Thailand is bracing for potentially hotter conditions as the El Niño phenomenon is forecast to intensify. The country has already experienced significant heat in recent weeks, making the prospect of additional warmth unwelcome.
Welcome Thunderstorms Offer Brief Respite
Fortunately, recent thunderstorms have provided a welcome cooling effect across the nation. These rainfall events, accompanied by distant thunder, have been a significant relief after a prolonged hot spell. While the rumble of thunder can be enjoyable, the sudden, intense claps that occur directly overhead can be startling for both humans and animals. Dogs, for instance, often seek refuge during such storms, finding comfort in familiar safe spots.
The sound of thunder can evoke memories of past cultural touchstones. One such connection is to the 1969 hit song “Something in the Air” by the British rock group Thunderclap Newman. The band’s keyboardist, Andy “Thunderclap” Newman, earned his nickname for his powerful piano playing. Notably, The Who’s Pete Townshend contributed to the song under the pseudonym “Bijou Drains.” The song’s enduring presence serves as a reminder of how quickly time passes, with the hit now over five decades old.
Reflections on Weather Forecasting and Conversation
Recalling childhood weather forecasts often brings to mind the British tradition of discussing the weather. Early forecasts frequently used phrases like “outlook changeable,” a polite way of indicating uncertainty, or “scattered showers with sunny intervals,” a generally safe prediction. There are anecdotes from the 1960s of forecasters attempting to inject optimism, even mentioning a “rumour of sun” during a particularly dreary summer.
The unpredictable nature of British weather is well-documented, with days capable of shifting from clear skies to prolonged drizzle. This variability has long served as a common topic of conversation, aligning with Dr. Samuel Johnson’s observation that “when two Englishmen meet their first talk is about the weather.” This tendency was humorously critiqued by American film director George Axelrod, who noted that while the English always discuss the weather, “no one does a damn thing about it.”
Regional Vernacular for Rain
Beyond official forecasts, regional dialects offer a rich vocabulary for describing rain. Growing up, informal weather updates were often provided by parents. Mothers, in particular, had an intuitive sense for impending rain and used expressions like “damping” to describe humid conditions without active rainfall. Various regions have unique terms, such as “plothering” in the Midlands and Northeast of England, and “mizzling” in Cornwall for a light, steady drizzle.
More evocative terms also exist, like “cow-quaker,” used in rural areas for rain so heavy it appears to make cattle shake. Scotland boasts a vast array of words for inclement weather, with “dreich” being a common descriptor for wet, gloomy, and bleak conditions. Even fictional characters, like Paddington Bear from “Darkest Peru,” have their signature phrases for heavy rain, such as “It’s bucketing down.” This linguistic diversity highlights the significant impact weather has had on cultural expression.
On Tedious Oratory
The recent mention of politicians “droning on” prompts a reflection on historically lengthy and uninspired speeches. The House of Commons has been the stage for numerous examples of such oratory over the years. Sir Winston Churchill, while occasionally prone to lengthy discourse himself, was known for his impatience with speakers he deemed boring. He once quipped about Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald’s lengthy speeches, “We know that he has more than any other man the gift of compressing the largest amount of words into the smallest amount of thought.”
On another occasion, when an MP noticed Churchill seemingly dozing during a lengthy speech and inquired if he was asleep, Churchill famously retorted, “No, but I wish to God I were.”
Notable Examples of Long-Winded Speakers
Sir Anthony Eden, British Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957, is often cited as a “droner.” Despite his education, public speaking was not his forte. British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge once described Eden’s speaking style as such that “He is not only a bore, but he bores for England.”
For those who appreciate exceptionally long speeches, the United Nations has historically been a venue for such pronouncements. One of the most memorable was delivered by former Cuban President Fidel Castro in 1960, addressing the General Assembly for an extraordinary four hours and 29 minutes – a duration equivalent to three full football matches.
