a month out

[navi]

Are these correct:

1) If they are launching a spaceship, they have to make sure that the
preparations are finished three months out. (meaning two months before
the launch)

2) They ran into a problem one month out. (meaning one month before the
event).

3) The elections are about a month out.

4) The elections are about a month out from now.

5) We are a month out from the elections.

The temporal use of 'out' is not really familiar to me. I hear it used
in a temporal sense a lot these days with reference to the elections in
the US. I am just trying to figure out in what ways it can be used in
reference to time.

--
Gratefully,
Navi


Lost in the Twilight Zone of the English language
Obsessed with ambiguity
Interested in strange structures

[LionelEdwards]

Post by navi
1) If they are launching a spaceship, they have to make sure that the
preparations are finished three months out. (meaning two months before
the launch)

I assume that is a typo "two" for "three".

Post by navi
2) They ran into a problem one month out. (meaning one month before the
event).

One month after their departure.

Post by navi
3) The elections are about a month out.
4) The elections are about a month out from now.
5) We are a month out from the elections.

Swap "away" for "out" in these three.

Post by navi
The temporal use of 'out' is not really familiar to me. I hear it used
in a temporal sense a lot these days with reference to the elections in
the US. I am just trying to figure out in what ways it can be used in
reference to time.

It represents the time taken to cover the ground. In a
sea-shanty a ship "had not been two weeks from shore", So:
"She'd not been out two weeks from shore".
"She'd not been out two weeks".
"She was two weeks out".

Meaning she was two weeks away.

[Kerr-Mudd, John]

On Thu, 3 Oct 2024 16:25:01 +0000

Post by navi
1) If they are launching a spaceship, they have to make sure that the
preparations are finished three months out. (meaning two months before
the launch)
2) They ran into a problem one month out. (meaning one month before the
event).
3) The elections are about a month out.

Except that the context leads one to re-evaluate it to "The election will
take place in one month's time", I'd take the format to mean there is an
off-by-one-month error.

Around here it seems Halloween is about a month out. Except it won't be
over for ages.

Post by navi
4) The elections are about a month out from now.
5) We are a month out from the elections.
The temporal use of 'out' is not really familiar to me. I hear it used
in a temporal sense a lot these days with reference to the elections in
the US. I am just trying to figure out in what ways it can be used in
reference to time.

I think 1, 2, and 5 are the normal usage in the U.S.,
though I don't think I use them.
--
Jerry Friedman

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
On Thu, 3 Oct 2024 16:25:01 +0000

Post by navi
1) If they are launching a spaceship, they have to make sure that the
preparations are finished three months out. (meaning two months before
the launch)
2) They ran into a problem one month out. (meaning one month before the
event).
3) The elections are about a month out.

Except that the context leads one to re-evaluate it to "The election will
take place in one month's time", I'd take the format to mean there is an
off-by-one-month error.
Around here it seems Halloween is about a month out. Except it won't be
over for ages.

When I were a lad Hallowe'en was virtually unknown in England
(notwithstanding its origins). As it happened I arrived in Berkeley for
my post-doc on 30th October 1967. I had to go to meet the department
secretary on the 31st to sign some papers, and the first she wanted to
talk about was Hallowe'en: I had barely any idea what that was.

I didn't become aware of it until some time afterwards, though I passed
through Oakland on the way to Berkeley, 30th October 1967 was the day
of a shoot-out between the Black Panthers and the Oakland police.

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John

Post by navi
4) The elections are about a month out from now.
5) We are a month out from the elections.
The temporal use of 'out' is not really familiar to me. I hear it used
in a temporal sense a lot these days with reference to the elections in
the US. I am just trying to figure out in what ways it can be used in
reference to time.

I think 1, 2, and 5 are the normal usage in the U.S.,
though I don't think I use them.
--
Jerry Friedman

[Peter Moylan]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
Around here it seems Halloween is about a month out. Except it
won't be over for ages.

When I were a lad Hallowe'en was virtually unknown in England
(notwithstanding its origins). As it happened I arrived in Berkeley
for my post-doc on 30th October 1967. I had to go to meet the
department secretary on the 31st to sign some papers, and the first
she wanted to talk about was Hallowe'en: I had barely any idea what
that was.

One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
Around here it seems Halloween is about a month out. Except it
won't be over for ages.

When I were a lad Hallowe'en was virtually unknown in England
(notwithstanding its origins). As it happened I arrived in Berkeley
for my post-doc on 30th October 1967. I had to go to meet the
department secretary on the 31st to sign some papers, and the first
she wanted to talk about was Hallowe'en: I had barely any idea what
that was.

One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.

These people are supposed to educate children?

[Chris Elvidge]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
Around here it seems Halloween is about a month out. Except it
won't be over for ages.

When I were a lad Hallowe'en was virtually unknown in England
(notwithstanding its origins). As it happened I arrived in Berkeley
for my post-doc on 30th October 1967. I had to go to meet the
department secretary on the 31st to sign some papers, and the first
she wanted to talk about was Hallowe'en: I had barely any idea what
that was.

One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.

Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

[Peter Moylan]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was caught and stopped.

Anyway, a special day. Usually only one or two children were seriously
injured. And it could take up to a week to find the dogs and cats that
had run away.

These days children aren't allowed to handle explosives, so the
experience is less immediate.

[Janet]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.

WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks. First we made a Guy (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy". We used the
money to buy a stash of fireworks, a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on toy every kid had, a
platform of wood and old pram wheels. We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).

None ofour bonfire prep was supervised by adults.

When we ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned on top of it to burn; So we always knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off; toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is a rather bitter spicy dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight. Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke, fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets, hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.


In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

Janet.

[LionelEdwards]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.
WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks. First we made a Guy (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy". We used the
money to buy a stash of fireworks, a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on toy every kid had, a
platform of wood and old pram wheels. We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).
None ofour bonfire prep was supervised by adults.
When we ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned on top of it to burn; So we always knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off; toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is a rather bitter spicy dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight. Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke, fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets, hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.
In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

Brilliant. All I can add is the jumping-jack, designed
to chase children around the garden.

Our fireworks were very tame. Brocks, Pains,
Standard? Standard is a strange name to choose -
presumably it once meant "flagship"?

If you lived in the USA and bought fire-crackers,
or bought Chinese festival crackers in the UK
(up until the 1990s), those were *proper* fireworks.

[lar3ryca]

Post by LionelEdwards
Brilliant. All I can add is the jumping-jack, designed
to chase children around the garden.
Our fireworks were very tame. Brocks, Pains,
Standard? Standard is a strange name to choose -
presumably it once meant "flagship"?
If you lived in the USA and bought fire-crackers,
or bought Chinese festival crackers in the UK
(up until the 1990s), those were *proper* fireworks.

WIWAL, in Vancouver, we bought a lot of firecrackers, from the tiny ones
that were not worth setting off individually, through the normal sized
one (probably about 2 inches long, 1/2 inch diameter) all the way to
what we called either 'Cannon Crackers' or 'Bombs', which were about 4
inches long, and about 3/4 inch diameter.

In my early teens someone in my circle of fiends (I know) learned how to
make a 'Bomb Gun'. It consisted of a length of 3/4" threaded pipe, with
a narrow slot cut through the threads, extending long enough to leave a
small hole for a wick after screwing on a pipe elbow. At the other end
of the elbow was a threaded plug. We would unscrew the elbow, and
holding it by the wick, drop it into the pipe, leaving the wick at the
end of the slot, and would screw the elbow back on.

Large glass marbles were almost a perfect fit in the pipe.

A formidable, if highly inaccurate, weapon. Pointed and fired at a
concrete wall, it would leave a little conical peak of powdered glass on
the concrete, similar to what a snowball would leave.

[Peter Moylan]

Post by lar3ryca
In my early teens someone in my circle of fiends (I know) learned how
to make a 'Bomb Gun'. It consisted of a length of 3/4" threaded pipe,
with a narrow slot cut through the threads, extending long enough to
leave a small hole for a wick after screwing on a pipe elbow. At the
other end of the elbow was a threaded plug. We would unscrew the
elbow, and holding it by the wick, drop it into the pipe, leaving the
wick at the end of the slot, and would screw the elbow back on.
Large glass marbles were almost a perfect fit in the pipe.
A formidable, if highly inaccurate, weapon. Pointed and fired at a
concrete wall, it would leave a little conical peak of powdered glass
on the concrete, similar to what a snowball would leave.

My brother and I took a different approach. We took the biggest kind of
cracker, a threepenny bunger, and put it into the sort of can that
canned food comes in. We packed the gaps with clay. It made for an
enormous explosion, with bits of metal shooting in all directions.
Looking back, I'm surprised that we weren't killed by the shrapnel.

[lar3ryca]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by lar3ryca
In my early teens someone in my circle of fiends (I know) learned how
to make a 'Bomb Gun'. It consisted of a length of 3/4" threaded pipe,
with a narrow slot cut through the threads, extending long enough to
leave a small hole for a wick after screwing on a pipe elbow. At the
other end of the elbow was a threaded plug. We would unscrew the
elbow, and holding it by the wick, drop it into the pipe, leaving the
wick at the end of the slot, and would screw the elbow back on.
Large glass marbles were almost a perfect fit in the pipe.
A formidable, if highly inaccurate, weapon. Pointed and fired at a
concrete wall, it would leave a little conical peak of powdered glass
on the concrete, similar to what a snowball would leave.

My brother and I took a different approach. We took the biggest kind of
cracker, a threepenny bunger, and put it into the sort of can that
canned food comes in. We packed the gaps with clay. It made for an
enormous explosion, with bits of metal shooting in all directions.
Looking back, I'm surprised that we weren't killed by the shrapnel.

I can think of at least 3 or 4 times I was lucky to have survived, let
alone not injured.

[Phil]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by lar3ryca
In my early teens someone in my circle of fiends (I know) learned how
to make a 'Bomb Gun'. It consisted of a length of 3/4" threaded pipe,
with a narrow slot cut through the threads, extending long enough to
leave a small hole for a wick after screwing on a pipe elbow. At the
other end of the elbow was a threaded plug. We would unscrew the
elbow, and holding it by the wick, drop it into the pipe, leaving the
wick at the end of the slot, and would screw the elbow back on.
Large glass marbles were almost a perfect fit in the pipe.
A formidable, if highly inaccurate, weapon. Pointed and fired at a
concrete wall, it would leave a little conical peak of powdered glass
on the concrete, similar to what a snowball would leave.

My brother and I took a different approach. We took the biggest kind of
cracker, a threepenny bunger, and put it into the sort of can that
canned food comes in. We packed the gaps with clay. It made for an
enormous explosion, with bits of metal shooting in all directions.
Looking back, I'm surprised that we weren't killed by the shrapnel.

That takes me back to the days when I, as a schoolboy, could buy potash
nitrate granules and uncontaminated sodium chlorate weedkiller in garden
shops, and calcium carbide in cycle shops. Somehow I still have all my
fingers.

[lar3ryca]

Post by Phil

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by lar3ryca
In my early teens someone in my circle of fiends (I know) learned how
to make a 'Bomb Gun'. It consisted of a length of 3/4" threaded pipe,
with a narrow slot cut through the threads, extending long enough to
leave a small hole for a wick after screwing on a pipe elbow. At the
other end of the elbow was a threaded plug. We would unscrew the
elbow, and holding it by the wick, drop it into the pipe, leaving the
wick at the end of the slot, and would screw the elbow back on.
Large glass marbles were almost a perfect fit in the pipe.
A formidable, if highly inaccurate, weapon. Pointed and fired at a
concrete wall, it would leave a little conical peak of powdered glass
on the concrete, similar to what a snowball would leave.

My brother and I took a different approach. We took the biggest kind of
cracker, a threepenny bunger, and put it into the sort of can that
canned food comes in. We packed the gaps with clay. It made for an
enormous explosion, with bits of metal shooting in all directions.
Looking back, I'm surprised that we weren't killed by the shrapnel.

That takes me back to the days when I, as a schoolboy, could buy potash
nitrate granules and uncontaminated sodium chlorate weedkiller in garden
shops, and calcium carbide in cycle shops. Somehow I still have all my
fingers.

Never mixed those together, but two of my favourites were:

making black powder; charcoal, potassium nitrate, and sulphur.t call was
when I lit a small pile of it on the workbench in our shed. It was fine,
no harm done, but when I tried to pour another pile on there, a
remaining ember must have set it off, and the whole crucible-full went
up. Lost the tips of some eyebrow hairs.

The other one, that never really came close to going sideways...
I did some experiment using glycerine and ground (in a mortar & pestle)
potassium permanganate, mixing them together, making sure of the exact
proportions, and recording the time between mixing and burning. I
decided it was safe for my next step.
I would use a small jar, staring off with some jars from a 'Handy Andy
Chemistry Kit'. I would pour in the permanganate, pour in the
glycerine, screw the cap onto the jar, cinch it on with pliers, and
throw it as hard as I could. It would usually get about 575 ft. away
from me before exploding with a very loud bang and a beautiful purple flash.

Worst one of those had it explode about 30 ft. away. No harm done.

[Tony Cooper]

Post by lar3ryca

Post by LionelEdwards
Brilliant. All I can add is the jumping-jack, designed
to chase children around the garden.
Our fireworks were very tame. Brocks, Pains,
Standard? Standard is a strange name to choose -
presumably it once meant "flagship"?
If you lived in the USA and bought fire-crackers,
or bought Chinese festival crackers in the UK
(up until the 1990s), those were *proper* fireworks.

WIWAL, in Vancouver, we bought a lot of firecrackers, from the tiny ones
that were not worth setting off individually, through the normal sized
one (probably about 2 inches long, 1/2 inch diameter) all the way to
what we called either 'Cannon Crackers' or 'Bombs', which were about 4
inches long, and about 3/4 inch diameter.
In my early teens someone in my circle of fiends (I know) learned how to
make a 'Bomb Gun'. It consisted of a length of 3/4" threaded pipe, with
a narrow slot cut through the threads, extending long enough to leave a
small hole for a wick after screwing on a pipe elbow. At the other end
of the elbow was a threaded plug. We would unscrew the elbow, and
holding it by the wick, drop it into the pipe, leaving the wick at the
end of the slot, and would screw the elbow back on.
Large glass marbles were almost a perfect fit in the pipe.
A formidable, if highly inaccurate, weapon. Pointed and fired at a
concrete wall, it would leave a little conical peak of powdered glass on
the concrete, similar to what a snowball would leave.

Our armaments were lower tech. We fitted an empty tin can in a larger
empty tin can with a cannon (firecracker) in the bottom of the larger
can. The smaller tin can was blasted out.

[Paul Wolff]

Post by LionelEdwards

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.
WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks. First we made a Guy (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy". We used the
money to buy a stash of fireworks, a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on toy every kid had, a
platform of wood and old pram wheels. We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).
None ofour bonfire prep was supervised by adults.
When we ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned on top of it to burn; So we always knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off; toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is a rather bitter spicy dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight. Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke, fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets, hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.
In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

Brilliant. All I can add is the jumping-jack, designed
to chase children around the garden.

To the great hilarity of the male members of my family, one chased my
mother and sister into the house, through the kitchen and into the
bathroom until it died. (It was an old cottage, where these two rooms
were later ground-floor add-on modern conveniences.)

Post by LionelEdwards
Our fireworks were very tame. Brocks, Pains,
Standard? Standard is a strange name to choose -
presumably it once meant "flagship"?

Just flag, I'd think.

Post by LionelEdwards
If you lived in the USA and bought fire-crackers,
or bought Chinese festival crackers in the UK
(up until the 1990s), those were *proper* fireworks.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.
WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks. First we made a Guy (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy". We used the
money to buy a stash of fireworks, a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on toy every kid had, a
platform of wood and old pram wheels. We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).
None ofour bonfire prep was supervised by adults.
When we ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned on top of it to burn; So we always knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off; toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is a rather bitter spicy dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight. Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke, fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets, hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.
In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

Other than the swede-carving, your childhood was also mine.

Penny bangers, jumping jacks and Catherine-wheels.

(The bonfire toffee was also home made.)

[Kerr-Mudd, John]

On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 18:44:15 +0100

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.
WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks. First we made a Guy (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy". We used the
money to buy a stash of fireworks, a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on toy every kid had, a
platform of wood and old pram wheels. We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).
None ofour bonfire prep was supervised by adults.
When we ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned on top of it to burn; So we always knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off; toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is a rather bitter spicy dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight. Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke, fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets, hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.
In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

Other than the swede-carving, your childhood was also mine.
Penny bangers, jumping jacks and Catherine-wheels.
(The bonfire toffee was also home made.)

I'm just old enough to have been shown how to carve a swede; my efforts
weren't up to much.

no bobbing for apples?
But we didn't have Parkin.
I guess there was more regional variety back then, (though fireworks were
"Standard").

[Phil]

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 18:44:15 +0100

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.
WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks. First we made a Guy (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy". We used the
money to buy a stash of fireworks, a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on toy every kid had, a
platform of wood and old pram wheels. We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).
None ofour bonfire prep was supervised by adults.
When we ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned on top of it to burn; So we always knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off; toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is a rather bitter spicy dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight. Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke, fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets, hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.
In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

Other than the swede-carving, your childhood was also mine.
Penny bangers, jumping jacks and Catherine-wheels.
(The bonfire toffee was also home made.)

I'm just old enough to have been shown how to carve a swede; my efforts
weren't up to much.
no bobbing for apples?
But we didn't have Parkin.
I guess there was more regional variety back then, (though fireworks were
"Standard").

"Light Up The Sky With Standard Fireworks"

There was also a firework called a "helicopter" which had cardboard
wings and took off, spinning, from the ground.

Bonfire is still very big in Sussex, with many villages having their own
Bonfire Society. Bonfire season is well under way and will peak with the
large celebration in Lewes on November 5th. Torchlit processions,
fireworks, huge bonfires and the burning in effigy of contemporary
villains and the pope.

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Phil

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 18:44:15 +0100

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.
WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks. First we made a Guy (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy". We used the
money to buy a stash of fireworks, a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on toy every kid had, a
platform of wood and old pram wheels. We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).
None ofour bonfire prep was supervised by adults.
When we ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned on top of it to burn; So we always knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off; toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is a rather bitter spicy dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight. Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke, fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets, hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.
In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

Other than the swede-carving, your childhood was also mine.
Penny bangers, jumping jacks and Catherine-wheels.
(The bonfire toffee was also home made.)

I'm just old enough to have been shown how to carve a swede; my efforts
weren't up to much.
no bobbing for apples?
But we didn't have Parkin.
I guess there was more regional variety back then, (though fireworks were
"Standard").

"Light Up The Sky With Standard Fireworks"
There was also a firework called a "helicopter" which had cardboard
wings and took off, spinning, from the ground.
Bonfire is still very big in Sussex, with many villages having their
own Bonfire Society. Bonfire season is well under way and will peak
with the large celebration in Lewes on November 5th. Torchlit
processions, fireworks, huge bonfires and the burning in effigy of
contemporary villains and the pope.

In about 1988 -- after we had moved to France, but not long after -- I
was flying from Marseilles to Gatwick, and after crossing the Channel I
was surprised to see many fires in Sussex below us. Then I remembered
that it was the 5th November.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Phil

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
On Fri, 4 Oct 2024 18:44:15 +0100

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.
    WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks.  First we made a Guy  (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy".  We used the
money to buy  a stash of  fireworks,  a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised  children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved  swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on  toy every kid had,  a
platform of wood and old pram wheels.  We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).
None ofour bonfire prep  was supervised by adults.
   When we  ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned  on top of it to burn;  So  we always  knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off;  toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is  a  rather bitter spicy  dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight.  Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke,  fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets,  hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.
In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

Other than the swede-carving, your childhood was also mine.
Penny bangers, jumping jacks and Catherine-wheels.
(The bonfire toffee was also home made.)

I'm just old enough to have been shown how to carve a swede; my efforts
weren't up to much.
no bobbing for apples?
But we didn't have Parkin.
I guess there was more regional variety back then, (though fireworks were
"Standard").

"Light Up The Sky With Standard Fireworks"
There was also a firework called a "helicopter" which had cardboard
wings and took off, spinning, from the ground.
Bonfire is still very big in Sussex, with many villages having their own
Bonfire Society. Bonfire season is well under way and will peak with the
large celebration in Lewes on November 5th. Torchlit processions,
fireworks, huge bonfires and the burning in effigy of contemporary
villains and the pope.

The most 'interesting' was Liverpool - where the tradition was to build
the bonfire in the middle of the (not too wide) road.
If you saw signs of activity on or around the 5th of November, it was
considered prudent to move your car.
It left a surprisingly deep hole in the road's surface, easily 20 to
30cm deep.

[Paul Wolff]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan
One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

WIWAL, building the bonfire was a big deal. All the kids went out into
the bush looking for fallen branches. At the time, I thought we were
celebrating the fact that Guy Fawkes almost succeeded. Only later did it
click that the celebration was for the fact that he was

caught and stopped.
WIWAL , preparations for Bonfire night occupied us for
weeks. First we made a Guy (adult clothes stuffed with
straw or paper; a head and a hat)) and dragged him around
on a trolley knocking on neighbours doors asking for scrap
wood and begging " a penny for the guy". We used the
money to buy a stash of fireworks, a;; of which which
back then were sold singly to unsupervised children at
any corner shop. Before the night, we hollowed out and
carved swedes to make a candle lanterns for the party.
Sweeds (rutabaga) required very sharp knives as they are
very woody. Even tiny children were expected to use a
sharp kitchen knife without spilling too much blood.
A trolley was a home made ride=on toy every kid had, a
platform of wood and old pram wheels. We used to ride our
trolleys down the road, in among the traffic. ( There were
fewer cars, they were slower, and many adults had only
very recently learned to drive during WW2; and they were
used to dodging horses and carts, which were still common
in North England towns in the 1950s).
None ofour bonfire prep was supervised by adults.
When we ignited the bonfire after dark on the 5th, Guy
was positioned on top of it to burn; So we always knew
he was a bad man who deserved to fry in hell. Fireworks
were let off; toffee and parkin eaten ( made by my
parents). Parkin is a rather bitter spicy dark treacly
ginger cake, only eaten at bonfire night) and before we
went home to bed, potatoes were pushed in the ashes to
bake overnight. Bonfire night was a feast for the senses;
the stink of woodsmoke, fizzing and banging exploding
fireworks, wooshing rockets, hot swede lanterns, singed
clothes, taste of parkin; a few burnt fingers.
In the morning we retrieved and ate the blackened charred
potatoes; rounded up all he spent fireworks and shoved
them in the hot ashes in the (optimistic but vain) hope
there was some tiny bit of explosive left to go off.

A great memorial to past childhood and freedom: thanks, Janet.

No swedes down here; but I have my Yorkshire grandmother's handwritten
recipe book which includes "Yorkshire Parkin". And I loved it when she
made it, with no particular reference to bonfire night. I must have a go
at it this autumn, in her memory, and mine.

[Bertel Lund Hansen]

Post by Peter Moylan
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

I learned it as:

Please to remember
the fifth of November
was Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.

[Aidan Kehoe]

Post by Bertel Lund Hansen

Post by Peter Moylan
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

Please to remember
the fifth of November
was Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.

When did you learn it? Is victory over a Popish plot in London commonly
celebrated in Denmark?

[Bertel Lund Hansen]

Post by Aidan Kehoe

Post by Bertel Lund Hansen
Please to remember
the fifth of November
was Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.

When did you learn it?

Aged 14 I think (7th grade).

Post by Aidan Kehoe
Is victory over a Popish plot in London commonly
celebrated in Denmark?

No, not at all. But I had a great English-teacher, and he made sure that
we knew not only the language, but also something about English culture.
We (I at least) also learnet some Christmas Carols.

PS. He was driving a grey Morris 1000.

PPS. He was my Danish teacher in first class.

PPPS. My family moved from Odense to Great Copenhagen (Virum) when I was
to begin in second class. We returned in the middle of fourth class. It
warmed intensely when on the very first day he greeted me with "Goddag,
Bertel".

[Silvano]

Post by Aidan Kehoe

Post by Bertel Lund Hansen

Post by Peter Moylan
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

Please to remember
the fifth of November
was Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.

When did you learn it? Is victory over a Popish plot in London commonly
celebrated in Denmark?

We can safely assume that Bertel learned English at school. I don't
remember those lines, but among other things I learned at school
"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
that marriage history?

[Aidan Kehoe]

Post by Silvano

When did you learn [a ditty regarding Guy Fawkes]? Is victory over a
Popish plot in London commonly celebrated in Denmark?

We can safely assume that Bertel learned English at school. I don't
remember those lines, but among other things I learned at school
"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
that marriage history?

I didn’t learn either at school (or in the playground) but encountered them
from extracurricular written and visual media. It’s interesting to me to learn
that both are taught on the continent. I imagine (or rather, I hope) the
Eleventh Night is not covered in the same way.

[LionelEdwards]

Post by Aidan Kehoe

Post by Silvano

When did you learn [a ditty regarding Guy Fawkes]? Is victory over

a

Post by Silvano

Popish plot in London commonly celebrated in Denmark?

We can safely assume that Bertel learned English at school. I don't
remember those lines, but among other things I learned at school
"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
that marriage history?

I didn’t learn either at school (or in the playground) but encountered them
from extracurricular written and visual media. It’s interesting to me to learn
that both are taught on the continent. I imagine (or rather, I hope) the
Eleventh Night is not covered in the same way.

Not known in the British circles I've ever lived
amongst.

Twelfth night is also unknown, except as one of
Shakespeare's best comedies.

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some
have greatness thrust upon them.

If music be the food of love, play on."

[charles]

Post by LionelEdwards

Post by Silvano

When did you learn [a ditty regarding Guy Fawkes]? Is victory over

a

Post by Silvano

Popish plot in London commonly celebrated in Denmark?

We can safely assume that Bertel learned English at school. I don't
remember those lines, but among other things I learned at school
"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
that marriage history?

I didn‘t learn either at school (or in the playground) but encountered
them
from extracurricular written and visual media. It‘s interesting to me to
learn
that both are taught on the continent. I imagine (or rather, I hope) the
Eleventh Night is not covered in the same way.

Not known in the British circles I've ever lived
amongst.
Twelfth night is also unknown, except as one of
Shakespeare's best comedies.

It's the night the Christmas decorstions are supposeed to come down.

Post by LionelEdwards
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some
have greatness thrust upon them.
If music be the food of love, play on."

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by charles

Post by LionelEdwards

Post by Silvano

When did you learn [a ditty regarding Guy Fawkes]? Is victory over

a

Post by Silvano

Popish plot in London commonly celebrated in Denmark?

We can safely assume that Bertel learned English at school. I don't
remember those lines, but among other things I learned at school
"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
that marriage history?

I didn‘t learn either at school (or in the playground) but encountered
them
from extracurricular written and visual media. It‘s interesting to me to
learn
that both are taught on the continent. I imagine (or rather, I hope) the
Eleventh Night is not covered in the same way.

Not known in the British circles I've ever lived
amongst.
Twelfth night is also unknown, except as one of
Shakespeare's best comedies.

It's the night the Christmas decorstions are supposeed to come down.

You beat me to it. That's the only context in which we knew it.

[J. J. Lodder]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by charles

Post by LionelEdwards

Post by Silvano

When did you learn [a ditty regarding Guy Fawkes]? Is victory over

a

Post by Silvano

Popish plot in London commonly celebrated in Denmark?

We can safely assume that Bertel learned English at school. I don't
remember those lines, but among other things I learned at school
"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
that marriage history?

I didn't learn either at school (or in the playground) but encountered
them
from extracurricular written and visual media. It's interesting to me to
learn
that both are taught on the continent. I imagine (or rather, I hope) the
Eleventh Night is not covered in the same way.

Not known in the British circles I've ever lived
amongst.
Twelfth night is also unknown, except as one of
Shakespeare's best comedies.

It's the night the Christmas decorstions are supposeed to come down.

You beat me to it. That's the only context in which we knew it.

Known in these parts by the three kings which materialised out of the
vacuum, without counting how many days late they were,

Jan

[lar3ryca]

Post by LionelEdwards

 >
 > > When did you learn [a ditty regarding Guy Fawkes]? Is victory over
a
 > > Popish plot in London commonly celebrated in Denmark?
 >
 > We can safely assume that Bertel learned English at school. I don't
 > remember those lines, but among other things I learned at school
 > "Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
 > Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
 > that marriage history?
I didn’t learn either at school (or in the playground) but encountered them
from extracurricular written and visual media. It’s interesting to me to learn
that both are taught on the continent. I imagine (or rather, I hope) the
Eleventh Night is not covered in the same way.

Not known in the British circles I've ever lived
amongst.
Twelfth night is also unknown, except as one of
Shakespeare's best comedies.
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some
have greatness thrust upon them.

From a National Lampoon magazine, many years ago, in 'Letters to the
Editor'.

"Some are born great. some achieve greatness,
and some have greatness thrust into them."
- Margaret Trudeau

Post by LionelEdwards
If music be the food of love, play on."

--
I went to a silent auction last night.
I bought a dog whistle and two mimes.

[Anders D. Nygaard]

Post by Aidan Kehoe

Post by Silvano

When did you learn [a ditty regarding Guy Fawkes]? Is victory over a
Popish plot in London commonly celebrated in Denmark?

We can safely assume that Bertel learned English at school. I don't
remember those lines, but among other things I learned at school
"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
that marriage history?

I didn’t learn either at school (or in the playground) but encountered them
from extracurricular written and visual media. It’s interesting to me to learn
that both are taught on the continent. I imagine (or rather, I hope) the
Eleventh Night is not covered in the same way.

The Guy Fawkes ditty only stirs up vague memories, but I immediately
recall that the groom of the six was Henry VIII.

/Anders, Denmark

[Mark Brader]

...among other things I learned at school
"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".
Do AUE readers without a British background know immediately who had
that marriage history?

I don't qualify to answer that question, but I would like to note that
those words occur in the title song of the musical-comedy play "Six",
which is about that set of women. Wikipedia tells me that it was
written in Britain, but it has played in New York and Toronto.
(I haven't seen it, but I saw a public performance at the song on TV.)

[Bob Martin]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Kerr-Mudd, John
Around here it seems Halloween is about a month out. Except it
won't be over for ages.

When I were a lad Hallowe'en was virtually unknown in England
(notwithstanding its origins). As it happened I arrived in Berkeley
for my post-doc on 30th October 1967. I had to go to meet the
department secretary on the 31st to sign some papers, and the first
she wanted to talk about was Hallowe'en: I had barely any idea what
that was.

One year my son's school organised a fireworks display on the 5th of
November, and called it Hallowe'en. Very different from what happened in
my childhood.
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November
When leaves were green
And gold and yellow.

Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder season
Should ever be forgot.
Trad. (BrE). ref. Guy Fawkes.

Guy Fawkes was born in York, a stone's throw from the Minster.