ECLIPSE — dramatic new photograph

Wilson asked me to take this snap at the moment of Maximum Occlusion… although since that amounted to only some 80% and there was thick cloud cover overhead, it didn't get very dark.

Nevertheless, W told everyone that this was a historic moment to be treasured.

The children complained that they couldn't see the eclipse because it was too dark — once W had explained that WAS the eclipse, they kept squeezing their eyes tight shut and shouting, 'It's Eclipsing! It's Eclipsing!'

Eclipse Drill

I was roused from my bed before dawn this morning and summoned to the living room to take part in Wilson's Eclipse Drill — a safety exercise designed to ensure that everyone knows what to expect during the eclipse, thus avoiding any distress or panic.

The drill consisted of everyone donning their Eclipse Safety Glasses and looking at the ceiling light while Wilson switched it on and off. Several times.

Once he was satisfied that all would be well, he ushered us out into the garden to witness the Big Event itself. As we filed out he wished us all a Very Happy Eclipsmas!

Tomorrow I shall post dramatic photos taken at what W calls 'the Moment of Maximum Eclipsity.'

Safety glasses

An interesting-looking parcel arrived this morning, addressed to Wilson. He took it into the living room and opened it to reveal several pairs of Eclipse Goggles he'd ordered on-line in preparation for tomorrow's Solar Eclipse.

He handed one pair to me and gave the rest to the Johnson Brothers, Antony and Tiny Toy, asking them to distribute a pair to everyone — and also to pass on the message that he would be holding a 'safety rehearsal' shortly, so that no-one would be scared by the actual eclipse.

I don't think anyone had been nervous about the prospect of the eclipse... until he mentioned that fear was a possible reaction.

Rare Astronomical event is foretold

Wilson was watching The Sky At Night recently and heard about the upcoming Solar Eclipse this Friday — he's very excited by this rare event and is reading up on how they work, why they're so uncommon and so on.

Perhaps when he was closeted in his Museum he was converting it into a Solar Observatory? 

There's no sign of it having a domed roof yet, but who can tell...

Recovery position

After his fainting spell yesterday, Wilson has assumed what he calls the 'Recovery Position' — which is lying on the sofa eating snacks provided by his 'Nursing Staff' (Polly and Billi) — while he reconsiders his career path.

Having turned his back on the medical profession, he's watching back episodes of Lewis on tv and says that being a Detective is quite appealing, but he might prefer to be a Consulting Detective like his hero Mr Sherlock Holmes. 

A further complication is that he read recently that The Pope is considering retiring. W really wanted that job last time it was vacant, and was pretty upset not to even get an interview…

Training video

This morning Wilson was in the living room watching one of what he calls his 'Medical Training Videos' — probably an episode of Doc Martin, a comfortable drama about a family doctor — while I sat quietly with a mug of coffee in the kitchen, reflecting that I'm sure he isn't getting up to anything irresponsible in his Museum. 

I've often found him out there furtively reading copies of New Scientist magazine and getting into a state about 'Reality' and 'Alternative Universes,' so an unhealthy interest in magic seems very unlikely.

I was rudely roused from my musings when the bees rushed in to tell me that Wilson had passed out!

Turns out he wasn't watching Doc Martin but CR:IT:IC:AL — an extremely realistic drama about a Trauma Unit — and had fainted at the first sight of internal organs.

Perhaps I should consider setting up the Parental Lock on the Sky+ Box…

Dabbling in the Occult

Yesterday the bees borrowed an old radio from Wilson's 'Museum.' W seemed quite upset by this, and today he asked them whether 'anything had happened' while they were in there. He seemed reassured by their negative reply, but scuttled off and shut himself inside.

I don't know what he's been up to in there, but he's certainly very secretive about it. I hope he's not experimenting with the Dark Arts, Dabbling in the Occult. 

At the first sign of a Ouija Board or a Pentagram I shall have a word with him…