Sunday 15 October 2017
Who was Herbert van Thal?
Some Brits have been telling some Americans that Halloween is no big thing here, but I used to love it when I was a kid and our pub makes a big thing of it too. Any excuse for a party.
I once had a school friend round for baked beans on toast by candle light, down the stone steps in our wine cellar. Yes, we had a wine cellar, but no wine was ever in it. The spirit of austerity and frugality (remember that?) which kept it permanently un-stocked also meant that my father refused to waste a real pumpkin for the night, so I had to make do with a turnip instead. This was the same spirit of frugality which meant that I had to make do with a steel-framed racing bike.
I loved everything to do with ghosts and ghouls up to the age of about 15. Actually I still do, but these days horror-films usually revolve around the spilling of blood, and we have enough of that in our every day lives as it is. I want escapism.
I read all the Pan Horror books as soon as they were published, and I was extremely disappointed when Sherlock Holmes proved that the Thetford Vampire was nothing of the sort. In life, Conan-Doyle was extremely superstitious and even believed in fairies, so it is odd that his hero was so logical.
I don't care about Halloween these days, of course - mainly because I am not so fascinated/confused/scared of death, and I don't need an excuse for parties.
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Herbert Van Thai is an anagram for Havn't a Brether; old Norse for 'I am Brotherless'.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Lady Cynthia Asquith an anagram for?
DeleteThat's far too rude to print here!
DeleteI live right near Thetford.
ReplyDeleteDo you? It turned out to be a pesky snake and the South American woman wasn't a vampire. Shame.
DeleteThere's no such things as vampires even in Norfolk.
DeleteI only tuned in to read the comments. Fun. My granddaughter taught me "it's not real, don't take it seriously." I still won't go to a horror house.
ReplyDeleteI understand. Most people write much more interesting stuff than I do. H.I. used to shout at people to warn them about some dastardly plan by J.R. in the original Dallas. We said the same thing to her.
DeleteAs Hallowe'en happens to be my birthday Tom I like to make the most of it.
ReplyDeleteMy sister's is Christmas day.
DeleteIngrid Pitt !!!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteWasn't she in the Lesbian vampire lovers?
DeleteI was about to make a poor taste joke about The Blood of Dracula, then thought better of it. I am enjoying the quiet life right now.
DeleteThat's a first
DeleteNo it's not.
DeleteOk
DeleteWADDAYA MEAN, OK???!!!
DeleteJust agreed with you, I was wrong!
ReplyDeleteI hope you recognise a joke made by me at my own expense when you see it...
ReplyDeleteIt did indeed
DeletePS That cat could be Albert's alter-ego.
DeleteDamm
ReplyDeleteI did indeed
No way.:Your father gave you a turnip for Halloween? Am I a horrible person because that made me laugh? And yikes, aren't pumpkins supposed to be wasted -- they aren't good for anything BUT jack-o-lanterns.
ReplyDeleteI have never cooked a pumpkin with candle flame alone, let alone eaten one.
DeleteA turnip?! Bummer.
ReplyDeleteI've never eaten a turnip since.
DeleteVery interesting post.
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