Tabitha has always confused "Fawkes" with "Fox" and it's so adorable that we haven't had the heart to correct her. So, this year, when she heard Guy Fawkes Night was coming up she immediately grabbed a sheet of paper and drew this:I was impressed with how much detail she'd remembered from last year's celebration (cage, loudspeaker) but she still put fox ears on Guy!
So, in keeping with the Fox theme, I decided to take the kids to the cinema to see Fantastic Mr. Fox. At least a dozen people walked out on the movie... but I LOVED it! I was laughing so hard that I embarrassed Dakota. I thought it was delightfully quirky and loads of fun! But I suppose it's hard for English people to see their beloved childhood books get the Hollywood treatment - especially since they usually Americanize everything except the baddies! Sad but true.
After the movie it was time to get ready for Bonfire Night. Every year our village releases 1500 advance tickets for the event (proceeds go to charity) and they're normally easy to get since there are only 1800 people in our village. But this year I couldn't get a ticket for love or money! That meant we were going to have to queue for ages! So in order to avoid this, we headed straight down to the farm gates at 6pm and watched the parade from there instead of the High Street.When they carted Guy Fawkes past us and into the farm complex, the treasonous wretch turned to us and pleaded, "Good Citizens of Eynsford, will you see me die?!" But we just booed him and told him to die (as is the custom). And when I say "we", I mean "me". This caused more embarrassment for Dakota.
Then came the bonfire. It was HUGE, as always. To give you some perspective, check out the full size door in the bottom center of the fire.Each year the local primary school children make the papier-mâché effigy of Guy Fawkes. It's lovely to get the kiddies involved in the mock execution process(!)
Next we had delicious sausage dogs, hand-made by our village butcher, Norman. Then came the fireworks, which are always shot off from the center of the Eynsford castle. The whole show is coordinated to music that's divided into two parts; cheese-ball instrumental versions of pop songs and classical/movie themes.It's a pretty dang good show (except for the instrumental pop songs) for such a tiny village and I hope it never changes!
But I'm not so sure about that because I heard on the radio that Bonfire Night is on the wane. Apparently the old fashioned practice of asking for "a penny for the guy" is already basically extinct. And they say the sales of Bonfire Night paraphernalia (fireworks, etc.) is on a downward spiral while Halloween sales are rocketing. They blame the Americans. I don't know about that but I'd hate to see Bonfire Night go extinct! It's a great antidote in these political-
correctness-gone-mad times!After the fireworks it was time to go home.
I'd just like to congratulate Edward on an excellent sweater choice for his country's most patriotic holiday!!
The path back to our house goes past a 12th century church with a spooky old graveyard. As we were walking next to the graveyard Dakota was snapping photos left and right. When we got home and looked at them... they were freaky! Edward says it's just Dakota's breath but I think it looks like a ghost!!
We ended up with three ghosty photos in the end - and they were all taken near the graveyard!
The rest of the photos from the entire evening were completely normal. Weird!!
6 comments:
If you are ever having a bad hair day (do you have those?) check out your photo here with Tabs and LOVE YOURSELF! You are so gorgeous! And I want your hat. And maybe your scarf. And coat. Ok, just send it all to me and I will try to mimic your beauteousness! :)
And those ghost pictures are freaky. Now I can't come visit.
Stop that right now Mrs. Hecklinger - did you not notice the three large (and painful) pimples on my chin?! They're like beacons in the night! And I'm 35dangyearsold! Who still gets pimples?!
Oh wouldn't it be great if we had such a holiday here in the states where we could burn an effigy of an infamous American scoundrel in a giant bonfire! Wonder who we'd pick? I love this holiday, meanwhile American children are being lulled into Political Correctness each October by celebrating with door-to-door candy begging, a sad alternative to be sure. We need bonfires!
OK, Edward's sweater is hilarious. I have seen flag T's for the 4th, but never a sweater... and what an occasion to wear it. And those photos... the one of the two of you with the upside-down-face is scary! Who goes into a cemetery at night?... and then takes pictures? You have to go back, on a night with the same temperature and have Dakota hold his breath... then we can see if you qualify for your own cable TV show.
Re: Klein's comment - My mom bought Edward that sweater and I'm sure she got it on discount because the only time of year one would wear such a thing would be on the 4th of July when it's too dang hot for a sweater! And the only way back to our house from the High Street is past the graveyard. We didn't actually go into it, just right along side of it. It WAS spooky though! And I never saw that face until now - so thanks - now I won't be able to take that path at night again!
Yeah, freaky ghosts.
I told you that you always look so stylish and gorgeous! See? I'm not the only one who thinks so, so there!
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