We're always a little bit sad when we miss out on Australian celebrations over here in England. We do try to mark the important occasions like Australia Day and Anzac Day. (I can tell you though, partying on January 26 on a cold winter's day is just wrong! Australia Day requires a BBQ, a swim and sweltering weather.)

In November, we miss out on the circus that is the Melbourne Cup. Melbs Cup Day represents a chance to wear a silly hat and drink champagne. Unfortunately, the Cup's three pm starting time means a four am start for us. I'm not that keen to wear a silly hat or drink champagne.

Luckily, we've been able to transfer our affections to Guy Fawkes Night (November 5^th). A 150 year old horse race challenging a 400 year old tradition. If Guy Fawkes Night involved champagne it could have beaten the horsies.

On Saturday evening, we headed to Battersea Park and watched the fireworks display from the bank of the river Thames. It was quite pretty, but really what is a fireworks display without the Harbour Bridge as a centrepiece (Deja vu? I'm sure I said the same thing last year.)

For me, the most amazing thing about the evening, was memories of Guy Fawkes Night from the year before. Last year, we also watched the Battersea fireworks display. We watched it from the window of Phil and Liz's flat. For me, it's strange to be able to think "what was I doing this time last year?" and have London as the backdrop for the memory. Before last year, London was just a place on a map, half a world away. Now it's the place we call home (base).

With a year's experience we are no longer London babies. We are fully-fledged London toddlers. I'm not sure that we're going to make it to adulthood.