A New Year

My minimalist sparkler fireworks on the balcony at 1:30 am, lit after returning from the street where the entire neighbourhood gathered at midnight to the ringing church bells to shake hands, exchange well-wishes for 2012, watch the fireworks around us and empty a few bottles of champagne together.
"The same procedure as every year, James."

Imagine how deeply shocked we all are at the moment: In the early morning we all had to learn about our 67-year-old neighbour. She passed away shortly after our midnight celebration. She was found dead in her house by her children around 3 am.
I received the bad news just when the bell-ringing started (in our small town there is a certain church bell rung in a certain interval when someone passes away - I live right next to the church).

To make the morning even worse we had a fire run in the town around noon. The sirenes would not stop and they seemed very close. I don't know yet what happened. Nothing good, I'm afraid.

Not excactly the best start in 2012.

1:20 pm 10,7°C (!)