Eurgh. Sick and stressed. I am ordered to take 2 days off rehearsal. 2 out of 7 days..we perform in 3....breathe breathe. trying not to stress out. Just going to do a bit of text work today keep it low key. Take it slow.
Yearly Archives: 2009
The Last Leg
This entry is about 6 months late. After the last journal life became so demanding I put a halt to everything. Then upon returning to the states I didn't want to think about the trip for a while and then I found the job and then I got busy again.....you get the picture. But I'll try to sum up the last two months of my stay in Honduras in less than 5 pages. April and May were busy months.
Tour Operator of Bangladesh Sundarbans Adventure Tour Package
Tour Travel Operator of Bangladesh Dhaka Holidays successfully completed Sundarbans Adventure Tour with Foreigners 2629 Nov 2009 Photos are comming soon and Declared New Tour date if you areinterested please visit httpwww.dhakaholidays.comtouroperatorbangladesh99nextsundarbansadventuretourpackagee.html
Team America
Our first flight from Christchurch to Aukland was entirely uneventful so they decided to mix things up a little and delay our flight from Aukland to LA by 5 hours on top of the 3 we already had to wait. This was not much fun and the only food on offer was burger king which was not a good start to two weeks in America.We finally arrived in LA strangely enough before we actually left Aukland when y
Thailand Check. Laos here we come.
The journey from Pai in Thailand to Luang Prabang in Laos was nothing if not long. We left Pai at 8pm on Friday 4th December and didnrsquot arrive in Luang Prabang until 6pm on Sunday 6th December ... a mammoth journeyThe first leg was a 7 hour minivan journey from Pai to Chang Kong on the ThaiLaos border to say that the first few hours of this ride was windy would be an epic understatement
Hvad vi har lavet siden Gili
Efter vi forlod Indonesien havde vi et kort men fantastisk gensyn med Bangkok hvor vi fik shoppet var paa dansk resturant hvor Steffen fik hakkeboef og Tanya leverpostej og frikadeller behoever vi at sige at der ikke blev sagt mange andre ord end mmmmmmmmm shoppet lidt mere havde Steffen paa privathospital hvor han blev tjekket for det ene og det andet og et lille smut i biografen. I Ban
On tour with Louise and Zane 46 students
Action Tours annual trip to the South Island with 46 international students of all ages on board. Zane driving the bus and me trailing behind in the van. 6 days until take off. Its preparation time now 2 Christmas cakes made and decorated. One with a bucket load of brandy poured over and the other without.All well organised and confirmed now but with 462 personalities on board we are going
cancun on thanksgiven
We started the day on 112409 by going to work just like any other person in Los Angeles it was a cold day and a long day at work since the exciment of going away finally kicked in.Took the bus to LAX Los Angeles International Airport got to lax about an hour later walked into the Delta Air Lines terminal and checked in within 5 minutes I guess it pays to be a silver medallion with Delta
Highway 1 California
Despite the freezing weather and the possibility that we would look slightly crazy we set off with the top down in Clyde the convertable Chrysler and headed for the highway.Our first stop was Santa Cruz which was much nicer then I expected. I was finally seeing the attraction of America. We did a bit of shopping and I didn't once feel pressured into emptying my purse into a homeless mans hat. Our
The Way Of Make Money In Runescape
The Way Of Make Money In Runescape Hello guys here are the way of make runescape money that came from other website. Let's go see it These are combos that should be used just about every single fight. In Runescape money is one of the main things you need you need it for armor food quests and much more. There are sertain ways to make money in runescape and im going to show you some of the best
Sandboarding
Bonjour a tousNous avons passe 6 jours dans le desert afin d'experimenter un nouveau sport le sandboarding. Nous avons commence a Huacachina un oasis au milieu des dunes. Le premier jour nous avons devie de notre but car nous avons entendu parle du vin Peruvien. Donc nous avons visite 3 vignobles qui faisaient aussi du Pisco qui est pas mal la boisson nationale. La premiere ferme que nous
A Sparkling Xmas Surprise Penny
I stumbled home last night through the minus 13 degree night air after a long double shift at the pub. Dave aka the world's greatest boyfriend had promised a surprise. I discovered him barricading the front door and blindfolding me before my finelytuned sense of Christmassmell gave everything away. A REAL LIVE CHRISTMAS TREEHe'd lugged the monstrosity up the icy street and negotiated our w
Another Published Article Penny
Check out my latest article in Cityscape Creative Cities online magazinehttpwww.cityscapenews.comNEWS.HTMEntitled Williamsburg Brooklyn Art for the People.
Auckland City
El Centro de Auckland Es Hermoso super ordenado muy prolijo. Los buses pasan a la hora exacta en cada una de las paradas la gente muy amable.Esta lleno de Asiaticos son la graaan mayoria y hay maoris tammbien son otra cultura de una contextura enorme y de piel mas morena. Pongo algunas fotos para que vean
A story by Kudra Ricketts
I flew the short distance from Vila to Malekula by plane. We arrived at the tiny brick building with no furniture which was the airport. The runway was a grass paddock. I drove by truck with my dad and the two midwives Kelly and Carrie until we reached Banam Bay. There we were met by the friendly crew of the Alvei. The ship we were staying on. Once we were settled in I went with the Project MAR
Seabird Breeding Season 2009
At last a good year for Kittiwakes
Sandwich Terns galore
A brilliant season for Shags
Record numbers now breeding - Guillemots galoreFriday 11th December comments:
The 2009 breeding season on the Farnes was one of the best in modern history and overall productivity revealed ‘best returns’ for several species in over a decade or more. The influencing factors during the year included the weather, remained settled throughout the breeding season whilst food supply was excellent, verging on brilliant. Sand-eels of good size and age were in abundance whilst the problematic Snake Pipe-fish was almost non-existence. Overall the season was excellent with very few complaints.
Seabird Breeding Figures 2009
Shelduck 1 pair
RB Merganser 1 pair
Eider 681 pairs
Fulmar 258 pairs
Cormorant 141 pairs
Shag 838 pairs
Oystercatcher 38 pairs
Ringed Plover 9 pairs
Kittiwake 3,699 pairs
Sandwich Tern 1,415 pairs
Common Tern 98 pairs
Arctic Tern 2,198 pairs
Guillemot 48,126 ind
Razorbill 332 pairs
Puffins 36,835 pairs
Swallow 1 pair
Rock Pipit 25 pairs
Pied Wagtail 6 pairs
Wren 1 pairs
Some shinning examples included:
Kittiwake – best productivity since 1996 – 702 chicks fledged from 593 nests (compared with 202 fledged chicks from 616 nests last year!)
Shag – best productivity since 1992 – 499 chicks fledged from 333 nests
2 pairs of Roseate Tern on Brownsman although sadly both failed. Away from the ‘norm’, Wrens bred for only second time, Red-breasted Merganser for fourth consecutive year and Swallows bred for first time since 1997.
So there you go - a good season and a repeat next year would do very nicely. As we departed the islands last weekend, we did notice that Shags had breeding crests and Eiders were displaying, as after all, its only three months before it all start again...
Seal pups
Just having a look - a Farnes Grey Seal pup 
Who are you?
Valuable milk for a new born pup
Only three weeks old but looking very different
Bulls will be bulls - fighting in the surfTuesday 8th December comments:
It was another roller coaster ride for the Grey Seal population on the Farnes. The first Seal pup of the autumn was discovered on the South Wamses on 4th October, and thereafter the ‘seal pupping season’ was underway. Numbers were slow to begin with, as the islands had produced only twenty-six pups by 18th October, although numbers started to increase thereafter. A total of ten islands were utilised, with South Wamses regaining its crown as the number one colony on the Farnes, having been outstripped by Staple Island the previous year.
It was another roller coaster ride for the Grey Seal population on the Farnes. The first Seal pup of the autumn was discovered on the South Wamses on 4th October, and thereafter the ‘seal pupping season’ was underway. Numbers were slow to begin with, as the islands had produced only twenty-six pups by 18th October, although numbers started to increase thereafter. A total of ten islands were utilised, with South Wamses regaining its crown as the number one colony on the Farnes, having been outstripped by Staple Island the previous year.
The autumns weather was reasonably kind, although a series of westerly gales in mid-November brought a few problems. However just when we thought we had escaped the worst, a northerly storm battered the islands in late November resulting in the greatest loss of pups off the north edge of the islands. Although it’s early days, the mortality rate will be pushing 50% of pups which never made it to the crucial independent age of three weeks. This may appear high, but in Farnes terms, it’s just another average year.
Seal Pup Births 2009:
South Wamses 413
Staple Island 367
North Wamses 277
Brownsman 170
Northern Hares 87
Longstone 11
Knoxes Reef 9
Big Harcar 7
West Wideopens 4
Nameless Rock 1
Total: 1,346
Departure Day
Belongings ready to go - goodbye to Brownsman 
Waiting in the wings - Glad Tidings 6 ready to pick us up
Bedraggled but happy - the team on board heading west
The clean up operation - boats being sortedMonday 7th December comments:
Morning arrived early on Saturday as the team were active by 06:30, making final preparations for the big day – we were leaving. The wind had rattled the cottage for one final time during the small hours but hopes were high for a final retreat. Darkness disguised the fact that there was a stiff southerly breeze with white tops, but we weren’t going to let that stand in our way, not this time.
Morning arrived early on Saturday as the team were active by 06:30, making final preparations for the big day – we were leaving. The wind had rattled the cottage for one final time during the small hours but hopes were high for a final retreat. Darkness disguised the fact that there was a stiff southerly breeze with white tops, but we weren’t going to let that stand in our way, not this time.
The team worked hard as dawn broke over Brownsman, as the islands were packed for the winter and we were ready. The driving rain made things unpleasant and the fact the boat couldn’t get to our jetty due to the southerly swell, resulted in a scramble down a cliff face and shuttle runs with out trusty Zodiac inflatable. Eventually the job was complete, Adam and myself were the last two standing on Brownsman, as we waved goodbye for another season.
Once safely across the Sounds, we returned to Seahouses just before 11am, with the final sort underway. Recycling was sorted, the boats pressured hosed down, various equipment off for service and eventually the team could relax and start enjoying the comforts of the mainland. In true Farnes tradition, the team stayed in a local hotel and celebrated into the small hours. The hangovers may have been long, but it’s been a cracking season and everyone connected with the islands should be congratulated on a brilliant nine months.
Over the course of the next five days, I’ll be bringing you the highs and lows of the season, starting tomorrow with the first story – the Grey Seals, so don't go anywhere.
Saying Goodbye…maybe
Grey Seal Pup of the Farne IslandsFriday 4th December comments:
It’s been a long tough week on the Farnes, as work has been non-stop and it’s kept the team busy. And why you may ask? It’s that time of year - where leaving, its time to head west to the mainland and depart the islands for the winter.
It’s been a long tough week on the Farnes, as work has been non-stop and it’s kept the team busy. And why you may ask? It’s that time of year - where leaving, its time to head west to the mainland and depart the islands for the winter.
The year has flown by, having landed on the rocky outcrop which is known as the Farne Island on 20th March, we’ve lived, breathed and slept the Farnes ever since. We’ve seen and had it all – storms, sunshine, thousands of visitors, vast numbers of seabirds, migrant birds, rare birds, huge whales and let’s not forget the Grey Seals. However it’s almost over for another season and we’ve been busy preparing for the big day.
The big day should arrive tomorrow morning as where scheduled to be picked up, however it’s never that simple with the Farnes and its 50-50 whether we escape – another south-easterly weather front is about to hit us, but can we escape in time? I’ll reveal all with a complete round-up, including those important final Grey Seal numbers and a round-up of the season on Monday. Keep those fingers crossed for our final escape.
It’s time to say goodbye…maybe.
Tystie day
A Farnes speciality in winter - a Black Guillemot near Brownsman
Smart - the first-winter in flightMonday 30th November comments:
Another day of strong winds from the north and there was even a threat of snow, although it never arrived, not yet anyway. The team were confined to the cottage today as we made progress on various bits of work and reflected on the overnight storms. The cottage was battered and although a few tiles had become dislodged, this place is built to last, so no lasting problems.
Another day of strong winds from the north and there was even a threat of snow, although it never arrived, not yet anyway. The team were confined to the cottage today as we made progress on various bits of work and reflected on the overnight storms. The cottage was battered and although a few tiles had become dislodged, this place is built to last, so no lasting problems.
The outcome of the storms on the Grey Seal pup population remains unknown as the weather prevented us from accessing the colonies, but that may change tomorrow with the changing of the weather. Today seawatching brought only a handful of noticeable passage birds although their was a stunning surprise - a Leach’s Petrel showed well near Brownsman as it pattered its way north across the raging sea.
Highlights: Red-throated Diver 2N, Great Northern Diver 2N, Black-throated Diver 1S, Red-necked Grebe 2, Leach’s Petrel 1N at 15:30 in staple sound, very close to Brownsman, Black Guillemot 2 in staple sound including a first-winter on the sea near Brownsman.
