Keeping Time In London, UK!

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (formerly the Royal Greenwich Observatory or RGO), in London, England played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known as the location of the prime meridian. It is situated on a hill in Greenwich Park, overlooking the River Thames.

The observatory was commissioned in 1675 by King Charles II, with the foundation stone being laid on 10 August. At this time the king also created the position of Astronomer Royal (initially filled by John Flamsteed), to serve as the director of the observatory and to "apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying of the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places for the perfecting of the art of navigation." The building was completed in the summer of 1676. The building was often given the title "Flamsteed House".

 
The scientific work of the observatory was relocated elsewhere in stages in the first half of the 20th century, and the Greenwich site is now maintained as a tourist attraction.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was at one time based on the time observations made at Greenwich (until 1954). Thereafter, GMT was calculated from observations made at other observatories which were still active. GMT is now often called Universal Time, which is now calculated from observations of extra-galactic radio sources, and then converted into several forms, including UT0 (UT at the remote observatory), UT1 (UT corrected for polar motion), and UTC (UT in discrete SI seconds within 0.9 s of UT1). To help others synchronise their clocks to GMT, a time ball was installed by Astronomer Royal John Pond in 1833. It still drops daily to mark the exact moment of 1 pm (13:00) year round (GMT during winter and BST during summer).

THANK YOU for taking Duckie to London with you, Vangie Austin!

Bringing hope and healing in Togo!

Duckie is currently visiting Vangie Austin, a crewmember onboard the Africa Mercy in Lomé, Togo in West Africa. 

The Africa Mercy

Mercy Ships is an international charity that was founded in 1978 and currently operates the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world, providing free health care, community development projects, community health education, mental health programs, agriculture projects, and palliative care for terminally ill patients.

Mercy Ships has operated in more than 70 developing nations around the world, with a current focus on the countries of West Africa.

Getting ready to go onboard!

Getting a pat down from security!

Exploring the ship!

Catching some rays!

And making friends!

Getting ready for a night out!

Lebanese food!

Mardi Gras Ducks

Went to a friends house for Mardi Gras and she decorated her house with these beauties! The Duckie spirit is spreading!!

The term "Mardi Gras" in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday; in English the day is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday, from the word shrive, meaning "confess." Related popular practices are associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. Popular practices include wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition. In English, the day is called Shrove Tuesday, associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.

Euroduck!

On his way to the Africa Mercy in West Africa with Patrik and Diana Bergström, Duckie stopped over in Germany and Sweden. THANK You Patrik and Diana!

Watching the Super Bowl in Sweden with Diana Bergström

Hitting the slopes in Kaufbeuren in southern Germany!

Baby cousin Zuhayr in Sana'a

Checking out the view of the old city of Sana'a!

Finally, some family!

After many years, Duckie has finally tracked some of his far flung (see Friendly Floatees story on the right) relatives down. He is looking forward to a visit to his baby cousin Zuhayr in the middle east by the middle of the year. Watch this blog for this great event!

If you are getting this blog by email and don't know what 'Friendly Floatees' is, click HERE and look on the right of the page.

Getting ready for a new adventure!