Day 71

Day 71:

Ah, bonfire night, one of my favourite holidays of the year. At least, it used to be.

When you think about it, it's actually rather a grim holiday. We remember, remember the 5th of November because it is the anniversary of a failed

*Fireworks bang outside the window*

... Of a failed plot to blow up the UK Houses of Parliament. To mark the occasion, huge firework displays are held all across the country, and many households buy their own fireworks, which can be bought from your local supermarket at this time of year, to

*Fireworks bang outside the window from a nearby garden*

. To let off in their back gardens. We did this every year when I was a child, and it was one of the highlights of my year. I will never forget the day that my dad hammered a Catherine wheel into our tree a bit too hard. Catherine wheels, for reference, are circular fireworks that spin around a point, creating a circle of sparks and crackles that actually look very pretty. Unfortunately, this one was hammered in so hard, that it did not spin. All of the heat and sparks were concentrated into one small area of the tree; until it caught fire. The ensuing panic to spray the lit firework with our garden hose and lob sand at the tree is one of the fondest memories of my childhood.

In recent years, we haven't gone out so

*Large firework bangs outside the window*

...

So much. Perhaps this is because we had a lot of 'hit and miss' fireworks displays over the years. No one supermarket, or even custom supplier for that matter, seems to hold a consistently good quality over the years, and our last attempt to let fireworks off in the garden started and ended very quickly. The matches just wouldn't light, the sparklers lasted seconds, a pitifully gentle breeze kept blowing our candles out, and

*More fireworks bang outside*

Hmm...

And we were only able to get a couple of fireworks to light at all. Those that did weren't worth the effort. So we stuck them in the shed and forgot about them. Ever since, there has been a really good display over the road, from which I have an excellent view from my bedroom window. So, I prefer to sit and watch that, rather than go out into the cold. Recently though, I discovered them again whilst going through the shed. They are quite old, but

*BANGING OF REPEATED FIREWORKS*

THAT'S GETTING QUITE DISTRACTING NOW.

...

But I am intrigued as to whether they would work. While seeing fireworks at big displays is really great, there is something especially satisfying about lighting one yourself, and then racing to the other end of your garden to watch it go off. I remember scolding my hand on the sparks of a firework the first time I tried to light one, and, in my pained panic, I threw my lighter into a bush as I ran away. Thankfully, it was damp. We never actually found that... 

*BANG BANG BANG*

RIGHT I'M GOING TO GO AND LET THEM OFF.

 If you don't see me tomorrow, you know that this was a bad idea.