Driving all day yesterday, the radio news updates on Cyclone Marcia and Cyclone Lam were increasingly disconcerting.
I hope all my feisty friends up North are safe and completely out of harm’s way.
Stand brave, guys.
Yet, with all this volatile meteorological activity, there are the pressing questions:
Who gets to name these great forces of nature?
Where do the actual names come from?
Is there a weather man who has an incurable love for 70’s hit shows about too good to be true blended families?
On the flip side, is Lam a girl’s name or a boy’s? I’m confused.
Apparently, in Australia the idea of christening cyclones has been a century old tradition. All thanks to pioneering weather nerd Clement Wragge.
“Hi, I’m Clement. Let me whirl you with my Hurricane…”
In fact, according to an article (Thanks, Daisy), Clement was so into all things wild and woolly, he came up with the brilliant idea of using names of politicians he disliked.
“Severely dysfunctional Cyclone Tony’s exit into the sea of bad leadership is gradually intensifying into a Category 5 while unassuming Cyclone bill remains politically idle amidst storms of public scrutiny and frustration”
A big believer in recycling junk of the emotional kind, personally, I would use ghosts of boyfriends past.
First up there would be “Hurricane Rodney the hot-cold commitment phobic douchebag.”
In close second, “Cyclone Chris the narcissistic, egotistical maniac”
But the most tempestuous of them all, “Big Blow Dave the lying, cheating scumbag”
Yes, give me some passing wind and I will liken it to the dregs of my dirty past.
Unfortunately, similarly to Clement’s penchant for political name-calling, I think my idea would also be short lived.
Meh.
At least I get to mention them here on yea ol’ blog.
Anyway, dear friends, all jokes aside, please take care.
As I heard the Queensland Minister for Police and Safety, Jack Dempsey on the radio remind us about floodwaters and to avoid driving through them:
“If it’s flooded, forget it”
What name would you give a cyclone? Name (and shame) the worst boyfriend you ever had. Go on. You know you want to.
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Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
I also wonder who comes up with these names! I heard they go through the alphabet from A-Z and that they alternate between boys names and girls names (meaning Lam must be a boy). Once they go through the alphabet they have to start again. What happens when the Z and Q names run out? There can’t be too many.
As for ghosts of boyfriends past … that was over 20 years ago! Man. Um …. to be honest there’s none I want to shame. Perhaps they’re the ones that are naming cyclones after me?
L
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Neets says
That is a very good question Grace. Who does name these cyclones? Oh I would name a cyclone Fabio. He was one of my first loves and squealed on me for wagging school one day. 🙂 In all seriousness sending lots of love to all our friends in QLD xxx
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JodY At Six Little Hearts says
I must be out of date with the news – what cyclones?!
Yes, I have heard all about the naming system. They do pick dud names though don’t they!
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Amy says
I’ve often wondered how they got their names! I could answer your question with “Go home, Cyclone Craig, you’re drunk….again!”
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Lydia C. Lee says
I did not know that about the pollies – we should definitely go back to that tradition – that’s hilarious…
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Nikki@WonderfullyWomen says
It’s so dark and grey here in Brissie, but I am in a pretty safe spot. I would hate to have one of these bitches named after me.
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Desire Empire says
Cruel is what it should be called
Carolyn
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Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me says
Thanks for the morning laugh, lovely 🙂
Toni @ Finding Myself Young says
It’s been raining here ALL night and morning in North Brisbane. There’s a chance we may flood but we survived the 2011 floods so we should be fine.
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EssentiallyJess says
I wouldn’t shame someone. Why give them the satisfaction?
I would do something random though. Like Cyclone Gouda. If Apple can be a name, why not Gouda?
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Vanessa says
Now I want cheese.
Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages says
I’d hate to have one of these monsters named after me. Watching the weather close in here and hoping everyone North of me is staying safe.
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Aroha @ Colours of Sunset says
I actually knew this! Well, I knew there was a system for selecting names and they weren’t just picked willy-nilly! Then I looked up the reason yesterday because an 18 year old at work (Who didn’t get my “Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!” reference) didn’t believe me that there was a system. Surely we’ll never see another cyclone Tony again in our lifetime – one has been enough! 😉
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Dani @ sand has no home says
I laughed at Cyclone Rodney! I like the idea of cyclones being named for ex lovers too. I haven’t read any news this morning yet, Hoping that all is well.
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Natalie @ our parallel connection says
The names are not normally common everyday ones either… Like Sarah or Tom … I’m still waiting on cyclone Natalie as that is how I behaved this morning with my kids
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
Marcia Marcia Marcia is looking very scary! It’s wet and wild here in Brizzie at the moment. I’m worried for our friends up north around Yeppoon and nearby areas. Wonder if they picked the name Marcia coz Marcia Brady is on ‘I’m a celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ at the moment?? 😉 xo
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Lauren @ Create Bake Make says
Ha, I’d heard about this before. I think Marcia was certainly inspired by our favourite Marcia being in the news lately. My father in law is actually working on one of the islands in the NT which received a direct hit yesterday, thankfully they were in a solid shelter and are safe. It’s a very wet and dark day here in Brisbane, but as bad as it gets here I know there are others further north who are in for a tough time today.
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Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says
It’s not so lovely here on the coast at the moment. I’ve just driven Bell to school and it’s pretty wild out there! Have just arrived home to an email from school, saying the kids don’t have to go if it’s not safe to drive. I’m thinking that email was probably an hour too late!
Hope your weekend is sunnier than ours, Grace xx
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Zita says
So hard being overseas and hearing all this on Facebook etc, especially as wifi and Australian news are a little hard to come by! Hope everyone is safe’!
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sarah@tomfo says
I hope everyone stays safe, my thoughts are with family and friends up north.
Ha, I’d name a cyclone Peter after my worst boss in history, (full of all the yukky stuff)
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Ai Sakura says
Oh dear, keep safe everyone! xo
If I’d to name just one, it would be Cyclone Terence, the one who left without warning!
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Vanessa says
I have to go over some very exposed roads (to wind gusts) to get home so I’ve been busing it yesterday and today rather than drive! Planning to leave work early today before Brisbane gets worse. Currently it’s forecast to exit back to the sea right over my area…so I kind of selfishly want it to bugger off a little!
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Leanda Michelle says
What a good question… who names these cyclones Grace! When we lived in Karratha we experienced cyclone Monte… this name was very apt for it stripped the land bare, took out a major link in the highway and flooded the lands. Yet there was such beauty to be seen amongst the debris… stunning waterfalls from the rugged Pindan cliffs, as an example. ♥
Janet aka Middle Aged Mama says
I did leave a comment earlier on my phone but I can’t see it here now … love the idea of naming cyclones after horrible exes! Luckily most of mine were nice fellas, just not for me. However I will name and shame Cyclone Guy, a cheating scumbag, and Cyclone Chris, a nasty and extremely selfish person.
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Kristyn says
I’d name hurricanes all KK! Hahaha, not very creative but very narcissistic!
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Tonia Zemek says
This is AWESOME. I often wonder about this whole naming business too. Great post. Made my morning! Have a SAFE and serene weekend.
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Julie @ Off to the park says
I think naming them after a pollie would be a great idea, they’re all full of air and whirl around the place don’t they?? I would name one Cyclone Andrew – dirty lying snake! 🙂
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Eva @ The Multitasking Mummy says
God, I don’t want to waste my idiot exes name on a cyclone! I think I’d prefer to name one after my son who is at times a complete cyclone! Being stuck in the house because of this rain, well it’s like a cyclone has hit it! Cyclone Elliott!
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Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life says
Lam would be a male because apparently, they alternate between male and female and go through the letters of the alphabet. Given that Marcia is female, it means Lam is male. :)I can’t remember where I saw that but I did see a doco on it.
But yeah, seriously hope everyone up north is safe.
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Peachy Keen Mumma - Jess says
Oh this is just too cheeky not to do! Let’s see, there’s Ryan who stole a hymen. He’s coming to destroy the things you’ve held dear all your life. And Danny the dumper, who will steal your heart and then create clouds of indecisiveness followed by rivers of tears.
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The Exercise Hitlist says
Being a queensland girl originally I have been through my share of cyclones, most memorable for me being Larry and then Yasi. Good question, I would like to know who names them and why they really named them what they did! Sorry I am a bit late to the party but better late than never right? Looking forward to catching up with some great blogs, I have been a little AWOL.
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Rebecca Senyard says
I’d like to know who names these cyclones too. And what do the people think if they have a cyclone named after them? It will be interesting to see what this cyclone does as it heads down the coast. x
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Raych aka Mystery Case says
I can’t believe it’s Friday. I’ve been in a bit of a haze this week. I spent most of Wednesday thinking it was Thursday and most of today not sure what day it was. Sorry I’m so late to the link up party.
Not sure I will get time to blog hop but will try.
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Kathy says
I think, but don’t quote me, that they used to only give female names to cyclones and somewhere along the line they decided it was sexist! Must have been a while ago though because I remember a cyclone Paul when we were staying in Hervey Bay on holidays as kids. My younger brother is Paul and my sister and I stirred him that a cyclone named Paul was out to get people named Paul. I think we had him scared. The cyclone blew and blew and it bucketed down. We were staying in this big old Queenslander on the hill opposite the water, so we were very exposed. The place leaked and was pretty run down so our parents let us roller skate around the verandahs and on the timber floors through the house. Rained almost the whole week.
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Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
Here’s the answer to your question!! https://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/about/names.shtml They do it in alphabetical order, eg Lam, Marcia, see that the next one will likely be Nathan…. Yes I’m a geek. Just really wet here, no wind as of yet. Have a great weekend. I would call a cyclone Wayne Kerr
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Anne @ Domesblissity says
I’m okay with naming cyclones. What I’m not okay with is rolling coverage by the media. Seriously! Give people warnings but up to the minute blow by blow descriptions on the weather (pardon the pun)? A reporter in every coastal town between Gladstone and Coolangatta? It’s overkill and sending everyone in to a sense of panic. Who knows. Kim Kardashian could’ve broken a nail and we wouldn’t have heard about it! Blow off cyclone!
Thanks for FYBF Grace.
Anne xx
Pinky Poinker says
A few years ago my son contributed some name ideas to the peeps who do name cyclones. He submitted all of our family names and they were all accepted. There’s already been a cyclone with his name since then.
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Pinky Poinker says
P.S. Gosh it’s busy on this link up today Grace!
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Lara @ This Charming Mum says
In Brissie we’re getting whipped with the sideline wind and rain from Marcia today, but it’s certainly worse for those further north. I know what you mean about the naming system! Must be harder than naming a baby! But I’m loving all the ‘Marcia, Marcia, Marcia’ memes I’m seeing today 🙂
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Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life says
All my exs are best forgotten, not immortalised as cyclones! They’ve all wrecked enough havoc in their lifetime already!
On a more serious note I hope everyone up North is safe and dry at home!
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Alicia says
I can well imagine who’s ever job it is, has done just that. Named them after people they don’t like very much! I wonder if there’s ever been a cyclone Dennis?
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Lisa Wood says
Oh Grace you so crack me up!! We are up North but out of harms way…and I think the idea of naming a Cyclone is really weird but I guess a Politician has nothing better to do with his time!
And If I had to shame/name one it would be Stanley – nut case on the loose heading to shore lines, totally unpredictable so stay well away!
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Erika @ Ever-changing Life of a Mum says
Hilarious! But I have often wondered how names were chosen for cyclones as they seem quite random!
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Kylie Purtell - A Study in Contradictions says
I LOVE the idea of naming cyclones after shit politicians. The only problem is there aren’t enough cyclones to do it justice! Lol!
The worst boyfriend I ever had, can’t even remember his name now. I think I’ve blocked it from my memory. He was an asshole, it was an extremely short-lived relationship, about 3 weeks I think. He was the kind of guy who did not like to take no for an answer and I’m not the kind of girl who is willing to let someone tell me what to do, pressure me or treat me in that way. He was not too impressed when I stopped answering his calls and told my friend (who was also his friend) that I wanted nothing to do with him. The kind of guy for whom that was really insulting because he was so used to being in charge and getting his own way all the time. A future rapist in the making if I ever saw one. I sincerely hope, for the sake of all the other girls he may have met, that he grew up and got his head straight.
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Bele @ BlahBlah says
Lady, you just made me chortle and I nearly snorted tea out of my nose in the most delightful way x