Thursday 25 February 2010

White stuff, clever stuff and a bit o' ranting

For someone who always seems to have plenty to say I've had an epic fail at keeping this blog up to date. *must try harder*

Mark Twain famously said, 'Everybody complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” The complaining about the weather drives me insane. People saying the same thing over and over. However I have now been driven insane by the weather and find myself in the category of complainers. I am well and truly, completely and utterly sick of it. (snow that is) I am reliably informed that Orkney has had one of its worst winters since blah, blah, blah. See that's another thing. Whenever we are given an account of the weather on the news it's always 'since records began' The lady with the BBC voice calmly tells us it's been the hottest October, the wettest May, the snowiest June, the driest rainfall 'since records began' anyway, the bottom line is Orkney isn't that bad compared to many places (heck even Florida got snow!) but it's bad enough to make me grumpy. I had an attempt at trying to trick the weather by doing some spring cleaning the other day but it took no notice. It feels like Narnia. Hurry up Aslan, get on the move!

On to the clever stuff......
After 18 months being here I finally got to see the Northern Lights the other night. Otherwise known as the Merry Dancers. Now here comes the dumbed down science bit..concentrate.... apparently there has been very little activity over the last 4 years and Northern Lights sightings have been significantly reduced. However due to clever stuff with the sun and light and north pole and magnets etc it is set to improve greatly over the coming months and I was even told that by this time next year seeing the Northern Lights will stop being a novelty. Jury is still out on that one, but for the sighting I did get, I drove out to Birsay where it was pitch black. I stood outside my car and listened to the waves whilst looking up in wonder at the green and white lights dancing away and thought ''wow, this is clever stuff''

7 comments:

The Cowans said...

So glad you are on a lenten facebbok fast as it means we get great blogging. And soon i anticipate you will post pictures of your Spring cleaning too Huzzah!

Sarah said...

I had a facebook fail yesterday but I fessed up and still managed to blog. I am bombarded by requests to update it. People must be really bored out there.

Sarah said...

well as you asked so nicely :-)

Anonymous said...

Personally I gave up Lent a long time ago. Jesus fasted when there was a need, not because it was the run-up to Passover. But I've learned that you do Facebook as well!

I trust that nobody in Orkney still believes in global warming...

Anton

Sarah said...

I generally tend to fail at Lent things and go into it with a realistic expectation which this year was realised as usual. However it reminds I am but dust and makes me discipline myself. Reach for the stars and reach the top of the tree 'n all that....

Believe in global warming? heck by now we are rather hoping for it!

carol said...

Sara, Just read your Blog and was very impresssed. I have never heard of Orkney until you moved there and I am anxiously awaiting reading more of your delightful Orkney. lol Carol

Sarah said...

Hi Carol, thank you for your comments. Glad you're enjoying the blog. I bought my dad the Orkney book of birds for Christmas and he is enjoying ticking off his sightings. I'll try and get a puffin picture for you this year Sarah x