One of the most memorable and truly magical places I’ve ever visited is Norway. In particular Tromsø for its amazing university, complete with science museum and planetarium, but a little further up the cost of Norway is the city of Alta, which is incidentally inside the arctic circle and depending on the time of year you visit you can experience some of the strangest phenomena mother nature has to offer.

Firstly there’s the obvious one, and the thing most people say is on their bucket list. Northern Lights or aurora borealis. This is caused by charged particles from the Sun (solar wind) colliding with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, interesting factoid. The Northern and southern lights (aurora Australis) should actually mirror each other. The meat time to see the northern lights is late sept to late march. 

Then there’s the phenomenon known as the midnight sun a natural phenomenon in summer. where the sun stays visible for 24 hours in regions near the poles (north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle) because the Earth’s tilted axis keeps that pole continuously facing the sun as it rotates. This results in constant daylight, which can be very confusing as I found out on a cruise some years ago, when I woke up to daylight, made a coffee and sat on my balcony. Only to discover it was 0320hrs

There’s also the opposite of this which is polar night. Polar night is the period in polar regions when the sun remains below the horizon for more than 24 hours, plunging areas within the polar circles into 24-hour darkness. It occurs because of the Earth’s axial tilt, which points the polar regions away from the sun during winter. The duration of a polar night ranges from a single day at the Arctic/Antarctic circles to up to five months at the poles. in Tromsø, it usually lasts from late November to mid-January. This like its counterpart is a very disorienting experience as I’m sure you can imagine.

That’s why for the above reasons and many more I would recommend everyone visit, don’t worry if like me your Norwegian isn’t very good. As I found out in Alta, the locals leave school fluent in sometimes five languages and they’re super friendly so if like me you don’t mind the cold then Norway and Iceland are waiting to be discovered.

This is a tough one to answer, I could list things like poetry, but that would be showing off, so I’m thinking outside the box.

• Archery I have been shooting on and off (mainly off recently) since 2008 when I did a beginner’s course for fun. Since then I’ve shot in club comps and joined the uk chapter of the Sons Of Archery.
• Chess. I started learning chess earlier in the year instead of my regular German course. Since then I’ve found I’ve a nack for it and my ELO is between 8-900 which after three months isn’t too shabby.
• Photography. It’s something I’ve always loved to do and it appears that I have an eye for it. I couldn’t tell you how to set up a shot ie aperture, exposure etc, I’m just an able to get the shot.
• Making the perfect cup of tea for Mrs Bob, even though I don’t drink it myself and never have.
• Back rub is another talent I apparently have according to Mrs Bob I’ll take her word for it

I’m sure somethings on the list aren’t exactly talents but who’s counting

There are many things or traits that I could say I’d like to change about myself. Although if I’m honest, I wouldn’t change a thing about myself .

Why? Well without all them, I wouldn’t be the well rounded individual I am today.

If it wasn’t for my autism I may never have had such a successful science and engineering career, without my stubbornness and fight. I’d maybe have never joined the army, and I’d maybe without my PTSD and depression I might never have picked up a pen and started scribbling. What would go on to become (over 20 years) a fantastic gift that’s helped others as well as myself. So without all my life experiences I wouldn’t be me.

This is a very simple one for me to answer…

It’s my trademark slouch beanie (in various colours) and a pair of Noir filters similar looking to sunglasses.

Hats are my thing if it’s not a slouch, it’s a baseball cap or even a fedora. I’ve always loved hats they’re quirky and fun, plus I’ve no hair to keep my head warm.

The filters they’re to help with bright lights and also help me with my PTSD.

I’d have to say my computer, the reason behind this?

Well I spend a lot of time playing online in MMPORG’s and if I didn’t I’d probably have more time to read the growing collection of book I haven’t read yet. I could spend more time generally being more productive.

As this is a hypothetical question and my laptop still exists. It’s high time Rhiluron went on a quest.

The hardest decision I’ve ever had to make is one I’ve had to do a number of times during my adult life. and it’s never gotten any easy to be fair.

It’s the heartbreaking decision to let go of one of the many feline companions go to rainbow bridge. It doesn’t mater if I’ve had them 19 years or 19 months, it hurts. In fact one of my last (rescue) cats passed away shortly after we gave him a forever home, his death still stings like fuck now. It’s hard to type through tears. He took care of his younger sibling on the streets, she came with him, and had really come out of her shell.

I’ve made some hard calls in life and in my work, I’ve dealt with death and all that goes with it. but that’s the one call I hate.

I’d use that extra time to get all those things I’ve been putting off done. I’m that bad I could procrastinate about procrastination.

Firstly I’d finish my ever growing reading pile (currently 8-10 books) as there’s so many graphic novels that I need to start or just finish reading.

Secondly I’d use the time to get some more poetry written and edited, maybe start editing a book I’ve been writing for ten years, and nudge it over the finish line.

Finally I’d practice my chess game and try to improve on my ELO (standing) while taking regular breaks to watch all the box sets I’ve added to my list with the attitude of, I’ll get round to that when I’ve finished this one.

I’d also just go out and walk about at night while the world slumbers. It’s so peaceful and quiet, and not many people about.

My pet peeves are

1. People who are intentionally ignorant. When, I say that, I mean people who can’t/wont look things up, and would rather live in ignorance. Or they won’t listen, or change their views when presented with scientific proof that refutes their perspective.
2. Saying things like “Everyone’s a little autistic, or “Autism wasn’t around when I was younger”, or some such ableist nonsense. It demeans and belittles my life experience, as an autistic adult. It was around, it just wasn’t known about, or diagnosed.
3. When someone takes the time to either explain my poetry to me, or tries to tell me that I need to change it, as it’s clearly about them. If that were the case, believe me, they’d have no doubt.

Also under number 2 – when people try to counter your feelings of chronic or suicidal depression with such verbal antidepressants as “Cheer up” or “You just need to think happy thoughts”.

Aside from the obvious answers of my wife, cat or kids etc.

I’d like to say that currently my favourite people are my peers and fellow poets that I’ve been lucky enough to work with this year. It’s been a hectic year, but I’ve made a whole bunch of friends in the process.

This is a really easy one for me. (Felis catus)

It’s cats without a shadow of a doubt, they’re the perfect companion for me. They’re not needy and I don’t have to walk them. I’ve nothing against walking, it’s just everyone wants to stop you and talk if you have a dog, I’m not a social creature.

Cats are hard work emotionally as you have to earn their respect and they go out and walk themselves, sometimes bringing (half eaten) presents for your bare foot at 0230hrs.

They’re adorable…

The only downside side is that when you loose one it hurts like hell.

Side note.

My Spirit Animal or honourable mention are Pheasants. They aren’t the brightest, can’t really fly, but they try to anyway, and look fabulous too.

I think we should all try to embrace our inner Pheasant. So let’s look fabulous and try doing that thing. You know the one you’ve always been putting off.

If it don’t work your still fabulous

Stay safe x