On Jan 3, 1:34*pm, "Recliner" wrote:
"Paul Corfield" wrote in message

news




I have never been tempted to go and watch the London fireworks -
standing getting freezing cold hardly appeals. Most years I am
somewhere much warmer and have only bothered to try to see the local
fireworks once in Hong Kong. It was an utter waste of time as I saw
nothing. I now don't bother at all as you can see it on the news
repeatedly.

I understand that three (possibly four) years ago in London that the
police get very close to a very serious crush condition at one
location and nearly lost control of the crowds at another due to the
way the crowds were being herded. I won't use the word "manage" as it
implies some sense. *It seems that the police response is to manage
people even more tightly. I have absolutely no wish at all to be
herded into a pen against my will.

Thank you for reminding me why I don't bother to waste my time !

Yes, as with many live events, the multiple TV cameras have far better
vantage positions than any single spectator, even one who queued for
hours, could get. And which live spectator could judge that this year,
for the first time, the London new year fireworks were even better than
Sydney's?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I went along to the display a few years back when they had to "use up"
the fireworks from a cancelled event (Can't rememeber the details) and
as such it was worth going as we arrived at a sensible time, took root
and had a fantastic view without being pushed around and herded. Short
walk back to the open Blackfriars station (theras a novelty) and
really enjoyed it. The wife and kids frequently mention "doing" a New
years eve but I have always managed to be grumpy enough to put them
off. Working nights frequently for varying London TOCs on that night
over the years has allowed me to take a fairly informed view. (missing
persons, injured persons, robbed persons, missed trains etc etc etc).

This year the display was - IMO - incredibly spectacular and SO much
better than the Minnenium shambles. One thing that we all noticed on
the telly though from the aerial views was the amount of people packed
in the surrounding streets, especially aruond Westminster, who
presumably would have heard lots of bangs and seen a few high level
flashes.I just don't see the point in bothering at all.

Richard