Monday 25 March 2013

Memories and Anniversaries

Three noteworthy events.

Firstly, last Friday we celebrated (or some of us did) the day of the European Surveyor. This year Galileo Galilei was honoured by CLGE in Budapest. You can read all about it here.

Secondly I have just been pointed toward this Land Surveyor's website. International Surveyor's Week is looming in June. And on 21 June you can "survey earth in a day". From the looks of the site, with just 5 members promoting it, I suggest it's going to take them longer than a day to survey it. The Survey Earth in a day link (which I've just followed) takes you to this site . Ah it appears this is the second annual event and 1000s of points were collected last year. Perhaps, as we say in the UK, this has legs after all?

Finally, I am delighted to report that my own mate Harry Beck is getting a blue plaque. That'll be one to bag next time I'm in the area.

Saturday 23 March 2013

Istanbul

I've just been in Istanbul for a week with work. During this time we popped over to Asia and visited the Turkish Hydrographic Office.
13 03 19 Turkish HO
I hadn't realised but Piri Reis is their local hero.
13 03 19 Piri Reis
And I'm not surprised with a chart like this.
13 03 19 Piri Reis chart
I was delighted to have been presented with an English translation of his chart.

The Turkish HO is positioned on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. With views like this I'm gobsmacked they manage to get any work done.
13 03 19 Bosphorus looking to Europe
We spent a good while watching the tankers come down from the Black Sea.
13 03 19 Tankers in Bosphorus
Back to geeky bits. A display in the Turkish office.
13 03 19 Turkish HO
My oceanographic vibes woke up with these...
13 03 19 Turkish HO
But I really got excited (OK, sadly) by these light shades!
13 03 19 Turkish HO lamp

Friday 15 March 2013

Pi Day

I must be a slow learner.  I only realised yesterday that 14 March each year was designated "Pi Day".  3.14 etc = March 14.  Just how cool is that?  I suspect that if you're reading this you won't be surprised to know that I found the all things Pi too exciting.  I even showed my daughter this picture which shows that Pie backwards spells Pie. 

314-pie-via-zazzle
Or perhaps it's even worse to know that when I showed it to her she rolled her eyes and said "Mum, I already know that".

Sunday 10 March 2013

Mother's Day

Now that's what I call a decent Mother's Day card ;-)
13 03 10 Mothers Day