Once again I find myself in latitudes far above those I am commonly used to. However as there was a break in what seemed to be a perpetually occluded sky and I have been placed in a North facing room on an upper floor, I thought that I would spend some time on the balcony with a glass of wine and a cigarette and take in the celestial firework show that is the Aurora Borealis or 'Northern Lights' as it were.
 |
| File Picture |
And what did I see? Nothing, nada, zip, not a thing. The sky remained resolutely empty of stunning cascades of light, there were a few glows on the horizon, but I believe they were perhaps the cooking fires of the local tribesmen.
Of course first thing this morning I complained to the Duty Manager at Reception, only to be laughed at, he said something along the lines of [I can't do the accent] ;
"Eeeee lad, tha knows you cant see T'Northern Lights frum here. Tha has ta ga foorther North than this-un"
Further North? I don't even think that's possible
The North as envisioned by Pavlov's Cat
Back i't'middle ages when ah were nobbut a chilt, I used to believe t'Falkland Islands were off t'north o' Scotland.
ReplyDeleteAh were reet surprised when th'Argies invaded i' 1982, ah can tell thee.
(I'd best not continue in this vein: the spellchecker in my browser is on the point of having a nervous breakdown.)
I used to think the Falklands were in Fife because Falkland Palace is there.
ReplyDeleteI did wonder at the time why the Argentines would invade Fife and also why I couldn't see their boats out in the Firth, (I lived in East Lothian at the time.)
In my defence, I was only 9 at the time.
You need a solar flare. That'll do the trick.
ReplyDeleteOnce again I find myself in latitudes far above those I am commonly used to.
ReplyDeleteGood up here, innit? You're actually not too far from me.
@ Edwin & Pa Broon , I recall similar discussion re. The Falklands at school , I was of the opinion I recall they were somewhere near the Faeroe Islands or the Orkney's and also wondered how the Argies got up there
ReplyDelete@Julia for there to be a solar flare there would have to be Sol ne? Which has been conspicuous by it'd absence since I crossed the M25 line
@James Sadly had no time for sight seeing, I'm sure it's lovely
Does that mean my Daddy is Father Christmas?
ReplyDeleteHello Pavlov's Cat! I'm really sorry you haven't had a chance to see much of God's own county. My brother (also Yorkshire-born) lives in Shetland and has seen the Northern Lights only once. I love the sketch map, but my Manx grandmother would not have appreciated being called Scottish, (although there was more than a touch of the Calvinist about her).
ReplyDeleteIf you are cold up there, may I suggest Damart thermolactyl long pants made in Bingley, West Yorkshire, as worn by Santa Claus (and me until I was a teenager)? I live in south-east Europe now, so I'm well and truly nesh.
@ 'eddle if he lives at the North pole as indicated on the map, he could well be
ReplyDelete@Caesar's Wife : I will take your recommendation for underwear on board, as next time I am up here after next week will be 2nd week of January and it's sure to be a bit parky then
I were up in't same latitudes as thee fer nigh on thirty year, an' I only saw t'northern lights once.
ReplyDeleteTha's gorra long wait.
I've been north of Aberdeen for decades and only seen the northern lights once. That was when I scrabbled out from beneath a tatty Fiesta I was trying to keep roadworthy. First thought was 'Oh hell, what have I inhaled under there?'
ReplyDeleteNo time to look for them now. Too busy dodging the frost giants.
I am slightly concerned that I may have given the impression that I actually thought I was going to see the Northern Lights from Leeds.
ReplyDeleteI can assure you that was not the case, it was only a bit of North/South humour.
I have a B in proper O'Level Geography you know.
Have you noticed the difference in twilight yet?
ReplyDeleteNot the movie series, obviously, but the real dawn/dusk twilight.
The sun hangs on forever up north, whereas here on the south coast its like throwing a switch.
Of course it could be the constant overcast cloud causing the effect up north.