To be sad we've done nothing.

[Needtosleep4days]

I can hear everyone outside having fun. Everyone's in their front gardens laughing and talking. I've got a headache and feel sick. So I'm in bed. I've had to shut the window to drown out the noise.

All my friends have had afternoon tea, BBQs and fun today. I figured we are locked down and it's just another day.

Now I feel bad ive not done anything. My kids are only 2 and 5 so war is too much for them to understand anyway. But I feel I've missed the point of today judging by everyone else.

I have shared a picture of my wonderful Grandad on Facebook who fort in berma. Very proud to be his Grandchild.

I can't believe I didn't realise how big today was going to be.

We've just had the extended (20 minutes!) out of tune remix of We'll meet again.

We’ve not done anything although lots of families on our estate have. If you’re feeling poorly I don’t blame you for just going to bed. Hope you’re feeling better tomorrow. 💐

We had a tea type lunch in the garden and spoke about it a bit with dc (12 and 8) but I can’t figure out where everyone got bunting from. Did they already have union flag bunting or was that an essential item I missed ordering

I tried to get the kids to make bunting yesterday - not interested. So all we've done today to mark it is watch and respect the 2 minutes silence at 11am, listened to Churchill's speech at 3pm and then the Queen's speech at 9pm. Other than that no cakes baked, no egg mayo sarnies, nada. I've marked the day albeit in an understated way.

You can mark it with them for the 80th and 85th anniversary when they can understand it a bit more. Don't beat yourself up.

If you missed VE day, then make a point of commemorating VJ day. Both very important.

We had a very pleasant, but low key street party. My DH is a miserable sod & didn’t bother to come out (stayed in the back garden on his own) but I had a lovely time chatting to the neighbours & drinking Prosecco. I came in around 5 pm but two sets of neighbours are still outside having a good time.

m0ther I’ve been using the same bunting for years, I’ve even got some genuine vintage bunting

Half the people who are “doing something” are just using VE day as an excuse to ignore social distancing rules and get pissed with the neighbours.

My Grandad was also a POW in Burma and I haven’t done much today - but he objected to VE Day being so big anyway as war hadn’t ended and he felt like those in the far east were the forgotten soldiers.

@Needtosleep4days why don’t you do something to honour your grandad on VJ Day?

VaselineonToast interesting that there isn't much of a fuss made in Scotland.

I might be a miserable old cow but I don't like all this over patriotic flag waving. Lots of beloved people died in WW2 but I think we should put it behind us and try and move on. You shouldn't feel bad OP. Bless you and you granddad.

One of my grandpa’s and DH’s grandpa both fought in Burma too

They wouldn’t have come home for VE , they had 3 more years of it

We can celebrate VJ Day more for them

Hope you feel better soon

We didn’t celebrate today either

I did play some 1940’s music and age a scone in my own garden though

I don't like the jingoistic undertones of a lot of the coverage - it's like people can't move on.
We didn't do anything but the people down the road had a party which started off fairly well distanced but by 9pm ish they were all pissed and hugging each other.
Don't feel bad - it's not compulsary to do the scones and bunting thing!

@LivingOnAnIsland, is VJ dau VaJazzle day?

I’m another one that didn’t celebrate.

Dc are 2 and 5 - we’ve talked about war in general terms, i.e. that there was fighting, but given the current circumstances I don’t want to open the can of worms that is people dying on a large scale. I can’t imagine there would be many people that were lost that would berate me for not spending the day cheering and dancing and singing, having to try to explain everything to a curious 5 year old who asks continual questions.

Just to add to that, my darling grandparents taught me so much about WW2; from the difference between Anderson and Morrison shelters, rationing, conscription, even the difference between V1’s and doodlebugs. And even after VE Day, my grandad was posted abroad for YEARS. When we had the last big celebration 25 years ago they were happy and healthy. I sobbed through the 2 minute silence, but I couldn’t bear to take part in anything else.

They wouldn’t have come home for VE , they had 3 more years of it

Three months, not three years, but I completely understand why your grandparents and others felt their contribution was not acknowledged in the same way.

I think at the time people were well aware that it was just a temporary pause to celebrate. The fact that the War had been won in Europe meant that people knew the War overall would be won quickly- hence the huge celebrations- and of course it meant the direct attacks on the UK towns and civilians were at at end - so that in itself was a huge cause for celebration. Many of those servicemen you see celebrating on VE Day believed they would be redeployed to fight against the Japanese. As it was VJ Day came quickly and they weren’t needed.

Everyone who contributed should be recognised and commemorated, including all those from other nations. I think this year’s commemoration was important as there won’t be anyone left from that era for the next big anniversary year but like other posters I regret the rather jingoistic overtones these anniversaries take on and the myth of good old Blighty going it alone. The overwhelming number of soldiers left fighting for us after VE Day were Indian, for example.

Any OP, as others have said, you don’t need to worry about not having celebrated - a lot of those who did were just using it as an excuse.

Don't be hard on yourself. If you feel better
Tomorrow perhaps you could make a cake and celebrate.

You remembered, that's the main thing - and quiet thoughtfulness is better than getting bladdered at an 'Ello, 'ello themed BBQ!

My GF fought in both world wars. He lived a long life. He was an asshole.

This is doing the rounds on FB.

So apparently you can’t catch COVID-19 on VE Day???? Last nights shift was like a NYE, worst I’ve seen in a very long time, lost count of the amount of CT heads that were needed. Intoxicated, assaults, head injuries.

So in about 12 days time, expect a peek because all the hard work of everyone front line was a total waste of time. Don’t bother clapping Thursday because you’ve stabbed us all in the back.

Thanks everyone. You've made me feel much happier about it. Had a nice day today just resting and we've had a roast dinner. I think yesterday felt like new years eve (I don't like new years) just felt pressured even though there was no need.

The people in my street got on my nerves in the end too. 8.30pm singing and drunk. Sat on the grass in the street with plastic chairs they had fetched out. They don't all live together either. They woke my son up briefly who's 2 as he needed his window open slightly until I went to bed. It was quite hot in his room.