Book Cover
During the early spring this year, I had a phone call from a local writer who wanted me to paint a book cover for his new book. The Book name is ” The Marsh Man”, the Author being Mark Vivien. The writer was asking me to paint a lightening Fire ball! His voice was soft and as he went on to unfold his story, he asked me I had ever seen a fire Ball! At this point it was his turn to be surspised, as I explained that indeed, during my time farming in North Yorkshire, I had seen one! It was one afternoon in September, the air was very warm and still but in the south west direction, the clouds had turned nearly mauve! Going around the farm to check the stock, the horses were galloping around the field and looked nervous, the cows were going under some trees , while the geese started to gather in their hut. I had the sense to bring the horses in first, just as I closed the last stable door, there was a tremendous thunder clap! I rushed in doors, as the lightening struck the outside building. The 17 century farm house shook, the telephone blew off the wall while the electric sockets had blue sparks coming from them.
I stood in the bedroom over looking our fold yard, it was here I saw the most unusual sight! Glowing and spinning across the tiles was a lightening fireball!  It was only my daughter and I on the farm that afternoon, we were both frightened!   Praying the lightening would not kill our stock under the trees and how the chicken were fairing out in the paddock, I noticed the fireball spin across the large exspance of roof towards the dairy parlour.  I knew metal would attract the Fireball, sure enough that was where the fireball was heading , straight to the milk tank!   The bang was deafening!   leaving my daughter and I too scared to venture out for nearly two hours!    It was then that I discovered the milking parlor had all the electrics burnt out and all the free range chickens that had gone back into their chicken houses and suffocated themselves in one corner of each house, or had been electrocuted?  Walking around the rest of the farm that early evening , I was glad to report the cows where all alive and the horses were safe and sound in their stables. the only problem was milking 60 cows by hand that night! Fortunately, some farmers came up to help!  So, yes I knew what a fire ball looked like! Look up Mark Vivien and the book The Marsh Man, to read about his new book and when it will be out, it would make a great christmas present and it will be a good read!