THE SHIPPING FORECAST

...And now time for the shipping forecast and reports from coastal stations. Here is the general synopsis at 0700 GMT.
Cow in sea area Shannon, moving slowly eastwards and filling.
Sorry, that should be Low in sea area Shannon.
And now the area reports:-
Viking, North Utsirra, South Utsirra, East Utsirra, West Utsirra, South West Utsirra and North North East Utsirra: wind south west, rain at times, good.
Forties, fifties, sixties, Tyne, Dogger, German Bight, French Kiss and Swiss Roll: westerly, becoming cyclonic, good.
Humber, Thames, Bedford, Leyland-DAF, Dover Sole, Hake, Halibut and Monkfish: regular outbreaks of wind, rain at times, good.
Wight, Portland, Plymouth, Ginger Rogers and Finistere: light flatulence, some rain, very good.
Lundy, Fundy, Sundy and Mundy: wind south west, becoming cyclonic, bloody marvellous.
Rockall: sod all wind, heavy showers, absolutely incredible.
Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Cardigan, Pullover and South East Iceland: wind south east, rain at times, slightly disappointing.

And now the reports for coastal stations:-
Tiree: wind North west, 7 miles, one thousand and four, rising slowly.
Butt of Lewis: North, 5 miles, One thousand and six, falling.
Wolverhampton: North West, As far as the ring road, Nine nine eight, rising slowly.
Norway: nil points.

Published in 'Colliflowers'

Recorded by Les Barker on 'A Cardi and Bloke'
(Mrs Ackroyd Records DOG 011)
And by Brian Perkins on 'Guide Cats for the blind'
(Osmosys OSMO CD20/21)

And now one of Mr Barker's serious ones:

A BRIEF LIFE

Away from the light of the day,
The night brings its gift to the eye
The far away fire of the stars
That turn on the wheel of the sky.

Some of those stars will go out
With each turn of the sun and the moon;
All of our lives have their ends;
All of our lives end too soon.

Some of them fade into dark
Before the first light of first dawn;
But all of the stars have their place
And tomorrow more stars will be born.

How long or how short? Any lifetime
May be gone in the blink of an eye;
Accept that a star has gone out;
Remember its place in the sky.

Published in 'Lady and the trampoline'

Last updated: December 02, 2007