Fireworks exploding in the distance...

I've stopped jumping ten feet into the air each time I hear a bang as darkness descends on London.

It all began the week preceding Halloween. I would be startled out of my knitting/guitar playing/random web surfing reverie by loud, gunshot like noises. They came from all directions. They followed no particular pattern.

Once I discerned that mass executions weren't taking place in the back alley, I relaxed a little. After I spotted the first flare of colour, I recognized the bangs as fireworks and chalked up all the hubhub to youthful enthusiasm and a British fire fetish. It would all disappear after Samhain, right?

Wrong.

The nightly fireworks shows have been steadily increasing in both frequency and complexity. To an outsider, you might wonder what Londoners are celebrating. I certainly did.

When questioned, I was told it was to do with Guy Fawkes Day. End of explanation.

You see, Brits assume (like Americans) that everyone knows all the minute details of their rich and bloody history. I had never heard of Guy Fawkes, so I had no clue why this particular man was associated with random fireworks and giant bonfires.

My next clue was given in the form of a rhyme: "Remember, remember the 5th of November" is how the chant goes. At least, that's how it is randomly spraypainted on the sidewalks (though there is some dispute over the date, according to the sidewalk graffiti).

Armed with a date and a name my research led me to the story of a man (not even the ringleader) who , in 1605 attempted to blow up the British Parliament with kegs of gunpowder. He was part of a Catholic group conspiring to kill James I as he opened the Parliamentary session in the House of Lords that day. Understandable, since James was in the habit of persecuting Puritans and Catholics at the time.

Unfortunately for Fawkes, his determination to light the fuse (and become an early version of a suicide bomber) went awry when he was arrested, tried, hanged, drawn and quartered.

Now every November Brits come out to light fireworks, burn huge bonfires, and effigies of Fawkes. It's a very interesting thing to watch from the outside. What are people celebrating-the punishment of a treasonous conspirator, or the efforts of an underdog?

October in London

Greetings from London, everyone.

I've spent the month of October settling in to a new routine. It goes something like this:

1. Wake up. See Brian off to work. Make coffee, and search for jobs.
2. Complete several job applications, or work on them until the computer screen makes me cross eyed.
3. Go for a walk. Note any hiring notices in the windows.
4. Make supper.
5. Read, knit, or play this horridly addictive video game called Fable.
6. Sleep. Cough, wake up, cough some more, try to go back to sleep.
7. Repeat.

Actually, I've done a lot more little things than that, but that's basically how things operate. I've had several job interviews so far, and I'm waiting to hear back as to whether I'm hired or not. I'm looking forward to having some work to occupy my brain.

Brian and I wandered down to the Borough Food Market, where I discovered delicious truffles...mounds and mounds of truffles. The food was amazing. We bought some pickled garlic that was fabulous. If I went there every day, I'd be fat by now.

We also ventured out to the Kew gardens (a former palace that is now home to the Royal Botanical Gardens) and wandered about in the wind and rain. Magnificent old trees, a specatcular holly collection, a tree top walk...I was in heaven. I wandered from bush to tree to bush (everything is tagged with its Latin name, I loved it) reading all the tags and mumbling to myself while Brian strolled along in my wake. I can't wait to go back, or to other gardens.

Joel and Anna came to the city last weekend, so we met up and had a peek at the new arrival. Natasha didn't appreciate hotels, it seems, but she didn't seem to mind sleeping on me.

I've been busy playing gigs as well...three in October. A cold has sidelined me this past week, but I'm up and running again on November 18th, when I'll be a main performer in the Clubacoustic sessions at the Queen Boadicea in Angel.

I will be home (rather, in Canada. Where exactly is home these days? I can't figure it out.) in December for several weeks, both in Ontario and in NB.

I stumbled upon a fabulous knitting store and began knitting again. I'll soon have to get a job to support my cashmere habit, I'm afraid. My current project is a scarf for Brian and Christmas presents for the kiddies. Don't tell them if you see them.

On a lark, I signed up for the National Novel Writing contest. It runs for the month of November, and the goal is to write a novel of 50,000 words or more by that time. That's an average of about 1700 words per day. As of today, November 3rd, I've written 1654. Oops. Already behind!!

More news soon!