Monday 5 November 2007

Remember, Remember

So, it's Bonfire Night again. As I'm writing this, the air outside is hazy and smells of explosives. All evening there have been bangs and whistles - if you were in a less stable country, you'd think there was a war going on.

I've never lit anything more powerful than a sparkler, and of course these days we're discouraged on health and saftey grounds from even doing that. In any case, I'm not sure how people manage these days without milk bottles...

My sister, her husband and her father-in-law have a shop near to where I live. They sell fireworks at this time of year, and what they don't sell her father-in-law uses for a late display, along with some more "professional" pyrotechnics that he gets from his supplier, but isn't allowed to sell to the punters. I'm talking about the sort of thing that you're expected to set off using some kind of electronic detonator. When you're taking cover half a mile away. I haven't been to one of his displays for years, but the image of him lighting these things in his back garden with his cigarette and then legging it is something you don't easily forget. The spectators also had to run when rockets didn't go in the expected direction. Luckily his house is several hundred yards away from the nearest neighbour.

These days, I'm content to watch other people dicing with death from the comfort of my home. Helena and I spent a few evenings photographing them - the results of which are in the picture above.

I wonder whether they'll still be letting of fireworks in another 402 years? And if they are, whether they'll remember anything about why?

34 comments:

Jean Knee said...

Bang!

ha, stole your word and it totally goes with your post. The stars are aligned for me today, it would seem.

They will still be shooting off fire works you can bet. no one will know why, but golly, it's fun

you would be shocked by the number of people here that don't know the fourth of July and independence day refer to the same thing. you can bet those same people have plenty of black cats to shove up their neighbor's tailpipe

egads, you can bet seems to be my new phrase. I don't like it but, you can bet you'll be seeing it again

Bee said...

NICE PICTURE!!

I have to hide on the 4th of July cuz the noise is unbelievable!

jean knee:
You saiD "golly" and "egads", is your cupcake face back???

Bee said...

So I wiki'd Bonfire night and I found something that has me cracking up over here!

Groaty pudding (also known as Groaty Dick): is a traditional dish from the Black Country

BWAHAHAHAHA!HAHAHAHAHA!

Bee said...

Now I remember where I'd heard:

"Remember, remember the Fifth of November"

[Guy Fawkes Night is the pivotal date in the graphic novel V for Vendetta and its film adaptation.]

I don't feel like working today, can you tell?

Bee said...

So if this dude was the bad guy, why not call it "Fawked Guy's Night" instead?
Calling it "Guy Fawkes Night" just seems like he's being honored.

Jean Knee said...

they also have something called spotted dick- some kind of mutated pudding thing

would you like to taste my spotted dick???

I think not

golly this is fun!

Bee said...

I would say "get that spotty dick away from me! I'm a groaty dick kinda girl!"

Jean Knee said...

no matter what thet call that dude's night,
the Guy still got Fawked

Jean Knee said...

wonder what Brian's up to?

Bee said...

He sure did get Fawked!

Bee said...

workin'

Jean Knee said...

oh yeah. did you set your clocks back?
hey Brian do you do daylight saving's time over there?

not all states do it here

Bee said...

I did but I was still late for work!!
Go figure...

Bee said...

It was too dark to get up plus my bed was all nice and cozy!

Jean Knee said...

pardon my ignorance, but I thought that holiday was when girls ask guys out

Bee said...

Isn't that sadey hawkins?

Bee said...

Sorry "sadie"

Bee said...

Sadie Hawkins Day was a day-long event in Al Capp's comic strip Li'l Abner observed in the United States on the Saturday that follows November 9[citation needed], named after Sadie Hawkins, "the homeliest gal in all them hills." Each year on Sadie Hawkins Day the unmarried women of Dogpatch pursued the single men. If a woman caught a man and dragged him back to the starting line by sundown, he had to marry her.

Bee said...

That's how I got Andy!

Jean Knee said...

Drew too. at one point he tried to chew his hand off to get away.

some men are just so afraid of commitment

Bee said...

They don't know what's best for them, we have to tell them!

Jean Knee said...

no truer words were ever typed

we could have Brian fixed up with a women who knows what's best for him in no time if he only lived here

Bee said...

Yup!
I know a couple of spinsters myself. I mean uh... available women.

Jean Knee said...

I have to go feverishly craft something real quick or I'm gonna get twitchy

Brian o vretanos said...

Hello, I'm back from work now...

Jean Knee: A like the British English. Maybe you should spend a few years here and get the full experience. Give me some time to get better with my Greek first, though.

Bee: Haven't heard of Groaty Dick. Spotted Dick is well known as a school dessert. I don't think it was as unpleasant as people make out. The weird thing about school dinners was the funny custard - some days it was green (mint), sometimes pink (don't know), sometimes yellow (normal), and sometimes white (dread to think).

Jean Knee said...

brian, I know there was a compliment hidden in there somewhere

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee - Compliment: Of course there was, but I wasn't being flirtatious...

Bee said...

jean knee asked me to do this and I must obey all she says:

brian:
::SLAPPED!::

Bee said...

That was for peeing on her blog...

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee: That's not nice. Still, I suppose you've got less than 6 days of immaturity left, so I'll make allowances...

Bee said...

OH-OH!!
Is that a free pass??
Have I just been given carte-blanche (spelling?)??

Brian o vretanos said...

carte blanche: I believe your spelling is fine. I'm going plead whatever amendment it is and refuse to answer your other question on the grounds that I might regret it...

Bee said...

AHHH... very wise of you grahhssohppah!

Bee said...

Brian, I apologize for slapping you. It was rude and uncalled for. :o)

See I'm being nice now.