Saturday 4 February 2012

04.02.2012 Whale to London

Continued from 30.12.2011 The Start

04.02.2012
This morning I noticed a CD (apparently free with Observer) in a waste paper basket. Something urged me to pick it out and this was it:
http://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/books/this-morning-i-met-a-whale/
"... humans must mend the damage they are doing to the planet before it is too late."
This is the guy who wrote War Horse which has just hit the cinemas as Stephen Spielberg's latest film. This seemed to be interesting synergy; just look at this illustration below; it is a whale swimming along the Thames:




06.02.2012
We rendezvoused at Henry Watson's Pottery to await an articulated truck to take Watty to London...


My signature under Watty's belly...


The back of the studio workshop...

... the side...


With my school woodwork class whale from years ago...


The truck arrives...








The tail is about an 1" too long; so the door was gently pushed shut...


We had supper at The Gun in Canary Wharf. Good.

07.02.2012
Our view from our Canary Wharf apartment 1212 overlooking the Millennium Dome...






The sunrise was spectacular...


We meet the truck with 'Watty' at East India Quay...

Watty is loaded onto a pontoon; apparently the WWF have given Watty a sex change and renamed him 'Olga'!




Jobsworths in fluorescent jackets refuse my access onto the tug pulling the pontoon - plonkers - try using the Bosphorus in Istanbul and then listen to the rules and regulations in good ol' Blighty. So, I get myself to Westminster Bridge just after 1.15pm to see 'Watty' on the return journey back down the Thames...






So that was that. The best photo is the one with the Houses of Parliament in the background. I've pinched it from the net... so sue me!






Thursday 09 February 2012 - Media links to whale activity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOtLdG9OwjU&feature=player_embedded#!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yWm5s3kvdJU
http://www.wwf.org.uk/news_feed.cfm?5656/Western-gray-whale-launched-on-Thames
http://www.wwf.org.uk/news_feed.cfm?5662/Dont-miss-the-Thames-whale
http://www.whosjack.org/massive-whale-spotted-on-thames/
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5830
http://thamesvessels.blogspot.com/
http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/giant_whale_appeal_to_docklands_bankers_1_1202141
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwf-uk/6836332893/
http://www.thelast130.org/
http://www.wharf.co.uk/2012/02/wwf-make-save-our-whales-plea.html
http://greenreview.blogspot.com/2012/02/western-gray-whale-spotted-on-thames.htm
http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/0/4D2B4252F4E524B7802579A2003D9301?OpenDocument
http://www.ecoblog.co.za/environmental/whale-conservation/
http://www.londonconfidential.co.uk/News-and-Features/Whale-Spotted-On-Thames
http://www.itn.co.uk/uk/38656/Thames+27whale27+highlights+oil+threat 
http://www.kaper.uk.com/kaper-blog/whale-thames/ 
http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/community/community-news/artists_build_life_sized_whale_used_in_protest_1_3529600 
http://news.uk.msn.com/environment/whale-highlights-drilling-threat
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/9068749/Pictures-of-the-day-8-February-2012.html?image=25
http://www.dissmercury.co.uk/news/wattisfield_artist_ray_brooks_creates_replica_whale_for_world_wildlife_fund_campaign_1_1213348
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/wattisfield_artist_ray_brooks_creates_replica_whale_for_world_wildlife_fund_campaign_1_1213348
http://eastcoastboating.co.uk/wordpress/?p=701



Question: how can the WWF state there are approx. 130 whales left in our vast oceans? Surely, it is likely there are many more whales avoiding us humans as they are much cleverer than we understand.

Saturday 11 February 2012 - I received a bloody London congestion charge bill for £60 for driving through Albert Embankment. It rises to £120 and then £180 for missed deadline payments. I did not see clear signage indicating the congestion boundaries. Bastards. I will increasingly go out of my way to increase my carbon footprint; I do not believe in CO2 driving climate change, I suspect it is a scam and the Mayor of London can go jump.

Wednesday 15 February 2012 - A second flippin'  London Con-gestion charge bill for £60 arrived. Paid it, but also noted it.

Tuesday 21 February 2012 - Ray and Jeremy Watson of Henry Watson Pottery were interviewed on BBC Radio Suffolk by Lesley Dolphin - how appropriate when discussing a whale. This link stays up for 6 days and the interview starts at about 1.12 mins...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00nysdc/Lesley_Dolphin_21_02_2012/



Go to http://nppthewhale.blogspot.com/