Tadpole Playground, Frog Pond and squirrels

3rd April 2009.

Eight in the morning, cold and a Belfast-like mizzle is in the air.  A pile of snow still sits in the middle of Frog pond, the cold air and snow hinting at the skaters pirouetting across the ice just a few weeks ago on the pond during the winter.  Now all is grey and damp.  These 50 acres a training ground for yogi-bear style Park Rangers – three of their trucks are within view, but no bears.  There is a gangster in a Stetson and black overcoat on his mobile phone, and a lone china man, performing slow motion kung fu poses as he does his Tai-Chi down one of the paths.  In the corner stands a magnificent memorial to the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment: the first all Black regiment, refused their pay until it was the same as the white soldiers’ – it took two years.  The inscription applauds their courage and sacrifice for their nation.  The officers were white, and the inscription applauds their courage and belief in their men.  Another monument commemorates the victims of the Boston massacre, when 5 colonials were shot by British troops.  An echo of troubles in a damp Derry, on a bloody Sunday.

50 acres of parkland - two days later (today, Sunday) the sun shines, and the trees are starting to bud. What a different place.  After a brunch in a small bistro, a walk in the park.  Beautiful weeping willows over a small lake, curious, inquisitive squirrels come very close, the promise of food.  People out enjoying the sunshine, and spring is in the air....