What a cracker!

Lastest London gripe is about fireworks. They're not banned over here, so anyone can go and purchase seriously powerful rockets etc, the kind that are only allowed in official licenced firework displays in Australia. For a couple of weeks on either side of Guy Fawkes, people are setting them off every evening and during the night. The last two nights we've been awakened at around 3.30am by stunningly noisy fireworks. There don't seem to be any local by-laws about disturbing neighbours here, either. As soon as anyone tries to legislate to protect the peace (or kids' eyes), this spectre of the "nanny state" comes up... it's a real paranoia. With safety laws that have come in, people are really cavalier, too... the English will tell you not to bother with a seatbelt, especially if you're only going a short distance!