General Chat

I have to say I really love discussions like this - glad I started it - long time since we'd had something to get our teeth into - I won't launch into the Olympics - no doubt you'll be pleased to learn - or I could fill a couple of pages

The fireworks display in Sydney Harbour last night cost a staggering
5 Million Dollars and they have another one on Australia Day on the 25th January,
Must admit it was spectacular but I could think of better things to spend the money on like Hospitals

Jackie

I fully understand what everyone is saying - £1.6 million is probably a piddling amount in the scheme of things these days, but I just felt horrified when I heard the sum spent - I know you can't make a poor man rich by making a rich man poor and all that, but it just seems like squandering to me. Call me an old grouch - probably am, and was pretty down in the dumps when I watched it last night, but I still think it was an obscene amount of money to go up in smoke

It probably did lift peoples' spirits, but during the war we all had far greater trials and tribulations to face and we all pulled together, saved every scrap of everything and faced it together.

Trouble is £1.6m goes nowhere. Given there are 8 million residents in London, it is only 20p per person, so no one in authority will get too worked up about it.

It is the likes of the Olympics that I am more concerned about. In a report to be published next Tuesday, the Commons public accounts committee will criticise the bill for the Olympics, which has spiralled from about £3.4billion to more than £ 9billion. One source said: "It's a hardhitting report."

This means a cost of £150 to every single man woman child, pensioner in the country, and if the governments past performance with major projects is anything to go by, it will continue to rise further and could more than double to £20billion, according to some sources.....! That's a bill of over £1,300 for a typical family

Tourism, how much does it bring into London, it must bring some. That is why Funchal spent €1.2million and that was on the fireworks. Crowd control not a big issue here. In fact where we drove to last night we passed one of the firing stations on the back of a lorry, parked on the side of the road. Bit of plastic sheet to keep it covered up, in case it rained. (which it didn't)
It was a fabulous display, only 5 cruise ships compared to 12 last year and occupancy in the hotels at 90%.
We all enjoyed the party before, the fireworks and the entertainment after. This was a private do, ages from 3 - 83, lots of fun.
Yes there are people starving, we used to be told to eat our dinner because people were starving in Africa, but they couldn't have had my dinner and some are still starving today.
Money is wasted in all sorts of ways and you could use the same argument for those wastages that the money could be better spent on other things.
Cheer up, it's a New Year.

Rosalind

well said Mildred x

I'm sure the money could go to a better cause than a load of bang's and lights.


Marion

To be honest I think the display etc was paid for months ago, before the apparent economic nose dive.

I agree its a disgraceful amount to be spent, but what about the free local borough firework displays on Nov 5th ?

Now put them all together & wonder how much that cost for the whole of the country ! Not so much fuss was made than.

Last nights fireworks were a morale boost for our country, it lifted my spirits watching them on the telly, imagine being there, with the great atmosphere. I think it gave the country the message not to give up, and things will get better.

It also created an extra days work for 100s of people, from the police staff, security people, medical staff, to tea / burger/ van vendors.Not to mention the overtime for tube drivers, bus drivers, cabbies & BBC camera staff, rigging/lighting (hubby worked the scissor lift with the lighting on last NYE at Somerset house & got paid overtime for it)

Its all cash in families pockets.

As for the argument about the homeless & starving kids, they would still be homeless & there would still be kids starving with or without the money spent on fireworks.

It diddnt cross many peoples minds (and mine before you all shout) when they/we sat down at Xmas eating their turkey dinner, opened those often unnecessary indulgent presents, & spent ££ on alcohol & when they bought often 3 days worth of food for one day.

:o((

PS

Just a thought

How many millions are wasted each year when people light up their fags ?

Smokers get joy out of puffing away, & people get joy out of watching a ruddy good display of fireworks

No difference

Thats burning money too...isnt it ?

On first thoughts I thought yes what a waste of cash but then dont we all waste cash in some shape or form. I had Christmas crackers for example and they are a waste of cash and I'm sure I would have survived without my yo-yo but hey ho its part of Christmas.
By the way Happy New Year everyone

I agree entirely with the thoughts money could be spent on a more worth while cause. Every year my OH used to count how much had gone up around us, and say they must be mad to spend that.

We noticed this year, only a few fireworks went off at 12. Not like other years when they were going off from 8pm until 1am, Nobody was having the parties liked they have done in other years.

We never let fireworks off when I was young, it was only Guy Fawkes night, then it was only a few, and sparklers were the norm. Old Years Night it was out with dustbin lids and horns bringing in the New Year, and the darkest man in the house did the first footing. Nobody in our house was dark enough, as we were all fair or ginger.

As the first fireworks went up I said "Credit crunch? What credit Crunch" Have we no shame?

Ann
Glos

There is hope, in yesterday's 'Independent':

'This year's celebrations in London may be the last with a free New Year's Eve fireworks display. London's Mayor, Boris Johnson, confirmed that he is considering the introduction of ticketing to bring increased "sustainability" to the £1.6m show. "The planning, management and financing of the event remains a challenge, due to the large numbers of people wishing to attend the fireworks and the limited [180,000] capacity of the viewing areas," said Mr Johnson. "Only 40 per cent of the event budget is spent on the actual fireworks and lighting displays. The remainder is spent on crowd management.

We are considering a number of options, which may include ticketing, all of which will ensure the sustainability of future New Year's Eve celebrations."

Though goodness knows how they will check that only ticket holders attend!!

Hi Ann, you ok, you are up early or are you off to bed late lol

Margieann, have nudged the thread up with a list of abbreviations - will keep you busy reading those!

Night now, I am off to bed, Happy New Year all,

Lizxx


btw, I am staying Sparkly as I did last year, will match the frosty nights we keep getting lol and the sparkly bits in my hair when the roots need doing lol (silver threads amongst the odd dark brown hair left, and blonde hair out of a bottle)

THATS A SHOCKING WASTE OF MONEY
WHILE SOME CHILDREN IN THE WORLD GO HUNGRY BUT EACH TO THEIR OWN
HAPPY NEW YEAR XX

Hi there - lol = laugh out loud!!!!

imho - in my humble opinion

and loads more!!!!

Ann - Happy New Year to you

Well uggers with you all the way!! what a miserable lot of buggers these lot are ..er .. only some .. obviously imho etc etc

Happy new year to all

Hi all, Happy New Year, I couldn't get on here earlier for love or money.

I sat and watched the fireworks, I have seen better displays and didn't like them without music, and said to o.h. that I felt it was a huge waste of money with so many people losing their homes and many already sleeping rough, half the amount or less would have done and the balance of the money given to Shelter. I thought the tv programmes were rubbish this year too, sorry but there is a limit to how many times I want to see a Medal winner being interviewed about their shoes etc
I enjoyed the films on bbc2, especially Just Like Heaven, and Chocolat was good, haven't seen it all the way through before, but things went downhill from then on.
Maybe I should be on the Grumpy programme.

O.h. asleep in a chair - he managed to last out till midnight and the fireworks lol and is now out for the count. For some reason he decided to let off half a dozen party poppers so the room is a mess and he didn't even share them so I will be leaving the mess for him to clear up later.


LIzx

David now your being silly...

Ah well we all see things differently. If I felt like some of you I would probably have to cancel my internet subs and give the money to the homeless but luckily for me I ain't such a good person as that. Hapy New Year and all that:)

I personally think its dam right criminal spending the tax payers money like that...when the money would be useful else where...if people want fireworks then let them buy their own...