I seem to have lost somewhere the blog I posted at 12.30pm while sitting on the banks of Lough Neagh, the largest loch/lake in the UK. Blogged on my iPhone - so I shall know in future.
Yesterday was another busy day - in the morning visiting two busy city centre churches - St George's Belfast, High church Church of Ireland, and St Malachy's Belfast - a Roman Catholic just restored which Prince Charles had visited last year. Each church was so typical of its tradition, and highlighted the differences between the two denominations.
This was followed by lunch next the the Ulster Hall - venue for so many political rallies, and the another tour of Belfast with Dessie, who has been so kind and helpful. This time we visited East Belfast - and the Titanic quarters. Everyone seemed to know Dessie - the lady on duty at Ulster Hall, used to be one of his pupils (he used to be head of the largest Primary School in Northern Ireland, a security guard at the gates of Police HQ used to be in the Boys Brigade with him, and when I stopped in East Belfast to take some photos of Protestant murals, someone came up to him who he had known through business - this last person confirmed to me a recurring theme - middle class Protestants were little affected by the troubles! Indeed he told me of the only occasion it had affected him - he was playing a round of Golg with a Police Inspector, and a Police helicopter was buzzing them overhead. The police Inspector radioed control to get the helicopter moved on, as it was affecting their game.
Then in the evening I went to have a meal with my friend Hayder, and his family and a friend. A lovely meal, with lovely people, but they had some very traditional Protestant thoughts, along with strongly held views. One quote "we won't bread bread with them, and we won't break wind with them"!
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