Fussbudget .. a bore, or a boar ...

When is a bore not a bore? A tidal bore, a fuddy-duddy, a swell, or a boring person, or being bored, or there’s that other sort a boar, a warthog – all descriptions conjouring up different pictures of life.

The phenomenon that is a tidal wave wreaking havoc as it pushes inland; a fuddy-duddy, or fussbudget (yes I did get that right courtesy of Wikipedia and the dictionary) is a person who fusses about trifles; a swell – they can be irritatingly boring, or a rising wave at the front of a tidal race, or that lovely pig-like creature ... they eat well! in Europe (I had roast boar in Czechoslovakia years ago), I’m not sure warthog are eaten in southern Africa, but I guess so somewhere.

This is the Ribble River, Manchester, Merseyside - showing a tidal bore

So why are we on ‘bores’ numerous? Well – this week the Severn Estuary Bore occurred, and it was thought that it would quite a high one, so the populace gathered, the media and the river surfers to watch Mother Nature produce one of her predictable waves. (It is not the same as a tsunami – which we all now appreciate are terrible forces of the unpredictable natural world).

The bore wave rises over six foot and can be as high as 8 feet (over 2 metres), while not being desperately conducive to shipping, surfers love it with a surfer having travelled 5.7 miles on his surfboard, taking over 35 minutes, but the river authorities no longer encourage these ‘races’. I saw a bore on the Solway Firth between England Scotland many years ago, that was small, but still impressive at how quickly it moved upstream.

There are lots of bores throughout the world but the Severn Estuary has the second largest tidal range of just over 49 feet (15 metres) in the World, the Bay of Fundy dividing Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada has the largest: both have funnel like estuaries, so the wave starts wide and low, and as it goes inland up the estuary the swell gets pushed higher and higher, before the tidal pull starts to subside.

However China has the highest bore at 25 feet (over 8 metres) in height, but the noise of that rumble of water, a powerful roar throating its way down stream to be heard well in advance of the actual racing wave – an hour before has been recorded in China .. a sign from the gods, in the old days? .. frightening to hear that gurgling froth – from where? ... terrifying to behold that wall of water rushing past, churning through full of sediment, scouring the sides, or spilling over the banks until its force evaporates over time ...

This week I was given a Kreativ Blog Award by Sara (thank you) – the lady per Lance with the ‘coolest avatar’ - of “A Sharing Connection” – and I am going to be a bore! The award should be passed on to ten other bloggers, but I shall pass it on once, as Sara very kindly set the precedent and awarded three of us .. so being the churlish bore that I can be... my one award is to Sam Liu of Thoughts-Writings-Coffee: Sam has some wonderful poetry, stories full of suspense .. I particularly liked this one .. hence the Kreativ Award: http://thoughts-writings-coffee.blogspot.com/2010/02/artist-story.html .

My two other co-awardees – Keith at Easy Public Speaking, another English connection who luckily for me immediately related to my previous "long-winded post" about Roman webs and roads .. so we have this Saturday happily been conversing between the Midlands and the South Coast.

Now the ‘World’s Strongest Librarian’ is Josh, who also received a Kreativ award .. and as I wandered over to find out a little more about this strong librarian – something that seemed to resonate with my love of books, information etc .. only to find the following information, which is so appropriate for today’s post:

A Majestic And Noble Promise!

The inside of my wife’s wedding ring says “I will never bore you.”

That’s the promise I’m making. My main goal is not to bore myself…or you. We’ve all got enough drama in our lives. This is a chance to lighten up and get our bodies and minds clicking in ways that we all need.

Now I’m sure you can see the magic word .... ‘bore’ .. not once but twice .. and seems to echo my own thoughts – that our blogs in particular are definitely not going to bore us, nor you .... as Josh mentions to his wife. I think that Josh’s promise to his wife is lovely.

His blog looks interesting and I have yet to have a proper look .. just finding the word ‘bore’ was enough excitement for one day!! The other mini bit of interest .. and it is only mini – really only mini – is that Seth Godin recognised him and soon he’ll be a published Strongest Librarian – that’s so cool Josh – now you and Sara match .. as too cool.

That’s my lot .. but to go with the Roast Boar we’ll have delicious crispy roast potatoes, roasted onions and parsnips, and I think some brussell sprouts (my favourite), carrots, and cauliflower with a delicious melting white sauce ... and to round it all off a delicious gravy made from the pan meat juices, a glass of good vino – perhaps a Roman English red ..

... then to ensure that the fussbudget can actually do it – a delicious fresh trifle – fresh fruit, home-made sponge, soaked with some cassis, good jelly over top and left to set; a home-made custard layer, with Cornish cream on top .... ooh now I’m hungry .. so this old bore is probably off to find a glass of vino for herself ....

Dear Mr Postman – great news my mother can hear again .. so at last we can do a little talking, though she looks much better, is still very weak – but it does make life easier. There’s more but enough for now .. I don’t want to be a bore do I? It’s still freezing – they did say the wind was coming in from Siberia .. and it feels like it ...

Hilary Melton-Butcher
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