Geminid Meteor Shower

Tried to draw a meteor shower…

I tried to view the shower a few years ago. We drove miles, but we’re stuck under a cloud base that was miles across. I gave up after forty miles. Tonight it’s the same, cloud everywhere. But if you get the chance try and see it for yourself!

The Geminid meteor shower is tonight. (morning of 14th December 2020). I looked up the information on Wikipedia I’m afraid as I don’t know enough about them:

The Geminids are a prolific meteor shower caused by the object 3200 Phaethon,[4] which is thought to be a Palladian asteroid[5] with a “rock comet” orbit.[6] This would make the Geminids, together with the Quadrantids, the only major meteor showers not originating from a comet. The meteors from this shower are slow moving, can be seen in December and usually peak around December 6–14, with the date of highest intensity being the morning of December 14. The shower is thought to be intensifying every year and recent showers have seen 120–160 meteors per hour under optimal conditions, generally around 02:00 to 03:00 local time. Geminids were first observed in 1862,[1] much more recently than other showers such as the Perseids (36 AD) and Leonids (902 AD).

Walked 9.2 miles!

It was a filthy, wet day, rain, wind, cold, puddles! Of course I could have said no. But I need exercise. So off we trudged along the canal down on a flat route to a main road, then right and down hill to a large retail village. Only problem? I’d forgotten to bring a mask or some cash (I had thought I could catch the bus back), that was the five mile mark. We got a bit dry in the ladies loos, then my friend popped into a couple of shops while I stood outside. Then. Back along a dual carriageway. More wet steps. When we got to the roundabout that would take us back via the main road or along the river, yes you guessed we chose the river path. Cold, wet, rushing river, the paths were inches deep in water so I waded through the grass that was muddy mush. I’m glad I’d taken a big brolly. It made a good walking pole. Finally the path ended and we were back in the city…. I havent walked that far in twenty years!

Terracotta pot

Decorated terracotta pot from outside. Our money plant got too big so it’s in this enormous, heavy pot now.

I’m glad in a way. I love the flower decorations that are on the outside. If the pot was outside in the cold and frost they might crack and split if ice got into it.

I need to see patterns, if I don’t, if everything is plain, I get bored! I don’t know why. Some people like clean lines, simple colours, bare walls.. I don’t.

My indoor boy cat

While I’m caring for an abandoned cat I must also continue to care for my other two. They have both been patient with me but I do feel guilty especially for my boy cat who loves to be loved. I think he’s a little jealous of our interloper and because he’s smaller than outdoor boy he sometimes takes it out on his sister. There’s been a lot more chasing and play fighting than before. That they have been so calm about the new cat comes, I think, from living with eighteen other cats (I took them in as rescue cats). I think they will all integrate, just wondering what we will do if we go away on holiday.

Watching ‘It’s a wonderful life’

A sstrange and eventually wonderful story of a man who loses everything including his family and identity. He is transported to a world where he no longer exists. Everything he ever influenced has been changed.

Like a Christmas Carol it tugs at the heart strings. If you have never seen it, find it. X

Stars James Stewart as George Bailey, black and white film.

At the waiting room gallery

Photo taken by a friend at the waiting room gallery a few months ago BV, (before virus). He’s reading, I’m tapping away on my phone. The surroundings makes it look like an old painting. Although it’s in a gallery I think it looks like a domestic scene. I love the atmospheric look of it.

Sunny for a while

Light at this time of year is always low. Striking across the ground rather than high above it. This is because the Earths Northern hemisphere tips away from the Sun. So much so that the North Pole dips into darkness in the winter months. Shadows are long now and when you do get into sunshine the light can be blinding from the Sun on the horizon. You can look for images of the suns track across the sky at different times of the year. It basically arcs round from East to West but tipped at an angle dipping more South as winter progresses, then from the winter solstice around the 21st of December, it starts to slowly work its way back up the sky until its almost overhead on Midsummer day at midday, then the cycle starts all over again.