On the six am radio broadcast an announcement by the Interior Ministry that the New Year celebrations have passed 'quietly'. 130,000 police and emergency services were on duty. As a result of their 'vigilance' only 874 cars were set on fire ( a bizarre French tradition ) compared with 1316 last year.
Another abnormally warm start to the day. It got into the low 20's yesterday and the same is forecast for today. More like Spring than deep winter. The sky above us is crisscrossed with contrails as we head out of the gate. Overnight flights from Chicago moving at right angles to early morning departures for Spain. They make a great checkerboard pattern in the sky.
By the River Angus chats away to Mahattanites worried about Ukraine. That flawless innocence of the New Year didn't last long. This year, more so than last, I think that a trip to New York might be on the cards. A fourth jab and the cresting of the current wave might make it possible. For the time being travel plans can wait.
Sophie paddles contentedly in the water by the concrete boat dock.
Heading back to The Rickety Old Farmhouse the PONette finds something edible on the low wall that surrounds the village pond. By the time I catch up with her whatever it was has been swallowed. Sophie exudes happiness.
New Year listening / reading :
That Airdrie accent again :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP-7GNoDJ5c&list=RDGMEMc6JZQrQ__ROET3gGdz-Trw&index=8
This is -apparently- one of the very best places on the planet for star watching :https://www.kachilodge.com/
How animals make decisions :https://www.pnas.org/content/118/50/e2102157118
8 comments:
Hari OM
I would go so far as to suggest the sky above Sophie is the Lord's Tartan... and the shanty that brought Nathan to the whole world's notice... it never tires in the listening! YAM xx
There is a distinct hint of hope from the doctors these past few days that we may finally be reaching the beginning of the end. I do hope we will all be able to begin our travels again this year, but in the meantime, we took Charlie to the nearby beach today for the first time. It's not allowed in the summer, but it's a dogs' paradise at this time of year. The tide was coming in and he was very surprised the first time his feet got caught in the surf, but once he got the idea, he had to be discouraged from dashing all the way in. I enjoyed the shanty, although this time I had to look up "wellerman".
This animal decided not to continue to read that lot of stuff in your third link. I was hoping that it might have predicted if the dog would eat the poo or not.
What an odd tradition, to burn cars at New Year.
Throughout the pandemic, another Airdrie accent prominent on the airwaves here has been that of Scotland's National Clinical Director, the always wonderfully clear and straight talking Professor Jason Leitch (Dux of Airdrie Academy, 1986).
Cheers! Gail.
Love the Wellerman song but I'd not heard it sung by Nathan or seen that particular video. Delightful. Dedicated star gazer here but it's a hobby that can be very hit or miss here in changable weather New England. Even so, I shall have to continue on in my own back yard because while Bolivia surely is tempting...it's a long ride away.
A pretty dawn, another opportunity
Very spring-like photos, indeed, except for the bare branches!
I am mesmerized by the photo of Sophie by the concrete boat dock. Lovely!
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