Sunday 6 November 2011

Story telling Sunday



Last month on Story Telling Sunday I shared this story of my love of pigs and briefly mentioned an event involving a fire, I said I would be back to tell you more and here I am .... just!

I love fires, I would really like a 'real fire' in my lounge (or in any room for that matter!) but I live in a modern house and it would cost lots of ££££'s to have a chimney put in so in the meantime I pretend with gas and this fireplace (dressed up for Halloween!)


I really really like Bonfires and love sitting or standing around a bonfire outside in the dark. This makes 'Bonfire Night' a fun evening for me. Bonfire night is also known as Guy Fawkes Night and for some reason we commemorate this man's attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 ... he failed and maybe that is why it is a celebration! Traditionally it is an evening filled with fireworks, sparklers, a fire and fun food.
DS poses with a sparkler...


November 5th is the date this happens which was yesterday. I travelled to see my parents and my dad had a huge pile of garden debris to burn so we had a fabulous fire that was still smouldering when I left their house this afternoon.

Dad was feeling good, though he only finished his third cycle of chemotherapy a few hours before this picture was taken (sadly today he is feeling much worse, lacking in energy, tired but unable to sleep and constantly queasy). We had a houseful with 19 of us sharing yummy homemade food (jacket spuds, 'bangers', chilli, curry followed by trifle, key lime pie, caramel crunch mmmm my mouth waters as I type!) We spent a lot of time laughing and chatting with the TV turned off, enjoying each other's company, playing Rummikub and catching up with all the news across the generations. Loving family gatherings at the moment, so grateful that we can all get together (though my hubby was a bit poorly so stayed home especially as Dad is vulnerable to infections at the moment). We all stirred the Christmas pudding too, traditions are important and help make memories (see this post for info on Stir up Sunday)

My dad reminded my of my first venture into pyromania when I was probably just 2 years old. I cannot remember this time at all, but apparently I managed to turn on a heater in the bedroom next to my sisters cot (she would only have been 1 at the time) and the cot and the
mattress actually caught fire!! Thank goodness my parents discovered the burning bed before any serious harm was done!

Luckily I have never caused any serious damage since that time (at least I don't think so!)

I am looking forward to catching up with everyone else's 'Story Telling Sunday' brought to you from the superb Sian From High in the Sky pop over and check it out xxx


14 comments:

  1. A lovely Chatty post from my favourite Crafty Arty Pig ;o)
    Your recent family gathering sound blissful - I love a good bonfire with sparklers and as for Rummikub - love that too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was just talking to my sister about Christmas pudding this last week and at the time I remembred your Stir-it-Up story ... anyway, I hope your Dad is feeling better soon and I am glad you had the chance for a great family get together, they are the best sort if you ask me!

    ReplyDelete
  3. :o) I love a good campfire myself, Ruth!

    Sorry to hear that your dad is feeling poorly. It was good to get a bit of news here in your post. Take care! xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my goodness1 A burning mattress! Now, there's something we didn't know about you lol

    We don't have Bonfire Night here, and I always think it looks like such a lot of fun.

    I hope your Dad starts to feel a little brighter very soon and like Deb I'm going to add a "Take Care"!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What is it with little people and fire? Hope your Dad begins to feel better very soon.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So glad you all got together but sorry your dad isn't well. That will be a really special Christmas pudding though, so many stirs! Thank you for sharing your photographs and your love of pyrotechnics. Irene

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey fluffy, bring your fireplace with you please ... & the decorations! looks fab, go great, erm, somewhere in my house, I will find space for it!

    less than 3 weeks to go tick tick tick

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like the perfect Guy Fawkes night..glad your dad was able to enjoy it, and hope he's feeling a bit better by now
    Alison xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad you had a lovely Guy Fawkes night and your Dad was able to enjoy it. Glad too that your sister survived the cot fire! Love your fireplace - it looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It sounds like a lovely family get together. Off to investigate Stir it up Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So glad you enjoyed the family get-together & that your dad was feeling good that day. I'm excited that tomorrow evening I'll be attending a bonfire & hayride event with ladies from our church - should be a fun evening.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yikes to the mattress fire! Glad your Dad was able to join in a bit and hope that he has many more good days than bad. I'm not a Christian and I know it's not Stir Up Sunday just yet but it was here for us too. Sadly the pud hasn't quite made it to the steamer yet as we are awaiting one more stirrer! Great decor on that fireplace by the way.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love fire too - never set anyone's bed on fire but I did once burn a hole in the classroom carpet while being science monitor... (I was swiftly relieved of that responsibility!!)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nineteen people sounds like a nice houseful - glad you've been making memories :)

    ReplyDelete