What fresh hell is this? National VE day

[wetpants]

This has popped up on my local FB page, villagers are all up for it too. Apparently it’s a nationwide incentive??

The thing is, most front gardens are tiny or non existent here. There’s no way you could be 2m away from your next door. Also these villagers who are up for this are the same people who few weeks ago cried about a lone bloke sitting on a crass verge, well away from any pedestrians. How is this any different?

I’m not British (have lived here a long time though) so maybe I’m just not getting the fervent VE day misty eyeness

And don’t get me started on 9pm nationwide singalong WHO comes up with these things???

I will be doing none of that. Didnt even know it was a thing

I've seen that too.

We’re doing it here, fairly rural in a quiet cul-de-sac with only 5 houses and everyone has a huge front garden / driveway.
We’re putting up bunting and balloons etc.
It’ll be nice for the kids to have something to look forward to.

Our driveway is at the bottom of the cul-de-sac so we’ve been having social distancing drinks with the neighbours on our land the whole time throughout lockdown, they bring camping chairs and space out about 12-15ft apart and we have a chat. It’s lovely

I've seen it and it's most definitely not for me. It's all getting a bit much, all this doorstep socially enforced activity.

I think our elderly neighbours would like it so I might join in if someone arranged it, I don't really want to celebrate though, can't stand the inevitable glorification of war these things become, when they are meant to be the very opposite. Would rather do this on International Peace Day.

I'd do it if i didn't despise most of my neighbours! But we have very wide drives so it would be easy to do. Not sure about the singalong though - bit cheesy..

We're going to do something for ve day. It's partly about doing something different for the DC, partly about connecting them to my grandparents for whom the war was a key experience in their lives (all turned 21 during the war). I don't think I'll be doing this though, unlikely to be my neighbours thing.

I don't get why this is ok but people are getting up in arms about someone visiting e.g. parents but maintaining distancing by sitting outside. How is it any different?

@Woofwoofwooof completely. It has become a bit sinister and militant and I hate the “enforced jollity” concept. I find this sort of thing excruciating and suspect a lot of others do as well. I will not be participating.

Not happening here, would not have the neighbours as friends - they are inconsiderate fuckers

OP

You aren't even British but I note the usual miseries on here are behind you. !

I think because it’s yet another door step activity that gets my back up.

"sinister and militant"

Oh please.

There was a fuss 25 years ago at the 50th anniversary including street parties and an additional bank holiday.

That was around the time that remembrance went up the public agenda including the silence on the 11th rather than just the nearest Sunday.

Thankfully I think we are all antisocial fuckers on our street so can avoid the hideousness

I’m really looking forward to VE Day and VJ Day in August too.

DD has been asked to make bunting or decorations by her beavers leaders so we'll probably do that but nothing else.

The weather looks good so we'll probably have a bbq but in the back garden as the front is a drive pretty much filled by both cars, as are most of our neighbours.

If others do sit out from we've said we'll bring camping chairs round & eat out there. I want to have some kind of afternoon tea for lunch but that's mainly because I like afternoon tea!

I am not one for a lot of the 'socially distances' activities that are currently being done by many. But our scout group and village community centre had planned a VE Day celebration so for us, this is one way this event can still go ahead. This isn't about enforced jollity or virtue signalling but suggesting a reasonable option for people who can and who want to.

I’ll be decorating the house white, red and blue for VE Day. Well be doing VE activities as I was apart of the activites 25 years ago so only fair my kids get a chance.. but won’t be singing on my doorstep. I think it’s a nice thing for people to do though take their mind off all the shit that’s going on.

Christ.....”gets your back up”??

Ignore it then?

Marking VE Day - yes, we will be.

Subscribing to a FB fuelled twee jingoistic day-long agenda that seems to be orchestrated to invoke fond memories of a humanitarian atrocity, on a rare day off - we will absolutely not be

It's the 75th anniversary and come next year most of those who remember VE day possibly won't be here. Prince Philip and the Queen included. Those of us who celebrated it as a child and then the 50th anniversary (with our grandparents), also might not be here, if no vaccine is found.

I won't be doing it, but will watch the stuff on the television, as I do the Cenotaph ceremony.

It's a good reason to help older people not feel isolated and forgotten and connect us again.

Do you come from a country that practices individualism?

Although to be fair, that is quite a 'programme of events'. Our village is doing 'picnic tea' between 4-6.

I’m normally any excuse to get the Union Jack bunting out (royal wedding party’s etc) but it just feels wrong to me at the moment and I feel so angry with our government I can’t bring myself to celebrate.

Plus agree with you op, it’s encouraging us to do what we’ve previously been told not to do! Can’t help it think the gov is trying to get us to gradually ease lockdown without telling us too. Then if we spike again it becomes our own fault.

Can see the benefits as an activity prop for kids though.