The Big Lunch: street party with the Jones’s
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 by Nigel
Here’s a question: how well do you know your neighbours? As I write this I realise that I don’t actually know many of my neighbours by face, let alone by name, which feels pretty shocking.
Apparently around a third of people in the UK live alone, and loneliness is a growing problem. It seems that it’s become easier to meet people online, but sometimes you really need a realtime connection, like when disaster strikes and you desperately need an emergency cat sitter/plant waterer/sympathetic ear. A new best friend could be living next door, and you’d never know it!
Hence the Big Lunch on Sunday 18th July. Think of it as lunch, with your neighbours, in the street. The best part of a million people did it last year. It’s a nice way to get neighbours together over food, music, games and fun.
Sounds like a cracking idea to me.
If you’re so inclined you could make it an eco-themed street party. Recycled fabric makes colourful bunting, and the sounds could be provided by a low carbon, bicycle powered PA system. There are heaps of ideas on the Big Lunch website on how to get started, and why not check out our range of bits and pieces for al fresco dining, and wind up and solar radios and speakers (if you’re lucky with the weather). Or just ask around and get a band together - there could be all kinds of talent on your street.
Have you ever thrown a street party for your neighbours, or taken part in one? Was it a roaring success, or an awkward, dismal failure. Are we worse off flying solo, or should lone rangers be left to their own devices, and not be forced to socialise against their will? Let us know what you think in the comments.
(Thanks to the Big Lunch for the image, full size available on Flickr.)
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