Magnificent searing lights, sparks and explosions...

...tore through the sky as J. and I made our way home last night: Bonfire Night, which many had feared was in danger of vanishing under the all-encompassing plastic pumpkins and ghoulish outfits of Hallowe'en, seems to be flourishing. The old days of a bonfire in the garden at home, and Daddy letting off a few fireworks as children cheered and held sparklers, have given way to the most magnificent and awesome displays run as gigantic public events. We stopped as we got off the train at the local railway station and just stood there along with others enjoying the fantastic whooshes and explosions of stars and flashing lights that ripped through the sky, from a display a couple of miles away up near the Common.

And today, for the first time, it feels that winter is approaching: crisp cold air as I cycled off to return toys kindly lent by friends for the Play Corner at Towards Advent, and then hurried on to Mass. We have a team of seminarians in the parish over the next weeks, helping out with Confirmation classes and so on and were all invited to meet them after Mass - impressive young men, and most cheering and interesting in conversation. Numbers at the seminary are slowly climbing too, and there is an upbeat mood...

Some happy emails re Towards Advent though as always we must discuss the future logically. Some booksellers were absent this year - the trend is away from book sales at present, which is a depressing thought. And although the hall was v. crowded during the morning, things got slack during the early afternoon. The Cathedral tours and workshops were popular and although these do take people out of the main hall and thus away from the sales area, they are a major attraction...already there have been some good suggestions for next year's speakers...