Lorraine Forbes embarked on a decades-long quest for connection, sending heartfelt messages adrift in the sea. She never imagined one of those messages would return with a stinging rebuke, delivered with unexpected cost.
The reply arrived not as a romantic response, but as a box of rocks accompanied by a terse, handwritten note. It bluntly demanded she “stop throwing rubbish in the sea,” detailing where her bottles inevitably washed ashore – Pevensey Bay or Normans Bay.
The package itself carried a financial sting: a £7 delivery fee. Lorraine felt the response was particularly cruel, a pointed lesson delivered at her expense. The sender remained anonymous, leaving her with no recourse for a refund.
For years, Lorraine had released her bottled messages from Eastbourne pier, hoping to spark a connection with a kindred spirit. Responses were rare, usually limited to the location where the bottle was found, never the longed-for romance.
She always used plastic bottles, prioritizing safety over glass, but hadn’t fully considered the environmental impact. Lorraine confessed to previous warnings about the potential harm to wildlife, concerns she’d previously dismissed.
This incident, however, proved to be a stark awakening. The litter picker’s harsh method forced Lorraine to confront the possibility of legal repercussions. Eastbourne Harbour had previously cautioned her against the practice.
The realization dawned that environmental health officials could intercept her letters, complete with her name and address, potentially leading to fines or further action. The hobby, once a source of innocent hope, now carried a significant risk.
The story echoes a recent, more positive outcome: a boy in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, received a reply to his message in a bottle after it traveled an astonishing 4,200 miles to St. Lucia in the Caribbean. A testament to the enduring allure of this age-old practice.
Ultimately, Lorraine admitted the experience has likely ended her tradition. The threat of legal trouble, coupled with the pointed criticism, has extinguished the romantic spark that fueled her years of sending messages into the waves.
