The sky is fascinating. Cloud formations and of course the stars, the planets and the satellites. Thanks to Terry Moseley for this information.
JUPITER still dominates the sky!
‘Our largest planet was at opposition on 3 November, and is by far the brightest starlike object in the evening sky. It’s high enough up in the East for observing as soon as the sky darkens, in Aries, and at mag -2.6 it’s much brighter than Saturn. Look for the 4 Galilean moons as they do their stately dance around the giant planet. Ganymede, Callisto and Io are bigger than our Moon; Europa is a bit smaller, but it’s brighter than Callisto because of its bright ice-covered surface.’
The Post Office brought to its knees by Alan Bates.
True and scrupulously researched and acted with sincerity and a warning about computers and remote access. You’ll know the fast moving story by now. 20 years ago the Post Office blamed 3500 sub-postmasters for financial losses caused by a Horizon computer error, over 700 were found guilty, others were sent to prison and four took their own lives all were innocent yet lives spiralled into chaos. Being honest men and women they made up the short fall with their own money, selling their homes in some cases. But Alan Bates wasn’t having it. “They say money’s somehow gone missing from this branch, which it hasn’t, and I have to pay it back, which I won’t.” He decided to fight for his name and his honesty and eventually represented hundreds of others. 20 years after loosing his own post office in Wales he’s still fighting for compensation for hundreds of other victims, the public inquiry he called for in 2009 is only now underway.
They took on the mighty Post Office owned by the government and apparently above reproach. Bates burrowed away until he unearthed the facts and presented them to the hierarchy who lied and connived their way out of every accusation, convenient that for the last 300 years the Post Office has run its own criminal investigations, and Fujitsu, the Japanese company suppling the software covered up despite knowing the faults in their system.
It’s a shocking story with Bates at the heart of it, the real Alan Bates gave his full approval of actor Tony Jones portrayal and worked alongside the writers and researchers as did many of the post officer workers effected.
But – Big Backlash On Postmasters
Here’s the rub. The public are blaming the men and women remaining behind the counter for being implicated. Is the National Federation of Sub-postmasters getting involved? They are apparently linked to the Government so have they limited influence? I contacted the local representative and await a reply over more than a week on. They advise members: ‘In the unlikely event you are contacted by the press regarding the Horizon Inquiry, direct them to Post Office Ltd or to the NFSP on communications@nfsp.org.uk‘ or local representative jim.mccaffety@nfsp.org.uk. Along side the inquiry which is happening at the moment interesting but like listening to paint drying. Perhaps it’s time the public gets involved in saving this invaluable public service, now that, in my experience, banks don’t even oblige you with euro, the post office does. But now there are banking hubs being set up in towns under the post office logo so taking yet another slice away from the long established service. Some elderly customers don’t have bank accounts or computers so cash and the friendly face behind the glass is security. Take time to write to your MP if you reckon the postal service must not be messed around with. Just one thought, if they do owe millions in back taxes will the postal service go into liquidation? Perish the thought.
Enlightening Film
I watched `In The Name Of The Father’ on the 30th anniversary of Jim Sheridan’s film charting the story of the late Gerry Conlon who was falsely accused of terrorism and imprisoned for 15 years.
Daniel Day-Lewis is famous for getting into character and the Conlon role is no exception he mixed with prisoners, spent days locked up in jail and submitted himself to Special Branch interrogation, It certainly paid off, a remarkable performance. It’s brutal, painful and at times tender when the young man shares a cell with his father Giuseppe (Pete Postlethwaite). Based on Conlon’s memoirs it moves from a rascal in Belfast to a ‘Jack the lad’ in London and being set up by one of the inmates of a squat where he hung out. With bombs were going off all round he was wrongly implicated in the carnage of two bars in Guildford eventually proving his innocence along with his three friends making up the Guildford Four. I get annoyed when people ask an actor what they do for a real job – without doubt Sheridan’s film is a real job.
Unintended Comedy Coverup
It wasn’t all serious in-depth television, there was one pantomime that had me laughing out loud – EastEnders on Christmas night! The script writers came up with the idea of Keanu being stabbed and Nish rendered unconscious thanks to a bottle being smashed over his head. Sharon’s face was a horror picture as she acted shocked.
Next day the ladies of the Queen Vic had the poor murdered boy wrapped up and secured with gaffer tape, running up and down in the snow not knowing what to do with him, as Suki said, “We haven’t got rid of the problem, we’ve only moved it.” Sharon, over acting, replied “We can do this, we will do this, we must do this.” Scripting at its finest. Executive producer Chris Crenshaw promised a Christmas episode to remember, surely he must have had his tongue in his cheek. Well worth seeing on catchup but the story is still unwinding and it’s so unlikely it’s farcical – they uncovered the body festering under the floor in the burnt out cafe so what do they do, magically make tonnes of cement and cover it over as neat as you like and very obvious. The workmen will surely wonder what it’s all about and begin to ask questions.
Worst viewing of all over the last week was the much heralded Saltburn ‘a beautifully wicked tale of privilege and desire’. Well. I found this film utterly awful, depraved and only funny once when a gardener had to be called in to get the police out of the maze when they went looking for the body of murdered Felix.
Here’s To The Next Time Mark
Watching the snooker last night was a nail biter. Ali Carter vs Mark Allan. Friday night was riveting when Mark played Mark Selby and won and the break of 147 was spectacular. The Antrim man was in good form and we were all on tenterhooks that our local hero would succeed. But! No go. Ali was in better form and now goes on to play Ronnie O’Sullivan so who’s your money on? The only sparks might come between the personalities – apparently Ali just can’t bear Ronnie and vice versa so there might be some excitement and certainly a wonderful exhibition of top snooker.
