Bang! Bang! ooooh! aaaaah!

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Warwickshire has not forgotten and the sky is full of little twinkly coloured stars even now (9.30pm). On Saturday most of the fireworks came from behind the hill but tonight we can look over the town and see them popping up in the distance. Looking out of the study window every now and again you catch a glimpse of another star through the trees. I love Bonfire Night.

Recent press reports have suggested that bonfire night is being passed over in favour of Halloween because it is (and I quote) "less likely to offend". I'm really not sure why anyone would be offended in our celebrating the fact that Parliament didn't get blown up, lots of people didn't get killed and a large area of London didn't get flattened so I think they must be desperate for news! Actually, thinking about it I can understand why people might be disappointed bits of London didn't get flattened, but that's another story. Bonfire night is quintessentially British (what with us being the only nation whose king nearly got blown up on 5 November 1605) and I for one hope it stays.

If nothing else, the fireworks are very pretty and hold many memories of various school masters trying to blow themselves up on the school paddock trying to set off the fireworks!! So to anyone who isn't having a fireworks party or hasn't seen any this year I send you a little handful of sparkle from us.