G'day,

Gurney - rest assured it's still Guy Fawkes on Stewart island, though we are a day late celebrating this year. the school jids (all 15) were on thw mainland last week and didn't get home until 5.30pm last night 9the 5th) - so we've deferred it to tonight. It won't be a patch on 25 iears back when we had 65 boats fishing off the island. guy fawkes was an excellent excusre for disposing of outdated emergency flares... great stuff..

Nigel - we used to remember Armistice Day in NZ, when I was a kid in the '50s. This year will be the first major event in yonks. Right now we have an Armed Forces team (plus hangers-on) in France, coolecting the remains of an unidntifed WWI Kiwi soldier from his War Grave, to bring home to NZ and re-inter in our new Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington. in MZ we wear our poppies on ANZAC Day 925 April) to rmember the Gallipoli landing of 1915.

Susan - It was all a Papist Plot - Guy Fawkes has a good summary, while Gunpowder Plot offers more backgound detail.

Next year is the 400th Anniversay of the event. I trust no-one tries a re-run.

Cheers - Sam