Newsletter October 2014

The Nexus No Name Newsletter
Number Forty Nine
October 2014
I hope everyone that is reading this is having a really good day and if you are not, just know
that in every new minute that passes you have an opportunity to change that.
Gillian Anderson
David W recently sent us some photographs of his busy social life clubbing in Maidstone, playing football, on the Ashlea House trip to Chessington and a Halloween Party (did you forget the mask Dave?)
Remember, remember the fifth of November ... known aGuy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night and Firework Night. It is an
annual celebration observed on November 5 for more than 400 years following the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when 13
conspirators planned to blow up Parliament and kill King James I. Guy Fawkes was arrested while guarding explosives
To mark the occasion, here are some facts about Guy Fawkes, gunpowder and fireworks:
Political protesters sometimes wear Guy Fawkes masks to protect their identity. You might recognize these masks if
you’ve seen the film V for Vendetta, which is very loosely based on the story of Guy Fawkes.
The only place in the UK that does not celebrate Guy Fawkes Night is St. Peter’s School in York. Guy Fawkes went there
as a boy and they refuse to burn his image in respect for their former pupil.
Guy Fawkes wasn’t the main conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot, but he had one of the most important roles. He guarded
the gunpowder underneath the Houses of Parliament, and had he not been caught, he would have been charged with lighting it.
Physicists from the Institute of Physics have calculated that the 2,500kg of gunpowder Fawkes hid would have wreaked
damage almost 500 metres from the centre of the explosion.
Fireworks were invented when a Chinese cook accidentally discovered how to make explosive black powder - the early
origin of gunpowder - during the 10th century. The cook accidentally mixed three common kitchen ingredients - potassium
nitrate or saltpetre (a salt substitute used in the curing of meat), sulphur and charcoal and set light to the concoction. The
result was colourful flames. The cook also noticed that if the mixture was burned when enclosed in the hollow of a bamboo
shoot, there was a tremendous explosion.
Fireworks arrived in Europe in the 14th century and were first produced by the Italians. The first recorded display was in
Florence. The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486.
Dummies have been burned on bonfires since as long ago as the 13th century, initially to drive away evil spirits
Following the gunpowder plot of 1605, the focus of the sacrifices switched to Guy Fawkes' treason.
It is said that the word ‘guy’ actually comes from the name Guy Fawkes. It originally meant “an ugly, repulsive person”
but, throughout the years, simply became a synonym for “man”
.
One suggested origin for the word ‘bonfire’ is that derives from 'bone-fire', and comes from a time when the bodies of
witches, heretics and other misfits were burned instead of being buried in holy ground.
RECIPE
OF
THE MONTH
Devil's double choc malt cookies
with Maltesers & white chocolate
Ingredients
50 g unsalted butter
200 g quality dark chocolate (70%)
1 x 396 g tin of condensed milk
25 g ground almonds
2 heaped teaspoons Horlicks
200 g self-raising flour
100 g Malteasers
50 g quality white chocolate
Method
Melt the butter and chocolate in a pan on a low heat until smooth and combined,
stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in the condensed milk,
followed by the almonds and Horlicks. Sift in the flour and a pinch of sea salt,
mix together, then chill in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes (no longer). Once cool,
but still pliable, smash up the Maltesers and roughly chop the white chocolate,
then mix it all together.
Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/gas 3. Divide the mixture into 24 equal-sized
balls and place on a couple of large baking trays lined with greaseproof paper.
Flatten each a little – like squashed golf balls (you can freeze them at this stage to
bake another day if you like) – then bake for around 12 minutes, or until chewy
in the middle and firm at the edges. Leave to sit in the tray for 5 minutes, then
transfer to a wire rack to cool.
I was very young when the realisation of the joy of the cookie hit me. I've never really met anyone
that doesn't like a freshly baked cookie Jamie Oliver
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