We spread the blanket on the ground beneath the oak trees. The grass was damp and covered in a litter of autumn leaves, dropped from the branches above, but our blanket was thick. It would keep the cold away from our bodies, at least long enough for us to watch the firework display.

The park was beginning to fill with people. Small groups were vying for the best positions from which to observe the evening's entertainment. But, as more and more people arrived, the slope overlooking the boating lake became harder and harder to traverse. Eventually it was just a stationary mass of humanity.

We had chosen our spot with care. Most people thought that the best place to view the evening's entertainment was from the shore of the artificial lake. The fireworks had been installed on the old pirate ship that rose out of the dark water - all the better to keep them out of the hands of the local troublemakers. But we knew that the best view was further back, at the tree line. From there we could look over the heads of the other spectators and see the entire boating lake. Besides, all the action would take place above us.

I opened my backpack and pulled out the flask of tea that I had laced with whiskey. I poured out a cup and handed it to my partner.

"There you go," I said. "That'll keep you warm until the show starts."

She took the cup and held it in her hands, cradling the thin plastic and enjoying the warmth from it. I poured myself a cup and raised it to my mouth. The vapours rose through the cold, night air and tickled my nose, making me sneeze.

"Bless you," my partner said automatically.

I raised my cup towards her. "How many years have we been coming here?"

"Too many," she replied. "But we still enjoy it, don't we?"

I nodded. "What else are we going to do? Stay in and watch the box? You know there's nothing on. Besides, we don't get a good view from our bedroom window."

She laughed and put a hand on my knee and squeezed me. "No. We don't."

I took a mouthful of tea and swallowed, enjoying the taste of sugar, milk and alcohol. It warmed me from the inside outward and made me feel slightly giddy. Then I put my free arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to me, close enough to crush the padding in our coats. She turned her head towards me and placed her lips against mine. We kissed, our tongues exploring each other's mouths.

There was a burst of music from the lakeside. We pulled away from each other, but not too far. We still wanted to hold each other. The noise of the crowd became sporadic, then stopped.

The first of the fireworks rose into the November sky, bursting high above us. A shower of golden fire lit up the faces of the people below. There was a collective gasp of surprise and delight. More fireworks shot into the air, filling the sky with copper blue, strontium red and magnesium white.

We kissed again, this time more passionately than before, our hands running over each other.

"Fireworks," she whispered in my ear.