Adventures in a white van today:  Tim and I zoomed off across Belfast to collect some fantastic furniture which has been donated to Dock Cafe – proper furniture, which is gradually taking the place of our Ikea Bargain Corner cheapies…

Among some fantastic tables, dining chairs, sideboards (and even a proper hat-stand to go by the door), our haul included the best kids high-chair you have EVER seen…

Once the Belfast Met students helped us to figure out how it actually worked (it’s got lots of lovely Titanic-y cogs and levers and springs), it now has pride-of-place in the Dock Cafe kids corner!  The old plastic high-chair is now relegated to a dark corner of shame…

Now for something completely different: tomorrow (Thursday) evening, Dock Cafe is hosting a launch event for the TearFund IF campaign.

If you want to make a difference – if you want to find out how one very simple piece of political lobbying can have a profound impact on the poorest parts of the world…. and if you want to enjoy a night of coffee, treats and chilled-out acoustic vibes in Dock Cafe, join us from 7:30pm!

Speaking of IF – any fellow cinema-goers of a certain age still think of this advert any time they hear the word ‘If’?  Auntie Beryl…  The Dog and Duck, down the High Street…  ah, memories!

Hello all!  Apologies for my lack of activity over the past few days – alas I have been laid low, left clutching at the last gasps of my failing breath by that deadly scourge of mankind: Yes, I have had Man Flu.  (pauses to cough weakly)

As I lifted my frail head this morning, I had just about enough energy to notice that it’s been snowing – it’s been great to see all the pictures posted by healthy people on Facebook and Twitter of impressive snow sculptures – especially these two:

One day, one day I will be back out there amongst you all.  (Er – maybe tomorrow; Susan says I’m nearly better.)  For now I shall rest my weary head once more (and maybe see if there’s any Noodle Soup going…)

Sometimes a day is just full of photo opportunities…  Whether it’s the chance to test drive a new means of transport which may soon become a way of doing a Titanic tour (watch this space…):

Or having a box of yummy cakes donated by the Belfast Met catering college students (I love these creative ways of contributing to the Honesty Box…):

Or watching storm clouds, sunsets and rainbows over Nomadic and Titanic Belfast through the windows of Dock Cafe:

Or just looking around the room and knowing that people are relaxing, chatting, chilling, and watching the world go by:

A good day.

Saturdays used to be the quietest day in Dock Cafe – slower pace of customers, more chance to chill out and enjoy a natter with people over their cuppas…

Not this month!  Last Saturday saw the arrival of the Four Corners Festival – events which had been held in different venues in the North, South, East and West of the city on Saturday morning converged on the TQ at lunchtime.  The volunteers in the cafe did a great job of feeding and watering the steady procession streaming through the doors – before we all set off for a pilgrimage walk to Titanic’s slipway.

On that hugely-evocative spot, standing on the stone which has felt the hobnailed boots of countless yardmen from all corners of the city over the past hundred years, we prayed and re-commited ourselves to living in a shared city – where we don’t hide in our ‘corners’ but find ways and places to meet, talk, laugh and live together.

So that was last Saturday – this coming Saturday involves a tiger, a lifeboat and some deep discussion about the meaning of truth…

Anyone who has read Yann Martel’s brilliant Life Of Pi (or seen the film, or, like me, read the book ages ago and then remembered how good it was when I saw the film) will know that it just cries out to be chewed over, chatted through and argued about – preferably in a situation involving lots of coffee and friendly faces.  Well, Dock to the rescue!  Life Of Pi is the subject of our new monthly Saturday Book Group, meeting at 3 in the cafe.

Happiness is a good book and good company… See you there!

During the week I was at a fantastic gathering full of positivity and energy about the future of Belfast.   A bunged-full conference room in the Merchant Hotel (posh, nice) filled with business-owners, traders, tourism bods – everyone who has been seeing the knock-on effect of the recent troubles in loss of business and custom.  Right at the start of the meeting, someone stood up and told us that we weren’t there to wring our hands, debate the issues, solve the problem or point the finger: we were there to take positive action to bring life back to the city.

It was the launch of the ‘Backin Belfast’ campaign – a combination of word-of-mouth, social networking, TV advertising and media campaigning to bring back confidence in the simple pleasure of a good time out in Belfast City.

Restaurant, pubs and clubs across the city are putting on special offers (just hashtag ‘BackinBelfast’ on Twitter to find out what’s on offer at any given time), venues (including Titanic Belfast and the Dock & Pump House) are creating special events… in short, there have never been so many good reasons to go out and support local business.

For the last few weeks, many of us have felt helpless to act while Belfast has hit the headlines (helpless is a horrible feeling).  We’re helpless no longer: there’s something we can do, and it will make a difference, and it will be part of building a better future for the city.  It’s going out for a meal.  It’s going to a play at the Lyric, or going shopping in Victoria Square, or taking a tour of the Thompson Dock and Pump House, or having afternoon tea at Titanic Belfast, or….

So stand up and be counted, people of The Dock – we’re backin’ Belfast!