“Never give up, never despair.”
Queen Elizabeth II
In case it missed your spot in the world, we were celebrating the 75th anniversary of VE Day, here in the UK, in the midst of lockdown.
VE Day – Victory in Europe Day. The day Europe officially won the war against Hitler and the Nazi regime. Of course, it went on in certain places a little longer, and declaring a win didn’t automatically mean that all the soldiers were miraculously back at home, homes weren’t suddenly rebuilt, the world wasn’t back to normal, by any means.
But it was a momentous day because hope was restored. It wouldn’t be long before the troops came back. Lives could be rebuilt and slowly, normality would resume.
It was going to be aa huge thing here, pre-Lockdown.
Our usual May Day bank holiday was even changed from a Monday to Friday as it fell on the 8th May, which was the exact date the anniversary would be.
The plan was for huge street parties to mirror the celebrations that took place three quarters of a century ago. Bunting, flags, decorations. Music, food and drink. A real sense of community spirit.
But then Lockdown happened.
The whole huge event was going to be a muted affair.
But how can you let it go, unmarked?
At school, on my teaching day, we talked about VE Day and its meaning. We watched a video, made bunting and even a bunker out of huge cardboard boxes, because that’s what the kids wanted to do.
And an invitation was popped into our letterbox for a socially distanced street party too!
So we baked and dressed in red, white and blue. Quick home made patriotic decorations were hung from windows and doors.
And it was lovely to see the community coming together.
We stayed, the kids and I for a short while, seated at a safe distance from others, but able to talk a little.
The children blossomed at the chance to see other faces, and chat to friends they were unable to see usually, from a distance, of course.
We left before things started to get a little crowded. As the drink flowed, I’m sure the urge to break social distancing rules would win against staying safe.
So we came home to do some mindful colouring in the garden instead!
So… tell me, did you celebrate VE Day? What did you do?
But I Smile Anyway... 
May 14, 2020 @ 00:53:27
Wonderful, Ritu!! These celebrations are so important. Children need to be there and learn a little history.
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May 14, 2020 @ 09:35:52
They do. It’s such a shame that we could’ve make it a bigger celebration because of the global situation…
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May 14, 2020 @ 17:13:00
I know!
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May 13, 2020 @ 11:58:38
I don’t think we did anything because Mother’s Day is a pretty good-sized holiday… but we might for VJ day, since that’s the end of the war.
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May 13, 2020 @ 12:00:21
Well whatever you do, I hope it’s safe!
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May 11, 2020 @ 00:10:17
We were made aware of VE Day on the evening news. Much more is being made over its being Mother’s Day where I am.
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May 11, 2020 @ 09:31:39
Our mothers day was in March, in the UK, 💜
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May 11, 2020 @ 20:57:45
Ah, yes! I remember your post.
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May 10, 2020 @ 18:23:36
Great to see the ability to socialize while adhering to the “new normal” – if we all continue to respect the social distancing rules, then perhaps we can move back toward a reopened economy without putting new lives at risk!
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May 10, 2020 @ 18:49:56
It works in some places, bit in some they begin to forget, too, John. It’s why we didn’t stay out too long!
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May 10, 2020 @ 16:10:14
I knew that Friday was a holiday in the UK, Ritu, and I also knew why. We don’t really celebrate this event here in SA.
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May 10, 2020 @ 17:27:00
Suppose it’s because it’s a European date of importance!
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May 10, 2020 @ 17:40:36
But you left the EU, Sis! 😉 However a very good quote of HRH. Now we only can pray for the UK, not falling back into the medevian age. Lol
Sorry, had a delay visiting your blog. Please excuse, and enjoy the rest of the weekend! Do not hesitate going back to school, and do not forget feeding “the red one”. 😉 Michael
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May 10, 2020 @ 18:04:50
😁😁😁
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May 10, 2020 @ 18:07:42
😁 Germany needs caretaking by the UK. In future too..
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May 10, 2020 @ 13:53:28
You made the celebration work under the circumstances. It’s an important day to remember, here in the U.S. too! Glad to catch up with you, Ritu 🙂
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May 10, 2020 @ 14:15:14
You too Barbara!!!
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May 10, 2020 @ 13:50:37
What a wonderful post, Ritu! VE Day is something to be celebrated.
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May 10, 2020 @ 14:14:45
Thank you, Jennie!
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May 11, 2020 @ 01:48:34
You’re welcome, Ritu!
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May 10, 2020 @ 11:20:36
I was waiting for Spidey´s wisdom Sunday. Glad you keep him up.
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May 10, 2020 @ 11:58:52
He won’t go anywhere!
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May 10, 2020 @ 12:21:56
Good to hear, actually you better not let him if he goes I go
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May 10, 2020 @ 11:01:42
Great knowing what you have done Ritu! And I’ve nominated you for the Author Recognition Award!!!! Please check it out here: https://penableme.wordpress.com/2020/05/10/the-author-recognition-award/
Thanks 💕 💕 💕
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May 10, 2020 @ 11:58:38
Thank you so much!
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May 10, 2020 @ 12:26:38
You are welcome 😊 😊 😊
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May 10, 2020 @ 10:26:54
A few of us sat out in our front gardens to celebrate on Friday, at a safe distance.
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May 10, 2020 @ 10:29:48
Sounds lovely 💕
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May 10, 2020 @ 09:52:30
My road has a street party at the least excuse, so other residents were very keen to have one. The plan was for people to sit out in their own front gardens, but I don’t know how that worked out, as we didn’t join in. One of us is extremely vulnerable, so it wasn’t worth the risk.
I watched the Queen’s speech, which I thought was inspiring.
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May 10, 2020 @ 10:05:35
No, it’s not worth the risk. I know we only stayed a little while, and stayed sensible, but others definitely weren’t.
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May 10, 2020 @ 09:01:07
I remember reading or hearing someplace that rationing in Great Britain lasted till something like 1955 or so and that the rebuilding of Germany’s (West Germany, anyway) economy took till 1980. A Dutch friend who would have been a school child in the 1950s told me once he walked past a war-destroyed home where a bathtub “floated” in the air at the second story level, held there by plumbing.
Less grim, one of the funniest movies I’ve seen is a British film an=bout rationing in GB and a pig having to be hidden from the authorities so the villagers could serve it later on a platter… “A Private Function”!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Private_Function
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May 10, 2020 @ 10:04:29
Yea, normality wasn’t achieved for a long time after VE Day, but the threat of being bombed and more lives being lost was lifted.
I think I may have seen that film. It sounds familiar!
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May 11, 2020 @ 13:54:59
The father of the Dutch friend was a history teacher who would have been surprised there wasn’t another world war in his lifetime. On the pother hand, how many proxy wars, civil wars, wars between lesser powers, terrorist attacks have there been in out lifetimes?
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May 11, 2020 @ 13:57:38
Still plenty of historic goings on…
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May 10, 2020 @ 08:20:55
Happy VE day! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. The street party sounds amazing. We just had a quiet time, myself and my 12 year old son. We watched the celebrations on TV and spoke about the war. I live in a second floor council flat, so no street parties here. My grandfather was in the army and fought in the war. He would have been a hundred, but died nine years ago.
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May 10, 2020 @ 10:02:15
It was lovely and the weather so beautiful too 🥰
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May 10, 2020 @ 10:02:48
And capscdoffed for your Grandfather 🙏🏽
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May 10, 2020 @ 10:36:41
Thank you, they were very brave men and women.
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May 10, 2020 @ 06:56:10
Hi Sis we did not celebrate outside but plenty others did. We observed the two minutes silence and watched the fly past on the T.V. We are however deeply grateful to those who went before and gave us the world we have today by their sacrifice….. I wonder what they would make of the world we have today?
Happy Sunday Sis.💜💜💜
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May 10, 2020 @ 10:01:43
I know. I’ve heard it a lot, but someone said our grandparents served their country by laying down their lives for us, enlisting and fighting for the country.
We’re being asked to stay at home, for the country.. A different sacrifice xxx
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May 10, 2020 @ 14:04:09
Yes indeed, they did sacrifice a lot for us . I don’t know the answer. I am very tired today. Been cooking all morning and I am exhausted at the moment 💜💜
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May 10, 2020 @ 14:16:45
Bless you. You’ve got a lot on, Sis 💜
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May 10, 2020 @ 14:31:07
Ivy’s last test came back positive, she has not been too good since Friday evening. Tired, slight rise in temperature, backache and her appetite is not so good 💜
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May 10, 2020 @ 15:16:44
Oh, poor Ivy! 😢
Still praying for her 💜
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May 10, 2020 @ 16:08:03
Thank you 💜💜💜
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