Monday 5 November 2012

Remember, Remember, Plop the Owl

My soundtrack this evening is fireworks bursting, popping, fizzing, whizzing, exploding and rumbling from north, south, east and west, near and far. Oh, I absolutely adore Guy Fawkes Night.

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Living in a wee, tiny flat in the middle of London, I don't really have the option of having a celebratory party in my garden but I can enjoy the fun of unexpected bursts coming from all around me, occasionally catching a glimpse of a shower of stars in between buildings.

My best Guy Fawkes Night was when I found myself staying out with relatives down near the south coast in a wee village. A massive, massive bonfire was lit in a nearby field and random fireworks went off all evening in the wonderful, still air of the countryside. Every year I think about reprising that night with a trip out to the countryside to partake in a local village bonfire night, but it never seems to eventuate. 

So, instead I enjoy the sounds of an old tradition in the big, modern city of London which is, in itself, admittedly rather lovely. 

Guy Fawkes always reminds me of that favourite childhood book too, The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark. Does anyone else know this book? It tells the story of Plop the baby barn owl, who is, as the title suggests, afraid of the dark. He is forced out of the nest to face his fears, and goes on adventures, meeting people and hearing about all the wonderful things the dark can be. The chapter, "Dark is Exciting" is set on Bonfire Night and Plop meets a young boy who is looking forward to the fireworks. In other chapters, Plop discovers that dark is kind, fun, necessary, fascinating, wonderful and beautiful.

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So perhaps my love of both Guy Fawkes Night and owls can partly be attributed to this one book? In any case, my friend Barnaby and I decided to do a wee, impromptu photo shoot inspired by the book in celebration of Guy Fawkes Night. (Note my seasonally appropriate scarf...)

Barnaby and I meet and he begins to tell me his story

I'm shocked to hear that an owl could possibly be afraid of the dark!

And saddened to hear how difficult it is for him.

I convince Barnaby to watch the fireworks with me, and he timidly peeks out as I hold
his wing tight...
Perhaps the dark isn't so bad after all? 

8 comments:

  1. Awwwwwwah! I hope you and Barnaby enjoyed watching the display! You Know until you mentioned it I had completely forgotten about that book, I don't know how, as I remember really loving it, I can still see the dark blue front cover with the big eyed owl flying across it. It was one of those books I would get out of the library over and over, much to my Mums annoyance! xxx

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  2. Yes, I remember that cover too! I was lucky enough to have my own copy, in which I seem to recall I coloured in some of the drawings in red pen... Ahh, kids!

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  3. Love your photo shoot with Barnaby. Lovely how you connected to that childhood memory and went with it! In the fireworks pictures, the blue/yellow silhouette one stands out for me. Curious choice of names they chose for brands - Pain's and Standard. One is, well, worrying, and the other is, well, boring!

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    1. Yes, it was very impromptu, our photoshoot! Otherwise there would have been a more fitting background, but we had fun... I like the blue/yellow picture most of all too - the Catherine wheel particularly makes me think of The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark. But you're right about the strange names. I guess Pain's is someone's unfortunate name while Standard, I have no idea!

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  4. Ha ha brilliant! I am so sad that I had a childhood without this wonderful book! It sounds so good. I'll just have to read it now and make up for lost time. I do love Owls and Bonfire night too, so I think it's a must. I hope you and Barnaby had a lovely Fireworks night. xx

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    1. Oh, yes, you must read it! Hopefully you can find a 1970s copy - they seem to have put out a new version and I'm worried they may have changed the illustrations...

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  5. I know what you mean.....since getting my cat BouBou I have been keeping the windows of our flat shut during firework nights and staying in with him. But I do remember how my sisters and I use to take the bus to see the firework displays! :)
    May x

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  6. I had thisbook as a child also and loved it but there was another book i remeber though the bane i have forgotten and its been driving me mad for years it featured owls and fireworks yet it so vividly described the Catherine wheels Any ideas?

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