Street scenes – Travels with Ali

During our stay in the UK this year, England celebrated VE Day in May.

VE Day, which stands for Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated on May 8th to commemorate the formal acceptance by the Allies of Germany’s unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II in Europe. This year, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

It was a public holiday and the councils across the country were given a budget for a street party. The streets were allowed to be closed off and money given for bunting.

The area where my brother lives had a street party and all the houses brought a plate of food to share. It was a bitterly cold day but that didn’t deter anyone. Much fun was had by all and eventually carried on in someone’s house.

A red letter day for all!

On a visit to my mum later that week we walked through the local church grounds and saw a wonderful memorial.

Posted for Becky’s Red Squares.

After our very delicious dinner the night before my dear husband awoke in the early hours in incredible pain. He had succumbed to severe food poisoning, I suspect from a noodle stall on the quay when he walked back from Gurney Plaza.

As soon as possible the next day I went in search of a chemist. It was a blistering hot day unlike the day before. Well I searched in vain as I remembered it was a public holiday so had to make do with some gatorade I found in a mini mart. Of course we had to revise all plans and just stay close to the hotel.

Anyway to cut a long story short, the next day we found a chemist and bought appropriate medication. Around lunchtime he rallied and we went for lunch.

**My lunch which I managed to eat half of before the drama unfolded**

My crazy husband decided to eat a laksa for lunch, thinking he’s iron man. He then got up and said he felt dizzy and walked to the door where he promptly collapsed in the alley outside. I went slightly hysterical at that point and yelled for help. He was so unresponsive that I thought he had had a stroke. I can’t say enough good things about the people who rushed to our aid. An ambulance was called and off he went with me to find my own way.

Thankfully he was admitted straightaway to Penang General Hospital and was soon hooked up to fluids. I went back to the hotel where I called my son, his girlfriend and my daughter. Maddy, Laurence’s girlfriend was the first to answer and got the full brunt of my hysteria. Finally I spoke to Laurence who calmed me down. I decided to go back to the hospital and not wait for their phone call.

The Doctor said she wanted to keep him overnight but Anthony said no, it was quite a basic hospital with what he calls “starter block” toilets. So we went off armed with a prescription which we tried to fill at the hospital pharmacy, but his arm started spurting blood so we had to walk all the way back to ED to get this bandaged up.

We were supposed to be leaving the next day for Langkawi but I made the executive decision to stay another day in Penang, which in hindsight was a good decision.