When I was serving in West Africa, Christmas was followed almost immediately by Harvest Festival. It made sense in a climate where the rainy season lasted from May to October and crops were harvested a month or two later.
@ Bishops Finger. The funny part is I have just about finished my Christmas shopping as I do it all year for just that reason even though now retired as it spreads out the cost as Huia suggested. I just do not want to think about it before Advent, let alone in the middle of Summer.
I am CTH procrastination. I've had an amazing abundance of free time and done the square root of bugger all in that time which is dispiriting, as there is quite a few bits and bobs on my to-do list.
It is 98 degrees F where I live right now, and I just received my first Christmas catalogue in the mail.
I don't know if this will turn out to be, as forecast, the hottest day of the year so far in the UK, but it seems that Christmas card catalogues are like flying ants - turn the temperature up a notch and out they all fly.
The first Christmas catalogue of 2020 landed on my doormat this morning.
In the US, some people are celebrating Christmas early--or at least putting up artificial trees and such--to boost morale. IIRC, some vendors are happy to sell to them.
TICTH the loudmouthed Trumpistas who shouted across me during my infusion the other day. (I asked the nurse, as I always do, for a chair in a quiet corner; this one said, apologetically, "This is all I have, and I'm afraid it's not very quiet." Understatement Alert!)
As I got settled, they were discussing the McCloskeys, who screamed and pointed firearms at a crowd of peaceful protesters on their way to the mayor's nearby domicile. That the protesters were peaceful is not in question; the entire affair was caught on video, from numerous viewpoints.
But this pair were talking about it from the McCloskeys' (demonstrably false) account: that the protesters broke down a decorative wrought iron gate across a sidewalk to get in (nope: the gate was open, and the protesters walked in without damaging it - and the McCloskeys have refused to release the home surveillance videos that would have shown how it was later damaged), that members of the crowd - or "mob," as my fellow patients were pleased to call it - shouted threats: to kill the McCloskeys, to kill their dog, to take over and move into their house, to burn their house down. But the videos don't back up any of that.
I finally pointed that out, only to be told that "you can't always trust videos." I was called a "libtard," although they were visibly startled when I dissected the problems with the couple's unsafe gun handling. They moved on to discuss their mutual loathing of Hillary! and other subhumans, including George Floyd ("He was a thug! a felon!"), while I focused on getting my blood pressure down from its ridiculously high level, so that I could have my damned infusion and get the hell out of there. Between the two of them and the oldies radio station that someone turned on, it was impossible to concentrate. Please, Lord, don't let me encounter either of them again, ever, amen.
Crikey Ross - that's the absolute last thing you needed. From what I've read about the McCloskeys, they'd make the neighbours from hell look like the neighbours from heaven.
There are a surprising number of people of that sort around here.
My blood pressure was an astonishing (and rather scary) 199 over 76 the first time the nurse took it; half an hour of slow in-through-the-nose-out-through-the-mouth breathing later, it was a more reasonable 136 over 76.
Did I mention that the both of the Fox News acolytes had their (paper, so they probably don’t own their own) masks down around their necks the entire time they were in there?
There are a surprising number of people of that sort around here.
My blood pressure was an astonishing (and rather scary) 199 over 76 the first time the nurse took it; half an hour of slow in-through-the-nose-out-through-the-mouth breathing later, it was a more reasonable 136 over 76.
Did I mention that the both of the Fox News acolytes had their (paper, so they probably don’t own their own) masks down around their necks the entire time they were in there?
Over here staff would have required them to wear masks while in hospital, I think.
How extraordinary. Round here it tends to be dumped in places that are difficult to see until you arrive at it. Furtive places.
I'm not a flytipper, but if I was, my priority would be somewhere where I could tip without getting caught. Penny's furtive places meet that criterion - but so do Priscilla's beauty spots in (importantly) the middle of nowhere: they're both the sort of place where you're unlikely to meet someone else.
Here, there is a charge for taking "commercial waste" to the tip, and fly-tipping is often of stripped out kitchens or bathrooms. Asbestos is also very expensive to dispose of legally (it cost us over £1000 for our garage roof in March.)
The fly tipping Priscillia posted is baffling - much of it looks like the sort of stuff that goes in the bin or recycling.
Especially if you choose the 'right' time - early morning, or late at night...
(I do NOT speak whereof I know, BTW).
There is a lane near here, leading to a remote hamlet, and the said lane (not overlooked by any houses for the best part of half a mile) is a favourite spot for fly-tipping. It's not unknown for the narrow road to be completely blocked by builder's rubble etc. etc.
One of the local spots has now become a place for burning out a car. And it is an access road for several dwellings and a farm so very difficult.
OTOH I have got some useful tiles for my downstairs loo there, unused in their box!
TICTH stupidity. Yes, I know, it's rather a Sisyphean challenge, but in one small corner, we have the Germans on our side. Trying to operate a touch-screen whilst driving is stupidity. Trying to control features of your car with a touchscreen whilst driving is uber-stupidity, and a German court has recognized this.
When I got my last car, I deliberately chose a model with a physical off/volume control for the media system, so I can kill the noise without looking if it's distracting.
If your car makes you look away from the road to do anything you might want to do whilst driving, your car is wrong.
TICTH stupidity. Yes, I know, it's rather a Sisyphean challenge, but in one small corner, we have the Germans on our side. Trying to operate a touch-screen whilst driving is stupidity. Trying to control features of your car with a touchscreen whilst driving is uber-stupidity, and a German court has recognized this.
When I got my last car, I deliberately chose a model with a physical off/volume control for the media system, so I can kill the noise without looking if it's distracting.
If your car makes you look away from the road to do anything you might want to do whilst driving, your car is wrong.
Amen, brother, amen. In my old VW I could adjust everything by feel, quickly learning the positions of all the switches and controls. In the newer one, even where they still have a knob to turn, they've taken away the detent that allowed you to judge its position. What on earth can be the reason for that? Doesn't anyone ever test anything before they build it now?
Digital instruments are just as bad. You have to take time to read a digital display, but with an analogue meter you can sense "How much?" with the briefest glance. I was a lot happier in the steam age.
TICTH the assumption that hotter, drier weather is necessarily better. Drought and constant dry skin is not an improvement.
I endorse this message. I stop functioning properly above about 26 and I hate the feel of sun on my skin. People don't seem to want "no" to be the answer to "isn't it lovely?"
I endorse this message. I stop functioning properly above about 26 and I hate the feel of sun on my skin. People don't seem to want "no" to be the answer to "isn't it lovely?"
And no, I don't "get used to it".
Once again, @KarlLB and I seem to be the same person. Although since moving to the US, I have found that my tolerance for hot humid weather has increased slightly. I still hate actual summers here - my threshold is if I start noticeably sweating just from being outside (not doing significant physical activity) then it's too hot. But I think in terms of temperature, my threshold has gone up a couple of degrees through acclimatization.
I'm struggling before it reaches 26º.
I hate this time of year, all shade disappears from our back garden between 09:30 and 14:30.
We had visitors last Friday morning - too many to sit indoors, so I ended up putting my chair in the flowerbed to catch the last vestige of shade from a neighbour's tree.
My comfort zone is about -5° to +5°C, and I'm being generous with the +5. The 30°+ that we've seen lately should be good preparation for the long term hot place.
... The fly tipping Priscillia posted is baffling - much of it looks like the sort of stuff that goes in the bin or recycling.
That's what I thought - hence my question. We've all "missed" the bin-collection day on occasions, but most of that looked as if it could have been bagged up and put somewhere until the next time.
Comments
TICTH those to-do lists that Never Get Done...
Or, as My Old Dad used to say 'Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow!'.
I don't know if this will turn out to be, as forecast, the hottest day of the year so far in the UK, but it seems that Christmas card catalogues are like flying ants - turn the temperature up a notch and out they all fly.
The first Christmas catalogue of 2020 landed on my doormat this morning.
O dear.
As I got settled, they were discussing the McCloskeys, who screamed and pointed firearms at a crowd of peaceful protesters on their way to the mayor's nearby domicile. That the protesters were peaceful is not in question; the entire affair was caught on video, from numerous viewpoints.
But this pair were talking about it from the McCloskeys' (demonstrably false) account: that the protesters broke down a decorative wrought iron gate across a sidewalk to get in (nope: the gate was open, and the protesters walked in without damaging it - and the McCloskeys have refused to release the home surveillance videos that would have shown how it was later damaged), that members of the crowd - or "mob," as my fellow patients were pleased to call it - shouted threats: to kill the McCloskeys, to kill their dog, to take over and move into their house, to burn their house down. But the videos don't back up any of that.
I finally pointed that out, only to be told that "you can't always trust videos." I was called a "libtard," although they were visibly startled when I dissected the problems with the couple's unsafe gun handling. They moved on to discuss their mutual loathing of Hillary! and other subhumans, including George Floyd ("He was a thug! a felon!"), while I focused on getting my blood pressure down from its ridiculously high level, so that I could have my damned infusion and get the hell out of there. Between the two of them and the oldies radio station that someone turned on, it was impossible to concentrate. Please, Lord, don't let me encounter either of them again, ever, amen.
<votive> for Ross and peace of mind and body!
If such a ghastly thing happened to me in a hospital, I would call VERY LOUDLY for Security...
My blood pressure was an astonishing (and rather scary) 199 over 76 the first time the nurse took it; half an hour of slow in-through-the-nose-out-through-the-mouth breathing later, it was a more reasonable 136 over 76.
Did I mention that the both of the Fox News acolytes had their (paper, so they probably don’t own their own) masks down around their necks the entire time they were in there?
Over here staff would have required them to wear masks while in hospital, I think.
Likewise. I am on the point of consigning myself entirely......
I have written an impressive August to-do list to try to get myself back on track.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/flytippers-ruin-one-wales-most-18707559
I'm not a flytipper, but if I was, my priority would be somewhere where I could tip without getting caught. Penny's furtive places meet that criterion - but so do Priscilla's beauty spots in (importantly) the middle of nowhere: they're both the sort of place where you're unlikely to meet someone else.
The fly tipping Priscillia posted is baffling - much of it looks like the sort of stuff that goes in the bin or recycling.
(I do NOT speak whereof I know, BTW).
There is a lane near here, leading to a remote hamlet, and the said lane (not overlooked by any houses for the best part of half a mile) is a favourite spot for fly-tipping. It's not unknown for the narrow road to be completely blocked by builder's rubble etc. etc.
OTOH I have got some useful tiles for my downstairs loo there, unused in their box!
When I got my last car, I deliberately chose a model with a physical off/volume control for the media system, so I can kill the noise without looking if it's distracting.
If your car makes you look away from the road to do anything you might want to do whilst driving, your car is wrong.
Amen, brother, amen. In my old VW I could adjust everything by feel, quickly learning the positions of all the switches and controls. In the newer one, even where they still have a knob to turn, they've taken away the detent that allowed you to judge its position. What on earth can be the reason for that? Doesn't anyone ever test anything before they build it now?
Digital instruments are just as bad. You have to take time to read a digital display, but with an analogue meter you can sense "How much?" with the briefest glance. I was a lot happier in the steam age.
I endorse this message. I stop functioning properly above about 26 and I hate the feel of sun on my skin. People don't seem to want "no" to be the answer to "isn't it lovely?"
And no, I don't "get used to it".
Once again, @KarlLB and I seem to be the same person. Although since moving to the US, I have found that my tolerance for hot humid weather has increased slightly. I still hate actual summers here - my threshold is if I start noticeably sweating just from being outside (not doing significant physical activity) then it's too hot. But I think in terms of temperature, my threshold has gone up a couple of degrees through acclimatization.
I hate this time of year, all shade disappears from our back garden between 09:30 and 14:30.
We had visitors last Friday morning - too many to sit indoors, so I ended up putting my chair in the flowerbed to catch the last vestige of shade from a neighbour's tree.
May I be part of that person too? I can handle up to about 25° if it's a dry heat, but if there's any humidity, I turn into a miserable heap.