A cake has been delivered to The Dock… a birthday cake to be eaten tomorrow.  But whose birthday is it?

Hard to believe, but it’s the first birthday of our Sunday night services – which began on board SS Nomadic on the first Sunday of November 2013.  Since then we’ve enjoyed hearing stories, testimonies and inspiration from all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds; we’ve sung together hymns both old and new; we’ve prayed for and given thanks for The Dock in more ways than I can count.

We’ve had a number of ‘firsts’ in our Sunday night services as well; back in February, we introduced our two first-ever Dock staff members, James and Joachim; in June, we redefined the whole Dock story (see It’s not a boat – it’s an umbrella); and last month, the neighbours of The Dock, the Mace and the Nomadic celebrated the Titanic Quarter’s first-ever baptism.

And of course we’ve moved just next door… for the last few months we’ve been holding our Sunday evenings amongst the squashy sofas and cosy corners of Dock Cafe while the coffee brews in the background…

So – join us this Sunday (2nd November) at 6pm in Dock Cafe  to share in that cake, that coffee and that incredible story… a new church forming amongst the friends and neighbours who find this strange, wonderful pop-up cafe to be their home.

We’ve even got our Sunday Nights a birthday present… after a few months of my not-overly-artistic signs for the door, which were beginning to scale a whole new universe of scrappiness, we’ve finally got a proper sign!  So see you at a proper Sunday Night at The Dock:

So here’s a little suggestion to calm your worried mind as the season for panic-buying Yankee candles for Aunty Mildred approaches.

I’m willing to bet that if you give yourself one day at Dock Market, complete with your list of all the far-flung relatives you need to buy presents for, you will WIN at Christmas in one day flat.  (If you don’t, your coffee is on the house!)  There’s such a variety of unique, handmade gifts on offer from the Dock Market creatives that I can’t honestly imagine that you’ll need to shop anywhere else – and of course you’ll be supporting local plucky start-up businesses into the bargain.

AND you’ll be able to treat yourself to amazing freshly-cooked food and nibbles while you’re browsing.

AND you can collapse at Dock Cafe with your shopping bags afterwards and have a nice cuppa, safe in the knowledge that Christmas cannot scare you and a panicked last-minute losing battle with car park queues and psycopathic Christmas shoppers is off the menu.

So, put in your diaries RIGHT NOW the dates of the next few Dock Market days:

Saturdays 8th & 22nd November 11-4pm

Saturdays 6th, 13th & 20th December (yes, every week!) 11-4pm

Thursdays 11th and 18th 6-9pm

By the way, did you see Tanya, one of our Dock Market superstars, in the Belfast Telegraph during the week?

The article is here (note that she managed to squeeze in a shout-out for both Dock Market and Dock Cafe – score!) and her amazing Bendy artwork is on display in  Dock Cafe and on sale at every Dock Market.

And just in case you’re worried that Dock Cafe is losing out in all this love for the Market recently, not a bit!  We’ve been enjoying a fantastic busy bustling half-term week with all the usual life, laughter, coffee and craic…

Made your plans yet for a nice chilled-out Saturday tomorrow?  Well forget everything else in your diary, here’s what you’re going to do: head down to the Titanic Quarter between 11 and 4 and check out the amazingness that’s happening at Dock Market these days.

Last time I visited the market, intending maybe to get a bite of lunch and have a wee potter around, I left with my arms full of purchases (and my pockets empty of money, but I didn’t care!) – the quality, uniqueness, craftsmanship and sheer brilliance of what’s on offer at Dock Market these days is really quite breathtaking.

As well as a mouthwateringly fantastic lunch (steak sandwich with béarnaise sauce…mmmmm….) I went home with some delicious homemade spicy American relish (which has graced every single panini and sandwich I’ve made ever since), some Oreo cookie cupcakes (which might just be the best invention ever ever), a bag of hand-blended gourmet tea (Mint Humbug – isn’t that the best flavour of tea?) and even some jewellery…

(Before you start to worry, the jewellery was for Susan and she loved it) It’s great to get chatting to all these creative types as well – Laura goes beachcombing in Donaghadee after every high tide, looking for interesting bits and pieces to become the raw materials for her jewellery stall. How much better than some bland mass-produced gift…

And of course I’d rather support Dock Market traders any day, every one of them a handmade homemade local enterprise, than buy something identikit from a global brand or a massive retailer.

I’m just so proud of what the Dock Market team have achieved.  Just like Dock Cafe, they started with little more than an empty space – but the application of some creativity, generosity (we’re getting some AMAZING donations of furniture – check out this amazing industrial-chic sofa!) and a lot of extremely hard work has resulted in Belfast’s best bet for a lovely laid-back Saturday.

It’s another case of the Titanic Quarter showcasing Belfast creativity at its best.  Where once we built ships – today we create art – and cook steak sandwiches – and design fashion – and upcycle seashells – and invent new cupcakes – and make bendy paintings – and create gourmet waffles – and – and – and…

Click the link here to check out some lovely bigwoodenbox pictures of Dock Market in action- much better than my cameraphone efforts!