Yesterday evening I caught a glimpse of stars in our night sky. Magical twinkles from afar…. yes, infinity and beyond. It was a rare event, over the past week heavy cloud cover had removed any opportunity to see Natures Free Show.
It also triggered a memory of September 2 years ago. Our travels had taken us to Norway, itself a fabulous trip. It was though, the very special treat of experiencing a display of the Northern Lights that left the biggest impression.
Dancing, swirling, constantly moving coloured waves of light. The display lasted for over 2 hours, then just vanished. I reckon, those who live in those parts of this world where the Aurora Borealis regularly occur, have difficulty trying to describe this phenomena of Nature…. I find it next to impossible to describe.
It is though an experience, an experience that I will never ever forget…. and so very very different from our views of the Milk Way.
I mentioned this was September 2 years ago. A fun packed, exciting and wonderful trip with friends. Our only thought to the future was ‘where too next’. Little did we expect what lay ahead. Covid, hardship for many and a World that seemed to close down. For many the issues of the past two years are starting to recede and some form of normal is returning. But not for all and the dangers are still with us.
All this makes for me, this special moment in Norway, those Northern Lights, all the more precious. It was a privilege and something to cherish in my personal memory bank.
It also serves as a reminder that nothing is ever permanent, life like the Northern Lights is for ever changing. Some change we can control, but I guess the majority of change is out of our hands.
So perhaps it is even more important to….
Remember ….
Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other
16th September
(C) David Oakes 2021
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
I’d absolutely love to see the Northern lights. I know what you mean about feeling incredulous that we were free to do the things we did before we’d heard the term ‘Covid-19’. I was out walking on the moor yesterday and experienced a similar life-is-short feeling of being so fortunate to be able to do it, but your experience must have been at another level.
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I have been out most days this week walking….. there are currently many more folk out and about as they are still on furlough. Being cynical it does seem as if everyone is on holiday…. an exaggeration but you will get the idea.
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I had exactly the opposite experience earlier this week. I went for a walk around tea time and was surprised and sorry there were so few people out, able to enjoy a fine day.
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I thought things would go quiet once our school term started…. but my impression is that here there are a good number of parents enjoying their freedom.
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That’s really an astounding and unforgettable capture–how long was your exposure?
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From memory about 20 seconds.
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