Noctilucent clouds.

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High up in the atmosphere, close to space, Noctilucent clouds start to appear in the summer months. They glow an almost electric blue and are caused by sunlight reflecting off gas particles from meteors that have broken and burned up as they strike the earth’s atmosphere at high speeds. Over the last few years these clouds have become more common and scientists are investigating why.

I see information about these and other atmospheric and astronomical phenomena at Spaceweather.com a fascinating Web page.

Souvenir

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Texture and pattern. Today’s Urban sketchers challenge was drawing a souvenir so I drew a Thai woman and baby doll that my friend gave me. As I’m doing textures and symbols on my illustration course I decided to try out different marks to show the knitting on the cushion underneath the doll.

I have been doing a lot of pen and ink drawings lately, not using pencil or charcoal much. Maybe I should try some other techniques?

 

Won a zoom quiz

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It was a bit chaotic, but fun. Questions included what whale and bridge have the same name (humpback). Who sang my boy lollypop (millie small), mimi was a character in which opera (la boheme). We were half a point in front at the end. It was a close run thing. Teamwork is so important. Seven teams, how can you have so much fun online? Did I say? We won!

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Anyone seen a dalek?

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A couple of years ago we saw a Dalek on a station (I think it was Froghall) in the Staffordshire moorlands. Memory fades, but I know I had a short video of it perambulating backwards and forwards along the platform. I remember looking for who was running it. The original ones on TV in the sci-fi series Doctor Who, were moved by people inside the Daleks, pedalling them along.

This one was being moved by a remote control I think. I saw a man with a radio controller in his hand. Later we went to look at a model Tardis in the station itself. Tardis stands for Time and relative dimensions in space. Anyone who is a Doctor Who fan would know that.

It’s not often that you bump into an iconic 1960’s TV character in real life.

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Aged

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Have I matured,

or aged?

Is my skin like parchment,

smooth and soft?

Or crumpled and full

of wrinkles?

Do I need ‘plumping up’

or ironing flat?

My age is my story,

my experience and thoughts.

Worn or rested.

Life takes its toll,

and continues on,

giving and taking.

Life has magic

and cruelty.

Give itΒ  chance

to take you

on your own special journey.

 

 

Remember snow?

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Six months after this image was taken, and the garden is in full growth. The cherries on the tree are swelling and lichen is growing on the tree.

Life runs in cycles. Soon the height of summer will be with with us. I hope it isn’t too hot. I don’t do heat. Maybe lockdown will end. Hopefully the virus will be bought under control. Only a small percentage of people have died out of earth’s massive population, but that doesn’t make the pandemic any less devastating. Maybe it’s time to think back and remember all those people who have died. Stay safe.

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Daisies

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This summer I hope to see daisies and Vinca

green leaves and yellow flowers.

Aquilegia is fading, Poppy flowering in sun.

The garden changes so fast,

you have to run to keep up…..

climbing roses tower over paths,

Sweet showers of rain swell the fruit………………………………………

Soon it will be autumn again.

Fallen leaves and dead flowers.

Enjoy the sun

While you can.