Fizzled Out
Last year we didn't go to a fireworks display. After all, The Kid was only a couple of months old. Who wants to be standing in the freezing cold, waiting round to see the three minutes of fireworks with a tiny baby before waiting in queues of cars, or wandering home in the dark?
Unsurprisingly this miserable attitude earned me an ear bashing from my friends. "You have to take the kids to a display! It's bonfire night!"
Okay, I thought. This year 'for the kids' we decided to make an effort and go watch some fireworks. I can honestly say, hell itself could not have been much worse.
We queued for 10 minutes. Paid a ludicrous amount of money to get in. Bought burgers that I expect will be the cause of years of future health concerns.
Then, two things happened - we found out that the fireworks were not due to start for an hour, and the sky began to throw it down.
So there we stood, starting to dither despite the amount of coats, hats and scarves. The bonfire was lit and the gathering winds blew plumes of smoke and hot orange cinders at the crowds.
The display started just as The Kid began to doze off. He woke up just long enough to look thoroughly under whelmed with the whole affair and deemed it not interesting enough to stay awake for. Even The Boy asked to go home.
To sum things up in Mastercard terms I'd say this:
Entrance to display £13
Burgers £6
Fair rides £3
Standing in the p***ing down rain getting half blinded by smouldering ash whilst trying to show a snoring baby and freezing boy fireworks - pointless.
It wasn't all bad though - I'm always on the look out for an excuse to make hot chocolate with marshmallows and snuggle up with the boys in front of the telly. Last night's debacle was just such an excuse, so we finished the night being warm and cosy and watching Merlin. Lovely.
Next year I shall stay at home, slippers on, hot chocolate at the ready and watch the fireworks from the comfort of my own little bay window. And, should anyone tell me that it is necessary to go out, 'for the kids' I will quite happily ignore them.
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Laura Yates - Brummie mum Laura Yates is a 27 year old mother of two from Kings Heath. She gives her take on family life in the city.
It may have been your choice of day and venue that was at fault...
Lisa, Josh and I went to Pipe Hayes park.
- Free entrance
- Free parking at The Fort
- Free shuttle bus to the venue
Got to the Fort at 7:20pm ish, got to the park at 7:40pm, joined a crowd of roughly six million people, and just kinda stood there.
Josh was a bit scared at first by the big bangs, but after a while I managed to get him on my shoulders and he sat there for a good few minutes, watching the fireworks.
Putting him on my shoulders was another "yeah, I'm a Dad!" moment. :)
Get yourself to Pipe Hayes next year. Better still, come with us. Safety in numbers.
No bulk-buying discount on the burgers though - £3.50 for a cheeseburger and a queue a mile long, so we decided to give them a miss...