Bonfire night

I would say without fear of exaggeration that one of my most favourite days of the year is November the 5th Fireworks, bonfires, burning that poor effigy of Mr Fawlks, toffee apples, candy floss, knowing that carnival time is in full flow, the fair is over the back of the house, Dad is nailing Catherine wheels into a fence, and friends are calling to coordinate fireworks and frivolity. For 25 wonderful years I have watched fireworks in many parts of our fair country, I have watched the flaming tar barrels in Ottery St Mary, I have sat in a cold field in Exeter, I have got hopelessly lost with my dearest friend Sarah whilst trying to find devils dyke with a selection of snacks in a plastic bag. And 2 years ago I watched the spiralling plumes and beautiful sparks from my airplane seat on my way back from Hong Kong, the whole of London shimmerered and shifted before my very eyes. You can imagine then my pure incomparable excitement at seeing the Australians put their spin on it. Try and feel my immense disappointment, try and sense the agonising blow that I feel in my heart upon learning that our charming host nation do not actually know of Bonfire night let alone celebrate it

And this is how I found out….

Me – So what do you guys do for Fireworks night
Shop keeper – What ?
Me – Bonfire night
Shop keeper – I don’t know what you mean
Me – 5th of November “remember remember the 5th of November, Gunpowder treason and plot” …
Shop keeper – Nope, don’t know what you mean, but you folks know about the Melbourne cup right?
Me (secretly in my head) Would you all just get a grip it’s a two minute bloody horse race. You do not need to shut every shop, every school, every building, have a national holiday, dress up, and then spend at least a fortnight talking non stop about horse hoofs, horse injuries, horse drugs, tiny jockey’s, overweight jockey’s, evil Jockeys.
How can you even bother about this silly race when you are not even aware of the travesty that was inflicted upon our parliamentary house, you are not interested in the way we have taken this heinous crime and turned it into a spectacular of lights and wonderment I can’t even begin to understand you let alone finish this conversation as I am heart broken and disappointed at your lack of knowledge and or consideration, for my feelings.
Me – (And now for my actual response) Yes should be a fun old day

I do not know what to say, of course I am sad, I am also feeling a little silly, El pointed out that of course it was a British thing and as it only really effected our government it was probably never going to be a worldwide phenomena.

No November 5th – that’s the upshot of all this, I mean obviously the day will come and go but it will not be the same. So grab a sparkler on my behalf, and write my name in the air, eat a toffee apple for me, and ohhhhh and weeeeee and yeahhhh as you enjoy the evening that has been stolen from me and El ( mostly me as El seems fine about it )

Much love Leah and El