Please spare a thought for the animals.
If you are letting off fireworks please keep it short or better still go to an organised event.
Many animals are traumatised by the bangs...............my collie Jill literally shakes in fear.
I don't know why they don't just Ban them all together and just have organised events, some of the little horrors don't have the brains to light a candle never mind a firework without getting hurt.
Here we go again. One cat traumatised for a couple of weeks before, a couple of weeks after and at Christmas and New Year, and at other unpredictable times of the year. We have to shut him in the airing cupboard, that's the only place he feels safe, behind all the towels and sheets etc.
The very loud, big fireworks shouldn't be available for home use, they are really only suitable for public displays. Maybe there would be fewer injuries then.
I use Bach Rescue Remedy for my two springies round about this time, it seems to calm down reasonably well. If you want further info this is the link http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm
froglets - you are right.....and did you read about the yobs who purposely directed a rocket at a woman and her young children because she reprimanded them about another firework they had let off which just missed them? The fireworks available now are so much more powerful than the ones available when I was a child - and it is scary..........these fireworks are simply "legal" explosives as far as I am concerned. People buy the big ones that should only be used in a very big open space/garden so that spectators can "safely" view from a long way off........but most gardens are not that big and spectators are simply too close (not to mention the proximity of neighbouring houses). I wonder how much it costs in treatment alone in the hospitals for injuries caused by fireworks? There, that's off my chest.....I'll be putting my soapbox away now.............
twinkletoes
QuoteI use Bach Rescue Remedy for my two springies round about this time, it seems to calm down reasonably well. If you want further info this is the link http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm
What a great idea Posie :)
where can I buy them ? as the site is American isn't it ?
and I'll need them asap....poor Max, one of my Borders suffers terribly :(
Well I have to be honest I just use the one I bought for myself from the local health food shop on my two. Never bought the specific pet one. Obviously it's down to the individual to check with the vet, particularly if the animal is on any medication. I should image the larger chain stores such as Pets at Home etc would stock them or at least know where you can get them from. If I find any stockists during course of the day I'll post them up here for you.
Edited to say.....I think from what I've read, the pets one has had the alcohol removed from it, the basic ingredients appear to be the same apart from that.
My poor dog hated them and used to dig up the carpet and try and crawl under it. My cat ('Baby' rescued from a farm) used to sit on the fence and watch them. I agree they should be banned from sale apart from displays, luckily in north London this year it has not been too bad so far. Tonight I will definately keep my stray cat in (well perhaps not a stray as we have had him for 8 years.)
I have mixed feelings on the topic of bonfire night. I love it, it brings out the kid in me (my son is almost 23 but my husband and I still schlepp off to the local firework display every year, lol) I sympathise with people having pet problems, it must be so difficult but I don't agree with the whole banning of fireworks unless it's in a display. Families are entitled to buy fireworks and have a lovely little firework night in their back garden. My parents did it for us every year when we were growing up. My neighbours are doing it right now. Can't punish everybody for a few mindless acts IMO. Perhaps the emphasis should fall on stores not willing to abide by the law in refusing the sale of said fireworks to underage people (perhaps their should be a Challenge 21 on fireworks?) because far too many of them don't abide by the laws. I'd like to see only the big stores being able to sell them because they do abide by the law. I don't agree that every tom, dick or harry can put them up for sale within their shop because this is what leads to trouble as all the chavsters get their mits on them and cause upset to others.
Living in a Uni area, we have had fireworks for some time now, the students just love 'em .
Thats OK, live and let live I say, but last year we had some worrying ' whooomphs ' that
were obviously not your local Tesco ' family box ' type of firework.
Think there are some scientists amongst them !!!
Have no pets at present but do sympathise -- our big soft German Shepherd used to
tremble like a jelly -- he would never enter our bedroom even if invited , but in a thunder storm
or the 5th - he and I would tremble under our duvet together -- but even my love could not
console him!
floss xxx
Quote from: SamLouise on November 05, 2008, 17:46:26
I have mixed feelings on the topic of bonfire night. I love it, it brings out the kid in me (my son is almost 23 but my husband and I still schlepp off to the local firework display every year, lol) I sympathise with people having pet problems, it must be so difficult but I don't agree with the whole banning of fireworks unless it's in a display. Families are entitled to buy fireworks and have a lovely little firework night in their back garden. My parents did it for us every year when we were growing up. My neighbours are doing it right now. Can't punish everybody for a few mindless acts IMO. Perhaps the emphasis should fall on stores not willing to abide by the law in refusing the sale of said fireworks to underage people (perhaps their should be a Challenge 21 on fireworks?) because far too many of them don't abide by the laws. I'd like to see only the big stores being able to sell them because they do abide by the law. I don't agree that every tom, dick or harry can put them up for sale within their shop because this is what leads to trouble as all the chavsters get their mits on them and cause upset to others.
i think you used to have to have a licence to sell them. Dont see why i should not be able to let some off in my garden. As Samlouise says, dont see why yet again the majority should suffer at the hands of the few idiots. We as a family as i was growing up had one every year. Loved it. Still do.
I don't want to spoil anyone's fun, but the problem is that in the old days the fireworks were pretty weak compared with the huge ones nowadays. They seem to have to be bigger and louder every year. It wouldn't be so bad if it was limited to 5th november and a few other occasions, but we have neighbours who let them off - just one or two - at random times through the year. It could happen at 3 a.m. or at 5 p.m.. So we never know when it is going to happen so we can't prepare.
My cat is safe in the cupboard, where he will stay till after the weekend >:( >:( >:( >:(
I'm trying to help my dog as we speak, he is TERRIFIED of the explosions, it's like trying to calm down a child it is so distressing for him. I wuld also ask that why are loads of differnent companies suddenly becoming firewrok specialists, CROCUS are now selling fireworks, aren't they a plant company?? I will now not use CROCUS.
Some of them are like bombs going off.My mums little bungalow literally shook.
No way can this be compared to when we were kids.
My dogs are upset and frightened,
But yes people must have fun!!! >:( >:( >:(
As others have said its not the fireworks we had as kids, they are more like ariel bombs and my three year old girl is terrified, never been a lover of them and I would support a ban except an organised display, sorry Sam I don't normally disagree with you but a family gathering in the garden days are gone, they are simply bombs not fireworks I used to know. ;D ;D ;D
There have been fireworks going off where I live since I got home from work about three hours ago but not yet have I heard any coming in from Beirut. Thing is, the MAJORITYof fireworks ARE still as they were when we were kids - I've been hearing them all evening. Yes there are some humdingers and I agree they don't need to be let off in people's back gardens (they're too big for a domestic display anyway, surely?) but again, no need to try and spoil everyone's fun because of a few mindless selfish people. As far as pets go - I've already said that I do sympathise but pets are said to be scared of fireworks whether they're sparklers or home guard specials. It's an annual event and yes people should have their fun - it's not the end of the world.
We had the best ever firework party years ago, as my grandchildren hate them and my animals hate them. We just had soup, sausages and a bonfire, obviously kept the children away from the bonfire and had a 'no firework party'. They just loved it. My children are both struggling to pay a mortgage and to spend money on fireworks is just stupid. Watched the fireworks out of the window tonight and the police have been very busy as one landed on the balcony of maisonettes and thought it had caused a fire. The best firework display I saw was in summer at a yacting club near Bournemouth, where we sat outside and watched the fireworks from opposite the river, it was warm and lovely. All this cold and rain and burning a guy does not appeal to me, although as a child we made a guy and burnt it. Didn't really understand what it all meant. Apart from tonight it has been very quiet and haven't had the horrible children that used to throw fireworks at my poor old dog in the street. Poor Charlie (my cat) is desparate to go to the toilet but as he has never had a litter tray he is just crossing his legs, if it doesn't stop soon, will have to get the cat litter out of storage.
I used to like watching the organised firework displays on tv..staying in the warm, I love fireworks but the noise is getting seriously stupid now , the last one rattled the windows :-\
Try sitting with animals that are frightened.
You might not think its the end of the world but they do.
The time has come for these things to be kept out of peoples gardens >:(
I am sitting with a frightened animal, my dog doesn't like them :(
Quote from: SamLouise on November 05, 2008, 20:34:54Thing is, the MAJORITYof fireworks ARE still as they were when we were kids - I've been hearing them all evening.
Where do you live, cloud cuckoo land? The fireworks I recall as a child could hardly be heard from one end of the garden to the other. And most didn't make a noise anyway such as traffic lights, catherine wheels, silver rain and roman candles. I agree with the many folks here who have called for organised displays only. I've got two cats: one is deaf and the other not at all happy. :(
G x
My 5 cats and 3 kitten are not bothered about firewoks at all.and i dont think firewoks should be banned,but the sale of them should be restricted to a few days either side of 5/11.
I am glad your animals are not distressed.
I do not think they should be banned ,just only for sale to people organising proper events.
Times have changed.
Quote from: betula on November 05, 2008, 21:10:23
I am glad your animals are not distressed.
I do not think they should be banned ,just only for sale to people organising proper events.
Times have changed.
Absolutely. I was just calming my (nervous) cat when there was yet another series of loud (and I mean LOUD) bangs. He's dived under the bed again. :(
G x
all the "organised events round here are bieng held on sat 8/11,so poor animals will have to go through it twce,and i bet the bangs will be a lot louder than tonights.
Quote from: Georgie on November 05, 2008, 20:57:21
Quote from: SamLouise on November 05, 2008, 20:34:54Thing is, the MAJORITYof fireworks ARE still as they were when we were kids - I've been hearing them all evening.
Where do you live, cloud cuckoo land?
Now why would you be rude during a civil discussion? Most uncalled for. Obviously the fireworks I am hearing this evening have not been flown in from the borders of Afghanistan and indeed differ very little from the fireworks I remember growing up. I remember very noisy rockets as a child amongst many others. I think many are conveniently forgetting this or just using selective memory. Pet owners are angry and upset for their pets, I get it!! (I do have pets by the way!) but I also get that many, many more people enjoy the fireworks too :)
The vet used to give me sedatives for our jack Russell as there was no doing anything with her when the fire works started. One year we didn't start early enough and she had run across Swindon before she was taken to the police station. Never did find out who the kind person was who rescued her.
I believe in live and let live. But the size of some of the fireworks around these days makes you wonder where they come from. Theres also the fact that as soon as its dark they start letting them off. When you have someone on permanent nights they get woken up ( MR GRUMPY with a vengeance,I won't tell you where he would like to stick the fire works!!!!)
But all said and done I still think it would be a shame to stop this tradion. Wood smoke, toffee apples, Jacket spuds in tin foil straight out of the fire, sparklers ect
OK I'm a sentimental old sod but so much of our traditions are being lost due to political correctness. Please can we keep this one?
Kind Regards to you all,
Taurus
Well, it's all gone quiet here, but there wasn't much around either in displays or bangs, even...
Like SamLouise (but I'm much older) I remember the horrible bangers as a child (penny bangers, were they?) and yes, those awful rockets...the sale of the bangers couldn't have been age-restricted back then, could they? All the orrible little boys of about 8 seemed to delight in throwing them about - mostly at the girls, I recall.
None of our pets over the years were ever seemingly stressed by the noise but more by the bright lights lighting up the room :-\...rather like lightening more than thunder?
My own bi*ch is more about the names of the fireworks these days :o ;) On Saturday I'll be at a party - we all buy just one firework (+ of course sparklers for the children).....I know that this year, like last year and the one before I'll go into the Firework Shop - and point - and the owner, just like last year and the one before, will have great fun in asking me exactly which one I want. :-[ ;D
Hope it rains :(
Bobby ( thats him on the avatar) is curled up on our bed with his tail over his face
I am very surprised how quiet it has been these past few weeks. I expect them to go on for a bit as fireworks are usually cutprice for a bit after the 5th
marg
We went to an organised display tonight having settled down the gruesome twosome with a large bone and the telly turned up for them. I could not believe how many people actually took their dogs with them - one poor little mite was shaking so hard I could have scooped him/her up and run off. Now THAT is irresponsible in my opinion.
Oh and in last 3 hours we've had 3 fire engines in the street behind me - couldn't you just throttle that Guy Fawkes!
You can buy Bach Rescue Remedy from Morrisons. It's about £4.50 for a small bottle and you need 2 squirts on the tongue to use. It's perfectly safe for animals. I wish I had also bought the drops though as it would have been easier to give my animals drops in their water that to spray them!
My youngest cat spent the night hiding in any small space she should get in to, the other 2 don't care. I did spend an hour sitting on a damp lawn holding 2 scared chickens though. A family behind me set off some very large fire works less and they are only about 30feet away from my garden. They set the fireworks off at the end of their garden, which is the closest part to mine, and I could feel the debris landing on me. My poor silkies didn't cope well at all.
I love fireworks but I take my family to an organized display every year in Burnham-on-Sea. It's huge, fantastic fun, and set to music. Fireworks in the garden are great if you had some respect for your neighbors. Pity my neighbours need beating with a week old haddock.
Thing is its not over yet, shops selling them off cheap, we'll have a few tonight more Friday and the Saturday bonanza, more Sunday and hopefully that will be it. Sam I know its something you really enjoy and no one would want to take it away from you. I will take my eldest along to the club at the end of my road to watch the display but can't go as a family as my three year old is terrified of the banging and the loud fireworks are defiantly not that of yesteryear but in case it was my hearing I asked OH, pub mates and blokes at work and all said the same as me, anyway enjoy yourself and that's my three pennith. ;D ;D ;D
your three pennith is definitely a price from yesteryear Kev ;D
(http://www.webdeveloper.com/animations/4th_July/gifs/firework2.gif)
The house on the other side of the road to us had a wonderful display in their garden this evening. All us freeloaders on this side of the street stood outside our front doors to watch it ;D
You are lucky you only get them on bonfire night or in the locality of 5 November!! We seem to get them all the year round for various celebrations
Thanks to everybody who contributed their stories of how distressed their animals were last night.
Hopefully some people might think twice about buying fireworks for home use.
Very sad to me that some people have such uncaring attitudes towards the
animals.
Quote from: lottie lou on November 06, 2008, 22:51:03
You are lucky you only get them on bonfire night or in the locality of 5 November!! We seem to get them all the year round for various celebrations
We do seem to have been quite lucky the past couple of years, LL, as the
celebrations have been pretty much restricted to a few days before the 5th. For such an overly populated town, it's been pretty much ok. I remember a little while back when it was a nightmare for months leading up to actual bonfire night with the hugest bangs and tremors going on outside. I spent my nights in a tin hat behind the sand bags. It wasn't an enjoyable experience at all and my sympathy goes out to anyone having to put up with that!
I think it depends a lot on where you are. I grew up in the countryside and the fireworks were restricted to actual bonfire night parties.
Hackney, on the other hand, in East London, was absolutely atrocious for fireworks from about mid-October till mid-November. I lived just by Hackney Downs and the local youth would go there at all hours of the night to let off fireworks, plus all the ones in the street and just randomly at any time of day or night. Given that I heard real gunshots in the area on at least 2 occasions, not very relaxing... (I knew they were real those times, as I not only heard but saw them!) I really grew to hate fireworks - the bangs, anyway.
Here in Reading we had a lot of bangs for a few nights, but nothing today - bliss! No sirens, no helicopters. Definitely not Hackney. :D
I think your animals would have gone ballistic round here.
We live in Alton (as in Towers). Until a couple of years ago we had the joy of 'organised' displays. The weekends either side of 5th November, we had five displays of 30 minutes each. Friday and Saturday the first weekend, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday the second. I've been sitting watching TV and the bangs from the fireworks have rattled the ornaments on the shelves.
I don't think the bangs were as loud when I was young. The fireworks were much smaller.
valmarg
I cant get my head around this. Surely the organised displays are just as loud if not louder than "home" bought fireworks. We going stop these ?
It is an offence to let off fireworks in the street, why are the people moaning about kids letting them off willy and indeed nilly not making complaints to the police ? What I do in my garden, providing its legal is up to me, not anyone else.
Hope it rains ? thats not very nice. Not caring for animals ? who said anything about not caring for animals. I have a dog he doesnt care about fireworks, just looks out of the window and watches them, quite funny really. What about my chickens, the lottie is about 100m away from an organised display, what should i do ? ask them stop ?
Come on people, you cannot please all of the people all of the time. As one poster said in another thread or was it this one, dont know or care. "if you cant stand the heat...."
I think we need to get a grip in this country, if the majority wants them, sorry, we can have them. thats democracy for you.
"organised displays"..I've been fortunate to be at a lot, all over the world..Chinese New Year in the Far East, New Year's Eves in Italy, 4th July and Thanksgiving impromptu parties for the children in the US, and nearer to home, our Summer Fete always ends with a display....all of them a delight.
Pyromaniacs of the World unite ;D
It has got much better this year as the police will stop the lovely/horrible children that let off fireworks in the street and in the local parks at night. It is dangerous and children think it is funny until they have a bad accident, that is why most sensible parents take their children to organised firework displays. No-one wants to stop people having fun and if you have a large garden and watch the children no problem, but some people let off rockets and large fireworks in small back yards and the fireworks do not stay on their property but land in other peoples gardens. The fire brigade and the accident and emergency department (if you are lucky enough to have a hospital where it has not shut down) are extremely busy roundabout November 5th. Yes jumping crackers are fun until someone throws one at you and it goes up your skirt. Also fireworks are not cheap and with a lot of people worrying about paying the bills fireworks have become a luxury.
Agree with everything you say, Borlotti, except......"jumping crackers are fun" ? Damned terrify me :'(
I've always thought the idea of allowing members of the general public to purchase what are in my mind explosives a very strange one. I personally think it is generally safer to attend public organised displays, where people are trained and know what they are doing. Perhaps I should suggest this to my neighbour across the lane who seems to have no sense of direction when letting off the skud missiles (or should that be no sense?). Their yard is smaller than mine and judging by the debris a lot smaller than the flaming things he was setting fire to. Maybe not everyone's opinion but that is mine. :)
Quote from: Flunky on November 07, 2008, 14:36:11
I have a dog he doesnt care about fireworks, just looks out of the window and watches them, quite funny really.
LOL, Flunky!! Reminds me of when I phoned my sister to see how her black lab was doing. "Oh, he's just bouncing round the back garden like his normal mental self" came her reply ;D ;D
Quote from: SamLouise on November 07, 2008, 16:28:58
Quote from: Flunky on November 07, 2008, 14:36:11
I have a dog he doesnt care about fireworks, just looks out of the window and watches them, quite funny really.
LOL, Flunky!! Reminds me of when I phoned my sister to see how her black lab was doing. "Oh, he's just bouncing round the back garden like his normal mental self" came her reply ;D ;D
It is funny, just sits and rests his chin on the window cill and watches. Mr Solo the doberman, neighbours will walk past and he just watches them aswell, proper personality. And a very good boy !!!!!! i am more concerned about him eating the manure down the lottie, dirty begger.
Flunky..................yes I did say if you can't stand the heat........cheap shot I think.This post was about animals not me.
I do not mind compromise,I think OK people enjoy them why not go to a display.That way it is for one night for a few hours ,not day after day.
As I said I do not think private parties are acceptable with the power of modern explosives.
I am glad your animal does not suffer but as this post shows many do.
A kind of I am all right jack attitude. ???
And yes I do hope it rains on private parties and turn all your fireworks to a soggy mess :P
To the people that go to a properly organised event ,I wish you have a good time.
Can you get your head round that??
Quote from: betula on November 07, 2008, 17:34:55
... I do not mind compromise,I think OK people enjoy them why not go to a display.That way it is for one night for a few hours ,not day after day.
As I said I do not think private parties are acceptable with the power of modern explosives.
I am glad your animal does not suffer but as this post shows many do......
This is exactly my point, we have had fireworks going off around our area for about a month now, if there were only organised events then we would only have a few days maybe? To see an animal in distress is one of the worst things ever!
I agree with Posie !!!
It wouldnt be so bad if the public could only buy the smaller fireworks that dont make the awful noise and if they where only let off on the 5th Nov !!!!
We have had over 2 weeks and all the post boxes around here have to be sealed up !!!! idiots think its great fun to put them through peoples letter boxes and people have been killed and left homeless !! is that fun ???
Its gun powder now where can i go buy some and make a bomb ????
One night only and only the smaller ones in gardens would make life so much better !!
Nextdoors son is autistic and the bangs make him scream in pain as his ears are so sensitive !! is that fun ??
Only one of my dogs has a problem and that was started after a neighbour had the big ones and she needed a wee at 10pm before bed and as we let her out they let them of and scared her half to death !!
I love fireworks and bonfires but i dont like 2-3 weeks of hell !!!!
Last year my next door neighbour knocked on our door on the Saturday morning and said "Just though I'd let you know, we're going to be letting off 25 fireworks in the back garden at 6.00 this evening". Now how thoughtful was that? We knew exactly what was going on, and for how long, and could make sure the cats were OK.
The chap at the end of our garden, whose garden is over 100 ft long lets off his fireworks right at the end behind our fence (30 feet from our house). When I asked him (very nicely) if he could let them off a bit further from the fence the answer was a plain "NO!". And he lets them off randomly, throughout the year, the loudest ones possible.
I'd have the hose pipe straight over the back garden. ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: betula on November 07, 2008, 17:34:55
Flunky..................yes I did say if you can't stand the heat........cheap shot I think.This post was about animals not me.
I do not mind compromise,I think OK people enjoy them why not go to a display.That way it is for one night for a few hours ,not day after day.
As I said I do not think private parties are acceptable with the power of modern explosives.
I am glad your animal does not suffer but as this post shows many do.
A kind of I am all right jack attitude. ???
And yes I do hope it rains on private parties and turn all your fireworks to a soggy mess :P
To the people that go to a properly organised event ,I wish you have a good time.
Can you get your head round that??
Yes i can get "my head round that", cheap shot, I disagree, if you dont like it make sure it doesnt affect you. get out of the kitchen.
Darn right I am all right jack. And even if I wasnt, i would'nt moan to eveyone, i would find a way to make sure it did'nt bother me. i would not expect the whole world to revolve around me or change something thats been a tradition since 1605. i think it wholey wrong for someone to force their opinions on me and if I am not breaking the law, what the hey.
With regards to modern fireworks, gunpowder is gun powder. Its not C4 or similar. I dont think they are any louder than when I was kid. Just as you get older may seem louder.
I would like to make this crystal clear. When i have a fireworks party i would do my upmost to make sure i dont upset someone, however i am not going to please everybody.
I do not force my opinion on anyone.I asked in my original post that people spare a thought for the animals.I asked would people go to organised events as at least if everyone did that the animals suffering would at least be short.
If you have a problem with what I said ,why not post it in that particular thread instead of trying to spread it across the board. Like I said, Cheap shot.
You amused me when you said fireworks may seem louder when you get older,what a silly,ill informed,ageist comment.I have kids older than you so don't try to teach your granny to suck eggs.
I can only repeat PLEASE consider the animals.
"You amused me when you said fireworks may seem louder when you get older,what a silly,ill informed,ageist comment.I have kids older than you so don't try to teach your granny to suck eggs."
Now thats an ageist comment. I wasnt trying be anything. Just making a point, things seem different when you grow up. Like the loos in primary school, seem very small now.
"If you have a problem with what I said ,why not post it in that particular thread instead of trying to spread it across the board. Like I said, Cheap shot."
Wasnt my place to comment, wasnt directed at me. i thought it wrong but thats upto the persons involved. Just reminding you of what you said.
I do not force my opinion on anyone.I asked in my original post that people spare a thought for the animals.I asked would people go to organised events as at least if everyone did that the animals suffering would at least be short.
I have not once said anything about not caring for animals. You do force your opinion because you are saying i am wrong. i am entitled to say what i think as are you, i am not saying you are wrong i am saying you cant expect eveyone to beleive what you believe. In replies - 18/22/28/26/47 you do come across quite strongly.
Peace.
Quote from: cornykev on November 07, 2008, 20:42:33
I'd have the hose pipe straight over the back garden. ;D ;D ;D
No waay, he has a bb gun and uses us as target practice >:( >:( >:(
I don't see how one can consider the animals over fireworks, you either have them or ban them.
I am not for banning them as I love them and have always done so.
It's not just Bonfire night round this way as Diwali is celebrated with letting off fireworks ( which seems to go on for days) and up the road from here we have a mansion house where they hold wedding receptions and they always have them during their evening festivities.
I also have a dog that is terrified of them and it is a nightmare for him and me but I consider it is my fault the way he is as I made a fuss of him as a puppy when he first didn't like the bangs where really I should have left him alone. He's now at the stage and so well programmed that when it gets dark he stands waiting to hear them before they have even started.
I really do feel sorry for him as he gets in such a state but I still wouldn't want fireworks banned and we certainly can't tell people not to have them in their gardens. I think we are told enough of what we can and what we can't do in this country.
Are they louder......................maybe, they seem larger than the ones we had, but half the fun in the back garden was waiting for the loud bang after you had seen all the pretty colours.
Betula: have recently used that saying to my granddaughter 'don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs' and she asked me why I sucked them!!!!! Do you know the origin of that saying perhaps they sucked them in the old, old days to see if they were fresh. I am getting old and miserable as hearing about the display in London tonight after the Lord Mayors Show am thinking what a lot of money to go up in smoke and if they have money to burn why not do something useful with it. Was thinking of going to the London to watch but it was too cold and rainy. It is not only animals that hate fireworks a lot of children are frightened of them and old people. My brother used to experiment making his own and hang magnesium ribbon on the washing line and lit it until it burnt the washing line and he got told off. He used to love lighting them but luckily he never got hurt, I think rockets in milk bottles were favourite and catherine wheels that didn't go round and one banged them and they flew off the fence. I don't think mother knew what he was doing most of the time. I think we are more aware of the dangers of fireworks today (haven't seen so many features on TV this year showing the dreadful accidents) so perhaps more people are going to displays. One year we had indoor fireworks which were good fun at Xmas apart from the fact they set fire to the table cloth, but as children we thought it was extremely funny. When gran was 80 dad put 80 candles on her cake and that caught light and gran fell backwards off the chair (luckily she was OK). We laughed and laughed, no smoke alarms in those days just threw the cake in the back garden. Just to say fire is dangerous and some people are not sensible with bonfires or fireworks and if you say you can do what you like in your own back garden I don't think you can if lighted missiles end up in next doors. Many houses in London have very small gardens/yards, not suitable for launching missiles.
I enjoy fireworks but always go to a display this is simply because we have always taken the children, i work in a and e i know what a firework can do we recently had an adult in whos neighbour had had fireworks he had put the remains of what flew over his garden on a bonfire and they blew up in his face, he spent a long time in a specialist burns unit. im not saying things cant and dont happen at organised displays but the fireworks tend to be further away. i hate to see kids lighting them in the streets.
i have birds and i am lucky enough that they seem to be ok with the fireworks, in fact my parrot shouts weeee!!
i know people who keep birds in outside aviaries can have their brids very frightened.
i dont think they should be banned etc but i think the number of nights you are allowed to set them off should be limited i too live in a university area and november the fifth lasts about a month
i feel so sorry for any animals that are terrified by fireworks and that includes wild animals too
They ARE louder !!
Think back 20 years (if you can :lol)
We used to have a variety box with a few rockets, catherin wheels, roman candles ect and a few sparklers, they went up with whoosh and the bang was quite small, and we all went weee oooooooooh arrrrrrrrrrr !
Then we copied the USA again and we had to have BIGGER ! they are now multi shot bombs and have to have more gunpowder to get them up high enough !!! nothing to do with getting older we are just not happy unless things are bigger and better !
Flunky,I have said everything I want to say on the subject,so OK Peace now :)
Barlotti,I do not know the original meaning of that old saying.You are probally right,something to do with if the egg was off or not.I have a book somewhere on the original meanings,will try to find it and let you know :)
Perhaps we should start a thread on sayings. I always said to my children 'don't care was made to care' and they asked me what it meant.
Quote from: Borlotti on November 08, 2008, 15:26:34
Perhaps we should start a thread on sayings. I always said to my children 'don't care was made to care' and they asked me what it meant.
Takes me back Borlotti ;D
Don't care was made to care
Don't care was hung
Don't care was put in the pot, and stewed until he was done.
I'll get my coat.
valmarg
Sucking eggs was a way of blowing the contents of the egg out of a very small hole so the shell remained intacked :)
Quote from: flowerofshona2007 on November 08, 2008, 13:31:51
Then we copied the USA again and we had to have BIGGER ! they are now multi shot bombs and have to have more gunpowder to get them up high enough !!!
See all that time looking for "weapons of mass destruction" and they were hiding in my neighbours back garden!!! lol ;D
Quote from: posie on November 08, 2008, 17:10:36
Quote from: flowerofshona2007 on November 08, 2008, 13:31:51
Then we copied the USA again and we had to have BIGGER ! they are now multi shot bombs and have to have more gunpowder to get them up high enough !!!
See all that time looking for "weapons of mass destruction" and they were hiding in my neighbours back garden!!! lol ;D
Now thats funny.
Why does someone want to suck an egg out of a shell to keep the shell intact. Suppose it just means one is clever or a party trick in the old days. Don't think I will try it although granddaughter did want me to teach her to do it, as I told her 'Not to teach her grandmother to suck eggs'. Hundreds of children and grandchildren sucking eggs. I can peel a cooking apple without breaking the skin, my mother taught be that. Perhaps it should be don't teach your grandmother to peel an apple in one piece. Oh dear. 'Don't care was made to care', they were usually told off or sent to bed, better than the true version. Thanks for that Betula.
Quote from: Borlotti on November 08, 2008, 19:33:22
Why does someone want to suck an egg out of a shell to keep the shell intact.
My dad used to paint eggs and make little trinket boxes from them, so he had to suck the egg out first.
It's not something I have ever done, but I had been taught that if you wanted to empty an egg shell, in order to add the shell to your collection, you pierced a hole in each end of the shell and blew the contents out. Rather than suck eggs you blew them.
valmarg
You may well be right with that one, I just remember being yelled at to get out of his light rofl! ;D
Will somebody PLEASE tell President Bush, that he's tightening his net in the wrong place. Osama Bin Laden is most definitely hiding out in Barry Island. Just heard one of his exocet missiles going off over my roof!!! ;D >:( >:( >:(
Oh shut up, not you, just the bl....dy fireworks.
Lish, got your message i am so pleased your bonfire night went off ok, sounds like you all had a lovely time, glad it never rained for all of you. ;D ;D
Thanks Buds ;)
I heard of someone who said they managed to get hold of a CD with the sounds of fireworks going off .
the idea being you play the CD at very low volume to your pet and very gradually turn up the volume . You do this for a while before bombfire night .
And supposedly your pets become used to the noise .
I am lucky my dog just sits and watches the fireworks through my window :) with out a care in the world .
Late in replying but I have been away :) My King Charles would jump on the back of the sofa and try to claw through the wall. Medication from the vet didn't do a lot. As the fireworks start about a week before 5th I give her the medication and turn my music full blast. (good job daughter lives next door) then on 3rd Nov I put her in kennels (she loves the kennel maids). Fortunately the kennels are over a mile down a country road.
My children were always given the option of fireworks or extra pocket money, they always chose extra money ;D
There is a house just over the road and I hate to think how much they spend, the big'uns make me jump but they have a really spectacular show and I enjoy watching.
Quote from: flowerofshona2007 on November 07, 2008, 17:44:34
Next doors son is autistic and the bangs make him scream in pain as his ears are so sensitive !! is that fun ??
I used to work with people with learning disabilities and for many, fireworks were a nightmare. One lady in particular, who also had autism, could not cope with them at all. Whenever fireworks were let off she too would scream and start pulling at her hair and hitting out at things. :(
For this reason alone I would much prefer organised displays only. As it is now, people can buy fireworks all the year round and let them off whenever they wish. It just isn't fair on those people that are terrified of them. I think it is the bangers that are the cause of the problems and would be more than happy to see them banned.
I am fortunate that my dog is a springer spaniel, a gun dog breed so I don't have any difficulties with her when there are fireworks about. I also live on the edge of Salisbury Plain and the Artillery noises from the Army rattle my patio doors. Not quite as loud or alarming though as having my next door neighbours letting off their fireworks or lighting bonfires about 10 feet from my house and even closer to my hedge, when there own houses are 200 feet away!! >:(