Tonight, I’m going to stare into a fiery pits of a diabolically massive bonfire and get neck-ache going “oooh” and “ahhh” at some wondrous good rockets and other fireworks.
Bonfire night is one of those occasions I hate to miss. Not because I like noise – though I don’t mind it – but because of the connection with real fabulous, leaping fire, which you don’t see much these days unless you’re an ardent fire-engine follower – and the chance of seeing fireworks that are even more spectacular than last year’s.
It’s a kind of pilgrimage, converging on Speech House, the heart of the Forest of Dean and following scores of dark figures trudging over collapsing soaked ferns, fallen autumn leaves and squelchy pasture towards the smoky red glow of the inferno across the field.
People of all ages turn up, including some very young babies which always puzzles me because unless they are totally deaf they are likely to be a bit terrified.
DT man isn’t overly fond of fireworks but he would quite happily take charge of a selection of bangers or personally ignite a selection of feck-off huge rockets – the sort they bury in the ground and make your feet shudder as they shoot off into the sky.
Me? I like colour, design, spectacle. Roman candles, catherine wheels, and fantastic rockets. When I was small the Jackie Jumpers you got in the small boxes of Standard fireworks were fun. They only made very small bangs and you could squeal and panic a bit if they jumped randomly near your feet knowing all the time they they couldn’t do much harm.
My mother used to talk about how, when they were both aged 10 – 13 in the 1930’s, my two uncles used to be able to buy dozens of bangers very cheaply, stuff their pockets, then go up the wood and chuck them at each other.
Turns out DT man did exactly the same in the 60’s when he was that age – fireworks still being freely available in the shops.
“But Roman candles and Catherine wheels and more interesting fireworks were available then, surely…?”
“Oh yes. But we only ever bought bangers and lobbed them at people across the street. That was the thing to do. We all thought it was hilarious.”
Son no2 wasn’t aware of this history but proved to be a chip off the old block. He returned from a school skiing holiday in the French alps with a full and heavy rucksack.
“Ooooh what have you brought back?” I cooed expectantly, thinking delicately painted Alpine ceramic, maybe? Delicately perfumed Alpine chocolates? Collection of Alpine mugs? Alpine pen and pencil set peut etre?”
He tipped the contents out on the kitchen floor. Dozens of black, powdery fireworks. All bangers, purchased from shop in the ski resort.
“Oh for God’s sake!” was my reaction. “You brought this lot home in the coach, through customs?”
He was unrepentant. “Some of my friends bought knives in the knife shop but I didn’t.”
Jeez.
“You even try setting these off in the back garden and you’ll get us all kettled by the police and carted off as terrorists,” I warned him.
“But why can’t I use them? I spent all my money on them.”
We decided he should either put them straight in the bin or take them down to his mate’s house in an isolated spot in the Forest of Dean, play commandoes and set them off there. People are always shooting stuff in the Forest so a few more explosions wouldn’t be out of place.
A week later there was a sensation at school. Persons unknown had blown up a school litterbin using fireworks. No-one was injured by shrapnel. The headmaster was making enquiries. Ahem.
DT man displayed his usual laissez-faire attitude
“Big fuss over nothing. Perfectly normal boy behaviour.”
Just as well, perhaps, that the audience at the display tonight will include children and women like me who like pretty colours.
Left to the chaps, I suspect it could turn into a family-friendly version of anti-tank weapon testing on Salisbury Plain.
Boadicea's Chariot 
What a great story Jan, I enjoyed this. There is one more to add, to the glories here, if I may; the wonderful smell of the bonfire, there’s nothing like it, I adore it.
Jan, nice tale. I’m going to indulge my pyromania tomorrow (weather permitting) with ‘normous bonfire to get rid of the latest crop of undergrowth and branches. In the ‘fifties I too bought bangers galore and usually spent evenings after 5th November disposing of them!
Fireworks should be seen on a balmy evening, from a distance, sitting on a hill side, enjoying a glass of champagne at mid-night. That was, for me, New year’s Eve, Sydney style a few years back. I have never enjoyed fire works so much.
Or from our bedroom window at midnight, looking across to Blenheim, on New Year’s Eve.
Damp, unpredictable November doesn’t really do it for me!
One year when I was small, while Jumping Jacks were popping around our feet and sparklers were being waved dangerously close to small children’s faces, one of those helicopter style fireworks detoured from its predicted course and ended up going inside the house, via the open back door and straight into the coat rack. That was close call.
I’m off to another fireworks do tonight. I’m just off to revise what to do in case of a firework burn. TTFN
This is what http://www.chiltern.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=52&pageNumber=6 says about burns:
Keep calm – if you panic you will be less able to help.
Always seek medical advice – if you are in any way unsure about how serious an injury is or if you have any concerns.
Even if a burn is only small it is always worth getting it checked out to ensure that there are no foreign objects (such as pieces of dirt or ash) in the wound, that it is dressed properly and healing well.
*
Immediately run cold water over the burn for at least 10 minutes – do this straight away and never rub butter, oil or ointment into a burn.
*
Take off any restrictive clothes, belts or jewellery that the injured person is wearing as burned skin can swell.
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Cover the burned area with a clean, smooth cloth (like a pillowcase) or cling film, to keep out infection until it can be properly dressed.
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Unless the burn is very small (smaller than a 10 pence piece), go to hospital.
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If the burn is very serious, or the person is (or was) unconscious, dial 999.
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Never give an injured person anything to eat or drink after an accident – even water, tea or a ‘medicinal’ brandy. This can be very dangerous if they go into shock and may delay treatment if they need to go to hospital. Seek medical advice to get an ‘all clear’ before you give them anything.
I love bonfires and the glowing heat that emanates form them.
As for fireworks a lot louder now and possibly more dangerous but good fun.,
We used to get penny (old penny) bangers and the penny rockets and fire them at each other form copper tubes.
We also made our own fireworks and (if your are squeamish stop here)
We made rockets with a packet on the top, in the packet we used to put mice with little parachutes and off they went. We never found any of the mice but assumed they all did a Rambo and escaped into the wild.
Rick!! Really tttttt
Excellent Pseu, thanks for that.
Val yes we did, My friend had loads of white mice, but they boldly went where no other mouse had been.
No one complained when the US Space rockets sent up mice and monkeys.
I’m trying to imagine seeing mice floating down from the sky “Struth, that beer was strong” 🙂
Rick, you must have hated those meeces to pieces to do that! Love it that you made your own rockets, tho.
Well done Janus. Nice big fragrant bonfire in store, then! 🙂
Hi Pseu. Timely advice there – thanks! Yep I like the summer evening civilized watching of fireworks while squiffy after singing along with some big woman in a Union Jack warbling Rule Britannia but I like the wellie-clad gatherings in the dark at this time of year too. All muffled up and cosy and smelling the outdoors and the autumn.
Have a good evening, everyone, whatever your tastes.
Oooh, aaah…
My Grandchildren, (the two on the left as you look at the pic,) and friends watching the fireworks 🙂
What about the hedgehogs, Jan!
Sorry, Jan, I did enjoy your post. I don’t know what came over me!
Morning Bravo! Your grandchildren look entranced! So a good night was had by all, I hope! 😉
Bilby, I know what you mean but if bonfires are built only a day or two before being set alight, I would hope that not too many hedgehogs are harmed. 😉
We have no hedgehogs round here, the foxes had em all sob sob.
A link to some piccies from last night. Not brilliant but some bizarre effects.
http://janh1.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/a-few-firework/
Shame about your hedgehogs, Rick.