Number 11 Penguins at Birdworld

Today was a completely New Experience, feeding the Humboldt penguins at Birdworld, then a chance to hold & stroke one, a strange mixture of soft&leathery-not-quite-feathery to make them waterproof.

 Then after a fantastic day, I came away with a gift bag of cuddly penguin, mug & fridge magnet, and a smart certificate to prove it all.

 This was L&A's Mother's day present and included a picnic-feast with sushi, strawberries&raspberries&cream.

 What a wonderful day!

Number 10 National coastwatch station

On a Dorset coastal walk we visited the Coastwatch Station at St Alban's/Anselm's/Adhelm's Head. I'm not sure why the variants on the name, will have to research this. They told us of their work logging the passage of all boats, as many coastguard stations no longer have good views of the sea. If a vessel goes missing this gives a record of  last known position & when. The radar showed the Eastwards & Westwards Channel shipping lanes, hectically busy. Many vessels are in effect electronically tagged so a signal tells Coastwatch who, speed, size & other safety vital information. We had a look thorough his mega-binoculars, & could see two people fishing in a small boat a couple of hundred feet below, well enough to see they were pouring coffee out of a Thermos, detracts a bit from my super-duper 24x telephoto!  He also explained why the "texture" of the sea changed so suddenly off the point; there's a small mountain range under the sea, so it suddenly halves in depth & therefore waves get bigger, with the difference being easily visible. All of this will be old knowledge to seasoned sailors, but I found it fascinating

DofE, House

I feel bad that in spite of being retired & in theory having time, I've not posted for 10 days, so here's my excuse: I have been working on Amy's house, a battered ex-housing association one, needing much renovation. We've had a series of people, plumber, electrician, builder &c, but we're doing the simple stuff & decorating ourselves. This will give me a few more new things.
I've also been on a Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award practice expedition in the Lake District, a wonderful area & hugely worthwhile scheme. Photos will follow.
Now off to Swanage for the normal walking club weekend, with an extra 2nd Birthday & Retirement party.
Maybe I'll get to see the garden next week!

Number 9: last 15 medical school

Sleepless nights with the fear of a new life outside the protection I was used to, then finding it was OK
Meeting Pat&Jan on my first day, they'd been at school together & are still friends
Self-catering, learning basic skills very fast, vowing to teach my children sooner
The smell of the exotic shop on the way from Clifton, incense, leather shoes, Indian clothes and a variety of jewellery which I still have.
Doughnuts on the hoof for for breakfast
Nasty pub meat-pies for lunch, never hot enough, but the nearest place.
The smell of formalin, and the surprise of how soft and warm a living body is
My first patient, Mr Cox who died after an amputation for complications of diabetes
Discovering caving, the other-world-appearance of the formations, then changing out of a coldwetmuddy home-made wetsuit in a blizzard on the roadside by Longwood
Delivering a baby, Mother's delight & the weird almost turquoise blue of the cord
The kindness of a few consultants, & some who took a delight in embarrassing students
Knowing a child had Henoch-Schoenlein purpura, I'd seen a friend's son with it
Another student who was "not at medical school to take blood" . They had to be done, so I got very good
One houseman's superhuman feat of knowing every patient's blood results from the last few days
Cider (I was in Bristol) some pubs wouldn't let girls have pints

more good party thoughts!

My Great Nephew was a huge hit, obviously delighted by all the attention. A life of food, sleep & admiration, who needs anything else?

Birthday, Ukulele

Well, yesterday has to be a world record! A big crowd but sorry Gail & Teresa were both ill. We'll have to have yet another party, particularly as I seemed to end up with more bottles of bubbles than I started with.
Thanks so much everyone, especially the cooks & washers-up. Sue&Tim gave me a bright pink ukulele, they've haven't heard heard me sing yet. I also have a sheaf of RHS gift vouchers.
 I'll take up Clare's (www.threebeautifulthings.co.uk)suggestion of 60 BTs, those will be 2, a wonderful reason to go to Wisley & browse the garden centre.

birthday, Number8, 2more

Does being 60 count as a "New Challenge" or just the inexorable? I'll count it as number 8, I can do anything on my Birthday!
 Laura & Amy have organised 9 & 10, feeding penguins at Birdworld and Tea at the Savoy, both coming soon so I'll update you all.