The Shipping Forecast

[steepholm]

"Who NEEDS the shipping forecast?" asks today's PM newsletter. I do hope this is only because it's a slow news day, and the thing isn't really under threat - because the answer is, of course, "Reason not the need!"

Don't they recognize a liturgy when they hear one? Don't they know that the shipping forecast is Auntie's way of tucking the nation in safely at night, coast by neatly-folded coast? That it's an apotropaic, a nightly beating of the parish bounds? Don't they hear the watchman's cry, "It's 23.00 hours GMT and all's well!", and see his lonely lantern bobbing out upon the deeps?

I believe some sailors listen to it as well, for purposes of their own, but that's hardly the point. You don't need to work on a trawler to derive comfort from a Fisherman's Friend, O Powers that Be.

Comments

[hafren.livejournal.com]

I have a lovely book by Charlie Connelly called "A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast".

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Well, if they'd just cut the music. I hate the music.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

I like the shipping forecast sung. There was one of those miscellany radio shows on the CBC that would play it every so often as a treat, and it always made me smile.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! And didn't I say it was a liturgy? But... what's that view of Florence doing at 0.42?

[diceytillerman.livejournal.com]

Do you ever watch As Time Goes By? Mrs Bale is always giving updates of the weather in the English channel. It's quite wonderful.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

No, I don't know it - but I shall watch out!

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't think I've ever heard the shipping forecast live. This lack of knowledge will probably be pivotal in my being unmasked as a foreign spy.

I have, though, heard Les Barker perform his version. This probably doesn't count.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think it counts! Thanks for the link.

[shark-hat.livejournal.com]

I love the Church of the Wholely Undecided!

[perdix.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more with this post.

If you start a petition, I'll sign.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Absolutely!

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Actually, when I lived in Lancaster the shipping forecast was the only reliable weather forecast -- whatever it said for Irish Sea, we'd get tomorrow, whereas whatever they said for "the North West" was sheer fantasy.

But you're absolutely right. I can't think how many nights with dying relatives, small babies, crises, insomnia, I have heard that liturgy and felt reassured that Rockall, Hebrides and German Bight are still out there somewhere, westerly, moderate.

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

I just had a gigglefit when I heard a letter on PM making these very points and sneaking in a double entendre about sucking on a Fisherman's Friend. Shortly thereafter, abrinsky arrived home excitedly asking if I'd heard your letter on being read on the radio...

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I heard that too, as I was innocently cooking supper! I'd left a comment on the PM blog, but hadn't thought that meant it was liable to be broadcast to the nation...

It was very strange to have my words read by an actor. Now I know how it feels to be Gerry Adams.

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

Now I know how it feels to be Gerry Adams.

That's a disturbing prospect.