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#