Literature

THE SECRET WORLD OF WEATHER

Tristan Gooley John Gaye, Sherborne Literary Society

G‘ ood morning, lovely day, isn’t it?’ How often have you either heard or spoken that very British greeting? It reflects the fact that the British have weather, whereas so many others have climate. It is not an expression you will hear very often in Mediterranean countries or in most parts of Australia. But most folk depend for their understanding of the weather on the excellent communication skills of our broadcasters or from weather sites on the internet. However, the limitation of these incredibly well-resourced media is their inability to identify the weather more precisely in one specific location where you are planning to have a picnic, walk the dog or go to the beach. Tristan Gooley’s book fills that gap and gives you the knowledge to make your own predictions.

The author is a great explorer and navigator, perhaps best known as the author of many very successful books on navigation using the signs that nature provides. He must be a fascinating travelling companion because he sees so much more than the rest of us, understanding better than most what he is looking at and what it means. Most importantly he is very happy to share that knowledge. Understanding the weather is part of that extraordinary skill set and once you have read this book you will realise it is not rocket science. He explains how to interpret the signs that are so obvious once pointed out.

But this book tells us so much more than whether to jettison the

Gore-tex. Animals living in the wild will know where in winter to find the warmest or driest places to lie up overnight or in the summer where to find moisture or refreshing cooler spots. Humans looking to survive, or even just live outside more comfortably, should be able to read the signs just as well.

For example, it may well be warmer to camp away from the bottom of the valley where the frost pocket may form or on ground that retains heat. A reading of the terrain and a knowledge of soil types or of vegetation will certainly help in that.

Understanding weather has led to all sorts of strange results for those who have taken the trouble to link the clues together. It helped identify the reasons behind the mysterious deaths of young Navajo men from a form of pneumonia, it aided a South Korean in the tracking of Siberian Tigers.

Farmers can use the clues to select the best land for their individual crops.

Reading the clouds and understanding what they foretell can provide weather forecasts for those at sea, for those exploring the wilder parts of the world or even for those just gazing out over the Blackmore Vale from

Bulbarrow. This book has something fascinating for everyone.

sherborneliterarysociety.com

__________________________________________________________ Wednesday 30th March 7pm-9pm The Secret World of Weather: How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop Tristan Gooley, The Natural Navigator in conversation with Brian Bleese, CEO, Dorset Wildlife Trust. The Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, DT9 3NL. Tickets £9 members, £10 non-members available via sherborneliterarysociety.com/events and Winstone’s Bookshop.