Thursday, May 2, 2013

Film: Female Agents directed by Jean-Paul Salomé

A film based on historical events of a special operation to rescue a captured British geologist from France shortly before the D-Day landings.

The rescue happens very early in the film, and with the remainder being devoted to the assassination attempt on the SS guard who is close to working out the methods and location of the landing - essentially the discovery that temporary harbours were to be used.

A good film and account - slightly non descriptive title that makes it sound more plain a film than it turns out to be.

Book read: My Steve by Terri Irwin

I read this book while I was in Brisbane, the day before I visited Australia Zoo.  It is a very heart warming series of anecdotes about Steve Irwin - and puts his life and achievements into perspective as well as describing more about the man behind the name.

He died tragically young but the book gives you the indication that he thought his time was limited, so made the most of the time he had.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Saturn V Rocket

Interesting article about NASA going back to the designs of the F1 rocket:



http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/04/how-nasa-brought-the-monstrous-f-1-moon-rocket-back-to-life/

Monday, March 11, 2013

Australia visit - Sydney

My big holiday of all time was to visit Australia this year.   It was only a few weeks after Malaysia.

The flight out was overnight leaving Heathrow at 9:30 pm on an A380.  It was a long flight to Singapore, but being able to sleep was a benefit.  March 2013 was the last month that Qantas were doing this route, after that it would be a stop over in Dubai - so it felt like the end of a long haul era.

Landing in Singapore, with just a one hour stop over before rejoining for another 8 hours on top of the 12 already flown.  Landing in Sydney on Monday 07:30 am.  It took a while to get through immigration, and out to a taxi to the hotel at Surry Hills arriving at around 11 am.

We stayed at a boutique hotel, and the first day was taken with catching up on some sleep - only venturing out in the evening to get some food.

Tuesday:

Visited the Opera house for a tour and walked around the Circular Quay

Wednesday:

Visited Manly and walked along the beaches.

Thursday:

China town, Natural history museum

Friday:

Sea life, and Australia museum

Saturday

Shopping and walked through the Quay area

Sunday

Saturday, March 9, 2013

World Extents (3)

My Australia trip ran from 9 to 27 March, and once again my world extents were drastically extended.  My new list reads:


  1. North - Northampton UK
  2. East -Brisbane Australia
  3. South - Sydney Australia
  4. West - St Austell UK

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

World Extents (2)

My world extents post was out of date as soon as it was written almost.  Thanks to work I got sent on an emergency trip to Malaysia, so my new list reads:

  1. North - Northampton UK
  2. East - Malaysia
  3. South - Malaysia
  4. West - St Austell UK

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Malaysia Initial Impressions

I got sent to Malaysia for work in February, a very last minute thing.  It was my first visit to Asia, and I wanted to note down my thoughts a few months on.

First impressions were of the flight, which is long 12 hours from London Heathrow.  This was my first ever long haul flight so I was a little worried about how it would be.  Flying on an A380 was nice though, even in economy.  I think the secret to long haul is being able to sleep or doze through most of it.  I took a window seat which may not have been such a great idea - it worked out ok as I sat next to a nice couple.

Arriving at Kuala Lumpur the first thing that hits you is the heat, it was immediate warm air after having left a cold London.  Working my way through the airport was ok, the only confusing thing was baggage return being seperated in another terminal.  Getting to KL Sentral was easy as there was an express train dedicated to doing this trip. 

I did not make the colonial times connection until I realised how many traits there still were, driving on the left side, signposting in English.  But having said that there were as many differences, it is many cultures in one nation.  I was relieved to find my hotel very close to the central station, a very short walk.