Another great week walking, talking and living life to the full in Dock-World!

First up we had a fantastic morning again on Saturday, sharing brunch with the neighbours in the apartments.  Some new faces, some returning customers, and (of course) lots of exceptionally fine cakes.

It was great to see Bishop Moses again at the Dock Walk on Sunday – another record number of walkers braved the howling wind to hear the news from Sudan, one year on.  It was really encouraging to hear all the positive progress that is happening – but as Moses reminded us, so much more needs to be done – and so much prayer is still required.

Moses is the youngest Bishop in the Anglican communion (and also probably the tallest) – it was really lovely to see him again.  And unlike our first meeting (when he was very offended that I had never heard of John Garang, and I was very offended that he had never heard of the Titanic!) at least this year we both knew what we were talking about!

 

 

In other news:  one more significant step (well I think it’s significant) towards the transformation of the TQ from building site to living city: the long wooden tunnel which used to run alongside the Metropolitan College was being dismantled this week – maybe doesn’t sound that exciting to you, but (as any Dock Walker will tell you) that tunnel seemed to last forever when you were stuck in the middle of it – now everything is out in the open air.  Hurrah!

 

 

This week also involved preparations for a major event on 31st May.  As anyone who has been on a Walking Tour will tell you (hopefully!), 31st May 1911 was a big date in Titanic’s diary: the launch of the shell of the ship from the slipways into the sea, metal touching seawater for the first time.  (Even though there are other important dates to mark Titanic’s final completion and her departure from Belfast, this is still the biggie – a ship’s launch date is recorded as the first time it hits water, not the day when everything is completed.)

To mark the centenary of this date in a few weeks time, there’s going to be a big ceremony both on land and water right down at the slipways, at the point where 880-odd feet of riveted steel slid into the water in 62 seconds!  I’m very honoured to have been asked to be involved, and various Dock-related figures will be taking part in the day.  This week I got to go on a ‘dry run’ (or a wet run I suppose) for the event with the organisers, on a Lagan Boat Tour out to the slipways and beyond.  It’s pretty much exactly a year since the last time I took that boat trip – fantastic to see how much of the skyline of the TQ has changed in that time!

 

And finally… not really TQ related – just a quick lucky shot to show that the wild weather of the past week (although it makes things “interesting” on the Walking Tours!) does have its moments of beauty!  A little reminder that the fingerprints of a mighty Creator are all around us in the outside world – it’s our responsibility just to get out there!

Chris