wire artistry skills and the seed was sewn. Fast-forward almost 2 years and I now have a worldwide audience as well as a lot of new supportive friendships. So far, I have created over 500 bespoke pieces and have new plans for the future growth of what I can achieve and create.

What products do you make?

Primarily I make pendants/necklaces using semi-precious gem stones and wrap them, with a mixture of copper or sterling silver wire, to make one-of-a-kind pieces of jewellery. Each of my sterling silver pieces is bestowed with a name to match its uniqueness. I have recently branched out into making intricate rings and bracelets/cuffs and am always available for commission pieces upon request.

Are there physical stores or is it primarily e-commerce based?

As a home-grown business in Newry, County Down, my creations are found online through my current store on Etsy but this has given me a window to the world. This is supported by my social media presence. I will also be attending local Artisan Markets in the near future and a physical store/workshop is a goal for the future.

www.twistedwirestarter.com

Unique jewellery items created in County Down Finished pieces made with Sterling Silver and Copper Semi-precious gem stones sourced worldwide Complete with presentation box and care package Commissions available upon request

CastleCourt centre manager Leona Barr and marketing manager Catherine Ashman.

A DELICIOUS DAY OUT

Hundreds of visitors with an appetite to learn more about the Vegan lifestyle visited CastleCourt last month or the fi rst egan estival, held in collaboration with rban vents and ru eupagus egan ums. Over 30 exhibitors shared their vegan and sustainable products to help visitors on their own vegan ourney, while short talks and demonstrations showed how accessible the vegan li e can be. he day began with a dose o en rom itness ama who led a orning low oga and ellness ession be ore the estival began. etween soaking up the eptember sunshine, en oying a tipple rom the egan ar at astle ourt s ity cape while listening to singer yler ichael, visitors also browsed the egan arket where they could en oy samples o sweet treats, delicious meals, hot sauces and micro greens, alongside ower arranging, local art and indulgent lotions and potions.

Sophie Duff, Nicole Grant and Ashley Sisk.

.Eva, Lenna and Luca Roberts.

Francesco Scola and Naomi Cantley.

zzzz Karlis Leists with Winston.

Andrew, Taylor and Brogan Lynch.