Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot – Anon
A very unusual English tradition falls on November 5th every year which we have chosen to carry on here in Canada. Guy Fawkes was an early terrorist who tried to blow up the English parliament in 1605, he was caught executed and each year the English celebrate by burning effigies of Guy and setting off fireworks.
Unfortunately for us being in an urban area, lighting fires is not allowed, although we do set off fireworks and have many friends and neighbours over to celebrate – any excuse for a party. Except this year we had an unexpected burning of the Guy a few days early when our Guy and old Halloween decorations caught fire and in turn caused a small fire at 3 am in the morning that caused us to evacuate a house full of smoke.
Luckily the damage was minor apart from the smell of smoke, which will make the party very real this year! The family are safe and that is the by far the most important matter, neighbours have been great and very supportive.
Just an urging from me, I change the batteries to smoke alarms every time the clocks change and had just done it at the weekend, we heard them early and avoided what could have been a much more serious situation – take the time NOW to check all your saftey precautions – HAPPY GUY FAWKES DAY!