Fireworks Night

With yesterday being fireworks night our usual routine would be to go to our local park and watch the fireworks on display.  Hundreds of people would turn up and you would hear the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and watch the children run about with their flashing fluorescent tubes which only seem to come out on the night only to run out of batteries 2 days later.

When we were younger I remember the kids with their 'guys' lovingly or not put together with their dads old trousers and shirt, and then placed to lounge on the pavement or their sister's pram as they shouted 'penny for the guy'.  The poor guy would later be loaded up on the bonfire and set alight, the pennies that were collected from passers by used to by sparklers, or sweets.  The crowd would count down to the launching of the first fireworks, amidst the laughter and the smells that wafted on the night of roasted chestnuts alongside onions frying for the burger and hot dog stands.

The night air was cold and uninviting, but we were well wrapped up.  The firework display then seemed spectacular as a child, the loud noises as they whizzed and whooshed, and then the lingering smoke that drifted through the neighbourhood as the last firework fizzled out. At that the crowd would disperse, children happy, looking forward to getting home into the warmth and a hot drink. 

This Saturday we totally forgot about the fireworks display until Sekani reminded us...as much as I really like fireworks we were too settled by that time and decided to enjoy the neighbours efforts.  They had some really pretty ones and I enjoyed it without the hat, gloves and scarf, in the comfort of my own home and got these pictures!  We have Sekani's 16th birthday coming up and he has requested fireworks in the garden!  We might also make an effort to go to Central London to see the new year celebration fireworks as it will be the first time and really welcome in 2012!  How will you be welcoming the new year in?

365 Days of Colour - Flower of the Day 153 - 159

Day 153

Reflection

Treat yourself often, you deserve it.

Quote

The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. ....T.S. Eliot

Scripture

Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens..Psalm 119:89

Day 154

Reflection

You deserve happiness, it’s time to let go and shine

Quote

The butterfly counts not the months, but the moments, and has time enough...

Rabindranath Tagore

Scripture

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, but through Me’..John 14:6

Day 155

Reflection

Take the time to enjoy the little things in your life

Quote

The important thing is this: to be able to sacrifice at any moment what we are for what we could become. ....Unknown

Scripture

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?..1 Peter 3:13

Day 156

Reflection

Love knows no boundaries

Quote

Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life....Ralph Waldo Emerson

Scripture

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 16:7

Day 157

Reflection

Letting the love in, it’s your time

Quote

One hundred percent of the shots you don’t take don’t go in....Wayne Gretzky

Scripture

The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works..Psalm 145:17

Day 158

Reflection

You will soar like the eagle

Quote

If you can dream it, you can DO it....Walt Disney

Scripture

The greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted..Matthew 23:11-12

Day 159

Reflection

Bless someone with a smile

Quote

Just as certain selections of music will nourish your physical body and your emotional layer, so other musical works will bring greater health to your mind....Hal A. Lingerman

Scripture

The Lord will protect you from all evil: He will keep your soul..Psalm 121:7

Try something new for 30 days!

If you could change anything what would it be?  Is there something you've always wanted to try? whats stopping you, have you wanted to give up something, been thinking it over but wasn't sure how to get it started.....I saw this video by Matt Cutts recently and I feel really excited about making some changes, the great thing is that its the little steps that we do that make the difference, consistent and sustained action will bring about change.

So what am I going to do?  I've been taking about walking, getting fit, walking challenges 2 - 3 times a week, but this time I'm going to go for it.  A 20 minute walk every day for 30 days in November, I've prepared with the gloves, scarf, hat, extra socks and mini umbrella, so I have no excuse!

The second thing I want to do is create mixed media backgrounds to use with other projects, I am going to allow myself free reign with any medium and spend time playing with some of the things in my art collection that I don't get to see often.

I'll share once a week on progress, and will hopefully have some images that friends and other participants will be sharing.  Please do leave a link to your site.  I know there are others doing the challenge so why not giving it a try. 

Week 1 Update
Week 2 Update
Week 3 Update
Week 4 Update

Picture of the Week - wishful thinking

Started clearing up at the back of the garden and found this.....dreaming of sunnier weather sailing on the Caribbean Sea..... though its been sunny, have had to get the woolly hat and the gloves out!