Blackheath Fireworks

Well, with Hallowe'en over, it's fireworks time, eh? And this evening, I headed to the Blackheath fireworks - free, and apparently the largest free fireworks event in London. Funny, I never heard of it before - but there is so much happening that that wouldn't surprise me.

Trains to Blackheath run from central London, from stations that I could normally get a direct Tube to. Unfortunately, engineering works this weekend mean that Tube wasn't an option. Instead, the Piccadilly Line was my saviour, taking me into town a little further away, and allowing me to change to another line to travel one stop more to a station where I could get a train to Blackheath. More convoluted, but what can you do.

Now, to get the Piccadilly Line, I need to go to Earl's Court. The Tubes were running from West Brompton to Earl's Court, and I thought I'd go that way.. until I discovered that my walk to the station was populated by a large crowd of people, lots wearing blue. Uh-oh, a match must just have finished at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea's home ground), just down the road. The last Saturday evening I shared a train with Chelsea supporters after a match, it was a nightmare. The trains were so crowded, I had to wait for the second one, and barely managed to squeeze on that. I had a peek down onto the station platform from outside - sure enough, packed. I decided to walk to Earl's Court - it's not far.

Of course, not only did some of the fans have the same idea, but lots transferred to the Piccadilly Line there, having come on trains from West Brompton, or from the stadium. So the Piccadilly Line was packed as well. On my outbound journey I changed for the Northern Line at Leicester Square, disembarking at Charing Cross. I got some cash from one of the three conveniently located ATMs, just beside the platforms, and might have made the 6.02, which I saw was the next train going through Blackheath. However, I decided not to push my luck, and instead took the 6.09. I'm so glad I did - seven minutes is a real luxury when catching a London train, and it was practically deserted when I got on, so I had no trouble getting a seat (my first of the day!). By the time it pulled out, it was crammed. Indeed, I had trouble squeezing off, twenty minutes and four stops later.

As I'd read online happened in previous years, they weren't letting us tap in or out of Blackheath with our Oyster cards - doubtless because of the crowds. Well, I suspect that shall cause me trouble with an "incomplete journey" reading, and sure enough, when I eventually touched out again on my return journey, I think I was overcharged, based on the journey total displayed. Hey-ho, the reclaim process is easy.

I had fun trying to figure out which way to go - I'd thought there'd be big signs directing people, but I guess most already know. My phone, unusually, obliged with an internet connection, and I figured out my direction from that (the common is to the left as you exit the station). I'm with 3, who seem to have signed an agreement with O2, so although I pay my bills to 3, I now seem to be connected to O2 when in London. Maybe I have them to thank for improved reception.

I had a short walk, and there I was. Food stalls to the left - yummy smells emanating from that direction. It was about 6.45, so I had time. Needed the loo first though, and found them just past the food stalls. I knew where to look courtesy of the handy map on the fireworks website! The portaloos (from Loos for Do's) had no lighting, but were otherwise quite the business, with handwash dispensers, flush levers, and a plentiful supply of toilet paper. And a lockable door. And my phone obligingly provided light when I needed it.

That necessity dealt with, I took care of the next, and headed towards the Belgian Waffle stand I'd noticed. I might also have had burgers, hot dogs, roast chicken, fish n chips, or indeed Asian. But I do like a Belgian waffle. I toyed with the idea of the double chocolate, but ultimately was won over by the "marshmallow magic"! Didn't take long, was cooked from fresh, piping hot, and yummy. And it came with a knife and fork! I was even early enough to beat the queue. Mind you, finding a bin afterwards that wasn't overflowing was more of a problem..

The event is free, but they do ask for donations. You can give on the website, but they have dozens of collectors on the night. And once I'd done that, it was well after 7 and time to find a spot to watch the fireworks, scheduled to start at 8. Actually, it doesn't really matter where you plonk yourself - the display can be seen from afar - but there was a cold breeze that was more of a deciding factor. In fact, this was the coldest night I've noticed recently, and I deeply regretted not dressing slightly more warmly. Scarf, jumper, boots would've been nice. At least I happened to have gloves in my pocket! Several people were sitting on picnic blankets, and I was envious - but then, it was kind of too cold for that.

I ended up quite close to the fence that barred us from the firing area. There was a large speaker in the firing zone, blaring out pop music for most of the night and during the display. The playlist showed a strong bias towards songs that mentioned light, fire, fireworks.. An announcement was also played through this speaker, at 8. There was a cheer. The fireworks wouldn't be starting for 10 minutes. There was a great collective moan / boo. Me, I was dancing to the music, just to keep warm! Mind you, it was worth it when it did start.. this must be the most spectacular fireworks display I think I've ever seen! And free, too.

Pictures here, of the night that the sky over Blackheath was set on fire: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10205526250979941.1073741860.1361836980&type=1&l=01f0304e88

Taking pictures of fireworks is interesting - the camera has a slight delay, and the fireworks change very quickly, so you're never quite sure what you'll get! But it was stunning.

And after 20 minutes it was over, and most of us left very quickly (it was cold) - although the food stalls were still open, as was the funfair. Back on the main road, we were corralled by a very effective crowd control system, blocked by lines of police and volunteers, and let through in batches from the different approaches. Initial movement was slow, and I had a nightmarish thought that this would be a repeat of Twickenham in 2005, when a short walk back to the station after a U2 concert took an hour because of the dense crowds, and the space limitation in the station. I'd sworn never to do that again. Fortunately, I didn't have to - we were at the station within half an hour.

We were carefully directed to the correct station entrance, and arrived on the platform at the same time as a train to Victoria. I wasn't sure whether it went through Charing Cross as well, but Victoria is closer to me, and I was sure I could manage from there, despite the closure of my regular Tube. As it happens, the Victoria trains run on a completely different line from the Charing Cross ones, so Victoria was my destination. I got the Victoria Line to Green Park, and changed back to the Piccadilly there. Dreadful amount of stair-climbing and general walking involved in that interchange! I was glad to get home - especially given how overheated the Tube was.

Tomorrow, there are more fireworks. But you know, I think I've done my duty in that respect, and I doubt it can top tonight's show. Goodness knows, fireworks abound these days - I've heard several in the vicinity of my house too, and the Time Out listings are packed with them! No, for tomorrow, at the moment I'm looking at a play called The Curing Room, showing at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington. I've never even heard of the place - it seems to be another room over a pub. Well, these small venues do show interesting things, and this play sounds like one such - seven naked men, smeared in gore, portraying the true story of seven Polish soldiers, imprisoned by the Nazis during the Second World War, without food or drink. Not for the squeamish, as you can guess from the trailer..