London Calling...

Halloween in London...and other fireworks

Halloween in London was rather anticlimactic. While they do recognize the holiday, the British seem a bit resentful of the day as a whole. I was told by one of my coworkers that on Halloween, her husband turns off all of the lights in the house and makes them hide upstairs so they don't have to answer the door to trick-or-treaters! This plan seemed a little excessive until she explained that they didn't grow up here trick-or-treating, that it was just another commercial thing brought over by the Americans in the last few years. I wasn't sure what to say to that...'I'm sorry??' I think what came out of my mouth, unfortunately instead, was 'I want to go trick-or-treating'...

Tuesday saw CSKA Moscow come to the Emirates for a Champions League match. It was a VERY cold night - down to 1C, and the wind was whipping around the stadium like mad. I rushed there after work, because Johnny Harber had scored hospitality seats for the evening, which meant food and drink and good seats. I had to just respond to anyone that asked 'Hello I am from Universal Pictures -- John and I are working on a content deal together.' Not a bad deal, me thinks. One of the perks of hospitality is that they pick one (out of the 2-300 people there) 'random' person to go pitchside before kickoff to watch the players train. John seemed to have the magic touch that evening and luckily he got to bring his dad and I along. I was shaking so hard most of my pictures came out blurry, but I was so close to my boys it was unbelievable!

On Saturday, I started what looks to be the long process of flat-hunting. I had booked appointments to see 3, and two of them had been let by the time I turned up. I walked around and around the Fulham and Parson's Green area for hours, popping into estate agents to leave my details. I've seen a couple more this week and all that seems to be consistent is that everything is really expensive, tiny, and not very nice. Great...

Later that evening, I met up with an English guy named Neil I had met at our company party the prior week. Turns out he works for Heinz, not Universal, but I've always wanted to know more about ketchup and baked beans! We went to see the fireworks at Ravenscourt Park near the river in honor of Bonfire Night aka 'Guy Fawkes Night' which is a massive holiday it turns out. Guy Fawkes was some sort of rebel who wanted to overthrow the government and tried to burn down the Houses of Parliament back in the 1600s, and ever year on the 5th of November they have bonfires (with a rag-doll version of Fawkes on top) and fireworks all around the country. Apparently, until 1959, it was illegal NOT to celebrate the day of Guy Fawkes arrest in England. Like conkers, there is also a little diddy that they sing during the bonfire (oh, lucky me!):

Remember Remember the fifth of November
The gunpowder treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot
Guy Fawkes Guy, 'twas his intent
to blow up king and parliament
Three score barrels were laid below
to prove old England's overthrow
By God's mercy he was catched
with a dark lantern and lighted match
Holler boys Holler boys let the bells ring
Holler boys Holler boys God save the King

posted by Eleanor @ 8:20 pm