Flipper on the TV, black and white from memory – or in memory. Rising out of the water on his tail and dancing – Flipper talk – ee-ow ee-ow ee ee ee ee ee…. was that really what he was saying, or was it dubbed in later on? How did a dolphin in a pool manage to solve so many problems – or did they let him out? Obviously I have too many questions in relation to Dolphins. I see it now, the skin glistening wet, the water repelled as he powers through the undercurrents, a fin protruding from the surface cutting through with ease. Beneath the water a tail working furious, like when we do a gym workout, but is he holding his breath?

Aquariums and synchronised displays of jumping and going through burning hoops, quite amazing really while bums get bored to death on cool plastic seats and we indulge in ice creams and drinks bought for outrageous prices at the kiosk. Seals barge in and annoy trying to catch the limelight- are they as intelligent as Dolphins?

Walking round the aquarium at Manly, seeing the face of a giant eel hanging almost frozen in space. The only movement its jaw opening and closing – very very very slowly – slow motion freeze frame eel. Waterworld – Manta rays fly over us as we walk through a plexiglass corridor somehow holding back tonnes of water, sharks, and parrot fish and multicoloured gropers, all in the same tank- no dolphins here- some people enter in wet suits and scuba gear- they’re going to feed the sharks- dangerous……maybe they’re all fed up before hand anyway. This world is a cosmos away from the hyperactive world of the dolphin.