What is that phrase? Come rain or shine. Well travelling to deliver this course we experienced all weathers, but I guess that is the UK for you.
We drove from Scotland to Northern Ireland and back again. First hitting the Scottish sun, then getting bounced by winds on the ferry on the way to Northern Ireland and then getting stuck in a Blizzard on the way back through Scotland. Nic bless her took the wheel for local drives - but what a great opportunity the three of us had to see parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This a beautiful country you know and you are very lucky if you get to experience it everyday. I am not familiar with the same parts of England that NIc and Calma are - they were able to fill me in on some things as we drove. Did you know that you can date homes in England just by looking at the colour of the brick? No, me either.
Any once in Northern Ireland we took an opportunity or two to have a ramble around Belfast. One particular night we took a late night stroll to go and see the Titanic Belfast - it wasn't supposed to be far from where we were staying but you know when Google Maps sends you round the houses for a straight walk? Well that happened and on a lovely cool early evening we were still walking as night fell and it was getting cold. Every three streets were hit some dark pathway.
After what seemed like a bloody long walk we hit upon the path along the river that was supposed to take us where we wanted to go. We could see our destination in the distance. Of course the day we choose to stroll down by the river was the week of building works and piles of rubble here and there entrances blocked off by fencing - honestly were were to tired to turn back so we soldiered on - and inevitably we hit a dead end. 3 lasses down a desolate gloomy pathway - only to meet a dishelved looking man enjoying his drugs.
Comrades - haven't you seen the films. The black ones always die first. 'Let's get outta here!' Just then two joggers came up the rear startling us but equally perplexed at having met a dead end down their usual running path and meeting three women and a man with his drugs.
Behind us was the long way back and in front of us was a wire fence - what to do? The joggers decided to jog back - but we had one eye on each other and the other eye on the drugged man - we chose the fence. Huffing and puffing we shifted it as best we could and squeezed ourselves through a gap. Fifteen minutes later we collapsed into the Titanic Hotel lounge.
'Three wines please barman and some snacks.' We were starving. What an ordeal but what a good night.
One last night in Belfast and soon we were on our way back to England. Van, kit, driver and us. There was a storm brewing and we tried to out run it but failed and for a scary couple of hours on the way back home the roads were treacherous, the snow was really coming down. A few miles in and we had to stop the police had shut the road for a bit - some jerk of course was going too fast in the snow and caused an accident. .
Anyway we made it home safe and sound after what felt like a long week but was actually only a few days. Scotland, Northern Ireland, it was fun. Hope to see you again soon.
BLCKSTR workshops have been made possible by funding from the ScreenSkills High End TV Fund.
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