Warming Up

I wondered if Phoebe was a bit young for a fireworks night, but she’s been really enjoying seeing the explosions in the distance over the last few days and I was filled with nostalgia for those cold nights on Cheddar Primary School field, eating toffee I’d made with my mum in a metal tin and waving sparklers around in mittened hands (when I was 28 years old), that we decided to take the plunge.

A local school (a bit posher than Cheddar Primary School) had a display so we drove there at about 5.30pm. Of course Ernie was going to see his first fireworks display too, but he was safe in his sling and likely to sleep through it all.

We weren’t the only people to have thought of coming to the event and cars trailed up the driveway to the school and we had to park in a field. I had half a mind on the chaos there would be when we all tried to leave at the same time. Was it going to be worth the effort?

The display was a good 15 minute walk from the car park (maybe a bit longer at toddler pace) but there was excitement in the cold air. Phoebe saw a firework explode on the horizon at another display and gasped “Amazing!” Maybe we were going to be OK.

We passed the food and drink stalls where the queues were too deep to contemplate joining and then went up the hill. A bonfire was raging. Phoebe was cautious of it, telling us over and over again how she had once burned her finger and that the fire was naughty. I am not sure she ever had actually burned her finger, not on fire anyway (maybe some hot water), but it’s part of her own legend and I wasn’t going to call her out on it. 

We got to the display area where a fireworks DJ was in his big light strewn booth on some scaffolding, playing music and shouting out to his “fans”. I wondered what kind of life a bonfire DJ must have. Sure November 5th and maybe the two days or two weekends around it must be a quiet life. Or at least this is their bonanza time, but can they make enough in a couple of weeks to see them through the rest of the year. Or do they have to find other excuses to have fireworks at parties and events. It happens sometimes for sure and the big guys must have work every week, but the demand on November 5th must mean there are an awful lot of people working not this kind of stuff only seasonally. I spent ages wondering how it worked and whether this was one of the guys who do it all the time or just annually. It was hard to tell. They had the confidence of the veteran and the newbie.

We waited patiently in the dark and the cold with the excitement building. And then there was a countdown (interrupted because it was not loud enough so we had to start again - classic bonfire DJ schtick) and then we were off with a bang. Literally!!!!!

It was of course very loud and very close and every year that passes in your life fireworks become a bit less impressive, but I hoped to be able to enjoy them afresh through the eyes of my tiny child. Not literally!!!!!!! 

But after a few minutes I looked down and Phoebe was crying. Of course, this weird form of entertainment is terrifying when you first fully experience it. I had flashbacks to me crying my eyes out in the dark without even my toffee stuffed pockets in my short trousers unable to console me. I wasnt’ 28 when that happened. Don’t be insane. I was about four or something.

We became the first family to leave the field. Another little girl was also drifting away looking scared but her and her parents then stopped and we were the only family exiting. And I didn’t really mind. Because we’d given it a go, had the experience, but weren’t going to get stuck in the exit traffic. Win, win win. Phoebe was still freaked out as the display continued. “Too loud!” she complained, “It hurt my ears.”

“Yes,” I agreed, “It’s much too loud. I don’t know why anyone thought this was a good idea for entertainment.”

For the 15 minute walk back to the car she kept repeating the mantra of the loudness and her hurting ears, whilst flinching at every new explosion. Except when she passed the bonfire and we got to hear about her burned finger again. This girl needs some new stories. Change the record mate.

The display ended just as we got in the car, but significantly we were at our car and ready to go home and we drove away, still having experienced most of the display, but not left to fight it out with everyone else. 

Tonight Ian Gunpowder defeated us. But hopefully my daughter has not been scared off for life. Ernie didn’t even wake up.