22 Dec 2016

Playing With Fire

Last winter, I came across Grandson R collecting fallen twigs from our Chinese tallow tree and putting them in a pile so that he could have a pretend campfire.

So I came along and said "Why have a pretend one?  Let's have a real one!"

And I set fire to his pile of twigs.

He enjoyed the fire, but I didn't realise how much.

The next time he came, he went round collecting twigs again, and when Grandma C asked why, he said "So granddad can set fire to them!"

When I went in to get my matches, he ran off and returned with his fireman's helmet on.  He was going to hose down the fire like a real fireman.


This little activity of his suddenly reminded me of a little psychological phenomenon we have here of arsonists joining the volunteer fire brigade.

There has been quite a few cases of arsonists lighting bush fires, which are terribly dangerous in our hot dry climate, and these fires can spread and threaten property and even lives. 

These firebugs then join the fire team and seek heroic status in fighting these fires they themselves have started. 


I haven't made cinemagraphs for quite a while.   My last one was here, showing a much younger Grandson R.

This fire fetish of his gave me the opportunity to do another one:



14 comments:

  1. Dear Arthur! I passed by in haste to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS. I will read this review calmly next week.

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    1. Thanks, Reader's Tales. A very merry Christmas and a happy 2017 to you, too.

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  2. A really smart boy, your grandson. Bushfires can be really terrible, destructive and here, we get the horrendous haze from the open burning during the dry season. Awful!

    A Blessed Christmas to you and all your loved ones. Cheers!!!

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    1. Thank you suituapui. And a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to your family and you.

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  3. Hello Arthur. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Your grandson is so clever!
    Bushfires are really awful.
    Each year it destroys acres of forests, and put the lives of others in danger.
    Have a great week ahead :)

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    1. ha ha, it's all fun and games for him.

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    2. Dear Arthur! I wish you a fabulous New Year 2017.

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    3. And may you get everything you wish for in the new year, Reader's Tales.

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  4. i felt curious about the name of your post first !
    your grand son is very intelligent and smart child ,i liked the video so much really enjoyed his moves and the way he off the fire at end.
    i witnessed some bush fires when i was in my native village and they hurt me lot spiritually because they destroyed the greenery of hills for quite long .
    thank you for sharing your Beautiful post with us .

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    1. Yes, bush fires are terrible things, and I'm sorry you had to experience one. We have very bad ones here, sometimes with whole communities destroyed.

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  5. God bless you and family friend !

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    1. Thank you baili. And our very best wishes go with you.

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  6. He's so cute. And its so sad about these arsonists...starting such dangerous and life threatening activity for fun.

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    1. You're absolutely right about these arsonists! Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog.

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