Re: Absence in Scotland.

[Niven Sinclair <niven@niven.co.uk>]

At 05:14 04/04/00 +1200, you wrote:
>I agree with Rob, Niven, I am jealous, too.  What exactly is in the middle
>of Dounreay?  I never knew about that one and I'd love to know more about
>it.
>
>Suzanne Sinclair
>Auckland, New Zealand


There is a Sinclair Castle (a magnificent ruin) in the middle of Dounreay
which we filmed from the air (by helicopter) and, later, from the ground
because we wanted to get some shots of the interior.

Little did we know that the area around it was contaminated and that
the UKNEA (United Kingdom Nuclear Energy Authority) had to remove
all the top soil down to bedrock.

As mentioned, we had to be screened by a Geiger counter when we left
the compound but, although it crackled ominously, we were allowed to
depart without further questioning.  Nevertheless, the place was guarded
like Fort Knox and, realising that it was going to take over 20 years to
decommission the nuclear reactor,  I couldn't help wondering what irreparable
damage we had caused by our meddling with forces which were (and are)
beyond our control or our understanding.  The cost has been astronomical
- financially and ecologically.

This vast Nuclear complex is on the Northern shores of Caithness where the
Pentland Firth divides the mainland of Scotland from Orkney and where there
is enough tidal energy to turn the whole of Great Britain into a tropical 
garden.

Niven Sinclair


>----------
> >From: rob <rob@eteast.com>
> >To: sinclair@mids.org
> >Subject: Re: Absence in Scotland.
> >Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 2:07 AM
> >
>
> >yeah, well - I'm still jealous...I spent all weekend thinking about and 
> writing
> >a report for a Cape Breton Gov Agency...
> >
> >        I'll trade the computer, the paperwork, the government agency, and
> >what's behind door #2 for the rain, the helicopter, and the radioactive 
> exposure
> >in Scotland any day...or maybe you'd like to deal with Ashley for me?
> >
> >        What exactly of the Sinclair's is inside the Nuclear Plant? How come
> >they were smart enough to preserve even a ruin?
> >
> >        I'm also jealous of the many good works that you do and have 
> done...and
> >the stuff you get to play with...you sure do make the most of your time 
> in this
> >world...things are a little stagnant here for me right now...all tasks 
> and few
> >deeds...
> >
> >                enjoy all of the elements - even a Sinclair must know 
> that you
> >can't change the weather...
> >
> >                               rob
> >                                nova scotia/cape breton
> >
> >
> >Niven Sinclair wrote:
> >
> >> At 15:09 27/03/00 -0400, you wrote:
> >> >enjoy your much deserved peace, I'm jealous
> >> >
> >> >         be well,
> >> >                 rob
> >>
> >>   Rob,
> >>
> >>   Filming is hardly relaxing and, from a helicopter, it is quite hazardous
> >> -especially as we had
> >>   the door off.  To make matters worse, it was freezing.  We had to thaw
> >> the cameraman out
> >>   from time to time because he was hanging half in and half out of the
> >> helicopter.
> >>
> >> The next say was all ground work but it was pissing with rain.  We got
> >> access to Dounreay
> >> Nuclear plant where there is an old Sinclair Castle slap in the middle of
> >> the complex.  We
> >> were 'assured' when we were told that they's had to excavate a meter and a
> >> half of soil from
> >> around the Castle because of contamination.  We were 'frisked' with a
> >> Geiger counter as we
> >> left.  It crackled like chips in a frying pan.  The plant is now being
> >> de-commissioned.  This
> >> will take 20 years at a cost of £20m per year.
> >>
> >> Nevertheless, we got some good shots of the Castle which, like most
> >> Sinclair Castles, is now
> >> a ruin.  Ditto the Castle of Mey where the Queen Mother lives when she is
> >> up in Scotland.
> >> She will be 100 years of age this year and we are trying to get 
> tickets for
> >> 200 people when
> >> the massed pipe bands of all the Highland Regiments parade on the 
> Esplanade
> >> at Edinburgh
> >> Castle.  Incidentally, the Esplanade was made part of Nova Scotia because
> >> the King wanted
> >> to make certain people Baronets of Nova Scotia (for money of course) and
> >> could only dub
> >> them on territory belonging to Nova Scotia - hence this strange 
> arrangement.
> >>
> >> As aye,
> >>
> >> Niven
> >>
> >> >[ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org
> >> >[ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html
> >>
> >> [ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org
> >> [ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html
> >
> >[ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org
> >[ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html
> >
>[ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org
>[ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html


[ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@mids.org
[ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html