Kit Night

Just returned from Kit night, Messrs Kitching,Craker,Simmons & Bentham attended to check the equipment whilst I did the end of month returns.

All the kit was checked and the biscuit tin was again passed around to everyone but me!

So I'm not smiling tonight....it must nearly be a month?

More Toys

At Christmas, I got a very special present!

Now the helicopter was meant to be a RAF Sea king, however I've made a few of these so I thought about painting it in Coastguard colours.

Now I know that the Coastguard didn't have "Sea Kings" but my skill level didn't reach to cutting the model in half and extending it to make the correct length. (in simple terms the old Coastguard helicopters were stretched versions of a Sea King).

So it took about 3 weeks, a WH Smith letter set, and some art work on the computer, using a few photos that I have.

Right, next project the Lifeboat.......but don't worry that will be done in the right colours!

Pitfall

The work continues in the new station on various projects which we just couldn't do at Peveril Point.

One of these is to assess the old mines,quarries, shafts and caves from Durlston to Dancing ledge, not a small project but one we have started today!

So if anyone has any information regarding the old quarries etc, please do get in touch, we will keep you posted on how our research is going.

Stats

Looking at the statistics for the year so far, shows what a different year this has been compared to previous years.

Currently we are 50% down on incidents on last year (15 compared to 30 this time last year).

So what are the reasons for this?

1) Are visitor numbers down ?
2) Has the economic down turn effected what people are doing?
3) Has our accident prevention activities worked?
4) Are we looking in the wrong place?
5) Are the public being good?

Well what ever the reason, its good that no one is getting hurt for a start, the team continue to train hard and engage with the public on many fronts to ensure accident prevention is at its highest.

Coastguard Garden

Whilst the patrol was out today, other team members were busy doing their gardens.

Here Terry shows his skills with garden machinery, this skill must have been developed using the Coastguard winch. Shortly after this photo was taken, the patrol were spotted (not difficult in a bright yellow and blue vehicle and something about my parentage was discussed........!

So we look forward to the summer to see what is grown.....lets hope its legal?

My Christmas list

I know its only April, but yesterday I was in a toy shop and found this!

So if Santa, or any of my family are reading this.........yes please.

I wonder if the blue lights flash? Anyone got one?

The Great Dorset Beach Clean 2009

Yes folks a very worthy Sunday afternoon activity. The Great Dorset Beach Clean starting 2pm-4pm outside Ocean Bay.

More here:-

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=390958

More take home a bottle …than bring a bottle!

Come along, a nice easy walk and the bonus of helping our community.

The 500th post

A little mile stone for us, the 500th post....

I think Deputy Blog wanted something out standing? Well sorry to disappoint, but a little up date on our Co - responder scheme.

We had a meeting with the Ambulance Service today to discover where we were with the project, it seems we are still waiting for the MOU (memorandum of understanding) between the Ambulance & MCA.

Rather frustrating for us, as we are trained and ready to go.....more news soon

Drum Roll.........500 Up

The next post on this blog is our 500 th !

As Ian is Blog Boss I shall leave it to him to write a very informative and amusing blog...probably running to a number of pages.

No pressure then.

How to put up a rack?

How many Coastguards does it take to put up the new clothing racks?

Well 3 and it was hard work.

Austen and I got to the station to assess the situation, kettle on.

Decide what height to put them at......based on the Station Officer being short, cant put them too high.

Thinking time.......make coffee, eat biscuits!!!!. (But not the Station Officer still serving the ban)

1st one up.......

Mr and Mrs Kitching arrive to assess the situation, Mrs K allows Mr K an hours pass to play.

With the extra person and a tall one at that, the whole process has to be reconsidered.

The jobs as follows.

Gareth, holds up said frame, Austen marks holes and then drills holes, Ian tucks in low and holds the dust pan to catch the grit and slips in the raw plug. Gareth back up with the frame and Austen using the screw driver, drives them in. Mean while Ian back on the printer, printing name tags out. A formula one team would have nothing on this slick team.

Not a bad job, this replaces the 14 coat hooks the team were given, (the team brought the racks themselves). Slightly better for kit and tidies up the station well.