I was working in the garden on Thursday afternoon and a sudden shower came through. I turned around and there was a rather splendid view:
I hope that this is a sign of better things to come.
I haven't celebrated The Bells actively since I stopped living in New Zealand. Before then, we use to have a magnificent firework display in Stornoway to welcome in the New Year but the funds dried up as austerity hit. Most of Stornoway and the environs went to that and, indeed, friends in the town always had a New Year dinner party before the fireworks which I loved. Since then I've celebrated the incoming year either very quietly or when I woke in the morning having been fast asleep at midnight.
This year we have little option anyway. Mixing in other people's houses is forbidden.
I hope that you stay safe and continue writing and/or reading blogs in the year ahead.
Thank you Graham, and a Happy New Year to you and long may your blog continue. It is really is a splendid photograph you captured there.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachel. It's one of the advantages of always having one's phone in a pocket. It was gone so quickly I'd have missed it if I'd had to have gone in the house for a camera.
DeleteWell, what a perfect sight! Happy New Year, Graham!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pipistrello.
DeleteA rainbow always means hope and joy. 40 days of rain and who knows how long floating around, Noah witnessed the first rainbow.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, Susan, that a rainbow always happifies me. We've had what seems like 80 days of rain already. We could do without more for a while.
DeleteI hope your rainbow brings good things your way in 2021. It's a lovely image.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pauline.
DeleteAll the best to you in 2021. I will continue to enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Red. I'm glad to hear that.
DeleteGorgeous rainbow and I think I can see a hint of a second one behind it. Great way to start a new year :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Margaret, it was a double rainbow but the outer one faded very quickly and I couldn't get it all in anyway.
DeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteStunning photo. This is a special moment knowing you are in 2021 while here in Vermont the last half hour of 2020 is ticking away.
I toast the new year with water, the wine of the Earth.
The best of 2021 to you, Graham
Thank you, Maywyn. I confess to having had a drop of something slightly more tasty.
DeleteRecently when out walking with the dog, I turned around in order to head for home and there was a very similar rainbow looking at me. It had been created by a thin drizzle/mist. Sadly I didn't have my camera with me. Happy new year to you Graham. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cro. I'm often without my camera but never without my phone and the camera on that is pretty darned good I'm pleased to say.
DeleteMagnificent. Have a good year, I expect it will be.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Adrian. I intend to give it my best shot.
DeleteHappy New Year to you, Graham!
ReplyDeleteWhat great light, perfect rainbow and beautiful view - one can not be anything but optimistic seeing that. We had a quiet evening at OK‘s, just the two of us, with fine food and drink, clinking glasses at midnight and watching the very much reduced fireworks in people‘s gardens in the village. The curfew was not lifted for the occasion, so everyone had to be at home by 8:00 pm. Also, shops were not allowed to sell fireworks, so people had to rely on last year,s leftovers - not always a good idea, as things can go severely wrong with old firecrackers.
Thank you, Meike. That sounds like a pretty good way to spend the evening to me.
DeleteHappy New Year to you, Graham.
ReplyDeleteThat rainbow may perhaps be a portent of a better year to come? Let us hope so.
JayCee, let us hope so, indeed.
DeleteI've never really enjoyed partying on New Year's Eve...it always seems too forced for my liking. I prefer spontaneous...not forced...just the nature of the beast...this beast! :)
ReplyDeleteI do, however, wish you all the very best for 2021, Graham...I hope the year treats you and your loved ones both kindly and generously...take good care. It is a pleasure knowing you...if only throuh "Blogland"! :)
Thank you, Lee, for those kind words. I agree, by the way, that spontaneous is generally more fun but often far more stressful for the host/ess.
DeleteNow that is a rainbow! If one were prone to ancient superstitions one might consider it an augury of something or other. Ah, what the hell, let's consider it a portent of good fortune in 2021. All the very best, Graham. Don't forget to roll up your sleeve for the vaccine when the time comes!
ReplyDeleteDavid, I know next to nothing about ancient superstitions and, touch wood, have never been prone to superstitions either. Thanks for the advice, I'll be there as soon as it's offered.
DeleteA beautiful rainbow is a lovely way to bring in the New Year. May it be a sign of hope for us all. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteMary. I hope that you are correct.
DeleteLovely beginning. Let us soldier on with hope and good will.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Jill, let us all do just that.
DeleteRather splendid? I should say so!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you!
Guess what, I received your lovely Christmas card on Christmas Eve day! How special is that? Just as special as the card and envelope and postage stamp, itself! Thank you!
What is the fox looking at? Nice thing, I got out a magnifying glass and although, I can't see what he is looking at, it made me marvel at the perfection of the artwork. Thank YOU!! (And the glass helped me to see the photo of yourself on the back too!)
It is a pair of rabbitt‘s ears, Kay! Look back one or two posts and you will learn more about the painting that was turned into a beautiful Christmas card for us.
DeleteThank you, Kay and thank you, Meike for the explanation.
DeleteA beautiful rainbow! I’m so glad that you captured it with your phone camera. Here’s hoping 2021 is light years better than the year just ended. A very happy new year to you, Graham.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bob. Surely it must be.
DeleteYou were working in the garden? Lucky man - mine is a completely frozen slab and apart from managing to break some ice on the ponds each day, it is almost too slippery and dangerous to step outside.
ReplyDeleteI don't care for the "HNY" phrase, so I will just wish you all the very best for the coming year, to be safe and to be healthy. x
Jayne, It was a beautiful day. We do, occasionally, have freezing temperatures but being on the coast and surrounded by water we rarely have freezing temperatures for very long.
DeleteWhat a fabulous image. Rainbows always gladden the heart.
ReplyDeleteA Happy New Year to you. X
They do indeed, Jules. Thank you.
DeleteHappy New Year, Graham. That rainbow certainly beats any noisy fireworks display!
ReplyDeleteMonica, rainbows certainly have a wonderful quiet beauty and mystery lacking in fireworks.
DeleteWhat a lovely image for your New Year card Graham...
ReplyDeleteSomewhere over the rainbow, COVID will be history
But dimwit Brexit will remain a flipping mystery
And Johnson will still indulge himself in sophistry...
Sorry - I can't think of any more rhyming words so Happy New Year sir!
Thank you, YP. Sophistry is his speciality I'm sad to say.
DeleteThank you for the beautiful photo....Wishing you a very healthy and content 2021. I look forward daily to reading your blog. From Across the Pond in Maine.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Regina M. I hope that you will not be disappointed. I'm hoping to blog a little more frequently this year.
Delete