Since Easter: Abridged

Opening of Peace Bridge and Mute Meadow

Goodness where do I start, have been out 'doing' so haven't had time to write it up. Here goes.

Exactly a year and 10 days after the publication of the Saville Report we celebrated another historic June day in Derry with opening of the Peace Bridge. And what a day that was, You know what, we're getting good at 'feel good June'.

Busking on the bridge

Carnivale of Colours

To my boys it seemed that the day would never arrive, every time we drove past we had the same chorus of 'Mummy, when is that bridge going to open?' but like all good things it was worth the wait. The day itself was 'dry' and warm, what you should expect for June but rarely get when an outdoor event is planned. The atmosphere was palpable with expectation and excitement. We started queuing early at the Ebrington site, beside St. Columbs Park and the masses of people were duly entertained by strange and wonderous characters that had momentarily escaped from the Carnivale of Colours. The only dampener was the fact we could not see nor hear anything going on on the bridge. Result, we missed the speeches and more importantly we did not hear the 600 odd school kids sing their hearts out. This was a shame, and something that would need to be addressed before any other planned events, particularly in the run up to 2013 City of Culture.  I believe the queue at the City side had a similar experience. C'mon if Derry's pertaining to be the Digital capital of the world! or so you'd think, so get it sorted!

Yahoo, Just the Ticket

Asides from that, the moment the gates opened and we finally got to walk across there was a visible surge of excitment and indeed emotion. This is the people bridge, for one day, at least 95% (if thats not too optimistic a guess) well ok, a large percent of the people joined together in positivity, whether they were actually at the event or not, to celebrate the bridge and what it represents. To quote the man "When, there's no-one complaining there'll be days like this." Besmudge the begrudgers. We were lucky to get across fairly early which meant we had more time to take in the events across the city and in St Columbs Park. We met and chatted every 5 minutes with friends and neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances, both old and new. The fireworks and Mute Meadow exhibition ended what was an amazing day. You know I think Derry City felt positively European.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

The bridge though isn't the only way to get across the Foyle, as I proved to myself at the end of May. For some reason I thought 'Hey, they're doing a zip-line across the Foyle for Foyle Search and Rescue,  I want to be hoisted 400 foot in the air in a crane and zipped 130ft across the Foyle at 35 miles an hour, as you do. And I did.  I really enjoyed it, in fact they had to hold me back from jumping too soon, (would have been ironic if they had to rescue me!) it didn't seem high enough, long enough or fast enough. This is altogether all the more surprising as ever since we climbed into a cave in Cavehill a few years ago, after a night out,  and me still in 'my night out' shoes (not recommended, heels and hillwalking don't go) I've suffered Vertigo, had a fear of heights but funny enough not of high heel shoes. Anyway, I think that's cured now and I'm up for another adventure...watch this space. Thanks to all the lovely folks that sponsored me helped me raise £215 for Foyle Search and Rescue.

Boys on The Foyle 

Indeed, we've been very nautical this year, the kids have been out for Foyle Days, (another fantastic event) paddling on the Foyle, then down at Prehen at the Foyle Paddlers, they loved it. But of course the husband had to top the lot as he got the opportunity to join the Clipper crew for a weeks training in Gosport and sail a Clipper training boat across to France for a pint, then back. (must have been a nice pint). Apparently the boat was at 45 degree angle with 25 foot waves...not for me, if you want to sail from England to France, get the Dover to Calais Ferry.  Makes you think though, If that was the English Channel overnight, spare a thought for the ones going on the long 6-8 legs around the world! Easy Jet never seemed more appealing.

Hubby's leg looking down on the Clipper boat

Its great to see the waterways opening up for everyone, look at what it did for Belfast. Now we have a couple of fish restaurants in the town, Pier 1 on the Quays and another opening where Spice used to be in the Waterside. We may be starting to paddle in the right direction, but word of warning, we're not there yet,  'There is miles to go before we sleep'. (Hopefully not with the fishes).

Of Course there is lots of other events in the City, we can't forget Bedlam Weekend Market  a place of wonder to ponder, peruse and lets not forget purchase. Hot Dang! will be there 30th and 31st of July. Then there's the Nerve Centre summer cinema club for kids, and we're dutifully booked into a few of their animation classes.

If you want to get out of the city, apart from the beaches and 'Hills of Donegal', you can take to the hills of Draperstown. Once agin, there's a brilliant line up at Glasgowbury Music Festival including amongst others, Paddy Nash and the Happy Enchiladas and head-line act Cashier Number 9. Hot Dang! should be there in force, with stall on the 23rd of July too.I'm busy making little Burlesque style hats for a bit of sassy fun, but I won't be singing....ach, well maybe later. . Then on the 20th of August we have The Stendhal Festival in Limavady, Music, Comedy, Dance, Theatre. Gawd, we really are a cultured lot.

If this is just a taste of how the North West can open itself up to the world then harness and welcome to all the buildings, radiography units, roads and infrastructure we can muster, harness and welcome to all the jobs we can secure, harness and welcome to all the events we can hold, harness and welcome to all the visitors we can attract...well maybe not harness them... Can we do it? in the words of  Bob the Builder and Obama 'Yes we can!'  How we're going to do it? mobilise all our communities and our politicians and then.... we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!