Tuesday, 29th August 2006

Our day started wandering through to Murphy's Deli for breakfast! We were unsure how the day was going to work out, but on arrival at the Houston Museum of Natural Science we discovered that I had been included as a delegrate for the conference, my badge giving me "honorary Houston citizenship". It was a day crammed with activity as we were assigned to separate groups and set off on our programmes, but not before we had been thrilled by the presentation from Astronanut Scott Parazynski, an astronaut with four shuttle mssions to his name.
In our group we played with and were given new software, we viewed the developing ideas for use in 'inflateable domes', visited the Challenger Learning Centre in Houston (housed in the Museum) and exchanged ideas.

It was a very interesting day rounded off with burritos in a Mexican restaurant and a visit to 'Bodyworlds' at the Museum, which were displayed authentic body parts and skeletons!!!!!!

Monday 28th August 2006
It's now 5.00 p.m. and we are back at our hotel having spent a day in the world of Space adventure and exploration. The coach left the hotel for the Johnson Space Center, our first port of call being the Sonny Carter building which houses the largest indoor pool in the world. In 40 feet of water astronauts were training for EVA's (space walks) on full size underwater mock ups of the space shuttle and the International Space Station. Working under water is the closest on earth they can get to the experience of walking in space. Transfer by coach took us to further astronaut facilities and an enormous building containing full size models of the shuttle, soyuz space craft and various components of the International Space Station, and a test model for the new American spacecraft designed to replace the shuttle in 2010/12. This priviledged access to this normally restricted area was followed by short lectures on moon rocks, Mars rocks and the Stardust mission which collected debris from the tail of a comet.

After lunch at the astronaut and space workers restaurant we visited the historic Apollo missions operations control room from where both Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 were directed. Having seen what it was like for the Apollo missions with their comparitively limited computer facilities, we went on to see the state of the art mission controls.

Houston we have arrived!!!

Sunday 27th August.
An early start at 4.00 a.m. to catch the 9.00 a.m. flight from Birmingham to Newark New York. Amidst much security and inspections we arrived safely with views of the New York skyline on touchdown after seven and a quarter hours of flying. Our first queue was for immigration where we were fingerprinted and photographed on entry into the USA. Our next wait was for the luggage which once we had collected led us to a queue for customs, having got through this hurdle we joined the next queue to have our bags rechecked for our onward flight to Houston. We then made our way after an hour and threequarters back to the same gate and the same plane from which we had disembarked!!! Not even getting a chance for a New York coffee. Almost three hours later we arrived at Houston at 4.15 p.m. local time and 10.15 p.m. at home. Our cases claimed we caught the shuttle bus to the Hotel Marriot in the medical centre of Houston, an area that seems to be filled with large prestigious looking private hospitals. After a rest, a shower and a call home we went down to the Hotel's Fannins Restaurant, and it wasn't long before we found ourselves with a group of other Challenger Flight Directors. We were made very welcome :-) We were in bed by 9.15 p.m. but then it was 3.15 a.m. at home, our day had not been 24 hours but 30 hours.

End of an era!

After 18 years our holiday mobile home close to the Suffolk coast is moving on or rather moving off its site to make way for a newer model! It is with some sadness that we are bidding farewell to the place that has been so much part of our family during the growing years of our children. It's filled with memories of sunny and rainy days, family gatherings and birthday parties, happy holidays, and retreats from the stress of everyday! It's certainly been kind to us! This place has been part of our lives for the past 23 years, and we look forward to lots more years and happy times in our new holiday retreat! As Punch and Judy would say "That's the way to do it"!!! :-)

A Winning Performance!

RI--GOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Was the chant from the crowd as the boys prepared to play their set at the final of The Battle of the Bands on Saturday night, August 12th, at The Brickmakers B2 in Norwich. It had come down to the last four from the forty initial entrants, and there was nervous anticipation and excitment in the air as the final band on this final night took to the stage! They rocked, they sang, they powered their way through their half-hour set, to the appreciation of all, including the judges, who awarded them first prize. Well done Rigo Jancsi, a great show, a great win, and who knows hopefully a great future!! Waiting for the single and the c.d.!! Oh! and the half-hour session on Pulse radio! Have fun!!!!!!
New songs on Myspace!