Last Sunrise of the Year

 and later that day - venus and the moon

Solstice Sunrise

Better than Newgrange!

Festive greetings from big brother

The Vico Intelligence & Covert Observation department (VICO) would like to extend a great big happy holidays to our American viewer in Fairview NJ, and an 'appy crimbo to our Manchester viewer. We invite Moroccan viewers to have a look too...

Thumbs up or down for winter swimming?

So it seems from this study that there are physiological benefits from freezing our extremities off, in addition to the obvious psychological boost enjoyed. Pity these are somewhat negated by frequent observation of coliforms by the vico marine fauna department! (cf: previous post)

No e.coli in there!

Vico Department of Marine Fauna inspection.

Solstice watch

Sun-worshippers: Meet at 08:10 (if you can drag yourself out from under that cosy duvet) to watch the winter solstice sunrise at 08:38 on Sunday 21st. Fire and breakfast planned.
PS Forecast: 99% cloud cover.

Pole approval

The new low-tide pole/ladder was described this morning as 'wonderful' by a pre-dawn dipper.

Solstice sunrise - odd optical effect

Taken with the phone, so quality not great, but the sun appears this side of the horizon.

Temperature

M2 databuoy seems to be back in order (it stopped recording temperature last May.)

According to the Vico Department of Oceanographic Mensuration, the December 12th M2 databuoy temperatures were:

2008 11.1

2007 11.7

2006 12.1

2005 11.9

2004 12.0

2003 11.8

So it's not that cold, although it's the coldest since records began.

Tomorrow the 13th, the evenings start to get longer.

Work in progress

http://picasaweb.google.com/connollyfergal/VicoRefurbishmentWorks02?authkey=zJXW7CKgo5U#

...and a few more

http://picasaweb.google.com/connollyfergal/VicoBeforeRefurbishmentWorks?authkey=1ynqQdeQa98#

Trip down memory lane

http://picasaweb.google.com/connollyfergal/Vico120908?authkey=cYOWMPYVHDo#

Reply to "Reason"

The Vico Fairies don't agree
with these old Rocks beside the Sea,
been uglified in a vile way,
with useless bars 'n' cement all grey.
And Rocks and Sea will raise one night
and shake away the man-made blight!

Ramparts Rhyming Reason

Valiant Vico fairies there be none
Vanished, gone with kinder's puerile fun,
Risen up has Ramparts son
An' laid brown carpet for all an' one

Heavy lies some maiden's ills
For past ageing Vico hills,
Weeping laments and scripted damn
Decried 'n' echoed ad nauseam

Give whinge and whine a timely break
Ramparts folk 'ave all they'll take,
Button up those fairy lips
Vico's steps have lost their trips

What's new is oft' hard to wear
But worry not there's time to spare,
For Winter's song will aid despair
By Summer's light 'til all be fair!

Sonnet Nr. 1 (Maidens ending)

Who was so cruel to take away my rocks,
T'was done by unspiritual engineering cocks!
I used to be one with that magic place,
it lost it's magic, and now it's funct'nal space.
I wish (and that not merely for the rhyme)
that Vico fairies will revenge the crime!

Crafty hand of Nature, or maybe proof of god!

She kept this pile of leave in position for hours with her invisable breezy brush.

Sonnet No 1

The works were made by men from lands afar
Who toiled in baking sun and mist and rain.
Before the pathway coated was with tar
We dippers had much reason to complain -
Oft'times o'er missing step my toe did trip,
When going for a dip in yonder sea;
But now I have no fear of awkward slip,
And safely can return for Dermot's tea;
In summer sun I'll laze on concrete seat
With views across the sea to mountains high;
Below the steps are cubic, straight and neat
They have been made with wondrous expert eye.
    But since the works do not meet maiden's pleasure,
    They are reserved for working men at leisure

Cooling Down!

Bank Holiday Monday Vico Temperatures:

Water: 11DegC

Air: 6DegC

Through the binoculars at coliemore...

Welcome to Concrete Cliff or: Requiem to the Vico

Once Vicovers could walk down Hawks Cliff and feeling themselves as a part of the cliff on the borderline of the sea… nature pure. I liked so much walking on those old weatherbeaten rocks which now have been layered in concrete. Concrete all over the place. Platforms, steps over steps over steps (do we really need that many?), and even splashes of concrete on those rocks where apparently concrete is not meant to be.
And talking about steps: after 5 weeks intense work on the Vico, I still can’t see any attempts on repairing the most important things, the relevant things to swimmers safety. The steps into the sea are as rugged and unsafe as ever (only one single step on the left hand side stair leading into the sea has been repaired), the hut is still not waterproof (means in adverse weather conditions we’ll still be changing in a hut where water drips from the ceiling), and the path up the hill might be wider, but is now muddy, and apparently there are no plans to put concrete there (where it would be really useful though). No sign of railings yet either (hopefully the installation of these won’t mean the destruction of the few remaining rocks untouched by concrete!)
At first, I was so happy when I heard about the Vico refurbishment plans. I thought there would be some repair and safety works done, in an inobtrusive way, with respect to the place and nature. A help to the Vico not to fall apart, a contribution to swimmers safety.
But I am feeling really sad these days coming down to the Vico and seeing the works “progressing”. Unfortunately I only realised ”step by step” what was happening. Had I known the whole extent of this Vico refurbishment beforehand, I would have chained myself to the place to prevent it happening. Seriously.
I loved the Vico the way it was. With those works, the character of the Vico has irreversibly been changed, from nature to concrete. Welcome to Concrete Cliff.

Signage eyesore

 
 
"Improvements" to the Vico Road entrance to White Rock. Those signs certainly enhance the view!
Complain to environ@dlrcoco.ie

Rainbow, cloud and moonrise

 

Additional Kayak voyage photos

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Expedition to remote Dalkey Island

Intrepid explorers from Vico Department of Maritime Services completed an expedition to remote Dalkey Island, far out in the Irish Sea. Braving treacherous currents and aggressive marine mammals the team successfully landed on the sole tiny beach, surrounded by dangerous rocks and dangerous mushrooms.

Sea temperature

I measured 16.5 today - both in the sea and in the pool. This needs independent verification. Any takers?

Sea Gooseberries on the rampage

At least that's the way it looked this morning through the facemask. Literally millions of them, along with a few Moons and Lion's Manes.

By the way, Lidl is doing swimming this week - wet-suits, masks, snorkels, fins; no anti-jelly-suits though.

Jellyfish have arrived

Several small moon jellyfish and sea-gooseberries were spotted this morning. I measured 10 degrees sea temperature.

Brent Geese at the 480 inch

The Brent Geese will soon be departing. The first tern of the summer was heard today too.

Gorse fire on Dalkey Hill

Drought at the 480 inch

Lowest pressure of the year

Recorded 944 on my barometer (it only goes down to 940). I've never seen it so low!

Coldest sea temperature of the year

Recorded 6.8 this morning, with snow on Djouce.

Tide calendar added

The Tide calendar shown is calculated from the Holyhead data with suitable adjustments. It seems to be within 5 or so minutes of the true data.