2003. A time before parenting. A happy dreaming couple. A time when digital photography was still seen as the work of the devil by many. When a mobile phone was just that – a mobile phone – nothing else. My football team was still playing in the European Champions League.
31st May 2003. As the local paper described it. A once in a lifetime opportunity. The chance to see a 90% solar eclipse. Two problems
- The peak eclipse would happen dead on sunrise. Best viewed from the East Coast.
- This is Yorkshire.
Yorkshire does many things well. Cricket, Rhubard, Beer, Ferrets, Terriers, Chocolate, Moody Moors. We also do lots of cloud and rain. We don’t really do sun – bit of a bugger when your looking forward to a solar eclipse.
With a wing and a prayer we set off for the coast at 3am. Arriving at Scarborough an hour later. People looking out across the sea. Just before sunrise it’s hard to tell if the clouds have formed.
The first signs of morning and we wait with baited breath. Will the Sun appear.
As the sunrise time came still no sign of the sun. Maybe too much sea mist.
Then at 4.36am a thin red strip of sun appears. The crowd let’s out a huge cheer. Some hardy folk jump into the sea for a swim.
Unbelievably the infamous Yorkshire weather was playing ball today. Not a cloud in the sky.
As the Sun continued to rise a beautiful red then orange water path virtually led the way to the eclipse. Someone had brought a ghetto blaster and almost hypnotic music drifted across the morning air. The dreaming couple talked about an adventure to a far off land to see a full eclipse one day. One day.
17 years later. The Yorkshire weather is certainly not playing ball. I came across these photos looking for my birth certificate. They instantly took me back to that time of dreams and a truly magical partial eclipse.
One more little miracle. A photo involving me. A photo I can sign up to. So to those who have asked for a picture. Ok here it is.. Me back in 2003.
❤️❤️❤️
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xxx
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Those pictures are incredible. I love that about pictures, they take us back to a particular place and time. Allow us to reminisce.
And thank you for gracing the site with your photo. 🧐😜
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They do open a gateway to our memories.
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Wonderful in every way.
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Thank you x
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Your welcome.
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I vaguely remember that. It was cloudy in my corner of Yorkshire I think! Great photos and memories though!
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Yes still can’t believe Scarborough was clear.
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How lovely. ❤❤
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Thank you so much xx
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That sure is one beautiful pic. In a sea of them ❤
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Thank you so much x
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Fabulous pictures!
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Thank you
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Happy memories, happy days!
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It was a really happy day.
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Thanks for sharing such beautiful memories ❤️
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Thank you x
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Wonderful photos. That last one is one of the most romantic photos I’ve ever seen. 💖
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That’s so kind of you. xx
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You certainly do have quite a memory and these are great pics.
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Just don’t ask me to remember a persons name at a meeting.
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oh dinnae worry. I quite get that. It don’t mean there is no memory
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It’s selective total recall.
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What an absolutely wonderful gallery of a unique experience – closing with a real tear-jerker
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Thankfully for me it’s more smiles and tears on this memory.
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I’m sure
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Reading all the way through and thinking how beautiful…That last photo though, you cheeky bugg….lol
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With that lighting I could be George Clooney. x
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You could literally be anyone,lol =D
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That works for me
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What an experience – love the photos 🙂
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It was a good day.
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this was so moving, especially as someone who has lost their dad (summer 2018, he loved summer.) great pictures 💙💙
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Thank you. Losing a parent is an awful thing to go through. x
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Is that almost a photo of you??
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It is a photo of me…..
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Well clear it up and repost!! lol
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I will get my technical team onto that.
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Well Hop to!! Everyone wants to see!!!
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I understand it’s a complex job.
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I have faith in you.
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Thank you. x
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What a fun adventure. Thanks for sharing
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Have you seen an eclipse. Maybe a Total one.
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Yes, I have seen a few in my life. They are fun. There was a big one a few years ago and I was close to the center of it, but I didn’t travel to get the full effect (would have been about 5 hours drive) and I kinda wish now that I had. I have friends who did and felt it was life changing.
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Maybe next time. Hopefully next time as a bigger family as well. x
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Gary, what is Rhubard?
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Looks a bit like celery. It’s a vegetable but treated like a sour fruit.
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What a beautiful post and and pictures! Thank you for sharing. 💕
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Thank you x
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Always💕
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Beautiful photographs. Beautiful memories.
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Beautiful photographs. Beautiful memories.
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Thank you
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You’re welcome
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I love the pics of the eclipse. NO FAIR on the photo of you, though … I enlarged it to something like 600% and still couldn’t tell a darn thing!
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Oh dear……. that’s how is passed the quality control.
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Amazing photos! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you
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Incredible photos! All are blessed memories!💕❤️💕
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Thank you. Yes most treasured.
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Yes indeed! …as well as a safe place and comforting place to go (deep within the heart). 🙏You are amazing. 🙏Thank you for sharing.💕❤️💕
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Thank you your so kind. x
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