| Choosing a dolphin lover gift may not be as easy as | | | | group of about 6 dolphins had become familiar |
| it is for a pet lover, but that is not to say it is not | | | | passers-by just offshore. Very rarely they ventured |
| possible. In fact, you will find quite a range of dolphin | | | | into Swanage Bay, but mostly they were observed |
| related gifts around the internet, although in your local | | | | sometimes off Durlston. But, you needed a lot of |
| store it may be hit and miss as to whether you will | | | | luck and patience to see any dolphins there, even |
| find anything. In my case, I received the true, | | | | when they were known to be in the area. I had a |
| ultimate dolphin lover gift, some years ago, but more | | | | naturalist friend who had lived in Swanage for 25 |
| of that later. | | | | years, and was a frequent visitor to Durslton; he had |
| The demand for dolphin gifts, though, is undoubtedly | | | | never, ever seen a dolphin there. |
| high. On a brief and unscientific survey, dolphin lover | | | | I was a member of Dolphin Watch, spending long |
| gifts are about half as popular as cat lover gifts. If | | | | hours on the cliff top looking out for the dolphins to |
| you think about it, that is amazing. Most people will | | | | record their movements. I had no luck ever while on |
| never see a dolphin in their lives, yet we are | | | | duty, nor had many fellow dolphin lovers on the |
| surrounded by cats. | | | | watch. My luck suddenly changed, though, when I |
| What is it, then, that makes dolphins so appealing? I | | | | was out walking with my daughter one Sunday |
| love birds and cats especially, but dolphins I adore. | | | | afternoon, on the cliff tops at Durlston. It was early |
| They are wonderful and appealing creatures with a | | | | December, and winter and Christmas were in the air. |
| mystique that helps their popularity. Dolphins are the | | | | The grass slope was a little bit slippery, and I slipped |
| stuff of sailors' tales, and true stories, about dolphins | | | | over, ending up on my back. After my daughter's |
| and man. They have faces that are expressive in a | | | | initial concern subsided, we both had a good laugh, |
| human like way, and they seem to smile. Dolphins | | | | and I hobbled over to a nearby bench to get my |
| also seem to follow man out at sea, when men | | | | breath back. The bench was looking out to sea. |
| venture out in their boats or into the water. | | | | That's when something of a miracle happened; well, |
| Dolphins are also performers, not just in captivity, but | | | | at least a major coincidence; an incredible coincidence. |
| in the wild. While they do travel at high speed and | | | | As we sat down, I said: "Ok, we will sit here until we |
| jump out of the water in so doing, they do come | | | | see a dolphin, even though it may mean missing |
| across as playful, and capable of enjoying life. So, in a | | | | Christmas." Christmas was 3 weeks away, so it was |
| way they are partly human like, and therefore easy | | | | a rash thing to say. We looked out to sea, and within |
| for us to relate to. They are also very intelligent. | | | | a minute, I saw two dolphins. I was in disbelief, but I |
| Dolphins engender excitement, and at times | | | | took another look; I had my glasses on so was not |
| everyone becomes a dolphin lover. In my country of | | | | being deceived. It really was dolphins. |
| origin, England, dolphins off the coast have always | | | | My daughter thought, assumed, and was sure, I was |
| been something of a rarity; although I have read that | | | | joking. Then she saw them also, plus a third dolphin. |
| large numbers of dolphins have been seen off nearby | | | | We watched them for about 45 minutes, walking |
| Wales recently. While I still lived in England, though, | | | | along the coast with them, and then back again. It |
| the appearance of a few dolphins close to shore may | | | | was a mesmerising and unforgettable time, even |
| even have made the television news and front pages | | | | though they were so far away; those three |
| of the newspapers. Now, that's something cat's | | | | bottle-nosed dolphins were, to me, the ultimate |
| cannot do! | | | | dolphin lover's Christmas gift. A few weeks early, and |
| I am one of the lucky few, though. I was fortunate | | | | free, but a wonderful gift nonetheless. |
| to be able to live on the Dorset coastline, where a | | | | |