to think those fireworks crossed the line from awesome to vulgar....

[housemovehell]

Erm I thought we, as a country, were slimy and that's why we are all losing our jobs and pensions, healthcare and all that?

Absolutely beautiful.

I thought they were absolutely fantastic, but I would like to know a bit more about where the money came from and where it went (apart from up in smoke :o)

I'd also like to know how the hell they rehearse it!

The Olympics is going to be a money pit. Every country which has held them since god knows when has lost obscene amounts of money and I can't see this being any different.

The fireworks were OTT considering the UK is practically broke.

Don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but we get the Olympics when we are in the midde of a world recession. Brilliant, bloody brilliant!

Pyrotechnics may not even charge, but do it for advetising

They were great, as was the background music.

have a break from winging will ya?

Oddly enough, I couldn't care less about how much the Olympics is going to cost. I'm more than happy for our money to be spent on it. But fireworks are different somehow.

bohica I do agree. But they are so in your face. So obviously burning money. Every time I heard a pop I wondered how many £000 that equated to. I find it hard not to, even while I admire them. I think they symbolise showiness and vulgarity to some extent. There's no point to them, and there's nothing left 5 second after you've enjoyed them. Fine, they're fireworks, that's the point, but it is what I was thinking, along with a lot of others I think.

On another note, did you notice people filming them on their phones? . FFS they're on the TV, record it! If you've paid the price to be there, stand and bloody enjoy them!

Agree with all of that Stealth, including the phones!

Its hard not to think of what else the money could be used for.

Piss off! they were brilliant.

I love fireworks but after about 2/3 mins I always think "Ok, that's enough, now stop it."

Can I just say...the fireworks were paid for by Kimbolton (fireworks manufacturers). This was is the national press last week - them saying it was a great pr thing, etc. please stop whinging!!!