People and rock and culture

Busy weekend! After a busy week at work. I’m starting to think there are some ne’er-do-wells that having been waiting for me to get back so they can resume their mischief...... ‘let’s have some fun with that Analyst who left for a while......’ So busy, challenging, but keeping me moving. And as my father-in-law likes to tell me “If you’re marching, you’re not fighting.” True.

Yesterday we went to Belfast for a gig. Live music is therapy for me. I love to sing along, have a wee dance and enjoy good times with friends. Music makes me feel good, especially when it’s live.

Last night’s gig had potential to be an odd one.... a band that had split up amid much drama and I knew there’d be some attendees that I really wouldn’t want to see. I felt slightly anxious about it and almost didn’t go but we’d paid for tickets and an Airbnb..... plus I refuse to be intimidated by a few high drama types. I knew there’d be enough true friends there to make it fun and I was right. There were friends from Scotland and friends from all over NI. It was great to catch up and enjoy the band.

We stayed up in Belfast last night. If there’s one thing I love about Airbnb’s it’s the people you meet...... This morning we met a fellow guest. Mike is from England and over as part of his work with the local Buddhist community.  

As far as religions go, I’ve always felt Buddhism to be one of my favourites...... around 12 years ago we were fortunate enough to have a family holiday in Thailand and found the Buddhist people to be gentle and kind. They appear to have a natural peace that I’ve always admired. The past two years I have found myself becoming more involved in calming my mind through what are essentially Buddhist principles; time in nature, receiving and paying forward kindness, reiki, hypnotherapy, meditation..... these things help keep me moving forwards and stop me becoming hyper and spinning off into an unhealthy and anxiety driven buzz of constant activity. They allow me space to regroup and restore my energy stocks. So meeting a Buddhist and hearing more felt very much like karma. I enjoyed talking to him. With my permission (he was very careful not to ‘preach’ or force opinion on me), he taught me a chant; ‘Nam myoho renge kyo’  if my understanding is correct then this is essentially the principle that we each have the ability within us to overcome any difficulty we experience in life. I like that concept. And I believe it. Mike talked about getting back what you give out..... something that has been said to me before. And again, something I believe. 

After this we went to St George’s Market for king sized breakfast baps! For those reading this who aren’t local to NI, this is a Belfast Bap (a massive bread roll, baked so that it’s crusty on the outside and really soft and fresh in the middle...... like the bread version of an armadillo....!!), filled with sausages, bacon and a fried egg. Some people also add mushrooms, onions and sometimes even black pudding. I stick to some tomato ketchup (or ‘red sauce’ as we like to simplify it to over here!)  So, anyway, St George’s and breakfast baps. Plus a cup of tea. Perfect. We met more friends and, as ever, I made some new ones while hubby was off buying the full fry in a roll! One friend showed me a photo she’d just taken of her and Jonathan Ross! Apparently he was in the market but we didn’t see him. Probably fortunate as I’d have chatted the hind leg off him (another NIrish-ism...... just means I talk a lot).  As we got the car from a nearby multi story we heard someone singing ‘Hey Jude’ on the level just below. Unable to resist, we joined in and then shared laughter with these strangers......you get what you give.....

From St. George’s we moved on for a bit of culture and visited the Ulster Museum. I’d seen on the news that they had an exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci sketches and I wanted to see them. Hubby, as ever, went along with my every wish! He got to see the Game of Thrones tapestry...... like our very own Bayeux  Tapestry without the historical accuracy. I’ve never seen an episode so I wandered quickly through this bit and concentrated on da Vinci. I got told off for taking a photo with the flash I hadn’t even realised was on, and dutifully promised not to flash in the museum again..... ;) 

Some photos from the museum. When I picture my brain tumour, I usually see a dark cloud or a picture that someone has scribbled all over. The second photo was like seeing a da Vinci sketch of it.

Great weekend. Lots of work plans this week and then a long weekend to build myself up before lots more exciting trips over the next few months. 

#livingwith

#notmissingathing

Xx