Guy Fawkes in New Zealand?

Home grown fun! Safety first of course (only four day’s of the year when we can actually buy fireworks here – and there’s talk that this will be the last year ever of retail sales)! Fireworks in a plant pot – what more can one ask for – and a bucket of water close at hand! Guy Fawkes in New Zealand? Isn’t it about time New Zealand gets over Guy Fawkes and heralds its own day for celebrations and an excuse to let off some smoke and sparkles? Personally, I’m all for Matariki – the Maori New Year – in the middle of winter – doesn’t that make more sense?

But, in the meantime, it sure does make an easy transition for British expats wanting a fix of home nostalgia – even if they do have to wait till 9pm for sun down! Anyway, here’s Dan and I enjoying a spot of nostalgia with our Kiwi born children (who had plenty of questions after we told them the history of Guy Fawkes…!)

My only wish? I wish we’d bought more! However, we did stock up on sparklers for Birthday’s throughout the year.

For us? Lots of memories. School fireworks events with huge bonfires and burning the ‘Guy’. Calling out in glee at our ‘house colours’ in the sky (my sports teams were Vikings – Green, Normans – Red, Saxons – Yellow, Romans – Blue). And my favourite – Bonfire Night in Hartley Wintney Village where folk would walk through the towering, ancient oak trees, swinging fire balls before hurtling them onto the huge, pyramid bonfire. From what I hear most of my old local haunts (Fleet) have already celebrated ‘Bonfire Night’ on Saturday, 1st November, so that children could enjoy the fun and not worry about being too tired for school the next day (the ever sensible English!). As for us… I’m really wishing for a lie in tomorrow and am not worried about rolling up a little late to school in the morning (Charli really isn’t missing much – an hour on the mat of day’s of the week, which she knows inside out, and ‘news’/songs etc.).

Aside from Guy Fawkes, there is of course some impressive news about President Obama (need I say more!) and here in New Zealand we’re thinking about our own election and our votes for Saturday (though of course a hell of a lot less media interest and the results – either way – aren’t really going to make much of a difference!).

After school pick up today the girls and I had a blast on Wellington’s waterfront (in some pretty full-one winds!) – but thankfully, the girls managed to stay on their bikes!

Some pics before bye-byes…

Monkeys in action on a day when the weather couldn’t make up its mind: