Fireworks Competition!
God, I love fireworks! Of course, any sane person has to wonder why half a city flocks to a windy coastal road to watch some colourful flashes and booms in the sky. Last night I remembered why I went and why I loved it so much - Family. As I sat there on the sloped hill trying not to hurl to my death through crowds of unsuspecting spectators (it was very steep OK and well, I'm not exactly the most graceful of people on this planet!) I felt myself get carried back to the days of my childhood. To the safe, unpressured, fun days of yore.
I forgot I was sitting on the hill with my friends (Sarah and Mark - thanks again guys for letting me tag along!)and suddenly I was lovingly wrapped up for an Arctic winter by my mother and my father's protective hand was a mere arms reach away at the local park firework display. I could remember the smell of bonfires and kids screaming around trying to write their names in the black sky with a sparkler. My little brother crying and being taken to the car to hide with Mum, whilst I laughed and screamed at Rockets, Catherine Wheels and those weird fireworks that had parachutes that I don't seem to see anymore. For some reason there always seemed to be a bag of homemade toffee pieces at hand. Bonfire night was special... of course it isn't anymore as people seem to have back garden firework displays for any old reason...a birthday, a haircut, the family hamster dying etc etc.
I oohed and aaahed with the best of them in remembrance of those good times!
The highlight for me was surprisingly the first interval. Quality entertainment was laid on for the spectators to fill the lull between displays... or so we thought! A man on a boat floated in front of the crowds with a bright light/flame in his hand. He shouts above the crowds asking for quiet and begins by commending the beautiful display of fireworks and the light they produce.... which then linked nicely with The True Light, our lord God! Groan. The man gamely continued to a chorus of booos and hisses but didn't seem to get the hint. Bless him, he obviously thought he was achieving something... which to my surprise was not a face full of seaweed and mud from the crowd. The churches must be seriously empty for anyone to attempt such a desperate act of masochism.
If there are any fellow firework fans out there I suggest you get down to Plymouth next year and watch with me what is becoming one of Plymouth's main crowd pullers!
I forgot I was sitting on the hill with my friends (Sarah and Mark - thanks again guys for letting me tag along!)and suddenly I was lovingly wrapped up for an Arctic winter by my mother and my father's protective hand was a mere arms reach away at the local park firework display. I could remember the smell of bonfires and kids screaming around trying to write their names in the black sky with a sparkler. My little brother crying and being taken to the car to hide with Mum, whilst I laughed and screamed at Rockets, Catherine Wheels and those weird fireworks that had parachutes that I don't seem to see anymore. For some reason there always seemed to be a bag of homemade toffee pieces at hand. Bonfire night was special... of course it isn't anymore as people seem to have back garden firework displays for any old reason...a birthday, a haircut, the family hamster dying etc etc.
I oohed and aaahed with the best of them in remembrance of those good times!
The highlight for me was surprisingly the first interval. Quality entertainment was laid on for the spectators to fill the lull between displays... or so we thought! A man on a boat floated in front of the crowds with a bright light/flame in his hand. He shouts above the crowds asking for quiet and begins by commending the beautiful display of fireworks and the light they produce.... which then linked nicely with The True Light, our lord God! Groan. The man gamely continued to a chorus of booos and hisses but didn't seem to get the hint. Bless him, he obviously thought he was achieving something... which to my surprise was not a face full of seaweed and mud from the crowd. The churches must be seriously empty for anyone to attempt such a desperate act of masochism.
If there are any fellow firework fans out there I suggest you get down to Plymouth next year and watch with me what is becoming one of Plymouth's main crowd pullers!
posted by DarkLadee at 9:25 pm
2 Comments:
Ha ha, your brother was scared!
Was the display organised by a church, or was this a case of opportunistic attention grabbing (and possible boat hijacking)?
Bless him, he was only ickle! A mere babe in arms. Don't quote me on that as my memory is a little dodgy on these finer details.. and of course he would kill me if I said he was any older. I may already have to expect a wedgy at some point in the future for my comments!
I think it was just opportunistic attention seeking at the Fireworks display. There was only one chap and his boat... and as he did not have a choir singing "Halleluiah" behind him it was very likely doubtful the church organised it.
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