Hello Friends!
The Shipping Forecast . Always there, ever since my childhood days, steadfast and reliable. This year, it celebrates its 100th birthday. 100 years of being there for those in peril on the sea and hopefully guiding them into safer, calmer waters when maritime weather turns bad.
Although I don't think of it this way, I do actually live on an island. I am an islander. for no one can deny that the United Kingdom is completely surrounded by water and therefore by definition is an island. And when you live on an island, your life is very often governed by the sea. Certainly more so in days gone by than it is today when the sea was a main way of transporting goods and travelling.. As the crow flies my cottage is about half a mile at the nearest point from the sea. I can see the sea from my garden. Although a carpenter by trade my father always owned a small boat and we ate a constant diet of fresh fish and shellfish. Nothing better than fish freshly caught!. And in later years, he came off the tools and went into boating full time when we ran a successful day trip boating business during the tourist season. During the winter he fished, .and for anyone who plies the waters, the shipping forecast is required listening.
The music of the Shipping Forecast is instantly recognisable. It will be the last music I hear as I leave this mortal coil.
Music Maestro please!
Contrary to popular belief, it is not a singularly British thing! You can read more about the British Shipping Forecast HERE but there are shipping forecasts and regions across the globe. You might even have one where you live so please. share in the comments.
Met Office Map this link will show you the British map.
The distant headland on the right side of this phot. is the point where sea areas Lundy and Irish Sea meet. It is St David's Head. Oftentimes I have bobbed about off St David's Head in our boat with one foot in the Irish Sea and the other foot in Lundy. Many a delicious supper caught there. Fresh line caught mackerel. From sea to plate in under two hours. filleted and dusted in seasoned flour. Pan fried. Wedge of lemon. Slice of brown bread and butter. Food for the gods.
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The following link may not be available in your area. However, do click on it and see if it is. Because on January the first, BBC Radio 4. Did a day long special interspersed with lots of information on the shipping forecast. Well worth a listen to. BBC Radio 4. Radio 4 is a very good station to listen to during the day.
I hope this nasty cold snap isn't affecting you too badly. It's a bit of a struggle to keep warm. I think that's for most of us. I don't think it is snowed here for at 6:00 AM when I did stick my nose out, there wasn't any sign of anything. It's just blinking cold. I'm afraid I've got my heating on all day now and night with Parkinson's I can't afford to let myself get cold. I'm cwtched up in my chair under a quilt and a blanket. And I've got the oil filled radiator on next to me.
I love the rhythm of the Shipping Forecast, and have read a couple of books about it. Have you seen a book of paintings from each area? I'll see if I can find what it is called.
ReplyDeleteI fall asleep to Radio 4 but if I wake up to the music and shipping forecast I know I've not been asleep long - which is annoying (never sleep right through to the morning edition).
If you can find it, yes, please. I'd like to get the link to that book. Speaking of books, how are you coming along with your 365 Days of Art? That title rings the bell with me. I'm sure I've got that book here.
Delete365 days should be on day 5 but still on 3!
DeleteFound it! "Rain Later, Good" by Peter Collyer.
DeleteI've reserved it from library for another look but doubt it will be here by Thursday and when it comes in February I'll have forgotten why I ordered it!
Very interesting read this early morning Deb. We are having quite cold snap here. 16 degrees now as I type! Major snow predicted for this evening through Tuesday. Shipping forecasts are quite important in the USA. Though not an island, we have ocean ports close as you well know.
ReplyDeleteStay warm and cozy Deb!
I was thinking of you and all your adventures on the high seas. I would think that you have some sort of shipping forecast on the Great Lakes as well, for they are vast bodies of water in their own rights. I don't know what the other shipping forecasts are like, but I think possibly what sets the British one apart are the lilting voices and gentle rhythm that is used to read out the information. And of course, the lovely music . . .
DeleteStay safe and warm, my friend,
Another one here who loved listening to the shipping forecast ( a bygone pleasure these days). North Utsire sounded so exotic! Glad you didn't have snow. We had about 4" - more than further North in Wales I think.
ReplyDeleteI grew up loving the Shipping Forecast and the fog horns! Sounds like a rock group!
DeleteThe cold snap here is keeping me in as much as possible and even then, with heat, my feet and hands are so cold! I do love the music and I'm glad youshared th elink.
ReplyDeleteSo happy the link worked!
DeleteI have resorted to leg warmers and fingerless gloves indoors!
It is so important to keep warm and layers do work well.
ReplyDeleteI also find it comforting to hold a cup of tea or even a mug of tasty soup!
Growing up I can remember my parents always listened in to the Shipping Forecast, but must admit I don't now ...
Take care, keep safe and keep warm.
All the best Jan
For safety reasons I cannot hold a hot drink. I have to sip and put down otherwise I go to sleep {partly medication, partly Parkinsons} and it spills. I have had a scalded tummy twice now! But oh! how I miss holding that mug of hot beverage, so comforting!
DeleteHope you are keeping warm! Debbie
I listened to the Shipping Forecast music, it's lovely. Thanks for the link. Your love for the ocean and it's waters shines through in your writing. Every time you speak of being out in a boat, I can see you smiling and I smile, too. What a wonderful way to grow up.
ReplyDeleteThank you my friend. It was definitely a wonderful way to grow up. Looking back, it was a privilege. Most of my friends grew up knowing the names of all the shops in the local town. I grew up knowing the names of all the fish and all the reefs and rocks and coves around the coastline. Hoping all is well with you?
DeleteIt's certainly cold and no warmer weather is on the horizon.
ReplyDelete