Last weekend a bloke I know told me that Black Friday was all about celebrating the role that black people have played and continue to play in British society. A noble reason it seemed to me and as I sat on the 10.33 train at Sheffield railway station, a young black man climbed aboard and sat in the seat opposite me. Immediately I grabbed his hand and wished him a "Happy Black Friday".
He looked bemused and I was taken aback when he said, "Let go of my hand man! I should warn you that I am a black belt in karate!"
Well, I could not understand his reaction and of course apologised most profusely. When I offered him a black liquorice gum, he went to sit somewhere else. Charming!
Monument to the twenty six children
It was a lovely walk in an area I had not visited in quite a while. Returning to Silkstone Common, I paused at the woodland memorial to the twenty six children who died in the Huskar Pit Disaster of 1838. However, I was back at the railway station in good time for the 15.49 train back to Sheffield.
When I got home in the blackness of nighttime in a black taxi, the missus gave me a black look and asked, "Where the hell have you been? I want my tea!".
I got cracking. We were having black bean stew in black squid ink with a grating of black truffle on top followed by a black chocolate mousse with black cherry sauce. As I was preparing it, I listened to appropriate songs for Black Friday on my music player such as "Black Night" by Deep Purple, "Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse, "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones and of course "Black and Proud" by James Brown.
You celebrated Black Friday all day, good on you!
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't buy a damned thing!
DeletePaint if black, you devils! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmppOF0_DHE )
ReplyDeleteI would rather paint it black and amber - the colours of Hull City A.F.C..
DeleteI didn't think black Friday was to celebrate unless you like shopping!
ReplyDeleteI was trying to show disdain for the Black Friday commercial nonsense.
DeleteOne TV ad' I saw claimed to be having a 'Black Friday Month'. Just ignore the idiots, and concentrate on a White Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWhat colour is Saturday I wonder? Judging by what happened five minutes ago in our lavatory it's Brown Saturday.
DeleteEeeeek! I believe Saturday is Robin's Egg Blue (NB: This refers to the American Robin)
DeleteIn my case it was RED. The colour of about a dozen traffic lights I encountered.
DeleteI would wish black people happy black Friday, and maybe make a black friend, but I have two black friends and two black lodgers, so I think that is enough black people in my life.
ReplyDeleteIf you became a chimney sweep you could also be temporarily black.
DeleteI must admit that I have not ever observed Black Friday, let alone an entire week of Black Fridays.
ReplyDeleteThe track along the wall of the plantation is my kind of path - irresistible, really. And I really like the sign at Bird Lane Farm Cottage.
Not observed Black Friday! That is pure sacrilege! You must bow down to the shopping gods and beg for forgiveness.
DeleteThat was funny and well thought out but the cottage sign with owl and dove also caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way that the sign was illuminated and also its homemade quality.
DeleteI have been innundaed with ads for Black Fridays for some time. Like all these other annoying ads, I just ignore them.
ReplyDeleteLike Meike, I'd enjoy a stroll along that track, suitably attired in (not black) warm clothing! 8ÂșC here this morning!
Would you be wearing Barbie pink Carol? Two fingers to Black Friday!
DeleteIn the USA, "Black Friday", is always the day after Thanksgiving where stores discount items for Christmas shoppers. I guess the word "Black" is used because stores make a lot of money on that day and are no longer in the red.
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday week usually coincides with my birthday. At least people get to buy me presents at bargain prices.
ReplyDeleteAw well. We live in a capitalistic society. I suppose it gets harder and harder to come up with reasons to entice people to spend their money.
ReplyDeleteGotta admit, I laughed.
ReplyDeleteGood Day, Mr. Pudding! Last evening I came to the sudden, horrible realization that I've not yet visited your blog. 10,000 apologies begged! This appears to be an interesting and diverting piece of work. I'm glad I came. Worshipfully yours -- Hamster
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday is practically all month now. It's ridiculous. And I ignore it as usual.
ReplyDeleteTwenty-six children between the ages of 7 and 17 drowned at Huskar. A seven year old was working in a mine and the owners of that mine were okay with that. Despicable!
ReplyDeleteI hate to tell you Mr. Pudding, but Black Friday is Nov. 28th. You jumped the gun:), but well done.
Somehow this post made me think of an old saying (by grown-ups to children) that lying makes your tounge grow black... ;-) (Wasn't sure if this was only in Sweden but the expression seems to be used in the English-speaking world as well.) Here too Black Friday has grown from one day to the whole week, and I think recently I even saw "Black Month" in some ad!
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday here is the day after Thanksgiving and is called that because it's a massive shopping day.
ReplyDeleteWe celebrate Black History Month every February for the entire month.
I laughed out loud reading about your interpretation of Black Friday and the train encounter.
ReplyDeleteHere Black Friday ("day" ha ha) is for the shops to discount many many items in hopes of getting many more shoppers through their doors for a few weeks. I would like to know the true origins of Black Friday, when and why, and shall now go to google.
ReplyDelete