PERCHANCE TO DREAM

US time switch set to save energy

The US has switched to daylight saving time, or summer time, three weeks earlier than usual to cut fuel consumption and help the environment.At 0200 EST (0700 GMT) clocks moved forward by an hour, shifting an hour of daylight from morning to evening.Summer time will last until 4 November, a week later than in previous years.The extra four weeks are expected to help cut energy consumption, as demand falls for electricity in the evening if it is still light.The measure was signed into law two years ago as part of the Energy Policy Act which aims to encourage new energy technologies.

I am totally envious!
I seem to spend my winter months waiting for this day and the US are getting it 3 weeks early. This winter has been a long winter with all our illnesses and this would certainly have helped psychologically.

I could also go with this

During the Second World War, double summer time (2 hours in advance of GMT) was introduced and was used for the period when, normally ordinary summer time would have been in force. During the winter clocks were kept one hour in advance of GMT. After the war, summer time was invoked each year from 1948 to 1967. In 1968 clocks were advanced one hour ahead of GMT on 18 February and remained so until British Standard Time, during which clocks were kept in advance of GMT all year, came into force between 27 October 1968 and 31 October 1971.

I can see all the disadvantages but it is nice to dream!

Two years ago we spent Christmas on the island of Tobermory and it was still quite dark at
9 am. The farmers also talk about working longer in the dark but after years of working nights as a nurse I know that you get used to it( well I did, I loved working nights). I do have sympathy however with the religious implications.

Due to the whole UNTIDY HOUSE episode, we had a family conference yesterday. We tend to end up doing our weekend shopping on a Saturday evening due to my total dislike of shopping when there are huge crowds in the supermarkets and evenings are relatively quiet.I asked SnoWhite and Fiona if they wanted to come with me and they unsuspectingly agreed. Imagine the situation, Myself, Beauty, SnoWhite and Fiona in the car and I said ,'Right.........family conference'. And why did I choose that moment? Captive audience of course!
I also told them that I wanted no arguments and they were very obliging.
I explained my desire for the whole of the downstairs to be cleaned daily(plus the upstairs bathroom), and co-operation with the washing of dishes and laundry.I explained that the more that they helped the quicker the work would be done daily, if they did not agree they in no way showed it. I have a brother and sister who attend my computer classes and the sister has told me that they do all the housework in their house. The mother and father both work and the children contribute to the family by helping around the house. Also, when I was growing up I was quite happy to help my mother with housework, so I am not asking them to do something I wouldn't do.
Only time will tell the outcome of this little conference!

I was so pleased with Beauty yesterday, she brought me some yoghurts to take the lids off for her and when I handed them back she said, 'Thank you'. Only a little achievement but they all build up.

When we were in the Supermarket we went down the crisp aisle and Beauty saw Pringles and she remembered that we had had some before and wanted some but I said No and she was not happy with this answer. I did however put Walkers (70% less fat) crisps into the trolley and it took about 2 aisles of paddying before she would accept that the Pringles weren't happening but the Walkers were. No it isn't ever very nice when a child on the autistic spectrum has a meltdown in public but thankfully this was only a small one. From it's early conclusion it also seems as if she understood that she couldn't always have her own way and that is an achievement in itself.