- Luminous birds. – There’s a letter in The Times today from a Mr H D Rawnsley on the subject of luminous birds. This is in response to Sir Digby Pigott’s letters of Dec 20th & 26th regarding his luminous owl (“With so many more important matters clamouring for a hearing, I am almost ashamed to ask you to find room again for my luminous owl…” etc / sadly I cannot find the original account from the 20th). Sir Digby Pigott had already adduced corroboration for his luminous owl from some local fisherman, viz. “On December 12 several of us fisherman were standing on the Wells-bar between 2 o’clock and 6. It was a very dark morning. At 4 we were all surprised to find something blowing about just like blue fire. Our mittens and our sou’westers were soon full; it hung to them like cobwebs, and some parts of it were very bright. I thought you would like to know about this, as it would be able the same time the luminous owl was seen.” – Another writer, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that luminous birds were well-known in his region of Shropshire and went by the name of the Glimullert (or, to give it its Latin name, the Strix flammea). – H D Rawnsley describes the encounter in the following terms: “It moved very quickly and appears to have leapt over hedges, and is described by some as “a dazzling light as large as a table lamp”. When seen at Skelton the light appeared to move in undulating curves, and not only went over hedges, but soared above the top of a fir plantation”. – More to follow on this story.
- North vs South football. – The Football Association have organised a North vs South match in Manchester on 27th Jan, as preparation for upcoming international fixtures against Belgium and Germany. The team-sheets already seem to be up. – This seems like an extraordinarily good idea to me, and we should bring it back.
- Ethiopia / Eritrea. – Border disputes and raiding between these two countries continues, though The Times seems confident that the Emperor Menelek II’s intentions are good and he will come to terms with the Italians. – Plus ca change.
