It's...

Guy Fawkes Day

On November 5, people in England celebrate a holiday called Guy Fawkes Day. Nearly 400 years ago, Guy Fawkes and other conspirators tried to blow up a British Parliament Building in 1605. After being apprehended they were convicted and beheaded in 1606. November 5th is now celebrated as the anniversary of the plot. Ever since, Guy Fawkes Day has been a time for merrymaking. The best part comes as darkness falls. Then, straw dummies are tossed into huge bonfires. Amid cries of glee, firecrackers pop and "the Guy" goes up in a blaze of fire.

Hi Annie! Is this a big holiday - everyone celebrates? Is it a work holiday?

Rainy morniing earlier:

Early diver!



... and early visitors at the gate!

Morning all, Guy Fawkes or Bonfire night is not a public holiday but many local groups including local councils and Lions Clubs will put on Firework displays for towns and villages. Some charge but others are free. It's fun for children and comes with it's own food traditions. Here in the north of England we have 'Parkin' which is a very sticky dark gingerbread cake. Yummy

Julia, thank you. Sounds like a cross between Halloween and the Fourth of July. How's the weather? Chilly at night?

Hello Rusty, Hello Julia. Sorry, I went away for a while. Feel a bit grotty today. Some people here had their firework celebrations last Saturday. I guess there will be some tonight too. I shall be working though, that is if I go. The nights do get quite cold here now Rusty. Annie b.

Hi Annie! Grotty? Doesn't sound good.

WOWEE

Cute kisser on that parrotfish, Annie!

Penty of action now. Some more divers.

"plenty"

Annie, Julia, Maria, Sarah and Jenni - who did I miss? - will have to wear JUMPERS to watch the fireworks tonight. How many calories in a Parkin?

Rusty, LOL if it's the same type of thing that I know as Parkin, I think there are loads and loads. Annie b.

donut day.

Roy Roger's birthday.

Off to work. See ya later.

See you soon, Annie! Nice visiting with you!

.

Hi & Bye,

I’m outta here until Nov. 12th. Going to attend newurl{http://www.peace.ca/firstannualconferenceonpeaceed.htm,peace_conference} for newurl{http:www.cisv.ca,CISV}

Have a great week!

Cheers,

Bill

This time with the right tag format!!!

Hi & Bye,

I’m outta here until Nov. 12th. Going to attend peace_conference for CISV

Have a great week!

Cheers,

Bill

grrrrrrrr,


CISV

mornin' all, billbot, glad you are back and safe...had a fantastic time on our cruise to mexico. this ship was beautiful, and can handle 2000 passenters, but it wasn't full...the stateroom with a balcony was HUGE to accomodate my mom's electric wheelchair (which i managed to take out for a few joy rides while she was "resting)...unfortunately, came home with a flu bug...waaa...going back to bed, capture some good pics for me gang!

Hi/Bye Mr. Bill and Cynde!

hey rusty...heading back to bed again...what a way to end a vacation! i read your diet is going good...i am back on mine in full swing...everytime we turned around there was someone handing us a plate of food on the ship...as mom and i were driving home yesterday from the port, i said, i'm hungry, and she agreed, then we realized it was only 10:00! but then we figured that we had eaten at least 3 meals by that time over the last 4 days!

Cynde - sounds like Heaven! I'd ditch my diet for a cruise like that! What kind of activities did you get to enjoy - besides eating?

The gems are back on the South side, Johnny:

hey rusty, awfully quiet in here today! just up from a long power nap...time for kleenex and water! let's see, we ate, ate, and ate...had breakfast on the balcony every morning looking at the water...1st morning we were pulling into the ensenada harbor, and we were both still asleep. i heard dogs barking, and was trying to figure out what the heck was going on...knew it couldn't be the seeing eye dog i saw on the ship...then i say to mum.."do you hear dogs barking?" she says "yes!"...then another one, and almost instantaniously we both jump out of bed and scream "sea lions!" and run to the balcony. boy, were there a lot of them and they were loud! so mum is standing on the balcony in her silk jammies and i go to the door to ask pardeep (our cabin steward) to take a look at the fridge as it didn't seem to be working (need to keep my wogga wogga cold you know) and he walks in and says "what is she waving at?" i look at mum and she is on her tippy toes waving over the balcony...i say "i don't know, she thinks she is the Queen of England!" we both giggle and walk to the balcony and ask her, and she says "at that boat of course, they were waving so i waved back!"

activities: awesome gym (yes i managed to work out 2 mornings)...casino...theatre (had entertainment at night like comedians, impressionists, dancers) and during the day movies and bingo...shuffleboard, ping pong, 11 bars so you know there was lots of drinking available!...kareokee, 2 piano bars, 2 discos, the late show each night in the theatre (usually a comedian)...deck horse races (these were funny, on the deck by the pool they had this pad with lines and silly hobby horses, one person would take a horse and move it according to what the announcer would say)...spa (facials, massages, herbal wraps)...i know i am missing something...my head is a bit foggy today. i was a pretty good girl (poor michael was at home babysitting my mom's dog and our 4!)...saturday the drink special was 10 oz. martinis for 6 bucks...needless to say i had quite a few cosmopolitans...had a bit of a headache the next morning!

boy, i must have put everyone to sleep!

here is a cool site with games. the diver and crabs are pretty fun (well for those of us "game challenged!)

http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/

Cynde...no we're not asleep. We just don't wanna catch the flu from you

lol barbara...i don't want you to get it either! here is another game, excellent animation...my home monitor sucks, so i can't read how to play the game (too dark)...but it looks pretty cool...

http://spiritonin.com/interactive/games/sharkgame.html

Just kiddin' . . . Do hope you'll feel much more better soon! A crummy way to end your brief holiday!

ok, duh, figured out if i turned up my monitor brightness i could read them...kind of gross, but entertaining to a sick gal eating throat candies (where is fancypants...i so miss his teasing when i am sick...sigh)

Hi folks... OK, I'm stopping for tonight.. did watch some fireworks, but not for long, had to come home and work!... Anyway, time to rest my mind a little.. Hope the rest of the Brits enjoyed the fireworks tonight..

Cynde, heard from fancypants the other day, he's doing fine.. preparing for vacation.. sorry you're not feeling too good, take it easy, and get well soon..

G'night folks..

ps: Annie, thanks for saying "hello" from me the other night.. I'm off now.....

Yes, parkin has loads and loads of calories, and so does treacle toffee, which is also traditionally eaten today / tonight.



Just got back from watching a firework display. Manchester City council put on displays at various large parks, last Saturday and tonight mainly. There was an enormous bonfire with a Guy Fawkes figure which the kids watched until it caught fire. And then a while later the firework display. And all free. And all safe.



Used to like it though when we did potatoes in the fire, and sausages too, and everyone chipped in together and shared the food, and drinks, and seats and chairs, and fireworks and sparklers. Oh I used to love sparklers.