So we have snow...

Not much, it's true, but it's been cold enough here it doesn't melt away. Moreover, the pond has frozen over and the critters of the avian kind have gone, leaving behind only footprints in the forming ice.

Fire in the sky

Well, the longest night is over, and at times our neighbourhood resembled front lines of a fierce battle. But it was pretty, too... not so easy to capture on camera, though. Anyway, I'm posting a few attempts below.

So we have passed that same point again...

Tonight most of the world will have celebrated the end of something and the beginning of something else in a bout of excess.

But what exactly does end or begin at midnight on New Year's Eve? Not very much, I don't think. In the northern hemisphere the sun set a few seconds later than the day before and will rise a few seconds earlier than the previous morning. So what! Everything looks the same, feels the same: the winter sky (grey and dreary for the most part), the cold, the snow (provided there is any); even the headache and that annoying pain in the joints... and yet, everything is in a constant state of flux. The Earth never pauses on its way around the Sun, it simply passes the same point (more or less) in the trajectory.

And yet, humans have resolved to put and end to one cycle, which they call a year - or whatever its equivalent is in any of the existing languages - so they can start another one with a different number beside it with high hopes for something new, different, better... and resolutions, most of which are bound to fail for one reason or another. And even the moment at which one year should end and another begin is not defined unanimously. The Eastern Orthodox Christians adhere to the Julian calendar, and for them the New Year begins on January 14. The Chinese (Lunar) New Year begins any time between January 21 and February 21. Other peoples celebrate their versions of New Year in March or April, or in fact any time during one turn of the Earth around the Sun.

So, I have to admit, all this leaves me somewhat perplexed. Why is it I have to celebrate and be merry tonight of all the nights? Eat and drink to excess? Wish a happy this, that and the other to all and sundry? Why should tonight's toasts and wishes have a special meaning?

I wish the people I care about well all the time, whether or not I say it out loud (or in writing). And yet, I feel the need to wish these special people (and some a little less special) good health and happiness and prosperity during the next Earth's turn on this very evening.

Happy new year everyone!

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!