Firework Fiends and Foes

One of the things I truly hate about this time of year are the fireworks, well not actually the fireworks I love those and the fun they can bring - what is more fun than letting a few fireworks off or watching the organised displays which can be magnificent. The cold, the sparklers, the colours, the oohs and aahs, the hot soup and sausage sandwiches when you get back inside, that is all lovely. And I have some really fond memories of bonfires and fireworks in my childhood and hope we have managed to give Jamie a taste of that, even if we can't have bonfires anymore.



No what I hate is the irresponsible way some people behave when the shops start selling fireworks. As we are now approaching that time I know before long we are going to be bombarded. I am happy to hear them on the right occasions, as it can be such fun but do we need them night after night, and sometimes even in daylight.



My passionate hatred of the irresponsible behaviour comes from two aspects, one being an animal owner, I happily accept that on the night itself and often the Saturdays either side we are going to get the parities, so be it, we can accommodate that. Make sure the cat flap is locked and the cat is in, make sure the TV is on a little louder or there is music playing to drown out most of the noise. I'm a Jack Russell owner so I know she is going to bark and make a fuss, she sees it as her job to warn us and she is probably scared herself. But it is the night after night repetition of a couple of fireworks (and well really they are not that are they - they are either bangers or screechers for want of a better description).



And I know I am not alone as a pet owner who has to suffer their animals being distressed by the thoughtless behaviour of others. Perhaps the only time I am content that Mika and Nelson are no longer here is around Bonfire Night, as they both got highly distressed in their own way. Mika would go mad to get into the garden and bark and bark and bark, running from one side of the garden to the other because of the noise. Nelson on the other hand was utterly terrified and would be sick, wet himself with fear and the only place he could be was sat on my knee and even then he was distressed.



The other reason I hate it is our Asbo neighbour who thinks its fun to let a few fireworks off at any time day or night in the weeks leading up to BN and then on the night itself well he likes to start just as everyone else is finishing. This pattern was started by the brainless father, and continued by both Asbo sons, the mother even joins in. They are a family loathed by all who live around them and we are all waiting for the onslaught to start again, well I'm writing this blog as he has started already and we have had one pack of screechers things already.



And all of these people who cause such a nuisance to those people who live around them and the animals who share their lives, do we think they know what we are celebrating on Bonfire Night. I doubt it and perhaps I should give it its proper name Guy Fawkes Night. Perhaps the retailers and manufacturers need to think about their responsibility too. Fireworks seems to have got bigger and bigger and bigger, moving away from the colour and fun to being totally ostentatious, although maybe the credit crunch may stop the excesses we have seen locally in some years.



I am not even going to discuss Halloween! We thankfully will be well out of the way on Halloween as we have tickets to see the delicious Mr Barrowman in La Cage Aux Folles in London on that evening and we are looking forward to it very much indeed - we are currently deciding what to do in London for the rest of the day - Westminster Abbey maybe part of the plan.





Ciao

Sue

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Reading challenge 9/16 - currently reading Lovers and Players by Jackie Collins
Jamie's Reading challenge 10/12 - currently reading Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Luceno
SLYMI - 1/52