Boom

It's that time of year again. We went to a fireworks display at the sports club on Friday night and today we attempted to fulfil our yearly tradition of trying to blow up the field next to Dan's house.

This was our contribution to the party:



And by the time we added in the 'few bits and bobs' that Dan had acquired during the week:




We had several hours of fireworks to look forward to. Mother Nature intervened though in the form of an 'on shore' breeze, blowing the fireworks rapidly towards the house, followed by torrential rain. We've fired off about a third and left the rest for another day to extend the fun.

To make up for it we repaired to the kitchen by the Aga to eat this:


Bonfire cake:




I can't claim credit for the idea - it comes from Annie Bell's Gorgeous Cakes, but the execution was delicious.

And finally, regular readers of this blog will know that visits to Dan's usually involve kittens. He has just the one this year, working title, Biggles:











Mandy are you still sure you can hold out against the cuteness of this little one?

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.