Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East & Central London and Surrey (The NEXT Chapter).
Week 169 Saturday 9th until Friday 15th September 2017.
A Space Special.
There is a group of jump suited people that I am jealous of. No not “Elvis” impersonators! I am talking about Astronauts. From an early age, apart from wanting to be a BBC camera person I desperately wanted to be an Astronaut, and still do. It won’t come as a surprise to find out that I haven’t achieved either of those ambitions. However, I did get to mess about with a BBC camera a couple of times when I worked there, and still get very excited when I see a TV camera of any description. But that’s for another week.
“Lens flare enhanced by a drink”.
Yes, I still desperately want to be a space traveller. In my eyes, those who do manage to break free of our thin atmosphere are HEROES. During the early days of manned spaceflight astronauts were white middle class men mostly from the US military, such as test pilot. Today a lot of astronauts still have a military background, but many others are engineers, medical doctors, scientist from different disciplines and teachers. Every single one is an expert in their particular field.
“Surrey fun”.
Recently I have been watching a TV programme that is putting a group highly qualified “ordinary” people through “as near” and in some cases real Astronaut training. The participant who makes it through to the end will get a recommendation to ESA (European Space Agency) the next time they recruit for candidate astronauts. Last year when I heard about this programme I did look into applying, unfortunately because a Goldfish found in a fairground living in a clear plastic bag has more brains than me, I didn’t waste anyone’s time. Also, rejection hurts.
“Thank you These People Podcast for asking me to scribble some shiz”.
If I had between $20-40 million in loose change I would definitely become a Space Tourist. So far 7 people have paid to travel to the ISS (International Space Station), one person has been twice, greedy sod! Alternatively, for about £250,000 there are a number of companies who are in the final stages of developing reusable crafts which will take paying customers into low orbit for a short time, to experience weightlessness while viewing the curvature of the earth below and the blackness of space above.
“Random things i’ve seen this week”.
An option that is still expensive but a little more affordable, is having a small sample of ashes sent up into space. Looking at the various websites I’m not sure how many of these companies have actually sent anything into orbit. It’s something to think about if I find some spare cash under the sofa.
“We shopped for far longer than planned”.
However, I suspect that the only way I’ll be involved with a launch is by using a D.I.Y method placing my ashes inside a firework. Of course, I won’t be around to enjoy the experience but I’m sure it will look pretty. Could I request that the rest of my ashes be scattered at what remains of BBC Television Centre (my fave building). I could then haunt the studios, push the cameras around and annoy “the talent”.
“Calamity, enjoying the sun for a minute or two”.
It would be a dream come true to ride a rocket and experience space, I would go tomorrow if I could. Until that day I’ll continue to look up and dream, watch programmes and read about the “heroes” who have the “Right Stuff”. Thinking about it, maybe if I did become an “Elvis” impersonator I could make enough money to take a trip into orbit. It’s something to think about!
“An erection in London i like”.
And Now For Something Completely Different (Ish)……
“A quick tribute to a plucky probe”.
By the time you read these words, the solar system will be a little emptier. At 12.55 (BST) on 15 Sept the joint NASA, ESA (European Space Agency) and Italian Space Agency spacecraft Cassini plunged into the most beautiful planet in the solar system, Saturn.
“Something not finished until later Friday night”.
Cassini was launched in 1997 arriving at Saturn in 2004. One of early highlights of the mission was the detachment of the Huygen’s probe that successfully landed on Saturn’s moon Titan. Cassini continued to study Saturn, it’s stunning ring system, discovered 7 previously unknown moons while closely investigated others such as Enceladus.
“Making a mess at night in the bedroom”.
The reason the craft was deliberately destroyed, is because her fuel was running low. NASA /ESA didn’t want to risk Cassini crashing and contaminating moons such as Titan and Enceladus which scientist believe “may have/might have” microbial life. The only way to ensure that these future targets of exploration are kept pristine was to deorbit the craft into Saturn’s atmosphere. Cassini continued to transmit vital information until moments before being destroyed by the crushing pressure of the gas giant’s atmosphere.
“Shhhh, its ART, darling”.
The legacy of Cassini will continue for decades as scientist study the information sent back over the last 13 years. The probe will also influence future missions, manned and unmanned around the solar system and beyond.
Thanks Cassini for the memories.
And In Other News……
A man walked in front with a noisy walkie talkies in his back pocket. A woman passed and I heard her say “people at work talk out of there arse”.
“Writing this Shiz”.
My Mid Life Crisis Conts……
This week I have mainly been watching:
“60 Day’s In Jail”, (S2, ep 10: TX 11/09/17). “Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?”, (S1, ep 4: TX: 10/09/17). “Bake Off: An Extra Slice”, (S4/S1, ep 3: TX 14/09/17). “Being Human”, (S5, ep 6). “Click”, (TX 09/09/17). “Comedy Playhouse: Mister Winner”, (S18, ep 2). “From Russia To Iran: Crossing The Wild Frontiers”, (S1, ep 4: TX 10/09/17). “Horizon 2008/9: Can We Make A Star On Earth”, (ep 10, TX 17/02/09). “Horizon 2017: Mars A Traveller’s Guide”, (TX 12/09/17). “I Know Who You Are”, (S1, ep 9 & ep 10). “Lego Masters”, (S1, ep 4: TX 14/09/17). “Mission To Mars”, (2000). “My Life”, (S8, ep 3). “Nanny McPhee Returns”, (2010). “Our Wild Week In Croatia”, (TX 09/09/17). “People Just Do Nothing”, (S4, ep 5). “Precision The Measure Of All Things”, (S1, ep 1 : TX 10/06/13). “Star Trek: Into Darkness”, (2013). “Strictly Come Dancing: Brucie Tribute Dance and Tess Speech”, (S15, TX 09/09/17). “Strike – The Cookcoo Calling”, (S1, Story 1: ep 3). “Strike – The Silkworm”, (S1, Story 2: ep 1). “The Great British Bake Off”, (S8/S1, ep 3: TX 13/09/17). “The Insider: Reggie Yates A Week In A Toxic Dump”, (S2, ep 1 : TX 13/09/17). “The Search For A New Earth”, (TX 11/09/17). “The Sky At Night”, (TX 10/09/17). “Upstart Crow”, (S2, ep 1 & ep 2). “Wonders Of The Universe”, (S1, ep 4: TX 23/03/11).
This week I have mainly been listening to: “Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 1, 07/07/17)(ep 2, 14/07/17)(ep 3, 21/07/17)(ep 4, 28/07/17)(ep 5, 04/08/17). “Iain Lee: TalkRADIO (Bonus)”, (08/09/17). “Iain Lee: TalkRADIO (Highlights)”, (08/09, 11/09, 12/09, 13/09, 14/09/17 (short)). “LBC Podcast: Mystery Hour”, (14/09/17). “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (09/09, 15/09/17). “Soundtracking With Edith Bowman”, (ep 55, 08/09/17). “Strange Times”, (ep 55, 04/04/14)(ep 52, 07/04/14)(ep 51, 31/03/14)(ep 50, 16/03/14)(ep 49, 23/03/14)(ep 49.5, pt2, 12/03/14). “Strange Times: ExtraCRAP”, (#14, 31/03/14)(#13, 24/03/14)(#12, 03/03/14). “The Adam Buxton Podcast”, (ep 48, 14/09/17). “The Aggy Fox Podcast”, (ep 11, 22/04/17)(ep 19, 09/09/17). “These People Podcast”, (ep 35, 09/09/17). “Morrissey”, “Blur”, “Sparks”, “Echobelly”, “Katy Perry”, ”Taylor Swift”, “Sixpence None The Richer”, “Kate Bush”, “The Beatles”.
Misfits Mid-Life Crisis........ 