Bank Holiday time again

As I was reading Davids post about public holidays (and this Monday being a public holiday here as well as in the UK). I thought that I would share with you a typical English (summer Bank Holiday*).

*A Bank Holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom and also in the Republic of Ireland. Although there is no legal right to time off on these days, the majority of the population not employed in essential services (e.g. utilities, fire, ambulance, police, health-workers) receive them as holidays; those employed in essential services usually receive extra pay for working on these days. Bank holidays are so called because they are days upon which banks are (or were) shut and therefore (traditionally) no other businesses could operate. Legislation allows certain payments to be deferred to the next working day.

1 January New Year's Day
The Friday before Easter Sunday Good Friday
The day after Easter Sunday Easter Monday
First Monday in May May Day Bank Holiday
Last Monday in May Spring Bank Holiday (Whitsun)
Last Monday in August Summer Bank Holiday
25 December Christmas Day
26 December or 27 December Boxing Day

A Typical Summer Bank Holiday in England.


There are various ways us brits "enjoy" our public holidays If we feel like venturing out on a day trip (like 75% of the rest of the country) we can brave the traffic jams and the other pissed off angry motorists, sick of the kids arguing in the back seat and head to...


a) the coast. Upon arrival we pay a small fortune to park the car and join the masses on the over crowded beach( providing the weather is good).We can paddle in the sea and avoid standing on jelly fish. For those of us not foresighted enough to pack a picnic there are plenty of dubious hot dog and burger stalls along the sea front.If the weather is bad we can visit some of the many sea front amusement arcades and spend hours in front of the same machine because we know that any second the 10 pences that are (probably glued) teetering on the edge will fall.


B) The amusement park. Here we can pay an absolute fortune to enter the park and then take delight in standing in line for a hour or so for the more popular rides.You have to navigate your way though pushchairs and buggys galore. Each one filled with bags and balloons and if your lucky you can just spy a snot nosed kid with a sugar dummy stuck in its mouth. Of course its likely that one of the kids will get lost and then a large chunk of the day will be spent looking for little Johhny. The admission price is the same for all whether you like the rides or not, so everyone is encouraged to enjoy the rides. I speak from experience my last visit to an amusement park I was enticed onto the tea cup ride and spent the rest of the day sick. When it comes to actually eating in these parks a small mortgage may be need to pay for the exuberant fast food that one is offered. No visit would be complete without the purchase of the photographs taken at the very top of the log flume. Of course everybody looks like they are about to throw up or fall out of the boat.





Then we all head home again , the traffic even slower flowing.



For those of us not brave enough to venture out on a holiday weekend there is the good old barbecue. Yes us Brits only fetch the BBQ out of the shed on very special occasions. BBQ is mans work rain or shine. No woman is allowed within 10 feet of the coals. Here dad stands beer in hand often in a bbq theamed apron that declares "The Best cook in town"

The master at his trade serves sausages and burgers (The more adventurous man moves onto real meat) one side black , an inch thick in crispy goodness the other side a nice off pink colour.
Washed down with lots of wine, beer and alchopos (often the kids drink all these) salad and coleslaw.The neighbours music all competes with each other as the family and their friends sit out until the wee small hours in a drunken stupor. Meanwhile the kids run wild.
Then the BBQ is put away as it is, hey its weeks till the next bank holiday ,plenty of time to clean it before then.

For those of us with no friends and no money to go out for the day we make our way to the local DIY Home store. Bank holiday weekends are the perfect time to get those little jobs that need doing done. Of course we never get what we go there for instead we return with enough equipment for a complete room makeover. That we then put off till yes you guessed it : The next Bank Holiday.



*Of course some of these points have been exaggerated , just a tad.