Trevor S 2,003 Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Sadly, bonfire night is in name only down here in Victoria and unless you have a permit for a special occasion, fireworks are banned as well. Strangely enough, there seems to be some religious or celebratory reason in the surrounding areas at least once a month that has the night echoing with 10 minutes or more of aerial thunderclaps. Illegal fireworks and letterbox bombs are another story but, at least it all keeps the RSPCA and the local Lost Dogs Homes busy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,326 Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Halloween is a bigger thinig than Bonny night up here in the far north of Scotland. The "Tricks" of "Trick or treat" are not very nice either. People have been known to find their cars stolen or gates swapped with someone on the other side of town, etc.. My neighbour when I was on The Orkney Isles used to put his boat away in a compound over Halloween for fear of holes being drilled into it. They can be a rough lot, the Jocks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katia 5 Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Bonfire night was one of the highlights of my childhood. We lived on Goodall Street, Hyson Green and our bonfire was in the middle of the street. The week before we would collect all the stuff for burning which would include old settees and armchairs! The stuff was piled up on the pavement in front of number 13 and we had to guard it from the Brown Street gang who would try and get some of it. We had a huge bonfire on the night and would sit on the old settees and chairs until it was time to put them on the fire. (Health and Safety would have a field day today) All the street would get together it was marvellous - hardly any cars in those days to spoil our fun. This all ended when they decided to tarmac the roads, so bonfire night was never the same after that. Happy Days! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alisoncc 379 Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Penny for the guy Mister. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oztalgian 3,217 Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Lighting 321's and waiting 'til they fizzed then dropping them down the nearest manhole hoping they would float down the sewer and find a pocket of methane. If you were successful then there would be an almighty bang and it would lift all the manhole covers in the street. Winter warmers - Baked bean or jam tins with holes around the bottom and long wire handles, filled with hot coals which you swung around in the air to get the new coals going. Great for roasting chestnuts. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alisoncc 379 Posted July 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Think I've written before here about wrapping a lump of plasticine around the base of a penny banger. Lighting it and when fizzing drop into the fish pond at the Memo gardens. Accompanying explosion underwater was sufficient to stun the goldfish, Said fishies would then float to the top allowing us to collect them in jam jars to take home. Remember raking through the still hot ashes of the bonfire the next morning looking for potatoes that had dropped in and never been recovered. Might be encased in half an inch of charcoal all round. But if big enough the centres were magnificent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheOldMan 3 Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 We had a few mega bonfires in Gawthorne St (about 100 yards up from North Gate in New Basford) in the late 50s early 60s. I remember one year the fire was so big the windows of the houses were beginning to crack from the heat. Everyone chipped in with rubbish and a few of us would spend a few days collecting from the surrounding area. Was always a magical time with all the neighbours out to celebrate. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blondie 1,392 Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Just 3 months away....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Ey-up Old man................worked at Marsdens corner of Gawthorne st and Northgate,again early 60s,lovely community spirit in that area back then,some old dears would spend all morning on the chairs we provided just gossiping,(no wonder i still love banter)..........Lovely bloke called Mr Horton was the Manager,showed me how to roll a 'Side of bacon'.........tried to date Diane Weldon from Weldons across the road,(dairy i think) but she was having none of it,............lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheOldMan 3 Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Oh yes, I remember Marsdens. On the left corner as you walked down the street. On the opposite side was another shop we called the "Spam Shop". And anyone remember Mrs Cameron's sweet shop, and Stan's chip shop, both on Northgate near the bottom of Gawthorne St. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 With bonfire night upon us, if you have cats or dogs this could get them used to fireworks .... blimey! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Annesleyred1865 137 Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 My first poem Bonfire Night 1964 K It’s Bonfire night the excitement grows The dark night creeps up over Annesley Rows We started collecting way back in September Our wood for the fire on the Fifth of November A branch form an Oak tree a Larch and a Birch Tarpaulin and tyres, a roof from a stable, A Gorse bush some plywood and next doors old table Don’t stack it early for someone to light You know what happened last Mischievous night Old clothes, string and paper, we made us a Guy When on top of the bonfire he must touch the sky Fried onions, roast taters hot dogs and peas Ketchup or mint sauce just as you please Everyone had the best bonfire that night Ours was so big it took ages to light Get your old togs on and wear a wool hat Shout in the dog and bring in the cat At seven o’clock the village is aglow Hey! Look at that one just up the row He’s lighting a Rocket as everyone flocks You never get Bangers in a Two an Six box Sparklers were only a tanner a packet Hark at that Air Bomb, don’t half make a racket Volcanoes and Snowstorms don’t last very long Some nippers are singing the Bonfire Night song The Spinning Wheel brightens old Dan’s garden shed Don’t touch that Sparkler it’s only just dead The fire now is roaring you have to stand back Look out! He’s lighting an Old Jumping Jack The bangs and the screams and colours galore I’ve run out of sausage I’ll fry up some more The sky is lit up by a Ninepenny Rocket Don’t keep Bangers down there in your pocket Stand clear be careful you’ll have lots of fun With Canon, Little Demon and old 3-2-1 I’m feeling the cold take my gloves from my pocket Get ready you lot, here’s the last rocket Just a red glow now the fire is dying My dad has gone in and my mam has stopped frying The night’s chill gets to me but the smoke still lingers I’m feeling the cold in my feet and my fingers The bathroom’s steaming the water feels fine I’ve stayed up so long it’s about half past nine The times now have changed as I write this odd ode Now we teach our children the Fireworks Code Gary Roe © 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 # 9. I actually think that might work getting our dog used to the banging (which incidentally was going on tonight, 2 weeks before Bonfire Night, morons!) just played a few minutes of it while he sat on the sofa with us. He showed a little bit of nervousness but didn't panic. I'll keep trying it. Thanks RR. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Just make sure he's not frightened Lizzie and he wee's on the settee! Fireworks here too this evening. They shouldn't be sold till the 1st of November. Twerps ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hippo girl 1,995 Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 They shouldn't sell them at any time !!!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 I do recall indoor fireworks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Me too Ian. Dad got some for us just once. We sat there expectantly waiting for a wonderful display on the hearth. They were pathetic. You were talking about indoors fireworks were you?! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,594 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 I can remember one called volcano - I think that was what it was called. When it was activated it looked like a thick grey worm coming out of the top..... horrible Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 I firmly believe that the annual Bonfire Night fiasco is on it;s way out, at least I sincerely hope so. This beats Christmas as a blown out of all proportion commercial exploitation fest. Most yobs nowaday's prefer to waste their money on fags, wacky bacca & dope ! Not waste on fireworks. The price nowaday's is getting out of their reach, thank god. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 What is Bonfire Night, when you actually stop to think about it? The celebration of the activities of a bunch of terrorists and would-be regicides. Fair enough, James I wasn't much use as a king, allegedly suffered from overpowering BO, forced people into purchasing baronetcies in order to fund his own excesses and was labelled the wisest fool in Christendom but why we have to put defenceless pets and farm animals through the terror of explosions for weeks on end to 'celebrate' such a bunch of losers eludes me. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 And don't forget people of a nervous disposition either ! What does me too is the promotion by shops etc to try & persuade daft people to waste more money by buying the things at Christmas & New Year too. Why ? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidA 153 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 2 hours ago, Jill Sparrow said: What is Bonfire Night, when you actually stop to think about it? The celebration of the activities of a bunch of terrorists and would-be regicides. Fair enough, James I wasn't much use as a king, allegedly suffered from overpowering BO, forced people into purchasing baronetcies in order to fund his own excesses and was labelled the wisest fool in Christendom but why we have to put defenceless pets and farm animals through the terror of explosions for weeks on end to 'celebrate' such a bunch of losers eludes me. We're actually celebrating that the gunpowder plot failed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 #20 Couldn't we do it QUIETLY? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,424 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 They don't do that 'ere. Do it on the 4th of July to celebrate beating the Brits. I don't do it, honest!! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 #22 I've heard it said that George III wasn't so very barmy because he gave away America! What? What? Only joking!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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