Please to remember the 5th of November.  Yes, Guy Fawkes night when the Catholic plot to blow up the House of Parliament in 1605 was thwarted.  The plotters were caught, some were shot during a shootout with government men and the others were brought to Westminster Hall for a trial where they were condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered.  In memory of that night of the failed plan we light bonfires and set off fireworks all over England.  Our friends across the road hold a huge party every year and tonight, under a crisp star filled sky, they lit a blazing fire and put on a great display followed by refreshments back in their warm house.

The fireworks were spectacular but the noise must have spooked  the animals in the fields round about.  I kept thinking of Lucy and Beattie and Wiggle and the sheep as the thunderous, screaming sparks flew up into the dark sky.  When we got home Mack and Mabel were outside the back door and we gave them a stroke and told them to go “back to their barn and back to sleep”.  No more night noise, they hope, for another twelve months.