in between silence and whistlers

Tongue of winter

I still remember beginning of Yuletide... The sky was kind to earth and folk. Our three felines, like clockwork mechanical toys, were sunbathing behind the glass of the kitchen and ate their saucer of tuna without raising an whisker... Rare moment of contemplation... We seized Yule light to pay homage to the many dwellers of the marsh, mire and loch. The island's rich in winter wildlife. Geese of many kinds and origins adorn hillsides and fields. Golden Plovers, Redshanks, Moorhens, Purple Sandpipers, and other waders grace our sky. Seals, all year round pop their heads at the surface of water... Winter visitors have arrived too. In addition to Redwings, Fieldfares & other thrushes, Long-tailed ducks & Goldeneyes paddle around. 


I love wild geese. To my heart, they epitomise winter on this latitude. They're scattered in small or large gaggles everywhere. Yesterday again (27 Dec) Greylags (as pictured here) mingled with Barnacles at Fleck. But light came to end so abruptly I even did not try to capture them through the lens. Another time :-)

All was quiet till 24 December. Yule celebrated within the comfort of the hut, with candles and delights, as night covered the many homes on the island. Peaceful and joyous, it was later shared with friends till very late in the night.


December 25 December belonged to hurricane winds that wrapped homes day and night... Dancing tiles and incessant hissing gales always sound both impressive and terrifying, when the wind gusts at giddy speeds. Anyway, reprieve was felt yesterday and we seized the opportunity to check hut and garage for structural damage. So far, we resisted to the anger of winter... So we went out and spent the early afternoon at East Voe and Ninian's Sands in search of shells and adventures. And this we did. Our love of the natural world includes the shore, and what better place  than an island? Among the few treasures brought home, I found a broken specimen of arctica islandica, which used to be on the menu of islanders in a non too distant past. Will have to submit my record to MarLIN... They might accept it.

Ninian at dusk looks so blue.

Hmmm, each day has its own adventures and I hear more whistlers may hit us again. Argh weel, so is the fate of the island. A day of light and silence from the sky remains a treasure, just like wood, rocks and shells. 

Solstice

longest night


I never saw sunrise on Solstice Day. Not even chirping birds managed to disturb my slumber. On the first day away from bells & timetable, I just slept away happily.
I occupied my eyes and heart around the hut from mid-morning till dusk. Yule is a time when gift paper wraps up surprises to be shared and carve new smiles. In the garden, squalid showers and heavy rain obeyed winter sky's metronome. Sunset begins early. By 1450 our world darkens. By 4 o'clock, the island has sunken in black. 

eerie world


Yuletide lights adorn the spruce Norway gifts us at Market Cross (as well as around a couple of other landmarks) in the town. They seem to defy the anger of the hissing gales, hail and malevolent spirits...Yet, on Solstice Night, all feels quiet. Maybe too quiet for the time of year. It's just gone five. A good number of the shops on Da Street remain open late on Thursday nights and yet the town feels deserted. Its many dwellers have already made their way home. The bus shelters, filled with laughters, will soon be haunted with footprints at The Esplanade. 

The harbour looks serene. The Leirna's left for one of her daily crossings through the Bressay Sound. The nearby pub, Thule, welcomes its daily intake of sailors & workers. Neon lights glow behind the blinds. Bar tenders will fill night with beer...
A few passers-by hurry to the light wherever it glows. 
The town's main streets and arteries have now returned to Yule spirits, as they recovered freedom of the world.

The island prepares for the longest night.

Yuletide haiku & micropoetry fae 60N

Tic-toc -

origin of the universe

shelled deep inside dry seeds of time.

Nordic sunrise -

tone, tone, tone, tone, tone,

splash!

A high moon lights end of night,

winter feels like a humpback whale -

unpredictable to our eyes.

Lune d'hiver -

cet imprimé d'argent

dans les flocons de neige.

winter moon -

this silver print

inside snow flakes.

Yule upon us

Time for reflection & celebration


Yule, upon us. Most of the day was devoted to reflect upon loved ones, far and wide, scattered around our world, as well as those who changed world and follow us from the sky. Since I have the silly habit of missing out postal deadlines, wishes have been flying around via the internet. So practical and easy to reach out in such a way. Trees remain treasures, time is precious and however wishes come to you, it comes from the heart.

Snow & ice have returned to the island. Days continue to shrink and this Arctic maritime air drifts everywhere. This morning, Peewit the cat hesitated to get his paws wet again, and walked on ice as if he would on eggs (!) The garden, once frozen in ice, attracted our regular squadron of starlings that have learnt to avoid our felines. 

We are getting accustomed to a pale sun on Sunday morning, so low in our Nordic sky. Soon, it will dip even lower. Yule, which coincides with the winter solstice , signals both the longest night in our northern hemisphere and a rite of passage for the gradual return of the sun. Yule light, so precious on our high latitude. Sunrises and sunsets will stagnate a little before precious seconds are regained. Meanwhile, the spirit of Yule has entered our home. Pine, holly, mistletoe adorn our walls & front door. More candles are lit on the chimney mantelpiece. The hearth glows on a daily basis and our larders are stocked for the festive season. 


Peace in our hearts, 


2011, a year of change & adventures


with a few highlights, a summer packed with a myriad of smiles, eyes, languages through The Tall Ships & visitors setting foot on the island; a flash visit to the home of Humblyband at Carbeth Guthrie, new eyes & pens through Serpentine Drama & Writers... And current creative projects in the making, including podcasting. Joining in talkwildlife.com has enabled joint showcasing of photographic portfolios as well as connecting with the natural world further and making new friends. (See 4 December entry below). Our profile page grows with grace.

My Nordic home feels peaceful, as night unravels serenity. No hissing gust or gale tonight. 

My wish to you,

thanking you for following, leaving feedback this blog and wishing you, each & everyone, a peaceful & joyous Yule, Christmas, Weihnachten, Navidad, Noël, Nollaig Shona Dhuit,  Yul, Natal, Nollaig chridheil huibh,

with all the very best for 2012.

50 Words for Snow

Revealed 


It's just past midnight and it feels like Christmas! 
All the reviews read unanimous,
Kate's ten studio album, 50 Words For Snow, is her latest masterpiece.


A formidable tour de force, Kate releases not only one, but a second album in one year! Director's Cut revisited a patchwork of old songs revamped to suit her taste as fully finished work... In its footsteps follows a mystical album, fresh from her world. For your pleasure: Kate's home site: Fish People

It is a seasonal hymn to joy, as much as Aerial in its very own right.


It is currently downloading in " my little black box" (iPod's) iTunes... It is already imprinted in my heart. And if you want to give it a first listen before you order it, 
please visit: 50 Words For Snow 

Thank you, Kate, for a wonderful

album. Wild Man was a magical hors d'oeuvre!

With all the very best wishes, Kate & The Fish People! 

With grateful, very grateful thanks for the photographs,

they are wonderful!

Happy Yuletide, everybody!

Season's Greetings fae 60N

Happy Yule

   Joyeux Noël
geseënde Kersfees
Eguberri on
fröhliche Weihnachten

gleðileg jól

feliz Natal

god jul

Wesołych Świąt

feliz Navidad

圣诞快乐 (shèng dàn kuài lè)

veselé Vánoce

vrolijk Kerstfeest

hyvää joulua
 Nollaig shona

gioioso Natale

Nollick ghennal
Nollaig chridheil
heri la Krismasi
Nadolig llawen
С Рождеством Хрисовым (S Rojdesvom Khristovym)

merii kurisumasu 

Noela we pîroz be

gojan Kristnaskon

 

wherever you breathe in the world, 

with very best wishes for 2011

Astronomical Wonders of our Neck of the Cosmos

cosmic magic

I love to peep through my window before sunrise.
Sometimes dawn taints itself in blue, indigo, titanium or black... At other times, Venus retires without a sight... Or our great sky reflects the mood of some angry horned deity. 

Today was just something special.

Last night I hoped for a blue dawn... Well, angels granted my heart such wish!
Our crystal clear celestial vault offered first-class view of some starry sky gradually switching itself off - but, then, N by NW, before 7 a.m., I saw "yin & yang", as our Cold Moon absorbed all sunrises and sunsets! Clad in the shadow of our world, our familiar satellite friend eclipsed itself in cabaret style!

Full lunar eclipse coinciding with Solstice Day, such spectacle leaves hearts speechless.

wonder-world,

caught through a more dare-devil lens before I left for the bus stop.

shameless blue

On shortest day, our island graced with untamed light, nordic, magic, almost shameless or pedantic........................ Shetland Blue!

From other windows, I kept an eye on one of my favourite Sounds (or stretches of water), Bressay Sound, as I hovered around lessons. Rare sight, fog in winter on this latitude. We are far more accustomed to traditional seafog in summer!  Bressay clad in ice and freezing lace. Wow!

However, by midday, true Shetland Blue unveiled beauty. 

... That's more like it. Perfect day bleu. In other words, my nordic version of The Big Blue.

But then, I remembered sunset would turn snow into shades of pink after lunchtime. By 1440, les jeux sont faits, for the island slides into duk for the the longest night of the year. 

It feels a game of frantic blues...

I love that blend of tainted hues inside our world. Behind 19th century windows from the second floor, honey preceeds pink on snowflakes. George Peterson's poem entitled Contrasts deals with snaa (snow). Second Year pupils explore a peerie grain o dialect, as they re-draft their own version.

As lesson ends, steam fill glass panes without a sigh - strange graffitti popped on windows. 

By the time of the final bell, we switch back to electric glows, mostly orange. 

Back into black.

So was Solstice Day 60N.

As I'm about tro click PUBLISH, our Moon returned in full splendour, illuminates our longest night , boreal sky and crystal land.

Tomorrow, my last day of term.

Just over a year ago...

nordic flutters

"Hello Earth, hello Earth..." e-resonated for the first time on blogger.com just over twelve months ago, as I still remember friend & poet Norman Bissell encouraging my heart to start blogging in the name of geopoetics! 


Norrie, I dedicate this entry to you, dear friend!


Just over  twelve months ago, I began to make friends and let poetics fill pages, animate many kindred spirits and embrace readership from the whole world.


Reader, dear friend, I also dedicate this entry to you!


Wherever you breathe and walk on the planet, may you keep enjoying those boreal flutters. They emanate from a tiny group of islands lost in blasts of arctic blizzards (as I type!) I call home with pride & joy. 

Today's walk takes us all

Back into Yuletide spirit

 

The island is just a few sleeps away from the great solstice... With it, Yule begins. Mind you, winter was very precocious this year! Yesterday afternoon, I was still meandering in the town to catch the festive spirit... I love the toon after dusk! My wandering on flagstones on the way to the bus stop at The Esplanade via The Peerie Shop Café, let me marvel at the magic of this nocturnal orange world.

Eye and lens captured moments.

I love those granite façades lit at this time of year. Everything glows like fireflies! 

A traditional spruce from Norway adorns the commercial street's focal point called Market Cross. Shop windows turn magical, as if spirits wanted to play or simply guize inside jumpers...

Hom Bru band member Brian Nicolson entertains the street via the speakers from his High Level Music shop... Da Street, as Lerwick's major trading artery is locally known, comes alive. 

All celebrate in their own style!

Today, da Street would be slightly quieter, as snow and ice sprinkle flagstones once more. Fishermen would seek shelter from wild gales in the natural harbour, that very stretch of water that separates Lerwick from its natural barrier, the Island of Bressay.

With such gales, trawlers and other crafts moore their wisdom on bollards.

Tonight, pub landlords will smile once again behind their counters.

Facing the harbour is the Peerie Shop, a well-known façade to locals and sailors alike. A Café can be found at the back of this colourful trading post... Trendy, cosy and snug, jam-packed around mealtimes, many familiar faces gather to share a slice of life around a hot drink, soup and/or other delicious savoury/sweet delicacy!   

Lerwick is a beehive whatever the season.

...This is as far as city life can go on the island!

So, dear friends, let me thank you again for all your support and comments of appreciation over those past twelve months. Walking the shore with you remains an adventure!

Snow Day on 60N

Three images to celebrate Snow Day on 60N.
This big rock, bathing in the North Atlantic, just like a gem.

White World has indeed reached Shetland and with it a new sense of peace. Daylight is melting like ice to the sun. This nordic sun, all clad in pink from either angle of the day, warms up my heart. From flamboyance at Simmerdim to timidity in winter, this colossal celestial star provides us with distinctive light on such latitude.

For every time I walk the shore, my eye is rivetted to that perpetual game of light and it will search for deep contrasts, those reverbarations onto mirrors - from the lochan to the ocean - as light gives colour to our world. And when we look at each brae (hillside), those hues of green, purple and brown change all the time. My photographic portfolio is a testimony to such light.

Today my world bore a blue tint so uniform as snow covers each inch of land. How long it will last is another question... However, we shall soon find out!

Yuletide Wishes from 60N

With winter solstice upon us, I woke today to "white world", as the north wind brings drifting snow on every hill, stretch of shoreline and every stone, wir innerdaeks, porch & roof slate.
Shetland turns in a mini-Canada. Yule is now truly under way!

On this occasion, have a piece to share with you:

Winter Spirit

Today I made my home ready to welcome darkest of season.

Fruit of the rose in the garden,
crown of holly in your honour,
the thinnest moon at its zenith,
icicle sky –

your eyes, those juniper berries,
poured in mulled wine,
we toast to our despotic star to rise again from its ashes;

playful Amabael smiles outside.

Runic dream found in nordic night,
we shall feast by the bowing spruce, light bonfires on every hill,
meddle with creatures of the cairns,
free to wander with the living…

They say it starts on Tulya’s E’en.

For you,
dark world, my offerings – cinnamon stick & evergreen,
my wheel of light instead of fears,
my sheaf of corn,
reassurance.

© Nat Hall 2009


May you all have a joyous festive season, or, as we say in Shetland,
Hae a guid Yöl wi aa da very best fur 2010!

Blissins, N