FIREWORKS

Last night we finished a firework display which began some four years earlier using the fireworks left over from the occasion,to our total amazement with the exception of two small volcanoes they all performed beautifully.

Ill health, foul weather, night work and other such annoyances were the cause of our belated show but it was well worth the wait. Last nigh was perfect,the air was still and a crisp frost had already given the lawn the appearance of diamanté it sparkled so in the bright moon light.

My son, always the showman organised the fireworks in to fine display and lit each one in turn,rockets screamers. Gold and silver cascades which looked like magical ferns, For almost an hour and a half he played Master of Ceremonies and then came the finale.

A huge square box was carefully placed in a pot of cat litter ,a moment or two of suspense as the fuse burned away......and then.......what a show stream after stream of golden snow flake were thrown high in the the sky and as each one exploded it sent several flying Catherine wheels spinning in all directions, it was breathtaking,it seemed to go on for ever.

Pa and I had watched from the safety of the conservatory,even so we were cold by the end of the display. We all trooped in to the warm kitchen and drank hot chocolate so creamy and sweet that it was worth getting chilly for.

We seem to have chose the right evening for our party, today the wind is wild and squally showers sweep down from the hills every half hour or so, very nasty indeed!

This afternoon a load of logs arrived and of course they had to be stacked and covered. While the boys struggled manfully out in the cold I made a cheese loaf and some sesame bread, these would accompany tonight,s meal of roast tomato soup with a selection of cheeses to follow.

Warm from their labours and blow to blazes by the wind the boys returned to the kitchen where hot chocolate awaited them,a reward for their heroic effort.

Hot chocolate is one of the pleasures of winter along with hot Whisky toddy and mulled wine,and I suspect that many more of these delectable beverages will be consumed here before winter has done it's worst.