Fireworks Night

With yesterday being fireworks night our usual routine would be to go to our local park and watch the fireworks on display.  Hundreds of people would turn up and you would hear the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and watch the children run about with their flashing fluorescent tubes which only seem to come out on the night only to run out of batteries 2 days later.

When we were younger I remember the kids with their 'guys' lovingly or not put together with their dads old trousers and shirt, and then placed to lounge on the pavement or their sister's pram as they shouted 'penny for the guy'.  The poor guy would later be loaded up on the bonfire and set alight, the pennies that were collected from passers by used to by sparklers, or sweets.  The crowd would count down to the launching of the first fireworks, amidst the laughter and the smells that wafted on the night of roasted chestnuts alongside onions frying for the burger and hot dog stands.

The night air was cold and uninviting, but we were well wrapped up.  The firework display then seemed spectacular as a child, the loud noises as they whizzed and whooshed, and then the lingering smoke that drifted through the neighbourhood as the last firework fizzled out. At that the crowd would disperse, children happy, looking forward to getting home into the warmth and a hot drink. 

This Saturday we totally forgot about the fireworks display until Sekani reminded us...as much as I really like fireworks we were too settled by that time and decided to enjoy the neighbours efforts.  They had some really pretty ones and I enjoyed it without the hat, gloves and scarf, in the comfort of my own home and got these pictures!  We have Sekani's 16th birthday coming up and he has requested fireworks in the garden!  We might also make an effort to go to Central London to see the new year celebration fireworks as it will be the first time and really welcome in 2012!  How will you be welcoming the new year in?