It's a boy!

Congratulations to Katie & Charlie!

Alfie (pronounced with a fine Scottish burr as 'Elfie') William Newlands was born on Saturday 9th January 2010

Mother & son are reported to be doing well.

End of Changeover Week 1

It has been a frustrating week because of the weather. The cherry picker has not arrived from Bristol and it took MacSalvors two days to reach us from Pool. By Friday, things have started moving again with the departure of the Compression Chamber.

A weather story to end the week: the MacSalvors lorry arrived at about 11:00. The driver took one look at the Square and declined to drive over what he saw as sheet ice. After much umming and ahhing, and a phone call, a Jewson lorry arrived with a large bag of grit. He drove past the MacSalvors lorry and straight up the front of the Museum where he unloaded the bag and a wheelbarrow. The MacSalvors man, looking on, insisted on salt as well before he was prepared to go over the ice.

Two hours later still, and with no salt in sight, the MacSalvors man was finally embarrassed into driving across the gritted surface. Hey ho.

More snow is forecast for the weekend.

Post Code Lottery?

Lady Visitor’s question to Volunteer:

“When you’re out at sea – you know – when you can’t see any land, how do you know where you are – or where to go?”

Volunteer (retired seafarer):

“Ah, it was all different when I was at sea, but nowadays they use Satellite Navigation. You’ve heard of SatNav?”

Lady Visitor (with raised eyebrows):

“ Oh yes!!! But how do they know what Post Code to use?”

Volunteer:

“Well............."

All Change

by the NMMC's resident poet

Now Twenty-Ten is here at last,
it’s time to change the scene,
to Lighthouses and Lightships
(where the Diving theme has been).

I could never be a Keeper,
No garden – Don’t like heights;
Then when the evening’s drawing in,
It’s psychedelic lights!!

Group Flash, Fixed or Occulting,
and usually red or white,
(I’m told that it helps a sailor
avoid costly groundings at night)

They all show different signals,
right up & down the coast,
The locals know which one is which,
(at least, that’s what they boast!!)

Let’s hope that the Visitors like it;
flashing’s quite rare in the Hold.
The Museum has never allowed it
(or so I’m reliably told!!)

New Year changeover

A Happy New Year to all our readers.

The big changeover gets under way with the Big Return to Work and Under the Sea quickly gets reduced to piles of wood, barnacled objects and empty cases. In line with our usual policy, we will be following it on a daily basis. Click on the link on the right for a little photo essay of what has happened so far.

Lighthouses Rock!