Remember, remember

Remembrance flowers at the village church

With Bonfire Night over and Diwali underway, fireworks have lit the sky in my village over this weekend by way of celebrating. I remember from my childhood, Guy Fawkes Night meant a big bonfire in a farmer's field and a few whizzing fireworks. It was a time to remember that a Catholic plot to kill King James I and bring down the Houses of Parliament had been quashed a few hundred years ago. In the UK, Halloween, an even older Pagan festival, has overtaken our act of celebrating Britain staying Protestant. Halloween, after all, is a big commercial push just like Christmas. We also have Remembrance Sunday to pay our respects to all those who lost their lives to make our world a better place. Quite a lot to remember in just over a week each year! 

The fireworks glow in my village

I have been home nearly seven years and settled in my current home for over five years. Where has that time gone? As if to remind me, lots of things that are less than seven years old have suddenly started breaking. It was my food processor a few weeks ago and then it was a toaster that I remember paying £10 for from Tesco soon after returning home that popped the fuse box. This was especially annoying as my fuse box is two floors down from the kitchen so I had three goes before being convinced my toaster was to be no more. Going up and down stairs on a dodgy leg made that even more annoying. Other small electrical things that I need an electrician to fix have also gone south recently. 

I promised myself I wouldn't replace the toaster. I took the old one to Currys to recycle it along with an outside security light that had also died around the same time. I thought it wouldn't hurt to look at what toasters were on offer. There it was - a bargain - a Bosch toaster for £25. I have to say, I think the expense was worth it as this toaster is so much better than my £10 Tesco one that died after six years! The toast is even. I don't have to watch to see it pops up like I had to with the other one, What is there not to like?

On the upside, my first trip to a physio went well. Apparently I am a month ahead in my recovery already. Of course I will be doing the exercises I have been given and I am now looking forward to cycling once more - this is something I really miss. I am sure my swimming is a big aid to my speedy recovery. 

I had such joy seeing Trump get a bashing in the mid-terms. Iran is boasting its part in American regime change. I just hope it will curb his stupidity. I do wonder about the way our news gets reported though. King Charles went for a jaunt to the Caribbean and met a succession of prime ministers who were not even named in the press. They were just the PM of this or that island. President Zelensky of Ukraine is just called Zelensky - no title. Why do we afford some people a title while others do not get that honour or respect?