Something in the Air

Yesterday morning was unusual.

I was woken up by the munchings of a cow that’d chosen to graze on a bunch of turf less then two feet away from me. Nothing unusual there. But as I looked up at the sky - which the sunrise had painted a rich vermilion blending into a soft lilac - I noticed there wasn’t a single vapor trail in the sky.

It stayed like that throughout the day (and the next few days). It was striking but ominous. Why was the sky so clear? Had there been a terrorist alert? I searched for a newspaper and found the cause.

Iceland! Again! Their volcano, Eyjafjallajokull (I think that’s how it’s spelt) was reeking havoc (as well as giving the simplicity of Mt Etna’s name a new found respect). First their banks collapse, now this. I still don’t know if our council got its money back - I’ll have to check that.

But it’s an act of nature, unlike a liquidating bank. S0 I can look the other way but I’d think twice before seeing Bjork again. If she comes back to Plymouth Pavilions, I wouldn't be surprised if she cancels at the last minute rendering my extortionate ticket nonrefundable - it's not worth the risk.

That said, Iceland is a great island, even if their alcohol is as expensive as bullion. I stayed there for a week extra after a training exercise back in the day. I hired a skidoo and skidoo-ed out to this remote hut in the center of a frozen lake. It was during that night that I witnessed for the first time the aurora borealis, and I hope not for the last time - I want my kids to see its majesty.