5th November

Before I go and ponder, a huge explosion outside of my window has just reminded me that tonight is Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night. I don’t know how I could have forgotten, to be honest. How I remember the days back in 1605 when the Gunpowder Plot was thwarted by the discovery of Guy Fawkes guarding several barrels of gunpowder. He was part of a conspiracy to blow up the House of Lords, and due to the fact that the plot was thwarted he didn’t get to do it. For years I thought Guy Fawkes had discovered gunpowder, but eventually the missing pieces of the story filtered through. So, to reiterate, Guy Fawkes Night is not a celebration of his plot, but of his thwarting.

Looking out of the window, I can’t see anything different, but all around there are fireworks popping and sirens wailing, and although it is raining, some people will be nice and cosy around bonfires. Tomorrow morning will be misty. It usually is on November 6th.