"**** work lets go ribbing"

BogMonster · 31 March 2006, 10:09

Was exactly the thought that went through my mind when I was on my way to work a little while ago (you can just see the silhouette of mine on the LH side):

If ever there was a morning that invited further depletion of the earth's fossil fuel resources then surely this is it

Sadly I am now at work.... too much to do

Tim M · 31 March 2006, 10:23

Stunning photo Stephen. Wish the weather was as good as that here!

Shaggy · 31 March 2006, 10:33

its one of those photos you want to be in...

Shaggy

roycruse · 31 March 2006, 10:48

what is the yearly sea temperature range in the falklands

Kernow Buoy · 31 March 2006, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

what is the yearly sea temperature range in the falklands

No Roy
none of us other SW crew are up for it

roycruse · 31 March 2006, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kernow

No Roy
none of us other SW crew are up for it

Its only 7000 odd miles

BogMonster · 31 March 2006, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by roycruse

what is the yearly sea temperature range in the falklands

I didn't have a clue until 2 min ago but according to something I found on Google it is from 2*C to 14*C inshore, and 6*C to 13*C offshore.

See you in a couple of years and about 8000 gallons of petrol then, I'll put the kettle on

Oh and it was not as warm as it looked in that photo either

roycruse · 31 March 2006, 11:43

still I assume you are comming to the end of summer - so the sea temp must be around 14 degrees now.

With water as flat as that - I think I would have phoned in sick and gone wakeboarding

Alice · 31 March 2006, 13:39

As a point of interest Stephen, what are the main sources of income down there? Presumably the export of fish or some other commodity must be the only way to generate sufficient income to keep the place going. Or, dare I say it, is HM Government still sliding back-handers out the backdoor?

donutsina911 · 31 March 2006, 13:42

May be wrong but I thought mineral rights were more crucial to the Islands than fishing....

BogMonster · 31 March 2006, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice

As a point of interest Stephen, what are the main sources of income down there? Presumably the export of fish or some other commodity must be the only way to generate sufficient income to keep the place going. Or, dare I say it, is HM Government still sliding back-handers out the backdoor?

We are completely self sufficient except for defence which of course is provided by HM forces. HMG doesn't provide any funding for local government.

Fishing is the main source of income to the Government (mostly Illex and Loligo squid but some finfish such as hake, hoki, blue whiting etc), tourism brings a fair bit in, also philately (Falklands stamps are quite sought after), customs and harbour dues for trans-shipping fishing boats, sheep farming is the main rural industry though that doesn't produce much money nowadays, growing level of meat exports to the EU, various other little things here and there bring in some money.

Oil is not yet a major contributor as none has been found but there is a lot of exploration going on - one of my jobs is as local agent for Falkland Oil & Gas Ltd and we are just about finishing a 25,000 km 2D seismic survey, which anybody who knows about oil exploration will appreciate is a #kin big survey! First drilling in our acreage expected in about 2 years time. Our bit of acreage is about 80,000 square kilometres so could comfortably fit all the North Sea oilfields in with room to spare

unrisked reservoir potential (note use of the word "unrisked"!) is ~40 billion barrels in our acreage alone so there could be a bit of cash swilling around if there is oil there....