The village bonfire was a blazing success on such a freezing cold night. I stood as close to the fire as the cordon allowed with my friend, shivering in many layers of clothing, our faces glowing from the heat. Choosing to drink hot chocolate over alcohol to warm me on the inside this time while enjoying the firework display above us. Seeing my old pal there reminded me of the time we decided to have a camp fire together behind the cricket club tea hut built of wood. We were either in Brownies or Guides back then and obviously wanted to put our new skills to the test. My friend stayed at base camp while I ran across the cow field, climbed over the wall and into my back garden to steal some matches from our kitchen.
'What are you up to Suzanne?'
'Nothing Mum, I'm just having fun at the cricket field with Jane.'
'Be careful!'
We were enjoying the first plumes of smoke signalling upwards, oblivious to any danger and happy to be having this adventure together. The next thing we knew was the groundsman at the time, a lovely chap no longer with us, sprinting across the field towards us, waving his arms and looking really, really angry.
'What the bloody hell do you two think you're doing?'
'We're having a camp fire, Cedric.'
'No, you're bloody well not! You're going to burn the bloody tea hut down.'
Our tears probably quenched the pubescent flames.
The same old ramshackle tea hut remains to this day but the new giant club house is progressing as well as available funds will allow.
 |
| I See Fire |
I walked gleefully down the road to catch the train as the first snow began to fall, catching the flakes in the purple palms of my gloved hands. At once I became Lucy entering the wonderful world of Narnia for the first time. Not having seen or felt snow for five years was so exciting for all of us. Romeo had galloped out into town earlier in the week to buy more bedding; we now sleep under two duvets to combat the freezing cold. I am eating and sleeping well, still cycling and walking, working up a cold sweat to fight the stubborn flabby bits. Happy to report that my hard work has been rewarded with my temporary contract becoming a permanent one. Brilliant!
My survival skills are also up to date, having recently watched The Revenant which I absolutely loved. I'm glad to state that there are not any bears in my woods. My closest encounter with nature recently was when a fox dashed out in front of me on my bike ride home. And I do imagine when snuggled up in my pyjamas beneath the double duvets, that it is as cosy as being inside the sleeping bag of a dead horse.
'You breathe. Keep breathing.'
'On est tous sauvages.'
I am so happy to be reconnecting with my favourite friends here in the UK. The time we spend together is never is enough. You know how much I love you, though, don't you? On a recent night out in Holmfirth, my friend and I laughed when we realised we could have gone to see Chas and Dave perform in the Picturedrome. We did see them leave backstage by coincidence, both still sporting their beards and flat caps. It's worth checking out what bands are performing at this venue as alongside the many tribute acts there are some interesting surprises such as: Reef, The Wedding Present, Roy Wood, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Howard Jones.
The service for Remembrance Sunday was well attended. I cried as The Last Post was played by a young lad and I thought of my great grandfathers, my grandfathers and my friend, Arthur.
'We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away.'
With Love xx
Reading: Lying Awake by Mark Salzman
Listening to: Suzanne by Leonard Cohen, originally a poem then his debut single in 1967 and In Your Eyes by BadBadNotGood ft Charlotte Day Wilson (2016)
Singing & dancing to:The Cure in preparation for their upcoming gig in Manchester
Watched: Mirror Mirror (2012), The Revenant (2015) and The Shelley College production of Billy Elliot The Musical (2016) which was brilliant.
