Thunder and lightning, crashing down...

Charlotte's predictions about "Thunder" came true. Two days after the fireworks display, we had an epic electrical storm of biblical proportions. Over 2,000 lighting bolts struck Canada on this day, and two people were rushed to hospital with their hair standing out on end. The whole city was rattled... 

...but not my kid, Charlotte. Unlike the fire works - where she was amping to get up and see what was going on - Tig thought the thunder was a non-event. Or at least, that's the way she acted.

     "Banana!" she would say. "Ball!"

Sure, the lightening was entertaining her for about 3.5 micro-seconds; but when all was said and done, the kid practically put herself to bed at the height of the giant tempest, and paid it no more regard. Even when the lightning cracked almost directly above the house, and the thunder rattled glasses on the shelves, she just rolled over and snuggled into Mr. Bear, (That's 'Mr Bear' the Almon St Mascot - not 'Monsieur Bear' from an earlier post).

I fly kite's in Lightening Storms,
I eat Thunder Bolt's for breakfast.
No way man, I'm not scared...

Anyway, poor ol' Deb, Lucy and Philip - they were camped out at Shubie Park in their collapseable camper hoping it wouldn't live up to its name. Eventually, in the interests of comfort and peace of mind, the New Brunswickers saw sense and sought refuge in Gumpy's driveway. Wise move. You know what they say, a good storm in the Maritimes is like a red-neck's divorce. Either way you look at it, somebody's losing the house trailer!

Oh well, at least we know the camper doesn't leak! And we also know that Charlotte Lillian (a veteran of the fire-works), prefers Treehouse TV over The Weather Channel any day. That kid man. She just rolls with the punches and takes it all with a grain of salt. 

Roll on hurricane season now, I suppose. Sigh! At least the morning after on the Halifax pier was quite the beauty for Barrett's little Privateer...

Wilbur sends.

Happy Birthday Halifax!!

On the 1st August it was Halifax's Birthday - not that any of the locals knew what "Natal Day" was all about - to most, it is just another excuse for a day off work. Michelle and I were watching another episode of Damages when we heard the first of the fireworks crack above the city. It must have been around 10pm. 

Illegal backyard explosions are nothing new in the North End of Halifax, so it was 5 minutes in before we actually decided to grab the baby out of bed and run across the road for a look - but I am so glad that we did.

Charlotte was already standing up in her crib, holding onto the bars and staring at the pink and blue and green lights flashing through her curtains. "Thunda!" she said, as if I needed prompting about the likely source of all the noise.

Wrapped in blankets and standing with a bunch of strangers from across the street, we three stood and watched in wonderment. 

There were Dahlia's, and Spider's and Willow's; Horsetails, and Smiley Faces, and even Bengal Fire - but what was most spectacular, was that on this one night it was pretty clear to see that all of us were seeing something we'd never seen before... 

Michelle and I spent more time watching Charlotte's face than we did looking at the fire works. Her jaw dropped, she clapped her hands and her eyes grew wider and wider. It was a picture of pure wonderment. A moment caught in time. Michelle had tears in her eyes she was laughing so hard. We found ourselves watching the fire works through that little midget's eyes. 

She clapped, and blinked and at one stage even let out a little, "Whoah!!!" It was really quite the scene.

Haha, bloody great! Thanks kiddo. It's pretty neat to see fireworks again for the first time. I forgot how great they really are. Good times ;)

Hop-Scotch!

Nana Niccy and Lucy visit Halifax

Kia ora Kiwi Kuz.

Peek-a-Blue-Blocker-Boo!