Off Topic Sunderland lad done good

This was posted over the road (thanks Libertine) but I thought it deserved its own thread here. Basically it’s a short preview about Gary Fildes, a former bricklayer from Sunderland turned astronomer. Living the dream!! Just goes to show that if you want it badly enough it’ll come.

https://www.inhousefilms.com/work/s...ip0dxeXYESpRxacuDYh3ZF-nJC1sY6VExkm9KreobW1z4

 

Great stuff - the Atacama is a spectacular place - I might dig out a few of my photos

 

When I was a lad I was well into astronomy. Had my own telescope and everything. Unfortunately living in the NE with all the light pollution I wasn’t able to get out to any dark sky sites. Still fascinates me now. The good thing living in Australia means I can get out into the bush and see it. And Mrs EJK has got me tickets for the Perth Observatory night sky tour for crimbo. Can’t wait.

 

What do you know about Galileo ?

 

That sounds like a great Christmas.
Do you know where/when the film will be available?

I lived in Chile for 3 years in the early 90's and travelled the whole length of the country - I guess the North is similar to the Outback in Oz.
This is just outside of San Pedro de Atacama - the only bit of civilisation in the Desert, the electric went off just after sunset and the skies were amazing.


The salt flats between Uyuni in Bolivia and Calama in Chile - taken from a moving train.



Further North near to Arica - the road above the clouds

 

He was name dropped by Queen in a song iirc.

 

Looks like something I’d enjoy. Great images. Dunno about the film, sorry.

 

he is just a poor boy from a poor family and will not go

 

been doing that all my life, and i agree with what you say if you want it hard enough it always stays hard

 

Exactly what I’d expect from someone who throws himself out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft.

 

there was a time early on in that career when it was like a pub you had to be thrown out, on a static line, got to admit thought on an army chute after the main chute deployed you went up about 60 foot its like being on a rollercoaster, and the sensation ...its like a nest of sparrows has been pulled out of your arse.

 

Probably why I wanted to go down the commando route, not that I did that in the end anyway.