General Chat

In Sussex we have “Bonfire Societies” who raise lots of money for local charities. Their organized Firework Nights are very dramatic. They are traditionally started with a flaming torch procession through the town or village, led by a Trailer carrying the Guy, then comes a Marching Band , members of the local Society members, neighbouring Societies all wearing its own ‘Uniform’ , decorated Tableaux’s & then the local children ( & their parents) who have entered the fancy-dress Competition. They then make their way to the Bonfire site, where they throw their torches onto the Huge Bonfire, setting it alight whilst chanting “Please to Remember the 5th of November~~~”. When the fire is burning well, the Firework Display starts. These are well organized evenings; the actual Bonfire + fire-work detonation areas are fenced off from the general public & Marshals patrol these barriers, with only full members of the Societies allowed through. Most Societies have their own “Night”, to allow for this there are organized Bonfires from the middle of October to the middle of November, throughout Sussex. Lewes has several different Societies & they all hold their Bonfire on 5th November. Last Saturday Hastings had their Display & this coming Saturday it is the turn of the small village of Staplecross. Fireworks should NEVER be available over a counter; the person who lights the fireworks at large displays has to hold a licence allowing him to do so.

Before we had our dog we used to go to the one near my in-laws as it was a fantastic one where everyone brought food and there was a huge barbecue and people brought stuff to go on the bonfire like an old cane conservatory suite!! Everyone had at one point sat on through the course of the evening and towards the end it got chucked on too!!! There's also some old wooden fish boxes still knocking aorund our area along with pallets so they normally get used as seats first too but you kind of smell a bit kippery if you know what I mean!!! Bt and hydro electric also donate any of those massive big cable reels you see if they happen to be working in the area at the time.........also pubs donate juice for the kids too! Now for us it's different I stay at home with our dog and have him doped up to the eyeballs so it all passes in a blissful haze......I also turn the telly up quite loud so any close ones get drowned out and we cuddle up on the sofa watching telly...........hubby & little sprite still go to the bonfire as a father-son kind of thing as little sprite's only 8 and it's still fun for him :-) That said I could strangle the little darlings who have set some off tonight as the medication I give my dog takes a few hours to get to it's peak so I have a jittery slevvery wreck trying to get under my computer desk the now!!! They shouldn't be sold until the 4th/5th November and before then orders can be taken and stock reserved there's no need for them to be sold before then or after........it's the sad stories of poor animals going mad because of the noise and running away, or having heart attacks or running into the road to get away from the noise.........and then of course there's the sick and twisted people among us who will no doubt torture some animals with fireworks and there only hope is a quick death.........these are all stories we will be reading about over the next few weeks in the papers etc and yet fireworks still get sold :-( Why not have a blanket ban on fireworks and leave it to the professional displays ran by local groups like the council or suchlike........but also bare in mind that bonfire night as it's true form never had fireworks nor sparklers it was a 'guy' chucked on a huge pyre and set ablaze for all to watch.........this is how it should be. RDA.x.

Tomorrow night my house will be full of family in their Bonfire Societies 'Uniforms' . Tummies full of Beef Stew & Dumplings(to keep out the cold), Baking Potatoes ready to put into the oven for when they get back. The Bonfire Site is in a field at the back of our house. So the tinies & I will watch the procession, go back indoors for a while, then go out into the garden, or up to a back bedroom to watch the Firework Display.

I hate fireworks. Years ago when my brother was 19 he had 4 packets of Bangers in his pocket (10 in a pack) someone walked into him holding a sparkler and caught his pocket with it, the whole lot went off inside his pockets.....He was in hospital for months. He nearly died.

Rarely bothered till I had my son, then when he was 4, I started to take him to organised dos, altho he would have a few fireworks at my parents' house cos it pleased my dad to do it for him. As he got older it became a sort of tradition to go to the big party in a local park, huge place, where there was also a fun fair and stalls. Now he has been old enough to go by himself (well, under his own steam so don't have to go and get cold and wet) Did go with him, his girlfriend and her little lad, and o.h. about couple of years ago to an organised one, but this year will be at the Norfolk coast on holiday so may find something locally to watch.