For our National Day festivities I had been asked to be a volunteer. My assignment was to keep out the people who wanted to enter the park where the festivities took place despite the barriers. There was a meeting with the Police Chief inspector and other members of the city administration to explain us what we had to do. When I arrived I saw the new statues besides the city hall and found them really cute. It gave back the image of the country side, which Waterloo had once been.
2. The National Day was on the 21st but it started already one day before.
I had to wear my Waterloo jacket from last year's bicentenary so that I looked "official". Despite the barriers some people still wanted to go through so I had to explain that for security reasons there were only two entrances to the park and not like the years before where you could go into the park from everywhere. The majority of the people understood and was very friendly, but there were also some who were not happy at all to walk three houses farer and nearly insulted me. I was sitting or standing there for 2 h and had quite a lot of fun.
3.
The first picture shows our stand from where all volunteers were dispatched. There were already quite a lot of people who drank their beer and listened to a Karaoke show. Some singers were very good, but some had never heard themselves singing. My cat Arthur sings better.
4.
For once Mr. G. came with me (because he knows quite a lot of people from Waterloo) and we arrived when the official part of the festivities just started. The mayor marched in with men carrying flags then the national anthem was played. Our mayor is a pretty women, very clever and mother of 3 children. It's the blond one with the white blouse. After that we walked around met lots of people Mr. G. knew, had a coffee and before the big heat started we returned home !
5. The Facebook group "Vivre à Waterloo" (Living in Waterloo) met at the basket ball stand and
there we were celebrating and meeting each other life, it was very nice. As table cloth we had the Belgian flag !
and a 10 year old girl had painted her finger nails with the Belgian colors !
The police too looked relaxed and enjoyed the cheerful ambiance, despite the fact that the day before our Carrefour supermarket had to be evacuated because a suspicious parcel had been found. Fortunately it was not dangerous, I don't even remember what was in it. Anyway we have to live and make the best out of it.
more participants here at FIVE ON FRIDAY
You must have been exhausted after that day in the sun, but looks as if it was all worth it. As they say, "A good time was had by all".
ReplyDeleteWe too are enjoying a spate of sunshine, a mini heatwave. Sounds like a great day for your National celebration.
ReplyDeleteHappy National Day!
ReplyDeleteWe have temperatures as high as 36 degrees Celsius. 30 degree is our room temperature. haha....
I really don't understand those people who would go through despite the barriers. It sounds a tough volunteer task but glad you had fun :-)
ReplyDeleteStay cool and have a great weekend!
It's always the case isn't it? People don't want to walk an extra five meters for something and get insulting immediately!
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed how some people want to 'cheat'
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great day was had
Looks like everyone was having fun, isn't it a shame how security has changed our lives.
ReplyDeleteIt was very hot in London this week so I took a trip to the Kent coast and it was 11deg cooler! Glad to see you making use of your jacket again.
ReplyDeleteLaughing about the beer drinking, Karaoke singers. You do look official in your vest! What a lovely day for everyone. I do like the sheep statues on the grass.
ReplyDeleteSounds like such a lovely time! So glad you and Mr. G. both got to go.
ReplyDeleteThe sheep are very cute.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a lovely day. I expect you were tired by the end though!
ReplyDeleteSure is hot over there. The Celebrations looked like fun. Glad you and Mr G enjoyed yourselves.
ReplyDeleteIT looks like a lovely event to be part of but maybe not in that heat. We have had the same but it is a bit cooler now although the nights Are still too warm. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like this was fun for everyone. I bet you slept well that night!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your celebration day went well -- volunteering sounds fun -- makes you more a part of it all.
ReplyDeleteI caught up with a few of your posts (apparently I am getting slower as I age, since I can't seem to keep up with anyone) ... anyway, for now I am caught up here and I loved the pictures of the beautiful Lake -- and enjoyed "listening" in on the chat with you and Ilona on politics. It was fun reading the comments too. I don't even begin to understand Brexit ... our own messed up politics are making me sick enough.
You look great serving at this event! Glad you held your ground and had fun! Looks like a great event.
ReplyDeleteWow, looks like a great celebration. People get so upset over the silliest of things and make it hard on those who are only working and have nothing to do with the decisions themselves. Glad that most of the people were friendly and didn't give the volunteers a rough time.
ReplyDeleteVolunteering in this way can be very satisfying. Glad that Mr. G, went along too, you also met up with friends at this special local event to celebrate your National Day.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of the heat I it looks like you had fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your celebration went off safely. I often think of you when there are bombs and shootings in Belgium. Glad you're safe!
ReplyDeleteYour day out sounds fun, even the guarding.