Today is the 12th of July, which means the day for the Orangemen's parades all over here and abroad. (If you'd like parade photos, please find my blog written on the 12th July 2006.) My life in N Ireland started in a street which was decorated with red-white-blue buntings and an arch every July. So, strangely I feel lost without such decorations in summer.
As it happens every year, I was woken up by the sound of Lambeg drums this morning. (But it didn't get me out of bed.) I'm not an early bird, so I always miss Orangemen's outward parade in the morning. But as usual we went out to see their home-coming parade in the late afternoon. (My wee one was at Little G's granny's house, so only my big girl and I went. )
It's a kind of annual custom in this family now to see the parade. (My hubby used to jokingly called me a Protestant Buddhist.) There's absolutely nothing to do other than going to see the parade, and there is absolutely nothing new in the parade. The same faces walking, the same bands playing the same tunes. All in the same outfits. (Thus, no need to take photos every year.) And we were waving to the same man (an elderly man in the neighbourhood) walking in the parade. Even the weather is always the same (= sunny). But somehow the mighty sound of Lambeg drums is strangely irresistible, and I always come home feeling good.
One different thing this year. An oldish Orangeman in the parade smiled and told me that I looked beautiful as walking past me!!! A typical cheeky man of this town, alright. (You shouldn't live on this island without a good sense of humour!) I don't know him, but I wished he was 30 years younger and my type. Oh, pity...
No comments:
Post a Comment