Monday Moan

Today’s Monday moan is about something that if you read a paper, or watch the news on TV you will have heard plenty about. The so called “Nanny State” which is a result of the so called “Blame Culture”.

This weekend I went back to Bridgwater for the weekend, to see the Bridgwater Carnival. It is the biggest illuminated Carnival in the world, and it’s worth checking out some pics on t’interweb to see just a sample of what it’s really like.

After the procession there is a tradition which we locals call squibbing. Wikipedia describes squibbing thus:

“A squib locally is a firework which is held aloft by a person known as a "squibber" on the end of a long wooden handle called a "cosh". One hundred squibbers stand in line in Bridgwater town centre making an unusual but impressive sight for visitors who crowd the High Street
Originally the squibs were made specially for Bridgwater Carnival and were known as the Bridgwater Squib, which culminated with a large bang as each squib extinguishes. With modern Health and Safety concerns, it has become difficult to purchase squibs with a bang, and in light of rising insurance costs the present day squib's used have no bang

Lines of flammable liquid are also run along the ground by the squibbers and lit to add more to the spectacle. Visitors often think the whole sight looks a little dangerous, but the event is well organised and nobody has been hurt to date”

If you want to see a video of this year’s squibbing click here - http://www.carnival.dsl.pipex.com/squibbing.htm

200 squibbers lined the High Street of Bridgwater and held aloft some pretty impressive fireworks. I stood half way down the street, and either way I looked I could not see the end of the sparks.

Squibbing is an amazing phenomenon. It smells like nothing else on earth, it’s an experience you can’t explain, and a symbol of local pride. It’s something (in addition to the actual carnival) that gives Bridgwater it’s identity.

This year warning signs were up saying that you watch squibbing at your own risk. Squibbing has been carried out for nearly 400 years – no one has ever been hurt in this time. So why do we need signs?

Because some clever eejit will turnaround and complain at the slightest problem and sue the pants off of the council unless they are warned.

This happens with everything now-a-days. We’re constantly being told what we can and can’t do. Having our lives restricted by unnecessary rules because unless those rules are in place somebody is always going to make a claim. How long before squibbing dissappears, and with it a whole load of other traditions, pastimes, and events?

We live in a society where people are always looking for someone to blame. They’d rather some one else was at fault than themselves, and they want to exploit every opportunity for their personal gain.

So my challenge to you, resulting from my moan – is be responsible and accountable for your own actions, be prepared to take blame for your own faults and don’t go looking for what’s in everything for you. If there are sparks flying around you should know that you might get a little burnt, but if you’re that bothered don’t stick around to watch it. If the floor is wet walk around the damp patch. If your ladder isn’t safe don’t climb it. (to use the wonderful advert examples).