This may be more a Grumpy Rant, but - it's the first day of Spring and it's freezing.

Greetings from gale-force, sand-blown, freezing North West coast.  To all those people heading this way for the Easter break, a word of advice - I wouldn't bother if I were you. 

bring me sunshine
pls
k
thnx
by

Grey, dull, bit drizzly here.  The Met Office have issued this Alert for Saturday:

There is a high risk of a severe event affecting eastern England and parts of the Midlands. Snow showers are expected to become frequent and heavy during the first half of Saturday with temporary accumulations of 2 to 5 cms possible at low levels, and accumulations of 5 to 10 cms over high ground. Disruption to transport networks is possible for a time.

Yup. Une femme d'un certain age checking in

Regarding weather and climate change in general, I've just received this by email - don't know if any of you are interested but here it is anyway.

"The momentum is building for Earth Hour--8 to 9 pm, March 29, 2008--the global movement to shut off the lights for one hour to make a bold statement about climate change. More and more individuals, businesses, and even cities are planning to participate. Together, we'll deliver a powerful message to the citizens and leaders of the world about the need for action on climate change.

Earth Hour is an opportunity for each one of us to take action, influence others and start a wave of change that alters the course of climate change. But turning off your lights is just the beginning. What can one person do in the face of a global challenge? Here are some easy tips to help you make a big impact:

Make it Happen

Atlanta will be going dark for Earth Hour.
It's easy and free to be part of the Earth Hour movement.

Be sure to be counted. Sign up for Earth Hour and commit to turning off your lights on March 29 from 8 to 9 pm local time.

Urge your friends, family, colleagues and contacts to show their support. It's easy to engage and inspire. Use or modify our sample Tell A Friend e-mail.

Blog about Earth Hour. Add an official Earth Hour web banner to your blog, website, or online page. Or start a conversation about climate change when you wear Earth Hour stickers you can print at home.

Spread the word. Earth Hour could be just the excuse you've been waiting for to knock on doors on your street or in your building. Ask them to go dark. Create your own event, such as a neighborhood Earth Hour celebration.

Reach Out, Speak Out, Go Out

Get outside and gaze at the night sky during Earth Hour!
Shutting off non-essential lights for WWF's Earth Hour on March 29 will give you some time to think about how you can be smarter about the Earth's resources.


You don't have to sit alone in the dark. Talking about protecting the planet for future generations can make for a very pleasant evening. Couple your conversation with some organic chocolate (dark, of course!) and make Earth Hour a night to remember.

Earth Hour is on a Saturday night. If the weather's good, try a picnic under the stars. Ask your favorite restaurant or bar to dim their lights and participate in Earth Hour. And if you'll be at work, take a look at our tips for businesses and restaurants.

Plan a get-dark party for Earth Hour. The younger crowd can host a slumber party complete with scary stories, hold an acoustical jam session or bring friends together to do some dancing in the dark. Don't worry about decorations--it will be dark!

Check in with a local astronomy club about star gazing events. The night sky provides its own light show--and here's your chance to take a break and soak up the view.

You can still text in the dark. Make a list of all the ways you are going to reduce your energy consumption: unplug unused appliances; change to compact fluorescent bulbs; properly inflate tires; adjust your thermostat. Text your list to others and challenge them to make their own lists. Check other lists for ideas you may have forgotten.

The Earth Hour idea has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world and I hope that it has captured yours. I look forward to participating in Earth Hour at the same time as thousands of dedicated WWF supporters like you. Thank you for being a part of this amazing event.
Sincerely,
 

Richard Moss
Managing Director and Vice President, Climate Change    "

I was puzzled about which time zone they meant - not that I would do it anyway, I thought perhaps 8 to 9 pm wherever you are, but I suspect you may be right, and the writers aren't aware of different time zones. Is it possible? Is anyone that ignorant?

The post Milly quoted clearly stated 8-9pm local time, so here in the UK that would be...um...8-9pm!



No, I'd suspect it's because not many Amercians would have their lights on then.

One way of saving energy is to use www.blackle.com instead of your usual Google search engine.