Saturday: Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night – again! We love our double celebrations these days, don’t we? I remember as a teenager waiting feverishly all day for the end of school to come so we could get home for the one day a year that we had a bonfire and a few fireworks.

Lessons at school would usually end with the teacher saying,”….and your homework tonight is….” whereupon there’d be a great howl and audible groan at the thought of homework on such a night, “…..to enjoy the fireworks and your bonfires! Have fun!” Much cheering and grateful relief followed. I played the same trick on the kids I taught, too – tee-hee!!

Being located where we are, we have such a privileged view of the fireworks though. They are thrilling to watch because they are mostly professional or large ones these days, flying high into the sky. Beautiful. We’ve been treated to the display by the Lions this evening from our back garden. Nice.

I’d have loved to have captured the patterns in the sky – it’s ‘a lot’ blurry, but this is as much as I got:

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we have floated about all day, doing a bit of this and a bit of that. I have been mostly distracted with me papers and searching for the lost voucher. St Anthony? Are you on it, please?

However, a good news story in that regard: I emailed the company that is offering the trip, and played the sympathy card that John had had a difficult year with his illnesses and so on, and could we extend the voucher until April next year, please? Yes, we can, came the reply!! Well that’s a relief. Still got to find the blessed voucher though…..

For me, it’s been a day of tying up loose ends, a little bit. I bought a couple of lovely ‘tell-the-time’ clocks for the grandchildren for Christmas. I told Sons Nos #1 & #2 that I’d done so and was that alright? Erm…. yes and no. William already has one……So I when I popped into Solihull today, I returned it. Tick.

For some weeks now, I have been unable to find my credit card. I thought I’d had it with a loyalty card but, when I came across that, there the credit card wasn’t. So another little job that’s been on my mind: order a new one. Pretty sure it’s in the house somewhere and, no doubt now that I’ve ordered a new one, the darned thing will turn up!! But anyway, another Tick.

And there’s so much to watch on TV!! Both the rugby and the cricket were on today. Which to watch?? We recorded one (John fell asleep) and watched the other. Both absolutely thrilling matches and well worth the Sky money. Loved it!

John, despite a little snooze in front of the TV this afternoon, has been busy, busy. He’s been tinkering with the car; then he mended Andrew’s bike; followed by a rummaging down in the man-shed for a part for Andrew’s bike – apparently, you don’t have cotter pins in your crankshafts these days, and something else was needed….. and after all that, he did a bit more brushing of the sand into the cracks on the front drive. Finally, just before we thought we might have a bite to eat at teatime, he suddenly remembered he needed something from ScrewFix – so off he popped there as well. Gosh, it’s been full on! No wonder he feels a little tired tonight!

This evening, we strolled round to Pete and Dawn’s for some good company and a chat. Where does the time go? No sooner have you arrived than you look at your watch and realise it’s time to leave. There’s so much conversation to pack in! Enjoyed it and lovely to see them looking well, despite all their stresses and strains!!!

The COVID figures show another decrease in infections with 30,693 people having tested positive for the virus today; 155 people died in the community; and 1,005 people were admitted to hospital.

Take care folks. Hope you’ve had wonderful bonfire celebrations and the weekend is good to you. God bless.

Today’s ‘Blast from the Past – another ‘a lot’ blurry photo – from the fashions, anyone guess the year?

Yesterday’s answer: I was about 17 and John, 19; David (John’s brother) in the middle of the photo would be in his early 20s. Can’t do the Maths at this time of night to calculate how old John’s parents were….