20 GALLON AQUARIUM HEATER

At last, after all the archive shots of the last few days, I got out with the camera today and headed for Donna Nook in Lincolnshire, somewhere I have wanted to go for the last couple of years. So whilst it is a rather cliched shot, it is cute enough to be acceptable.

Two attempts at shooting this today, after driving 2.5 hrs to get here, i had taken about 50 shots when the rain started, i decided to be brave, until it turned to hail and sleet, so i returned to the car where i had a flask of coffee and a heater. Once I had thawed out, and it stopped being quite so Arctic, i headed back again for another go.

I have never seen so many seals in my life! mind you, I have never seen as many humans either!
I found myself coming away with mixed feelings about Donna Nook, whilst it does an incredible job, and there are wardens patrolling the beach to protect the seals, and there is a large fence to stand behind, but the seals are so close to it, within reaching distance, and despite warning signs saying that the seals bite, and 'not to touch' as if your smell gets on the seal pup then the mother could abandon it and it would die.

Was this enough to stop people touching? was it heck.

I found myself getting increasingly irritated, by adults in particular stroking them, one of whom did so to show off to their children, (great example Dad) I made a point of pointing at and reading out the notice saying about how the pups will die if you touch them to him and his family, he was not quite such a show off then when his young kids started glaring at him too. This along with the screaming and running kids, that you could watch the seals visibly jumping with shock as kids screeched and ran about near them, from this perspective I was not a happy chicken.

Whilst it was incredible to be so close to them in their natural habitat, and a learning experience and an education, I strongly feel now that due to the ignorance of the few, the seals need to be fenced off a little bit further than arms length away from the footpaths. Which could ruin it for those who were respectful enough, to give them their space and to be quiet and cautious around them.

The seals are inquisitive and come right to the fence, sticking their heads right through the fence at you, and looking at you with those beseeching eyes it is very hard to resist the temptation to stroke them, but it really is a must.

Anyway, end of rant.

Someone came up to me whilst i was in the middle of taking a set of shots, and told me the following joke.

"What is the difference between a seal and a human in a sleeping bag?"
I replied... 'I don't know?'
"Neither does a polar bear! " very random.

It's so cold at work that jackets don't suffice. We're not allowed to have space heaters so I've resorted to bringing a blanket to work.

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