The fireworks tonight

[annabel85]

AIBU or are you probably just an anarchist or an arsehole to be setting off fireworks and firecrackers during a lockdown, when official displays are banned?

There's no excuse to be frightening animals either tonight. Don't be a dickhead.

I think the sad thing is many more people may be able to better cope if it was just set dates and done sensibly and there may be places that is the case unfortunately not where I am and so my SEN child suffers as do many others

Can’t believe people are so defensive about having their precious fireworks. Get a grip 😂

November the 5th is a set date for about four hundred years.

@Bwlch which would be fine if people stuck to that one night. Not all of November or even starting mid October

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@RichardMarxisinnocent

I would shut all curtains/blinds/windows, turn the radio on loud or the tv. Have a glass of vino or 2, take a couple of paracemtol and go to bed early. Do you have any night nurse or anything like a drowsy antihistamine?

Could you call someone for a catch up as a way to distract?[/quote]
Thank you.
Curtains are closed and TV is on fairly loud. I have no wine in, though I think I have gin. I can't quite go to bed yet as haven't had dinner as I'm feeling too panicky to cook. I do need to make myself cook and eat though, then I could phone my DP for a chat. I think if I did try an early night I would likely not be able to sleep as would just be lying there in a panic instead of sitting on my sofa in a panic. I think I have some night nurse in (though it may be out of date) but tbh I think I would rather be awake until the fireworks stop so I can escape quickly and raise the alarm if anything does hit my roof or windows.

I did wonder about spending tonight at my DP's flat but then realised I would spend the evening panicking about what might be happening to my flat in my absence.

They can be set off only on private land with the landowner's permission. Given the ban on household mixing, not many are going to be buying them for that purpose

We live in an areas full of families and just went for a walk around the areas to see the fireworks. Loads of people are letting them off, all in their back gardens. Loads more than in a normal year.

It seems obvious to me that people would want to let them off for a bit of fun in lockdown, normally we'd all be in the park in town watching the public display, but we can't do that so...

They should have been banned from sale this year. There’s no way these people are not having mates over to watch their “amazing”display.
Sat on sofa with petrified cat and rabbits... never heard anything as loud, constant and horrendous. All these twats still spending their ££££ OJ stupid bloody polluting animal Terrifying fireworks can piss off. Thought everyone was desperately saving the pennies but still find enough money to shell our fortunes on pointless, fireworks. Tasteless twats.

I had to get therapy for my child because idiotic dog owners don't keep their pets under control. I'm not calling for the banning of pet ownership just because a sizable minority are antisocial (allow dogs to approach children, don't clear up mess, use mess to create turd trees).
In the same vein dog owners need to accept that some nights they need to actively manage their dogs.
It is harder this year due to lack of big events, but everything is worse this year.

I had meant to quote in that. Oops.

When I was a kid, we had fireworks in our garden. They were little things, mainly fizzy/ sparkly rather than loud, Roman candle, Catherine wheel etc. They never got much higher than about 8-10ft in the air if that. Everyone's were the same. And firework night was one night (plus there would be a big display at the local rec on a weekend, if 5 Nov wasn't a Fri or Sat.

However we've had fireworks going off since Halloween here, and it's fuck all to do with lockdown, it's the same every year. Fireworks now are much bigger and more powerful, hence why in my double glazed house with the TV on I can hear bangs from 4 or 5 streets away or more, and I can see the flashes above the rooftops. It's been going on since 4pm today, and might finish about 10. But I'm sure there will be more at the weekend, and on and off to New Year.

I'd be happy if everything other than sparklers was banned for domestic use. It's not just the disturbance to animals and those sensitive to noise, it's a massive cause of anti social behaviour too, there's been several instances of youths congregating in our local parks this week, letting off fireworks, putting them through people's doors or throwing them at people.

I bet not one of them has any idea about the gunpowder plot etc.

Diwali is next week.

@Love51other then this year though what is the issue of going to the local park to see a much bigger display rather then one at home? is a firework only fun if it's in your own back yard

My dcat is right freaked out here. Worse it's ever been.😠😠

@Love51 also so sorry about your child

Owning an animal, and the emotional/psychological benefit that brings, is hardly comparable to the right to buy fucking explosives with absolutely no regulation as to when and where you can set the fucking things off is it?!

We have a dog and just set off a few sparkly fountain type fireworks. It's important to us to keep things feeling as normal as possible for the family, but we respect they can upset animals too. Compromise is possible and our dog was calm throughout.

Currently sat in a lay-by with my dog miles from home because she is TERRIFIED of all the noise and im genuinely worried for her heart. She really is - and there are more this year than ever. In fact DD has just called me to say dont even think of driving back because they aren't stopping.

I agree with OP, it is incredibly selfish and cruel to be indulging in letting fireworks off, especially knowing the distress they bring to animals but making excuses and getting some anyway.

And yes the 5th Nov is worst, but it really isn't only one night when this happens, its over 2 weeks.

Oh please changeofnameforthisposting “keep things as normal as possible”... ITS NOT BLOODY NORMAL IS IT?? ANY OF THIS FUCKING YEAR. So stop pretending it’s anything but.
And sure, celebrate Christmas and birthdays- go all out. But bloody November 5th??? Really??? Please. It’s such an insignificant, pointless event anyway. Anyone who spends money on, wastes time on, and causes MASS upset to animals, the environment and people by still letting these monstrosities loose in the sky just has zero sense, consideration or class.

But what are people buying them for tonight? Public displays aren't happening and it's illegal to let fireworks off in the street or in a public place.

They aren't illegal to be let off in people's gardens though.

I don't actually like private garden firework shows but tbh I can understand why some people might have wanted to buy them for tonight. With the big displays cancelled, which they might have had tickets for, with lockdown starting and people not being bale to enjoy themselves going out, etc - guess to them it is just having some fun in their garden.

Whilst ever fireworks can be legally bought for home use they will be bought and used. Lockdown won't change that.

I think because of lockdown more people are having their own fireworks. I stuck my head out of the back door tonight and it sounded like the nearest town was being bombed or fired at. The noise was relentless.

In their own garden, with no visitors, maybe, but i'd say most fireworks and bangs you hear tonight, won't fall into that.

The ones I can see and hear from my house seem to be, and the posts I have seen on my social media, are too.
Not unusual for families to buy a small box for their own family to enjoy ime.

Normally, it's loud for the half an hour or so the main local displays are on with little pockets of noise outside that. This is just constant.

When will this endless racket cease, or is sleep out the question tonight?

My cat went out at 5.30am and still not back.He's a street cat and impossible to keep in...turns into the incredible hulk.I feel sorry for the silly sod.The noise here is ridiculous tonight.They sound like bombs going off

It's just fireworks...not much different to a thunderstorm. I have have had many pets pets over years. Cats who liked to what them out of windows and dogs who freaked out. I can't get to worked up over this. The majority of people seem to be enjoying their fireworks tonight.good for them.

@Aragog

In their own garden, with no visitors, maybe, but i'd say most fireworks and bangs you hear tonight, won't fall into that.

The ones I can see and hear from my house seem to be, and the posts I have seen on my social media, are too.
Not unusual for families to buy a small box for their own family to enjoy ime.

They may mostly be in gardens, but I doubt the 'no household mixing' is being widely adhered to. The start of lockdown and it's just an encouragement for more widespread gatherings.