Saturday 30.10.2010

Fantastic fresh-washed autumn morning: brilliant blue sky with the occasional splash of white cloud, a keen wind tossing birds and trees about, a half moon hanging overhead and Ben Rinnes needle sharp on the horizon. Could have walked to John O`Groats and back before breakfast. Made do with a tramp round the perimeter of the woods, dog delirously chasing everything that moved.
And Orion has returned. I glanced to my left as I drove up the back hill late last night and there he was, lolling across the eastern horizon like some disreputable lothario waiting to be fed grapes.
I`d been at a meal with some friends to say farewell to one of our number who is to set off on a fantastic adventure for six months, working on South Georgia.* Hopefully Orion will keep an eye on her as well.
http://www.sgisland.gs/index.php/Main_Page

Tuesday 26.10.2010

Much milder, a bright shiny morning and blowing a hooley into the bargain: gulls and crows swooping and swirling with a lot of noise and fuss; sheep rediscovering their inner lamb and racing up and down as dog and I sped by - not running of course* but walking-very-fast as only a half hour to spare before work.
So autumn is keeping winter at bay for the time being though the sun is already travelling lower in the sky making for longer shadows and a more diffused light.
Blue sky, dollops of white cloud, green grass, reds and golds on the trees and a good strong wind to blow away the proverbial cobwebs - a few more weeks like this please.


* see Post 15.05.2010

Monday 25.10.10

More driving than walking in the last week or so: up and down to work but also this last weekend away to a family wedding in County Durham which at least afforded the opportunity to look at some beautiful landscapes even if, frustratingly, there was no opportunity to walk in them.
Reminded how varied the vernacular architecture is and how the place names too speak of a country "invaded" by "foreigners" over hundreds of years - Romans, Vikings, French.......can`t be many "indigenous" citizens who don`t have a smidgeon of something "foreign" running through their veins, which is very comforting.
Meanwhile back at the ranch last week, forebodings of winter with an inch of snow one morning and this morning a sharp frost. Hey ho - back to scarves, gloves and hats and a shovel in the boot of the car.

Saturday 16.10.2010

Still grey but the cloud was higher as dog and I did the woods this afternoon - splashes of white and blue,the occasional burst of sunshine making everything sparkle and mountains visible in the distance instead of shrouded in cloud.
A clear night now, cold with a bright waxing moon but the weatherman is saying we`ll be back to grey tomorrow with arctic winds for next week.....
Sodden ground and soaking grasses but pleasant walking: still air, vibrant autumn colours, mysterious little pale blue fungi poking out of the undergrowth and spiders` webs laced across everything - are they really busier at this time of the year or simply more visible?

Wednesday 13.10.2010

Grey, grey skies, for days now.
As I let out the geese this morning, a solitary heron flew ponderously across the field letting out the occasional mournful croak. We stood and watched (the geese apparently mesmerised by the noise) while a couple of officious crows escorted him out of their airspace.
Dog and I walked the woods later, the gloomy light and damp atmosphere underlining the autumnal mood:falling leaves; empty fields (the bullocks have disappeared sometime in the last week or so); the remaining large straw bales beginning to sink lopsidedly into the damp ground, no longer a golden yellow but faded to a pale browny beige, with the odd pair of disconsolate crows perched on top, slightly hunched like the vultures in Jungle Book.

Wednesday 06.10.2010

Back up on Mither Tap this morning. It`s a while since we`ve been on the hill and dog got very excited, christening practically every rock and tree as if announcing her return.
A typical October day, blustery and unsettled, a busy sky, cloudy and spitting rain one minute, blue sky and still warm sunshine the next. The summer still feels nearer than the winter.

Sunday 3.10.10

Sensational starlit sky tonight as I returned from work. Dog and I took a stroll up the track to take it all in away from even our minimal lighting. One very bright planet in the south east - could it be Jupiter?
"Jupiter has now risen in the east after sunset and, at magnitude -2.9, will be well seen for much of the night. By month's end it is due south and highest in the sky at about 9:30 GMT (the clocks will have gone back by then!). It well worth observing with a telescope, as Jupiter has (presumably temporarily) lost its South Equatorial Belt and at the same time, the Great Red Spot has intensified its colour so is now standing out very well! A small telescope will easily pick up Jupiters four Galilean moons as they weave their way around it."*

Oh, for a small telescope.

All we could do was stare and listen to the spheres singing.**

*www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky
**"There is music in the spacing of the spheres." -- PYTHAGORAS (6th C. B.C.)