Tuesday, July 2

How times change

Sitting here, trying not to shiver, ignoring the cold that is nibbling at my toes, my eyes stare mindlessly at the blank screen before me. A moment's break in the deluge of firecrackers that surrounds the cool night air provides just enough time for the mind to begin thinking of possible topics.

image by rech
The returning bombardment of explosions blasts away any fragment of thought the silence created.

Thirty five years ago, the first day of July 1978, saw the Northern Territory step up to the plate and begin self government. By all accounts it was a pretty momentous day for Territorians, as three month old child at the time, I can't say it really affected me one way or the other.

What does effect me though, is the fact that thirty five years on it is deemed necessary to celebrate said self government, with the igniting of fireworks. I have never really understood how the two went together. 

Of course as a child I didn't care one way or the other why we got to have a big fire in the driveway and burn a newspaper man once a year I just loved doing it. Cracker night, as it was affectionately known as, was by far one of my most favourite nights of the year.

About a week beforehand we would begin searching for some old clothes to make Guy with. Mum, a proud pom, saw cracker night as a great excuse to educate us on the history and tradition of Guy Fawkes

Again not overly fussed on the hows and whys at the time, just thought it was great mum encouraged us to spend the first week of the school holidays stuffing scrunched up newspaper into old clothes with the anticipation of throwing it all on a big bonfire. And quite frankly what child wouldn't?

Only I am not a child any more and things have more than changed.

For some reason bonfires in your driveway, in suburbia are just not ok. The hardest part of this for me to grasp is that mum hasn't moved.

Then there is the whole cost of literally watching your money go up in smoke. Albeit smoke with very pretty sparkly lights and lots of noise. My parents must have been seriously cashed up to put on some of the displays that they did. Either that or inflation has a lot to answer for.

There is just no feasible way I can justify buying fireworks. No matter how much I may love them. It is just a ridiculous waste of money, not to mention damage to the environment. 

Thankfully there are numerous public displays that tight pursed penny pinchers such as myself can go and watch. Then there are public places where you can just be and happen to see the free show. Just from a slightly different angle and a greater distance. 

This also means less crowds. Which I kinda like a lot. What I didn't like about the lesser crowd though was its percentage of idiots. Because it was not the actual public viewing location, the public is able to light their own firecrackers. Whenever they want. Some may say without thought or consideration to anyone else. 

We didn't witness any serious injury, thankfully. I totally understand how it happens. People are morons and just don't stop and think. We did see a few near misses

The other downside to our choice was getting there a little late. This meant only managing a vantage site from amongst some tress.

Which wasn't actually as bad as what I am making out due to the size of the display. The girls loved every moment of it and were oohhing and aching like they had never seen fireworks before. 

It was a lovely night. We picnicked on egg and bacon pie. Living on the edge I threw in a bit of cheese and freshly chopped spinach with onion and garlic. Total yumminess with quite a bit healthiness as well. Not quite the same as toasting marshmallows over a smouldering Guy though.

Are you a fire cracker fan?

Joining in all the fun


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24 comments:

  1. I am a firecracker fan now but I won't buy them - I just love watching the displays that the professionals put on !!
    When I was little I hated fireworks. We would go every year to the fireworks at school for Guy Fawkes night and every year after about 5 crckers, my Dad would have me on his back and we would be walking home leaving my Mom and brother to watch and I would say "I don't like crackers and you ?" and my Dad would say "No, I don't like crackers either (even though he was probably sad at missing them !!!)" and about five steps later I would say it again and he would reply. We still laugh about those years now !
    Have the best day !
    Me

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    1. That is what it is like in our house usually, a child complaining they don't like them and one of us leaving with her. This year was the first year without any real complaints or fears.

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  2. I remember as a kid the huge fire in the backyard, catherine wheels pinned to the fence, sparklers in each hand, a packet of "thrown downs" in my pocket. It used to be awesome, I remember being burnt on the hand at the age of 7(not too badly) and having to hold dad's beer to stop the burning sensation! :) Gone are those days! :( It was such a great night, such a shame it has had to end. :(

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    1. Ohhh Catherine wheels!!! They were awesome back in the day weren't they? Lol about the holding the beer to help your burn.

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  3. I am actually! In Japan they sell packets of tiny firecracker in various forms to play with (under adult supervision of course) during summer and I love the big fireworks too. In Singapore playing with firecrackers is banned to prevent accidents and damage to property. We still get good displays every now and then though :)

    Ai @ Sakura Haruka

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    1. We can only buy them here on this one day of the year. they sure are lots of fun aren't they?

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  4. I remember celebrating Guy Fawkes Day as a kid. Now in Victoria we just get to enjoy the big pro displays which are amazing. We even had fireworks at our wedding ;)

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    1. How exciting to have them at your wedding, what a lovely idea

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  5. Guy Fawkes Day is the strangest thing isn't it?! I remember when we lived in the UK we watched a Guy Fawkes life size doll get thrown on the bonfire and set alight. Crazy fun :) I do like fireworks, but also think it is a big waste of money.

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    1. Yes they are a big waste of money aren't they? Even the big public displays I think sometimes the money could have been used elsewhere, bu tI still love watching them

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  6. We used to buy a Guy too. We would go out of town into a dry creek bed with friends and have a huge bonfire. Fond memories, but the whole tradition is very weird to me as an adult.

    4th of July is huge in America and we would see fireworks going off all over the neighbourhood. We even had some and had some near missed ourselves! We were young.. and stupid.

    #teamIBOT

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    1. Buy a guy? Now there is a great industry to tap into? We only ever made ours, I couldn't imagine buying one. There were so many going off around this neighbourhood it really did sound like a war zone

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  7. Oh, that explains the pics of fireworks on twitter/FB yesterday! I must confess - I am a die hard fireworks fan. It is in my blood, I can't escape it. There will be a post about it one day I'm sure. Sounds like a lovely night xx

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    1. Sounds like a great post Josefa can't wait to read it

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  8. I do enjoy a good firework display, it reminds me of Bonfire Night in the U.K when I was a kid, there'd be a huge bonfire and bonfire toffee and baked potatoes in tin foil - great memories!

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    1. Bonfire toffee sounds like my cup of tea!

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  9. I love cracker night, but I'm not a fan of getting your own, only because I am honestly terrified by them. Hated it as a kid when we would go to peoples houses, and I had to hide inside.
    Wasn't impressed to get to Play group today and discover the garden still smouldering from an errant cracker. And apparently the culprits didn't care in the least.

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    1. It is only in the last year or so that I haven't had children like that. As a child it really was one of my most favourite nights. Mr A and I even shared one of our first kisses on cracker night, perhaps that is my attraction to it? That is so sad about the grass. It is a shame there is always someone who ruins things isn't there?

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  10. They are kind of loud aren't they? I don't get the incredible expense of fireworks for such a short display. And my child was really scared of them the one time we took her. But I don't know, if they give people joy, and are done safely I guess they are a good way to mark an occasion. x

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  11. We aren't allowed to buy fireworks in WA (illegal), we get two public shows a year, all the vantage points of the river get packed out as they light them from barges. Or if you go to the races they generally have a show as does the Royal show, which for us is I think in October. xxx Rae

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  12. They're banned here in Qld for personal use... and I'm kind of glad at that.
    Mind you, they've always been a sensory overload for myself as a child and now all of my children.
    *sigh*

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  13. I fondly remember bonfire night on the June long weekend in NSW as a child - it was a night of wonder and excitement. Fireworks have been outlawed now for many years and I have to admit I miss them. Probably childhood nostalgia, but I'm sorry that my kids won't be able to experience that same wonder and excitement...

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  14. Great year 1978 - the year of my birth also, you're just a few months older than me! I must learn more about this, I have always wondered about why there were states and territories and not just states! Em :)
    In NZ we used to have tom thumb, best fire crackers ever, it's a Guy Fawkes tradition in Nov :)

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  15. I love Fire Works. For me, it was an annual tradition for our family to watch the fire works at the Ekka. Looking forward to introducing the same tradition with my own family once my daughters are old enough to enjoy them and not be scared of the noise!

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