Super Moon

Once a year a Super Moon appears in the sky as the Moon, which has an elliptical orbit around the Earth, comes to it closet to the Earth. The super moon is up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than other full Moons of the year.

The Moon will reach perigee, its closet point, at 0434 BST on Sunday, just around the tome it is setting in the UK, and one minute later it will later it will line up with the earth and the Sun to become full. The last time this happened was back in March last year when it was 250 miles closer to the Earth and it was truly magical. This year assuming the sky is clear it should be some Moon set.

Some people believe that the Super Moon is responsible for bizarre behaviour and natural disasters but Scientists have dismissed such notions as fanciful. Its most significant impact is likely to be on the tide, which will be higher than usual by up six inches depending on local geography.

Unfortunately for those that like meteor showers there is a down side to this years Super Moon. It will wash out all but the brightest fireballs from the springtime Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which is caused by debris left by Halley's Comet, which passes by Earth every 76 years.

Shame we can't Vote

With the way the elections are held in Rutland we only get to vote every four years when all the councils are up at the same time. This means, since we voted last year we miss out on the local elections this year, and for the next two elections to come, which is rather a shame.

Personally I think it is clear we could do with some new councillors on Rutland County Council, if not a complete new set. With a few exceptions the majority seem hell bent on ruining this beautiful county by turning it into a developers paradise. It would seem as soon as a developer comes along and buy's a bit of farm land dirt cheep they earn the right to build on it, with just a dew exceptions that I can think of. I get the feeling some of them have visions of turning Oakham into some new kind of city and ruining Rutland forever with concrete and brick. 

What Rutland needs are Councillors that care for the rural nature of Rutland. Ones that can be entrusted with this beautiful small county and allow natural development in a gradual and controlled way. Not ones that give in to the demands of developers. The countryside needs to be preserved for the children of the current generation and then their children to come. We need to keep Rutland a green haven that others can visit and enjoy and from it that provide employment through tourism and pleasure, something we are good at. 

I'm not saying that Rutland doesn't need development, it does, but in a carful way, so that the character and the nature of the county isn't destroyed forever. Care has to be taken to protect green spaces, existing playing fields, agricultural land and the villages need to be protected from any expansion of the two towns. There are brown field sites that can be developed in the county before any planning permission is granted for any green open spaces. Places like the former Ashwell prison site which could be carefully developed in to a new eco village to provide affordable homes for young families.

I think it says a lot about Rutland County Council that some of the independents in the council have had to form themselves into anti-corruption  group and they are having to put in freedom of information requests to get information from a council they are members of. Surely all the dealings in the council should be open to all councillors to ensure transparency and avoid abuses of power. We need open local government and not closed meetings and meetings where decisions are taken before the meeting start. What we need are meetings where people are allowed to make their cases and everything is considered. What is happening here from what I understand is not democracy in the true sense of the term. 

What Rutland needs most at the moments is Councillors that listen to the people and not the developers. People that will protect and nurture it as a place of beauty for the future. People that are driven by higher motives than money, greed and power that can see what we have here is worth protecting. That is why it is a shame we can't vote today.

Blog Delays

If anyone was wondering where all the blog posts have gone after freeze of posting last month well the answer is simple, they have been delayed by a little tummy bug which has knocked me for six since Monday.

It came into the house with Lucy at the weekend. When she said she had been sick on the way home from the holiday I just put it down to motion sickness. It wasn't until she went to the toilet and complained occasionally of tummy pains that I thought something was up, but it didn't seem that bad. She was a bit tired but she was eating. It wasn't until I got it that I realised how bad the little bug was. I slept most Monday and Tuesday away and it wasn't until today that I started to eat again.

Anyway, the subjects for the blog posts are all in place and it will be just a question of time before they are posted, starting first with the family posts and some of the smaller posts.

Fun of the Fair

All the fun of the fair is coming to Oakham for the weekend. Tomorrow a travelling fair will open in the park in Oakham and it is sure to be an attraction for teenagers for the coming few days until Monday night next week.

Unfortunately for Emily, Catherine and Lucy they won't be together this coming weekend to enjoy it, although there will be chances for the older two enjoy the fun either side of the weekend. It's normally only a small affair but fun all the same.

M is for Music - Peter Gabriel

This the last in the "M is for Music" series of posts that have featured some of the bands and artistis I have seen live and I have left the best to last. Back in the distant past I managed to get tickets to see Peter Gabriel at the NEC in Birmingham. It was best concert I have seen so far.

 

For those that don't know Peter Gabriel was the lead singer of the band Genesis until he left the band and embarked on a solo career, after upsetting the band when he stayed with his sick daughter and wife, rather than record and tour with the band. Given the direction of the band was going that wasn't really going where he seemed to want it to go, it was probably a good time for him to leave. He went on to develop himself as an artist and activist supporting third world counties, music and causes. It all paid off and he got a deserved loyal following and fan base as well as achieving a number of hits in the charts. Live he is excellent.

The show I saw was full of energy and the stage show and the music were excellent. The whole audience got behind the whole thing and it had that buzz at the end that makes you know you have seen something really special. The concert was a mix of old and new and so well put together. He is the one artist I would recommend anyone to see.