Penny for the Guy

 Abbie, The Nana and I participate in Bonfire Night

"Remember, remember the Fifth of November......." 

 This weekend we headed up to York to celebrate Bonfire Night with our friends Ann & Adrian Bradley and their family.  Guy Fawkes - a name that lives on in British History as the villain in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 - is burned in effigy atop a huge bonfire and fireworks fill the air.

Since the British actually celebrate all weekend long, the drive up to York Friday night was spectacular - we kept seeing huge bonfires and fireworks off into the distance.  Saturday's bonfire was one of the largest I've ever seen.  There were two scarecrow-ish Guys with pillowcase faces lounging at the top of the pile in old, wooden lawn chairs.  As the fire burned higher and they burst into flames I looked around at the crowd of people.

 I didn't see any V masks!

But I did see loads of multi-colored, light up mohawk wigs and spinners!  And the fireworks were impressive!  Some of the best I've ever seen.  Rock music was blaring from outside speakers and food was being sold from tents.  Abbie had a candied apple and I bought some "bonfire toffee".  Yum!

For years my brother Mike has had a bonfire at his farm every October.  He burns the brush that he's cleared all summer, and usually there's a pretty good sized pile.  Everyone stands around with a beverage, and tells incredibly bad jokes.  In fact, we tell the same bad jokes year after year. It's gotten so that the past few years we only tell the punchlines.  Everyone still laughs.   So, next year I might need to add a Guy Fawkes effigy to the top of the pile, and maybe we'll set off some sparklers!

To learn more about Guy Fawkes and his plan to blow up Parliament click here:  Guy Fawkes