Yesterday was Territory Day, the day that the NT became a territory in 1978. It's not a public holiday - boo! - but for some reason known only to Territorians, on this day and this day only, anyone over 18 can legally buy fireworks and let them off in any open space.
It's crazy, dangerous and heaps of fun. Anne and I went down the the Darwin Ski Club, which is an open air pub on the beach, and had a few bevies whilst watching the crazy people down on the sand. It was all fire and light and noise for most of the night, riotous colours and the occasional rogue rocket ricocheting off the palm trees and into the crowd. No-one was hurt, although there was a minor bush fire that the fire brigade had to come and put out, and a raucous time was had by all. Anne and I bought a couple to let off ourselves from some teenage boys at a one day only shop (They were doing their own advertising by setting off the merchandise on the nature-strip outside the front door). But our ones were so tame by the standards of the others on the beach that we felt a little felt a little sheepish, being all excited over a little pop rocket while these huge plumes of sparks were igniting about our heads.
In bad news, my little scooter was stolen from my driveway a week ago. It was discovered by the police yesterday in an alleyway near my house. It was trashed and had been hotwired. According to the cop who brought it back it had been 'used in a series of robberies'. Word on the street is that it was the getaway vehicle for a couple of kids who smashed their way into a fireworks store yesterday morning! Imagine that, my tiny little scooter on the run from the law!
I have insurance so I'm sure it'll all work out. It's just a bit of a pain at the moment to not have my own transport, and to have to keep filling in all this paperwork and whatever. Bloody kids! ;)
