Author Topic: VE 75 (Read 9515 times)

Ben T · « **Reply #50 on:** 08 May, 2020, 09:01:17 am »

Quote from: MikeFromLFE on 08 May, 2020, 08:00:44 am

Quote from: Ben T on 07 May, 2020, 08:42:14 pm
Our neighbours have got flags up, at least one with spitfires on.

I think a lot of people don't understand the difference between this and the Thursday night clapping.
I am absolutely convinced that there is a considerable subsection of the population that seriously believes that England (yes, England) won the second World War single handed.
Their knowledge of the reasons for the war, and the contribution of the allies, and of -'empire' forces is almost certainly next to zero.
To many of this subsection (a subset of the subsection) the war is nothing more than a victory at a game of footie.
It was us wot won it, innit.

Oh I'm sure you're right, I think you'd find it's actually quite a large section of the population

Salvatore · « **Reply #51 on:** 08 May, 2020, 09:01:40 am »

8th May was a public holiday in 1977. Or it was for me** in Leipzig, and it was called Tag der Befreiung vom Faschismus*. It was hot and we lounged about in the park, in contrast to a week earlier, when it had been drizzly.

* Day of Liberation from Fascism

** and Angela Merkel, whatever she was called then

giropaul · « **Reply #52 on:** 08 May, 2020, 09:08:43 am »

OK, so far I’ve been made aware of an 11am silence? , a 3pm something or other ( possibly “ raising a glass” after Churchill’s speech,) and a community singing of “ We’ll meet again” at some time this evening.
And the Minister on TV this morning was proud of the “ celebrations we’ve organised”.

I think I’m tempted to just hide away. However, the patriotic police in the road I live on might pull me up.

Anybody any clue as to exact what is supposed to be happening?

perpetual dan · « **Reply #53 on:** 08 May, 2020, 10:03:54 am »

It seems like an excuse to evoke the past, maybe sidestepping some of the expectations of respect that remembrance still clings to and with none of the joy of Beltane. I shan't be singing in the street.

De Sisti · « **Reply #54 on:** 08 May, 2020, 10:12:40 am »

Quote from: Giropaul on 08 May, 2020, 09:08:43 am

I think I’m tempted to just hide away. However, the patriotic police in the road I live on might pull me up.

Redlight · « **Reply #55 on:** 08 May, 2020, 10:18:27 am »

Quote from: De Sisti on 08 May, 2020, 10:12:40 am

Quote from: Giropaul on 08 May, 2020, 09:08:43 am
I think I’m tempted to just hide away. However, the patriotic police in the road I live on might pull me up.

Our local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, who has taken the Covid business as an opportunity to appoint himself as a kind of Redcoat in Chief, proposed setting up some speakers and broadcasting the concert from the Albert Hall this evening, with Vera Lynn croaking her way through The White Racists of Dover and Katherine Jenkins doing her usual histrionic caterwauling. Glad to see he was immediately shouted down by the majority of my neighbours.

I'll be taking a pause at 11.00, to respect those on all sides who lost their lives, but that's it. All the jingoistic stuff can **** itself.

andyoxon · « **Reply #56 on:** 08 May, 2020, 10:20:18 am »

Official stuff: https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/

(& 5 yrsa https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ve-day-events-and-general-information )

ETA. probably won't be trying Spam Hash or Homity pie, but instead having a non-VE related socially distant BBQ at lunch...

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #57 on:** 08 May, 2020, 10:26:18 am »

Quote from: Jaded on 08 May, 2020, 08:59:41 am

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52574748

Berlin has a one off holiday, to celebrate liberation.

Ortlieb alert!

SteveC · « **Reply #58 on:** 08 May, 2020, 10:44:24 am »

Twenty-five years ago, when they moved the bank holiday for the 50th Anniversary (but the 8th was a Monday so far less confusing), I was morris dancing at a village fete. Said fete was an annual affair, and the team had been several times before, but this time they had a little commemorative bit at the start of the event. A standard bearer from the British Legion, a two minutes silence, there may have been Last Post. I remember feeling it was all a bit odd and out of place back then. It would be even weirder now.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #59 on:** 08 May, 2020, 10:55:34 am »

Quote from: andyoxon on 08 May, 2020, 10:20:18 am

ETA. probably won't be trying Spam Hash or Homity pie, but instead having a non-VE related socially distant BBQ at lunch...

Is homity pie a WWII hangover? I thought it was older, though I first encountered it in the 90s. I like it.

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #60 on:** 08 May, 2020, 10:56:18 am »

There's a German guy in my village, married, kids etc, he runs the volunteer community shop.

Just seen him unloading a car full of stock into the shop (closed for BH).

I'm just going to pop out and remind him we won the war.

rafletcher · « **Reply #61 on:** 08 May, 2020, 11:03:40 am »

Anyone see the Red Arrows? Me neither.

bludger · « **Reply #62 on:** 08 May, 2020, 11:23:51 am »

I did - was out at regents park and saw them by chance.

Tim Hall · « **Reply #63 on:** 08 May, 2020, 12:24:59 pm »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 08 May, 2020, 10:55:34 am

Quote from: andyoxon on 08 May, 2020, 10:20:18 am
ETA. probably won't be trying Spam Hash or Homity pie, but instead having a non-VE related socially distant BBQ at lunch...
Is homity pie a WWII hangover? I thought it was older, though I first encountered it in the 90s. I like it.

I think Homity Pie predates WW2. Woolton Pie, named after/promoted by Lord Woolton who was minister of food was a WW2 invention. Both Homity Pie and Woolton Pie are meatless.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #64 on:** 08 May, 2020, 12:27:15 pm »

Quote from: Hot Flatus on 08 May, 2020, 10:56:18 am

There's a German guy in my village, married, kids etc, he runs the volunteer community shop.

Just seen him unloading a car full of stock into the shop (closed for BH).

I'm just going to pop out and remind him we won the war.

Don't forget the other one. And the World Cup.

Have an urgent appointment ready if he mentions coronavirus or the motor industry.

Salvatore · « **Reply #65 on:** 08 May, 2020, 12:50:42 pm »

Quote from: Tim Hall on 08 May, 2020, 12:24:59 pm

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 08 May, 2020, 10:55:34 am
Quote from: andyoxon on 08 May, 2020, 10:20:18 am
ETA. probably won't be trying Spam Hash or Homity pie, but instead having a non-VE related socially distant BBQ at lunch...
Is homity pie a WWII hangover? I thought it was older, though I first encountered it in the 90s. I like it.
I think Homity Pie predates WW2. Woolton Pie, named after/promoted by Lord Woolton who was minister of food was a WW2 invention. Both Homity Pie and Woolton Pie are meatless.

I remember reading that the only WW2 food invention to have survived is carrot cake.

wikipedia says its origin was much older, but that it was revived in WW2 because less sugar is required.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #66 on:** 08 May, 2020, 12:55:32 pm »

I'm sure those who care about such things will e'en now be looking for the green ink, that they might write to the local newspaper complaining about the minute of silence being RUINED by the Met's helichopter. Me, I laughed. And went back to sleep.

barakta · « **Reply #67 on:** 08 May, 2020, 02:30:13 pm »

Fortunately no VE shite here, it's largely abandoned studentville and a few non-student randoms.

There's remembrance and then there's jingoistic shit like this. And most remembrance is jingoistic shit and perpetuates all of our ignorances about so much of the wretched Empire and ignores many who genuinely suffered. I am ignoring this day entirely.

hellymedic · « **Reply #68 on:** 08 May, 2020, 02:35:42 pm »

A Polish friend has just Facebooked a picture of her bunting-strewn house bedecked with mostly Union flags and the occasional Polish flad.
States she's marking VD Day [sic]
Should I correct?

Gattopardo · « **Reply #69 on:** 08 May, 2020, 02:46:40 pm »

Quote from: hellymedic on 08 May, 2020, 02:35:42 pm

A Polish friend has just Facebooked a picture of her bunting-strewn house bedecked with mostly Union flags and the occasional Polish flad.
States she's marking VD Day [sic]
Should I correct?

May be a personal celebration?

HeltorChasca · « **Reply #70 on:** 08 May, 2020, 02:48:53 pm »

Someone has decided to be the village DJ with Vera Lyn on loop. Headphones on, I’m going to do angry PJ Harvey.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wowbagger · « **Reply #71 on:** 08 May, 2020, 02:53:46 pm »

Quote from: hellymedic on 08 May, 2020, 02:35:42 pm

A Polish friend has just Facebooked a picture of her bunting-strewn house bedecked with mostly Union flags and the occasional Polish flad.
States she's marking VD Day [sic]
Should I correct?

Victory over Deutschland?

Canardly · « **Reply #72 on:** 08 May, 2020, 04:07:34 pm »

Lot of tea and cake being eaten by neighbours who are socialising at separate tables which is very pleasant, but the playing of old WW2 tunes and other war time memorabilia by relatvely young people I do not understand at all. Who is this actually for?

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #73 on:** 08 May, 2020, 04:10:24 pm »

The Tory government. It swaps a holiday celebrating Labour for a nostalgic distraction.

hellymedic · « **Reply #74 on:** 08 May, 2020, 04:49:26 pm »

Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 08 May, 2020, 04:10:24 pm

The Tory government. It swaps a holiday celebrating Labour for a nostalgic distraction.

Quite!

Distraction from the domestic catastrophe...