I volunteer with a group that helps to look after our local park and make sure it is a fabulous place for people to use. Wednesday 20th June was not only my eldest daughters 8th birthday, it was also the 100 year anniversary of Marsden Park being opened to the public. As part of the Friends group I helped to organise a mass celebration for the centenary, which was yesterday. We had a brass band, traditional Lancashire clog dancers, sporting activities, magic shows, Punch and Judy shows, a travelling zoo, various stalls, along with the local nursery joining us with their annual garden party and a wonderful historic exhibition charting the history of the park right back to the 1600's when it was a private family estate.
On Friday we had rain of Biblical proportions with localised flooding. It had me awake all night wondering if we were even going to be able to continue with the event that we had all spent so much time on. Come Saturday morning the rain had stopped and following some adjustments with the site plan the event got under way, all be it a little delayed and a couple of activities down due to flooding problems. The rain that was fore casted for Saturday stayed away until just before the end of the event and more people came to support us than I could have hoped for. All in all a great day was had by all who attended, which made up for the stress of organising it!!
Follow this link to some great photos of the event, I was so busy I didn't have chance to take any myself!!
In short I should have some time spare now I am not sat up till the wee hours of the morning finalising the logistics for the event and will be able to get back to reading your lovely insights and commenting as usual, not to mention I have some serious writing to do!!!! First though, some sleep!!
For now I will leave you with some of my favourite parts of the park visit the Friends of Marsden Park Site if you are interested in the history.
The Sundial (taken by Harriett)
The Troll Bridge
The Wishing Gate (taken by Eleanor)
My Girls Favourite Place!!
What a wonderful reason to take a break from the internet!
ReplyDeleteI personally think we should all stop apologizing to one another for having rich, fulfilling lives and just be glad that we each come back to contribute what we've learned from time to time.
Very true Jane, I just wonder why it is the things we do just for ourselves that suffer when filling up our lives with such rich experiences?!?
DeleteDefinitely a great reason to have the break. And I am glad you are back. Happy BD to your girl and looks like a beautiful park from the photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm just glad it's all over now...very stressful! If only I didn't have another event to organise in two weekends time I might have half a chance of catching up on everyone elses blogs!
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