FOR labours of love in action, look no further than Liverpool's Hope Street Feast.
It's been going for seven years now, but the only itch it seems to be displaying is the one to get bigger and better than the time before.
This year, despite the showers, around 30,000 people showed up to the “urban village fête” steered by The Philharmonic Hall's head honcho, Simon Glinn, and made possible by a lot of good will.
Even chief luvvie Kenneth Branagh, here filming at the minute, was spotted among the throngs.
Liverpool's favourite cultural Cathedral-connecting corridor came alive to the strains of Singin' in the Rain, delivered spontaneously by around 50 soaked Feast-goers to show that no cloudburst could dampen this parade. There were more organised performers on a number of outdoor stages and indoors, meanwhile, the Rhos Orpheus Male Choir wowed drinkers in the Phil Pub.
Cheese
Theatre groups, dancers, Matthew Kelly (for it was he) who was mistaken for an accordion-maker by some, not forgetting the thinking girl's crumpet, RLPO Principal ConductorVasily Petrenko, swinging his baton all day as the Phil Hall threw its doors open for free.
Oh, and more cheese and rare breed pork stalls than could ever be decent, making up for the odd cupcake hell.
It all added up to Liverpool's FREE and independent foodie day out, which the people can't seem to get enough of.
Long may its passion and its sense of knowing continue another year, another day.
Here are some pictures, by Mark McNulty.
