Town Hall - November 2009

[Sirenna]

:oWhat NO-ONE? It's the middle of November for heck's sake?!

Ok ok, I don't really blame you - what with our sweet boy moving on and KE left dangling (Not for long though - she's too good - on the surface sweet-looking but able to channel any kind of weird and wonderful mayhem (Oz anyone?)

but the month of November deserves it's 15 minutes (Cha-Ching - love that pop song! ) after all it spawned:

- Heenious fakery charges
- the Leafs finally win one
- guy fawkes and
- divali (any excuse to set things on fire, eh)
- brutal wintery-cold october metamorphoses into beautiful blossomy fall-like November (at least here in Toronto)

and you all still here... in spite of...

everything.


THANKS.

Hey! I like connecting with people I've known (virtually) for six years...Yes, we've shared Vincent (LOL, open-minded guy that he is)

but we've shared our lives with each other - our impending job changes, impending babies (SarahIvy, ragin' congrats girls!), impending recovery after a world-wide recession, new presidents, cold Canada (but good banking), CI changes, Rene leaving bwahhhh! , FfluffACTION and the everyday stuff...

I am all the richer for hearing from you all over the years and the logins.


Next we face and must overcome... DECEMBER - that B i tch!)

How's everyone's Christmas plans shaping up?

[jeffan]

What a great, upbeat post Sirenna.

Oh yes -

Remember remember the 5th of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot -

I went to a fabulous fireworks display party on the beach front. It was ooh/aahs all the way.

It has been a very busy period in work but I've finally marked the last essay. Best of all -

I've presented my Phd thesis to the academic world and now awaiting a date for my viva. I already have a contract with OUP to convert it into a book.

Life is good - going to Bruges next week for a couple of days and I'll be stocking up on Belgian chocolates - my Christmas present to me!

We have a severe weather warning this weekend, but I've battened down the hatches and intend to put my feet up and just have a mega rest!

My favourite TV drama has returned for it's eighth season and last night's episode left me totally gobsmacked - it just gets better and better even though there is only one original cast member remaining.

JF

[Sirenna]

JF congratulations on the book contract. I'm sure your Viva Voce will be scintillating

Can someone please let me into the Glue Factory - the doors are shut but the smell is tantalizing...

[DonnaJo]

Jeffan, you must be so full of excitement and pride that you've come so far. A Phd in the horizon AND a book deal? You are some smart lady (but we already knew that based on your eloquent posts). ;D

My life isn't as exciting, but its crazy now. In a frenzy trying to make up Thanksgiving Baskets for over 180 families by the end of the week. We are short many items. so we're using cash we've been saving for a new freezer to buy yams, potatoes and turkeys. Donations are way down, since many people are struggling to make ends meet in their own homes. Hard to ask them to give to others. But we'll manage - we always do.

Thanks for starting up Novembers Town Hall, Sirenna. It's cold by you? Around here the weather is pretty nice - rain, but not cold.

I'm not familiar with November 5th's importance, Jeffan. I do love the little lyric/verse you posted. Share?

[mwendyr]

Nov 16, 2009 8:48:45 GMT -5 DonnaJo said:

Thanks for starting up Novembers Town Hall, Sirenna. It's cold by you? Around here the weather is pretty nice - rain, but not cold.

I'm not familiar with November 5th's importance, Jeffan. I do love the little lyric/verse you posted. Share?

November the 5th is the anniversary of the day Guy Fawkes failed to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London.

[jeffan]

Thanks Sirenna – I’ll try to scintillate.

And thank you Donnajo but my achievement pales in significance to what you do are doing. Full stop!

That’s it Mwendyr and I’ll add a few more details as succinctly as possible without losing the plot!

In November 1605 a Gunpowder Plot took place in which some Catholics, most famously, Guy Fawkes, plotted to kill the Protestant King James I (VI of Scotland – son of Mary Queen of Scots). Catholics in England had expected James to be more tolerant of them. In fact, he had proved to be the opposite and had ordered all Catholic priests to leave England. This angered Catholics that they decided to kill James and put his daughter Elizabeth on the throne ensuring that she was a Catholic. This led to a plot to kill not only the king but also everyone sitting in the Houses of Parliament when James would be there to open Parliament on 5 November 1605.

Fawkes and his fellow conspirators rented a house by the Houses of Parliament and managed to get barrels of gunpowder into a cellar of the House of Lords. Fawkes, had been left in the cellars to set off the fuse. He was only caught when a group of guards decided to check the cellars at the last moment. Fawkes was arrested and sent to the Tower of London where he was tortured and eventually gave away the names of his fellow conspirators. They were all found guilty, sentenced to death for treason and were hung, drawn and quartered.

James ordered that the people should have a great bonfire on the night of 5 November. This fire was traditionally topped off with an effigy of the pope rather than Guy Fawkes - his place at the top of the fire came later as did the fireworks.

An image of Guy Fawkes with his fellow conspirators and the rhyme in full:



Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot.

[DonnaJo]

Thanks for the story, ladies. How interesting.

So is this day a national holiday? Are kids off from school?

Sirenna, I think the glue factory is off limits to everyone except the Mods.

[mwendyr]

Not really, DJ. No one takes time off anything. It just means come evening time, you have a bonfire (with a guy fawkes on it) and set off some fireworks. Usually with family, and food (like BBQ food, and mushy peas) or you can go to a display put on for the general public. It's fun really. But it's not like a holiday or anything.

[Patcat]

Congrats, Jeffan!

Patcat

[NikkiGreen]

Thanks for the thread, Sirenna.

We are having lots of wind storms, to the extreme. Felt like the house was going to fly away on the weekend.

Congratulations, Jeffan.

[outerbankschick]

Drying out here in the South. Finally! Norfolk was a river unto itself last weekend, and so was downtown Portsmouth. My apartment complex is now covered in leaves and pine needles left by the storm, but thankfully we did not have any flood issues. Other areas of Hampton Roads didn't fare so well.

Thanksgiving next week! Holy cow! When did that happen??? I'll be in Richmond with the family, eating too much food and playing with my sister's Wii. (Wish I had one, but can't afford the price tag just now.)

My 17 year-old niece is pregnant, having a girl, and we are coping. It's always the quiet ones, y'all!

Happy November and Happy Birthday to any November babies.

I love December, Sirenna. It's January that gets me. I'm ready for warm weather after the holidays, but I have to wait till March for that!

[Techguy]

Thanks for starting this thread Sirena. Yes, I'm one of those who are still here...in spite of everything. I've had my ups and downs, but I'm definitely still here.

Happy Birthday (belated too), Happy Anniversary, and best wishes to all who celebrate special events this month. A special congratulations to Jeffan!

And the holiday is only a week away, so to all!