02:09 pm by admin.

Castleward

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Ivan |

It’s 7:30am on the 6th June, we are lying in a tent in Castle Ward and the rain is making a sound similar to seagulls walking on a caravan roof.

The weekend started off ok but we knew there was a fair chance we would get wet. When we arrived on Friday evening, the clouds were gathering but we were able to get the tent up dry. Linda had prepared a very nice mince and rice dish before we left home so it was just a matter of heating it up and settling down with a glass of red wine to wash it down.

Castle Ward Caravan park is laid out  ‘Cowboys and Indian’   style. The Caravans are round the outside and the tents in the middle. There is usually a large space in the centre for kids to play games (usually football). We had the tent pitched so that the door faced inwards, perfect for people watching.
There were kids of all ages playing ball. It was great to see the bigun’s looking after the wee ones amd making sure they all got a go at kicking the ball. Occasionally a dad or two would join but usually they couldn’t stick the pace. and descreetly sidles back to the tent for a beer.
It’s not just families that use Castle Ward Couples use it too and one such couple were sitting toasting marshmallows over a fire made in the bottom of a small BBQ. A lot of people stay for just the one night in transit to somewhere else.

James, the warden lives in a caravan on site so he is always in attendance to keep an eye on things and take the money. He does a great job and is very pleasant and helpful. Come about 11:00pm he will normally have a quiet word with the older ones who are still hanging about chatting and ask them to quieten down for the sake of the younger ones.
After that you couldn’t hear a thing.

Like I said, 7:30am Saturday and it is raining and it continued to rain until about 4:30pm so we just read our books, chilled out and drank coffee. Oh, we had a bit of a siesta as well.

At about 6:00pm we headed into Strangford for a bit of a walk and to get a few bits and bobs the a nice walk back to work up an appetite.
Lit the barbeque around 7:30pm and opened a bottle of wine, mmm nice.

Sunday turned out a nice day so we had a lazy morning and ate lunch about midday. Linda does a mean Ulster fry.
After lunch we went for a walk through the forest to the big house, it was really nice. We called in to the bookshop in the courtyard and bought a couple of book. They’re really cheap and all the money goes to the upkeep of Castle ward. There is also a really nice coffee shop, so we stayed around for one.
We walked back to the tent, packed up and got ready to go but unfortunatley had a bit of battery trouble so we were in need of a push. To our annoyance, even though there were plenty of able bodied men standing watching us no one actually offered to help. So Linda and I, both in our late 50’s started to push the car onto the path. Then a man about 60′ish came and help. I would like to thank him if he ever reads this(we thanked him at the time) and say a big “THANKS A LOT” to all the bystanders who stood and watched us and did sfa.
BUT we had a great weekend and would recommend Castle Ward to anyone.

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01:59 pm by admin.

 Saturday 17th October was a great day. We caught the bus into the city and dandered round to the City Hall. There was a few people there in the grounds waiting to see the Big Butterfly unfurl it’s wings. At first we thought ” Poor turn out”  even though there was a stage set up in the grounds not many people there. Then the MC announced the Caterpillar Parade would start at 2:30pm and we realised we were a tad early.
What to do, ah, nip round to the Open Mike event in St Georges market to publicize the new Fringe at the Queens Festival./ Well we got there but it was packed the gills so we left. Still had the problem of what to do for an hour or so. Then my ever reliable good lady said the magic words “ Fancy a fry at the Windmill? ” . ” Try and stop me ” I said and so we had a nice bit of grub there which just filled the time in very nicely thank you very much.

The Caterpillar Parade was just starting to head down Royal Avenue by the time we got there so we picked a good spot behind the barriers and the place was jumpin’. In the distance we see lots of brightly coloured banners and all the kids were pointing and yelling with anticipation. The atmosphere was brilliant.

Then we heard the drums playing a calypso beat and the toes started to tap. Eventually slowly but surely, if not a bit erratically. the Caterpillar came into view. Winding it’s way down Royal Avenue and winding the kids up too

Kids were reaching out to touch it and they weren’t disappointed, Caterpillar stopped at every opportunity and let the kids touch it.

But that was only the beginning, behind the caterpillar came brightly dressed dancers, dancing to the beat of the very loud drums of the Beat Initiative.Believe me it was impossible to keep still, you just had to ‘Shake Yer Ass’ . They were followed lots of little butterflies adorned with brightly coloured wings, absolutely brill. More drums followed then some very ugly people indeed, god they were really gruesome  ‘ I know there’s a joke there but I will resist ‘.  

The parade wound it’s way to the City Hall and by now the place was packed and we had trouble getting a good spot. There was a stage set up where we were treated to salsa dancing and gymnastics, but the real spectacle was unfolding above our heads. On the parapets at the top of the City Hall were four large Butterflies lining the edge of the roof and in the centre was an enormous beautiful Butterfly just waiting to be born.

As we watched with anticipation two caterpillars scaled up the side of the building, at the same time two larvae climbed down to meet them. Then we were treated to, an aerial ballet is the best way to describe it, halfway up the building.

Coloured smoke was released and that signaled the birth of The Butterfly which then opened it’s multi- coloured wings to signify the birth of the new City Hall after the refurbishment. All in all A GREAT day, well done all the organisors

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01:42 pm by admin.

Blood, we all need it but apparently not enough is being given. Or is it, because what I heard the other day made me think.

In an office of approx 200 people, give or take, an enterprising member of staff decided to contact everyone to see what response he would get about giving blood. Now given the reluctance a lot of people have about giving blood, a take up of 71 people was a good one.

Not good enough apparently

When he contacted the Blood Donation people and told them he had 71 people wanting to give blood the response he got was surprising to say the least.

Unfortunately they couldn’t send a mobile unit because there was not enough people. Hmm.

Now I don’t know a lot about blood donation but I would have thought that 71 pints of blood would be welcome plus the possibility of setting up a regular visit, but who am I.

Perhaps someone with a bit of knowledge on the subject could help me understand what the problem is. If they do I will publish their response and if the reason is a good one I will apologise.

Posted in Grumps | No Comments »