Damn about the wrlders mask, hubby was going to use his. I’ve totally dropped the ball and not got us any glasses 
. I’ll have to look into the DIY options.
Please be careful about DIY options, toryroo, they were saying on TV that you should only use the special glasses. Even with those, they said not to look at the sun for more than 3 minutes at a time.
There are other ways to watch it via TV and so on and if it’s cloudy like this evening we may not see it anyway.
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Mine arrived from Amazon today and I tested them at 20h00 when I took the black bin out.
Being on a plateau above the surrounding countryside, I should have an excellent view.
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In 1974 as an undergrad Fine Art student on a visit to Jodrell Bank, I bought two identical b/w postcards of a solar eclipse, framed them with one half overlapping the other, then titled it, An Eclipse Eclipsing an Eclipse. My tutors were unimpressed…
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You should have submitted it playing the last track of DSOTM to add another eclipse 
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Well, it would certainly have been available, but by then think I was more into Lou Reed and Roxy Music. First saw PF at Manchester U SU around 1970 - don’t remember the exact year, but do remember it only cost 6/-0 and was pretty good value for money.
On the main news at 20h last night an Opthal showed the damage looking at the eclipse can do to the back of the eye from the rays and in many cases causing blindness eventually so only glasses with the official manufacturing number and CE badge should be used, ordinary sunglasses are not suitable at all because they are not dark enough even if they look as though they are.
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If you were watching TF1, I saw the same thing. I wouldn’t risk it damaging my retina.
Colander (pinholes) plus sheet of white paper. Don’t look at the sun, hold the colander up at the sun and look at the pinhole shadow on the white paper.
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It was the TF1 bulletin last night, very scary information that people don’t realise. Its damage that cannot be repaired or rectified too.
If I turned the camera round on my iPad and stood with my back to the event to film it maybe that would work too as it wouldn’t destroy the pad, would it??
Some DIY suggestions and warnings (for eyes and cameras)
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I shan’t be watching, and will instead wait for the daylight fading and what effect that may have on the birds chirping in the garden.
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For me it’s the overall effect and atmosphere rather than the sun being obscured, which of course happens every night as it dips below the horizon. Curious as to effect on birds and beasts.
This morning I found a sickly bat on the windowsill of our bedroom looking v dehydrated and just waving its legs feebly. I popped it on a damp towel with a tiny tray of water and took it back up to the attic where they live. An hour later it was gone which I hope bodes well.
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You absolutely need a filter
for your smartphone, too—its sensor is just as fragile as our eyes !
You can always watch it on TV live, or after. 
I’d need to go walkabout to see the sun, and it’s hot outside - the eclipse isn’t a number 1 priority for me. Got to get some shopping done later so may see it then. When is it?
I rember the last total eclipse in S Wales 1999. All the birds went suddenly quiet.
