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Lights Out
Aug. 4th, 2014 11:28 pmI enjoyed tonight's "Lights Out" in commemoration if the start of World War 1. My personal commemoration was for all wars and all soldiers, including those on both sides in Gaza. (The Israeli army is composed largely of conscripts.)
I sat listening to the Proms, with the Tallis Scholars performing the late John Taverner's "Requiem Fragments", in the dark except for a single candle. (And later, now, to Jazz On 3 playing Billy Bangs music about Vietnam. Good stuff.)
I watched the night outside the window, particularly the castle and the sky. The half-Moon was sinking - I watched it go down behind the tenements opposite, its movement noticeable only because it was against the solid works.
The castle was lit up for the Tattoo. I wondered what they would do - even whether there would be a tattoo tonight. There was. I watched the castle illuminated, change from white to blue to blood, blood red. At half past ten, there were fireworks, though somewhat subdued. Far fewer big bangs, and without some of the high points I noticed on Friday and Saturday nights. At 10.45 all the castle lights went out. I thought they might mark the 11pm ultimatum with fireworks, but it passed in darkness.
Before the fireworks I was watching the sky above the castle and saw a light moving over the castle through the sky. No flashing lights, no red light, just a constant white light moving slowly through the sky.
It turns out, just by chance, that I caught the International Space Station fly past. A minute earlier or later, and I would have missed it. It is still a thrill to watch it pass through the sky.
It made me think how far we had come in the last one hundred years. In some ways, we have made huge advances. In others, not so much.
I sat listening to the Proms, with the Tallis Scholars performing the late John Taverner's "Requiem Fragments", in the dark except for a single candle. (And later, now, to Jazz On 3 playing Billy Bangs music about Vietnam. Good stuff.)
I watched the night outside the window, particularly the castle and the sky. The half-Moon was sinking - I watched it go down behind the tenements opposite, its movement noticeable only because it was against the solid works.
The castle was lit up for the Tattoo. I wondered what they would do - even whether there would be a tattoo tonight. There was. I watched the castle illuminated, change from white to blue to blood, blood red. At half past ten, there were fireworks, though somewhat subdued. Far fewer big bangs, and without some of the high points I noticed on Friday and Saturday nights. At 10.45 all the castle lights went out. I thought they might mark the 11pm ultimatum with fireworks, but it passed in darkness.
Before the fireworks I was watching the sky above the castle and saw a light moving over the castle through the sky. No flashing lights, no red light, just a constant white light moving slowly through the sky.
It turns out, just by chance, that I caught the International Space Station fly past. A minute earlier or later, and I would have missed it. It is still a thrill to watch it pass through the sky.
It made me think how far we had come in the last one hundred years. In some ways, we have made huge advances. In others, not so much.