Welcome to the first of a new series, Editor’s Column. Every now and again I’ll be putting my thoughts into writing to share with you, our loyal readers.
It may be a rant about slow drivers, or perhaps a cause that has really grabbed my attention. This new column is also an opportunity for you to get to know me a little better as the Editor and Publisher of the Island’s leading news website.
As I sit writing this piece it is yet another wet and miserable day on the Isle of Wight, one of the last of the Summer holidays before the kids go back to school.
It feels as though we are still waiting for Summer to get going! I can’t help feeling somewhat saddened at the lack of a Summer for me, my family and for the wider Islander community, especially for those businesses and events trying to bounce back after a tough few years.
The weather gods really haven’t been on our side this year. I suppose the bubble had to burst at somepoint. Out of 6 weekends so far this Summer holidays, all but about 1 have been wet. Not just wet actually, complete washouts. Every time the sun has popped up from behind the clouds it feels like we are punished the next day with yet more rain.
May and June were nice months, admittedly, but shortly after the Isle of Wight Festival the weather turned – luckily we didn’t have a repeat of 2012 though when I was stuck in a car for 12 hours and had to be towed into the Festival car park!
At the start of May I installed 2 water butts in the garden with thoughts of another hosepipe ban, and they remained dry as a bone for about 6 weeks. Now they are completely full – at the end of August! A stark contrast to last year’s very dry conditions. The whole garden has been turned on its head – it certainly hasn’t been a good year for those of us who grow fruit and veg. One word… blight.
Full water butts are a trivial issue that I mutter to myself about. But for some, this year’s weather is having a devastating impact which is not only hitting now, but will be felt in 2024 too.
Speaking to local businesses some say it’s been one of the worst Summers since the late 80s (I take their word for it as this was before I was born). Firms open up their doors each season and rely on the influx of tourists and locals alike who flood to the seaside and into the countryside. Not this year though, well certainly not the numbers you would normally expect…
In this job I spend quite a bit of time on the road at all sorts of times of the day and night. It can’t just be me that felt the roads were particularly quiet up until around mid-August. After 19:00 it felt like a ghost town some nights. I’m not sure we can blame the weather for everything though – the rising ferry prices MUST be having an impact too. But that is a topic for another day…
The rainy days experienced over the past few weeks hit many annual events as they had to cancel either in part or in full, which will have a knock-on effect next year. This is especially true for the likes of Shanklin Carnival who rely on the donations collected the previous year to stage their main and illuminated carnivals. We need to ensure we get behind the many events across the Island this year and next as I do fear we’re not far off losing some nostalgic happenings.
Talking of happenings… you’ll note there was no Fort Walk at St Helens this year – not that it is an organised event anyhow! The weather seems to have dampened spirits so much that no one has given it a second thought. A good job really as the tides didn’t quite fall right. The annual funfair has been hit by the weather too, with damp conditions on The Green at St Helens preventing them from setting up earlier in the week.
It’s going to be a tough year ahead for many businesses with the weather (and ferry prices) hitting hard on top of the cost of living crisis and energy crisis. We are already seeing the doors closing for some – including The Happy Haddock in the past few days.
The cold, dark months that are just around the corner are going to feel that little bit longer this year…
Nicely put, I wonder what winter will be like.? Wet and mild.? Or freezing cold and lots of snow.?
If we ever get actual snow, it would be beautiful. White puffy snow looks so nice.
But I wouldn’t hold my breath here in the south. On IOW no winter months hit average temp of freezing. Annoying mush that melts right away is far more likely.
Yeah the weather was crap. Just like your opinion
It will also be a tough year with the next lockdown that is coming soon.
In U.S some Companies are re-intriducing Mask Mandates.
No they are not. Stop making up silly lies.
Bill gates, klaus schwab and sleepy Joe biden will tell you different.
Perhaps you should do some research, https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/health/2023/08/24/mask-mandates-return-in-some-places-as-covid-cases-rise
“Conspiracy theorist spreads false information about the return of COVID-19 mandates”, AP News
https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-covid-lockdown-masks-tsa-445214096334
How sad that you believe the conspiracy rubbish that Jones puts out e.g the America government efforts to control the weather to wreak havoc on unsuspecting citizens,. or Chemicals in the water are turning frogs gay Even YouTube have cut him off. I have just returned from the USA and I can assure you that people are starting to wear masks again.
You seem to have this the wrong way round. I have many relatives in USA and there are no mask mandates. This is a lie spread by conspiracy theorists like you. Stop trying to scare people.
The Happy Haddock will be reopening…
Couldn’t agree more with what you have said
Thanks for that thoroughly miserable summary of our non-summer. You really are a little ray of sunshine! Most of us actually made the most of it despite the frequent rain and at least we didn’t burn like southern Europe. I predict that the winter will be warm and wet, and next summer will be lovely.