THE DAY BEGAN

sunny and when I had put the food for the birds, this little one could not wait till I had disappeared and that gave me the opportunity to make this photo. Mischa's choice for me for today.
At eleven we started, Piet Hein, Mischa and I, a walk along the Weser towards Würgassen. The ice-floes in the water suprised us again, Piet Hein and Mischa saw them for the first time nearby. After a while of walking the path the siren of the fire-alarm went off and in the distance we saw smoke above the houses of Herstelle, that lies at the other side of the river.
Coming nearer the smoke-clouds were enormous and more and more they evolved from the spot. Several fire-engines came driving from east and west to the place. Of course it was horrendous to see the clouds, sometime more white, then suddenly black, going high up in the air. What a disaster for the persons involved.
We passed Herstelle and only on our way back the clouds were diminished and the fire under control.
In the meantime snow-flakes in the air softly fell down upon us. We returned home and our thoughts stayed with the fire and how it has changed this day for the habitants forever.
The fire-men and - women had done their brave job and the water of the Weser nearby had given them enough water to extinguish the fire.
I have made a lot of pictures from far and nearer, very impressive but not I think for use here.
It is quite a decision to post a picture of a disaster like this fire and not make just a nice picture of it.

My haiku:

We innocently
Walk and look around, the day
Seems pleasurable

And the italian proverb:

The same fire purifies gold and consumes straw.