To want to buy a few fireworks?

[Motherdare]

I can’t find any anywhere! What’s happened? Has Bonfire Night been cancelled? I loved it as a child. I just want to get a few sparklers and Roman candles, some traffic lights and fizz pops. I’m not looking for a significant amount of gunpowder - not trying to frighten people’s pets. I don’t want to attend a public display. They’re too crowded and loud. I just want a little party in my garden with parkin and toffee apples.

Where are all the fireworks??

It is a couple of times a year though. I’ve lived all over the country for decades and never have I come across anywhere that has constant fireworks. Your dog isn’t going to be traumatised. Dogs a traumatised by long term abuse, serious injury or loss of a companion. They’re briefly upset by fireworks. Just like I was briefly upset while scrubbing shit off the push chair wheels or being scratched by brambles because doggie darling can’t share a footpath etc etc. Allow others some joy.

@Ghoulette
It's clearly effected your ability to read too. You possibly may want to spend more time practicing.

FFS, fancy quoting something that addressed the very thing you then go on to moan about.

I acknowledged the difference between someone who frets over a few fireworks and possible effects on distressed combat veterans.
If that distinction sailed over your head that's your look out sunshine.

I'm not going to row with some random internet wet wipe about fireworks. I'm not a fireworks cheerleader. I don't buy fireworks, I don't set them off and I don't go to displays.

Our Tesco’s is selling them

Responsible pet owners would do their bit to help their pets through this period.

I don't have pets. I'm in no position to police what my neighbours do with their pets.

For me, it's easier to insist on large-scale, organised displays only with restrictions on all other use.

[quote Watchingyou2sleezes]@RichardMarxisinnocent

If you're a grown adult too thick to have worked out how to protect yourself from a few sporadic loud noises then...

That said,I appreciate that some conflict veterans can be very distressed by them so it's not for me to say how they could mitigate their individual exposure.

I'm not advocating the things, I've never bought one in my life.[/quote]
Do you understand how phobias work? And did you read the bit where I said I can cope with the noise of an organised display where I know when it will start and roughly how long it will be. I can also hope with the odd bang. But it's not just the odd bang, or 20 minutes of an organised display, it's hours and hours of almost non stop banging, from when it gets dark to close to midnight. No matter how many CBT and relaxation techniques I try I can't cope with it going on non stop for that long.

As someone who worked in A&E in a country before and after fireworks were restricted to the general community, I’m all for the restriction. If a grown-ass adult wants to blow their hand up or lose an eye, good for them but dickheads give them to their kids who don’t deserve it.

Knob Jockey. Not hear that for years. Ha ha grin

Probably because it's a homophobic insult in the same vein as fudge packer and shirt lifter. I didn't think anybody still used it at all!

< misses point of thread entirely >

YABU

firework sales to the general public should be banned anyway.

And you’ve left it very late to try

I don’t want to go to an organised display. My children are too young, I don’t want to spend several hours in the cold in a crowded place, being fleeced for candy floss, burgers, glow sticks etc waiting for the actual fireworks fo begin.

The sky is actually visible from outside of the display. You can drive to near the display, park up, get out and watch, get back in and go home. Or if it’s local enough you could even watch from your own house.

@Derbee

Responsible pet owners would do their bit to help their pets through this period

Sorry, but I agree with this. You have ample opportunity to train and desensitise your pets to firework sounds.

And what about the animals that can’t be desensitised? The horses, the rabbits the deer, the foxes? What about the people who can’t be desensitised?

@Formel

Knob Jockey. Not hear that for years. Ha ha grin

Probably because it's a homophobic insult in the same vein as fudge packer and shirt lifter. I didn't think anybody still used it at all!

< misses point of thread entirely >

Not really homophobic though is it. I ride cock and I'm not a gay man.....

Sorry.....

@derbee I have a lot of rescue dogs, they have all had the same treatment re: desensitisation, including as you say gentle introduction over time, with lots of positive reinforcement. For some, it has worked brilliantly, for others it doesn't work AT ALL. We adopted a big old boy 2 years ago (he's now around 12) Some asshole had shot him in the leg and NOTHING we have done has helped him...fireworks and thunder send him into instant panic. I have 2 more who are exactly the same. We have tried absolutely everything and their reactions are certainly NOT because we haven't made an effort. All dogs are different, what works for some will not work for others. That said, I understand that people like fireworks, and we have to deal with it but I do wish it was restricted to 3 or 4 nights a year.

Your dog isn’t going to be traumatised. Dogs a traumatised by long term abuse, serious injury or loss of a companion

Mine is very definitely traumatised thank you. He's not inconvenienced. He shakes violently, runs from place to place, drools and pants incessantly, won't eat and does all of these when it gets dark in anticipation of them. This goes on for weeks or longer in spite of taking many measures to reduce it.

As for joy, please allow me the joy of not having sensory overload, not having my hearing harmed,breathable air, all the smoke and chemicals triggers my asthma, the remains of fireworks littered all over my garden, the worry that one might hit my house and my dog traumatised.

There are countries where fireworks are banned. I'm sure that the people who live there manage to find joy in their lives in spite of the lack of explosives.

Sale of fireworks to the public should definitely not be banned. The majority of buyers are responsible people wishing to carry on a tradition for their family. Yes there are always ignorant twats who will misuse them, same as with everything else. Certainly 'frightening pets' should not be the reason for any ban, how ridiculous. Dogs cause year-round noise, mess, and frighten (and harm) some people, so why not ban them? Bonkers. Be responsible for you and your family (and pets).

@MurielSpriggs

Prepare for finger-wagging lectures!

I know.

Wow imagine posting that you want to purchase a few fireworks - cardinal sin. The poor dogs that haven't been socialised to all types of noises will need their anxiety medication. Cats will be shitting bricks. You really shouldn't say you actually like fireworks it's not done.

[quote Notahandmaid]@Derbee of course I can see the difference - can't you? I was being sarcastic.

There's a big difference between having an animal in your home for years and then animals in your care for a short period - some of whom might have only come in that week or that day. How on earth is the sanctuary supposed to desensitise animals in a short time?

I'm afraid it doesn't sound like you are much of a dog lover.[/quote]
I’ve always supported a full ban on fireworks. But I think individual pet owners have a bigger part to play until a ban comes into effect.

I felt preached at by the lady in Sainsbury's when I asked if they were selling them. "No because of the poor animals"
I only wanted some sparklers, we always go to organised displays because I feel they are safer.

Aldi and Tesco were both selling fireworks though.

Sorry to hear that @ArrrMeHearties

I have to put up with all sorts of noise pollution where I live. My opposite neighbours have moved out of their house and left the rest of us dealing with the terrible noise of their builders excavating a basement. This after a year of renovating the entire four storey house from top to bottom. Are they also unobservant selfish twats (to quote someone above?).

I have dogs fouling my gate post multiple times every day. Some owners stand there watching me getting into my car and still leave their precious pooch to “do what comes naturally” on my property. My next-door neighbour lets his dog into the garden on the dot of 10pm every single night for a good old bark at the squirrels. Every night.

My other neighbours have gardeners who come with leaf-blowers and make the most soul-destroying noise for hours at a time, to the point I have to pack up my work and leave the house to find some peace.

Yet a few sparklers and low-level fireworks for small children at tea-time once a year has everyone up in arms? Get a grip.

I felt preached at by the lady in Sainsbury's when I asked if they were selling them. "No because of the poor animals"

Good. The sooner they become an unacceptable thing, the better. Just let your kids play with matches instead.

PS
You can get silent or low noise ones now.

@RampantIvy

Goodness, it's one day of the year. Come on people.

But it isn’t. I live in a rural community, and the local Facebook pages are already full of posts describing frightened livestock. The farmers round here hate bonfire night, as do pet owners.

However, one considerate neighbour has posted on the local Facebook page that he is having a low noise firework display so that pet owners have been warned.

September to January here. Without fail.

I had to walk home from the station around 8pm last night and plastic/metal bits of the fireworks coming from back gardens were landing on the pavement around me - it was actually terrifying walking through that. My area is mostly made up of small terraced houses with small back gardens and the size of the fireworks used is in no way in proportion. Diwali is meant to be about light, not noise!

It's not just one night either, at least round here it starts a few days before Halloween and then there are fireworks on pretty much any night from there on until New Years, with a small break for Christmas. The local town square has been fenced off now because groups of teenagers were gathering there shooting fireworks at people passing by, and already caused some injuries.

September to January here. Without fail.

Same here. Lots of minimising going on on this thread.

Where I am in NI you need a license to let off fireworks. It doesn’t stop people setting them off at home. The fee for setting off for an audience of fewer than 100 people is only £30 and often people just don’t bother with a license. I see loads of home “displays” from my house. All shit. Not sure why they waste the money as the council display is visible from the whole town and is much better.