It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Almo

Charis wrote: »

I have always slightly envied my brother, still out in Australia and comfortably off. Then, on the BBC news page today I saw the forest fires out there. It's been 43° (106°F) during the last week and the suburbs between his home and the coast are ablaze. I've decided I'd rather be here with my lentils and candles. I spent a lot of yesterday reading Nella Last's War and realised that no matter what, people do manage to survive. The most important thing, still true now, is a positive, cheerful attitude (even if secretly you are worried sick, like Nella). I love her philosophy of 'take each day as it comes and do the best I can with it'.

I just had to reply to this - I'm in Australia, in Melbourne and last week we did indeed have temps of 43 - in fact, it went up to 45. The temps set a new record. On Friday, half a million homes lost power (air conditioners using crazy amounts of electricity), partly through government mandated power cuts. All trains were cancelled and we had transport chaos. Thankfully, we were only out for 5 hours but other places were out for days. The heat has claimed more than 30 lives in Australia too.

I didn't live through the 70s in any country but it really does feel as if something is going to happen - like we're on the cusp of an event that will perhaps cause us all (as a society) to re-evaluate.

I've loved seeing the pics of the snow on TV but lived in the UK for years and am well aware that it won't all be fun and games for you guys living through it so I hope everyone is safe and well, and warm and well fed.

Hardup_Hester

Our school closed yesterday, not because of the weather, but because not enough staff could get in to supervise the children. Some parts of Berkshire are very hilly & sometimes we just can't get out of our roads. Some staff travel by train & the trains weren't running.

maryb

rosieben wrote: »

I just had a giggle at the bbc news ticker at the bottom of the tv screen (sorry, cant remember exact words) but it said something like 'snow brings rush hour traffic to a standstill on the M25' sorry but I thought 'standstill' was the usual state of the traffic on the M25

see, the bbc does have some entertainment value

I like the reporter who said "we've had round the clock snow for the last 24 hours"

ceridwen

Almo wrote: »

I didn't live through the 70s in any country but it really does feel as if something is going to happen - like we're on the cusp of an event that will perhaps cause us all (as a society) to re-evaluate.

.

Hi Almo - from us here in freezing Britain to you there in boiling Australia:hello:

We could both do with a way to "barter" a few degrees Celsius of weather temperature - to even things out a bit for us both.

Sorry to hear of that power station of yours exploding from overheating.

Perhaps one of the things we might all re-evaluate is the place of Money in our Society - if 'twere only just a means of exchange and not summat that can be "created" at the touch of a keyboard or have extra printed off at the whim of a Government and is very much a Power thing that people have been finding ways to legally "steal" from each other for centuries. I often think of that phrase "Money is the root of all evil" - well maybe not at the root of ALL evil - but certainly at the root of a heck of a lot of it.

2cats1kid

LOL ceridwen, I said the exact same thing to DH last night - can't we average out the -1 and the +45 and all have a nice comfy 22?

ceridwen

2cats1kid

Well I hadnt done the maths - with my dicey maths just as well;) - but 'tis true.

Reet - now back to the international angle - I used to have the main international "bloggers exchange" favourited on my news websites - this being one where bloggers from any and every country put entries on and the rest of the world has a "one stop shop" where they can see whats happening in America/India/Timbuktu for all I know. I found it when I was checking out events in Burma - as there was a couple of valiant bloggers transmitting news out when no-one else could/would.

I lost track of this website when my whole computer "blew". I retrieved the vast majority of my other favourites and they are now safely "stored" on my personal blog I've got since - so cant be lost again:D .

Does anyone have the link for this international bloggers site please?

(can't think why I encourage everyone to get a blog - moi? Of whatever description - I believe strongly in ordinary people in the street doing blogs about their everyday lives/concerns/whatever...). It makes for a crowded Blogosphere (and I wish commercial concerns would "keep their oar out" - rather than one often finding that an apparent blog isnt at all - its some firm doing a bit of advertising - hence one of my reasons for not even investigating adverts on my blog - as I dont believe in it basically).

So - 'twould be appreciated purlease if I could have this if you know of it..

Penelope_Penguin

ceridwen wrote: »

I often think of that phrase "Money is the root of all evil" - well maybe not at the root of ALL evil - but certainly at the root of a heck of a lot of it.

Sadly, the Bible is often misquoted here - Love of money is the root of all evil

Penny. x

ceridwen

Sorrees....P.P. - I missed a bit....and I knows me Bible purty well....:o

mummysaver

Very snowy here today! Looks beautiful!

Planning on making fudge cake later, think the weather necessitates it LOL! If things get tougher we shall just have to eat more of it LOL!

Penelope_Penguin

ceridwen wrote: »

Sorrees....P.P. - I missed a bit....and I knows me Bible purty well....:o

Interestingly, though, adding the word Love, completely changes the meaning of the phrase