What is this thing "Book"?

Took myself off to the cricket ground this afternoon, not for the purposes of running, or even walking - although I did a bit of that - but to actually lie in the sun and read.

I have hardly looked at a book in weeks, normally most of my reading is done quietly at the pub with a pint by my hand; no pub-going has thus resulted in no reading as I've been entertaining myself with online story telling in the form of various sci fi adaptions of Dungeons and Dragons.

Or watching a couple read "Dune" over several weeks.

Lockdown has turned me into a mega-nerd basically.

So today, I read the first 50 odd pages of a Stephen Baxter sci fi novel. I wish I'd chosen something a bit easier to get into!

The trick is now is to keep up with this habit over the upcoming weeks. I've missed books.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.05.20

Astronomy Funs

I really have neglected my astronomy this year, I keep saying that I know, but I've been so tired and my eyes so wobbly that late night observing sessions have really not happened.

So, recently, I've been trying to get a few more in, post midnight, in the quiet time that I love, hiding from the streetlights up my dark drive, taking in what beauty I can in the diamond pin cushion over my head.

At the moment, it is all about the winter constellations, with Orion standing shield and club raised athwart the southern sky. I took in his nebula in all its green glowing glory in my 10x50s, before taking in the star fields to his left and above his shoulder, the milky way constellation of Monoceros, the celestial unicorn.

Sadly there was a little bit of haze around, so I wasn't getting super amazing views. But they were good enough. The beehive cluster in Cancer as ever looked really good in binoculars...the seven sisters were a display from a jewellery shop.

Above my head, Perseus wielded the head of Medusa, and Kemble's Cascade tumbled down the borders of Cassiopeia.

The silence was wonderful. The freexing cold less so.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.11.16