04th July Party on the Charles River Esplanade

The 04th of July is a huge day of celebration in the United States, it's the country's birthday. Well that's just grand......... let's have a party then.  So here are the gang enjoying themselves at their spot on the Charles River Esplanade, L-R: Jude, Marguerite, Karen, Clare C (kneeling), Megan, Victoria, Nick (crouching down), Rob, Lindsay and Clare S.

This day was organised with military like precision by Roberto Di Matteo, Jude and Marguerite.  Jude and the Mit had planned to meet at 8.00am to hog a good spot.  Factors to consider in selecting the spot were: be near the river for a nice scenic touch, near the bogs, near the bridge for easy access and of course as close to the fireworks spot as possible without getting yer arse burnt off.  Well a nasty early morning rain shower postponed the plan an hour or two but eventually after an extra hour's kip and a skip down to the Back Bay, the lads set up camp by 10.30am.

    

The first and most important thing that folk do when they land on the moon is they nail their flag in there, hog the spot like, just in case some blighter tea-leafs it or some pesky Russian comes along and tries to claim they got there first. Well, the same applied here.  The flag was stuck in the tree and the spot was hogged.

The single most important appliance of the day was .........



      

....... the coolers for the swally.  De Matteo had been rambling on all week about his class cooler (his is the red one) only to be completely blown away by Jude's super-cool, extra-large-suitcase-style-pulley-job with wheels on!!  It was like Rob turned up in a Nissan and Jude turned up in a Ferrari. It was hilariously funny.  Rob just could not believe how he had been upstaged in such a dastardly manner.  A cooler with a pulley and wheels on.... that's fantastic!  Oh yeah..... inside the coolers were stockpiles of:  sarnies, swall, chocolates, more swall, water, buns, sweets, and more swall in case supplies got low.

 

Next to arrive was the real organiser, Marguerite. It was she who issued the party invitation on facebook to the gang and managed the communications in terms of where to meet, when to meet, what to bring, etc. Well done Marguerite!!

'Here Jude, take my pic on this wee bridge here, sure this is just lovely', said Marguerite.  That's her chair for the day she has parked under her arm there.










To properly hog a spot you actually had to lay down sheets.  Two were laid down by Marguerite, Rob and Jude...... just about enough for the gang to squeeze onto.  The three amigos then settled down for a while awaiting the rest of the group.

'Here Rob ....... what's the story with the crappy wee cooler with no wheels on ......what's the story there Rob? asked Marguerite.











'Yeah ....emmm ..... ehhhh......yeah, it's a bit crappy compared to Jude's alright Marguerite, I feel like I cheaped out on this one now, he has really showed me up by coming with wheels on his.... and to make matters worse I had to lug that blighter from south Boston, on the 'T', across rivers, through the Back Bay, sweating like a pig I was, folk were laughing at me ...... and then he comes waltzing down Fairfield St whistlingaway as he pulled his one with wheels on ... to be honest Marguerite ..... I was nearly sick when I saw him', replied Rob.

At the tent across the path from where the gang had set up camp Marguerite got to meet President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama.  

The early birds catch the worms!!  Jude and Rob sit like kings in the castle while folk behind try to salvage what's left of the nice spots.

'Hey Jude, you may have the better cooler..... ok I accept ....... you do have the better cooler but wait to you see what I have, this will just sicken ye', said Rob.







'It's my American plates with stars on them', said Rob.  

'But what about Jude's class Spider-man cup Rob that I bought him last night, that's better than your crappy looking green tankard thingy Rob, and besides it the 04th of July not St Patrick's Day', said Marguerite.

'Ahh now, sure this here is the life, sitting here watching the world go by, sure if everyday could be like this, ah sure this is just great'.....rambled Marguerite.

This umbrella was used today for the sole pupose of keeping the sun off Marguerite.

 






Here is a 'from the back' view of the spot.  You can see the two large blankets creating a huge rectangular area...........perfect.

Rob has a wee moment to himself down by the lagoon, isn't that nice.

Before long the whole crew were beginning to arrive.  Here is Megan catching up with Marguerite.

Even the Canadian Geese were out in numbers today, I wonder did they know the fireworks would be on tonight!!!

Next to arrive was Clare and she did not waste any time in getting the wee Hawaiian necklace thingymabobbers handed out. Nice hat too!!!

Then Jude had a wee moment to himself down by the lagoon.  Jude reckons that sometimes it`s good to have a wee moment to yourself, like every now and again he likes to get away from the crowd, the noise ..... get some quiet, some peace and a little tranquility.    














Rob and Clare are ready for action now!!

Clare brings everything to a party, she's the host with the most.  Most importantly she brings plenty of great craic.












'O say can you see by the dawn's early light ....

Chilling out on the banks of the Charles River are: Megan, Marguerite and Karen.

Ok .... who's got the nicest sunglasses?













The flyovers were pretty spectacular by the way.  They went on for quite a while too.  This sort of action here totally freaks Jude out. 'What if one of them momentarily loses focus, like picks his nose, scratches his arse, has a sneeky look at the view, or something like that .......... disaster, that's what!!! he rambled.
 

Now it's Clare's turn to meet the Obama's.

The spots at this particular area of the Esplanade are now nearly all taken.  Nice spot....wha? `This is what ye get when ye get down nice and early ye see!! said Marguerite.









 

Rob, Jude and Marguerite strike a cool pose. These pics don't tell the whole story of today, just the visual side.  You see from the moment Jude and Robert arrived this morning the music had been blasting out all day on loud speakers which had been set up all around the area.  The first 5 songs were magic, they played 'Start Me Up', by the Stones, 5 times, yeah that's right, the first 5 songs.... very funny it was too because Jude just happens to love that song.

Marguerite gets tucked into a class wee tomato dish thingymabobber she learned from Allie's mum Linda.  It's Marguerite`s latest nice wee snack meal (these wee ideas come and go frequently these days folks, I`m saying nothing, but I`m just saying all the same).  Anyway, it's a large tomato sliced (but not cut clean through) with Mozzarella cheese and Basil stuffed in between the slices and topped with Balsamic Vinaigrette. Very nice indeed it is too.





Surprise!!!!

Claire C and Victoria have returned to Boston for a few days (they both left Boston last year with Clare returning to Belfast and Victoria moving to London).  Here they are with Megan, Karen and Marguerite.









`Here Claire how`s Belfast? asked Marguerite.  `Sure it`s just magic as always Marguerite`.  Claire C and Marguerite catch up.










  

And here is the full Motley Crew, all having fun in the sun on the 4th of July. 

Front row L-R: nick, Lindsay, Rob, Clare S (in seat.  Back row L-R: Clare C, Marguerite, Megan, Karen, Victoria and Jude.

Clare S brought along this cool flag which was then promptly hung from the tree to flutter and flap away all day long.











Here is the view looking back towards the Boston side of the Charles river












So by now folk were supping away goodo on their swally.  But of course the rule in America is that you just can`t walk around everywhere with beer in your hand, so it was secretly hiden in the auld coolers, which were also being used as seats, like this one here Victoria is sitting on.  Meanwhile Rob and Lindsay test out their super cool new Paddy`s Day tankard.












Victoria, Marguerite, Claire, Megan and Karen enjoy the craic.

 

Happy 4th of July!!
























Ok, here`s a tough one for you folks ...... can you spot who in this pic is not from Chicago?  Answers on a post card to `Emmett`s`, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Victoria never takes too long to blend right back in, it was as if she had never been away (for over a year!!).  Meanwhile Clare has lost her head, or her seat, or her marbles, or.......

......... maybe her shoes, or her parrot hat, or maybe her sun cream...... who knows.  Meanwhile Victoria just smiles away as she is loving being back in Boston. 

   

Ok, to answer one of today`s earlier questions .... it was Lindsay who had the coolest sunglasses today, all multicoloured and arty they were.

Clare C is feeling brave and letting Marguerite be artistic with her hair.

















Meanwhile check out Rob`s cool head wear there folks...... wha?

Clare has found what she was looking for earlier ..... her container of swally!!!! 

Here's a nice wee pic for ye ...... it's theHancock Tower in the background with the Stars and Stripes and some leaves adding a little artistic value ...... wha?















Before long the sun was setting, the crowds were getting larger and the action was revving up.












This punter here had the best view of all as he parked himself in this tree  .... eh but maybe he had a sore behind too!!











Oh Yeah ..... it's this week's 'Pregnancy Update Pic'.  Here is Marguerite showing of the latest version.  Isn't that fantastic ... wha?  

'Just think Marguerite, this time 3 months there'll be 3 of us ....... OMG ......... that's nuts ........ OMG ..... this is unbelievable', Jude continues to ramble things like this.









  
Meanwhile back at the ranch Clare has got the bubble making machine out and she is blasting away like the bubbler that she is!!! In the background Karen tries her best to catch one.

'Here give uz a go at that Clare, that looks class', asked Jude.  'Here ye go naaiy .... bubbles for everyone ... hehehehehoho....', giggled Clare.











Claire and Marguerite enjoying the fun.













'Sussshhh ..... oh Megan ...... what's going on in here then ..... what goodies have we here', asked Victoria.  'Just some diesel for the party Vicky ..... I say just some fuel for the party', replied Megan.

Rob and Lindsay enjoy the craic at the 4th of July party.












As you can see here behind Clare the crowds really began to increase very quickly in the evening time, so much so it was completely nuts at one point but all still very controlled at the same time.















Unless you were on the foot path.  Everyone who had the cool spots on the grass just looked on in amazement at the size of the crowds.  

Around this time the photo had had a few too many refreshments and as a result the settings on the auld camera were somewhat scew-whiff.  This would have been a nice pic of Marguerite and Rob. 

Megan supps on some diesel concoction her and Clarie C have put together.












Soon the best views in Boston would be from this apartment block in the Back Bay.











 

'All these edjits are getting hammered, but I'm off the sauce for a wee while, so I'll just lie here and look pretty on this wee blanket here ..... wha ..... I say I'll just lie here and look pretty', thinks Marguerite.

'Quick .... open that up Megan .... I need more swally', said Rob as he was slowly but surely tipping over the edge.

'


Megan needs no encouragement either.

'Here, did any of ye happen to see an Indian riding past there on a horse firing U.S. flag arrows? asks Clare.









   

By this stage it's safe to say everyone was a tad on the tippsy side.  The pics remained blurry because ..... well because everybody was hammered that's why.










When the Boston Pops show finally started it was great and everyone showed their appreciation.












By now Di Matteo was well and truly over the edge and dancing away goodo with this flag as his partner.

'Hi ho - hi ho ..... it`s off to work we go', ...... Rob's swall is really kicking in now!!!












The fireworks display was class ..... even if .....






......Rob may not remember much about it.  He was having fun, that's the main thing ...... party animal!!!

Tonight's fireworks display was simply the best ever, just spectacular and a fitting end to a wonderful day.