Kayaking Isle of Man - Surviving Gibraltar.

This blog has been devoid of entries and photographs of late. Part of the reason is that I've "fried" another waterproof camera. That's my fourth in three years. So far I've destroyed three pentax and one olympus marine cameras. Normally I'd go straight out and replace it but not this time. I'm struggling to decide which one to buy. I've come to the conclusion that so called waterproof cameras at best last about one year! Should I buy a cheap camera with poor picture quality or shell out £270 on a top spec Lumix FT2? I still can't decide and until I do photographs on this blog may continue to be snapped on my Blackberry Pearl, like the ones above.

As you can see I was in Gibraltar working for Christmas. Should you find yourself in a similar situation, confined to The Rock which is only a couple of miles square, then here are some truisms:

Be careful who you accuse of being Spanish and never ask why Gibraltar is British.

Do not put food down anywhere unless it is in a hermetically sealed container as the place is infested by ants. Similarly never eat food in the dark although I believe from certain survival programs that ants are quite nutritious.

Electrical goods are sold duty free in Gibraltar, but somehow this makes them more expensive than at home where we have duty!

You are never far from a cannon in Gibraltar.

The best Locum Consultant Anaesthetist job in the World is to be found here but alas, it all comes to an end in March.

The apes, especially the small ones, look cute but in fact they are vicious!

If you are scared of flying never willingly take off or land at Gibraltar airport, especially if there is a nasty cross wind.

That's all,

Happy new year.

www.KAYAK.im

Sea Kayaking Isle of Man - Christmas in Gibraltar.

The exodus started a few days before Christmas. Firstly, the personnel I'm in Gibraltar to provide anaesthetic cover for, began returning home to the UK for the Christmas holiday. This left me with no work to do. Then, the gated accommodation in which I am resident gradually became moth balled. The catering staff disappeared over a week ago, then the cleaners and finally all the other inmates vanished. A large complex which seems capable of holding over 100 with function rooms and dining halls, even a gymnasium now only seems to house me. I went for days over Christmas without seeing a sole, apart from the security guys on the gate. Occasionally I would hear footsteps and a squeaking noise from elsewhere in the large building, but I never actually saw anyone. Perhaps it was mice, I really don't know. I'm just so grateful they didn't turn the WiFi off before they abandoned me. Thank you BBC for the iPlayer. I wasn't completely alone however. On Boxing day may room was invaded by ants who polished off the remainder of a box of Thornton's Chocolates for me. Clearly, feeling as abandoned as I did they swarmed into my room in search of some Christmas goodies. It was a nightmare trying to keep them out of my laptop, which they pursued around the room as it sought higher and higher points of safety. Still now that Morrisons is open again I've just exterminated them all with a can of insecticide.
Just a snippet of what Christmas in Gibraltar is like!
www.KAYAK.im

Sea Kayaking Isle of Man - Gibraltar.

I've never practiced medicine outside of the British Isles before. All my previous medical jobs have been for the National Health Service. And so, as I find myself working as a Consultant Anaesthetist in Gibraltar for the next few weeks, my environment must seem unfamiliar! Certainly some aspects do, and in particular the warm sunshine makes a welcome change from the freezing weather being endured back on the Isle of Man. Yet in other ways Gibraltar is very familiar. Being here reminds me of my initial days when I moved to the Isle of Man some five years ago. It's all very strange and yet familiarly British at the same time.
Gibraltar is a British territory with it's own government. Just like the Isle of Man it uses £'s as it's currency and English notes are readily accepted. It is not an island but it feels very much like one, especially to me as I'm not allowed to drive across the airport runway into Spain as I am on call the whole time. Just like home, it is very easy to identify who is from the territory and who is not. Historically, smuggling has been rife just like on the Isle of Man, exploiting it's low taxation regimen. Yes, in many ways this is a home from home.
In other ways it is Gibraltar is very different. It measures 2.6 square miles into which are packed over 25,000 people. The rock dominates, leaving very little flat land and most of that has been reclaimed from the sea. Tiny zig zag tracks lead to the summit which is studded with war time relics, telecommunications devices, gun batteries and of course the famous apes roaming free. This was a fortress and past and present military buildings dominate. But with the reduction of Gibraltar's strategic importance new civilian office buildings dwarf the old ramparts and fortifications. Gibraltar now strives to become a low tax financial centre, just like the Isle of Man.
Paddling is not an option for me on this trip due to work commitments. I should imagine it would be a fascinating place to explore by kayak. Just beware of the hundreds of ships passing through these waters as they enter the Port of Gibraltar and the Port of Cadiz in nearby Spain.
http://www.kayak.im/