Over
brekkie I watched the next instalment of "Earth 2".
Today's episode featured Tim Curry (of "Rocky Horror"
fame) as the arch-baddie; a part he played very well. I'm quite
"getting into" this show; so far it's rather good
really. I know I've seen it before, but I don't remember much about
it. I can vaguely remember brrowing it on video cassettes recorded
from the telly many years ago.
And
then before leaving for work I checked social media. There is a major
meet-up of geocachers planned for next May - a "Mega Meet".
From what I can work out a "Mega Meet" is not
entirely dissimilar to a village fete. Along the lines of Challock
Goose Fair, or the fun days at Gilwell we used to take cubs to.
There
were postings on the Geocaching in Kent Facebook group suggesting
that people might like to offer help and assistance in running this
event. I fought the urge to say anything.
A
few weeks ago I looked at offering the services of the astro club for
this. We could have staged solar observing for the punters during the
daytime and stargazing at night for those camping out at the Mega. We
could have put on planetarium shows for anyone and everyone. It's the
sort of thing that the astro club does; and does well, and does
without asking for anything in return.
I
made the offer, and was asked for fifty pounds for my suggestion to
be considered, so I abandoned the idea. On reflection I can't help
but feel that whoever is organising this Mega-Event has totally
misunderstood what I was offering. I also wonder how many other
offers of help they are turning away like this.
This
morning's drive to work was rather depressing. Heavy rain and pitch
darkness. As I drove through Chartham there was a near accident. I
very nearly flattened a cyclist. The idiot was cycling along the busy
A28 at 6.45am. It was still night; there were no street lights, and
this fool was dressed entirely in black with no lights on his bike at
all.
The
news gave me
cause for a wry smile. Apparently American secret agents have
been monitoring the private communications of European governments
including personal phone calls made by the German Chancellor. Am I
the only one who doesn't find these revelations surprising? I was
under the impression that every government spied on every other
government.
There
was an ex-First Sea Lord interviewed on the radio who said quite
candidly that from his personal experience he assumed his every
movement was under the surveillance of various international
organisations.
I
stopped off in Morrisons to get some lunch, and some tea for later. I
got what I wanted and took it to the self service tills where I was
met by a rather grouchy old biddie (in Morrisons uniform) who
announced that all the tills in the shop were closed and I would have
to try somewhere else. I was about to ask her whether she would
recommend Asda or Tesco when she grudgingly conceded that they had
just opened till number twelve. I went there and was met by someone
pretending to be happy in their work. They asked me if I needed help
in packing my items. "All five of them?" I asked. My
sarcasm went unnoticed, which was probably for the best.
I
did my bit at work, and came home. I left a little earlier than usual
because tonight was astro club. I could have listened to the news as
I drove. Usually I do, but tonight I didn't fancy it. Instead I put
on a CD of "Ivor Biggun" and sang along to rude
songs.
And
so to astro club. Not a bad turn out. It might have been better, but
it was half-term week. I gave a talk (rant) on comets which
seemed to be well received, and in a novel break with tradition we
had clear skies so we got the teleescopes out and stargazed.
I
don't do that anywhere near enough...
No comments:
Post a Comment