Moor rain, winter storms, wet recollections and looking skyward

January is nearly over and we still haven’t seen enough light to take a decent shot, a sunrise or a sunset. Such a gloomy start to 2018 colourless, featureless skies and rain, rain, rain…..

A succession of storms hit the UK as the New Year was heralded in with Storm Dylan followed in quick succession by Storm Eleanor on the 3^rd January then Storm Fionn on the 16^th. The constant roar of the wind, the sound of rain and hailstones lashing on the window pane made for a disturbing night’s sleep. The downpours have continued, culminating in flash flooding in parts of North Devon on the 21^st January.

We were driving over to Exmoor, dodging stone-studded flooded roads and diversions, driving up hill, as water cascaded from hedgebanks, culverts and gullies beside the road, then down again motoring on slowly through pools of water at the bottom of each hill. We passed swollen rivers, fast-running streams and flooded fields and still it rained….we stopped briefly at Simonsbath to take a shot of a wider than normal River Barle then headed out over Brendon where the River Exe was just starting to bleed onto the road then down to Malmsmead where Badgeworthy Water raced through the ancient packhorse bridge and over the ford.

We saw very little wildlife on the way, a buzzard, an Exmoor pony, head hung low, a few Ruby Red cattle and sheep of course all well prepared for the harsh weather up on the moor with their natural, fluffy winter coats. Looking a little less at home in the rain were a couple of horses over the fence standing stock still in their man-made coats. This makes me realise how birds and animals can fare well in bad weather with maybe just a little help from us humans. Local farmers are out feeding their animals at all times of day even on a Sunday and you too can do your bit by leaving food and water out for the  birds and critters in the garden.

As January 2018 draws to a conclusion it’s once again time for some colourful events starting with the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch on 27th-29th January. Stargazers enjoyed  the first of two 2018 supermoons on 1^st January. The next one is on the 31^st January,  I am so hoping for a clear star-lit night and no moor rain....!!!

The River Barle in flood at Simonsbath. Photo copyright B. Adams (All Rights Reserved)

River Exe heading for the road. Photo copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

Free running Badgeworthy Water at Malmsmead - Photo copyright B. Adams (All Rights Reserved)

 

The Road Ahead. Flood waters 21st January 2018 Photo copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

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Lunar Eclipse and Supermoon 2018 

Tap here for Where and when to see the Supermoon 2018 UK

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 What is a Supermoon 

“Some people will call the full supermoon on January 31 a Blue Moon, too. That’s because it’ll be the second of two full moons in one calendar month. Moreover, the January 31 supermoon will stage a total eclipse of the moon.”  http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-supermoon

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Big Garden Birdwatch. 
Join in, and count the wildlife that's counting on you.
Tap here for information/request a pack

A Universal Story of Love and Loss

Butterfly Effect Films is delighted that BBC One is launching their latest regional series Inside Out on Monday 15th Jan with their short film about love and loss. It tells the story of how a young, determined couple, Stan and Mary Bagwell meet on Sidmouth beach. Stan is the son of a fisherman, too poor to own a boat which makes him even more determined to buy one. Together, with a lot of hard graft, they build a thriving fishing business, only to have their world torn apart by a double tragedy in 1998. The women in the family pick up the pieces and it is Mary who leads the storytelling.

Mary is speaking, on the 20th anniversary of losing her son, Ian, at sea; to remind people of the ever present dangers of life on the waves. After viewing the short film, she told Jo Stewart-Smith, the film's producer "Ian was aware of the danger. He lost several friends himself at sea. He always said that if he went at sea he'd be forgotten, so I think he'd be very pleased and proud that his story is being told twenty years on."

The family first told their story for the film 'Working the Sea' made by Butterfly Effect Films for Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub which premiered at Sidmouth Sea Festival. The brief for this 40 minute documentary was a much wider sweep of history and included other members of the community using the sea. It is ultimately a film about how a mutual love and respect for the sea can draw a community together. The Coastal hub are delighted that the story is getting another outing and hope that the BBC film will draw new audiences to the wider community film.

The Bagwell's personal story of love and loss is also a universal story. As Mary says in the film "You never get over it. It's important to remember, but it's also teaches you to understand other people's suffering. So many mothers have lost sons and daughters - you understand..." Mary acknowledges that after the double tragedy she had a seriously tough time and didn't know which way to turn. She said to Jo, "you don't have a lot of choice. You just get on with it. You have to keep going for everyone else." But Mary and her inspirational family did so much more than that. Soon after the tragedy Ian's sister Lynn joined Sidmouth lifeboat volunteers as a tractor driver 'to try and give something back'. And all the family, including Ian's children have reached out to other bereaved people, raising money for the Fishermen's Mission and other charities.

The Butterfly Effect Films team of Simon Vacher as Director of Photography and Jo Stewart-Smith as writer, director want to thank the Bagwell family for trusting them to tell their story. Jo says, "the family were lovely to work with. Lively, with a sense of humour and very generous in the way they talk frankly about the fickle nature of fishing and a personal and often difficult, family story."

Watch the film on BBC One: Inside Out, Monday 15th January at 7.30pm. Afterwards it will be available on BBC iplayer for 30 days. Tap here to view a short trailer of the film

Stan and Mary Bagwell Photo copyright Butterfly Effect Films (All Rights Reserved)

Sidmouth Lifeboat launching from the tractor - Photo copyright Butterfly Effect Films (All Rights Reserved)

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ABOUT Butterfly Effect Films is a partnership between director of photography and editor Simon Vacher and writer and director Jo Stewart-Smith. Their mission is to help people share their stories by making films with high production values and great storytelling - films which will take wing and fly. jo@butterflyeffectfilms.com www.butterflyeffectfilms.com  

Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub www.sidmouthcoastalcommunityhub.org
Their Vision is to connect people with the sea and coast, promoting a greater understanding of the heritage, community identity, and social inclusion of Sidmouth and other coastal areas

Inside Out is the BBC’s regional current affairs programme

On reflection a colourful North Devon Coast and Country Chronicle

North Devon Coast and Country Chronicle, just some of the moments that caught my eye in 2017. Looking forward to another colourful year.

Here's to a Happy and 'Event'full 2018 everyone.