I had a bird fly into the side of my head at 5 times the speed of soundwhile I waszipping down the road with the windows down. THAT MOTHER HURT!!!! What a mess it made and I damn near wrecked the car......I understand the saying Birdbrainnow. To this day I still enjoy eating seeds.

 

There a seabird sanctuary off the Northumberland coast called the Farne Islands, supposed to be the biggest in population in world [permanent humans - nil] Access is strictly controlled, it is National Heritage administered with World Heritage status. Got all sorts of birds including Arctic Terns [they nest on the ground]. Their party trick is to scare off bird watchers [called Twitchers here - people with no life, no wife, no friends] by sweeping down and, to be frank, ****ting all over you. Given that their diet is exclusively fish and especially oily fish at that, their crap reaks and sticks like, to quote an old English phrase,a turd to a blanket. Once again, pardon my vulgar speech but I am a simple man of low birth and ever so humble.

 

p.s. Northumberland - Geordie Republic north of Newcastle to the Scottish border exclusively rural and mostly National Park [ Northhumberland = North Humberland also Northumbria - the first Christian kingdom in England from the River Humber [border of South Yorkshire] to the Scottish borders.

 

About the cold water:

A few months ago I certified for SCUBA diving and that water was 50 deg. F (10 deg. C). With a 2 piece 7mm wetsuit, it was nice and warm after the first minute. I'd imagine that with that suit, the North Sea would be tolerable. I'd do it with a drysuit and fleece undersuit!

 

You are probably right. For some reason Sunderland beach is used by Board and Wind surfers all year round and there is a scuba school here.

 

That gives a whole new meaning to "wear protection"! [sm=icon_sneaky.gif]

 

It actually happened on live TV to one of our nature presenters [Bill Oddy]. I was overjoyed. I salute the Arctic Tern for accuracy and style in the delivery and praise their good taste in choice of target.

 

The original dive bomber!

 

Academic- ceramic raschig rings that came with the column, held up by copper mesh. However, for corn mash I do not use packings or much reflux in order to gain flavor.

Falkore- you know what happens to warm your suit.[&:]

Sorry for the brevity guys, but the marina is infested with yachtys for the week. It's the audi world championship of sailing, and we are a longtime host marina (read:busy)
I'll try to take some pics to show y'all. Peace.

 

You wouldn't believe how long its been since I heard Raschig rings. Once had to pack a 25 foot column with them to fractionate glycols.