Those listening to Chris Evans's Radio 2 show this morning will have got a nice surprise, as The Schaf was mentioned not once-- but twice!
Firstly a texter called John, mentioned His Loveliness's video on the BBC website (drink me) about building a rain gauge, in reference to the torrential rain southern England received yesterday. Unfortunately John had a case of sausauge fingers, and missed out the F in Schafernaker, leading to a strained pronunciation of Tomasz's surname.
>00:59:48
However worry not, because the legendary Moira Stewart was at hand to educate Chris, of the delights of the Weather God, and the correct surname. She called Tomasz "interesting" no less!
1:01:15
So who knows, The Schaf may very well turn up on Monday's breakfast, to explain himself. So watch this space... (88 to 91FM for UK listeners)
In the meantime, Tomasz's report from The Great British Weather, on St Elmo's Fire. Well sort of... the audio is there; but instead of the film, we have a slide-show of Portknockie and sundry relevant pictures. Half a loaf is better than no bread at all, I suppose. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label St Elmo's Fire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St Elmo's Fire. Show all posts
19 Aug 2011
4 Aug 2011
Moray magnificence
It was the last episode of the current series of The Great British Weather on Wednesday, Tomasz once again confined to a recorded report.
This time he had been to the village of Portknockie, in Moray (Scotland), to explore St Elmo's Fire. Not the 1980s film or the accompanying John Parr song you understand; but the atmospheric phenomenon, which seriously afflicted the town in 2007.
Resident Fraser Milton recalled the night when a severe electric storm formed over the town; of such a ferocity, it caused sockets to explode out of walls. The culprit for this? St Elmo's fire. It is when a thunderstorm becomes so highly charged and super-heated, that nitrous oxide in the atmosphere turns to plasma, the fourth state of matter. The plasma form of nitrous oxide becomes ionised and manifests itself in blue streaks, wreaking havoc upon anything electrical.
This phenomenon can readily, but safely, observed within a plasma ball. One of those globes, with streaks of plasma emanating from the power source in the centre. If you run your hands over the surface of the globe, the plasma 'follows' your hands' movements. If you're a pilot you may see St Elmo's fire up in the clouds, from the comfort of your cockpit.
I'm told by my spies that the BBC were happy with the show; the viewing figures were decent (mostly down to The Schaf I'd say!) and another series could be planned for the winter. I would hope Carol Kirkwood would do it on her own though, she has the presence and knowledge to it-- plus no more Larry Lamb larking with lame chromakey (nothing against the man himself by the way, but what were you thinking Larry?)http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Nor do I have anything against Chris Hollins and Alexander Armstrong personally; they just seemed to superfluous and stilted on this show, especially when they are not weather experts. The former is better suited to serious serious journalism, the latter to comedy acting and gameshows-- that's what they are respectively good at after all! That's my tuppence-worth anyway.
For UK, Man and Channel Islands folks:
39:05 onwards
Finally best of luck to Tomasz for his bike-ride from London to Brighton this weekend. Fingers and other phalanges crossed.
Happy holidays, wherever you may be going....
This time he had been to the village of Portknockie, in Moray (Scotland), to explore St Elmo's Fire. Not the 1980s film or the accompanying John Parr song you understand; but the atmospheric phenomenon, which seriously afflicted the town in 2007.
Resident Fraser Milton recalled the night when a severe electric storm formed over the town; of such a ferocity, it caused sockets to explode out of walls. The culprit for this? St Elmo's fire. It is when a thunderstorm becomes so highly charged and super-heated, that nitrous oxide in the atmosphere turns to plasma, the fourth state of matter. The plasma form of nitrous oxide becomes ionised and manifests itself in blue streaks, wreaking havoc upon anything electrical.
This phenomenon can readily, but safely, observed within a plasma ball. One of those globes, with streaks of plasma emanating from the power source in the centre. If you run your hands over the surface of the globe, the plasma 'follows' your hands' movements. If you're a pilot you may see St Elmo's fire up in the clouds, from the comfort of your cockpit.
I'm told by my spies that the BBC were happy with the show; the viewing figures were decent (mostly down to The Schaf I'd say!) and another series could be planned for the winter. I would hope Carol Kirkwood would do it on her own though, she has the presence and knowledge to it-- plus no more Larry Lamb larking with lame chromakey (nothing against the man himself by the way, but what were you thinking Larry?)http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Nor do I have anything against Chris Hollins and Alexander Armstrong personally; they just seemed to superfluous and stilted on this show, especially when they are not weather experts. The former is better suited to serious serious journalism, the latter to comedy acting and gameshows-- that's what they are respectively good at after all! That's my tuppence-worth anyway.
For UK, Man and Channel Islands folks:
39:05 onwards
Finally best of luck to Tomasz for his bike-ride from London to Brighton this weekend. Fingers and other phalanges crossed.
Happy holidays, wherever you may be going....
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