Today, Sunday, offered sunshine and blue skies again, and around noon I went for a walk down to the river and back. Good to see some water reflections again! :)
Linking to Weekend Reflections
On the whole I've had a "quiet" Christmas - apart from the fact that some people (youngsters?) around here now seem to be treating the whole month of December as a time for playing with fireworks and/or bangers. It's literally been going on almost every afternoon/early evening since 1st Advent, and I hate it. As I never actually see anyone at it - just hear them!!! - I can't say if they're keeping within what's lawful or not. Whether legal or illegal, it makes me jump every time though, and is making me generally nervous! (And not in the least looking forward to New Year's Eve...)
What lovely reflective photos...so nice to have sunshine and blue skies! Oh I haven't heard a bang yet, and you reminded me to prepare for New Years Eve. I had actually forgotten that aspect of it - in comparison to my celebration which focuses entirely on wishes for peace around the world!
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara. Yes, I'd love to focus on peace as well, but alas every "big bang" serves as a reminder of the opposite...
DeleteI can't stand fireworks, there are far too many idiots around for my liking and I wish they would ban them completely here. Usually we do hear the odd one around Christmas/New year but so far it's been quiet.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I wish they would ban them completely here too, or at least restrict them to special "official events" (including having to apply for permission etc). Usually in the past it hasn't started until after Christmas here, but this year they started already around 1st Advent and it's been going on daily since then. Besides the noise and the risk of accidents, it also involves pollution of the environment + an incredible waste of money...
DeleteOh goodness. New Year's eve may be an absolute riot of celebration! The reflections are gorgeous. But for some reason, my favorite is the house bookended with the big beautiful trees.
ReplyDeleteGinny, seeing that house framed by the trees makes it look grander than when looking at it from the street right next to it!
DeleteFireworks ARE banned where I live in Texas, but it is a joke. There is no attempt to enforce the ban. Signs are put up ahead of time reminding that it is illegal to fire them in back yards. Threats of fines. Does not happen. There's hardly any need to go to the public displays any more; Lots of noise and colors from my own windows! This is the first year there 's been an issue about it on Christmas Eve. Some parents were not pleased that their children were awakened when they needed to be sleeping so Santa could do his thing. I, too, dread New Year's Eve. An entire evening of reassuring and trying to distract my little Yorkies. Then, the neighborhood apps will tell of all the lost dogs who panicked and dashed out in fear.
ReplyDeleteRose, I always get quite a display from my own windows on New Year's Eve as well. The random ones during the weeks before just cause a lot of noise though, and hard to know whether caused by proper fireworks or just "bangers" (the latter not allowed).
DeleteThat's a beautiful reflection image, Monica. Thankfully my Christmas was celebrated far away from neighbours, noisy or otherwise. It's a shame people can't be more considerate with their fireworks.
ReplyDeletePauline, I imagine Christmas in summer climate must be a rather different experience than here in the North...
DeleteHow great to go from snow one day to sun and blue skies the next. Since I adopted Bounce I can not stand firecrackers since he is terrified by them. I can understand how they make you jump, very nerve wracking. Me too.
ReplyDeleteTerra, as we also have more serious problems with criminal gangs and explosions causing real damage (or threats of that), it's really hard to tell this time of year what is really going on...
DeleteBanning private fireworks has been discussed here in Germany for years. Many - like myself - would welcome it very much, but while some regional/local governments have already put bans in place for their town, a nation-wide ban is unlikely; too much is gained from them in terms of money (VAT, last but not least). On the other hand, a lot of money is spent on getting rid of the rubbish left behind, and of course on sending out emergency response teams when someone is injured or people (accidentally or not) burn a place down.
ReplyDeleteThe blue sky and sun do so much to lift the spirits, don't they!
Meike it's discussed a lot here too. My own suspicion is that the main reason for not banning them here is probably the lack of resources to follow up and and actually catch the culprits anyway...
DeleteWhat beautiful blue skies for this time of year.
ReplyDeleteAddy, yes - the rare kind of day that makes one want to "make use of it" by going out and catch some sunshine...
DeleteGorgeous blue skies. We have a fireworks problem here too. It goes on all year, as people set them off to celebrate weddings and birthdays. (And, people say, to notify of drugs for sale!) They frighten our dogs and cats. There's pressure to restrict them to public set pieces only but it never happens and, if it did, there'd be the enforcement issue as others have said.
ReplyDeleteJenny, well, I guess I can only hope then that the ones I've heard so far have not meant "drugs for sale"...... :{
ReplyDeleteWe've not really been plagued with fireworks much, our worst time is November when its like being in a war zone.
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