Easter Memories
William RMay I wish a Happy Easter to all my readers. When I was in the supermarket today I was bombarded with announcements the "We will be open as normal on Good Friday" which brings me to remember first coming to Barnsley in 1960 from Chorley to find that it was "business as usual" in all the shops. Nobody seemed to observe Easter as they did in Leyland, where it was treated as a Sunday, with all shops closed and a trip up Rivington Pike the order of the day. Is it still like that? or has it gone to "business as usual" like over here? Many of the older generation still keep the tradition alive by going to church on Good Friday, and never eating meat on that day. I don`t want to start a religious revival, I was just wondering........... perhaps its not a Forum subject, so I`ll leave there for now.From over the Pennines, Cheerio, Bill.
LDunlop76When I was a child everywhere was shut on Good Friday. That was Altrincham in the 60's. Good Friday was the day Grandad's sister, Auntie Annie, came to tea (my grandparents only lived in the next street so I was always round there) and we always had salmon and hot cross buns, even though my grandparents weren't church-going folk. Nowadays here in Wigan the supermarkets are open as normal on Good Friday. I don't know whether they still shut off the "alcohol aisle" - there used to be some rule about not selling alcohol between certain hours on Good Friday. But our local shops will be shut - the butcher has had a notice up for a couple of weeks to say he won't be opening that day. Can't say what's happening in Leyland though, Bill.
MartinI remember all the sjops being shut at Easter time. My mum used to take us to Avenham Park to roll our eggs. Is that a tradition? did anyone else do that? I think Lancashire, or rather, the Preston area has always been fairly strick when it comes to these issues. The controlling authorities have always held the town back from a lot of the new ways that other towns seems to have adopted. It does seem like a very christian dominated area.
William RMartin, Egg rolling in Avenham Park. We did that way back, that was a good slope for the job. I could never see the reasoning behind having to paint a hard boiled egg all fancy colours, then roll it down the slope until it broke, eat it and then go home. Somebody tell me the "true story". Cheerio, Bill.
LDunlop76
quote:
Originally posted by William R
Somebody tell me the "true story". Cheerio, Bill.
These might help, Bill. [:)] [url]http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/conkers-and-ghosts/easter.htm[/url] [url]http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8149/egg.html[/url] [url]http://www.2camels.com/destination38.php3[/url]
William RLinda, thanks for the info. All my family baptisms included the presentation of a Candle lit from the Easter Candle, and carried during the service, and became the Light of Eternal Faith. When we went to the All Souls service for Margaret et al, the Easter Candle was lit then. We live and learn, don`t we. Cheerio, Bill.
rocketmanjohnWe were always told that Easter egg rolling was to symbolise the rolling away of the stone from Jesus' tomb, hence it was on Easter Monday. No, I'm not religious, it was just what we did. Easter is a normal work day here in Louisiana, which is a bit odd seeing as this is the bible belt. We get two days at Mardi Gras, got to get the priorities right. John
SandiehGood Friday we always went up to the top of Rivington Pike, there was a small fair there.
noeli concur with John's definition and rolling eggs on a Monday not Sunday. These days Good Friday is very much like a Sunday. Avenham Park is still the place to go on the Monday. These days I roll my chokky egg ( yes, I still get one!!!) down the stairs at home rushing down to get the broken bits before the dogs do.
LDunlop76
quote:
Originally posted by rocketmanjohn
Easter is a normal work day here in Louisiana, which is a bit odd seeing as this is the bible belt. We get two days at Mardi Gras, got to get the priorities right. John
How many Bank Holidays (or US equivalents) do you get, John? An old school friend of mine who now lives in Tennessee still hasn't got used to Boxing Day not existing in the US. The UK is generally considered to be stingy with its public holidays, only giving 8. Last time I looked at the front page of the big diary at work Japan had loads - about twice what we get here! What's the situation in the US?
rocketmanjohnOn the Official holiday front. This year we get 12 days, a lot more than most. We get 6 days at Christmas whereas most people only get a day. We also get 4 weeks holiday a year [20+ years service] most only get 2. My contributions are a bit delayed at the moment, my computer has gone haywire, I'm writing this at work, which is frowned upon. John
LeylandGBStingy?? Come visit the US. Work as usual Friday AND Monday!!!! If I'm lucky I'll get two weeks vacation for the next five years (but if I change jobs I'll have to start accruing the days again!!)
Sandieh
quote:
Originally posted by Sandieh
In Australia we get holidays for everything ! It suprised me when I first came to live here, there was a holiday for the Queens Birthday, I`m sure we did`nt get that in England. The Aussies love a party( [;)] any excuse!) [img]http://www.animationgrove.com/images/holiday/ageast32.gif[/img] Happy Easter everyone !!! Sandra. [img]http://www.animationgrove.com/images/holiday/ageast34.gif[/img]
Why dont my pictures show up[:(][?][?][?][?][:(]
noelI think the address is wrong Sandra. If you right click on your gif abd look at the properties, the URL refers to Leyland Forum. If you copy the address into your browser it says "page not available" so something's wrong with the URL . I tried a search for a picnic bear and got this. [img]http://cloud.datashed.net/static/images/class1H/beareatingpicnic.gif[/img] You note no reference to Leyland Forum and hopefully right clicking and pasting the URL into your browser should work .
Sandieh[img]http://www.gifanimations.com/animation3/bears/Bear_dances.gif[/img] Thanks Noel, got it, Best wishes Sandra.
LDunlop76
quote:
Originally posted by LeylandGB
Stingy?? Come visit the US. Work as usual Friday AND Monday!!!! If I'm lucky I'll get two weeks vacation for the next five years (but if I change jobs I'll have to start accruing the days again!!)
I know paid vacation from work in the US is very poor as a rule, but I didn't know about public holidays, hence my question. The UK has fewer public holidays than other European countries. I don't know how working parents cope in the US with so few days annual leave - it can be enough of a struggle over here!
rocketmanjohnBy US standards I get a lot of time off, as I said previously I'm now on 4 weeks after 20 years service. A favourite stunt here in the private sector is to change the name of the company,and put it in another name,[ wifes/husbands etc]. It is now legal to fire all the employees without any redundancy pay [new company] and then re-employ the same people on less money [all the previous years raises are now invalid], and no holidays for the first year with the new company, 1 week the second year. Nursing homes in particular seem to do this on a regular basis. People need regular work and just seem to accept it. John
Alan MarsdenRocketmanjohn, regarding the people working in Nursing homes 'just accepting' their lot. People working in these Nursing homes tend to be less qualified than regular hospital staff, and of course the nursing homes being privately owned exploit this fact to their advantage. Looking at what the Len Brindles and Arthur Scargills did for their members makes one question the merits of strong unions. On balance the world is a better place because of historical Union activity and the Socialist movement, but, when power is held by individuals like the aformentioned, things sometimes go wrong in the extreme, and opposing views become prevalent. Industrial union activity has been seen to benefit members ,certainly in the short term, better salaries etc, subsidised cars and the like, but the overall cost has resulted on taking jobs offshore, We now see that even computer software jobs are being exported to India and China. What we buy in the shops is often made in these low paying countries and priced as if it were made in the West, people question this no more so long as the product has the appropiate logo name on it ! The role of unions is being questioned, industrial unionisation is not as strong as it was, yet the strongest unions provide the optimum benefits to their members ( teachers ,doctors, lawyers ). It would seem that people are not concerned. In recent years we have seen unprecedented wrongdoing as the smart kids of the business world exploited their stock options taking extreme renumerations out of all proportion relative to the true wealth created,yet little action is taked to rectify the situation and no action is taked to recover ill gotten gains.Ronald Biggs was persued for years for a trifling amount yet the present day corporate greed is encouraged! So we see that people are happy providing they are not broke, can afford a few pints and can watch the soaps, allowing themselves to be ripped off at the corporate level. The politicians are supported by the system, soft money is legitimate, jobs are the biggest export. Fifty five years ago the cotton mills were starting to close as the jobs and machinery were exported to the third world. The demise of ship building after years of subsidies was followed with similar scenarios in the machine tool and automotive industries. By this time the clothing and shoe industries had long departed. What remains of the UK civil aircraft industry is thankfully European driven,as is the military aircraft , the big names having long departed the scene. Even in the US, Boeing aircraft are now a mass of sub assemblies from all over the globe. Having said all this, it's interesting to compare living standards today with fifty years ago ! Is this the result of so called 'free trade', what are the long term consequences for society ? Is there no virtue in having the capacity to manufacture an article, is it wise to deplete manufacturing,to become dependant upon unreliable sources, and allow ourselves to be service oriented ? Think about it please, comments more than welcomed ! Alan M ( "I never let schooling interfer with my education"- Mark Twain )
LDunlop76One of the more worrying aspects of corproate greed is that in years when business was doing well, companies were allowed to take a pensions holiday and not pay in as much to the company pension scheme - a great many companies took advantage of this. Yet when times are hard do we see companies paying a little more into the pension scheme? Do we heck! So the stock market falls and thousands, if not millions, of people see the value of their pensions depreciate, while the fat cats at the top of the corporate heap retire with golden handshakes, thank you very much. Birth rates are going down, so we have fewer workers in the pool paying in towards the pensions of those already retired. In a few years time we'll have more people on pensions than in the workforce - what are we supposed to live on once we've retired? So we see governments pushing up the retirement age. And yet, as Alan says, we're no longer manufacturing much in the West. Where's the money going to come from, where will it all end?
Alan MarsdenI read only this week that the largest cost item in the building of any GM vehicle is not the steel it's built from but the 'medical insurance it provides for its workers and retirees'. Corporate plundering has ammassed fortunes for the Berny Evers,John Roths of the business world,(would your company lend you $450 million so you could buy yourself the west's largest ranch). Corporate pension funds have not been funded ,in other words the retirement agreements committed to by business leaders cannot be sustained, the business leaders who did the committing have received their vastly inflated renumerations and have gone on to other avenues,(in the UK no doubt got their knighthoods).They've gone and left others to sort out the mess ! Total corporate irresponsibility ! The next stage will undoubtedly be , a corporate directive that companies need additional funding from governments to supplement their prior irresponsible commitment to retirees pensions ! If this is enacted ,the very people who presently have been 'robbed' by the demise of their own stock fund values which they acquired to provide for their retirement, fund values they saved themselves because they did not have a company pension to rely upon, will by expected to contribute for this deficiency ! Double indemnity ! But who else is there to pay the bills for the powerful, the smart set of corporate leaders have long departed with their ill gotten gains, and the governments have allowed it to happen ! Alan M ( 'Better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.' - Mark Twain
rocketmanjohnAlan, Of course everything you say is correct. My own company is well know for it's practices, the board of directors votes itself bigger and bigger bonuses and stock options and yet cuts the benefits we get. Every year our pay raises get less and less, while medical insurance gets higher and higher. My company is self insured, so the costs are'nt going anywhere. It's now reached the stage where a raise does'nt cover the increases, so we're getting poorer, I only stay because I'm close to retirement. There was a bunch of our upper management caught falsifying profits, the stock went through the ceiling at the false report, they all sold out and then told the truth [insider trading]. As a consequence, the stock fell by 60% and all the employees savings went with it, mine included. They were all charged with insider trading, but it's all fizzled out, surprise surprise. John
Alan MarsdenJohn, it's fair to say overall, private corporate capitalism performs for the powerful, management, and society's fortunate few,it is equally irresposible as regards the environment except where it's wrong doings would be immediately apparent.It can put cheap products into the marketplace, but at what true long term cost ? The world cannot sustain ever increasing production,yet we are constantly told that the answer to any problem is 'increased production and higher efficiency'!. Look at what up to now has been a subdued continent,China, this year they will produce one million vehicles, and their economy is expanding faster than any other ! Polution in China is such that in many cities one cannot see further than one hundred yards and the unfortunate residents have to wear masks in order to breath !.This socialist in name only country, which is in reality a tyranical oppresive economy, totally depends upon exporting its products to the west and is encouraged to do so by the terms of the 'free market agreements' derived by the very politicians who purport to be our representatives!. Incidentally,what happened to the notion that our politicians should primarily persue the interests of their constituents, rather than play the good boy on the international stage ? At some time in the not too distant future China will have to strengthen its currency with respect to the dollar,it is currently held at an artificially low fixed exchange rate, it's workers will also demand improvements and as a consequence, other countries with an even cheaper labour force will be sought for exploitation, the result being large unemployment in China. Try to imagine the scenario of mass unemployment and unrest rest in China, and the implications that could result to the rest of the world ! Currently markets have not been completely saturated with goods but is that day not approaching , remember the free market produces to saturation, then closes ,production is not governed by the logic of need ! When any major project is commenced, it's progress depends upon a plan, nothing of major significance is ever attempted without a plan, yet when any suggestion of a planned society is put forward, cries of socialism are forthcoming! The standards upon which all societies depend, be it the judiciary, weights and measures,international standards associations, are all run as a service to their respective societies rather than as competitive organisations ,the services performed by these organisations is not perforned on a competitive basis, it;s too important to be left to the chaos of a free market ! . So it's apparent that an organised society becomes inevitable if chaos is not to prevail. Having said that , why not embrace cooperation as a society rather than competition ? Present business methods show that our free societies really tolerates 'the freedom to rob and pilliage by the few of power and privelidge at the expence of the majority',but, has it ever been any different? Just what is accomplished on behalf of civilised society by the likes of George Soros and friends at the secretive economic forums at Duvos Switzerland ,the club of Rome, or for that matter the World bank ? Has anyone other than the powerful individuals under question ever been invited to these functions? Not to my knowledge ! Alan M ( 'Suppose you were an idiot,and suppose you were a member of congress; but I repeat myself' ! - Mark Twain )
Bill RigbyYour comments are most interesting, Alan, but then you live in Canada where the news is so much better than in the US and has a population more politically sophisticated. This is not to explain away your evident interest in what goes on and your very pertinent observations. Tha "age of greed" began with Reagan and has not slackened. I think one has to understand the 'mentality' that pervades the American psyche to grasp why we are so corrupt and greedy. Spengler wrote that the biggest confidence trick ever perpetrated on a nation was that of the British ruling classes in making the population believe only they were fit to rule. In the US, this is replaced by the absurd belief that all you have to do is work hard and you too can become a billionaire. Thus, so many Americans are opposed to any form of taxation on the ultra-rich, since they hope one day to be there! Absurd! Indeed. But you must know we are a nation built entirely on myths, from the altruistic founding fathers and a Constitution that at best typified hypocrisy by announcing that "all men are created equal" yet continued to practise slavery, to such a small myth like Abner Doubleday's invention of baseball. I have a partial answer to your questioning free societies, I believe. The fact is we are only free within the limitations imposed by the powerful. As long as the powerful are allowed to do what they want, then society can be as free as it wishes. In a concrete example, we have today in the US massive amounts paid by corporations to politicians so that regulations and controls on their ability to poison the air, the land and the sea, and thus inhibit ever greater profits. George Soros has donated millions to excellent causes to relive misery in the world. He is one of the powe4ful who has spoken out about the abuses of his peers and undoubtedly has influenced many areas of society that are yet not earth-shaking. But then, such events by individuals are rare anyway. The Club of Rome led to the EU and for all its faults and imperfections the EU has proven to be very successful as an economic factor in Europe's betterment. In my opinion, the next step for the EU is to create a unified foreign policy and a defense force that is independent of the US. It is plain that people like Bush and those in his Administration with minor exceptions intend to call all the shots throughout the world. This is as dangerous as the hegemony sought by the former Soviet Union and, unfortunately, only now exists as a threat because of the demise of the SU. There needs to be a balance. I agree with you that the greater the complexity of society brought about by population explosions and the rapid pace of technology requires organized societies that protect its peoples from the powerful. This is why I find the Libertarian argument so puerile. In spite of parts of China being so polluted (really no different than Korea - ever been to Seoul? - and other thriving Asian nations) the fact remains that 25% of world pollution emanates from the US whose population is but a fraction of the world population. And now Bush is abolishing the Clean Air Act,allowing 17,000 power stations in the US to emit what noxious substances they want. WE have enormous vehicles, SUVs and an ever increasing population of the ugliest vehicle in creation, the Hummer, that guzzles gas like a truck and people are encouraged to buy them for business since the tax break lets them off $17,000 from the purchase price and that is just the start. The above is not a reasoned response to your post, Alan, but just a series of thoughts as they occur on the theme you started. By the way, I heard on a quiz program yesterday on National Publkic Radio that the US has 21 million more vehicles than population. Let's stop China bashing!
Bill RigbyWe shoulkd be able to edit what we write! I left unfinished the sentence about regulations and controls on corporations; it should have ended "...and thus inhibit ever great profits, may be annulled".
LDunlop76
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Rigby
We shoulkd be able to edit what we write!
We can! Just click on the icon with a little pencil in it in the bar above your post - this allows you to amend your posting if you spot any mistakes or change your mind! [:)] As for the discussion (a departure from Easter!) I'm in agreement with most of what's been said, but I wouldn't heap too much praise on the EU. I received email from Oxfam today about a campaign it's mounting to try to stop the EU dumping surplus products (milk in particular) at below cost price in third world countries. EU subsidies are encouraging farmers to produce more than can be sold in the EU so the excess is dumped in other countries far cheaper than local producers can afford to sell at - the local producers are put out of business and poverty escalates. I've heard this from other sources too - last week Radio 4 carried a news article about how farmers in Albania are going out of business because they can't compete with cheap imported crops from Greece, where the farmers get an EU subsidy. When people cannot compete on an even playing field, it's bound to create resentment and unrest. Generally speaking, I'm in favour of the EU, but the Common Agricultural Policy needs a serious looking at!
Alan MarsdenInterim paradox. I believe that possibly the most eloquent and sincere politician ( if that's what he is), that I can think of is Ralph Nader ! If I were in the USA,I believe I would have been tempted to have voted for him. How Ralph would have responded to the Sept 11 tragedy, I do not know,but I cannot see Ralph directing the miltary to drop bombs on anyone !. However, had Ralph not participated in the last US election, the vote rigging in Florida would have been irrelavant, and GWB would not have been in the White House ! Alan M ( Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to reflect.- Mark Twain )
rocketmanjohnThis is getting scary, I actually agree with everything that Bill R and Alan M are saying. Not heard anything about 'The New World Order' which really is a big worry. Any comments or thoughts ? John
Alan MarsdenGentlemen,hopefully ladies too , thanks for your responses, keep it going, we satisfy our anxieties if nothing else,we seem to like to discuss similar subjects,too serious for home discussion,cannot encroach on Martha or Murder she wrote ! The philanthropic role, one could constrew as hypocritical,yet good work is achieved through the voulintary contributions of such, we know that George Sorus amongst others, does much good work,equally he's the guy that made billions speculating on the pound sterling,and is reputed to have once brought the Bank of England near to insolvency , he continues to ammass fortune upon fortune doing the same,all over the world. I guess one could argue that should he not do so, nothing would change and the positive contributions provided by same would not occurr,point made, but its ironical ! We all come from the Preston area, if Harris had not had business fortitude we would not have the beautiful Harris museum and Art gallery, Carnoge Hall, the list is endless, yet, the private fortunes which paid for all these splendid edifices were made at the expense of everyone else. Of course , had it not been so, only publically funded institutions would be present. ( "Money is like manure,you have to spread it around or it smells" - J.Paul Getty
LDunlop76To combine this with comments in another thread, Liverpool has many fine buildings, but the fortunes that built them were made in the slave trade in the 18th century. Men's philanthropy to their fellow citizens was financed by selling other humans, though that probably didn't seem as twisted then as it does now - Africans were seen as a commodity, not people.
Alan MarsdenRocketmanjohn, New world order ! It's interesting to see that the Asian miracle of a few years ago has quietened, the Japanese stock market and it's economy has been on hold for years,and horror of horrors, deflation did rear it's ugly head and is a danger there. This you will recall was the economy whose industrial base was long accepted as the model for the world ! Of course there never was anything other than basic commom sense,simple logic behind all the so called 'Japanese industrial and business methods',but having persuaded the MBA's of upper management otherwise, the notion allowed all manner of North American con artists,professors,'just in time consultants', publicists and business course professional entrepreneurs to make a fortune for themselves on the lecture circuits. They are there still under a different guise, pedalling or instilling their latest wares, just as their brothers do likewise on the Sunday 'instant miracle' religious shows ! Having turned the largest surplus ever, into the largest deficit ever,and ensuring decades of further debt, the MBA leading the world is going all out to print money at record pace in order to pay for the Chinese imports sold in Walmart and elswhere. The Chinese meanwhile keep on working for a pitance, their leaders busy invoicing the world and accumulating rewards which they convert to gold, and hopefully purchasing bonds to refinance the deficit. North America having exported much of it's manufacturing base, assists by printing money as fast as the presses can turn it out ! I guess that this alright providing the Chinese are happy to continue to receive the dollars (the value of which is not based upon gold but on CONFIDENCE, i.e. the notion that all is well and will remain so),and continue to purchase treasury bonds. I sincerely hope that confidence in confidence remains high ! Alan M ( The entire essence of America is the hope to first make money -then make money with money - then make lots of money with lots of money- Paul Erdman )
Alan MarsdenBill R. thanks for your reflections, however, I don't see how one can assume that Canada has a more politically sophisticated population, take a look at the federal government that we voted into office ! Alan M ("There ain't no such thing as a free lunch ". - Libertarian slogan - Robert A Heinlein - The moon is a harsh mistress,1907
Alan MarsdenIt's interesting to note how the Easter subject has diversed, I guess rocketmanjohn is responsible telling us about his mamoth four weeks holiday, better watch out you school teachers, your being caught up! I note that Martin mentions rolling eggs (painted pace eggs I assume), in Avenham Park! What splendid memories I used to have of that gorgeous park and it's sister Miller Park. The school dance and singing performances in the valley for the 52 Guild, walking along the top walk there adjacent the Park Hotel with the awesome views right over the Pennines, the lovely Aviary and fountain , people walking the parks well dressed in their 'Sunday best',the brass bands playing in the stand, and the beautiful wooden footbridge and intriguing rock gardens resplendant with multitudes of goldfish ! On visiting Preston in 89 I took my wife one afternoon to see the sights ! In Miller park the aviary had closed, I believe it was boarded up, the gardens looked flower bare,the fountain had rubbish in it, the large flower pots on top walk were knocked over,and upon walking thru to Avenham park we observed a decimated rock garden who's sole visitor was a gentleman holding a large fishing net and two large plastic buckets and he was collecting Goldfish ! Could this be the keeper of the park ? I think not, when I ran to the 'locked up' park keepers house for assistance, the "gentleman" with his buckets of fish departed at great haste in the opposite direction, his appearance gave rise to the notion that 'Avenham Goldfish Madras', courtesy of the Parks department could be for supper !! Alan M (' Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community" - Anthony J. D'Angelo )
KarenI spent almost every lunch time of my school life in Avenham Park. I was at Winckley Square and we either had to walk in a crocodile through the park or if we had a cool nun, we were allowed to sit or to play in the valley. I took my family to the park for The Third Declaration of the 1992 Guild. There was also a concert and light show, by the Phil(I think) and The Marines band .. great stuff, the finale was the 1812 Overture .. with cannon of course. We were on a high for the next two days. My youngest daughter and I walked along Avenham Terrace and then back to Winckley Square, through the park last Fall ... it wasn't quite as spendid as it used to be but seemed to be well used by walkers, joggers and strollers .. so maybe it's coming back to life. Ciao Karen.
Alan MarsdenKaren, thanks for the good news , I hope that you are right. When last in Blackpool I thought that it too had improved considerably ! Winckley square is a lovely place ,the surrounding Georgian buildings adding to its grace. When at school ( Preston Tech 51-53 ), I used to walk thru the square each week as we used the changing rooms at the Harris Art school when on Wednesday's we played soccer or cricket after running thru Avenham park and over the Tram bridge to the playing fields. The 1812 would have sounded great in the park setting ! My interest in classical music can be attributed to the Liverpool Phil.,as we used to attend school concerts given by the Phil. and the Halle, at the Public hall. The last time I heard the 1812 was at the Ontario place performance of the Toronto symphony. Two years ago, we took our visitors from Preston to the Toronto Symphony for a performance of 'The Last night of the Proms', complete with 'land of hope and glory', Jerusalem, etc, needless to say we were appropriately dressed in 'Union Jack' attire ! Alan M
noelWe get a "last night at the proms" here every New Year's Eve Alan. It's usually an orchestra assmbled from musicians at a lose end from the northern orchestras, Halle, Royal Liverpool Phil etc. 3 years ago the did the 1812 and the cannons they sounded so realistic it was unbelievable. Guild Hall by the way.
KarenSome more of the concert story. We had all been issued with huge white garbagebag like rain gear ... the hood part was a corner of the 'bag' and there was a hole for our faces to peek through ... my lot(including me) put our's on when we were waiting in the stands before the show started,.. we looked like the KKK and removed them as soon as every one around us had finished with the 'photo op'!! It had been raining hard all day and had only stopped just before we reached the park. The ground was very wet and muddy ... the Conductor appeared to a thunderous applause grinning from ear to ear, dressed in his immaculate evening dress and wearing a pair of green wellies with his pants tucked in!! When we got to the 'Land of Hope and Glory' bit, we were the only ones bobbing ..... with all the dignitaries around us looking down their noses at the antics of the uncouth 'North Americans' .....the maestro turned around quietened the orchestra .. pointed up to us and said "They've got it .. you can all follow them"!!! Our 15 seconds(didn't run to minutes) of fame!! Ciao Karen.
rocketmanjohnKaren, I was also on the park for the concert and I also remember the green wellies. It was the London Phil, I think, but you did'nt mention the choreographed fireworks to the 1812, the best I've ever seen, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. It was very noisy and thoroughly enjoyable, it was my grand daughters first time in England and she sat on my knee, and slept through the entire show. John
KarenJohn, I can still feel the tingle ... it was THE best anyone could ever experience ... we were literally on a high for days. I didn't say too much because it is so hard to put that much emotion and feeling into words ... 'You had to be there'!!! Remember the laser panther - creeping across the band stand? The fire works were so impressive 'cos they were right overhead, everyone had a grand stand seat. How on earth could that little girl sleep through that?!!!! I guess you were excused from bobbing, that might have wakened her!! Did you try your KKK mac?! ....I still have mine and the Matthew's Ale cushion off of my seat. We travelled back to Leyland on the train ... it was delayed - then when it finally arrived and while we were all sitting there waiting for it to move .. a whole bunch of cops came running on to the platform .. we thought the worst .. but it turned out to be this young guy on his stag night .. his lovely friends had thrown him out of the train at each station .. completely naked!! I had to yell at a policeman to get out of the way .. he was blocking my view .. much to my kids amusement, he obliged!!! A night to remember. Ciao Karen
rocketmanjohnYes Karen, I remember the laser light show, this kind of thing was in its infancy then even though its only 11 years ago, very tame by todays standards, but it impressed me. That night I parked the rental car at 'The Continental', had a quick pint, and walked to the show along the river bank, it was a really nice walk and its sad to hear things have been neglected. No, my KKK outfit is long gone, and would have been a bit risky bringing it home, that sort of thing is still all too real in the deep south. I still have a miniature bottle of 'Guild Ale'though. John
KarenOops .. forgot where you lived John, or I wouldn't have asked! I don't remember being given a mini bottle of ale .. maybe my son knows something about that!!!!! Ciao Karen.
anacortesdampThere's an interesting link to my part of the world. The long-time musical director of the Seattle Symphony orchestra, Gerard Schwartz, recently became the MD of the Liverpool Philharmonic also. While at Balshaw's, I went to many concerts by the Halle and the Liverpool Phil at the old Preston Public Hall/Corn Exchange. Frank Damp Anacortes, Wa. USA
LDunlop76Karen, I enjoyed your concert tale - thanks for posting it!
Alan MarsdenKaren and Rocketman.,most enjoyable, I wish had been there. John, I used to go to the Continental quite ofter, I had two uncles who lived in South Meadow Lane, they had their own business based in S.M.L. they constructed Golden Hill Leyland thru to over the moss to Longton, kerb after kerb,and Leyland Lane too, but they also built the occasional house when local government contracts were sparce, and they relied on me for their plans. They used the Continental tap room as their office ! Public hall, I remember Liverpool Phil.playing 'A young person's guide to the orchestra' by Benjamin Britten, each instruments virtues being displayed and the kettle drums were feet away! In the sixties I frequently attended concerts by the 'Phil' at their hall in Liverpool. Toronto Symphony's conductor laureate Sir Andrew Davies, recently conducted the orchestra in Roy Tompson hall, $20,000,000 has just been spent in improving the accoustics. I always get the shivers when listening to Elgar, amongst other composers. Alan M ('Music is well said to be the speech of the angels'- Thomas Carlyle)
rocketmanjohnKaren, Absolutely no offence, sorry if I gave that impression. The KKK is still here, just below the surface, mainly across the border in Mississippi, but its still here in Louisiana as well. The current Governor only just beat David Duke, ex [supposedly] Grand Wizard of the KKK in the last election. I stay well clear of anything like that, along with voodoo, which is the other end of the spectrum, and still practised. On a more pleasant front, over the years I've found that an awful lot of engineers like classical music, along with poetry and ballet, myself included as well as Frank and Alan. Most of have come through life the hard way and tend to be a pretty rough bunch, and it just seems odd that we should be attracted to the arts. John
KarenNo offence taken John. You didn't give that impression at all. I enjoy chatting about anything!! Ciao Karen.
noelMy grandson's so lovingly destructive ( aged 18 months, party trick tipping dogs water bowl over his head) that my son said he was going to buy him a Ku Klux Klan outfit. We had a good laugh as it's our kind of dark humour, hope nobody takes us seriously.
rocketmanjohnWith regards to Winckley Square, there is a web site on it, some nice stories and photos, try it: www.winckleysquare.org.uk John
Leyland Lancashire UK