Just looking at an old thread (2013) about this very subject, that moderator of the time Pengi locked. The only reason I bothered at all is a pretty obscure one..... Bealman's budgie died last weekend, and it sort of almost coincides with the 50th aniversary of a young Bealman's budgie carking it in 1969 - on Nov 5th.
Anyway, got me thinking..... do you still have fireworks over there? Bet you don't - not like when I was a kid and I'd buy box loads of 'em. Penny bangers.... throw 'em through letterboxes nah, I would never do such a thing :D
When I arrived in Australia back in 74, they had an annual cracker night with bonfires in the middle of the Aussie winter which lasted up until the early eighties, but that's long gone now.
Tomorrow is a big day here too, but for a different reason - Melbourne Cup Day.... "the race that stops a nation", so no doubt Bealman's pocket will be a bit lighter by the end of the day ;)
Hi George,
Of course we still have fireworks over here. Little bit harder to buy, I think Sainsbury's have stopped selling them as they're 'protecting public safety' although an insider said it's really because they're a nightmare to store and get rid of if they don't sell so 'not very profitable' or something like that.
Mrs weave and I might go to this.....
https://farnhamroundtable.org.uk/fireworktickets/
Not a great link but apparently a good show with lots of beer (see the sponsor) and sausages :thumbsup:. Have missed it for the last 3 years due to rain, on holiday and then rain again. Sod that so let's hope it's dry.
We can't have our own one as we have 4 dogs and one, especially, is absolutely terrified of them.
Cheers weave :beers:
PS. Enjoy the big race.
Fireworks are not available for sale here, full stop.
Oh, except for.... guess.... Australian Capital Territory. :)
Blimey, didn't know that AND I hear you can't smoke in the Street now so presume not on a beach either. Can't afford to go back but it's becoming less appealing even if I could. What's next? prohibition :no: ;) :D maybe :worried:.
Cheers again weave :beers:
If that happens I'll be rowing back to Blighty, mate. :beers:
Oh, for wot it's worth, I'm putting my money on Raymond Tusk tomorrow.
Why? As I was writing the names down in the sweep on Saturday night, everytime I wrote that name, it came over the microphone shortly after.
Real expert, me! ;D
I think the supermarkets are getting the hump after insurance premiums went up due to stupidity in some stores. Where are the best places to put firework cabinets? Next to escalators and fire escape doors of course. :goggleeyes:
We have a lot of organised displays near us but far fewer in private gardens so far this year, but Saturday was the big night. New Years on the Thames is fantastic.
Shows like that are ALL we get here in NSW.
However, nowt beats putting on your own show in your backyard.
The emergency rooms probably aren't so busy though.
Quote from: Bealman on November 04, 2019, 02:59:21 AM
Anyway, got me thinking..... do you still have fireworks over there? Bet you don't
Being a party-pooper I'd like to see fireworks limited to Public Displays or events such as 'Big' birthdays e.g. 18,21,50,65 etc.
I am sick and tired of a 6 week Bonfire night and pray for rain apart from on the actual day. What's more - no one does 'Penny for the Guy' any more (haven't seen one for about 15 years) but they all like to come out on Hallowe'en and extort what they can from you or throw eggs at your windows/key your car if you don't answer the door.
Sorry, George. You set me off on one of my pet hates.
No problem....
You have answered the question in my op quite clearly! ;)
Keep calm and carry on N gauging (preferably with a VB) ;D
Anyway, this time tomorrow night it'll be just about over and the Melbourne Cup will have relieved me of a few dollars if last the last few years are anything to go by ;)
And going off on a tangerine - who decided it's a good idea to have fireworks on New Years Eve and why? Grrrrr :veryangry:
I've never understood why anyone would ever buy their own fireworks. Given they explode in the air regardless, and you can view displays people have spent thousands on, why spend your own money on a rubbish equivalent?
As for Halloween, the Americans can't take that back soon enough. Absolutely ghastly.
We get them at New Year, Bonfire month and Diwali. Doesn't bother me personally, but I feel sorry for all the pets out there.
We're out in the sticks a wee bit so don't see fireworks, however:
On my 70th, mates came up and we had a bit of a do and as was tradition (40th, 50th & 60th) mate No 1 brung fireworks. The earlier celebrations were held in other places.
Just a few rockets and some sparklers for the under 70's, we'd already checked there weren't any sheep in the field backing onto the launch site and Blue cat was safely tucked in his bed.
Evans the farmer came bowling up halfway through the 10/12 minute display telling us off for scaring his dog (half a mile away) and would we please give him notice of the next event. That'll prob be my 80th, if I'm spared, and I don't think it will be bothering his dog!
Hope you picked a winner, George!
Dave G
Quote from: Newportnobby on November 04, 2019, 11:26:35 AM
And going off on a tangerine - who decided it's a good idea to have fireworks on New Years Eve and why? Grrrrr :veryangry:
and birthdays
Quote from: The Q on November 04, 2019, 02:34:27 PM
Quote from: Newportnobby on November 04, 2019, 11:26:35 AM
And going off on a tangerine - who decided it's a good idea to have fireworks on New Years Eve and why? Grrrrr :veryangry:
and birthdays
There was a big banner at a recent march outside Westminster saying "Bring Back Guy Fawkes" :-X
FYI it was promoting a Facebook Page but I think it has possibilities :D
Here in Holland the fireworks are at New Year. Years ago it used to be like World War III, but since the recession it's quietened down a bit.
Quote from: Malc on November 04, 2019, 02:03:36 PM
We get them at New Year, Bonfire month and Diwali. Doesn't bother me personally, but I feel sorry for all the pets out there.
I used to live in central Berlin, which disappears into a fog of cordite between 23:30 and 01:00 on New Year's Eve, and we had two cats, one of which was not scared of anything ("
if in doubt, attack!" was her motto), the other was basically a reanimated stuffed toy who wanted to be everyone's best friend but also was the living definition of "scaredy cat" so traditionally I would build a sound-proofed (as far as feasible) refuge where he would retreat for the duration.
Meanwhile, back at the Antipodes, 15 minutes to "the race that stops a nation."
Geeup!
Well that's over for another year, and I'm only $20 lighter, so could be worse.
Enjoy the fireworks! ;)
QuoteAs for Halloween, the Americans can't take that back soon enough. Absolutely ghastly.
Halloween celebrations outdate bonfire night by a few 100 years,it was originally a pagan festival to mark the start of winter,the bonfires part of the ritual,then along came the Christians and decided to nick it as there own and call saints day,and the yanks decided to commercialise it
Don't mean this to be a political comment but... Guy Fawkes - probably the last man to enter parliament with completely honest intentions.
Quote from: Bealman on November 05, 2019, 04:15:50 AM
Well that's over for another year, and I'm only $20 lighter, so could be worse.
Enjoy the fireworks! ;)
The fireworks started down the road from us last night. Only a few but we now have two 'scaredy cat' dogs. The other two didn't seem bothered at all.
Anyway, regarding the race, I was going to bet on Dettori's horse but didn't have time to go to the bookies (don't want to get into betting on line) so glad I didn't as demoted to fourth. Not sure if Each-Way would have paid on the first four but think only first three so would have been gutted.
I liked the quote by the owner of the winning horse, Vow and Declare, who was asked where the horse's name came from. He replied that he was named after his father. "Dad would come home from the pub and say to mum: 'I vow and declare I've only had a few beers'".
Cheers weave :beers:
Quote from: JonHarbour on November 05, 2019, 05:57:17 AM
Don't mean this to be a political comment but... Guy Fawkes - probably the last man to enter parliament with completely honest intentions.
I think that applies particularly to the Australian situation at the moment!
Ha ha excellent one, weave, though I think as a mod I should cause this thread to self destruct, as I too am being drawn into political implications. :thumbsup: :beers:
Maybe tomorrow.... ;)
Hi George,
'Twas Jon who made the excellent political joke. I just went off topic talking about the Melbourne Cup. I'll get back on topic and tell you all about my complete and utter firework stupidity incident when I was 14 in an bit. Stay tuned.
Cheers weave :beers:
Is it just me or are fireworks much louder than they used to be? I remember our dad buying boxes of fireworks and crackers when we were young and having a small display in the back garden.
Now the fireworks are much more spectacular but incredibly noisy, It's like being in a war zone.
Some years ago my sister and I went to a Bonfire Night public display at the Blists Hill Museum.
She was hit just below her right eye by a piece of red hot firework the size of a 10p piece. I took het to the St.Johns Ambulance folks who sorted it out but an inch higher and she could have been blinded in one eye.
I have my reasons for hating the damned things and not just because of the above event and the fact my cat cowers under the wardrobe with each explosion. I hope more shops follow Sainsbury's example. Rant over (I think)
I have never been a fan of fireworks but recently they seem to have graduated from the box of a dozen candle sized items with a catherine wheel and a handful of rockets to some thing that resembles a crate of mortars, surely devices like these should be left in the hands of professionals
Quote from: themadhippy on November 05, 2019, 05:10:47 AM
QuoteAs for Halloween, the Americans can't take that back soon enough. Absolutely ghastly.
Halloween celebrations outdate bonfire night by a few 100 years,it was originally a pagan festival to mark the start of winter,the bonfires part of the ritual,then along came the Christians and decided to nick it as there own and call saints day,and the yanks decided to commercialise it
Indeed, and it's the commercialisation I object to. They even stole the bloody apostrophe from it!
Every Forum seems to be clogged up with "Ban Fireworks" calls because it frightens Little Moggy or Doggy.
How about "Ban Dogs and Cats", they cause more discomfort all the year round to those who don't share this pets-come-first obsession.
Quote from: OffshoreAlan on November 05, 2019, 05:59:32 PM
Every Forum seems to be clogged up with "Ban Fireworks" calls because it frightens Little Moggy or Doggy.
How about "Ban Dogs and Cats", they cause more discomfort all the year round to those who don't share this pets-come-first obsession.
lite blue touch paper and stand back :D
I seem to recall fireworks having "light blue touchpaper and retire" printed on them.
So I did.... I lit it and went to bed :worried:
And, as Snowwolfair hints at, I think it may be time to retire this thread.
Quote from: Snowwolflair on November 04, 2019, 02:42:00 PM
Quote from: The Q on November 04, 2019, 02:34:27 PM
Quote from: Newportnobby on November 04, 2019, 11:26:35 AM
And going off on a tangerine - who decided it's a good idea to have fireworks on New Years Eve and why? Grrrrr :veryangry:
and birthdays
There was a big banner at a recent march outside Westminster saying "Bring Back Guy Fawkes" :-X
As the quote goes 'the last man to enter parliament with an honest intent'