The Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) is dedicated to the understanding, welfare, conservation and protection of cetaceans (whales, dolphins
and porpoises) in Scottish waters and the marine environment in which they live through scientific research, environmental education and the provision of a 24hr professional rescue service for sick, injured and stranded marine mammals.
Monday, 16 June 2008
Welcome to Team 2, 2008
A huge welcome, (although, I'm in London!) to Team 2 of 2008. You're gonna have one of the best weeks ever! Someone post a few of your pics throughout the week so we all get a little taster of your fun!
Steve, get some more Team 1 pics up for them, so they know what they've got to live up to! Shame you lot drunk the honesty bar dry and ate all the pies and cakes in the village!
Well, not having seen it - I of course say - "post it, post it - publish and be damned". And by the way, who wrote that song - and which is the w-----g chair? 'cos I don't want to sit in it!
aaaahhh I wrote it... and I am pretty sure the original version did say "massage chair"... but then someone started helping me with the lyrics and the rest is history... :-)
It's been a crazy week so far with EW team 2. Sighted all 3 of our study animals in the first 3 days, but then a spell of rough seas kept us shorebound on Thurs and Fri. Nonetheless, this gave us time to prepare for the Portsoy Festival this weekend (http://stbf.bizland.com/2008). We had a great day on the Sat, but yesterday a Force 8 gale and torrential rain flooded us out and we fled the show with a stock of warm Arbroath smoky's (smoked haddock) by noon!
Expectations to head out to sea again have been dashed by a sea stirred by Mordor! Whisky distillery this morning I think, followed by some boat maintenance and lectures. Still, spirits (in all senses) remain high, and 2moro will be another day!
It really has been a crazy week!! We finally got back on the sea (or ocean which sounds more familiar from back home) today, now that the wind, rain and stormy weather has blown itself out. Headed out today and saw what we think.....was 17 dolphins!!! We were with them for an hour, but as you guys know you don't really notice time when you're out on the 'bonnie sea'...just had to throw that in and try to use the G-town lingo. :) Sea got really rough as lunchtime loomed, so headed back into Gardenstown, after much puttering around the harbour trying and finally tying up to our stolen buoy. After the expert removal (it's been a long time coming!) of our drysuits and 'huggy-bears' as our dear Claire had renamed them, had a bite to eat, and now we're chilling and inputting data in the office.
Hoping to go to the local pub again, where as is usual we have become regulars. And the girls have become regulars at kicking the boys' arses at pool! However, it has been dubbed 'fluke shots' everytime..honestly! :)
Dear Earthwatch, I have recently volunteered on your whales and dolphins project in Scotland and feel that I should tell you that they are having far too much fun. I would have to question the qualifications of our PI (whateva Kevva) who was unable to tell the difference between dolphins and whales infront of an expectant crowd in Portsoy, and I do not think that doggles are appropriate eyewear for the research assistants. I would also question the safety of carpets in the Earthwatch houses as I seem to have developed a nasty carpet burn on my face after being attacked by an unidentified Swedish man who seemed to be with us to attach sink plungers to whales. I also feel that when team bonding games are to be played, rules should be followed and Jenga was not designed to be played using your nose. I would also question the funding of this project given that our lecture theatre appeared to be a windswept tent in Portsoy, and our research vessel had scaffolding on it. In short, I would suggest you look after our wonderful team out there or there will be trouble. Hugs Claire
What an amazing 10 days. Despite only getting 4 days on the boat we managed to see the 3 main species; Minke, Porpoise and Bottlenose. The 4th day we got to follow them for 3 hours and watch them feeding! I did manage to get out on the last day when everyone else had left but the conditions weren't great so all we saw was Andreas's imaginary Minke :P. Even when we weren't on the boat the CRRU team kept us entertained. Kev took us to the Glenfiddich distillery and a Perigrine centre so we had things to do when the sea was rough. The Portsoy festival was good fun, and we managed to sell all the 'seasickness' biscuits (gingerbread dolphin biscuits). The evenings were great fun watching Kev get drunk on one pint, listening to Dale's stories and playing pool (despite getting beaten by the girls). Thanks everyone for a great time.
LOVE IT!!!! I guess we should be welcoming EW Team 2 to the amazing Gardenstown!! :) Kevr I hope you are rested up, and the weather is good so you can get out on the water a lot!! The pictures are amazing and the poem definitely sums up our awesome trip in the Moray Firth!
Good luck EW 2, hope you see loads of fantastic animals!! Keep off posted, because once you leave you sure miss it like crazy!! xoxo
9 comments:
Well, not having seen it - I of course say - "post it, post it - publish and be damned". And by the way, who wrote that song - and which is the w-----g chair? 'cos I don't want to sit in it!
You've probably already sat in it, Bev!!!! The w... chair is the massage chair in No. 2!!! Ha haaaaa!!!
aaaahhh I wrote it... and I am pretty sure the original version did say "massage chair"... but then someone started helping me with the lyrics and the rest is history... :-)
It's been a crazy week so far with EW team 2. Sighted all 3 of our study animals in the first 3 days, but then a spell of rough seas kept us shorebound on Thurs and Fri. Nonetheless, this gave us time to prepare for the Portsoy Festival this weekend (http://stbf.bizland.com/2008). We had a great day on the Sat, but yesterday a Force 8 gale and torrential rain flooded us out and we fled the show with a stock of warm Arbroath smoky's (smoked haddock) by noon!
Expectations to head out to sea again have been dashed by a sea stirred by Mordor! Whisky distillery this morning I think, followed by some boat maintenance and lectures. Still, spirits (in all senses) remain high, and 2moro will be another day!
K & team
It really has been a crazy week!! We finally got back on the sea (or ocean which sounds more familiar from back home) today, now that the wind, rain and stormy weather has blown itself out. Headed out today and saw what we think.....was 17 dolphins!!! We were with them for an hour, but as you guys know you don't really notice time when you're out on the 'bonnie sea'...just had to throw that in and try to use the G-town lingo. :) Sea got really rough as lunchtime loomed, so headed back into Gardenstown, after much puttering around the harbour trying and finally tying up to our stolen buoy. After the expert removal (it's been a long time coming!) of our drysuits and 'huggy-bears' as our dear Claire had renamed them, had a bite to eat, and now we're chilling and inputting data in the office.
Hoping to go to the local pub again, where as is usual we have become regulars. And the girls have become regulars at kicking the boys' arses at pool! However, it has been dubbed 'fluke shots' everytime..honestly! :)
Dear Earthwatch,
I have recently volunteered on your whales and dolphins project in Scotland and feel that I should tell you that they are having far too much fun. I would have to question the qualifications of our PI (whateva Kevva) who was unable to tell the difference between dolphins and whales infront of an expectant crowd in Portsoy, and I do not think that doggles are appropriate eyewear for the research assistants. I would also question the safety of carpets in the Earthwatch houses as I seem to have developed a nasty carpet burn on my face after being attacked by an unidentified Swedish man who seemed to be with us to attach sink plungers to whales. I also feel that when team bonding games are to be played, rules should be followed and Jenga was not designed to be played using your nose. I would also question the funding of this project given that our lecture theatre appeared to be a windswept tent in Portsoy, and our research vessel had scaffolding on it. In short, I would suggest you look after our wonderful team out there or there will be trouble.
Hugs
Claire
What an amazing 10 days. Despite only getting 4 days on the boat we managed to see the 3 main species; Minke, Porpoise and Bottlenose. The 4th day we got to follow them for 3 hours and watch them feeding!
I did manage to get out on the last day when everyone else had left but the conditions weren't great so all we saw was Andreas's imaginary Minke :P.
Even when we weren't on the boat the CRRU team kept us entertained. Kev took us to the Glenfiddich distillery and a Perigrine centre so we had things to do when the sea was rough.
The Portsoy festival was good fun, and we managed to sell all the 'seasickness' biscuits (gingerbread dolphin biscuits).
The evenings were great fun watching Kev get drunk on one pint, listening to Dale's stories and playing pool (despite getting beaten by the girls).
Thanks everyone for a great time.
I'm sorry about the poor quality of this poem....blame the very very long train journey home....
Earthwatch team 2
Was a varied crew
Adam went missing
Ruth went fishing
And Claire made a cheesecake or two
Our evenings were fun
With Saul drinking rum
We play Jenga with noses
As Robin dozes
And when it came to pool, the girls won
Kev led the team
Ensuring dolphins were seen
With the doggle-wearing Dale
And Andreas tagging whales
And Helen heard oft before she was seen
Out in the bay
The dolphins would play
We drank the North Sea
Resisted the urge to pee
As we bobbed up and down on the waves
Back on the shore
We went on Kev's tour
To drink whisky, see squirrels,
Hug turbines, visit Lidl's
And see peregrine falcons soar
At the Portsoy show
We sold toys and clothes
Claire and Saul made bics
As Kev took the piss
But money was made, even so
And so we must pack
We have trains to catch
We will miss you all tons
- we have had SO much fun
And we all certainly hope to come back!
Missing you all loads!!!!
Hugs
Claire
xxx
LOVE IT!!!! I guess we should be welcoming EW Team 2 to the amazing Gardenstown!! :) Kevr I hope you are rested up, and the weather is good so you can get out on the water a lot!! The pictures are amazing and the poem definitely sums up our awesome trip in the Moray Firth!
Good luck EW 2, hope you see loads of fantastic animals!! Keep off posted, because once you leave you sure miss it like crazy!! xoxo
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