Norn Iron hospitality and the Proms

Funny how Norn Iron works. Something the Captain always loved from his work visits was the way that "things to do" just popped up and you got invited to all sorts of activities (mostly legal) just be being in the right place at the right time with the right people.

Well, on Friday morning in Bangor we saw David and Caroline, the couple who welcomed us back in June and gave us lots of good info on the local area. Over coffee we got invited to the BBC Prom in the Park and were given two tickets that were harder then hens' teeth to get through the lottery system the BBC ran here. From their website:

Belfast Proms in the Park

Classical for starters, For families

About this event

Katherine Jenkins soprano
Martynas accordian
Chloe Hanslip violin
Ulster Orchestra
David Brophy conductor

BBC Proms in the Park returns to the Titanic Slipway in Belfast on Saturday, September 7, 2013 as local audiences join the UK-wide celebrations of the world famous Last Night of the Proms.

BBC Proms in the Park in Northern Ireland is now in its 12th year. It provides outdoor music-making on a grand scale, bringing together local and international artists in BBC Northern Ireland’s biggest outside broadcast event of the year.

We also met David and Caroline's friends, Martin and Renee. The four were heading up to moor in Belfast on Martin's yacht for the weekend as the pontoon is very close to the Titanic slipway where the proms take place.

One slight problem - our folding chairs are **** heavy, do not fold up very small and no way could we lug them to Belfast by train then across to the slipway. Easy you think, just get a couple in shoulder bags from a local store. Ho ho! Nothing in Bangor and so we headed off to Belfast on the excellent train service armed with suitable shop addresses.

Second hitch, the weather forecast on the BBC started with the fateful words "The wettest place in the UK today will be Belfast". Goody, sitting in a cold puddle. Or maybe not sitting!

Back to hitch one - Of course, most places were sold out. Other Prom goers organised things earlier than us.

However, Cotswold Outdoor were stars. Total stars. Imagine getting this service in a typical UK capital city shop:

You don't have any of the smaller folding chairs on display?
I will check for you.... Sorry, no, there should be some here for Monday though.
Ah, too late, shame. the others are just too big for us to lug around and we need them today.
Are you going to the Prom in the park then?
Yes, hoping to!
OK, well, the smaller chairs show on the computer as in our goods delivery area but we need a manager to unlock, check and receipt them into stock. I can try to call Neil the manager to get him to come in today (Saturday) to do that for you so you can pick them up later?
Shocked response - that would be wonderful! We were then shown the PC screen with the supposed stock arrival, gave him our phone number and went for lunch and shopping for prom nibbles and wine in M&S.

Phone call from the assistant later to confirm the chairs were ready. Wow. Most impressed.

Kind of set the tone for the rest of the day too. It poured down during lunch, then eased up and stopped for our walk over to the Marina. When we arrived there, we were invited onto the yacht, table was set for supper for 6. So, food, wine, G&T then a walk over to the Titanic slipway with 4 other Bangor berth holders who had also come by boat. A typical Northern Ireland "impromptu party" ensued.

Wonderful concert, great surroundings, everyone sharing food and drink. Good craic to use the local phrase. (for the non UK readers, look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craic). Very atmospheric location too - sitting on theTitanic slipway where she was built, the iconic Harland and Wolff cranes in the background (see posts from early June) and a cruise liner all illuminated docked behind us. Even better - it didn't rain- so much for your forecast BBC!

The stage with the Titanic exhibition centre in the background:

Katherine Jenkins on stage:

Probably the most impressive part was Martynas, a Lithuanian accordion player who produced some amazing classical music from such an unlikely instrument!

A past "Lithuania's got talent" winner. No joke. Also plays some Lady Gaga stuff - just amazing. Go see him if you can.

During "Land of Hope and Glory", lots of union jack flags were waved from a contingent towards the front. Guess they were not Sinn Fein members...

Leaving a little before the end to get the last train back, we were right opposite the display ground when they set off the fireworks to end the night. It doesn't get much better.

It was a truly memorable event. Totally unexpected of course. The locals returned to Belfast marina and managed to stay up until 4am drinking. Perhaps the early train back was a blessing? At least for our livers?