Enough is enough
Bonfire night used to be special. As a child I used to get excited about November 5th, even though I came from a Catholic family and my Mother disapproved of the burning the guy bit. When I became a parent the excitement started all over again. Okay, it was vicarious, but as a parent thats the way it often is. At a dank time of the year there would be parties, outside, with crackling fire, sausages, baked potatoes and , most special of all, fireworks. Pretty little Roman candles, spinning, colour hurling Catherine wheels, rockets speeding into the night sky and then lighting up the sky with multi-coloured showers of sparkles. All around there would be a chorus of 'Oooh, Ahhh'. Everyone would have hunted out their gloves or mittens and would be tracing patterns in the air with sparklers, little faces lit up with a phosphorescent glow, a magical night. This year I have become and old grouch. For two weeks now the night has been filled with a cacophony of loud explosions, nothing to cause childlike wonderment, as you jump out of your skin. Sometimes it could be a single bang, othertimes it might be several, particularly the 2 o clock in the morning episode that went on for ten minutes. I expect those latest addtions to our shopping areas, The Firework Shops, are joyfully counting their takings, and still looking forward to the run up to this weekend. Me? If I never hear another super, pounding, massive detonating, high velocity, cloud buster again I will be ecstatic. The magic has gone, and boredom has set in.
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(4.11.04 19:21) Must be time for Licensed Firework displays. Especially when the casualties start mounting up. I was brought up on backyard fireworks, black peas and treacle toffee on the 5th. No Trick or Treat. No percussive blasts which make my chest move. No American Junk candy. A Guy made of Dad's old clothes. A bonfire made of neighbours' old furniture. Wellies tucked inside trouser legs. Sparklers getting shoved into the garden when they fizzled out. Going to sleep with sparkles in our eyes, not damage to our eardrums and mercilless merchandising on our minds. |
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(4.11.04 20:27) Dave - You've hit the nail on the head. Either that or, limit the size of the fireworks available to individuals. |
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(4.11.04 23:23) Was introduced to Bonfire night in Ottery St Mary when I went to study in Plymouth. Everything else seems a bit dull. Returned with Him Indoors 5 years ago, great magic. May go again next year if we can get The Boy's Father to look after him and time off. I used to love fireworks as a child (a 14th July special), not so keen now. Then again I am going to my friend's display t'row so can't slag off too much. |
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(8.11.04 23:46) the fire works were so loud this year that they made the windows rattle. See tyou at Ottery next year my god son will be running with a barrel |
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(9.11.04 09:04) oh how i miss cracker night.please don't complain  here in oz "they' decided we cannot risk injury to life or limb and banned it. it used to be as big a day as xmas when we were kids,instead of getting together with rellies u got together with the neighbours,had a big bonfire, which had to be guarded and saved evey cent for one more firecracker even if it meant u only had enough for a few tomthumbs more 
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