Angel Chimes

Angel Chimes

May these Angel Chimes make Heavenly Music in your ears!

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As a kid we always had Angel Chimes on the table at Christmas and New Year. Along with the traditional paper crackers, they made the festive season more – festive!

The heat from the candles makes the angels slowly spin round. It brings a little magic to the evening to hear the angels tinging away as each taps the bells in turn.

Here in South Africa I spent many years looking for my own set of Angel Chimes, till finally one year I did find them, in a large department store. They played their Heavenly Music on my table every Christmas and New Year throughout my own kid’s childhood. Sadly, the Angel Chimes finally succumbed to metal fatigue and died.

Another gap trying to find new chimes. There were none to be found anywhere.

Then a few years ago my daughter happened to be in Scotland and stumbled across a specialty Christmas shop; in summer! Inside she found these Angel Chimes, that had been made in Sweden! She instantly bought them for me.

Now I could celebrate the festive season properly again.

Do any of you have Angel Chimes?

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Made in Sweden

Found in Scotland

Used in South Africa

Truly well-travelled chimes.

 

Second New Year

Cheers!

Tweede Nuwe Jaar

Capetonians traditionally have enjoyed a second New Year on 2nd January. On this day, the Cape Minstrel Carnival took place in the city centre.

Most of us, however, just relax for the day, such as here, under the shade of massive old oak trees. With a welcome breeze from the vineyards wafting over you and a glass of ice cold champagne in your hand, you can see in the New Year, again.

 

Fireworks

Fireworks

Monochrome #2

Did you celebrate New Year’s with fireworks? It’s really difficult capturing fireworks at night. This was the best I could do with my limited skills, but I think you can see the trails of light as the embers fall?

Or can you?

Curiouser

Wait a minute?

And Curiouser

I know those spots!

Mr SL

Yep! It’s Mr Spaghetti Legs; lying in the sunshine, drying out after his bath!

Fireworks are banned to the general public in South Africa, thankfully for all the animals out there. But there are public displays in town.

This is my second offering for Ady’s monochrome series, and presented itself, naturally, as monochrome with a sepia tint.

So how soon did you guess it was Mr SL?

Wishing all of you a Very Happy New Year, and All the Best for 2015.

As the Sun Sets on 2014

Sunset over Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa

Say goodbye to 2014; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. And look ahead to 2015.

Australia is 9 hours ahead of me, Singapore 6 hours and India 3 and a half; while I am 2 hours ahead of UK and 7 to 10 hours ahead of USA. And though we may begin 2015 at slightly different times, it is marvellous to be a part of the WP family. I raise my glass to you all. Cheers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing Everyone a Wonderful 2015.