"What fun stuf kept me busy lately?!" Personal Page by irisbe

It was such a wonderful news: hopdog (Karel), who we met via Brewdog (Leroy) on VT, announced he was getting to be married with his love Jessica.

It would not be a wedding in Houston, no no, these people like suprises!
They would get married in one of my favourite cities: Prague!

They invited their friends and family from Austin, Houston, New York, Michigan, a friend from Canada to be a bridesmaid, some uncles and aunts and nieces from Germany and Prague and two little Belgians, Diamonddog (Rudy) and me, Irisbe (Dannie), to attend their wedding.

The big event was planned on 1 pm the 24th of September in Saint Thomas Church, but most of the invitees came earlier then this date.
So did we and we spent a great time from Tuesday till Sunday.
We visited 2 breweries, made a day trip, hang out in bars and even a dancing till late.
Until the great day! We had a great wedding party and a very special and truly big surprise for the guests! A firework at the river just next to the Charles Vth Bridge.
It will be a week we will never forget and I am sure these 2 lovers won’t either!

Congrats Karel and Jessica!
I wish you many happy years together and a lot of firework during your marriage!

More pictures of the events are being put up at the fotki pages.

A little note:

Having fun with Karibu

Wilrijk, a community that belongs to Great Antwerp, held its 5 annual goat parade again.
They were extremely lucky with the good weather! Sunshine all day long so a lot of people came to watch the parade. If you miss it now, you will have to wait another 5 years before the next will go out.
We made appointment with some of the Karibu members to meet up at the corner at a pub where we had some drinks together.
Then we went to see the parade a little bit further away where we could spot a gap in the mass of the crowd.
It was a nice day we ended with a few watching the fireworks at 9 pm.
No need to say I took plenty pictures (especially from all the figurants in the parade).
The parade showed us the history from the Kelts, over the Romans, then Napolean, the WWII liberation in 1945..........of Wilrijk.
It also showed the history of transport, fairy tales related to goats, expressions/sayings with a "goat" in it... etc etc
there were plenty

If you want to enjoy more pictures of the parade then feel free to visit the Fotki website of Karibu.

17th of September a full packed Saturday.
In Mortsel (the place where I live) every 3rd Saturday of September is held a cattle competition market and a flee market.
It is an old tradition but there is already a lot lost of the old atmosphere as it used to be.
Nevertheless it is a day on which a lot of people come strolling the streets.
So did I during the morning and I shot some pictures.
You are free to visit the photoalbum of the Mortsel jaarmarkt.

Beeing a member of the city council, every 2nd Saturday of September is booked for in my agenda to organise our yearly Kid's market.
It started a few days earlier when we come together to fix ropes and cards for the balloon competition and to mark toys with points.
These prices will later be available for the kids who gained points, exchanging their old toys for points.
Every kid till 12 years old gets 20 points for free, of wich 1 is worth a free consumption. Every kids that participates in the parade even gets 5 points extra.
No money is involved.
It is funny to see how the parents most times end up behind the stands while their kids are visiting the other stands in search for some nice toys.

At 10:30 am I arrived already at the place, ready to help to put up things.
We hardly have time to eat anything so my breakfast were a few fast bites between 2 and 4 pm.

A little past 1 pm I had to hurry towards the city hall to collect the kids and parents. With two other volunteers who were giving away those 5 extra points, our yearly booked streetband had arrived as well.
15 minutes later we set of for a small parade towards the location of the market. During that time I am the photographer.
Between taking pictures and taking pictures `-) I did the bar with some other volunteers. On moments it was really busy but later the afternoon we managed to slow down a little bit.
A bit passed 6 pm all was cleaned up for the day.
It was a great succes.
The next day were other activities done.
They had bad luck with the weather, where as we only had a short shower just at the start with sunsine after, they ended the day too early with heavy showers.

Want to see more of the pictures?
Then feel free to visit the fotki albums of the Kids'market or the one of the next day when I went to take a look for about 10 minutes before I had to head for a shelter (at the bar ofcourse!) at the album Slotfeesten Fort IV.

Meeting in Antwerp

Initiated by 1W1V Laurent, we had a very pleasant VT meeting again. Attendants Imaniac Roy, Eddymario Eddy, diamonddog Rudy; Raheni Jeanne-Marie & Allain and Eve and Lamin.
I think Roy deserves a special reward because he had to travel about 2 times 3 hours to get here and back home.
Next time you should stay the night Roy!
It was such a nice day, starting with a big walk to left bank Sint Anneke's beach with Roy, then half hour late to catch up with Laurent at Central station.
Then we made an nice city walk to the South of Antwerp where we could see the painted horses.
After this a refreshing drink was calling at the teras of the Zuiderpershuis.
A tram took us back to the Groenplaats for the next meeting point: the Irish pub. BTB Nathalie_b, the Guiness was still tasting delicious and in thoughts you were with me!
Roy who could not stay for dinner spoiled himself with some nice looking cake and oooooooooh... a real Irish Whiskey!!! and I though he only drank Coca Cola `-)
Eddy joined us there at the terras and then came Eve (my daughter) and her (present?) friend Lamin. Together we walked along the river Schelde to the Eilandje where the others would be waiting.
The others were Diamonddog; and the Raheni's Jeanne-Marie and Allain.
Their favorite (how do they call mariachi in Cabe Verdian?) was playing there. And on the tunes of his music Lamin dared a little dance with one of the daughters of the restaurant and even with me `-)
It was a terrific day again, but how could it be different with such good friends around?
Till next meeting :))

More pictures can be enjoyed at the Fotki album

Youssou N Dour in Antwerp

If I would be interested in going to a concert of Youssou N Dour? Ofcourse! I have seen him early 90ties (if I recall well) just before his total breakthrough in Belgium. I thought already the guy was super and he just comfirmed it with this last performance.

It was a marvelous concert in the Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp. Youssou N Dour is not only a fantastic singer, accompanied by terrific musicians and singers, he is also such a socialy engaged person!

This concert was the first of a double concert weekend. First in Antwerp; second in Sint Niklaas where Freddy Willockx, the mayor got credits for making it possible to happen.
Youssou N Dour offered these concerts for free .
The profit of the sale of the economical tickets is meant to go to projects in Senegal.
These projects are meant for the young people who had tried to make a life journey to Europe to find a better future but have been put on a return flight to Senegal.
There they arrived with no money and facing a hard time. Very often family have "invested" in this trip, hoping they will be able to share in that good future.
So returning back empty handed and in fact in debt, is a distaster for these young ones.

The reason why so many flee their country is because of the economical and political bad situation; the poor medical situation, the lack of ability to work on a good future.
Only if the situation would become better this exodus might stop.

Omar visiting Antwerp

%Omar came through Antwerp on a business trip.
It was not the first time he visited the city but only knew the central station and main shopping area.
So time for an update!
at 10:30 pm I was heading home again because another meeting day was planned on Sunday.

More pictures on my fotki page.

On 3rd of August I went with the colleagues on a "literary walk" through the city.
You get to know which writers have been living here or there or hanging around. You are also spoiled with funny anectodes and on some places you stop and be written a little poem or paragraph.
It was interesting.

More pictures of the walking tour are to be find on the Fotki website of the UA PV.