Director's Blog

Friday 27th November 2009

Well I'm feeling very proud of myself indeed! This week has been a week of embracing technology completely. Not only does my blog now have an RSS feed (still not sure what it is but it seems to be working very well fom the emails I've received) I have also joined "Twitter". This allows me to keep in touch with fellow "tweeters" on a daily basis and keep people informed of whats going on at the Marine Centre as it happens....live! I already have some "followers" who have subscribed to my "tweets" but feel free to join them! Once logged on you can also choose to follow Captain Sig of The Northwestern, Captain Jon from The Time Bandit or people like Alistair Carmichael MP...have a go and see what you think. If I can do it...anyone can (apart from Alistair who appears to be having one or two problems...don't worry Alistair I'll sort it for you!).

Wednesday 25th November 2009

My blog now has an RSS feed! That statement makes it sound like I know exactly what that means. I don't know all of the technological details but what I do know is that if you click on the orange button in the top right hand corner of my blog page then you will subscribe to the RSS feed. This will mean that whenever I update my blog you will be informed and so will not have to keep logging in to check.

As Alexander the Meerkat says...."Simples. Spheeett!"

Thursday 19th November 2009

"The line rose slowly and steadily and then the surface of the ocean bulged ahead of the boat and the fish came out. He came out unendingly and water poured from his sides. He was bright in the sun and his head and back were dark purple and in the sun the stripes on his sides showed wide and a light lavender. His sword was as long as a baseball bat and tapered like a rapier and he rose his full length from the water and then re-entered it, smoothly, like a diver and the old man saw the great scythe-blade of his tail go under and the line commenced to race out.

“He is two feet longer than the skiff,” the old man said. The line was going out fast but steadily and the fish was not panicked. The old man was trying with both hands to keep the line just inside of breaking strength. He knew that if he could not slow the fish with a steady pressure the fish could take out all the line and break it.

He is a great fish and I must convince him, he thought. I must never let him learn his strength nor what he could do if he made his run. If I were him I would put in everything now and go until something broke. But, thank God, they are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able.

The old man had seen many great fish. He had seen many that weighed more than a thousand pounds and he had caught two of that size in his life, but never alone. Now alone, and out of sight of land, he was fast to the biggest fish that he had ever seen and bigger than he had ever heard of, and his left hand was still as tight as the gripped claws of an eagle."

From The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Thursday 12th November 2009

Just a quick entry today! I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who sends me emails about my blog, they are much appreciated and I have great fun reading them and do try to reply to all of them. Please keep them coming.

It also appears that I am single-handedly increasing the viewer population for "The Deadliest Catch" based on the people that write to me telling me that they too are now addicted. Obviously fans of the show all belong to different "clans" depending on which boat or captain is your favourite. As I've said before I love The Time Bandit but I have to say that my favourite captain is probably Sig Hansen of The Northwestern...he comes out with some amazing quotes but his best by far just has to be...

"JUST SHUT UP AND FISH!!!"

Tuesday 10th November 2009

I've said it before but I'm going to say it again...I have the best job in the World!

I have just come back from spending the last 3 days on board the NLV Pharos, a Northern Lighthouse Board Vessel, whilst it undertook routine maintenance work on lights and buoys in and around Shetland...and it was FANTASTIC!

Captain Colin Wheatley and his crew were incredibly friendly and spent time with me explaining to me each of their roles on board and the importance of The Pharos in ensuring the safety of all sea-going mariners in these coastal waters. I even had the chance to go ashore with the shore party whilst they carried out work on various lights on Islands off of mainland Shetland. This required special transport in the shape of the onboard helicopter which is piloted by Cpt Peter Quick, an incredibly experienced pilot who made landing on a moving ship look like childs play!

I have deep respect for these guys, their professionalism, pride and enthusiasm for what they do was amazing..and contagious.

Someone today asked me whether I'd do it again...my answer?  In a heartbeat!

Thursday 5th November 2009

I've just found a great article from The Times which I thought I'd share with you...

From The Times, 23rd July 2009 by Melanie Reid

"Savour the superb linen, the chink of glasses, the hum of expensive anticipation. You're about to choose....ooh, but it's hard, everything is just so tempting. Will it be seared scallops in wilted spinach as a starter, or your personal favourite, a main course of scallops, black pudding and pea and mint puree?

While you ponder your options, you glance at the price. Only £9 for the starter - not bad at all, really - and £20 for the main, which is a steal. Scallops are such a sublime luxury.

It is sad that today's fine diners in London, Paris and Brussels, their forks hovering over the equivalent of marine gold, are unlikely to be troubled by the tragedy of The Aquila. A fishing boat, wasn't it? Occupational hazard, surely. Off the Ardnamurchan peninsula? Ah yes, know a chap who's got an estate round there. Bring us the bill, will you, waiter?

A distant accident, you see. In a remote place, not many dead. And there, in a nutshell, you have the brutal equation of scallops. That in order to put the delicacy on a plate for the public, men and women have risked their lives for a pittence in the harshest of conditions."

Sitting at my desk in the warm, with the rain lashing down outside and a force 9 blowing I watch the local fishing boats head out away from shelter and safety. Somehow, right now, the above quote seems very appropriate indeed.