tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post4565129200606441533..comments2023-05-02T12:33:58.182+01:00Comments on Perpetually In Transit: Remember, remember, the Fifth of November...Perpetuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-34672666518241633102013-11-06T14:54:13.930+00:002013-11-06T14:54:13.930+00:00By the time you wrote that I'd been asleep for...By the time you wrote that I'd been asleep for 2 hours after an extremely long and tiring day, Penny. Now the eye shield has been removed by the doctor I can get my glasses back on and answer comments and I'm pleased you enjoyed the post so much. Bonfire Night was a really big thing when I was young and it's lovely to recall the fun we had.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-34863781543258398792013-11-06T14:50:53.264+00:002013-11-06T14:50:53.264+00:00My sentiments exactly. I simply don't remember...My sentiments exactly. I simply don't remember Halloween featuring in my childhood at all and now it's huge. The op went well, thanks, though the result takes some getting used to. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-59340788274228374122013-11-06T14:48:01.423+00:002013-11-06T14:48:01.423+00:00Thanks so much for the kind words, Catriona. I'...Thanks so much for the kind words, Catriona. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, as I loved reliving the memories to write it.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-61025571734478696632013-11-06T14:46:37.581+00:002013-11-06T14:46:37.581+00:00Thanks, Vic, much appreciated. All seems well so f...Thanks, Vic, much appreciated. All seems well so far, I'm glad to say.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-2018601539463912802013-11-06T14:45:24.903+00:002013-11-06T14:45:24.903+00:00Patricia, I love the fact that on opposite sides o...<br />Patricia, I love the fact that on opposite sides of the world you and I had such similar experiences of Bonfire Night, back in the days before it became so organised. I can understand completely why bonfires had top be banned. You have enough problems with wildfires, without bonfires adding to them. But it's a shame you can't even buy fireworks either. What did you eat if you didn't have toffee? Treacle toffee was such an essential part of the proceedings for our family at least.<br /><br />Thanks for the prayers and good wishes which appear to have worked, though it's still early days.<br /><br />Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-59014128115880673672013-11-05T22:36:17.803+00:002013-11-05T22:36:17.803+00:00I'm hoping that as I am writing this comment y...I'm hoping that as I am writing this comment you are safely at home and recovering from your cataract surgery, Perpetua. When you get to reading this (won't that be grand) you will learn of how much I enjoyed this heartwarming memory of your childhood and Guy Fawkes Night. <br />Prayers are coming your way, Perpetua. Penny O'Neillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14665025558373015362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-57509840254530702632013-11-05T16:02:14.060+00:002013-11-05T16:02:14.060+00:00It's a shame trick or treating has taken over ...It's a shame trick or treating has taken over from bonfire night. Hope your op went smoothly.BacktoBodrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627125508442009313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-9301004414845374942013-11-05T10:39:26.779+00:002013-11-05T10:39:26.779+00:00Such a wonderful description - evokes sensations, ...Such a wonderful description - evokes sensations, smells, tastes, sounds and sights of childhood. Thank you for sharing.Catrionanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-91324596761876660402013-11-04T23:28:24.642+00:002013-11-04T23:28:24.642+00:00Sending positive thoughts your way for your operat...Sending positive thoughts your way for your operation tomorrow. See you on the other side.vichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18428581552807859803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-70159957901277315182013-11-04T23:01:23.181+00:002013-11-04T23:01:23.181+00:00A wonderful post Perpetua, bringing back memories ...A wonderful post Perpetua, bringing back memories of our almost identical Guy Fawkes nights here in Australia. Making the guy, stocking up on the pretty fireworks, while my brothers liked bungers and bangers and sky rockets! Of course 5th November is a dry and hot season here, and eventually Guy Fawkes night was legislated out of existence - too many fires got away! We can't buy the fireworks now, and see them only in licensed public displays. And I feel cheated now: we were never given toffee!!! Deprived! Thoughts and prayers with you for today's op. - hope it goes perfectly.Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685403215601517267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-64636811411376991212013-11-04T20:58:05.889+00:002013-11-04T20:58:05.889+00:00Thanks for the good wishes and kind words, DB. I&#...Thanks for the good wishes and kind words, DB. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I think such memories strike a lot of chords with those of us who were young when Bonfire Night was still in its heyday. Your village bonfire sounds like a wonderful experience and I'm pleased to hear that your sons are sharing in the same enjoyment despite the changes wrought by time and different attitudes.<br /><br />You're not the first to comment on the lack of 'health and safety' back then. Of course ensuring that people are safe is a good thing, but it does seem to me that over-regulation can tend to sap spontaneity and even self-reliance and a proper sense of responsibility. Our parents taught us to be careful and then trusted us to be so. Sometimes we weren't and I still have a few scars to prove it. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-85320726656673193762013-11-04T19:14:37.869+00:002013-11-04T19:14:37.869+00:00What a wonderful nostalgic piece, beautifully writ...What a wonderful nostalgic piece, beautifully written! Goodness, you take me straight back to childhood bonfire nights. We had an enormous communal bonfire beside the village loch, and the entire village seemed to turn up to enjoy it, with baked tatties and toffee apples and a grand firework display set off from the side of the hill once everyone's cheeks were nicely toasted by the fire. <br />What strikes me reading your description is how cheerfully oblivious we all were to 'health & safety' in days past. We were trusted - shock horror - to use our own common sense! My boys get sparklers at home and then we are lucky enough to be invited to a big bonfire party run by friends - again, it has become a community event, raising money for charity. Nothing like a bit of pagan fire to drive the cold winter away. ;)<br /><br />Very best wishes for tomorrow - I'll be thinking of you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-77293429477470726512013-11-04T12:53:56.478+00:002013-11-04T12:53:56.478+00:00How great to have all those hard-working scouts bu...How great to have all those hard-working scouts building the bonfire, Anny. It must have been really spectacular. I know fireworks are very expensive nowadays, but they were still relatively cheap when I was a child in the 50s and we could get a good selection including sparklers for 4 with what we were allowed. I'm glad your daughters had the Bonfire Night experience, even if they're far too grown-up and cool to bother about it now. Just wait til they have their own families. :-) Enjoy your display if you find one.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-55209048897752447832013-11-04T10:35:07.556+00:002013-11-04T10:35:07.556+00:00We lived very close to our local park, where the b...We lived very close to our local park, where the boy scouts would stage their bonfire and fireworks display, so we went there instead of having any at home - which was probably for the best as I don't think we would have been able to afford much at all. They always gave us sparklers when we got there, which I loved. When our daughters were small, we made a great thing about Bonfire Night, but these days they're content to watch the strays from the bedroom window - how sad is that! I think I shall take myself off to a big display and re-live memories.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-70347474366591494252013-11-04T09:50:34.658+00:002013-11-04T09:50:34.658+00:00Bonfire Night does that, I'm afraid, MM. It wa...Bonfire Night does that, I'm afraid, MM. It was so quintessentially a part of most British childhoods in the past, though I think it's possibly being overshadowed a bit by the current craze for Halloween. I love the story of your town tradition of firework inefficiency. There were no displays anywhere near us back then, so we were totally responsible for setting off our own fireworks prematurely. :-)<br /><br />Thanks for the hugs. Not long now.....Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-3476407959120808912013-11-04T06:56:11.351+00:002013-11-04T06:56:11.351+00:00You've made me feel all nostalgic for home and...You've made me feel all nostalgic for home and childhood.... Bonfore night is one of my favourites in my "memory data bank," too. Potoatoes roasted in the fire, and the town council's age-old tradition of setting light to the entire crate of fireworks and putting a premature end to a fireworks display that hadn't even begun... Those were the days :-D <br />Thinking of you for tomorrow, big hugs xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-73913731918749812572013-11-03T18:17:39.748+00:002013-11-03T18:17:39.748+00:00I love your memories of your childhood bonfires, A...I love your memories of your childhood bonfires, Ayak. That's what I remember from when I was very young and still lived in town - a big bonfire on waste ground and a few fireworks in our back yard as well. We lived in a row of small terraced houses in a cotton town, but there was still plenty of community spirit. However we moved to the country before I was 7, so most of my memories are of the two bonfires as described above. We knew our neighbours and they knew us and we all celebrated together. Happy days. :-)<br /><br />Thanks for the good wishes.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-70984559127296953442013-11-03T16:10:09.424+00:002013-11-03T16:10:09.424+00:00Lots of memories here too Perpetua. We used to he...Lots of memories here too Perpetua. We used to help build a huge bonfire at the end of our road on some waste ground, along with all the other children in the road. Everyone made guys, and most kids went out begging pennies, but like your mother, ours would never allow us to do so. Everyone in the road contributed fireworks, and all the Dads took responsibility for lighting them. All the mums provided food. Even though we lived on a council estate, which these days are quite impersonal places, there was much more community spirit in those days. Great fun. Thanks for the reminder. And good luck with the op xx Ayakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903896106779269050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-79035793798494458332013-11-03T15:40:53.338+00:002013-11-03T15:40:53.338+00:00Rather like your wonderful Woolworth's post, J...Rather like your wonderful Woolworth's post, Janice. There are some areas of experience where you just have to press the button and we all have our own memories to share. I think we were trusted to buy the fireworks as our parents knew we would keep the rules about bangers and such and anyway the shopkeepers would never have sold us things they knew our parents wouldn't approve of. :-) We too had to make sure the cats, and later the dog, were safely indoors before the fun began.<br /><br />Thanks for the thoughts. Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-9358962188691508542013-11-03T14:22:25.309+00:002013-11-03T14:22:25.309+00:00You have certainly evoked some memories with this ...You have certainly evoked some memories with this one P. My north London bonfire night sounds pretty similar to yours, although I don't ever recall being trusted to choose the fireworks. dad would always have that responsibility. One of the things I remember is always trying to round up the cat before our little display, and the neighbours bonfires were lit. I'll be thinking about you on the 5th. J.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-24047682751390291882013-11-03T13:22:46.565+00:002013-11-03T13:22:46.565+00:00Thanks, Shirley.Thanks, Shirley.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-77923221637357489302013-11-03T13:22:25.564+00:002013-11-03T13:22:25.564+00:00This is really fascinating to read, as it shows ju...This is really fascinating to read, as it shows just how many customs from the old country Australian migrants took with them (right down to making a guy) and how Australian culture has gradually changed and developed. I'm glad you have those enjoyable memories, but find it very sad that nowadays it's too dangerous to have bonfires in November, given that it's still spring and the real heat of summer is yet to come. No exciting memories for today's youngsters. We were lucky to grow up when we did. :-)<br />.....`Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-80900510251477699292013-11-03T11:56:45.319+00:002013-11-03T11:56:45.319+00:00Best wishes for your upcoming op:)Best wishes for your upcoming op:)Shirlwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02582037340209866437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-76079326037007459132013-11-03T11:55:56.090+00:002013-11-03T11:55:56.090+00:00Memories ... as children we too built a bonfire an...Memories ... as children we too built a bonfire and dressed a 'guy', purchased crackers and sparklers [keeping some aside for New Year's eve], and ate black treacle toffee. Later the town put on a bonfire and we sat way back and didn't feel any of the warmth from the fire, but the fireworks display almost made up for that.<br />Later again I remember hedges going on fire as sky rockets landed 'elsewhere' and some unsupervised children put crackers into mail boxes that were at the gate. Later again bonfires were frowned upon, Guy Fawkes night became 'politically incorrect', and now in Australia it is simply too dangerous to have a bonfire at this time of year. The good old days were much more fun!Shirlwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02582037340209866437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-25732675994516146272013-11-03T10:53:34.251+00:002013-11-03T10:53:34.251+00:00Glad you enjoyed it Debra, as I really had fun rem...Glad you enjoyed it Debra, as I really had fun remembering it all. Being an annual celebration, we became very good at all the preparations as we got older, but the enjoyment never lessened. We were fortunate to be able to share our small bonfire with our neighbours and then have the fun of their big one.<br /><br />Thanks for the good wishes. You're so right that I'll be glad to have it over and done with. It's been a long time coming, but only two more days to wait. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.com