Yet again this year we did the annual pilgrimage to Cantley for the fireworks. Unlike previous years, 2007 was not awash with mud, or cold. In fact with my scarf on I was almost too warm. So the children with hats and gloves, winter coats, two pairs of socks and boots must have been toasty.
Ben had been looking forward to the fireworks since, well, since last year. Jessica was not so sure, she did go last year, but didn’t really remember it. She spent most of the display sitting on Andrew’s shoulders, with her hat pulled down nearly over her eyes. Jessica didn’t like the red ones or the loud ones, but did like the green and silver ones. Ben on the other hand liked all of them, particularly the red ones. The bonfire, which was big, was quite a draw for Jessica, Ben hung back to start with, but soon moved closer. In the end we had to drag both of them away before they got too hot.
We had come prepared this year with our own snacks – Milky Bars, as the queues for food are generally horrendous, and for overpriced, sub-standard quality hot dogs. The merchandise is the same – cheap, plastic tat, which of course the kids love. Glow in the dark wristbands, battery operated spinning ball light things which cost about £4 and do not work well after being dropped (several times). Luckily we found the ones from last year, and with a few new batteries were good to go.
We had sparklers on the Monday night of Guy Fawkes itself, again Ben was very excited, with Jessica a little more uncertain. After I had given both children warnings about how the sparklers would be burning hot, and not to touch each other or themselves with them, Jessica ran off screaming “I’m burning” – this before I had even lit hers. She did come out eventually and quite enjoyed herself, as did Ben, despite the rain.
The next morning our road was littered with used fireworks, great long wooden rocket tails. Ben is now desperate to buy a rocket, I have said we may have to wait until next year, which he was not happy with. If we manage to lay our hand on a rocket, I will update.