The face of innocence or butter wouldn’t melt and all that!  Well last night or should I say 3.00am this morning Coco turned into :

She started howling!  She even managed to wake DH which is usually impossible.  She was quite obviously dreaming but oh boy!  Our other Airedales have been quite vocal but Coco is definitely a step above the others, she is not in the same league as Huskies of course but this howl was really spooky and quite eery.  She was actually asleep in her bed next to our bed but when she woke herself up she got on our bed next to DH and of course both of them went back to sleep.  Me, awake until the alarm went off at 4.30am!

Speaking of which the company we work with in Nottingham (also the company we work with in Derbyshire as well) have decided to work longer days Monday to Thursday and then have Friday off.   This is due to a bit of a slow down with work in the run up to Christmas and to change the fact that on a Friday they come in just for the morning and then go home at lunch and then work on Saturday morning until lunch.  It may all change again once the New Year is here but they are giving it a try.  However it means that I am now getting up at 4.30am Today was the first day and having been awake since 3.00am was not too much of a shock although I did go into my sewing room to sort a few bits out and then found myself sitting staring into space for about fifteen minutes!  The only thing I will say is that I will be able to get a lot of jobs done but have decided to shower and wash my hair in the evenings now, instead of first thing in the morning, as that is far too much stress and rushing around at 4.00am!

November 5th Bonfire Night

Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England’s overthrow.
But, by God’s providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James’s sake!
If you won’t give me one,
I’ll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn’orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!

The above is from around 1870 but the actual Gunpowder Plot was in 1605 and was to try and blow up Parliament and especially King James I of England (James VI of Scotland) who became King after Queen Elizabeth I.  The Conspirators; Robert Catesby, John & Christopher Wright, Robert & Thomas Wintour, Thomas Percy, Guy Fawkes, Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates, John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, Sir Everard Digby and Frances Tresham.  They were unhappy with the lack of religious tolerance for English Catholics which of course all stemmed from Henry VIII turning away from the Catholic Church when the Pope would not give him a divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, to marry Anne Boleyn. 

The Conspirators idea was to kill King James, Parliament and with it a lot of the Protestant families and Privy Council of the country and install King James’ daughter, Princess Elizabeth as a Catholic Queen figurehead.  Guy Fawkes is the name that everyone remembers through history, who had been in the army during several conflicts in Europe and was used to handling gun powder.  He was a staunch Catholic committed to the cause.  However through various letters and people reporting to the King about the plot the Conspirators were found out and all captured.  After trials they were all hanged but because of how audacious the plot was, it became very much a part of British history.

So on November 5th each year we celebrate the fact that Guy Fawkes failed to light the 36 barrels of gun powder under Parliament, with fireworks.  We are fortunate that Coco does not mind the fireworks and any of the loud bangs she just barks at.  Blaze was okay although he was not keen on the loud bangs.  The big orgnised fireworks mostly took place at the weekend so tonight will be local and family events.  We decided we were not going to do any this year, but may do next year when Little Man is older. 

If you are attending or having your own Fireworks, stay safe and have a wonderful evening.  The weather is supposed to be cold and misty tonight but at least no rain.  I cannot tell you the amount of times I have watched fireworks being let off whilst sheltering under an umbrella or getting soaked! 

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx