The Pantiles CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNT launch!!

It's only a few days to go now until my first Christmas event launches - The Pantiles Christmas Treasure Hunts 2011!

The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells

Created by myself, I have made a separate hunt for children and for adults, so everyone can have some fun around the historic Pantiles of Tunbridge Wells.

The Treasure Hunts will be available to purchase from 5 locations in Tunbridge Wells from Saturday 26 November. Prices are £1.00 for Children, £2.00 for the Adults' Hunt. You can put completed entries into boxes that can be found in The Corn Exchange (at Shiraz) and in the Tourist Info Centre.

The grand draw will be on Weds 21 December, so all entries must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 20 December. Over £300 worth of prizes can be won, all donated very kindly by independent businesses! Please take a look at my EVENTS page for full details of where to buy the hunts, all the prizes to be won, and the Terms & Conditions.

Even if you are only visiting briefly over December and can't qualify for the draw, please do pick up a treasure hunt - It will keep you occupied and you will learn much about the area too, and also help a local independent business! Enjoy!!

Are you ready for The Pantiles' Christmas Treasure Hunts?! 

(Above image copyright David Bartholomew. All Rights Reserved)

New Readers and Christmas is coming!

It is only a few weeks now to Christmas - time seems to be flying by and we shall soon be in a new year, 2012, before we know it.

The weather has got a bit colder now in the South East, the weather had been quite mild for October and the start of November, but now you can smell the wood smoke in the air as people light their fires, and feel that chill in the tips of your fingers and toes. The Christmas adverts are starting with vigour now on T.V. and I know that the shops will soon be blasting out the Christmas carols and songs.

I too, as you know from an earlier blog, have been busy preparing for Christmas events since the end of Summer, and things are beginning to come together now. I aim to blog in my next one about what I will be putting on for all of you locals and visitors alike. In the meantime I just wanted to mention some new readers who have joined me from Latvia, Slovenia, The Philippines, Switzerland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, South Korea, Malaysia and from Ireland - welcome and enjoy!

In my research for my Christmas Lantern Lit walks, about Christmas traditions, that will be taking place through December in Tunbridge Wells, it's amazing how varied the traditions are that we all take for granted, and of course every country celebrates in many different ways - so here's my appeal to you my dear readers - please leave comments with descriptions of traditions that you celebrate at home or in your country. Would be fantastic to hear and to share with all. Thank you!

Let us never forget.

Friday was a rather significant date - not only because it was 11.11.11, but it was also Remembrance Day. Chosen to signify the day Armistice was declared in 1918 bringing the carnage of the First World War to an end. Every Sunday nearest to Armistice Day is Remembrance Sunday and the towns and villages around Britain grind to a halt, roads are closed off and people fall silent at 11am to remember all those who fought and those who fell in not only the First and Second World Wars, but all conflicts since, all around the world.

On this poignant day I would like to share one of the many poems that came out of the horror of warfare. This is a small part of a lesser known poem called Aftermath by Kent born poet, Siegfred Sassoon.

Have you forgotten yet? ...
For the world's events have rumbled on since those gagged days,
Like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways:
And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow
Like clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you're a man reprieved to go,
Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.
But the past is just the same - and War's a bloody game ...
Have you forgotten yet? ...
Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you'll never forget.

Remember, Remember...the Gunpowder Plot and Bonfire Night!

Halloween has been and gone, and now we are into November. In England, Halloween is slowly catching on, but it is still November 5th that is the biggest date in our diary at this time of year (well, before Christmas certainly). Forever to be reminded by the rhyme:

Remember, Remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder, treason,
Should ever be forgot!

It's at this time of year that everyone looks forward to getting wrapped up warm, wellington boots on, and look forward to heading to their nearest park or recreation ground for a massive bonfire to be lit, hot food to be eaten and fireworks to wow and awe!

What's it all about you may ask? Well, it all harks back to November 5th 1605, when King James I was on the throne - he was a Catholic, but kept to the Protestant ways of ruling, as his predecessor Queen Elizabeth I had spent so many years securing some kind of toleration between Catholic and Protestants. A number of Catholics however weren't happy with the concessions that King James was giving, and were determined to assassinate him. They met together and formed a plan, and it was on the 5th November that  one of the conspirators, a man called Guido Fawkes, was discovered in the Cellars underneath The Houses of Parliament in London, ready to light 36 barrels of gunpowder. The aim had been to blow up not just the King, but many members of Parliament too. However these plans were thwarted by secret letters and intrigue that gave what became known as "The Gunpowder Plot" away. Eventually all the conspirators were arrested, tortured and then executed for treason.

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators

The following year, James I wished sermons to be preached in all the Churches about the lucky escape that he and Parliament had, and so began the celebrations of November 5th. Sermons were followed by bonfires lit in celebration too, and many years later the streets also echoed with small children's voices asking for a "penny for the Guy" (Guy relating to Guido Fawkes).
 
Sadly, you don't see children pushing around their home-made model of Guido Fawkes, asking for a contribution, any more, but many Bonfire Parties today still have figures burnt on their bonfires. Often today you can find more modern figures of hate - famous celebrities or sports figures, on top of the bonfires! The Edenbridge Bonfire in Kent is famous for their "Guys".

Many of the villages and towns in the South East, especially in Sussex, have strong November 5th Traditions that date back centuries. Villages and Towns often have societies who spend all year creating the "Guys" for the bonfires and raising money for charity - and they are known as Bonfire Societies and their members,"Bonfire Boys".  Most of these groups tend to meet in the local pubs - each taking a specific pub as their HQ.

Parade through Lewes High Street on November 5th

One of the most famous and spectacular Bonfire Nights is in Lewes. The roads are closed, transport is diverted and people travel from all over the country to witness through its narrow streets the parade of the six different Bonfire Societies of the town (there are actually seven societies in Lewes but only one does not preform on the main night). There is much music, dancing, flaming torches, and even poppers set off into the crowds! Then when they reach the bottom of the town everyone congregates to light the giant bonfire and watch the spectacular firework display.

Whatever you are doing for Bonfire Night, remember to keep warm and never go near fireworks once they've been lit and don't touch fireworks or sparklers once they have finished, they may still go off! Keep animals indoors, they don't like the fireworks as much as we do, and if you are having a bonfire party at home, do check for hedgehogs that may have settled in your bonfire pile!

Most of all, remember to enjoy yourself and keep in the back of your mind the fate of Guido Fawkes and his co-conspirators those 406 years ago!