Fireworks!

As Matthew enjoyed the fireworks we saw from the house last year we thought he would be old enough to go with us to a display this time around, and he spent the last week getting excited about it.  We decided to take him to the annual display in town, held yesterday on Bonfire Night, and arrived just in time for the 6:30pm entrance.  As we walked in, a loudspeaker announced that the first display would be at 7pm with the second starting at 7:30pm, and I bought Matthew a red lightsaber from a fairground stand after he saw some children running around with them.

Having been in the past we're used to them running a little late, but someone seemed to have been given the wrong information as 7pm came and went without any fireworks.  We managed to get a good place to stand opposite the display, so didn't want to move, and had to wait while the radio announcer played music and eventually mentioned that the display would begin at 7:30pm (the event was being broadcast on local radio with live acts).  Matthew's bed-time is 7:30pm so he was understandably getting tired by the time the first display started, and this probably wasn't helped by the fact he was awake early, but he seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.  Unfortunately this was probably the worst display I've ever seen - it seemed to go wrong half way through after a firework careered towards the crowd and then the backing music continued without any fireworks going off.

The interval seemed to last longer than usual with another guest singer performing at least four songs, during which Matthew started yawning heavily.  He also didn't want to stand up by then, which is understandable as he had been waiting over an hour.  By the time the second display was underway it all became too much for him, and somehow amid all the loud bangs and thumping music he fell asleep!  This was a shame as the second display more than made up for the first; it was one of the best I've seen, going on for five songs rather than the usual three, and with some truly spectacular pyrotechnics.  Matthew did wake up a few times and see some of the fireworks, and was able to stay awake to walk back to the car (he was carried some of the way) and said he enjoyed the fireworks but that they were "very loud!" and he was impressed that they played a Take That song he recognised (Louise's influence, not mine!).

He fell asleep again in the car, and at home he fell asleep almost instantly after sitting on the sofa while waiting for his bedtime milk.

Sadly there were no Catherine Wheels this year, and as at recent events there was no bonfire, probably both victims of the over-zealous health and safety enthusiasts who have no respect for centuries of tradition and revel in ruining events like Bonfire Night.  A few people who had brought sparklers were chastised by the announcers and told to put them out immediately.  You have to wonder what it will be like when Matthew reaches our age: his family will probably have to watch it in 3D on the Internet while someone clad in fireproof overalls lights some government approved fireworks in a self-contained, underground bunker.