Remember, remember.....

Remember, remember the 5th of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot...

On the 5th of November 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught attempting to blow up the houses of parliament. English Catholics who had been persectued under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I had hoped things would improve when James I took was crowned. It didn't and a so a group of 13 men led by Robert Catesby decided to take action. Guy Fawkes and the other men involved were tried as traitors. Guy Fawkes was sentenced to death by being hung, drawn and quatered. Not a nice way to go.

From 1606 onward it became custom to commemorate the day to remind all people and future generations what the price for treason was and "to never forget". We still mark this day now with fireworks and bonfires (which were lit on the original night of the conspiracy to celebrate the safety of the King) on which we burn effigies of Guy Fawkes made from old clothes and newspapers. The "guy".

And that brings me to my point. I'm not so useless after all! The small person got to make her Guy. We made him from 2 pairs of tights stuffed with newspaper.

• The first pair of tights we cut the legs short and tied knots in the end. We stuffed this to make the legs and body and tide the top (waistband) in a knot to hold the papers in.


• We used a cut off portion of the smae pair of tights stuffed to create a round ball for a head, and tied this on.


• Next we tied the legs of the 2nd pair of tights part way down to shorten them, turned them inside out (so you can't see the knots) and stuffed just the leg portions.


• This was then tied around the "neck".

Hey presto! Blank guy to decorate!

I sorted some bits and pieces out of Alexandra's craft drawers (yes, she has her very own 3 drawer craft stash) including some face stickers (eyes, mouths etc).

I carried on cooking our bangers, mash and leeks and the small person to supervise Mr Bogert in the decorating part. I think they did a rather smashing job. Well done family peeps :)

Yes, Alexandra's hair usually looks like this after a full day at nursery. Think about the energy that must go into getting it into this state!

Mr Guy Fawkes even has his own hat to cover his ginger hair :)