iced coffee

bill cosby bbq – happy protestants day

July 14th, 2007

In this country, the 12th July brings with it a lot of tension. In the last few years the Orange Order Parades have passed relatively peacefully, but if you are out when the parades are going by, it feels like the slightest thing could set any one of them off.

The government, and the Orange Order, is trying to make out that the parades are now a tourist attraction, rebranding it ‘Orangefest’. It is far from any “family-friendly pageant” and little in the way of a “kaleidoscope of culture and colour”. For me, it is an aggressive parade of angry music, following along a trail throughout the city in an attempt to cause friction between communities. The streets are lined with those of the same culture, out to watch, cheer and drink a lot of alcohol.

For it seems this is the only country and time of the year when drinking in the streets by those of all ages is permitted. Yes there is police presence, even with a group of 16-18 year olds walk by with boxes of beer in a shopping trolley. It is the addition of all the alcohol being consumed that makes the streets at this time very intimidating if you wish to go somewhere rather than stand still as the paraders go by.

I stayed at my grand-parents house, like last year, so that I could get some photographs as the parade passed Balmoral Avenue. At the time I went out, it was raining on and off, so I borrowed an umbrella. This was consequently stolen from my bag within 10mins. On a few occasions I had comments in my direction as to why I was going the opposite direction to the parade, and in effect away from the meeting (read: drinking) point at Barnett Demesne. Then there is the fact that every man woman and child who has lined the streets is wearing some variant of red, white and blue, generally a football top, or carrying a union jack or ulster flag, often draped across their backs.

The adults may say that there is peace, but the youths don’t listen. They enjoy a good fight, especially under the influence of alcohol. So when the streets are lined with hundreds of them you don’t put one foot out of line. It really doesn’t make for much family orientated fun, especially families of other cultures, or tourists for that matter.

What signal does it really send to the rest of the world, that people of one culture are allowed to casually drink in the streets, on this one day of the year?

I didn’t stay out for long due to the above reasons. I went back to the house for some coffee.

Later that afternoon – The Bill Cosby BBQ

The Bill Cosby BBQ is an annual tradition, now in its third year, acting as a distraction from the most historically & notoriously unpleasant of days in the Northern Irish calendar – instead focussing on the wonder that is Bill Cosby, through the inventive means of mass-quoting, sweater & jello appreciation and – naturally – mass consumption of burgers and beer.

Complete with a life-size effigy to the man himself, the party continued onto the beach

It was a truly memorable night.

I awoke to find myself on a sofa.

Some cleaning was in order

Followed by some coffee from a kettle which refused to boil.

Myself, Dave and Phil, proceeded to catch the train back to Belfast, after that is, we discovered Narnia and took the longest shortcut through Crawfordsburn Country Park.