Just in case you thought we'd been idle:

the British end of the Beagle Project team have spent the day in the House of Commons drumming up support for the Project, rubbing shoulders with hugely brainy and articulate scientists, MPs and Lords. We had all washed and were wearing suits, so anyone who we met could see that we're not eye-swivelling lunatics. No cash promised, but some highly useful contacts have been made along with promises of introductions, some of which may lead to sponsorship.

The big meeting was about the need for a marine bill which addresses the problems of the degradation of marine ecosystems, corrects the shatterbrained way we regulate the coast and sea and the need for urgent action on climate change. There were some extremely eminent and level-headed senior scientists there, and they were talking in very powerful terms about the need for action to restore marine ecosystems, and in worrying terms about the consequences if we don't.