Fireworks rock (From Stroud News and Journal)

Fireworks rock

LET'S get something straight. Fireworks are fun.

All this nanny-state whining about too much noise too often is woefully misplaced. The bigger, brighter and louder the better.

I resent the feeling of guilt that has crept in in recent years when I set off a screamer hurtling over the valleys or ram a rocket into a home-made mortar and watch in awe as it lights up the sky.

I'm proud to live in a country where, every year, we celebrate a thwarted attempt to murder the head of state and his government by burning an effigy on some post-pagan pyre and fill the night with explosive glee.

This year I understand most organised fireworks displays have banned sparklers. What's got into these people?

Kids waving sparklers about is all part of the fun and a bit of common sense should keep all injuries to minor burns which they can brag about like war wounds when they get back to school.

Let's be honest, the risk factor is part of the fun and taming these events by taking away all semblance of danger does kind of spoil things.

And I'm not unsympathetic to those animals which get scared with all the sudden noises and lights, in the same way I'm not unsympathetic towards that strange breed of adult who still cowers under the table whimpering at the first sign of a thunder storm.

My well-adjusted moggies have developed a way of dealing with fireworks - raise an eyebrow, glance in their direction then go back to sleep. It works for them.

Perhaps those scaredy cats and howling hounds out there should give it a go. At the end of the day we should not be letting our better judgement and cotton-wool society get in the way of a bit of good, old fashioned, primal anarchic fun. Most of us live such safe lives - surely we're entitled to play with fire one night of the year.