The Braderie of Lille

Every day is different

A challenge in its own right

New things to be learned

Fresh paths to be taken

Sometimes wrong, but often right

The weekend gone by

Came the braderie to Lille

The biggest flea market in Europe

2.5 million People passing through

“I’ll take it for 4€”, “Ok, it’s a deal”

My wonderful dad arrived

Thursday morning, excited yet exhausted

What an amazing time was to be had

Little did he know

All his emotions would be tested

We laughed and we cried

We frowned, yet in wonder and disbelief

We shared incredible times

Photographing our way through the weekend

I imagine on Tuesday that his bed came as a relief

The nights I worked full speed ahead

In the restaurant that is La Ducasse

Hungry tourists demanding their share of mussels

Along with gallons of beer

I wondered how long they could last

During four days I lived a split life

Balancing love and work evenly

Profiting of every minute with loved ones

Yet committing to work with a passion

Not a feat achieved easily

Now I can breathe a sigh of relief

Structure will return back in to life

The overwhelming effect of the braderie withdraws

I can again, cosy and relaxed at night

To sleep seven hours, what a surprise!

But most importantly, thank you dad

For your incredible presence across the border

In our lives here in Lille you touched many

Here’s to October with you, mum and Ben coming

When everything will be in more order.

So happy when dad arrived :-D

Rue de Bethune (main pedestrian shopping street) in the Braderie

Dad all smiles ... His t-shirt attracted plenty of attention :-)

The Braderie was even outside La Mission Locale !!!