In the spirit of keeping it regular I thought I’d post this:

Our builders arrive.
A new bathroom for Christmas!
I miss the toilet.

This is partly inspired by Stephen Gill and partly because I find it hard to photograph people. Signs and inanimate objects please.

A brief review of Bonfire Night in Lewes: lots of marching bands and banners that said God Save The Queen, In God We Trust and Good Old Cliffe. Little drummer boys, trombone players and many military uniforms abounded. VERY LOUD BANGERS. I have never been to Belfast but this was a touch too Orange Order for my liking. I adore fireworks night and rarely think of its political provenance, but the burning crosses and effigy of Condoleeza Rice (for the second year running) were disconcerting. Not because she is not as nasty and terrible as GB, but because burning crosses do not sit well with me. Apparently last year one of the village societies had a gypsy caravan with ‘pikey’ written on it as their effigy of choice. I did not see this but a local (born in Brighton, parents Lewes residents – status therefore debatable as I made sure to remind him) told me this was the case. He was very polite but not that keen on the influx of outsiders crowding the streets and spoiling all the fun for the locals. A bit like Carnival but not.

So, such is the state of deepest, darkest Sussex. The only PC they have down there is the police constable variety (all of whom, incidentally were kitted out in rather snazzy, banger proof goggles). It’s funny, isn’t it, how one’s sense of humour regarding such matters is in direct proportion to the likelihood of being lynched? No doubt I will be far more forgiving when it comes to Borat, even if Kazhakstan is a spiritual home simply because of its preponderence of ‘k’s and zeds.

The fireworks however were intense, and better perhaps even than Carcassonne which were formidable indeed. as were the eventual detonations and the cries of ‘burn him, burn him’. The finale was the biggest bonfire I’ve ever seen. I am happy to report there was no witch on it. I made it home alive.