Moments of terror.......

I've had a few already here and many during other visits. On a daily basis, for example, crossing the road is an art, but you take it on the chin, knowing that even if you did get hit, the driver won't stop or even if they do hit you, no-one cares.


However, the single split-second moment of terror so far happened this week. For context, near to the city (about 50 km away) is one of the biggest nuclear power plants here. In new flats, they have signs on the lift telling you what to do if there's a radiation leak, in old flats, no such advice. So, we were all four of us in the park near our house enjoying another sunny autumn day. Then, all of a sudden, what sounded like air raid sirens started going off. Imagine the long wailing sound from war films. It was really loud, and sounded like it was going off all over the city (we're right in the centre, and it really sounded like sirens were picking up all around us). First thought - hmm, that's unusual. Don't often hear air raid sirens these days. Second thought  - Oh crap. We're outside in the open, about 10 minutes from home. Not that being indoors would be much help if it turned out to be the worst.... There were quite a few people in the park at the time. mainly grannies walking their grandkids. A few early morning drinkers, and a few other randoms. As the sirens kept on going (for about three-four minutes) you could see a couple of people (really, only a bare minimum, and maybe they were leaving anyway) hurriedly leave the park, the rest carrying on regardless. A. was on the swings, and there was no way he was getting down. M. stood there as if nothing was happening. What do you do? In my case, nothing. After standing there listening to the wails, I stood there, commented on how loud the sirens were and let A. carry on.

Then it stopped. M. said it was probably the school that is next to the park having a fire drill. A FIRE DRILL! When I was in school, there was a tinkling little bell. In the library at work, there was a crappy electronic siren. This school had an air raid siren. I bet the caretaker was cranking it around by hand too...

I have an overactive imagination.