GF took this on porpoise.

Entering Camps Bay the voyagers met up with a pod of dolphins that gambolled (do dolphins gambol?) alongside the rib for a while. 

Having left Table Bay and started heading south down the Atlantic Coast the Gorse Fox and his colleagues had a superb view of The Twelve Apostles (as these cliffs are know). Apparently there's actually 17 of them... by why ruin a great name!

Adrenalin was beginning to surge as the swells increased and so did the speed. The rib was leaping from wave crest to wave crest and it was like you would imagine the ride on a bucking bronco. 

Ribs

The first trip was on these ribs. Powered by 2 V6 250bhp motors these boats hurtle along, taking the passengers on a very quick and very bumpy journey to Hout Bay.

At this stage the brave voyagers were donning their life vests and joking nonchalontly about the forthcoming trip. 

Cape Town, Early Morning

Early morning and the tranquil marina reflects the mountain and the blue African sky. Everywhere was quiet except for the screeching of the gulls and cormorants squabbling over breakfast.

The Gorse Fox had two trips arranged for the day... but more on those later 

A Kipling Moment

And the Sun comes up like Thunder out of China Africa 'cross the bay. 

Waterfront at Night

The secrets and indiscretions of the first night dinner will remain secret. Nothing will be said about about a colleague flirting with the waiters. That will remain entirely unnoticed. The proposed parties in various hotels will reamin but rumours (as the GF will be avoiding them); and overheard comments on the dress sense and thick thighs of our respected executive could not possibly be repeated.

GF attended a dinner at the Fish Market in Camps Bay, whilst other colleagues were dispersed across three further venues. Though GF's colleagues provided stimulating company, the food (fish), whilst good, was not excellent. In fairnes this was probably because of the sheer number of Starfleet troopers all turning up together.

Really nice evening then quiet wind down on GF's balcony before he took this photo of the waterfront and turned in for the night. 

City Hall

The impressive interior of the City Hall at Cape Town, wher Nelson Mandela first addressed the public afetr his release.

This was where Starfleet held their first business session of the trip. This was anchored by a local woman who is a CNN anchor in RSA. 

Looking back

Looking back across the Waterfront towards the Clockhouse (near which we had lunch) and as always, that breathtaking backdrop of table Mountain.

(The Clockhouse is the Red building towards the left side of the picture) 

Waterfront II

After lunch with Noof and Tenko the Gorse Fox strolled back (rather than takeing the coach) to his hotel.

The route ed him through the cosmopolitan Waterfront district. This has extended considereably since GF's last trip, but was a real pleasure to saunter around. 

Signpost

It was a long flight, but when you see a signpost like this you realise that Cape Town is a long way from everywhere. 

Waterfront

Finally checked-in, the Gorse Fox retired to his room. A huge suite with a balcony affording stunning views over the Cape Town Waterfront.

A result! 

Cloud hugs the Cliff

The cloud cover was continually changing. Swooping over the top, somehow ethereal, clinging to outcrops like silk against the body. 

Tablecloth

Table Mountain with the familiar layer of cloud, known as the tablecloth.

We had stopped at Signal Hill for registration and refreshments, before moving on to our hotels. 

Cloud Cover II

From the other side the signature landmark looked far more inviting. The bright blue sky, the roling white cloud hugging the hug granite rock.

The famous "view" was not evident because of the cloud, but even draped in this white blanket, Table Maountain is spectacular. 

Cloud cover

A dark pall of cloud hung over the eastern side of the signature landmark. This is quite common, we were told. This is also the side wher any rain tends to fall. 

Shanty Towns

The road from the airport to the city has much improved since GF's last visit. However, the traffic has got much heavier and heading towards the city during the morning rush hour was obviously slow.

The road was fringed with shanty towns, but despite this evident poverty, it is agin much improved since his last visit. 

Does he know where he is yet?

It was a long flight with the bare minimum of legroom. Sleep was intermittent, and the in-flight entertainment un-inspiring. The Gorse Fox spent tme with a book and resting as comfortably as he could.

Arriving at our destination was a bit like arriving at New York... huge palnes disgorging many hundreds of tired passengers to be processed by 3 immigration officials. GF notes that they were at least friendly and polite here!

GF has temporarily lost his sense of direction, not used to seeing the sun in the North of the sky... but given a few hours he's sure he'll adapt.

[File under: Travel]

Terminal 4 was chaos. 30 minutes to check-in then 45 minutes to get through security. Queues zigged and zagged all over the place.
Recommendation - avoid if possible: develop wings, learn to fly, swim, take the train... just avoid Heathrow.

[File under: Travel]

Mmmm. Need an electrical adapter. Have most types tucked away... but not one for this destination. Let's hope that LHR can help.

[File under: Travel]

Gorse Fox is off on a trip for a few days. Someone in Starfleet thought GF did sufficiently good a job last year that he deserved a little R&R. So he's off today... but will not (as yet) reveal his destination.

Must go and pack.

[File under: Diary]

Mourners to pay virtual respects

What? Technology gets everywhere. According to this article from the BBC: Mourners to pay virtual respectsit seems that with the miracle of webcams

"Mourners will be given an access code so they can watch services at Chanterlands Crematorium in real time from anywhere in the world."

And then, to keep in the spirit the deceased will be cremated deleted.

One uber-troll has made a serious enemy today. Some hints for said uber-Troll

1. Do NOT say "I'm not changing my life because your client has an emergency"
2. Do NOT tell the Gorse Fox what he CAN'T do... tell what he CAN do.
3. Do NOT lecture the Gorse Fox on process - if said process is broken and means GF cannot satisfy his client.
4. Don't go running off to some other troll to pass the problem.
5. Do NOT count on an extended career in Starfleet.
6. Remember when you wake in the night that you have made a serious error of judgement. Pray hard.

[File under: Trolls]

Special Needs

It is always a pleasure to meet up with Commander Pam Ayres. She has a wry smile and whimsical take on life. The cadre of which Gorse Fox is a member is one made up of the most senior technical consultants in Starfleet UK. People, like the Gorse Fox, with grey beards, silver heair (where any remains), scars, experience, and a healthy dash of cynicism. Commander Pam refers to us as the UK's "special needs team".

Cheek!

[File under: Whimsy]

Gorse Fox is at Starfleet Command seeing his Commander (Pam Ayres) this morning.

Meanwhile trolls are circling and starting to throw rocks (they are getting bold now that GF's ally is preparing to move on this Friday).

[File under: Trolls]

Gorse Fox has arrived in Worcester, thank his lucky stars that he wasn't going in the opposite direction. A car had decided to kiss the central reservation of the M4 near Membury and traffic was queued back bpassed junction 15 and all the way through Swindon down as far as Cricklade.

To the young lady in the black BMW 318 who accelerated whenever someone tried to overtake, then slowed down when they dropped in behind her. "If you'd been in any other kind of car GF would have been irritated - as you were driving a BMW, he is not surprised at all.... though he'd bet you were when he shot past."

[File under: Motoring]

Uefa ponders use of two referees

Someone better send this to The Forces of Darkness, they'll have to adopt a whole new game plan: Uefa ponders use of two referees

Gorse Fox is off on a trip later this week. This will involve a formal dinner. This always fills him with a degree of trepidation.

This morning he decided he'd better dust down his evening dress dinner suit and check that nothing had shrunk whilst in storage. GF does not often wear formal attire. Last time he consciously wore it was about 1996^*. The first good news was that the bow tie still fits, as do the cufflinks, and the cummerbund. The jacket also fits (in a casual sort of way)... but much to his amazement the trousers also fit. That saved a trip to M&S and made the GF feel pretty good!

^*This is not to imply he some time wears it unconsciously, or whilst unconscious.

[File under: Diary]

Gorse Fox read a report from a motoring journalist today. It commented that the new Volvo S80 had specially tuned suspension to cope with the poor road conditions in the UK.

Remind me how much Road Tax and fool fuel tax we pay?

On second thoughts... don't.

[File under: Motoring]

Parky or Prescott

Gorse Fox was just listening to Parkinson on Radio 2 and after readjusting the volume several times came to ask himself whether Parky or Prescott is worse?

What? You might ask.

Well is it better to have a great command of the English language but mutter and slur so much that only one in four words can be positively identified, or is it better to articulate the words but use them in a sequence that makes them meaningless and equally incomprehensible?

[File under: Whimsy]

A receeding wave sucks at the gravel, leaving a snow-like foam to find its own way back to the main body of water. 

Standing at arm's length with hands on shoulders of the next massive upright, the groynes march sideways into the receeding tide. 

Sentinels

The serried ranks of groynes reach into the sea and protect our beach from serious erosion.

Apparently, back in the 1920's, some bright spark decided to change the angle of attack of the groynes and 11 acres were lost from one small stretch of coast (near West Kingston) in one winter. Things were immediately put back how they were. 

Quiet beach

Despite the bright sunshine, the beach was deserted. (Though there were plenty of dog-walkers up on the greensward).

GF is so lucky to have this within a few yards of the house. 

Flotsam

Not sure if a broken net really counts as flotsam (particularly once it's on the beach), but GF rather liked the contrast of the green net against the dark seaweed and pebbles. 

Driftwood

A morning of replacing door jambs and the subsequent repainting kept the Gorse Fox busy, whilst the Silver Vixen was along the coast in Selsey with one of her covens.

Having reviewed some council papers it was time to pass them on to the next councillor on the list, and that warranted a stroll back along the beach.

The bright winter's afternoon was glorious but there a chilly wind. This made the GF think of Cousteau-cub who had left her home in Brighton yesterday and was sitting on the patio of her hotel in a bikini eating dinner. She's back in Thailand for six weeks, and 24 hours in, she's already enjoying the warmth!

(No real relevance to the driftwood... it just caught GF's eye!) 

Pensions

Want to know how your pension is doing? Amanda Platell reminds us:

"Since 1997 this man has stolen nearly £50 billion from Britain's pension schemes in a daring raid on dividend payments to fund his reckless spending habits"

Who? The Robber Baron - Gordon Brown. (Who's parliamentary pension is protected from these raids).

[File under: Pensions]

Bird Flu II

Gorse Fox has just opened the paper. It appears that there is a further impact of bird flu. Evidence coming in from animal sanctuaries around the country appears to show irrefutably that the threat of bird flu causes brain function to deteriorate and utter STUPIDITY to take over:

Scores of pet birds have been dumped at animal sanctuaries by pet owners panicking about bird flu.

Err. HELLO!!! The only way indoor birds are likely to get bird flu is if the owner brings it into the house.

This behaviour has been witnessed in Lincolnshire, Warwickshire, Sussex, Manchester, and Yorkshire

[File under: Avian Influenza, Bird Flu]

Avian Flu

Gorse Fox has noticed a number of recent searches of this Blog for information on Bird Flu. As a public service he will share his current views:

• Bird Flu WILL hit the UK in the next few weeks, when the migration of birds from the Niger delta arrive in our airspace.
• Bird Flu may or may not infect farmed or domestic poultry
• Bird Flu will be contained
• The media will try to spread panic
• Questions will be asked regarding vaccination of poultry - because people do not listen to the answers
• Vaccination does NOT cure bird flu, it masks the virus allowing it to spread further undetected. Allowing the virus to be seen, then culling the infected birds has a far higher chance of eradicating the virus.
• This is likely to become an endemic problem and last for several years, coming in waves with bird migration.
• The virus is UNLIKELY to infect humans this year, unless they are in close proximity to infected birds
• Any human pandemic is most likely to start in the far east and be spread by air travel, not by birds.

[File under: Avian Influenza, Bird Flu]

Blodwen and the Bishop

Gorse Fox and the Silver Vixen spent a lovely evening with Blodwen and the Bishop. As his birthday and that of the GF are fairly close together this was a little dinner party to celebrate both events. Considering that they live in the next village, paths do not cross frequently enough... family is precious and needs to be cherished.

Obligatory grandchildren stories and photos were provided for entertainment, some serious anecdotes, discussions and debate (usually interrupted by some tangential thought) a wonderful meal, and cozy hospitality. A lovely evening.

[File under: Diary]

Memo to self... seem to be getting a few readers from Starfleet. Keep head down. Duck, weave. Be careful.

[File under: Diary]

This week's troll attack

Gorse Fox has just been brought news of another skirmish with the Trolls. Gorse Fox is trying to start a new project manager, early. This will give hime time to get up to speed on the background, and learn his way around. After discussion with Esteemed Client it was agreed to raise a change to an existing project to pay for his time.

The trolls intervened.

Because insufficient profit is being made on him (for 2 weeks), we can't do this... so instead, we'll absorb the cost (and make nothing at all, just increase our overheads).

You couldn't make it up.

[File under: Trolls]

Dilbert?

So the Gorse Fox arrived at Warwick and made his way into the Starfleet centre. Soon after, the Esteemed Client and twenty or so colleagues turned up for the workshop. Once it was launched the Esteemed Client & Gorse Fox snuck out attend another meeting.

Gorse Fox found it a little disconcerting to walk into the meeting room, and find Dilbert's pointy haired boss sitting there waiting for us. The chap was very good and gave a great presentation on a very serious bit of technology... but all the time Gorse Fox was thinking "that's the pointy haired boss".

GF often thinks he is living in a Dilbert cartoon... but today just seemed to nail it.
[File under: Diary]

In his continued geographical leap around towns beginning with W... the Gorse Fose leaves Worcester this morning to go to Warwick. There was a time when he used to visit the town frequently, but thinks this trip is the first time since 1999.

[File under: Diary]

After a pleasant meal with Boston and Stoker at the local Thai restaurant, Worcester looked peaceful and quaint in the cold winter evening. 

At the other end of the day, the view on the Gorse Fox's return to his room.

A small crescent moon balances carelessly on one of the spires bracketing the roof of the tower of Worcester Cathedral. 

Colon family in exploding toilet ordeal | The Register

An article in The Register tells us of: Colon family in exploding toilet ordeal recounting the current stand-off between Marilyn Colon and her utility company.

"We heard a thump. Feces, urine, oil… …it went all through the house. You couldn't breathe, your eyes would tear."

Gives you an idea of the distress she must have suffered.

Far be it from the Gorse Fox to make light of her plight, but the line in the report that really caught his eye was:

WCNC.com has more on the outrage here, including a lively TV news report featuring a distraught Colon recounting her ordeal

What an interesting image that conveys.
[File under: Whimsy]

Courtesy of the the Teddy Bear, Gorse Fox is passes on the following snippet

A bear, a lion and a chicken meet.

Bear says: "If I roar in the forests of North America, the entire forest is shivering with fear."

Lion says: "And if I roar on the great plains of Africa, the entire savannah is afraid of me."

Says the chicken: "Big deal. I only have to cough, and the entire planet wets itself."

[File under: Bird Flu]

This is the site that greeted the Gorse Fox as he emerged from his hotel room this morning.

Worcester Catherdral standing proud against the winter sky, with the early morning sun glinting off the east windows