Twenty years ago on a mad whim i was in orkney trying to get work on an archeology dig. Our camp site flooded and we were staying in a local's shed instead, a fishing boat that had been upturned and built in, with a cosy peat fire. One night we met a love child of jimi hendrix's (allegedly) in the pub in kirkwall and leaving to escape his incessant ear bending, on the threshold a shooting star caught my eye. Looking up i saw the northern lights. Green, red, blue, white pink,
All moving like a wild sea. It frightened me, and the more i watched the more frightened i got. You know how you can lay back on a sunny day and sleepily see shapes in the clouds, bunny rabbits and such like. This was like the nightmare, speeded up version of that. Even though i 'knew' what it was it still totally rattled me, after 10 minutes or so i had to go hide inside to give my eyes and my brain a rest. It was so totally unlike the serene aurora photos you see around, for me anyway.
I cant wait to see the aurora australis, to see if it has the same effect on me or if i can put down that first experience to something jimi hendrix son put in my drink?!
It's nearly dark now...nothing yet...
Ok, so this part Orcadian, ex-archaeologist needs more details of your time in Orkney! Lucky you seeing the Northern lights! Will keep an eye on the sky tonight, thanks for the tip.
ReplyDelete1991, early winter. Total fizzer as the only dig happening was flooded out. Was on the mainland but cant remeber what/where. Wasn't maes how or anything big. I am still madly in love with stromness. My archeology career never went any further, it was just a finding myself fad! Where are your family from ?
DeleteOh there is an amazing moon tonight, which will make looking for the aurora very difficult. I have seen two or three since I have been here and each one was totally different. I wanted to be an archeologist when I was little, I loved digging up treasure out of the garden - this was in the UK. Now I just dig around in op shops !! Haha.
ReplyDeleteHehe heh heh! Yeah, we just drove out country and it still feels like twilight the moon is so bright, way too bright darn it! Happy digging and congrats on the award x
DeleteWe had an amazingly bright moon last night, and very clear skies (for London). Venus was glowing away hugely too. I am utterly jealous that you've seen Northern Lights - I would love to. Fingers crossed for the Aurora Australis. Let us know.
ReplyDeleteI heard on the radio that we may get radio/tv signal interference.
I too am very envious. It's been very clear here, and I was just talking with a friend this morning about the solar flare. Hopefully any aurora experiences won't be as weirdly mind-blowing as your last one - I'm putting that down to Jimi Junior! xxx
ReplyDeleteAlthough it's one of life's cliches, I too have always wanted to see the Northern Lights. Maybe I'd get a ghastly flashback to one of my ill-fated hallucinogen induced 'bad trips'. And it'd serve me binkin' right!
ReplyDeleteOh I love aurora borealis, those are hardly ever seen on south Finland, but when they do it's amazing. Good luck on the aurora spotting.
ReplyDeleteallegedly. ha ha ha.....
ReplyDeleteI bet it was one of the first things he told you too, huh?
I wonder if we can see anything here in Melbourne?
ReplyDeleteHad no idea you could see that in NZ. Not a chance in Sydney, I'm afraid. Surprised the in-laws, who are on the south island, have never mentioned it. Will have to do some investigating.
ReplyDelete