Goniopholis Kiplingi

The prehistoric crocodile found in the Swanage area has been named after Rudyard Kipling.




Whereas this prehistoric crocodile found in the Swanage area answers to the name 'Eric'.

Oooh doesn't he look snappy....

Helicopter - another landing

Another old helicopter landing at Peveril Point, this time a Wessex....

So thats a Dragon Fly and now a Wessex

Olympic Torch Relay Times - Swanage

Olympic Torch Relay Times Swanage - Friday 13 July 2012

12:24 Swanage Middle School

Swanage High Street (A351) from Swanage Middle School

Swanage High Street (A351) - veer left

Swanage Victoria Avenue (A351)

Swanage Victoria Avenue (A351) - Right Turn

Swanage Shore Road (B351)

Swanage Station Road - veer left

Swanage Institute Road - Right Turn

Swanage High Street

Swanage High Street - veer left

Swanage High Street

Swanage High Street - Left Turn

Swanage High Street

Swanage High Street - Left Turn

Swanage High Street (A351)

Swanage High Street (A351) to Swanage Middle School

Swanage's Version of the Olympic Torch

A load of Bollards

An early morning patrol today due to Mothers Day (get out and back before the ladies in the house have got out of bed).

Part of the reason we carry out patrols is to check access routes and here at Durlston we thought we would try the new key out and work out how the bollards work.

Tom thought you unlocked them and pulled, Roger (well trained in the building of such things) unlocked, twisted and pushed down. The Station Officer just thought it was amusing that someone was pulling and the other pushing!

So another important lesson learnt and it was off to test the breakfast facilities at one of the local cafes.

Mothering Sunday.....Mother-In-Law - Safety Advice For Blokes.

I haven't written a blog for a while, I was waiting for the fallout from my Valentine's Day blog to settle. 

Well most chaps will have bought their mothers a little something for Mothering Sunday tomorrow.…..and naturally their thoughts will turn to what to get the mother–in-law. Well following on from my helpful Valentine’s Day blog I thought I might be able to help out.

So here’s some Mothering Sunday for Mother-In Laws Q&As

How much should I spend on the mother-in-law?

Again don’t overboard, anything over a fiver and she’ll think you’re up to something. But you could splash out on a card.

Have I left it too late to get her something nice?

Why would you get her anything nice? No, you may still have time, again the Coop is open till 20:00 and they have chocolates. They do luxury ones too...

Swiss Choccies
...with a nice pic of a puppy.
Aw isn't he cute.

But I’m reading this blog after 20:00 – I’m stuffed right?

No, again much like Valentine’s day there is the fallback position. Both Triangle Garage and St Michael’s Service Station are both open until 22:00, they do a range of flowers which live in the bucket outside the shop door. Hold them out of the window as you drive home to allow the petroleum fumes to waft away. 


Or you could buy blue screen wash again but this time try and pass it off as a posh bottle of ‘Bombay Sapphire’ gin.

But what if she drinks the screenwash?

Well, the upside is that flies won’t stick to her teeth. The downside is that you’ll probably end up convicted as a poisoner.

Any other advice?

Yes, the chocolates are hers so make sure you don’t eat any of them; that would just be rude.

Ian will shoot me for this (again!)

What you doing this week 2

Following last weeks .....check your life jacket, why not check your flares ? No not those in the wardrobe you normally wear on Saturday night but the ones you should have on your craft/boat. There are many types and makes of flares (picture below is just one example) but it should be something carried for use in case of emergencies.

How old are your flares - they do have an expiry date. How do you store them? Can you get them quickly? Probably the most important thing is, do you know how to fire them? Read the instructions, check the sort you have - remember you will be using them in an emergency and no doubt there will be some form of panic.

Two year ago a person off Old Harry went to fire a flare as his boat was sinking, due to the situation the person nearly fired the flare upside down which would have caused another hole in his boat.

Flares are dangerous in the wrong hands - make sure you know how to use them safely. If you need to dispose old flare make sure its to one of the proper centres. Here in Dorset the collection point is the RNLI college in Poole, make sure you phone 1st to arrange an appointment.

Welcome to Swanage

New signs are appearing in the car parks of Swanage promoting various things in and around the town. I'm pleased to say the Coastguard station is shown in its North Beach location as often on maps we are still shown at Peveril Point. (or missed out !!!)

Team starts to get fit

This year it appears a new era has swept into the station......people are turning to their bikes.

I have challenged those team members to carry out a patrol using their bikes but there is a slight issue.....do they wear their standard issue Coastguard helmet to comply with PPE rules or a proper cycling helmet ! However the biggest issue is where to the standard mugs of tea fit on the handle bars? Until these issues are sorted it looks like the bikes are stuck in the garage.

A special family

To its members the Coastguard is a very special group of people and when faced with a problem we are very good at looking after each other.

This week I have had to spend a long day in Bournemouth and not wishing to spend that time sitting in a coffee shop or wandering the streets, a quick call to the Station Officer of the Southbourne team and I found a home for several hours.

We even had time to catch up and have a good chat about life, especially the recent verification.

That's team work at is best.

Back Training

Yes back to St Albans on Sunday for some more training......... Today was verification day for the St Albans team backed up if required by ourselves.

Well the weather was a lot better for a start and you could actually see more than a few feet. The St Albans team had enough team members so we went to one side to carry out an exercise.

The verify team popped across a few times and checked what we were doing but it was really St Albans day and they all did very well.

Above is Chris, Lee and Roger in action making a hold fast.