Month: April 2015

Well, my new website has unearthed an old boss and colleague of mine, Peter Maggs. I enjoyed my time working for Peter, even if his attempt to introduce me to the delights of sailing resulted in a rescue by the local lifeboat and an early shower.

He is now an author and speaker http://www.mirlibooks.com/.

Hi Peter, welcome.

Space exploration is one of my many interests, and the subject of one of my talks. This interest started due to e2v, my last employer, making the imaging devices used on major space exploration programmes, including Hubble and GAIA.

One thing I will never tire of looking at is the ISS. Many don’t believe that you can see it with the naked eye, but you can. It looks like a bright star moving across the sky at the speed of an aeroplane.

All you need to do is register on the NASA site (it won’t SPAM you) here: http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/

It wil then send you an email with details of when the ISS can be seen over your location. Tonight on the Chelmsford ‘route’ we will be seeing the ISS at 8:11pm :

Time: Thu Apr 09 8:11 PM, Visible: 4 min, Max Height: 43 degrees,
Appears: SSW, Disappears: E

It is then back at 9:45 having circled the world in about an hour and a half.

It is quite something to see this bright light streaking across the night sky. Then you have to appreciate that it is a space station travelling at 17,150 miles an hour, moving from day to night every 45 minutes or so, and the home to astronauts from around the world. Where Americans and Russians can work side by side away from the politicians. Amazing.

My new post-e2v life starts now on a gloriously sunny spring day, the omens are good.

I am still taking in the kindness and sheer effort put into yesterday by my friends and colleagues, both in the gifts they gave me, starting with a ‘litepro’ for my talks, to the lovely book made for me with photographs and personal memories from my 33 years. Not forgetting the surprise guests, my mum and my wife. It was particularly special for my mum since the room where the presentation was held was the location of my dad’s old office; he joined the company in 1963.

Then there is the sculpture made by our apprentices, who are carrying the torch for high quality engineering apprentices better than ever, 29 years after I completed mine.

I shall write, but to any of you who have found your way here, you made my day, thank you.

Stealing a song title (if not the song’s sentiment) from Dina Washington:  after 33 1/3 years (you can see a record theme here for those who remember vinyl), I am one day away from my new life.

The car is full of cake and I think I am ready for tomorrow at the office. I am going to miss e2v and the friends I have made.

But, I am also ready for my new life, more time with my wife, more time to concentrate on the crafts I love to do, and time to take up more opportunities to talk to groups and enthuse them into learning practical skills.

The garden also awaits, but that’s another tale.