THE WEATHER WAS REALLY BAD WHEN I VISITED IN EARLY DECEMBER
The Walk & The Encounter
The weather made for a challenging start to my Belfast trip. Although I had dressed for the rain, the wind was relentless, and keeping the lens of my Leica Q3 dry was nearly impossible.
I had decided to pack it in and return to the hotel when I spotted a vibrant, colourful item standing out against the grey day. It marked the location of The Plastik, a now-defunct nightclub on the River Lagan. Situated on Mays Meadow, The Plastik was once an iconic venue for clubbers, known for its distinct architecture and big-name DJs, though it now stands as a quiet relic of a different era.
Cold and tired, I turned to head back. As I neared the hotel, I walked past a very young Roma girl. I didn't pay her much attention until my camera suddenly complained that the battery was exhausted.
I put my hand in my pocket to fish out a fresh battery, but instead, my fingers brushed against a clear plastic presentation pouch containing some Sterling notes and coins. Feeling the bite of the wind and seeing how miserable the weather was, I decided to retrace my steps.
I approached the young girl and handed her the pouch. "Santa told me to give you this," I said.
She looked genuinely delighted. "I know," she replied. "I write to him every Christmas and he always does something nice for me."
It sounds like a made-up Christmas story, but it is the absolute truth. It was a moment of warmth on a freezing day.
The weather made for a challenging start to my Belfast trip. Although I had dressed for the rain, the wind was relentless, and keeping the lens of my Leica Q3 dry was nearly impossible.
I had decided to pack it in and return to the hotel when I spotted a vibrant, colourful item standing out against the grey day. It marked the location of The Plastik, a now-defunct nightclub on the River Lagan. Situated on Mays Meadow, The Plastik was once an iconic venue for clubbers, known for its distinct architecture and big-name DJs, though it now stands as a quiet relic of a different era.
Cold and tired, I turned to head back. As I neared the hotel, I walked past a very young Roma girl. I didn't pay her much attention until my camera suddenly complained that the battery was exhausted.
I put my hand in my pocket to fish out a fresh battery, but instead, my fingers brushed against a clear plastic presentation pouch containing some Sterling notes and coins. Feeling the bite of the wind and seeing how miserable the weather was, I decided to retrace my steps.
I approached the young girl and handed her the pouch. "Santa told me to give you this," I said.
She looked genuinely delighted. "I know," she replied. "I write to him every Christmas and he always does something nice for me."
It sounds like a made-up Christmas story, but it is the absolute truth. It was a moment of warmth on a freezing day.
MY SECOND VISIT IN 2025