Saturday, November 01, 2008

Those sturdy English.


i arrived today in England.

It just so happened to be the day they're celebrating Guy Fawkes day and Bonfire night. Having been told "layers, think lots of layers," i put on 2 shirts and a sweatshirt under my coat, and 2 pairs of socks under my new warm boots. i topped the whole ensemble with my recently purchased scarf, gloves, and cute hat. If not prepared, i was at least adorable.

We drove tthe 3 kids to a friend's house to park, then several families set off in the pitch black muddy evening for the field where the celebration would take place. i was handed an umbrella and fell into step behind numerous strollers with babies and rain baggies over them, and countless more small school children in wellies (rubber boots) and raincoats. The cloud of well covered adults and children moved off in a large gnat-like cloud to the field. The cloud grew larger as excited children and parents gravitated toward the rope separating us from the huge bonfire in the middle of the field.

Did i mention the whole "pitch black" thing? Here were families upon families, chatting and playing and standing bundled in the freezing rain like they were having a tea party. In the darkness, everyone looked the same to me--tall and short dark bodies with vaguely seen faces above, cheerfully saying "hello" to me as i was introduced.

Normal, it was all perfectly normal to these sturdy English. Rain, blowing like ice needles into your face? Normal. Slogging along a country road through muddy piles of leaves in the pitch black? Normal. Fireworks in the rain? All normal. Me? i kept wrapping and wrapping my scarf around my neck and wishing for a third pair of socks under my new boots.

i looked around at the crowd and asked Jon, my son-in-law, "how many people do you think are here?" He said, "Oh, probably a hundred, hundred-fifty." He laughed and said, "You'd probably have a thousand!" (i do after all, live in a populated area in California.) i said, "Oh no-we would have totally called it on account of rain!"

A good time was had by all, and on the bright side, i think i will only lose the one toe to frostbite.

Here's a fun link to explain the Guy Fawkes celebration.

i'll wait for daylight to get photos of the grandBrits to post.

4 comments:

limbolady said...

I'm sorry, this just sounds so NOT fun to me, after spending our first REALLY rainy day w/ my sis, tramping around Danville and Walnut Creek! I did enjoy the antique quilt exhibit at the Dean Lesher big place (can't think of the proper name), and buying some yummy cookies at a bakery down the street, and eating the BEST burger a couple doors down, AND shopping at Papyrus in Danville...glad you arrived safely and all. Miss you already....

julia said...

Funny, eh? i was so blurry and oblivious anyway, it's hard to even remember the evening...

Lea Ann said...

It's hard to believe you're even FURTHER away from me than usual.. Sounds like a fun outing though ;-). I did read up on the celebration and I think I could really get into buring an effigy of a traitor named Guy (my ex-husband being named Guy you know). The part about the weather is so funny. When my step-daughter was in England for a summer wedding she was freezing and everyone acted like it was hot summertime. Actual sunshine was celebrated!!! Have fun with your family - I know you will!

julia said...

OH it is so cold today, the wind is blowing and i'm wearing my scarf in the house...

i love the effigy comment, Lea Ann. You always make me giggle. ;-)