Lewes

Starfish in the Park sounds like the kind of event that George Michael might attend, but it's actually good clean family fun.

You can just make out the top of Lewes Castle above the trees.

Up on the Downs yesterday.

She's Claire. She's from Lewes. She makes stunning jewellery. And last night she was on the BBC's High Street Dreams.

She's also a friend of mine. It's a shame that the programme was on opposite England's game against Mexico, so in case you missed it there's a link below to watch again.

Website: Claire English
Watch Again: High Street Dreams on BBC iPlayer

Last night Mrs Toque and I went to see Mezzowave at St John-sub-Castro Church in Lewes (sub Castro = under the castle). It was a fantastic, if slightly unusual, way to celebrate St George's Day, and good too to catch up on the career of Alison David, who we used to see a lot of at the Sanctuary Cella Bar in Hove.

The car boot sale in Lewes, Sunday morning.

I don't know, a little bit of snow and everyone starts panic buying and sleeping in their cars.

Civilisation is not coming to an end, beer is still being produced.

Well...Lewes, South Downs and Crumpet in snow.

We walked out the front door around nine and Crumpet started, shocked by the whiteness she lept back. Soon though she was ambling along eating snow and painting some of it yellow. After an evening holed up in the Lewes Arms, supping pints of Harveys Best, we ventured back and took a walk up Chapel Hill (the rat you see pictured at the bottom later spent a good quarter hour gnawing icicles off her leg fur).

The net of lights over the Lewes Christmas tree is a disgrace as far as I am concerned. A piss poor effort by the council.

Prior to Bonfire Night is Badge Night, which falls on the same night as Mischief Night.

This is outside my local on 4th November.

Dammit, that's my favourite night of the year over for another year.

Bonfire Prayers

Remember, remember the Fifth of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and the Parliament
Three score barrels of powder below
Poor old England to overthrow

By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holler boys, holler boys, ring bells ring
Holler boys, holler boys, God Save the King!

A penny loaf to feed the Pope
A farthing o'cheese to choke him
A pint of beer to rinse it down
A faggot of sticks to burn him

Burn him in a tub of tar
Burn him like a blazing star
Burn his body from his head
Then we'll say old Pope is dead

Hip Hip Hoorah!
Hip Hip Hoorah!
Hip Hip Hoorah!