Keeping us Clearly Informed.

I’m led to question again the standard of information we get fed in this country. I’m referring, of course, to the Icelandic volcano. It has so many letters in its name – and most of them vowels – that it’s disappeared from the screen before you’ve had the chance to work out how it might be pronounced. That’s only the start of the confusion. 

Last night we were told that the reason it was disrupting flights was because it was drifting at 20,000 feet, the altitude that planes fly at. This morning we were told it was because it was drifting at 35,000 feet, the altitude that planes fly at. Tonight we were told that that the volcano is spewing dust to a level of 15,000 feet. They didn’t mention planes in that report, but English and Welsh airports will remain closed until at least tomorrow morning.

Then comes the question of whether this dust will fall on our heads and block our bronchioles. An official government spokesman said that the dust is too high, so it hasn’t, and won’t, make landfall. Another government spokesman said that those with respiratory conditions should stay indoors and keep their medication handy, because they’re the ones most at risk. At risk from what, exactly? One of the best things I heard came from a BBC reporter in London who said ‘None of the ash has fallen to ground level yet, but there are reports of dust.’ Could you say that again please, just so the meaning is clear?

And the local weather reporter tonight said that we’re likely to see a covering of ash in the morning. Oh, right; clear as mud in an Icelandic geyser. The next post will be sensible. Promise.