Too little and too much light

On these long dark winter evenings I like to create an illusion of light so I often light candles in the flat.

So, the other day I walk through the old town along the stands with different merchandise and some pretty looking scented candles in decorated clay pots catch my eye (and nose). I can't resist and buy three.

On Christmas Eve I light the first candle. It burns timidly but steadily, emitting a pleasant scent of sandalwood. It burns down very slowly so I can use it for three or four evenings. Pleased with the bargain I think about getting a few more from the same seller and light the second one on the Sunday evening. This one shows no moderation, though. It starts burning with a rather large flame which quickly consumes the wax. The scent is hardly perceptible. Still, it will last through another evening, I think when I put it out.

Come Monday, I light the second candle again. The wick sets alight with a bright flame but nothing seems strange at that point. I go about my business and leave the candle do what it's supposed to do. From time to time I throw a glimpse its way but all seems fine. Then, after a couple of hours, I look again, just in time to see a rather large flame emerging from the pot, setting it on fire just a few moments later. I watch in astonishment for a few moments but quickly grab a towel and throw it over what used to be my candle to stifle the flames, then grab the whole thing, throw it in the sink and pour cold water over it. Phew!

I managed to react quickly enough to prevent any possible damage but just thinking what could have happened if I hadn't been around or if I had looked a few seconds later gives me the creeps. The seemingly innocuous candle could have set the house on fire!

And now I wonder: should I light the third candle or not? I'm certainly not buying any more from where I got these.

X

To all of you out there who believe in Christmas, have a happy one!
Others (if there are any), have fun as well!

Madness!

The last sunny day we had was 23 November. We had about 30 seconds (okay, make that 30 minutes) of sunshine about 10 days ago, and about the same (or a little more) two days after. All the rest has been sheer misery: snow, rain, fog, more snow, more rain, more rain, more rain, more rain and even more rain... no colour, just the dull grey... no light, just a few hours of grey dusk between the end of one darkness and the beginning of another...

People are becoming hysterical, irritable, unable to communicate normally... SAD is definitely on a roll. I'm running on empty and only function as much as necessary. I can't think, I can't take photos, I've had enough of this misery! So, if you'll excuse me, this is the last post until things change for the better. I need sunshine to function and there hasn't been any for way too long!

This is not a monochrome photo!

It's what my world looks like and has been what seems forever! I want to fly away!

What fun!

So I went out bowling the other evening. As soon as I entered the object, a blast of noise assaulted my ears. It took me a few moments to realise the music had been set on full volume, which would make any attempt at coherent communication quite impossible. If it hadn't been for my partners, I would have fled immediately. The whole place was dimly lit but the alleys were illuminated by a fluorescent light.

I am told the noise (which is supposed to be music) and the lighting is called Cosmo Bowling. Phew, certainly not a setting I would chose for an activity which demands concentration and precision.

Anyway, I get my shoes, put them on and pick a ball that will suit me - the weight, the holes and all. We start the first game. Nothing I do works; the pins just keep standing as if mocking me and my feeble attempts. The rest of the gang feels much the same. Obviously, some measures must be taken and we agree we need a giraffe to make our game more fluent. Not the long-necked long-legged specimen of the African fauna, of course - I don't suppose it can bowl anyway - but a long cylindrical container filled with beer with a faucet at the bottom so each can pour the drink for themselves.

By the time we're on for game two, much of the liquid has been relocated, the noise has turned into music and the pins begin to behave themselves. We apply a new tactic and order some chips and dips so the giraffe doesn't feel too lonely. The game assumes a new quality which shows on the scoreboard. Yay!

Game three and our supplies are running low. The music becomes quite agreeable, though, and the fluidity of the game is retained. But we get new neighbours in the adjacent alley, a bunch of rather drunk inconsiderate ape descendants thinking the whole place belongs to them. A couple of them keep reaching for MY ball but I don't mind as long as it's available when I'm on. And my game goes well. UNTIL... I want to pick my ball but it's not there. Another one, similar, is, but it's definitely not mine. The holes don't fit. I look around. No ball. I'm furious and want to bite the balls off the bastard who ruined my game by stealing it from me. But I'm not sure who it was, and what's the point arguing with drunks anyway. I rather retain what dignity I have left and play the game to the end. But it wasn't my ball and the momentum has gone so I just finish the game and walk off.

I've lost all interest in bowling 'for fun'. Pft!

I'm exhausted!

OK, so this is what my week looked like:

Saturday: St. Nicholas plus brother-in-law's birthday. Dinner at my sister's. Much of the previous week was spent looking for presents for both occasions. S. Nicholas is quite an issue here, and although we have agreed to only exchange symbolic gifts, one has to consider what to put in the bag (or a stocking as used to be a tradition). Phew!

Sunday: recovering from overindulging in various foodstuffs. A trip to the stalls along the river in the old town where all kinds of stuff is sold. Consumption of adult beverages - it was cold and foggy and therefore humid after all, and did I mention cold?

Monday: a busy day at work (as usual) followed by full three hours of the French course (as usual). After that sort of treatment my only two synapses in the brain are close to burning out (as usual).

Tuesday: farewell party of one of my soon to be ex colleagues who's retiring at the end of the year. Appointment at the hairdresser's later on - have to take care of the greys (don't ask!)

Wednesday: department party after work, consisting of about an hour and a half of bowling followed by dinner at a Mexican restaurant... all the while the rain pours as if there's no tomorrow (I'm beginning to wonder if Pigeon Falls has anything to do with it)

Thursday: the rain continues to pour, streams overflow, floods and mud slides in many areas. A busy day at work seasoned by a fire drill - we had to evacuate the building and stand in the cold and wet and draughty platform, getting in the way of the unsuspecting passers-by for about half an hour.

Friday (yep, tomorrow): another evening of bowling with all that goes with it...

Phew, folks at home hardly remember me anymore. And I feel knackered! This December madness had better stop soon or I'll be needing a room at the psychiatric ward. Meanwhile, the (insert expletive of choice) rain hasn't stopped at all for over 48 hours and it doesn't seem to do so any time soon. I have no words strong enough to express my utter disgust and exasperation!

Remnants

In spite of all the miserable weather we've had there's still some colour to be found here and there.

A bit of fun on a busy Monday

Alright, so I found this test on another blog and thought I might give it a try.
Here's what the machine thinks of the owner of this place:

ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.



Bwahahahaha... moi, extrovert? Is writing a blog enough to make somebody extrovert? Pft!

The city at night

... as it looked late afternoon Friday. Not much of a shot, I know, but... taken free-handed with my old faithful point-and-shoot from my office. Yep, a lot of rain had fallen. Dry now, though...

A nod to Skywatch

Although I'm not officially participating, I thought I'd post this photo from yesterday afternoon. This is just as much as we saw of the sun the whole week, and it lasted only a few minutes. And seems we're in for more rain/sleet tomorrow (no comment)...

A world of dew

Words elude me these days... I don't know whether it's this depressing weather or December madness. It hasn't stopped raining until this morning and even then the sky remained sullen and grey.

But I survived my first party of the season which is no mean feat. A few more to go, though, before I can settle down again.