Saturday 1st March 2008 and Thursday 6th March 2008: SAMS

I woke up in the early hours to howling gales and rain tapping at the windows. March certainly came in like a lion. Quick rethink of plans i.e. what shall I do instead of mountain walking? [I did fit in a wee walk in the afternoon] So I toddled along to the open day at SAMS – the marine laboratory across the bay from me. To give it its full title it is the Scottish Association of Marine Science, known affectionately as SAMS. It was fascinating chatting to the scientists learning about their projects – monitoring flood activity in Oban, looking for marine aliens, investigating cold water coral, researching oil eating bacteria to name but a few. SAMS is a gorgeous space and their canteen looks out over the bay to my house! What a setting. They also have a great lecture theatre which is where I went on Thursday to listen to the head gardener from Arduiane Gardens talking about a trip to Chile to look for specimens to bring back and to see how plants and tress we already have here actually grow in their original habitat. His summary was all the plants will grow together everywhere!