Highlights

It's been a full week again, bear with me as I figure out what I've done this past week.

Saturday was the final night of Proms in the Park 2007. My friends have been told that if you don't know what that it, you are uncultured. Needless to say, we all fell under that description. However, we got the chance to experience it first hand when their coworker (boss?) gave them a handfull of extra (free) tickets. So after my nine hour child protection training (split over Friday and Saturday. I know it really should get its own paragraph as a highlight...) I hopped on a train to Carrickfergus. Well known for its fabulous castle that sits right on the water, the town immediately hooked me. I didn't have much time to explore, but the narrow streets and brick roads had that little village feel, you know the one you get watching the beginning of Beauty and the Beast, or walking through Sterling, Scotland. I did get a very brief look in the castle, and then met up with the rest of the group to queue for the Proms.

We got in quickly because of our lack of "furniture" (ie: lawn chairs), and B picked out a fantastic spot for us to spread out our blankets on the tarmac. We settled in as people filled in around us (apparently, lawn chairs are the norm) and delved into our picnic dinners, our books (I was desperately trying to finish Eragon) and a game of Uno.

The program was the Ulster Orchestra, playing a wide variety of songs, with various soloists and others in to spice things up. There was a fantastic group that played (which I have no idea how to describe. But they were good. And fun.) traditional-ish Irish Music, and an Irish dancer for a bit. Then a soprano, a tenor, a trumpeter, and a concert accordian player. A children's choir of all the schools in Carrickfergus (catholic, protestant and integrated) sang Danny Boy, and throughout the whole concert there were live feeds between the other venues in England, Scotland and Wales. It's one of those rare opportunities to feel like a normal adult, living, working and taking part in community events. Thanks M and B for the invite.

Rugby World Cup began this week. Who knew the US had a team? They play tomorrow, I'll let you know if they're any good...Northern Ireland plays with Ireland in rugby, so I watched the Ireland- Portugal game on Sunday (ok, so I slept through most of it) and Ireland won easily, but not as easily or as well as expected.

Yesterday was the launch of the photo project. It was held at a nearby conference center, and several folks from the housing executive (the funders) attended. There was a camera crew for the local news (which I have yet to find on tv), a teacher from a local school, several other well dressed people I couldn't place, and all of the young people involved in the project. Their photos were displayed all around the room, a few gave little talks and even interviews for the news. It was great to see them amazed think at people were there because of them and their work. Even though they acted tough, I think they were pretty pleased. I walked out of the event thinking, again, of just how much I enjoy the young people.

And Afterschools started up yesterday. There are still two groups (wee ones are 4-8ish, older ones 8-11ish). The wee ones come for 2 hours on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays and the older ones come for 2 hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. A real schedule is setting in.