North Ustire, South Ustire, Rockall, Malin
June 19, 2009 7:09 AM Subscribe
Don't want to wait until bedtime (UK bedtime that is) to drift off to Sailing By (one of Jarvis Cocker's Desert Island Discs)? Well thanks to permanent bedtime you can listen to the BBC shipping forecast all day. Oh? What's that? It's no use because it's from months ago? Okay, here's the Met Office current data, and the listen again page on the beeb. Or test yourself: can you name all the weather areas?
I'm alarmed that I knew even 12 of the areas. Rockall has to be one of my favorite places, though.
posted by grouse at 7:38 AM on June 19, 2009
posted by grouse at 7:38 AM on June 19, 2009
That's Utsire, not Ustire.
can you name all the weather areas?
Sadly, yes I can as I completed that in less than 90 seconds (even though I still haven't got used to FitzRoy instead of Finisterre).
I haven't quite gone to the lengths of Charlie Connelly, though, who visited each of the sea areas for his quixotic travel book Attention All Shipping.
posted by Electric Dragon at 7:54 AM on June 19, 2009
can you name all the weather areas?
Sadly, yes I can as I completed that in less than 90 seconds (even though I still haven't got used to FitzRoy instead of Finisterre).
I haven't quite gone to the lengths of Charlie Connelly, though, who visited each of the sea areas for his quixotic travel book Attention All Shipping.
posted by Electric Dragon at 7:54 AM on June 19, 2009
I turned on Permanent Bedtime here at work, just to hear what it sounds like. 12 minutes later, and all seems right in my world...
posted by adamms222 at 7:59 AM on June 19, 2009
posted by adamms222 at 7:59 AM on June 19, 2009
Thomas Dolby, "Windpower" was my first introduction to these. On this song they were read by John Marsh, who is well known for his role as the announcer in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
More relaxing than Number Stations...
posted by inthe80s at 8:07 AM on June 19, 2009
More relaxing than Number Stations...
posted by inthe80s at 8:07 AM on June 19, 2009
As an American with no previous exposure or nostalgia to the Shipping Forecast, I have to say this is all kinds of wonderful. I wish more news was delivered so neutrally, such a contrast to jackass television weathermen.
posted by Nelson at 8:22 AM on June 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Nelson at 8:22 AM on June 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
This is absolutely lovely to listen to. Does it or will it ever change from Tuesday the 24th of February?
posted by fish tick at 8:32 AM on June 19, 2009
posted by fish tick at 8:32 AM on June 19, 2009
Damm you! I was going to make this post. Well, I tell you, Sunday Bells will be mine! All mine!
Why yes, now that you ask, I am suffering from a bit of insomina right now, and yes, Radio 4/World Service is helping me through it.
posted by Helga-woo at 8:47 AM on June 19, 2009
Why yes, now that you ask, I am suffering from a bit of insomina right now, and yes, Radio 4/World Service is helping me through it.
posted by Helga-woo at 8:47 AM on June 19, 2009
Funny how the shipping forecast induces sleepiness and ease, while 'Something Understood' late on Sunday nights induces a psychopathic rage.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 8:58 AM on June 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 8:58 AM on June 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
I love the shipping forecast, so this is quite wonderful. Thanks!
posted by ob at 9:05 AM on June 19, 2009
posted by ob at 9:05 AM on June 19, 2009
ZOMG! I was just following the links, had the s3 radio on, really mellow...checked GMT on the internet, and was just in time to catch the actual broadcast, going now. So cool!
Fun to have the map up as the announcer runs through the weather.
posted by Xoebe at 9:19 AM on June 19, 2009
Fun to have the map up as the announcer runs through the weather.
posted by Xoebe at 9:19 AM on June 19, 2009
More relaxing than Number Stations...
Assuming you don't fear the covert ops.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:32 AM on June 19, 2009
Assuming you don't fear the covert ops.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:32 AM on June 19, 2009
Seeing the posting here made me smile; Warren Ellis (NOT the Australian musician!) pointed this out on his site last night ...
posted by aldus_manutius at 11:51 AM on June 19, 2009
posted by aldus_manutius at 11:51 AM on June 19, 2009
Seconding the love for the shipping forecast. That soothing King's English modulation. Comforting too to hear of even foggier, wetter, mistier, rainier weather than we've been having in NYC the last few months that were supposed to be Spring and early Summertime.
posted by nickyskye at 12:03 PM on June 19, 2009
posted by nickyskye at 12:03 PM on June 19, 2009
And into the sea goes pretty England and me
Around the Bay of Biscay and back for tea
Hit traffic on the Dogger bank
Up the Thames to find a taxi rank
Sail on by with the tide and go asleep
And the radio says
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you're alone it will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
On the Tyne Forth and Cromarty
There's a low in the high forties
Saturday's locked away on the pier
Not fast enough dear
And on the Malin Head
Blackpool looks blue and red
And the Queen, she's gone round the bend
Jumped off Land's End
And the radio says
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you are alone it will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you are alone it will be there with you
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you are alone it will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
Blur - This is a low
posted by prufrock at 12:38 PM on June 19, 2009
Around the Bay of Biscay and back for tea
Hit traffic on the Dogger bank
Up the Thames to find a taxi rank
Sail on by with the tide and go asleep
And the radio says
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you're alone it will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
On the Tyne Forth and Cromarty
There's a low in the high forties
Saturday's locked away on the pier
Not fast enough dear
And on the Malin Head
Blackpool looks blue and red
And the Queen, she's gone round the bend
Jumped off Land's End
And the radio says
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you are alone it will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you are alone it will be there with you
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you are alone it will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
Blur - This is a low
posted by prufrock at 12:38 PM on June 19, 2009
Every time I hear sea area Fair Isle, I'm reminded of Dave Wheeler, the longtime weatherman on Fair Isle. Quite a rum cove; back in the day he used to have to run out and make manual recordings on the hour, so he could only work on things for about fifty minutes undistracted. He also wields a mighty camera.
posted by scruss at 7:09 PM on June 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by scruss at 7:09 PM on June 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
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posted by filthy light thief at 7:24 AM on June 19, 2009