Remember, Remember

First of all, I have to say that I do like firework displays – not just due to being born on November Fifth, but I do find that a proper display can be a joy to see. Yes, even when it’s getting cold and damp, I still like seeing them.

However, and I say the same thing every year, I do feel that they shouldn’t be sold to the public. Not just because of the number of stupid little bastards that think it’s funny to fling lit fireworks into houses, through letterboxes, and into busy pubs (as happened to Gert this time last year) but alse because, frankly, too many people are too self-obsessed and stupid, and insist on firing them off all through the fucking night.

This year, we had the additional joys of a barmy dog that hates fireworks – and goes slightly mental when they go off. So I’ve been more aware than usual of what utter cocksuckers some people can be. We’ve had people letting off fireworks all the way through from about six pm ’til gone midnight – not the same people, obviously, but there’s been sets of *cough* displays throughout that time. And not just on Friday and Saturday, but all through the last week, and also on Sunday. And that’s just the “proper” displays, ignoring the scallie little fuckheads with their three or four rockets or bangers.

Supposedly this year there was a new law restricting both the purchase and use of fireworks. Well frankly, you could’ve fucking fooled me. There’s been the same number of divvy little shits setting them off in the streets, the same news stories of people dying in fires caused by fireworks being dropped through letterboxes, the lot. In fact the only difference between this year and all the others is that I didn’t see a Government-sponsored “firework safety” advertising campaign.

I don’t think fireworks should be banned outright – done correctly they can make for a fantastic piece of entertainment as the nights draw in at the start of November. I just don’t think they should be on sale to the public, and that anyone who does sell them to the public should be fined thousands of pounds. Instead, there should be official public displays put on in towns and villages across the country. In fact, the government could fund a lot of it, simply by being able to transfer it’s budget for firework safety advertising, putting the money instead towards those public displays. Safe, enjoyable, fun, and with a more manageable and reasonable timescale.