Belonging & Memory: Family Reunion
After a long day of rushing around Belgrade filming, sorting things out and avoiding being hit in the chaos of the nightmare roads, we decided to head back towards Baka’s flat. As we were driving, we spotted a material shop which sold the perfect goodies for the art workshop we had planned for the following day at Belgrade’s KC Grad in Savamala. Due to the terrible parking in Belgrade, which has definitely caused more than one headache, we headed down a side street to park the car and purchase the fabric goodies. As we navigated through the narrow back streets of the city to find a spot, I began to recognise the area, almost as though I had been dreamt of this place. Driving further down the road, more and more memories started to fill my head… we had somehow driven to my auntie’s house It had been 6 years since I had last been and visited her, but nonetheless I will never forget their big gate entrance and bloody great, big Alsatian dog. We found a space nearby to park the car and headed towards a potential family reunion. I popped my bearded head over the gate, eagerly buzzing at the bell. Suddenly I heard a dog barking and running towards us. This time, it wasn’t an Alsatian, but a tiny, fluffy white dog! Marina poked her head curiously over the porch at me and said, “Hey, who are you?” and with a huge grin on my face, I replied, “It’s me!” “I don’t know who you are,” she said. “Look closely, it’s me - your English nephew!” “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” she screamed at us, as she began running towards us with the biggest smile on her face. She swung open the gate and gave me a warm, welcoming embrace. After all the hellos and pleasantries of greetings, she emerged with more than enough beer, ham, crackers, cheese and fresh tomatoes than we could fill our bellies with. It was lovely to catch p with family I hadn’t seen for years and we didn’t expect that we would have the time for this whilst producing the documentary. My cousin was also there with her new baby girl. I was expecting her to be about one years old and in a crib, but it turns out she is a very pretty, brunette three year old (who looks about six) and is full of life. I have a beautiful niece! We spent the next couple of hours catching up and exchanging the last six years worth of stories. My favourite part of the evening, however, was leaving because my new niece gave me a very big, loving kiss goodbye. That was Danny reporting from the stomach of the stag.
