Road wheelies

As I drove through my estate returning home today I had to suddenly stop. In front of me was a company van straddling the middle of the road with a chap leaning out of the passenger's window trying to hold a measuring wheel on the surface of the road. The van weaved across the road so the lad gave up measuring the centre line (?) of the lane and took the wheel off the road.

I wonder what they were up to? Surveying the easy way, without getting out the vehicle and saving the poor lad's precious legs. But without any semblance of accuracy?!

Comfort Bagging

It's been a bit of a rough time at work recently so to take my mind off things I went for my usual walk around Budleigh Salterton to 'my' trig. It was a gorgeous day and a good stride on the southwest coast path was what I needed.

I was fascinated by this tide clock I found in Budleigh. I must have walked past it 10s of times but never spotted it. Shame it wasn't correct though!

I realised that my route home took me very close to another trig. I couldn't resist. So bagged another trig today. It is TP4592, Lympstone Common The joy!

Chairing the Chairs

Attended a training session for RICS Faculty and Forum chairs last week. It was a small group of us which made group participation easier. We also had some key RICS staff present which was valuable. Our training was about leading and chairing. We were given some roles and responsibilities as Faculty Chairs; which is long overdue. Also new were Key Performance Indicators for each Faculty, and faculty board members. Again, most welcome as we need to be accountable for what we do.

Apart from this I don't feel terribly geomaticky this week. Perhaps I'll be a bit more up to speed next week.

Geo 8

Just back from Geo 8 up in Coventry. A busy few days. I talked non-stop re: various RICS issues and met up with ICES, TSA and AGI to discuss ongoing cooperation. The RICS stand was nice and busy with lots of interest not only from individuals looking to join the RICS but from managers looking for a professional scheme which will develop their staff. TechRICS and the NVQ in Spatial Data Management seems to fit the bill very well with them.

And further to my blog about the Ed Parsons website I have just been alerted to the spoof site too. Check out Fake Ed Parsons. It's spookily familiar...

Ta Dah!

As promised on 31 March, this has to be grooviest wrapping paper out eh?

Happy birthday bro'!

Captain Calamtiy

Spent the day talking with guys from UCL. I love chatting to academics as it makes my brain ache. Had long discussions about tidal levels around the UK, sea bed tide gauges, OSGM02, height datums (Poolbeg still wins my vote for favourite), tidal harmonics, impounded datums etc.

Today received the full version of the Independent supplement on surveying I mentioned yesterday. I had a message from another surveying friend today who said that he, too, missed the boat on this supplement as he and the Independent reporters could never get it together. One minute they were desparate for his input "urgent, urgent" and then they didn't contact him for days.

And to round off today, you've heard of banned drivers, now for a banned sailor. Honestly, being rescued 4 times in 4 hours!

Happy Centenary

I blogged my 100th post on this site yesterday. It's probably equivalent to the number of hits this site has had.

Check out the Independent for last week. They wanted to include me in the article but we never got it together. They couldn't seem to cope that I asked them for written questions. They only wanted to interview me over the phone which I won't do. I need evidence for my gaffs!