by Anura Guruge
on March 15, 2024
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There is a BIG difference & it is very easy to spot.
I know my bagpipes. First thing I look for when it is supposed to be an Irish occasion rather than Scottish.
I noticed that Biden didn’t even glance at the piper. Very rude. But, he is Irish. SMILE.
Well, now YOU know the difference. It is OK. You don’t have to THANK ME. This is what I do. SMILE.
by Anura Guruge
on February 29, 2024
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It only happens every 4 years so it is worth celebrating. I like my Leap Day. Enjoy.
Today is the WARMEST Leap Day that I can recall. Usually we have snow storms around this time.
by Anura Guruge
on February 19, 2024
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The 80 or so pictures I took in Boston Chinatown yesterday made into a YouTube video (with dubbed music). That is it. Nothing more, nothing less. SMILE. Enjoy. It is quite good — even IF I say so myself. SMILE.
A YouTube montage of Dragon Parade pictures from 2023.
Chinese New Year 2024
celebrations are basically DONE after the 2nd Sunday.
Happy
Year of the Dragon.
by Anura Guruge
on February 14, 2024
Click to ENLARGE.
Last Year’s.
With or without a card she always makes my day, each & every day.
We now kind of KNOW that she will have cards made for us. Kind of expect it, BUT it is always such a TREAT. She doesn’t want us to see her making them. So she makes them secretly. Yes, we are very lucky.
Search on ‘artist‘, on this blog, for more or her amazing work. SMILE. Yes, I am rather proud of her.
by Anura Guruge
on February 10, 2024
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A YouTube montage of Dragon Parade pictures from 2023.
Happy Chinese New Year 2024.
Year of the Dragon.
Thus, even more important that ever to go celebrate with the Dragons in Boston Chinatown.
I have been visiting Boston Chinatown for the New Year dragon parade celebrations since the late 1980s — bar COVID & two years (over that period) due to monster snowstorms.
Went last year and had a blast. See video above.
But, what people don’t realize is that the Dragon Parades are on the 2nd Sunday of the 10-14 day New Year celebrations.
2nd Sunday.
So, it will NOT be tomorrow, though they will, of course, be celebrating the New Year. Just NOT all the dragons. That will be NEXT Sunday. Got that.
The two Chinese New Year 2024 Badges I earned on Garmin the last 2 days.
by Anura Guruge
on December 31, 2023
Click images to ENLARGE.
As going to the ‘Wolfeboro’ fireworks, on New Year’s Eve & on July 4, is a well entrenched tradition that goes back 15-years (or a tad more), I, of course, went.
Weren’t many people. Though the thermometer said 29F, there was a slight breeze from the lake & it felt chilly. My gloveless right hand, on the camera shutter, was frozen.
The fireworks lasted 12 minutes.
As with ‘Revels‘ I maintain that all fireworks shows are always good, by definition. I like fireworks & hate to be uncharitable about them. But there are times when my limits are tested. SMILE. Let’s just say that this was ‘OK’. Good. Yes, let’s leave it at that.
Here are some representative pictures. Enjoy.
by Anura Guruge
on December 31, 2023
May 2024 be a GREAT YEAR for YOU.
All the best.
Thank YOU for YOUR support.
by Anura Guruge
on December 31, 2023
From LAST Year.
6pm is EARLY for New Year’s Eve fireworks — BUT, this is ‘Wolfeboro‘, the geriatric capital of New England. Once the grandkids go home after the Summer, Wolfeboro’s denizens like to go to bed early — even on New Year’s Eve. The sound of the fireworks keep them away. Hence the need to have them this early. C’est la vie.
There was a time when Wolfeboro did PROPER ‘First Night’. But, that was a long time ago. So, you just have to get used to it. SMILE.
To be fair, early fireworks (with EARLY ‘First Night’) is now becoming the norm in New Hampshire — even in rather cosmopolitan ‘Portsmouth‘.
It used to be around 9:30 in Portsmouth & ‘First Night’ went BEYOND midnight. I KNOW. c2018 we volunteered, & I had to do the MIDNIGHT address from the church. SMILE.
by Anura Guruge
on December 31, 2023
Hogmanay, the Very Scottish celebration of New Year’s Eve, is like no other.
All other New Year’s Eve celebrations pale in comparison.
I was lucky enough to have enjoyed Hogmanay in Scotland, a few times, & moreover to be a ‘First Footer‘. WOW. SMILE. All the women & girls queue up to kiss the First Footer because he is supposed to bring you LUCK. Please remember I am still available to perform this duty.
by Anura Guruge
on December 27, 2023
To do it properly YOU have to have linked, crossed arms — as shown at top. That video, as you can see, is from Edinburgh ‘Hogmanay‘ — where, obviously, they know how to do it properly.
You really should try and do it right.
So much more satisfying.
The crossed, linked hands are symbolic —
across your heart and the connection with others.
Cracks me up to see Americans struggling with this every New Year’s Eve. So practice beforehand.
I used to be a ‘First Footer’ in Scotland. So, I know this stuff. SMILE.