Oh dear......let time slip again between posts doh!
Never mind, let me tell you bit of whats going on. For a start I've started a diet. I've had enough of the fatman living my life for me. There is another slimmer guy inside whom the big man ate a long time ago, and he feels its his time to rise.
Watchmen, the movie experience of the year. It was a let down on the whole. Who wants to see that blue fella with his blue fella on show? Thats not entertainment. It's even worse when you see it on IMAX!
The real biggy at the moment is the moving in of my Mother-In-Law. We are initially looking at her staying for a year but we shall see. Now you and I know there are millions of Mo-In-Law jokes out there, but I have lost my right to say any of them, as it was me that suggested she move in. It has its plus sides I recon......such as going to IKEA for a shopping trip with her. You can never have enough storage! Also there's the baby sitting 'potential'. Meaning me and the Mrs can get out for some us time which doesnt happen often enough. Also think of the blogging possibilities of the extra madness that will now exist in my families life.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Moon as Observed
This is the image of the moon that I promised on my previous post.
Taken using a smaller telescope by a friend when we were at the observatory on Friday. Not as good as the image I was looking at through the bigger telescope, with its clearly defined craters, but it gives a great idea of the image I was looking at. This is still so awesome. (i'm almost jumping about like a school child - ha ha)
Taken using a smaller telescope by a friend when we were at the observatory on Friday. Not as good as the image I was looking at through the bigger telescope, with its clearly defined craters, but it gives a great idea of the image I was looking at. This is still so awesome. (i'm almost jumping about like a school child - ha ha)
Saturday, March 07, 2009
may I make an observation?
Aha! Don't worry I'm not going to complain about Facebook and its mates again. My observation is linked to tonights trip to the Herstmonceux Observatory and Science Centre. It astounds me how many interesting places we discover in our area, and this is another case. We've been to the science centre as a family a couple of times in an effort to educate us all. It reminds me much of the Lookout Discovery Centre in Bracknell, with its hands on science experiments, although colder and with more concrete. It is fun enough I guess...well the kids enjoy it.
The place really comes into its own when once a month they open up the Observatory to the public, or at least 3 observatories out of the 5 they have within the grounds. If its a clear night and you have no issues with going out when there's a bright moon (you know who you are) then this is the place to go! I have tonight seen things i've only seen on film or photograph. For instance I saw the moon, and not just bigger than we can see normally, I mean see the moon, the craters and landscape, it nearly took my breath away. We viewed Saturn on one of the smaller telescopes and it looked just like it had been drawn onto the lense. Lastly and perhaps more impressively was a closeup on Orions Nebular. I'm not one of those guys who can pick out groups of stars in the sky, it all looks the same to me. After seeing it tonight and talking to the on hand expert (not sure of the qualification, but he was definately an egghead with a brain the size of a planet...ahem excuse the pun) I can pick it out. I now know Orion is a whole constellation of which 'the Belt' is only a part. It is marked out by 4 prominent stars with the 'Belt' and the 'Sword' within. We had a close up on Orions Sword and saw it was like a cloud, and within it 4 stars had been created over the millenia. This might sound a bit boring to read but it wasn't when you saw it! My kids where captivated.
We didn't hang on much longer, just had a drink at the cafe and went home as it was gone 10pm. We could have seen this time but didn't was Venus, which has been shining brightly lately as you may have noticed. We had arrived at 8pm and it was too low in the sky at that time for it to be picked up by the telescope. The other they were viewing/tracking was a comet, which would have been a great experience if we hadn't had to go.
Here's a photo taken with the kids and there grandmother next to the smaller observatory where we had seen Saturn and the Moon . A friend got a photo of the moon taken through a telescope lense there (unofficially) which as soon as I am sent it on email, I will post it up on blogger.
Before I go always remember to cherish and love your blog.....yes blog not dog ya numpty!!
The place really comes into its own when once a month they open up the Observatory to the public, or at least 3 observatories out of the 5 they have within the grounds. If its a clear night and you have no issues with going out when there's a bright moon (you know who you are) then this is the place to go! I have tonight seen things i've only seen on film or photograph. For instance I saw the moon, and not just bigger than we can see normally, I mean see the moon, the craters and landscape, it nearly took my breath away. We viewed Saturn on one of the smaller telescopes and it looked just like it had been drawn onto the lense. Lastly and perhaps more impressively was a closeup on Orions Nebular. I'm not one of those guys who can pick out groups of stars in the sky, it all looks the same to me. After seeing it tonight and talking to the on hand expert (not sure of the qualification, but he was definately an egghead with a brain the size of a planet...ahem excuse the pun) I can pick it out. I now know Orion is a whole constellation of which 'the Belt' is only a part. It is marked out by 4 prominent stars with the 'Belt' and the 'Sword' within. We had a close up on Orions Sword and saw it was like a cloud, and within it 4 stars had been created over the millenia. This might sound a bit boring to read but it wasn't when you saw it! My kids where captivated.
We didn't hang on much longer, just had a drink at the cafe and went home as it was gone 10pm. We could have seen this time but didn't was Venus, which has been shining brightly lately as you may have noticed. We had arrived at 8pm and it was too low in the sky at that time for it to be picked up by the telescope. The other they were viewing/tracking was a comet, which would have been a great experience if we hadn't had to go.
Here's a photo taken with the kids and there grandmother next to the smaller observatory where we had seen Saturn and the Moon . A friend got a photo of the moon taken through a telescope lense there (unofficially) which as soon as I am sent it on email, I will post it up on blogger.
Before I go always remember to cherish and love your blog.....yes blog not dog ya numpty!!
Monday, March 02, 2009
Where have all the Bloggers gone?
A question I must ask! Whats happened to bloggers and blogging?
Is it a virus? (the flu type I mean) Or is it something more sinister? I know its a problem because I too have started to dry up on postings over the last 3-6 months. I thought it was just the year end wind down. That's not true, I've struggled to get the cogs running again since the new year and its March now! I think I know why. Facebook!
Let me explain what I mean. I started blogging as a social yet creative way of communicating to people. A chance to say things my way, and talk about my experiences good and bad. It also became a scrapbook and diary of my experiences. I admit i'm not the best writer, but I genuinely love the opportunity and find it stimulating. Like many, I have been contacted and pestered to have an account on Facebook Along with its vast array of applications, all of which keep you locked into their world, but don't really use the brain. Social networking sites are good but just don't offer creativity. It started with Friendsreunited, but Facebook seems to have taken over and made it much easier to reacquaint us with old friends and family. All this has just led to me (and maybe all of us) being distracted and caught up in the mundane. I can't help but feel I'm being sucked into something that is imbecilic and moronic, not stimulating at all. I spend time checking out people status and trawling through quizes about senseless things. Why would you or I be interested in what each other is doing every minute of the day? Whats so wrong with my life that I spend it looking at everyone else's life? If I carry on like this I'm concerned that I will become a texting teenager, who has the social skills of a skunk after eating a very hot curry.
I know I know, I sound like an old fart, and maybe thats true, although I hope not. My resolve is to gain back control of my on-line life. Facebook and its friends like Bebo, My Space and that new one called Twitter (surely the name gives us enough of a clue that this is for the brain dead?) have their place, and I am glad to have the opportunity to keep in touch with my nephews and nieces and others. There was an episode of the IT Crowd that parodied the subject with the pretendy site Friendface. My point is this sort of social networking, doesn't need to be a daily thing, and it certainly shouldn't stiffle things that are more interesting. My blog needs my attention again, and i'm going to give it. I realise that so few read it nowadays but that's no longer why I do it. I do it as it's an outlet that refreshes my being and allows me an opportunity or genuine expression. (all very heavy sounding)
Very ranty I know, but stuff it, it mine! Its how I feel, and I think other bloggers will catch my drift. I hope it strengthens your resolve too.
xxx Chux :)
Is it a virus? (the flu type I mean) Or is it something more sinister? I know its a problem because I too have started to dry up on postings over the last 3-6 months. I thought it was just the year end wind down. That's not true, I've struggled to get the cogs running again since the new year and its March now! I think I know why. Facebook!
Let me explain what I mean. I started blogging as a social yet creative way of communicating to people. A chance to say things my way, and talk about my experiences good and bad. It also became a scrapbook and diary of my experiences. I admit i'm not the best writer, but I genuinely love the opportunity and find it stimulating. Like many, I have been contacted and pestered to have an account on Facebook Along with its vast array of applications, all of which keep you locked into their world, but don't really use the brain. Social networking sites are good but just don't offer creativity. It started with Friendsreunited, but Facebook seems to have taken over and made it much easier to reacquaint us with old friends and family. All this has just led to me (and maybe all of us) being distracted and caught up in the mundane. I can't help but feel I'm being sucked into something that is imbecilic and moronic, not stimulating at all. I spend time checking out people status and trawling through quizes about senseless things. Why would you or I be interested in what each other is doing every minute of the day? Whats so wrong with my life that I spend it looking at everyone else's life? If I carry on like this I'm concerned that I will become a texting teenager, who has the social skills of a skunk after eating a very hot curry.
I know I know, I sound like an old fart, and maybe thats true, although I hope not. My resolve is to gain back control of my on-line life. Facebook and its friends like Bebo, My Space and that new one called Twitter (surely the name gives us enough of a clue that this is for the brain dead?) have their place, and I am glad to have the opportunity to keep in touch with my nephews and nieces and others. There was an episode of the IT Crowd that parodied the subject with the pretendy site Friendface. My point is this sort of social networking, doesn't need to be a daily thing, and it certainly shouldn't stiffle things that are more interesting. My blog needs my attention again, and i'm going to give it. I realise that so few read it nowadays but that's no longer why I do it. I do it as it's an outlet that refreshes my being and allows me an opportunity or genuine expression. (all very heavy sounding)
Very ranty I know, but stuff it, it mine! Its how I feel, and I think other bloggers will catch my drift. I hope it strengthens your resolve too.
xxx Chux :)
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