The times...

We ended up in Belfast this afternoon to grab a couple of things, and while my wife was in the bead shop (not altogether my bag, I’m sure you’ll appreciate) I stood outside and watched the crowds go past.

I was struck by the number of obvious tourists and people with honking great big digital cameras hanging around their necks, and that that wasn’t something you would have seen much of seven years ago when I left Northern Ireland. It’s a happy thing to notice in this week when our legislative assembly has got itself up and running again (even if the “historic day” consisted of many of the same people saying most of the same things as the last time our society changed for good). The other husband standing outside the shop agreed with me.