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I enjoy going to public events primarily for the purposes of taking photographs of lots of different people in one place, as well as the atmosphere that often surrounds these pieces of cultural activity. It’s nice to take time out from the dark and dingy, seedy and dark, sweary, alcohol-fueled and smoke-filled bars and darkened rooms. To enjoy the sun and act like children.
This is what we did on Saturday 28th April.
Firstly, Friday. Nick McCallan from God Talking Soul followed by Mary’s Great Idea in Common Grounds. The weather was great and the music suited it so well.
After a late night, I met with Ciara, Michelle, Paul, Dennis, Ronan and Connor for an awesome Fry in a local eatery. Soon after we went to the EU50 Playday. This was a day run by the council to mark 50 years of the European Union, the first of a series of events leading up to Europe Day on 9 May. Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park is a beautiful large open space with rolling meadows, woodland, riverside fields formal gardens and the City of Belfast International Rose Garden, I hadn’t been in quite a while and loved going with my parents as a kid.
When we got there it was a little more than half over and had missed some stuff. Unfortunately our opinion of the day will be based on that.
The kids, and there were a lot more than we are used to being around, certainly seemed to be having fun, though I think it could have been better organised. The ice cream man made a mint, having a monopoly on all refreshments - high-priced ice related food stuffs and bottles of carbonated drinks that weren’t even chilled.
We managed to make our own fun, however. We found some trees to climb.
The figure at the top (red t-shirt) is my bro, Chris.
Most of us stayed a little closer to the ground.
But then as we found a patch of grass to eat our ice creams we were suddenly, and very literally, dragged into taking part in a spot of Scottish Dancing. I managed to avoid it, which pleased the others even less. The photos are priceless. 
Afterwards we played frisby like we came to do.
A rare moment of me looking energetic:
When we got bored of that we walked around the park a bit more. It is a beautiful park. Lots of greenery. So we sat in a field and whistling with the grass.
Finally, we ended the day with a pint.
Unfortunately we really ended the day with a trip to the cinema to see The Reaping, but as I won’t get back those ninety six minutes, I don’t want to ponder on it too much.
Another truly great weekend. I feel lucky to have friends who are cool enough to do stuff like that.
(For more pictures check my flickr stream.)
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Drinks where had at the Beechlawn Hotel, Dunmurry
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