Category: Memories

Astronomy

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What’s something most people don’t understand?

There’s a lot about astronomy I don’t know. There is a branch of science known as astrophysics for instance that is about light speed and gravity, red shifts, dark matter, black holes, dark energy, pulsars , neutron stars, the list is enormous.

I do try and understand some of this, there has been a TV programme on the BBC for decades called the Sky at Night. I’ve watched it since childhood. That sparked an interest and we did have a cheap  telescope for a while. I’ve seen Jupiters moons through it and Saturns rings.

I’m amazed though at web pages about flat earth believers. Some of the things that they post are very odd and nonsensical. I don’t understand how incredibly silly some of them are! No offence meant but they worry me.

Waiting, another prompt from Esther.

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Esther Chiltons weekly prompt is waiting. I remember my school holidays.

I was waiting and waiting for the summer holidays to come. I remember being about 11, we had recently moved house and I was at a new school. We had a real garden, trees to climb, a swing and seesaw that dad had put up and I wanted to explore the area. My new friends and I would find new places to visit, the local arboretum, canals and the far end of the Broadway where my uncle and aunt lived. I was getting old enough to walk a few miles, or cycle around country lanes to go to parks for picnics. Those few weeks were really worth waiting for, everything seemed more colourful, exciting adventures like jumping across the local brook, or trying to collect insects. As I tried to balance on walls or climb up into the laburnum tree I was learning about the environment. At the end of the holidays I decided to get more interested in nature and was made a tree warden at school. That holiday was worth waiting for.

Sketch time

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Reading out

Writing group today, I sat and sketched a couple of the group. Most of the stories and poems are autobiographical, I want to be more fictional. The woman writer was very atmospheric, giving a feeling of ‘place’. Using unusual descriptions to evoke childhood and adult memories of being drawn  back to the sea. My poem about love was well received. I’ll keep going.

Fern time

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Ferns are growing in the wall again, catkins are appearing on the trees. My snowdrops have flowered and now the daffodils and helibores are in flower. Soon the tulips will open.

I can’t wait for warm breezes. Marigolds, wallflowers, wisteria and nasturtiums. Blue skies and then the fruit blossoms. The days will be longer and it might help me feel better. I hope the bees and ladybirds arrive soon.

Possibly a Tardis.

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What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?

My digital drawing of David Tennant as Dr Who

I love Dr Who but there have been many actors who have played Dr Who and although I have my favourites I think I would have a picture of the Tardis whirling through space and time. It’s an iconic piece of science fiction history. I’d have a tattoo on my ankle. But it would have to be very small as I don’t like the idea of pain!

Red nose day in the UK

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Comic relief…

Back in 1985 several comedians got together and started raising funds for charity. A few years later it became a biannual fundraising event for people in the UK and around the world. The comedian Lenny Henry was at the forefront of the shows and helped present so many funny routines that made it such a different type of telethon for collecting money. Many comedians and musicians have lent their support to the show including  Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders. Billy Connelly, Griffin Rhys Jones, Miranda Hart, Russell Caine, and many more. The show also went to places to see how they could help and recorded the results of their support of communities and individuals. Providing help for people suffering from HIV, and other chronic diseases, mental health issues, children injured during war, starvation and so many more frightening experiences.

Comic relief has collected over One Billion pounds in donations from the British public in those 40 years and are continuing to do so. We may wish that governments should support more needy children and young adults, but at least we are trying to make an effort to help.

Esther Chiltons weekly prompt: Funny moments

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Esther requested a piece of writing about a funny moment this week and my memory went back to my early childhood…

Thinking of children and what they say and do. I was a young child, probably about 5. I was developing a wart on my thumb and asked my mum what I should do? She told me to rub some bacon on it and bury it in the garden. Some time later she found me outside calling for her, asking if I could come back inside? I’d rubbed the bacon on my thumb then shoved my thumb into the soil! I always have taken things too literally!

Previously bike, now car

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You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

When I was young I cycled evrywhere with my then boyfriend, later to be my hubby. Sometimes we went on the train with our bikes then cycled on to our destinations. I was fit enough to cycle 100 miles on our tandem. I enjoyed the trips and went round the lake district and over to places like Harrogate, down to the Midlands and into Wales. We travelled in all sorts of conditions, Sun, rain, snow, ice, wind. It was interesting to see the world pass quite slowly and yet for the landscape to transform as we passed through valleys and over hills. Whipping down hills, wind in my hair. Then one day I was knocked off my bike by a drunk driver. After a short spell in hospital I started cycling again. But unknown to me the bike had been damaged. A year later it collapsed as I was cycling up a hill. The down tube had pulled away front the headset (the tube between the handlebars and the forks.) I took the bike to a cycle shop but they lost it and the replacement bike I bought was not the right size. By the time I got my old bike back I had learnt to drive. I needed a car because I had a job requiring me to work in different towns. I still had my bike but the car was convenient. If I had continued to cycle every day I think I would be fitter now.

Old tv

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There was a science fictio TV series in the 1970s called the Six Million Dollar Man. I used to watch it and it’s follow up series the Bionic Woman. I’d rush home if I was out to see it on a Saturday afternoon.

It’s recently been showing on a TV channel that specialises in older series. But it’s  no where near as exciting as I remember it. It’s very macho and the stories tend to be long winded. A lot of scenes just show the hero running or jumping in slow motion. They take up the majority of the screen time. Then there are semi scientific scenes that are not very accurate. It has an iconic theme tune that runs through the show. I’d rate it as 5/10. Because? It’s a bit boring! I can’t tell you how dissappointed I am.