Lots of fireworks but no bonfires please!
This piece was performed by Paul Vittles at York Spoken Word on 5th November 2019. Paul was reflecting on his time living in Australia (Sydney)and in the UK (York), in the context of it being 5th November — ‘Guy Fawkes Day’ or ‘Bonfire Night’ as it’s known in the UK. It was intended as a bit of fun with some serious points, but my heart goes out to those who have lost their lives, loved ones or homes in the horrific bushfires in Australia.
— — —
We had 15 years in York
It was very much our home
But the chance to live in Sydney
Was just too tempting to miss.
We then had 14 years in Australia
Sydney very much became our home
What a wonderful place and lifestyle
We had 14 years of bliss.
But we desperately missed our family
They were just far too far away
Skype and FaceTime kept us connected
But without that cuddle or kiss.
So we’ve returned to York
To be with our family; we’ve got 5 granddaughters now
York already feels like home again
With the people, the places, and this…
— — —
We left York in February 2005
It was snowing and minus 5
We arrived in Sydney at 11pm
It was 23 degrees with humidity high.
It was Mardi Gras
All the city hotels were fully booked
So we stayed in a dodgy apartment with broken air con
We thought we were going to die!
But we quickly settled and adapted
Got used to it being hot and sunny all the time
I had all my business meetings outdoors
And we now miss that weather…sigh.
It was supposed to be 3–4 years there
But we got to like the place
Got Permanent Residency, Citizenship and bought a city apartment
A privilege to live there but had to say goodbye.
— — —
Now we can reflect on life in York and in Sydney
Compare the UK and Australia
What’s the same and what’s different
It’s an interesting contrast.
Party politics is a shambles over here and over there
Aussies can’t understand Brexit
Brits are shocked that the Aussie Government contains Climate Change deniers
Uncertain futures from a chequered past.
Britain had chaotic tribalism
Then aristocracy, then democracy
Australia had British colonial rule, ignoring 55,000 years of Aboriginal settlement
Now there’s political tribalism that can’t last.
Australia had the Brits, Irish, Welsh and Scots
Then the Europeans, the Lebanese, the Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Afghans, Syrians
Britain has an equally diverse cultural history but denies it
And is going nowhere fast.
— — —
Australia is an enigma wrapped in a riddle
They celebrate Christmas in December in 40 degree heat with fake snow painted on the windows
Then head to the Blue Mountains in July to celebrate Christmas again in the winter
And everyone says ‘no worries mate’!
They say ‘no worries’ even when they’re worried
They say ‘too easy’ even when it’s hard
They joke about most things but get desperately serious about their coffee
They can love and they can hate.
Most Sydneysiders don’t know who Guy Fawkes is
But they love their fireworks
They’ll celebrate the opening of an envelope
With a pyrotechnic display that’s first rate.
Some say it’s the Chinese influence
That makes them love fireworks
Virtually no-one questions the millions of dollars spent on New Year’s Eve in Sydney
Get your prime spot, don’t be late.
— — —
While Britain has bonfires, Australia has bushfires
The UK a few injuries, Australia many fatalities
So Australia doesn’t burn on the 5th of November
But they burn all year round.
It rains so much in the UK, it needs a roof, but they party when it rains in ‘the bush’
Some parts have not had rain for 7 years
Imagine what that does to the ground?
Britain has transitioned from coal, a painful but now positive move
Australia still loves its fossil fuels and it’s governed by fossils and fools
Britain has harnessed the wind but Australia was slow to solar power
The younger generations have frowned.
So on the 5th November in Australia
There’ll be lots of fireworks but no bonfires
Meanwhile in Britain, they don’t need Guy Fawkes to blow up the parliament
Not with these MPs around!
— — —
Paul Vittles is a writer and (performance) poet who has a mostly serious ‘day job’ as a transformational change consultant and coach.
