In Sweden/Europe we made the customary switch to Summer Time, or Daylight Saving Time, between Saturday and Sunday the last weekend in March.
I never quite understood the “saving” part. It seems to me that what happens here in the North is that we lose an hour when the days are getting longer anyway, and don’t get it back until winter darkness falls (and then seems to fall all the more suddenly). Moreover, every six months I have to spend time just to check/reset a dozen or so clocks (and usually forgetting one or two). (Not to mention all the time spent on complaining about it!)
The most trouble in recent years I’ve had with a so-called “radio-controlled” clock, in spite of that being The One that one might be tempted to think one should be able to rely on in these kinds crises…
I think that while residing in my parents’ home it did behave as it should; but apparently it did not like moving into town with me. While I’ve had it here, it has only grudgingly agreed to adjust to the summer/winter time changes, and each time has caused me more bother than all the other clocks together… This time, neither a fresh battery nor the trick of moving it into another room to pick up the signal was any help. It had clearly decided that if it’s any time at all, it’s time to retire...
As I still kept glancing at the empty wall space (in my study) where It Was Not, today I resolutely went out and bought More Time:
This one I’ll have to reset manually, but that will be no doubt be quicker than spending days of frustration on coaxing the old clock into picking up its signal!
You did good, because more time is always so hard to come by! No use keeping a clock that does not work right. Will you keep it? A couple weeks ago, we started Daylight Savings Time. I wish we had it all the time, and never changed the clocks at all.
ReplyDeletewe have 4 clocks just in the kitchen, 3 others and i have 3 watches and bob has 1.. it is quiet the chore. i did not know there is a radio clock. i like the looks of it... i want them to leave it, doesn't matter where they leave it just stop changing. at least the computers change themselves. my kindle did not change i had to change it.
ReplyDeleteI've not even thought of checking my Kindle! (as I said, I always forget at least one...) My computers and cellphones change automatically, but nothing else.
DeleteTo answer your question on my post. Yes, it is all glass, most of it Persian. Dale Chihuly is a famous glass designer and travels around to museums with his exhibits. I wish you could see some of it!
ReplyDeleteMy radio controlled clocks have been behaving themselves recently but in the past one in particular was reluctant. However when I read the instructions it said that if it was on an inside wall try putting it near a window overnight. I did at the time and it worked. The replacement clock works fine. I have a bit of déjà vu over this conversation. I think?
ReplyDeleteI may well have been muttering about that clock up to eight times since it came to live with me (in 2011), Graham... (I dare not check if I actually did blog the same complaints every six months, regular as clockwork...) Anyway moving it to another room (and near a window) has been the way to deal with it - until now. This time I tried every room in the flat without result, so decided I (or it, or both of us) had had enough! :)
DeleteI think the time change is a huge bother and it would not hurt my feelings one bit if they totally abandoned it. I used to have an atomic clock and it caused me trouble until I threw it away! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not alone, Terri! ;)
DeleteI have only one clock that needs changing manually, and that's the one in the living room. The small radio clock on my bedside table, the radio one in the kitchen, my computer, my TV satellite receiver and my mobile phone do it all without me, and they do it well :-)
ReplyDeleteLast weekend while ironing, I listened to an interesting BBC Radio 4 programme about time and how our concept of it has changed with being able to measure it more and more precisely over the centuries, and with the industrial revolution, and also how the idea of "daylight saving" was first introduced and what it actually does (or does not). The programme was narrated by Stephen Fry and I have just tried in vain to find the podcast for you on the website. Maybe you have better luck (if you are interested at all).
Found it, I think. I'll listen later! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05nk5qq
DeleteYes, Monica, that's the one!
DeleteI've now listened to it, Meike - thanks! :) I've not really thought of exploring BBC radio programmes before, I might have a look around for some other gems some time.
DeleteIt is what I usually listen to when I do the ironing - one episode has more or less the right length for one pile of ironing for me :-)
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