Bonfire Night Celebrations

On Saturday 7th November, I went to the bonfire and firework display at my local country park. I was really happy that I got the chance to go to an event this year, because for the last three years at university I went to an event and I was missing uni a lot as I sat at home on bonfire night listening to all the sound of distant fireworks outside. Facebook timehop reminded me of the bonfire event in my hometown by showing me a photo of me & my friends there 4 years ago, so me and my mum decided to go. The event at Witton Country Park in Blackburn, Lancashire (NW England) is great fun! There's a fun fair, lots of yummy fastfood stalls, a great bonfire and a fantastic firework display. This post is going to be rather picture heavy, but I hope you all enjoy it!

When we arrived at the park, the first stop was the fun fair because it's always set up right by the entrance. I love funfairs... all the bright colourful lights, impressive cartoons and illustrations painted all over the rides and the music. They look so much better at night too. I love the sound of laughter and people's excited screams when they are on fast rides. I don't actually like going on rides myself so whenever I went in the past with my friends, I've had to awkwardly stand next to the rides being the designated bag and coat holder, but my mum doesn't like rides either so it was fun to walk around and just enjoy the atmosphere of the fair. At the end of the night after the firework display we revisited the fun fair and I had a go on a hook-a-duck game, only it was hook-a-dalmation as you can see the first photo! oh well, I won a little duck teddy so I suppose that fits in with the tradition :) haha. 

Me and my mum had a go on another game to try and win a great hello kitty. The game sounded easy and we watched other people winning before us, but it was much harder than it looked! We had to throw balls into a giant bucket thing, but they kept hitting the back and bouncing back out. You also weren't allowed to lean forward against the front of the stall when throwing the ball or let the balls hit the silver rim of the buckets. I was sad that I didn't get a giant plushie! 

 I really enjoy standing by a fire feeling the heat as soon as you walk towards it and the warmth on your face. It truly feels like autumn when you go to a bonfire at a park because you are surrounded by trees covered in autumn leaves and they are all over the ground at your feet. I like how bonfire night is a unique British tradition, too so it feels kind of special when so many people come together to watch the bonfire. 30 minutes after the bonfire was lit, it was time for the firework display, and it was amazing! It lasted for about 20 minutes and there were so many different types of firework. I love the kind that rain down and look almost like a willow tree. Who else went to a firework display? 

I left Witton Park feeling very happy, with boots covered in mud (I almost slipped on the grass because I'm ridiculously clumsy) with a cute duck teddy, a bag of blue and pink candyfloss (It's been ages since I last ate some so I couldn't resist!), a mint & chocolate nougat bar and one of those dummies made of rock. I also ate a decilious burger whilst I was there. I think it's a fantastic event that I really recommend attending if you are from the local area, plus all of the entry fees go to local charities. I cannot wait until next year!

♥

I'd love to hear all about everyone else's bonfire night... what did you do? 

Hello November

I can't believe it's already November! This year has gone by so fast for me & before I know it, it will almost be 2016. This post is a few days late, but I just wanted to share with you all what I'm looking forward to this month and what I enjoy most about November. What are you most looking forward to this month? 

12 things I'm looking forward to this November

- Bonfire Night  -

I love how this is day is a traditional British celebration and is unique to our country (even though lots of people worldwide have started celebrating it), it doesn't feel like November without visiting a huge bonfire and watching a firework display!

- Treacle Toffee Sweets -

Another great thing that comes along traditionally with bonfire night is treacle toffee, also known as bonfire toffee. I love its strong, bitter taste.

-  More of Autumn -

Autumn is my favourite season & I'm happy that it's still here for now, so there's plenty of time to enjoy all of it's perks. Read what my favourite things about autumn are here. 

- More Baking -

One of my many goals for this month is to bake more. I used to do a lot more baking and considered it a hobby so I'd like to get back into it and learn to make more desserts and cakes. There's so many autumnal recipes I want to try!

- Visits to the Woods -

Since I've now moved back home after graduating from uni, I now have the opportunity to visit the gorgeous woods in my hometown. I love visiting this time of year and looking for acorns and conkers and taking in the beautiful sights of autumn, like the colourful leaves! I can't wait to take my camera and go on a trip to the woods. 

- Buying things for my filofax -

For my birthday in October, my mum bought me my first ever filofax planner and I've decided that I'm going to start using it in the new year so I'm excited to start buying things to use inside it.

- Another cold month, another excuse to drink a slighty excessive amount of hot chocolate! -

I LOVE HOT CHOCOLATE! & it's the perfect season to drink lots of it. Plus I can't wait for all of the festive drinks at Costa to be available again, as well as the christmas themed cups. 

- It's time to start Christmas shopping -

I like to be organised and start getting everyone's christmas presents in November. I get much more excited buying things for other people than I do for myself so I'm really looking forward to this. 

- Christmas list writing -

Another fun part of christmas shopping for me is all the lists I get to write with ideas for all the family members and friends I need to buy gifts for. I am a big fan of lists and I can start using all the notepaper and sticky notes I got for my birthday. 

- Experimenting with autumn lipsticks -

I prefer darker lipsticks and another of my goals this month is to buy some autumnal shades of lipstick. Any recommendations? 

- My bunnies start to get fluffier! -

 All my bunnies are lionheads (other than one, he's a lionhead X rex) and as winter approaches, their fur gets fuller and more fluffy, and it's colour changes. They look beautiful to me all year round but I think they look even more gorgeous this time of year. 

- & finally, gathering christmas-themed things for snailmail -

This time of year all of the christmas stationary, stickers and washi tape start appearing in the shops and so I like to start stocking up in preparation for writing festive snailmail and postcards. 

 

 Thankyou for reading!

♥

I hope you all have a great November!