Tonight is Bonfire Night, a British tradition dating back to 1605 when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The bonfire was initially lit on the anniversary as a celebration that King James 1st had survived but soon the tradition began where an effigy of Guy Fawkes was thrown on to the bonfire. The kids would spend the day making the'Guy' from old clothes, stuffing it with straw and soon started taking it around the streets shouting 'penny for the guy' which they would then spend on fireworks for the evening.
Read more: http://www.bonfirenight.net/gunpowder.php
I remember when I was young we looked forward to mischievous night. This, for us, was always the night before Bonfire Night, the 4th of November. That was the night we were 'allowed' to play tricks on others. Taking gates from the local houses and stashing them at the end of the street, tying the front and back door handles together so they had difficulty opening the doors, putting black shoe polish on the handle to the garage or the 2 front doors of neighbouring houses. Throwing toilet rolls around the garden and sometimes over the roof of the house, backwards and forwards.
It was all harmless fun, no damage was done and it was tolerated for that one night only.
So, this year I got wondering how did it get moved to Halloween?
Half an hour on Google has led me to subscribe to the view that the tradition was taken to America by emigrating Brits, but as the Gunpowder plot meant nothing to the American's, it got moved to Halloween and evolved into 'Trick or Treat'. In my younger days the person subjected to the prank didn't get the option of giving us a treat to stop us, in fact the one down side to the whole tradition was that in most cases we weren't around to see the look on the person's face when they discovered what we'd done. But, being the grown up now, I have an idea how they felt - not pleased!
Read more: http://halloween.wikia.com/wiki/Mischief_Night
Showing posts with label Traditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Traditions. Show all posts
Monday, 5 November 2012
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Thanks Giving - American style
In true American spirit Neil decided he would like to make a desert to take with us to our first Thanks Giving dinner. We were now in a kitchen that was almost fully functional. The marble worktops (counter tops) had been installed yesterday, the plumber had been today and so the appliances were working, the sinks were working and we had work surfaces to prepare food on. We found a variety of bowls and utensils from the piles of items in the various rooms and we were in business - we decided a Chocolate Pan Forte would be good and visited the local Nob Hill Supermarket for all the ingredients. It's a simple dish that needs no baking, it sets in the fridge, or when short of time, the freezer. Neil somehow managed to tweak his back while taking it out of the freezer, which was to have serious repercussions for the rest of the holiday.
http://www.ginodacampo.com/recipes/panforte
Lynn prepared a dish of Sweet Potato Mallow and we were already for the next day.
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1950,146170-244197,00.html
Dinner was scheduled for 3pm and we have a drive of about an hour. We hit the freeway with the rest of California. As we drove closer to San Francisco all 4 lanes of traffic started to crawl. It gave us a wonderful opportunity to look at the gorgeous autumnal trees
but it wasn't getting us to dinner. Suddenly Lynn's Satnav told us of an alternate route to avoid the heavy traffic. We took the next exit and were soon travelling again and reached our destination only 10 minutes later than planned.
The table looked beautiful
and as we moved through to the kitchen the smell of the turkey met us at the door. It was almost ready to come out of the oven so, once drinks had been served and initial greetings exchanged it was time for the great unveiling of the main event - the traditional Thanks Giving Turkey.
There was 7 of us for dinner but enough food to feed twice that number and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. After dinner, in a family tradition, we all took turns at saying what we were thankful for this year. It was lovely to hear some of the stories around the table and, although we were given a pass if we didn't feel comfortable joining in, both Neil and I were happy to say our piece having been pre-warned of this tradition so having had time to give it some thought.
After dinner we all went through to the Family Room and the guys settled themselves down to watch the big game - 49ers v Raven's - it was a good afternoon as long you weren't a 49er fan - oh, the whole room was rooting for the 49ers!
So, many thanks to our hosts Cath & Chris for inviting us to spend Thanks Giving in their San Francisco home - it will be a special memory for us for many years.
http://www.ginodacampo.com/recipes/panforte
Lynn prepared a dish of Sweet Potato Mallow and we were already for the next day.
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1950,146170-244197,00.html
Dinner was scheduled for 3pm and we have a drive of about an hour. We hit the freeway with the rest of California. As we drove closer to San Francisco all 4 lanes of traffic started to crawl. It gave us a wonderful opportunity to look at the gorgeous autumnal trees
but it wasn't getting us to dinner. Suddenly Lynn's Satnav told us of an alternate route to avoid the heavy traffic. We took the next exit and were soon travelling again and reached our destination only 10 minutes later than planned.
The table looked beautiful
and as we moved through to the kitchen the smell of the turkey met us at the door. It was almost ready to come out of the oven so, once drinks had been served and initial greetings exchanged it was time for the great unveiling of the main event - the traditional Thanks Giving Turkey.
There was 7 of us for dinner but enough food to feed twice that number and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. After dinner, in a family tradition, we all took turns at saying what we were thankful for this year. It was lovely to hear some of the stories around the table and, although we were given a pass if we didn't feel comfortable joining in, both Neil and I were happy to say our piece having been pre-warned of this tradition so having had time to give it some thought.
After dinner we all went through to the Family Room and the guys settled themselves down to watch the big game - 49ers v Raven's - it was a good afternoon as long you weren't a 49er fan - oh, the whole room was rooting for the 49ers!
So, many thanks to our hosts Cath & Chris for inviting us to spend Thanks Giving in their San Francisco home - it will be a special memory for us for many years.
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Thanks Giving and Black Friday
When we arrived at Customs in San Francisco we were, as normal, asked what the purpose of our trip was. I told the official we had come to share Thanks Giving with our friends. He responded by asking if we were also there for Black Friday. This was a term I had not heard off and only associated similar terms with stock market crashes etc.
It turns out to be a very different meaning.
It is the sales held the day after Thanks Giving. Infact, some stores were opening at 9pm & 10pm on the day of Thanks Giving.
On our journey home after our Thanks Giving meal, which I shall write of another time, we called by the local Retail Outlets . It was 9.30pm and the car park was full, not an available place to be seen. Fortunately we were only driving through, not looking to park. There were many queues outside stores due to open at 10pm and many of the signs in the store windows had anything upto 75% reductions advertised.
We would visit the sales before we left but at a calmer time.
It turns out to be a very different meaning.
It is the sales held the day after Thanks Giving. Infact, some stores were opening at 9pm & 10pm on the day of Thanks Giving.
On our journey home after our Thanks Giving meal, which I shall write of another time, we called by the local Retail Outlets . It was 9.30pm and the car park was full, not an available place to be seen. Fortunately we were only driving through, not looking to park. There were many queues outside stores due to open at 10pm and many of the signs in the store windows had anything upto 75% reductions advertised.
We would visit the sales before we left but at a calmer time.
Another off the 'Bucket List'
I've always enjoyed visiting America and love watching programs of the American way of life. Since meeting our California friends in 2004 we are just back from our 6th visit with them. This time, I managed to tick another of my ambitions off the list.
To experience a real American Thanks Giving (Sorry, my Canadian readers) as portrayed in American programs such as Cheers, Frasier, Friends and many more.
So, when we were planning our annual break earlier this year we decided we would re-visit California and so I asked it if would be ok for us to go over for Thanks Giving, the last Thursday of November.
I was so pleased when our friends said we could and the flights were booked back in June and I have been ticking the days off ever since, well Virgin Atlantic have as everytime you open up their website to manage your trip there is a large banner across the top telling you how many days, hours and minutes until you fly. And, if it wasn't for this, we would have been at the airport a week too early as I had all my dates wrong in my head and thought we travelled on the 12th, not the 19th - ooops!
In the run-up to our trip Lynn emailed to say their kitchen re-model was running behind schedule and as we arrived there would be no-where to sit downstairs, all the kitchen items being stored throughout the lounge and dining area, no where to sit in the family room as that too was being re-decorated as it runs on from the kitchen and no-where to sit outside as the furniture from the family room was out in the yard.
There was no-where to cook and no tv, but we were still very welcome to stay as the upstairs was untouched and so we could still sleep and even watch tv in one of the other bedrooms where there grandson stays when he's on his weekly overnight visit.
Effectively we would be camping out indoors. No problem, we said, we're coming to spend time with you, it will be fun whatever we do.
I admit there was an element of me that thought Lynn may have been over-exaggerating a little so that when we got there we were prepared for the worse - but she wasn't.
The re-model was originally planned to start in May. Delays meant it had to be postponed until after the family re-union in August. Once started, with plenty of time for completion before we arrived, there were snags and un-expected jobs that kept cropping up. Result - nowhere to sit, eat, cook ot watch tv.
Our first couple of nights were spent in a local hotel as Lynn & Andy were both away for the weekend and we booked a game of golf for the Monday after which we would make our way to their house. The golf was good and although it was the first time my golf clubs had been out in over a year, I was surprised to see I could still whack a good ball down the middle of the fairway.
When we finally arrived at the house we were met with an exact match to Lynn's description with one addition - Andy was very unwell, with manflu - and getting worse. He battled on being sociable serving drinks in his office while we all perched on a variety of chairs, stools and desks. Afterward we ate out, as we planned to do for most of the holiday due to the lack of cooking facilities in the house.
While out, they received a phone call about there grandson, he too was very unwell and needed taking to the doctors in the morning, could Lynn take him as his Dad was also down with man-flu and his mom was working. Result - he was brought through to stay the night and our tv priviledges were withdrawn as he would now be sleeping in the room with the tv.
American man-flu certainly seems to hit hard, that was 3 generations of men in one family - wow!
To experience a real American Thanks Giving (Sorry, my Canadian readers) as portrayed in American programs such as Cheers, Frasier, Friends and many more.
So, when we were planning our annual break earlier this year we decided we would re-visit California and so I asked it if would be ok for us to go over for Thanks Giving, the last Thursday of November.
I was so pleased when our friends said we could and the flights were booked back in June and I have been ticking the days off ever since, well Virgin Atlantic have as everytime you open up their website to manage your trip there is a large banner across the top telling you how many days, hours and minutes until you fly. And, if it wasn't for this, we would have been at the airport a week too early as I had all my dates wrong in my head and thought we travelled on the 12th, not the 19th - ooops!
In the run-up to our trip Lynn emailed to say their kitchen re-model was running behind schedule and as we arrived there would be no-where to sit downstairs, all the kitchen items being stored throughout the lounge and dining area, no where to sit in the family room as that too was being re-decorated as it runs on from the kitchen and no-where to sit outside as the furniture from the family room was out in the yard.
There was no-where to cook and no tv, but we were still very welcome to stay as the upstairs was untouched and so we could still sleep and even watch tv in one of the other bedrooms where there grandson stays when he's on his weekly overnight visit.
Effectively we would be camping out indoors. No problem, we said, we're coming to spend time with you, it will be fun whatever we do.
I admit there was an element of me that thought Lynn may have been over-exaggerating a little so that when we got there we were prepared for the worse - but she wasn't.
The re-model was originally planned to start in May. Delays meant it had to be postponed until after the family re-union in August. Once started, with plenty of time for completion before we arrived, there were snags and un-expected jobs that kept cropping up. Result - nowhere to sit, eat, cook ot watch tv.
Our first couple of nights were spent in a local hotel as Lynn & Andy were both away for the weekend and we booked a game of golf for the Monday after which we would make our way to their house. The golf was good and although it was the first time my golf clubs had been out in over a year, I was surprised to see I could still whack a good ball down the middle of the fairway.
When we finally arrived at the house we were met with an exact match to Lynn's description with one addition - Andy was very unwell, with manflu - and getting worse. He battled on being sociable serving drinks in his office while we all perched on a variety of chairs, stools and desks. Afterward we ate out, as we planned to do for most of the holiday due to the lack of cooking facilities in the house.
While out, they received a phone call about there grandson, he too was very unwell and needed taking to the doctors in the morning, could Lynn take him as his Dad was also down with man-flu and his mom was working. Result - he was brought through to stay the night and our tv priviledges were withdrawn as he would now be sleeping in the room with the tv.
American man-flu certainly seems to hit hard, that was 3 generations of men in one family - wow!
Saturday, 12 November 2011
Lest We Forget!
Whatever your views on the rights and wrong of the battles fought, those that lost their lives deserve to be remembered.
It got me thinking about the history of the poppy. I've always known it was symbolic of the fields in Flanders in Northern France where so many soldiers died, but how did it get to be the symbol of rememberance?
Intigued, I turned to my trusty laptop and started Googling. I came across a website and, to my surprise, read that it was an American lady that wore the first poppy as a symbol of rememberance, I had always thought the British Legion was responsible for the introduction of the poppy, but they simply followed the lead in 1921, 3 years after Moina Michael wore the first poppy in New York.
I remember the poppy-appeal lost some momentum as many of the war veterans from the 2 world wars grew ever older and died, the memories of the horrors of war dying with them. The validity of continuing the annual appeal was questioned, then the modern day wars began to be considered and the numbers of injured service men and women returning home from the Falklands and the Middle East conflicts began to revive the general public's passion for Poppy Day.
And so tomorrow, I and many, many more will remember!
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/article/remembrance-poppy.htm
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Hand-crafted Traditional Rocking Horses
These beautiful, handcrafted rocking horses are made by
a very good friend of ours.
They are now on Ebay for sale.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-new-hand-carved-rocking-horse-/330611658741?pt=UK_Toys_Creative_Educational_RL&hash=item4cf9fd8ff5
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Thanksgiving - USA Style.
As an avid fan of 'Friends' and many other U.S. sitcoms and Romcoms, I've always enjoyed watching the portrayal of Thanksgiving as a great, social, annual event.
We've visited California at a variety of times throughout the year. We've been to Yosemite in Spring when the river was vibrant with the melting snows and the wateralls beyond words.
We've visited California when the summer sun had baked the green, lush hills into the parched grasslands that give the State its name - The Golden State.
We've visited California in the fall when the leaves glowed with autumnal reds, oranges and yellows.
We've visited California on Labour Day weekend and got married.
We've visited California on Memorial Day and played in a golf tournament to raise funds for our friend's local church.
And now we're going to visit California for Thanksgiving. We're going to spend time with our friends and experience the tradition for real, rather than watching it on programs on TV.
The air tickets are booked, the visa waiver application forms submitted and approved.
We're definitely going.
And I am SO excited!
163 days and counting!
We've visited California at a variety of times throughout the year. We've been to Yosemite in Spring when the river was vibrant with the melting snows and the wateralls beyond words.
We've visited California when the summer sun had baked the green, lush hills into the parched grasslands that give the State its name - The Golden State.
We've visited California in the fall when the leaves glowed with autumnal reds, oranges and yellows.
We've visited California on Labour Day weekend and got married.
We've visited California on Memorial Day and played in a golf tournament to raise funds for our friend's local church.
And now we're going to visit California for Thanksgiving. We're going to spend time with our friends and experience the tradition for real, rather than watching it on programs on TV.
The air tickets are booked, the visa waiver application forms submitted and approved.
We're definitely going.
And I am SO excited!
163 days and counting!
Thursday, 23 December 2010
A Christmas Past
My memory is not good. I have forgotten so much and other memories are very distorted but I have vague and fond memories of childhood Christmas's. Whether the memories are all from the same Christmas or a collage of many, I don't know, maybe my brother will correct me.
I remember 3 Christmas presents that were such mega-presents for me.
I know in 1968 I got my first record player - I know this because one of the singles I got with it was Herman Hermits' "Something is Happening", released that year. I also got the LP Sound Track to the "Sound of Music"
When I was young, there was a Christmas routine. We didn't go downstairs until Dad had lit the coal fire in the lounge, no such luxuries of central heating in those days. If it was cold enough outside there would be ice on the inside of my bedroom window and I would have to breath on the window to make a clear spot to see if it had snowed.
When we finally went downstairs, my brothers and I would each have a pile of presents on the large settee. One year I didn't have many, but outside there was a new bike for me. That was a Christmas I didn't want it to snow, otherwise I wouldn't be able to practice riding my new grown up Raleigh bike, in green. I wasn't allowed a bike until I was old and big enough to have a grown up one - it was to last me until I left home, so I must have been about 10 or 11. I was so thrilled that year.Another year, we all went to stay with my Grandma in Middlesborough. I loved my Grandma's house and have wonderful memories of being there. We may have only gone the one Christmas, but I remember it as being many more.
This one Christmas I do remember I got my first watch. I felt so grown up. We had a big family Christmas dinner where all the grown-ups sat around the huge circular table and all the kids sat at card tables around the room.
These memories are precious to me and because I know there is so much I don't remember, I know these times must have been so special, even if the details have blurred somewhat over the years.
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
It's official, I am ready for Christmas.
I was all geared up at the end of November for an organised Christmas. My cards were bought and written, my annual letter to distant relatives was written and my present list was prepared ready to go shopping.
Then it snowed, and snowed and snowed and the entire area ground to a halt. The post didn't get collected or delivered, shopping was only possible on foot so we could only carry basic groceries and gift shopping had to wait.
After a week of snow life started to move again, I was back at work but we were challenged with a 4 inch slab of ice everywhere.
After a few more days the sun came out, the thermometer finally climbed above zero and the ice finally cleared.
The I came down with a flu bug. It settled on my chest and triggered my asthma because I had forgotten to get my flu jab. I had barely enough energy to get through the day let alone go shopping.
In the background Neil was getting bits towards the Christmas dinner. We talked Turkey one day and the next, we had a Turkey Crown in the freezer big enough to feed 8-11 people. I foresee lots of Turkey curry after Christmas, there are only 3 of us for dinner.
We talked Christmas cake and one appeared, and so it continued. Wrapping paper and shiny ribbon magically appeared searching for presents to be wrapped around.
And still Christmas got closer.
Then Saturday arrived. I felt energised. I felt in the mood to shop. And off I went. We live 5 minutes walk from town, so I left the car at home so as to have to battle for a parking space, not to have to sit in traffic queues and not to have to pay the premium parking fees that have been in place for the last month to take advantage of the Christmas shoppers.
Neil stayed at home so I could wander and browse without feeling his impatience rising. I had such fun. I got everything and, as I'd been clever and bought light-weight presents, I walked home. I didn't even have to wait for Neil to battle the traffic to come and pick me up.
It means I can enjoy this week. I have no urgent errands to run, I do not have to battle with shoppers. We collect our fresh veg from the local Farm shop on Thursday and I finish work Thursday evening not to return until Jan 4th.
I cannot remember feeling so relaxed about Christmas for many years.
I feel smug!
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
I just want to go home!
Last Saturday the Rugby club at the end of the road was having a bonfire and firework evening. We already had plans to go to our friends in Sheffield, so I hadn't taken much notice of the adverts about it, but when I walked the dogs up to the canal on Saturday afternoon I did notice a rather large bonfire was ready to burn in the corner of the field, and there were a lot of fairground stalls in front of the clubhouse.
It was going to be a big event.
We left at 5pm and there were a few people starting to make their way down past our house. There is parking for about 50 cars at the Rugby club and our road is a 'no through' road, although there is a gate that can be opened to allow cars to drive out the far side of the Rugby club, in emergency situations.
In anticipation of the louder fireworks that big displays tend to set off, we had decided we needed to be back by 8pm to make sure the dogs were OK. They don't seem bothered by fireworks, and if anything, they just bark at them - but we hadn't seen them deal with the really loud bangs.
After a couple of hours with our friends, watching fireworks in their garden and enjoying some bonfire night food and drink, we said our goodbyes and set off home.
We had noticed, on the way to our friends, that there were a lot of cars on the road - I think because it was a Saturday evening, and it wasn't raining, lots of people had decided to go to friends or formal bonfires. As we drove home, the roads were empty, and quicker than normal we were turning onto our road ...............
....... to be met with gridlock!
There were too many cars for the car park. There were cars parked on both sides of the road, the full length of the road, which had turned it into a one-way street. With no room in the car park and nowhere for people to turn round and come back - everything was stopped.
As I was behind the wheel, I suggested that Neil jump out and walk the 400 yards down to the house to be with the dogs, and I would wait and see what I could do about getting out of the traffic. Behind me was a police car and, having put his flashing lights on, he managed to get past me and 3 more cars to a side road, which had people also queuing to get out and up to the Rugby club.
It was chaos.
The police parked their car across the road, blocking it off. They directed the cars coming out of the side road to go away from the Rugby club to clear that junction and then they started to move us all along the side road towards town....
......and me away from my house!!!
'I just want to go home' I told the officer as I reached the road block.
'No one's going up there at the moment, you'll have to follow the traffic into town', he replied.
As I drove into town, I knew I would pass 2 car parks and I hoped I would be able to get into one of them and walk home, going back for my car later. No joy though, they were both completely mobbed. Finally, I was in town and suddenly, it was like I'd entered a ghost town. It was deserted - no people, no cars, no nothing.
It seemed the entire population of Worksop was busy trying to get to the bonfire party at the end of our road. I drove into the car park behind the shopping complex to find 2 other cars in a car park that would hold a few hundred, and only a 10 minute walk to the Rugby club - why, oh why had police not been directing people here from the beginning of the evening instead of allowing the chaos that they were now trying to sort out?
As I walked towards home, I joined a still large wave of people moving towards the rugby club and soon I reached the chaos of our road. A couple of minutes later I reached home, to find a strange car on our drive, trying to get back into the traffic, going against the flow.
'You won't be going anywhere soon, they've closed the road off' I told them.
'Oh. We don't live here', the young couple inside informed me.
'No, I know you don't - I do!' I replied. 'If you get desperate for the loo, knock on the door' I told them as I walked past them.
'Do you mean that?' the young lad shouted after me as I turned the key in the lock.
'Of course I do' I replied, and vanished inside.
Once inside the warmth of our house, mug of coffee in hand, I was able to watch the chaos continue from the comfort of our front room. After about 15 mins, I noticed the car in the drive reverse up to the house and the young girl get out - thinking they were going to take me up on my offer I went out to open the door to them, and just as I did I noticed the police had cleared the road up to our house.
'If you go now, it looks like you'll get out' - I told them, and in a flash, the young girl had shouted thanks, jumped in the car and they were gone.
Knowing there would be a similar chaos in reverse when the fireworks were finished, we settled down in front of the tv. Occasionally, we would go out into the garden and watch the fireworks for a while before feeling too cold to be out anymore.
Finally, at 10.30pm, it seemed most people had left the area, there were a few stragglers but nothing much to worry about, so we put the dogs in the back of Neil's car and drove the 5 minutes to town to collect my car which, by now, was all alone in the car park.
And so, Bonfire night was over for another year. Next year we have already vowed - we are going nowhere - nowhere, unless we can walk there, and walk back again.
It was going to be a big event.
We left at 5pm and there were a few people starting to make their way down past our house. There is parking for about 50 cars at the Rugby club and our road is a 'no through' road, although there is a gate that can be opened to allow cars to drive out the far side of the Rugby club, in emergency situations.
In anticipation of the louder fireworks that big displays tend to set off, we had decided we needed to be back by 8pm to make sure the dogs were OK. They don't seem bothered by fireworks, and if anything, they just bark at them - but we hadn't seen them deal with the really loud bangs.
After a couple of hours with our friends, watching fireworks in their garden and enjoying some bonfire night food and drink, we said our goodbyes and set off home.
We had noticed, on the way to our friends, that there were a lot of cars on the road - I think because it was a Saturday evening, and it wasn't raining, lots of people had decided to go to friends or formal bonfires. As we drove home, the roads were empty, and quicker than normal we were turning onto our road ...............
....... to be met with gridlock!
There were too many cars for the car park. There were cars parked on both sides of the road, the full length of the road, which had turned it into a one-way street. With no room in the car park and nowhere for people to turn round and come back - everything was stopped.
As I was behind the wheel, I suggested that Neil jump out and walk the 400 yards down to the house to be with the dogs, and I would wait and see what I could do about getting out of the traffic. Behind me was a police car and, having put his flashing lights on, he managed to get past me and 3 more cars to a side road, which had people also queuing to get out and up to the Rugby club.
It was chaos.
The police parked their car across the road, blocking it off. They directed the cars coming out of the side road to go away from the Rugby club to clear that junction and then they started to move us all along the side road towards town....
......and me away from my house!!!
'I just want to go home' I told the officer as I reached the road block.
'No one's going up there at the moment, you'll have to follow the traffic into town', he replied.
As I drove into town, I knew I would pass 2 car parks and I hoped I would be able to get into one of them and walk home, going back for my car later. No joy though, they were both completely mobbed. Finally, I was in town and suddenly, it was like I'd entered a ghost town. It was deserted - no people, no cars, no nothing.
It seemed the entire population of Worksop was busy trying to get to the bonfire party at the end of our road. I drove into the car park behind the shopping complex to find 2 other cars in a car park that would hold a few hundred, and only a 10 minute walk to the Rugby club - why, oh why had police not been directing people here from the beginning of the evening instead of allowing the chaos that they were now trying to sort out?
As I walked towards home, I joined a still large wave of people moving towards the rugby club and soon I reached the chaos of our road. A couple of minutes later I reached home, to find a strange car on our drive, trying to get back into the traffic, going against the flow.
'You won't be going anywhere soon, they've closed the road off' I told them.
'Oh. We don't live here', the young couple inside informed me.
'No, I know you don't - I do!' I replied. 'If you get desperate for the loo, knock on the door' I told them as I walked past them.
'Do you mean that?' the young lad shouted after me as I turned the key in the lock.
'Of course I do' I replied, and vanished inside.
Once inside the warmth of our house, mug of coffee in hand, I was able to watch the chaos continue from the comfort of our front room. After about 15 mins, I noticed the car in the drive reverse up to the house and the young girl get out - thinking they were going to take me up on my offer I went out to open the door to them, and just as I did I noticed the police had cleared the road up to our house.
'If you go now, it looks like you'll get out' - I told them, and in a flash, the young girl had shouted thanks, jumped in the car and they were gone.
Knowing there would be a similar chaos in reverse when the fireworks were finished, we settled down in front of the tv. Occasionally, we would go out into the garden and watch the fireworks for a while before feeling too cold to be out anymore.
Finally, at 10.30pm, it seemed most people had left the area, there were a few stragglers but nothing much to worry about, so we put the dogs in the back of Neil's car and drove the 5 minutes to town to collect my car which, by now, was all alone in the car park.
And so, Bonfire night was over for another year. Next year we have already vowed - we are going nowhere - nowhere, unless we can walk there, and walk back again.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Remember, remember the 5th of November......
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
I see no reason why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
An age old English tradition remembering Guy Fawkes.
As children, we had bonfires and fireworks in the back garden. Hot dogs and beefburgers with Jacket Potatoes cooked in the embers of the bonfire.
We had a coal fire in the lounge where Mum used to roast hot chestnuts on the coal shovel.
I'm not sure how my eldest brother used to feel about all this. After all, it's his birthday today. I'm not sure whether he liked having a bonfire party on his birthday every year or whether he would have liked a trip out for a change some years.
The morning after bonfire night always has a specific feel to it. There seems to be a smokiness hanging over to the morning and there's always the sticks from the rockets to find laying about in the garden.
These days people have fireworks, but rarely have bonfires in the back garden, they are left to the official functions, Health & Safety and all that.
Happy childhood memories,
Happy birthday Bruv!
I see no reason why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
An age old English tradition remembering Guy Fawkes.
As children, we had bonfires and fireworks in the back garden. Hot dogs and beefburgers with Jacket Potatoes cooked in the embers of the bonfire.
We had a coal fire in the lounge where Mum used to roast hot chestnuts on the coal shovel.
I'm not sure how my eldest brother used to feel about all this. After all, it's his birthday today. I'm not sure whether he liked having a bonfire party on his birthday every year or whether he would have liked a trip out for a change some years.
The morning after bonfire night always has a specific feel to it. There seems to be a smokiness hanging over to the morning and there's always the sticks from the rockets to find laying about in the garden.
These days people have fireworks, but rarely have bonfires in the back garden, they are left to the official functions, Health & Safety and all that.
Happy childhood memories,
Happy birthday Bruv!
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