Kaboom !!!

"So it's Guy Fawkes"
"Yeah, I know"
"So who's this Guy Fawkes guy then ?"
"Isn't he someone who blew something up ?"
"Why ?"
"Dunno"
"Where ?"
"Dunno"
"When ?"
"November 5th"
"No, no ... what year ?"
"Ages ago"
"So why does everyone let off fireworks on Guy Fawkes ?"
"To celebrate"
"To celebrate what ? Some guy blowing something up somewhere ages ago ?"
"Uhhh ... yeah"

There has been much public debate over recent years as the spate of fireworks related fires and explosions increases as to the benefits or otherwise of celebrating, and whether or not the sale of fireworks should be banned.

We buy fireworks every year. And no, grouchy-lady-at-work-whom-I-had-an-argument-with, I do not buy fireworks to give in to the pleadings of my children. I buy them because I like them. And we are responsible with them ... we don't throw them at people, we don't try to start fires with them, we don't blow up people's letter boxes. We make sure we have plenty of cold water on standby. And we are teaching our rugrats to be responsible and careful with them too ...

We go to public displays, and this year was no different. But it's for reasons of economics rather than safety. For $20 the whole family can sit on the grass in a field listening to a band, watching police dogs, fire dancers, helicopters ... eating hot dogs on a stick and hot chips and candy floss ... and watch a great show at the end of the night. The rugrats twirled and danced around in the dark waving sparklers and wearing glow in the dark mouse ears and glasses (you had to be there to understand) ...

More people are maimed and killed, more damage is done in monetary terms ... every single year by lunatics behind the wheel than by idiots using fireworks. And you don't see anyone suggesting that cars should be banned. Personally I don't think the sale of fireworks to the general public should be stopped ... but I do think that buying them should be a lot more difficult ...