Final post of the year

[beelikej]

Well, I've posted the updated CSI-hairguides, so the most important part of my to-do-list is done. In about half an hour I will turn off the computer for the last time this year and cycle to my mom's for New Year's Eve.

Before I go I have some bitching left to do... concerning this icon:



In The Netherlands people are allowed to light their own fireworks on New Year's Eve. (I used to think it was like this all over the world) The rest of the year it's illegal to sell or buy fireworks. Sales start a couple of days before the end of the year and on December 31st you may light whatever you bought from 10 a.m. until 02.00 a.m. Until two years ago you could only blow up stuff from midnight on, but since people were buying such an enormous amounts of fireworks, the government decided they needed more time to get it all out of their system. *rolles eyes*

I used to like New Year's Eve: I loved the anticipation while staying up late and waiting for all the neighbours to go outside at midnight to light up the sky. These days? Not so much. Men in my neighbourhood have been lighting illegal (and very loud) fireworks ever since November, but since the stuff is legally available the explosions have been constant. The noise is making me very cranky and I'm not looking forward to leaving my house and getting on my bike. It will be no fun trying to avoid firecrackers and other exploding stuff:(
Still: my mom is waiting with Oliebollen and other food, plus I get to enjoy her divine shower, so I'm gonna pack my brand new pajamas and start the journey;)

Of course I can't leave without wishing everybody all the best. While I'm typing this I'm glaring at my body that seriously let me down this past year, as a result of overwhelming new emotions and some issues at work. I consider myself warned to take it easy and will try not to stress out. I want to give you all the same advise;) Take care and see you next year!

Comments

[kennedy-unknown.livejournal.com]

The thing I hate about fireworks is the anxiety it creates in animals. Mina cowers in fear as soon as they start, and there are so many cases of dogs and cats running away out of fear. The shelters, which are over-run with the post-Christmas dump, become even more strained. It's fricking hellish.

Good advice for the upcoming year! I hope we all take heed.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I vote for silent fireworks. Surely there must be a way to have the pretty without the noise?

Well, I'm full of good intentions, that's a start I suppose.

[sillie]

Afghoughe yes!! Fireworks terrify me, and I've heard bangs and all that all day. So I said,'Self, let's stay inside all day', and so I did. *nods* Anyway, I wish you a safe trip to your mother, and have an awesome night. :3 Happy 2008! :D

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I survived the trip and had an awesome Oudjaarsavond:) We only spent a couple of minutes outside at midnight: because of the fog we couldn't even see any fireworks, so we just lighted our sparkles, did some ooh-ing and ahw-ing and went back inside, where it was nice and quiet and warm:) Happy New Year!

[chemfishee.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...

Have a safe trip. And a happy new year.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Uhuh.

Thanks, I made it and fun was had:) Happy 2008!

[bflyw.livejournal.com]

hear, hear!
In Norway, it's only allowed to shoot fireworks on New Year Eve. I don't know the exact time, but it's supossed to be at night. The tradition is that everyone goes out at midnight (of course). They start selling Dec 27th and up until today.

But, as in Netherlands, they have been shooting these damn fireworks for weeks already, and right now (19.23) it is constant.

I read in the newspaper that this is the last year fireworks are legal here in Norway, and I was so happy. From next year off it has to only be officially organized. And then I read that it wasn't completely true. It is only the fireworks with steering stick that's illegal, batteries to put on the ground will still be legal! SHOOT!
It doesn't even help! Okay, it might help with the house fires (because the ones you shoot up are more prone to land on roofs). But to follow up their argument for forbidding it (to avoid the injuries), they should have made all fireworks illigal. Statistics from all the hospitals in Norway show that 50% of the injuries comes from the ones you shoot up, and 50% from the batteries. Now people will just switch to batteries all over, and it will be just as much fireworks, and just as many injuries. Why can't the politicians do it right, for once? Just once?

I have spent all together 13 New Years Eve's at home taking care of my scared dog in New Year, so I have no tradition of going out. It suites me fine, because now I have to be home to take care of a daughter I HOPE will be spared of being so affraid as I've always been. Fireworks shot up between close houses and drunk, stupid men does NOT MIX!

Sorry... I took over your bitching, but I REALLY DO AGREE!!!

Happy new year!
*To good health in 2008!*

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

It such a ridiculous decision: men are obviously not mature enough to handle the responsibility. I hope you managed to enjoy some nice fireworks at midnight. Here the constant explosions caused a fog (all over the country!) that made it impossible to see the lights. Luckily my mom and I had some long -and silent- sparkles to watch.

Same to you for the new year! Happy 2008:)

[bflyw.livejournal.com]

I really did enjoy the fireworks. We didn't go out, since we live up on a hill and have a great view over the houses beneeth us.. so we just stood inside and looked through the window. (amaya slept, so I didn't want to leave the house).

We could see people go out to shoot up the fireworks in the guest parking lot to our houses, but I didn'thave to stand among them, so I was safe this year :-)

[tanisafan.livejournal.com]

We had a similar problem last year, but I admit that people behaved themselves last night, they only started at 9pm or so and gave it a rest around 2am. Which is not to say that I don't get really annoyed when I'm trying to watch Colin Firth be lovely and get constantly startled by loud bangs. Boooo.

But I hope your New Year's Eve was splendid and that it only contained fireworks at precisely midnight ;). Taking it easy, check!
You were a big part of what made 2007 awesome for me *hugs you*, and I really hope that '08 will be even better: that your body will restore itself to its full health, that you'll get to read some long-awaited books ;), and that you may do and have everything that you want. Indulging is the word!

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Heheh. I totally read that you said Colin was startled by bangs, which created some giggle-worthy scenes in my head. *is twelve* But I hear your Boooh. Stupid loud people.

Fireworks sucked this year, both in noise (too much) and sparkly (not enough, thanks to fog) - but mom and I had fun (Hootenanny!)

Ahw, thank you. *gets a little teary-eyed* Dito, darling. *hugs back*

Yes, books! I made a shiny new list for 2008:)

Indulging is the BEST word:)

[tanisafan.livejournal.com]

Well, bangs are scary :p.

I heard that it was so very foggy in your part of the world, boooo. But it's all good when you can stay in and watch the Beeb, isn't it? ;)

I just revamped my list from 2007 because there's still so much to read, wahh. Knowing me, more titles will be added than removed over the course of the year, ahem. I've already had to stop myself from adding several series. *blush*