jimsjournal
| Guy Fawkes Day -- 11/05/03 |
jimsjournal |
||
|
Bonfires and fireworks tonight in England. (Oh, okay, if you want to be technical about it, since I am typing this in the evening, they've already finished their fireworks and have gone to bed because it is the wee hours of Thursday Nov. 6th over there right now.) Whatever. It used to be that kids would go door to door begging "A penny for the Guy" -- much like our kids go trick-or-treating on Halloween. I understand, however, that tradition is fading away, a combination of the global American cultural influence and intense marketing by the candy companies inspiring kids to go trick-or-treating on Octomber 31st just like American kids. I was in England around this time of year back in '98 and I remember the Halloween candy displays in Sainsbury's and big banners flying above the streets proclaiming a grand fireworks display to be held on the 5th and also one to be held on Saturday, Nov. 2nd (I guess they figured on a larger crowd on the weekend?)... However, I had to return to the U.S. on the 2nd, so I didn't get to see either. "Remember, remember the Fifth of November is gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason Knock at the door, Have you got a penny for If you haven't got a penny If you haven't got a ha'penny I've been exhausted. Working very hard, very busy at work. Did not really have time for NaNoWriMo last night. Nor tonight. I'm posting this and going to bed. I'll have to catch up on the weekend. Somebody wrote to Jerry Pournelle (science fiction novelist, computer writer) telling him about NaNoWriMo and seeking Dr. Pournelle's opinion. He replied that one of his books (Birth of Fire) had only been 55,000 words and he had written it in one week flat back in the 1970's. |
||||||
|
