Out and About
As the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
Our youngest two, Tom and Charlie, have always been fascinated with fish and other things aquatic, something we appreciated and encouraged I guess. After all, we did splash out on the DVD collection of David Attenborough’s The Blue Planet not long after the series had ended so the boys (and we) could watch it over and over again. The footage is magical, the creatures wondrous and the message so often poignant. It still makes me smile to think of Charlie, as a toddler, standing in the doorway watching an episode for the umpteenth time and rushing into the kitchen shouting “Look Tom it’s your favourite, copepods!”, whereupon Tom would interrupt whatever he was doing with mum and rush in to gaze astonished by images of these abundant tiny creatures paddling through waters thick as soup with their jerky bodies.
Another time, living on a country lane in the hills back then, Tom’s face would take on a serious expression as he looked up, his attention drawn by something outside the lounge window as he exclaimed: “There they go again, on the backs of giant sea slugs”, as riders (on horseback, I hasten to add) would trot past. He had a vivid imagination. That was early 2002.
A year later, in 2003, we took a momentous three week camping trip around Scandinavia, making sure we topped and tailed the tour with Silkeborg’s Aquarium and Wildlife Park in Denmark and Bergen’s National Aquarium in Norway. Both were magnificent. Prior to that and many times subsequently we’d visit the Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port, rather more conveniently situated 35 minutes away, by car. Sure, other aquariums were seen around the UK, on day trips or as part of holiday activities but Blue Planet Aquarium has always felt special.
I have to admit that the experience changed greatly as the kids grew older. It’s only natural for excitement levels to peak and trough, ebb and flow. Initially, when they were very young - even toddlers - they would stand for ages in front of each tank, mesmerised. Eventually we’d manage to prise their limpet like eyes from one tank, before they clamped them onto another. Naturally, when they were young, they’d look for Nemo (the Clown fish) and Dory (Regal Tang) amongst the coral caves, their minds drifting back into the movie. The herptiles in the form of terrapins and such would also grab their attention as they made their way in worldly quest towards the Amazonian piranhas in the sunken forest exhibit. These caused the boys to gasp involuntarily, as they considered the stories of the tiny teeth ripping into flesh. However, in many respects, they were no more exhilarating than the gawping shoals of the cold water tanks of the northern streams that held our more native Perch, Bream, Sturgeon, Carp, Silver Roach and so many more. There’s something special about them. Whilst it’s true for us here in Britain, that they’re not as exotic, we can relate to them more easily, perhaps because whilst out and about there’s more chance of actually seeing their relatives swim our natural waters.
Anyway, as the boys grew a little older they’d spend less time stood in front of individual displays, preferring to rush around pointing at fish after fish, creature after creature, spouting forth names and relevant facts. Characteristics gleaned from countless watchings of nature programs would find greater meaning as they stood divided no longer by screen of television but glass of aquarium or display tank. Thankfully, as they reached their teens and progressed on into manhood, their pace slowed again and they’d dwell long enough to appreciate not only the details but the act of chilling and absorbing once more.
Another favourite has always been the aqua tunnel, that forms part of the largest tank, housing the graceful Stingrays, the menace and might of the Sand Tiger sharks, whilst resting upon the reef beds can be seen the Nurse sharks. It has to be said, that as they watch the majestic silver Tuna gliding by, many people have mixed views on aquariums - and zoos, for that matter - believing that the encasing and encaging of creatures is cruel but they do serve as useful breeding sites for endangered species. It’s astonishing to think that because of mankind’s relentless population growth and appalling disregard for other species, by the year 2050 much of this planet’s fish stocks will no longer be wild but reduced to captive food stocks in ever increasing fish farms. A chilling thought.
My brief point made, I wish to end on a happier note, one that forms an abiding memory for me, from a trip I made with my boys in August 2021, ahead of my birthday, which is why Tom can be seen paying for the entry tickets. Charlie has a good singing voice and likes to break into song from time to time, often in the most random of circumstances. His taste in music is pleasingly eclectic. On this particular occasion, having trawled through the various waters, that included the Spiny lobster, Red Gurnard, Geophagus, Discus and anenomes, he drew our attention most aptly to a strange looking, rock lurking creature. In tuneful voice he gave a most poignant rendition of a Dean Martin song: “As the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie..” - and with tilted head and pointing finger - he finished with “..that’s a moray (amore)”.
I can’t say that the Moray eel or fish in general look particularly in love, in fact they look positively miserable, although I shouldn’t anthropomorphise. Just because a downturned mouth in the human world tends to equate with sadness, it may not be the same in the watery world of fish. Let’s hope that their tale is a happy one, eh?
