by saving time
Prague Astronomical Clock, photographed on our visit in spring 2002
In most parts of Canada, early Sunday morning our clocks will be adjusted back to regular time (remember “spring forward, fall back”). It used to be at the end of October but that was adjusted to follow the US changes a few years ago. I always think this messing around with time changes idiotic, expensive, unsafe and unhealthy. The history and politics are rather interesting though, here and here. Do you have to change clocks twice a year where you are?
November 6, 2010 in Current Events, History by Marja-Leena
In Finland we did that one week ago. I do not see any daylight saving, it is the darkest tome of the year anyway! Terrible for an artist depending of light and colours, but somehow cosy at the same time. Adjusting… have a nice Sunday!
Yes, and it’s equally idiotic here. We had the wintertime started last week end.
You know who sufferes most of this time changes? the answer: the cows! They’re very sensitive with their eating schedule.
We have I think the same weekend time shift within EU.
The irritation is somewhat eased by the fact that three of our analogue clocks, and those on the computers and the VCR, change themselves. It isn’t a job for humans.
The Prague clock turned out to be a huge disappointment. The auto-mannikins, rather than emerging into the fresh air and bashing each other on their heads, or whatever, were only briefly visible in their recesses. I could have tolerated this if the café directly opposite, which we’d foolishly used for sustenance, hadn’t turned out to be the most rapacious in all the former Eastern Bloc countries. Something the Americans would no doubt call a double whammie.
BST is maintained in Great Britain and has something to do with Scottish farmers otherwise having to do their ploughing in the dark. Scotland is now, of course, devolved from England and I’m not sure this argument still holds. This is not a subject I shall be discussing with Plutarch on Wednesday when the Blogger’s Retreat rolls round again.
Time has been on my mind these past days and nights. I’m so happy to have my hour back today … I miss it all summer long. When I lived in southern Japan, there was no time change to deal with, and I loved it!
yes we do and I dont like it either!
Leena, of course Daylight Saving does nothing for the north where the sun hardly sets in summer, and hardly rises in winter. I remember that well when we lived in northern BC, though that was still about the level of Helsinki if I recall right.
Ripsa, I didn’t know that about cows! I find the clock change takes me a while to adjust to, rather like experiencing jet lag! Finland would naturally be ‘in time’ with EU as we are with US because of trade and travel.
BB, like yours, some of our clocks self-adjust, many don’t. A semi-annual ritual or chore. Scotland being north doesn’t need DST, like Finland. Do you mean Britain does not go on DST at all? We have pockets here where residents have chosen not to, like in northeast BC which is more closely connected geographically and in trade with Alberta. Imagine how confusing it all is with air and transport scheduling!
As for Prague’s famous clock, I think I’d agree that the moving figures are not as impressive as ones we saw in Germany (such as in Fred’s hometown), but the clocks themselves are amazing. We had many meals in a café probably next to the one you wrote about – colourful and reasonable – and with this view of the clock. Have fun at the Blogger’s Retreat – will think of you both there!
R, of course time is so much on your mind as you watch over your mother! It seems to move so slowly in hospitals. Japan has no DST – how very sensible they are!
Rosie, I wonder if there were a vote amongst the public for or against DST, who would win?
We don’t have daylight savings time. We are in the tropics, and our days and nights don’t vary much over the seasons, making DST unnecessary.
Hattie, another benefit to living in the tropics! Though I must say I do like the long white nights of the north.
It’s not the change this end I mind, that’s a relief, it’s the struggle towards it. We are right out here in the western fringes of Europe and we’re on the same times as eastern Germany – it’s crazy. By October it’s not light until about 9.30 a.m, getting up is really hard, and in the summer it’s OK but you have to stay up till about midnight to see any stars. I moan about this quite often…
Lucy, wow, not light until about 9.30 a.m sounds strange and very hard to me to me too, it’s not that late here. I do like the light until midnight though, which reminds me of summers in the north here or in Finland.