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There is nothing like killing two birds with the one stone, which is something I achieved on Halloween eve.
With the Level 5 restrictions in place, most of the normal Halloween festivities and celebration that we are so used to around here were unable to take place, so I wondered what could I do to make things that little bit more special for the children.
There’s a big pile of bushes lying down the field since last June. I had a digger in doing a bit of work and got the driver to pull down any low-hanging branches, with a view to getting the field ploughed at some point in the future.
Of course, they are still in the same place where the digger left them, neatly piled up ready for burning. I decided the bushes needed burning and thought perhaps the children would enjoy the spectacle of a bonfire.
Kindling and colour
I was watching the forecast and knew that Halloween night was not going to be a runner. Wind and rain was predicted and lots of it, but the evening before was given to be calm and dry and looked perfect.
With a strong lighter, some dry kindling, a few colourful words and a drop of diesel, I eventually got things cooking
Off I headed at 5pm to get my spectacle ignited, which I have to say took a little more effort than I was expecting, the damp bushes did not make for the best kindling.
With a strong lighter, some dry kindling, a few colourful words and a drop of diesel, I eventually got things cooking. Next problem was the logistics of getting my audience to the event.
A quad with high-sided trailer, decked out with hay bales for seats was the obvious choice. Very practical, safe and – even more importantly – very comfy. There even was room in the centre for a pushchair and the littlest party goer.
Silver lining
By the time I got back to the house to collect my passengers, my other half had everyone wrapped up in warm clothes, woolly hats and wellies.
There were flasks full of hot chocolate and bags full of marshmallows and a six-foot bamboo for everyone, which had a skewer cable tied to the end of it so the marshmallows could be toasted from a safe distance.
Everyone was super excited at the thoughts of the adventure that lay ahead. Everyone was loaded up and off we set, down to the middle of a dark field to look at a pile of burning bushes, where we spent lovely and enjoyable hours.
If any good has come out of this pandemic for me personally, it would be that it has really helped me appreciate the simple things in life
If I had suggested the like any other year my other half would have thought I was mad, but I’d say this was our best Halloween yet, the children really loved it.
If any good has come out of this pandemic for me personally, it would be that it has really helped me appreciate the simple things in life. That and it helped me get my bushes burned.
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