Life

Marie Louise McConville: Afternoon tea with my best friend felt almost like normal life

My reunion with my best friend, Louise was great thanks to the high standards at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen
My reunion with my best friend, Louise was great thanks to the high standards at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen My reunion with my best friend, Louise was great thanks to the high standards at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen

These last few weeks have been a bit of rollercoaster, haven't they?

While many among us have already found ourselves getting into the way of the `new normal', for others it has only been in the last week or so that they have been able to finally see loved ones again due to underlying health conditions.

For a few days there, social media was an unusually happy place as it was filled with emotional videos and warmth-filled photos of loved ones being reunited with each other.

I finally enjoyed a reunion of my own this week with my best friend of 20 years, Louise.

As both of us have underlying health conditions, we have had to spent quite a period shielding and before this week we hadn't seen each other for almost five months - the longest we have been apart since we met.

And as it was Louise's birthday, I undertook the drive to Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh to take her out for a treat.

It was wonderful to finally see her in person and after a quick catch up, we hit the Killyhevlin Hotel for afternoon tea.

Now, I should say that both of us were a bit nervous about doing it amid concerns about coronavirus and the fact that we have to be so careful, but in the end, we decided to give it a go.

However, on arriving at the hotel, I have to say, the staff were simply marvellous.

On entry, our temperatures were scanned and we were both admitted.

We were directed around a clear one-way system and then escorted to the area where our afternoon tea was being served, where the tables were well spaced out.

Then our waitress Anita arrived, complete with mask but underneath it, we had no doubt she was smiling and she also assured us that she was very happy to welcome us to the hotel on its reopening day.

She was an absolute delight.

So cheery and fun, we almost forgot things were not normal.

Even on visiting the bathrooms, the effort made by the hotel is to be applauded, with hand sanitisers installed around the place and hand towels to dry our hands.

After we ate enough Eton Mess and lemon loaf to feed a small army, we paid through a secure slot and left with smiles on our faces.

The Killyhevlin Hotel has really gone to a top effort to ensure guests still have a good time despite the restrictions.

Despite the masks, the staff were happy and fun, especially Anita, who was a treasure.

Well done Killyhevlin, you made my reunion with my bestie who lives out westie all the more special and both of us felt in very safe hands while were there.

Keep up the good work.

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Comedian Ricky Gervais made a bit of an unusual revelation this week by disclosing that he wants his corpse to be eaten by lions after his death.

The 59-year-old said instead of an official burial, he bizarrely would like to be torn apart by lions in a zoo - in front of horrified visitors and tourist.

Speaking in a recent interview, the comic said: "I do not care about my physical body. Feed me to the lions…

"Me just being thrown into the lions' cage at the zoo and people - all tourists - going `Is that the bloke from The Office?''.

Well, each to their own.

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Summer is in full swing and while the weather may be hit or miss, it's great being able to get out and about.

If you haven't yet planned a few activities to enjoy some fun with the kids before they go back to school, fear not, there's still plenty on offer.

And even if the weather is not playing ball, you still can.

The Lost City Adventure Golf, based in Cityside retail park in Belfast, has now re-opened following the lockdown and with two separate 18-hole, rainforest themed, indoor adventure golf courses - Sunken Skull Ridge and Explorer Falls - on offer, there's no risk of boredom.

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, The Lost City Adventure Golf team have made some changes to keep everyone safe.

So, anyone wanting to visit to play a round of adventure golf is advised to pre-book online in order to limit numbers.

On arrival, visitors are asked to abide by a queue system, use footprint markers and pay by card.

Score cards, pencils, balls and putters will be set out to collect before visitors play and hand sanitiser stations are available throughout the venue.

The team has also introduced additional cleaning processes and all balls and putters will be sanitised after every customer.

While the bar and dining areas are currently off limits, drinks are still available to buy and a takeaway menu can be enjoyed on your exit.

Anyone feeling unwell with symptoms including a new, continuous cough or high temperature is asked to stay away.

Further information is available at www.lostcityadventuregolf.com/belfast