Mount Stewart "CONVERSATIONS" Weekend

Today I am showing you a few of the artists and speakers I came across during my lunch or free break time September during the Mount Stewart "Conversations" weekend on 17/18 September.

This image below was Margaret MacMillan and Prof Alvin Jackson who spoke and debated on ‘Do Personalities Matter in Politics?   This was the only talk I had time to go to and as I was working in the Green room had the opportunity to speak with her personally.

These are the other subject titles covered on the Saturday. ‘Castlereagh – Linking Past and Present’, ‘The Political Country House – When Society ran Society’, ‘Russia – Malevolent or Misunderstood?’, Dr Diane Urquhart  ‘Can the Kingdom Stay United after Brexit?’ and  ‘Diplomats, Diplomacy and Television’. 

I was very sorry not to be able to get to talk that and Lady Rose Lauritzen - gave on 'Ladies of Londonderry’ as Mount Stewart House was where she had  been brought up and although now married, still spend 6 months living here.

This couple played different instruments and very alternative music.

Saturday was a beautiful day and while I waited for my hamburger and chips to be ready I took a few more photographs.  These are more staff members enjoying lunch.  While we eat, the man below enticed us to play a game of countdown but I was only able to come up with a 5 letter word!

 Came across Red Riding Hood and the Fox who were glad to pose for me.

On Sunday, these were the topic for the talks and debates.  'Summits', ‘Back to the 1930s – The Rise of Europe’s Nationalist Right’, ‘The New Machiavelli’s: Statecraft, Back Channels and Conflict Resolution’, ‘Being a Foreign Secretary’, 'Diplomacy Now and in the Future’, ‘Creating Tomorrow’s Leaders’, ‘Being a Diplomat: Fact and Fiction’ and finally ‘Voodoo Histories – How the Conspiracy Theory has Shaped Modern History’

This was a camper van owned by a member of staff and he brings it to events like today.  You were able to go inside and learn more about  Mount Stewart House and Gardens.

This is our wonderful General Manager, John Kerr (left)who was always happy to mingle and have a chat with staff and visitors alike.

This was a lovely couple who had this “Campervan of Dreams”.  You were able to step inside, tell them your dream and they would interpret it. 

Unfortunately I did not have time to experience this.

This young girl was one of the singers and later that day, while I was in my post at the Coach House, I spoke to her and she asked me to take her photograph as she had on the most beautiful dress.  I ended up doing a full photo shot of her.  Unfortunately as I was on duty I did not have my own camera and had to use her phone and so far she has not send me any of the photographs.  She was thrilled with the results.

Finally, Ray, a volunteer, poised for me as I thought his moustache looked brilliant and he was very dapper and John is equally dashing sporting his wonderful beard and mouctache

I hope I have given you a taste of what when on during the "Conversations"weekend and tomorrow I will show you the gardens.

Many you for visiting and also to all who leave comments.

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY -Birds at Mount Stewart

These are a few birds I photographed at Mount Stewart during the ‘Conversations’ weekend.  I showed you the others last WBW.

I photographed this Robin when I entered the Sunk Garden and he was high on Mount Stewart House singing his little heart out and I have reason to pass the same place 5 minutes later and he was still in the same spot singing.

My duties the first day started at 10.00 am at the Coach House where I was to welcome all visitors and direct them to the correct areas.  After briefing I only had half an hour to walk round the lake and these are some of the Mallard ducks I saw. 

I am linking this post with WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Many thanks for visiting and also for all the comments you leave.

THROUGH MY LENS - Mount Stewart Conversations Weekend

As most of you know who follow my blog, I was working at the “Converstations” event that was held at Mount Stewart the weekend of 17/18 September.  All workers had to be signed in by 8.30 am and on my first day I had my briefing in the Marquee at 9.00 am. The Marquee was one of the areas where the guest speakers gave their talks. CLICK HERE to see that area.

This is the front of Mount Stewart House were all 

were busily starting setting up for the day.

There were over 100 volunteers working over the weekend and this is the Stretch Tent where there was a bar and entertainment.  You can see here where other volunteer were being briefed.  

These were a few of the volunteers waiting for their briefing.

The main Entrance Hall of Mount Stewart House was a beautiful setting for where other speakers gave their talks.

This was the Garden Shed area where over the 2 days different artist performed for the public. These are 2 of the artists setting up.  

They played very alternative music.

This was the Yurt and I decided to have a lay down and relax!!

(for all of 1 minutes!!)

While I was waiting for my briefing, Shirley came along to erect the flags along this path and you will see her doing so on the video below.

CLICK HERE if the video does not appear.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these photographs, tomorrow I will show you a few birds and Wednesday I photographed some of the artists.

I am linking this post with THROUGH MY LENS.

Many thanks for visiting and also to all those who leave comments.

SUNDAY THOUGHT - Mount Stewart Conversations Weekend

I (the Lord) will live among you in my sacred Tent,

and I will never turn away from you.

Leviticus 26:11

This is the tent/ marquee where some of the speakers were presenting their talks during the “Conversations” weekend at Mount Stewart.

September 2016

Thanks for visiting and also to all who leave comments.

SATURDAY CRITTERS -Birds at Oxford Island

These are a few more shots I took when we visited Oxford Island on the way to The Argory.  There is a Blackbird sunning himself, a Coot although you can hardly see him but I liked this shot of part of Lough Neagh and thought you  might also and finally Mallard ducks.  I am linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS.

 Thank you for visiting and also to all who leave comments.

FRIDAY'S HUNT and WEEKEND REFLECTIONS - The Argory (Part 8 ) and Mount Stewart

This week’s word prompts are the letter M, Favourite and Work and I am joining Friday’s Hunt and Weekend Reflections to this post. Today I cover 2 National Trust Properties, the first images taken at The Argory in the East Hall and at the end of this post, me as I start in my new tee shirt to WORK during the whole weekend at Mount Stewart at a big event called ‘Conversations’.

This room lead off the West Hall and was not very big however there were plenty of MIRRORS with lots of REFLECTIONS as Edith Stafford, our guide gave us a wonderful insight into the history of the families who lived in this home.  Once again,, I leave you to pick a FAVOURITE..

This beautiful blue and white plaster freeze illustrates

‘The Combat of the Amazons’  

This is the view as we look back through the 

archway into the West Hall entrance.

This is a little room like a conservatory off the East Hall where the family came and sat in.

The National Property at Mount Stewart, Newtownards had a MASSIVE and MEMORABLE event over the whole weekend called Conversations where they had a fantastic series of very eminent speakers and performers taking part.  There were over 100 volunteers and all the staff that helped make this event so successful.  We all were asked to wear this tee shirt, with a smile, and a great attitude, we all were ‘Happy To Help’.

These shots above were taken at 8.00 am on MY way into WORK on the second day.  That day I was in the ‘Green Room’ where all the speakers and artists congregated and we looked after them, serving them with refreshments and seeing that they got to the place they were to speak or perform on time.  The first day, I was on a path outside the Coach House and as all visitors, speakers and artists passed on their way into Mount Stewart, my job was to welcome them and direct them to where they had to go.

I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit more from The Argory.

Many thanks for visitng and also to all who leave comments.