Red Nose Day -- Funny for Money

This morning I saw children in our village walking to school dressed up like clowns.  Every child had a big red nose and many kids were wearing clown wigs and costumes as well.  I thought, “What fun, our local grade school is having a special circus day!” A bit later I walked into our local grocery store and to my surprise was greeted with grown-ups wearing wigs and costumes and, of course, big red noses.

What gives? I asked. Today is the 25th Red Nose Day! Here is what I learned: Red Nose Day UK is an event run by the charity Comic Relief. The aim is ‘to bring about a positive and lasting change in the lives of poor and disadvantaged people’. This is done by raising money to send to people in more than 27 countries registered with the charity. These countries include various African nations, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Pakistan, Japan and the UK. Red Nose Day is often treated as a semi-holiday and many schools have red-themed non-uniform days (i.e. the pupils have to wear something red as part of their non-uniform attire). The day culminates with a marathon TV show that lasts into the early hours of the morning where celebrities and presenters take part in many activities, and a number of shows put on one-off episodes for the campaign. Check out the You Tube clips of past years Red Nose shows. Great laughs!

Why the red nose? It was introduced in 1988, two years after the charity was set up, and has continued ever since. The idea was to raise awareness of the charity by having people walk round with big red noses on their faces. It clearly worked. In 25 years, Red Nose Day has raised well over 100 million dollars to battle poverty and famine throughout the world.

It is remarkable to see a whole nation laugh, poke fun of themselves, wear big red noses, and raise money for a great cause. "Do something funny for money" is the order of the day. I love the generous spirit of the Brits!

Oxford Torpids Spring Race

Spring officially starts in Oxford the weekend of the Torpids Spring Race -- one of the two “bumping” rowing races held in Oxford each year.  The race was held three days last week.  John and I rode bikes over to see the final races on a lovely, sunny but cold Saturday. 

The best description I've seen for this crazy tradition was published earlier in the week in the Oxford Daily paper in an attempt to explain the pandemonium:  

"Bumping is a Darwinian struggle for survival, where crews of eight rowers and a cox begin the race arrayed along the bank, then all take off at once when signalled by a cannon. The goal is not to overtake, but to crash into (“bump”) the boat in front. The defeated boat must continue racing, while the bumping crew pulls into the bank for a well-earned rest. 

A bumping race combines a furious pace, as each team sprints to keep ahead of would-be bumpers, with a course that can seem endless to tired muscles. The rowing team (the cox apart) face backwards, allowing them to see when a competitor is narrowing the gap with hideous inevitability of bumping them. 

Being forced to keep plying the oars, muscles burning and pride stinging, while your vanquishers move away slowly, enjoying the glow of victory, is also a feature. Crews who look likely to be bumped often concede rather than face the risk of falling several places in a single race- although the unlikely possibility of being bumped and then bumping the boat in front of them therefore not changing position overall, does spur some on.  

Theoretically, bumps racing was developed because the narrowness of the Isis (Oxford's nickname for the Thames) made side-by-side racing impossible; any suggestion that rowers are sadomasochists who enjoy watching their defeated opponents struggle on from a position of comfort is a (plausible) slur.   

The unflattering title arose because Torpids was originally a race solely for the second (ie. slower) boat from each college. However, the appeal of an agonizing, frustrating struggle for victory proved too much to resist, so now Torpids is open to all teams not competing in the summer Boat Race (against the Other Place). Over 130 teams, drawn from every college, take part each year, in six men's and five women's divisions. 

Said appeal is reinforced by the prospect of gaining “blades”- these are oars painted with the names of a boat's crew, often to be found in the college bar. They are awarded for either bumping or crossing the finishing line on every day of Torpids, and bring much celebration. Part of this celebration is to throw your cox in the river (it's a rowing thing, I think).

The crew that manages to claw its way to the top of the first division (or maintain its place there) is awarded the title Head of the River; they will then retire to The Head of the River pub for well-deserved refreshments. A dirty pint* is the traditional reward for a victorious rowing team. It is also an excellent consolation for a losing team, as it obliterates all memory of the ignominious defeat- and, indeed, of the events of the preceding day, the location of the rower’s college, and their name.

*A dirty pint: six shots of the most revolting mix of spirits that the bar can supply (Baileys and Cointreau are a popular combination, as this causes the drink to curdle), topped up with Guinness or ale. A true dirty pint has a packet of pub snacks added (crisps for the weak, pork scratchings for the brave) and must be drained in one draught."

Brighton, Beaches, White Cliffs and Castles

John and I took a two day break and wandered southeast to Sussex.

Our first stop was Brighton to see the boardwalk and the Pavilion.

It was a drizzly day but fun to see the sights anyway. Here is the Brighton Royal Pavilion -- a former royal residence located in Brighton, England, United Kingdom. It was built in three stages, beginning in 1787, as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who became the Prince Regent in 1811.

The next day we visited Sheffield Park, a magnificent informal landscape garden that was designed in the 18th century by 'Capability' Brown and further developed in the early years of the 20th century by its owner, Arthur G. Soames.

Four small lakes are the centerpieces of the gardens...

...and make for stunning views whichever way you look.

Not far from Sheffield Park is Wakehurst Place, a National Trust property located near Ardingly, West Sussex in the High Weald of southern England.

There is a late 16th century country house and a mainly 20th century garden, managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The weather was cold and drizzly but still it was a nice break to get away and see another part of this amazingly beautiful country.