Before I was a Marshian, many years ago, bonfire night was a memorable event. It was the only night of the year that fireworks were lit. I have distant memories of huge bonfires and sparklers, thick woolly hats, our breath visible in front of the Roman candles. It was cold. Very very cold.

The next day I’d get up early and roam the streets looking for spent rockets. I’d play with them as we had very few toys back then. It beat playing with the same old wooden bricks on the worn out carpet. Despite the cold foggy weather that still smelled of gunpowder in the morning.

This year we’ve had a month of fireworks and even a week after bonfire night it’s warm. It’s very very warm.

Even in recent years there’s been a hard frost for a few nights by mid November.

I’ll not forget how cold it was then. Now it feels like late summer

Nothing has started eating the berries

There’s a lot of water in the marsh now.

The dams we built earlier in the year are doing a fantastic job.

The once dry ditch is now full

And the difference in the height of the water either side of the otter dam is over a foot.

The starlings are roosting in the reeds

And yet Giant Willow aphids are still active. In mid November!

It’s not just here that’s warm. Temperature records are being broken all over the world. The ice caps are as small as they’ve ever been. If earthlings carry on the planet will be red one day. Ironic that Marshians are helping to keep it green.