I confess that I took this picture earlier in the week, but it applies just as well now.

It started with the end of the month Shed Breakfast in the Boistin Cafe. They do a very acceptable full English with three halves of toast and two cups of tea included in the deal. For a couple of quid extra you can have a slightly bigger version, which is the one I went for.

At the end of the meal we normally have a speaker. Today, I sat next to Brian the Breakfast organiser, and happened to ask him “who is today’s speaker”?

To which his reply was “you”! Now, I do remember offering to speak, with no idea of what to talk about, but thought I was going to do so at the October Breakfast. this was a bit unexpected.

Anyway, I stood and talked for about 20 minutes. It seemed to go down quite well. I covered a range of topics and included working life and the recent holiday.

I was back in the shop in the afternoon. It was fairly steady trade, but not massively busy.

In the evening, we had a meal out and saw the film “Pressure”. I thought it was very good. It portrayed a true story, but with films like that, I can’t help wondering how much licence they took with the story.

It was a very nice day.

I’ve had telescopes in the past, but my approach to using them has been worse than amateurish. I need to do a lot better. So, once again I find myself looking at options and doing it properly this time.

I’ve had to resort to my assistant to answer some questions I have. I’ve just had quite a long discussion with my assistant, and I am now becoming a bit pushed for time, if I wasn’t to start building my post count (posting before midnight each day).

So I am once again finding myself considering a telescope, but doing it properly this time. Starting with a survey. Where am I going to put the telescope so that I can easily get to it, quickly get it set up, and it is secure and safe from the elements when not in use? Luckily, I have all the tools I need to do the survey.

Next, what am I going to use it for? And I do have some thoughts on this. My main area of interest is likely to be the moon, but where I am planning to put the scope will mean that at various points of the year, certain constellations/stars/objects should be visible, so I will have some variation.

At least I can do the survey in daylight.

During the transatlantic crossing, we were surprised at the number of people who, having time on their hands, were choosing to travel to the UK this way. In my mind, I couldn’t help turning The Gorgeous Queen Mary 2 into a multi-deck bus.

Each night, our Cabin Attendant, Warren, would leave the daily plan on our bed, along with a couple of rather nice chocolates that I wasn’t allowed to eat because Elayne was collecting them (no, she wasn’t secretly eating them. I did get some after we got home).

The Daily Plan had on the front sheet a short description of where we were on the journey, and so would mention the geological features we were passing over. Much to my annoyance and frustration, I didn’t pay attention to these for the first couple of days. I guess we were getting into our routine.

Anyhow, when I did start reading them, I realised that even in that short section, there was a wealth of information, which I would be able to use to recreate our crossing by what is on the ocean floor.

And today’s example is assisted by a photo I took onboard ship. Whilst it obviously shows where we are in relation to the land, my assistant was able to work out an approximation of our latitude and longitude, and that put us over the Georges Bank.

The bank is part of the US Continental Shelf and, relatively speaking, is not that deep, typically varying from 3 to 150 m. It is a product of the ice age and was once dry land over which Mastodons would have marched. Fascinating stuff.

With this picture, we were heading onto Manhattan Bridge. From the top of an open 2 deck bus, it was scary high. Not at relevant to tonight’s post.

Which is about the Astronomy course I’ve started this evening with the HAG. Tonight was an introduction to the course, which over the 10 weeks will cover 15 topic areas, so promises to keep our attention and interest.

Tonight’s session also included a tour of the site and a visit to three of the 5 domes they have. The most impressive, strangely for me were 5 inch and 4.5 inch refractors. The 5in. Has been on long term loan to the group from the Navy, and gets checked every year to make sure they haven’t sold it (as if they would).

These two instruments were built in the 1860’s and 70’s. Tonight, they were pointed at the moon’s terminator, so the shadows and reliefs were very distinct. Seriously lovely to see.

But, even after just tonight’s two hour plus session, I am left with what I think will be series of questions;

• What science could I do with a meteor camera (this seems to be a recurring area of interest for me)?
• What astronomical science am I interested in? – I really don’t know.
• I like the “pretty pictures”, but I would like to learn. Learn what though? I have no idea (perhaps about meteors)?
• I need to learn how Right Ascension and Declination work. I know about them, but never have really understood them.

I suspect the mysteries will deepen next week.

In the meantime, I shall run these question past my assistant.

It’s a rhetorical question. All through the holiday I was looking for things that I might raise as as query, either directly here or through ChatGPT.

To my frustration, whilst in Washington, I was particularly keen to see one of the Cicadas that was making so much racket in the great mall. I paid a fair bit of attention to the trees. Every time I went near a tree, of course they went silent. I am not a skilled cicada hunter. I’m sure Gerald Durrell would have caught a whole jam jar full of them.

Whilst in Montreal, we were staying in a 5th floor Condo. On this particular day I was sat on their top floor balcony (actually, it was a nice large area of decking. In the Distance I could see a small (say 20 or so, difficult to count) flock of what I think were geese.

What got me about this particular group was that I wasn’t underneath them, watching their usually wonderfully controlled V shaped formation. From side on, the organisation was chaotic. Changing levels, apparently, very disorganised. I was very curious about that.

Although we had 5 days in New York we didn’t spend as much time in Central PArk as we should. The walk through Brooklyn was delightful. We walked past a lot of trees. There really wasn’t anything that hit me as a valid query. I’m a bit surprised by that.

The week we spent on Queen Mary 2, surprisingly has been a mine of queries and areas to cover. Not least of which, was how close to our path was The Titanic. Now, that’s a question that needs to be looked at properly.

I’m probably being a bit naughty by continuing the numbering, considering that I’ve been away for at least two weeks (three if you consider the whole holiday). We’ve had an unbelievable time, visited many places (in the time available to us) and met many people. All of whom have been incredibly friendly, and where needed, helpful.

The picture is of the original, actual Freedom 7 capsule, which carried Alan Shepard into space on a sub-orbital flight (Shepard didn’t orbit; it was up and down – but it did the job).

Having seen the capsule, just how cramped it is, and knowing that it sat on top of what was essentially a repurposed ballistic missile, I can’t begin to imagine the courage it took to climb into it – and the Apollo 11 capsule, which was on display only a few feet away.

During my trip, I had questons possping in to mind. Whilst I may not do them all in one go, and some of them I may cover in a Letter to Steve.

Talking of letters to Steve. I won’t be publishing one this week. I need to get back into the swing of things. So, I’ll be reading Gilbert’s Letter XXVIII on Monday with a view to publishing my version next Sunday.

I apologise for my absences over the past three weeks, this last week in particular, as I decided not to buy the Internet package on board ship, which was at sea for seven days.

The break in the routine, is because we are on holiday. We have just had a lovely 3 and a bit days in Washington D.C. and if you are following me on Facebook, you’ll have had the full story. Because FB is where family and friends mostly are

We had a very full visit to D.C., cramming in Arlington, where the changing of the guard was impressive and the wreath ceremonies moving, To the Lincoln Memorial, where I suggested he might try to give us a bit of a hand. The White House is shrouded in very dense fencing, which is unfortunate, but a friendly secret service agent told us about the observation deck of the Hotel Washington, where we enjoyed a drink a chat with a couple of nice chaps, and a still obscured (by the ballroom construction engines) view of the White House.

We’ve done Smithsonian Air and Space (extremely well laid out, and very highly recommended) and the Spy Museum, which was entertaining.

The morning of our last full day was a visit to, and tour of, the Capitol. Most impressive, a pity. That the House of Representatives wasn’t in session at the time, but it was interesting to see the chamber. That made me think, as I haven’t yet visited our Parliament building. I really should correct that oversight.

We are now with family in Montreal for a few days.

Posting will continue to be intermittent here for the time being.

I almost definitely won’t be posting tomorrow night.

I don’t think I should enumerate tonights post.

Things should get back to some semblance of normality soon.

The reason for the break will become clear. Everything is fine; don’t worry – this is NOT a medical issue.

I had to do a couple of trips out to various shops, and we went to the Garden Centre to meet up with other members of the Camera Club.

I did take a look at the passion flower seed pods, not much development. I’m inclined to think that the pods I’m watching aren’t going to drop of their own accord. I’m still not going to force it.

I must admit that I’m having a difficult time with tonight’s post. I’m afraid inspiration just isn’t coming to me. I’m in a bit of a limbo.

Hopefully, things will sort themselves out over the next few days.