Black Friday

I've been getting black Friday sales ads for weeks, which is annoying b/c it isn't black Friday yet and we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here.

But this weekend my Christmas shopping began. I leave for the US in less than a month and I'm feeling a bit panicked by all I need to get done before I go. I took the bus into town on Saturday and first went to two art galleries. One featured a video montage done by a woman whose father was interned in the 1970s, when the Brits thought it was a good idea to throw 1000s of Catholics in jail with no trial or charges laid. The artist was one of 9 children left to be raised by her mum alone. The other artist is the one who famously created an image of the Queen with a safety pin through her lip for the Sex Pistols album. His art revolved completely around political protest--the war in Iraq, Pussy Riot, corporate oligarchies. There was a newspaper article featured in which the DUP objected to projection of one of his images onto Lough Foyle. It was of John Wayne with puffed up lips smeared with red lipstick, surrounded by peace signs and the caption: Peace is Tough. This was during the Iraq war and his point was to look at the link between machismo and violence.  

Then to an Oxfam bookshop, then to Born and Bred (locally made crafts), then to Avoca, then to the Christmas market. This paella kiosk is in between city hall and Lavery's tent. I got potatas bravas from the food vendor then went into Lavery's for a pint of cider.

Lavery's was very very loud but also festive.

Refuelled, I went to M&S for a few things then trundled to the bus stop with all my packages. The bus into and out of town reminded me of the London Underground at rush hour.

19-20 Nov