Light It Up.

It's pretty likely that I'm a little late to the fireworks party, especially as most displays will have been and gone by now, but here are my Bonfire Night photograph efforts.

We popped over to Chieveley for their firework display on 5th November and found the best pub in Ye Olde Red Lion for a dinner, honestly, I know you can't really go wrong with belly pork but this was ah-may-zing! ♥


I think Chieveley's display is the biggest near us and although the fireworks didn't last all that long and their bonfire was tiny, it was a good display and I even saw a few bangers that I don't think I've seen before. Plus Catherine wheels, the best!






Loved the atmospheric full moon, I think I could really get better at photographing it if I put a bit of time in to it.







We've actually been meaning to have our own firework display since last year and have a selection of Lidl's finest in the 'cat cupboard' in our kitchen. I hope to definitely make the effort, at least by New Year's - if they even still work!

Almost-Bonfire Night...

I love fireworks, and Guy Fawkes' Night is one of my favourite nights of the year. Just as we did last year, we had a few people over at the weekend to watch Newbury Racecourse's firework display. Unfortunately, due to the new houses now behind our flat, I don't think we would have been able to cheap out and watch from the garden - particularly as it was so windy.

Here are my obligatory 5th November (but not actually the 5th November) photos, I'd really love to chance to get better at taking photos of fireworks. We had a quick wander around the funfair before picking our spot, it wasn't up to much but did offer up a beautiful portrait.




The fireworks themselves were just as good as last year. I find it funny how much I love this night now considering how weirdly scared I was of big booming fireworks when I was younger...








The evening involved some light bites, after a mammoth session at The Taco Shop in the afternoon, and a few drinks. We actually bought our own fireworks for the garden but the rain meant that Lidl's finest didn't have a chance to shine, there's always later this evening or our upcoming Christmas meet-up...

I Want Another Cat.

True, but not quite yet, although it is definitely what my friends seem to think about me. Here are a few photos from the fireworks display at Newbury Racecourse that we spied on from the garden as I didn't take that many photos throughout the evening in the end.

As I mentioned before, we had our friends down on Saturday night thankfully the fireworks turned out well but I was a little silly and filled them up with snacks a bit before Moon's excellent chilli - which we'll probably be eating for a while (thank goodness for freezers). It was great to have everyone in one place again, and I'm hoping that it won't be so long next time with another meet-up arranged for December.

I've probably said before but Bonfire Night is my absolute favourite, coinciding with New Years Eve, I'm just a huge fan of fireworks. Basically we spent the evening playing a strange but good party game that Moon picked up from a charity shop and good ol' Ring of Fire. Those that weren't there missed out, but I hope you can make it next time.

I made some pumpkin and chilli cupcakes, you know because pumpkins are trendy, but these, despite some people saying otherwise, were rank so I don't think there's much point in sharing the recipe with you this time around.


I don't mean to blow my own trumpet but I thought this was a pretty decent spread. :3




Some nice flares.


Grumpy men at the other end of the garden.



We treated everyone to sparklers, in hindsight we definitely should have got more, sparklers are the most fun.




Chris stuffing his face with Millionaire's Cheesecake after being unable to finish his chilli due to smothering it in (too)hot sauce.


I'm almost certain that I've spent all of this week recovering from the excitement of last weekend, and it's Friday tomorrow! I'm hoping to see more fireworks on Saturday evening and maybe have a nice walk, although I might just need to sleep for the whole weekend as I'm definitely rocking a zombified look currently that's less than visually appealing.

Remember, remember.

The weekend flew by and so did today, as I was only at work for half the day thanks to the Job Centre, who still can't sort their life out, I'll try not the mention them again..

I didn't even do that much this weekend, I just know that I probably didn't relax as much as I should have given the slight shock to the system that is getting up at 7 every morning to commute, but I'm over it. I think I'm getting better at commuting anyway, I was actually home a whole half an hour early tonight, despite not leaving the office until 5:35, I was amazed.

My third-favourite time of year (next to my birthday and Christmas) was at the weekend. I love 5th November, fireworks are great fun and I love it when the date falls on a respectable day (Saturdays are the best). People have been trying to ruin it all week with their home displays, but I was holding out for a proper community one. As I mentioned a couple of posts ago I did observe the Kingsmeadow display from afar but was advised to head to Morden.


It was quite weird to see a bonfire up close as it's been such a long time since I have, I was always too small to see much of the Cosham one while we were in Portsmouth and I haven't been to Brockham in ages. It's kind of eerie, in an exciting way, there's something quite primal about fire that hypnotises people.





Obviously I brought my camera so I took a few snaps of the very loud funfair, and of both bonfires and both firework displays. It was quite a weird evening, with there being themes and music set for each firework display, the first being Disney and the later one being 'Best of British', including a brilliant soundbite of the Queen wishing us a happy Christmas! (yep.)
I really enjoyed it and it was nice to see what the £7 (yes, SEVEN) was going towards. However, as a recent graduate, I'm still more than serious when it comes to 'value for money' and although the displays and bonfires were great, I think the timings were terrible. I was very distraught that I was unable to get home in time for X Factor, I'm kidding but standing in the dark when it's cold isn't exactly fun when you've paid £7 to be there and some pumped up DJ is telling you it's only going to be another 5 minutes, every 10 minutes. Sort it out for next year Merton council, plz.

My sister and I bought some cotton candy thinking that it would be great, before we even got halfway through, it wasn't.

I think it's just the camera that made this weird and I kind of like it but it does make you think about what a weird celebration Guy Fawke's night is.

This man was ready to light the second bonfire around half an hour before word was given that he was allowed to. He just sat on a crate for that half hour holding a stick he had lit from the first bonfire, in front of everyone while we shivered.

It was a fun evening, I'm just sad that I have to wait a whole year until I see another proper fireworks display. I wanted to end the night by watching V for Vendetta but time ran away with me again. I must try harder to savour weekends and additional free time - new rule.