Thursday 5th November

[adesmith]

Did anyone else have fireworks? At one stage today it looked like it was going to be a wet bonfire night in South Wales but it stayed dry. We had a bonfire (in our fire basket), a small box of fireworks, some rockets and a big fountain thing. I dont think that I have ever seen Rupert so excited! Rachel made us a delicious sausage and bean spicy recipe from the BBC Good Food magazine, some crispy baked potatoes and her now famous Rocky Road with marshmallows and turkish delight. We were well prepared and safe but somebody elses very big rocket misfired and landed by the back door. We had a panicked conversation about whether it has actually exploded, decided it hadnt, panicked again and then got the hosepipe out. It was like something from Dad's Army!

Anyway I hope if anyone else is celebrating Guy Fawkes Night that you have a good and safe time.

:flame:

[gloria townsin]

I think this must be the quietest Bonfire Night I've ever experienced. Not a whisper in Mullion but I think there are some things going on at the weekend. Laughed when as I pictured the Dad's Army bit of your evening, and longed for a bit of Rachel's Rocky Road. Next stop Christmas now for Rupert. ~There are some fabulous Christmas things in Gemini in the village.......Santa's and Reindeer and Angels what's more he's selling out fast.

[Kath Mulligan]

Very quiet up here too, a few fireworks going off round and about, but I suspect most folk are waiting until weekend when it is supposed to be a bit drier up here. Today has been foul - heavy rain for most of the day, not conducive to standing outside watching (or lighting!) fireworks. The Town Council organises a large bonfire and fireworks display in the park just a few yards down the road from our house which is taking place on Saturday. We probably shan't be back from the Lakes in time for that.

Have been trying not to think too hard about Christmas as yet, although we were discussing the food for it when Claire and Mum were here on Tuesday evening! Must be finding out the last posting dates for overseas mail now the postal strikes have been suspended. My gift list is drastically reduced nowadays so it is not the mammoth effort that it used to be when I was buying for umpteen in-laws, nieces, nephews etc etc. Now I tend to buy for immediate family only and a couple of close friends.

Kath

[Barbara]

Interesting to hear of your Bonfire Night. Fireworks has been banned in our state for most of my life. We do have official fireworks for Australia Day and New Year but in Western Australia ordinary folks are not allowed to possess them...I think some of the other states allowed it until fairly recently.
I do remember it as a young child though - lots of excitement and fun.
Adrian, I love to read of the way your family celebrates...its a real example of getting the most out of life - Rupert is very lucky to have such creative parents...the meal sounded delicious.
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[adesmith]

Funny enough a lot of people said that Bonfire Night was very quiet. Like I said there were lots of fireworks going off in our street. We did have fun though!

Barbara its really interesting to hear that having fireworks is against the law in Australia. They can be very dangerous and we are always very careful. We have water in a bucket and the hose pipe on hand. We are also careful about standing back etc. It is always worrying when you hear of children being able to buy them but I think they would have a job banning them here.

You hit the nail on the head about celebrating and getting the most out of life. I love celebrating different events and traditions and we have an awful lot of fun. I am really interested in the traditions that to be honest we have lost and I am determined to pass them on to Rupert. Rachel bought me a book a couple of years ago called the English Year and it is all about different customs and festivals and the origins of them. Its really interesting and I have revived a few from there.

Gloria, you are right it is next stop Christmas and I have a feeling that Rupert is going to love it this year! I have always loved Christmas and we really go to town with the festivities and again the traditions in our house. It really wont be long now.

[Barbara]

There is something about having a child in the house at Christmas that adds so much to the excitement and atmosphere. I know you will understand what I mean, Adrian. While they are young, children bring the most beguiled fascination to times of celebration. My most memorable times at Christmas have all been while my children were young - and I have been lucky enough to have this experience in two installments because Natalie and Lachlan were born so far apart. In fact, Lachlan still believes in Father Christmas...although this will probably be the last year.
I think it is a wonderful idea to keep alive the knowledge of festivals and carnivals and to pass them on to Rupert. These events were the framework of life in times gone by. So important in understanding the mindset of our ancestors.
Have you read Lark Rise to Candleford?
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[Linda]

I love the traditions of Bonfire Night, Halloween etc...its a shame so many are now politically incorrect....

I recall teh most fantastic times in Lewes in Sussex where the tradition of Guy Fawkes is celebrated with a huge parade through the streets and ending in the five societies going their separate ways for the individual bonfires. The town is closed to traffic from 5pm, many staff leave early in order to get back for the festivity.
IN Ottery St Mary they used to have, hopefully still do, the tradition of tar barrel rolling...it is an exciting and very scary event with chaps running around the town with tar barrels on their backs flames everywhere...they roll them down the hill and the crowds part frantically to get out of the way...terrifically exciting!!

[adesmith]

I am afraid I have never really grown up Barbara and having Rupert just gives me more opportunities to be a little boy again! I think you are right about having a child around to bring the traditions and celebrations alive again. When I took Rupert to see Father Christmas last year I thought I was going to die with the excitement!!! He actually wasnt that bothered but this year (he will be 3) I think he will be much much more aware. It is his birthday on 22nd November so we have that to look forward to at the moment.

The next celebration is Martinmas on Wednesday (11th November). I read about it and it is the time when farmworkers were hired, some types of farmwork was just being finished and it is when they killed all the animals to salt down the meat. Apparently it was the day when they would eat the last of the fresh meat, drink beer, sing songs and tell stories around the fire. A sort of resiliance against the cold and dark evenings. They also ate black pudding (a favourite of mine) because there was a lot of the ingredients around with the slaughtering. Rachel and I have chosen a recipe and I intend to have a beer (Cornish Doom Bar) but I think Rupert will be in bed for this one! We need cosy evenings on this side of the world at the moment - it has gone very cold all of a sudden!

The fire festivals are very interesting Linda. Although they are different locally they all seem to have 'Celtic' origins. Not sure that I would be up for carrying a barrel of flaming tar. Knowing me I would drop it and cause a disaster!

PS I havent read Larkrise to Candleford but I did see a few episodes on TV (probably not at all like the book). They also did the play at school last year but I never got to see it.

[gloria townsin]

Ah you must see all the episodes of Lark Rise....it was wonderful. One of those series that you want to go on and on.

What will we do now without Doc Martin on Sunday? Do I really want to go back to the jungle with 'I'm a Celeb..?' Thought 'Doc Martin' was good to the end. I think the many strong characters are what makes it good, it's not just a vehicle for Martin Clunes talent, wonderful though it is. i.e. the local Policeman....hilarious. Won't say anymore for the sake of those who haven't seen it yet.

[Kath Mulligan]

I used to love Christmas when the girls were small and still believed in Santa, in fact, Christmas Eve has always been my favourite day of Christmas, partly because the anticipation is often more exciting than the reality. I still enjoy it now, but the magic is not the same without being able to see it through a child's eyes. Having said that, my adult children still insist on having an advent calendar every year! I always get a buzz too from decorating the tree and putting the lights up.

Kath

[Linda]

Kath! Jeff and I like having an advent calendar ...with choccies in it of course!!!
:)

[Kath Mulligan]

Kath! Jeff and I like having an advent calendar ...with choccies in it of course!!!
:)

Of course, choccies are a must! Actually I was feeling a bit left out last year, so I bought one for myself too! ;)

Kath

[adesmith]

Yes, we all have advent calendars. The last couple of years I have insisted on a Lindt one but it is a bit extravagant so I dont think I will have one of those this year. Last year Rupert didnt understand that it was only one chocolate each day (I think he will be worse this year!) Verity isnt allowed one because she can smell the cat treats inside and tears the calendar to eat them all. We also have an advent candle which is a bit of a stress every year. You take your eyes off it for a moment and it is burnt down two days! All good fun though.

[Barbara]

I began buying an advent calendar when Lachlan was about four....one of the best things is that it helps him to be patient while he's counting down those days until Christmas. He loves the ritual of visiting it each morning to see what sort of chocolate he is getting that day.
Adrian, you may find that Rupert gets better at not wanting to devour it all at once as he comes to understand the process of counting down each day. http://www.friendsofminack.org.uk/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

[jane jackson]

I arrived at my friend, Penny's, home in Hertfordshire on Bonfire Night and she'd sussed out a Bonfire with fireworks at The Cow Roast pub on the way to Tring so we went there. The bonfire was great and we needed it as it was a bit drizzly and chilly. The fireworks were roped off and there were lots of rockets exploding beautifully in the air. It went on for at least half an hour only marred by a few young lads who set quite a few low ones off next to the cars!!!!! We made sure we kept well out of the way. Quite a few lighting the sky on our way home. Bryan said it was quiet in our area of PZ thank goodness re the animals.
I always take sparklers when I visit Penny so we lit some in her garden ~ they always smell so lovely ~ takes us back to our childhood and the bonfire night get togethers we had. My Mum always made toffee apples.

Adrian, you sounded as though you had great fun ~ I enjoyed the Dads Army picture too!

[gloria townsin]

I know The Cow Roast, well from driving past that is.

It was very quiet in Mullion, you wouldn't have know it was November the 5th. There were one or two distant 'bangs' on Sat. and there was evidence on Poldhu beach that fireworks had been let off there, but didn't spy a single bonfire. Right old misery that I am it suited me fine as I only enjoyed 'pretty' fireworks and sparklers as a child and still do, never could be around the noisy ones, which are even noisier now. Bobbi hates them and it's hard to get her to go outside for the essentials once she hears them. Funny really as few of my others ever bothered about them or loud noises of any kind, so she hasn't picked it up from dogs I've had in the past.

[Kath Mulligan]

Sparklers have been banned in our household since Elizabeth almost lost an eye to one when she was a toddler. She and Claire were standing next to one another on the doorstep each with a sparkler, and a bucket of water to put the spent ones into. Unfortunately she turned sideways just as Claire was putting her spent one into the water and it hit her just under her eye. She was left with a red scar for about 4 years afterwards, although it has now faded completely. It just goes to show that no matter how careful you are, accidents can still happen so easily.

Kath