The changing daylight hours thread

[Costa Del Fal]

Haha Nick. Buggar off. Youve had your fun for this Winter... or not :lol:

 

Last night the very last bit of light hadnt faded till almost 8pm!

[Weather-history]

Really clear here, note how long the twilight lasts this evening. Should still see a glow to the WNW as late as 7.30pm or even later.

[Jax]

And will be dark again in the morning next week (*sigh*) was quite enjoying the dawn light, well at least it should return (again) soon.

[cheeky_monkey]

is still light here at 8.30pm

[Kentish Man]

There is actually a sound reason why clocks are changed nearer the equinox in spring than in autumn. This is that the earth's orbit is elliptical, and therefore its speed round the sun changes during the year. This has two relatively subtle but easily observable effects, one of which is that the northern hemisphere's winter half of the year is shorter than the summer half (ever wondered about February being the shortest month?) The other is that the actual time of midday as you observe the sun varies by about 16 minutes either way - hence the term Greenwich Mean Time, where the mean time that the sun is due south is defined as 12.00.The earliest solar noon is in autumn and the latest in late winter, meaning that sunrise and sunset are earlier than you might expect in October and later in March. It is the time of sunrise that dictates when we can tolerate putting the clocks forward, and because of the uneven motion of the earth the same sunrise times are observed nearer the equinox in March.However, the above effect only partially accounts for the changeover dates generally adopted in Europe. We could put our clocks forward in the first week of March and see the same sunrise times as when we put them back in October. No one has ever given me a satisfactory explanation for that.

Thanks for that explanation and I concur with your last sentence. Apparently the date BST starts is determined by Europe and we can't change it unilaterally. This March has seen some good weather at times and imo it is a shame we don't help our tourist industry after the awful winter by bringing forward the start of BST by two or three weeks.

[laserguy]

by bringing forward the start of BST by two or three weeks.

 

I could cope with that, so long as it finished two or three weeks earlier as well.

[cheeky_monkey]

I could cope with that, so long as it finished two or three weeks earlier as well.

Here it is called daylight saving time and it starts three weeks earlier than in the UK but also finishes later..clocks go back the first sunday in November

[laserguy]

Here it is called daylight saving time and it starts three weeks earlier than in the UK but also finishes later..clocks go back the first sunday in November

 

What a dreadful state of affairs.

[Summer of 95]

I loved that sunshine we had at 6am on Monday, got a real nice tan and mowed the lawn, even had the paddling pool out. Was a real nice dream until it woke me up streaming through the window when it was -2C outside.  Who needs it at 7 in the evening when people are awake and children want to play outside? 

[laserguy]

 Was a real nice dream until it woke me up streaming through the window ...

 

 

Yes it's that time of year again when instead of being teased from slumber by the soft, dulcet tones and subtle glow of the alarm, I've got all the vulgarity of a billion H bombs frazzling my retinas thru' closed eye lids - whether I need to be up or not. Folk who claim to like this sort of thing really need to sort themselves out.

[be cause]

Yes it's that time of year again when instead of being teased from slumber by the soft, dulcet tones and subtle glow of the alarm, I've got all the vulgarity of a billion H bombs frazzling my retinas thru' closed eye lids - whether I need to be up or not. Folk who claim to like this sort of thing really need to sort themselves out.

I heard somebody invented curtains .. apparently very useful in these situations ...

[laserguy]

I heard somebody invented curtains .. apparently very useful in these situations ...

 

They don't work. I'm considering bricking-up the damn hole where the glass goes.

[Gray-Wolf]

We have blackout curtains in front of the curtains. works a treat! J' used to be up with the sun as a nipper so we had to go down that line and now we just prefer it that way.

[laserguy]

We have blackout curtains in front of the curtains. works a treat! J' used to be up with the sun as a nipper so we had to go down that line and now we just prefer it that way.

 

I would be grateful if you could recommend a brand - I've tried some thick,jet-black ones which came with fanciful claims but they could not block the direct rays of the rising sun. Better than now't but as they weren't totally effective the missus got shut in favour of something more suited the the decor of the bedroom. Bloody wimmin.

[Dancerwithwings]

Go spanish and have shutters...he he... When it's Siesta time it works for them 

[Summer Sun]

I would be grateful if you could recommend a brand - I've tried some thick,jet-black ones which came with fanciful claims but they could not block the direct rays of the rising sun. Better than now't but as they weren't totally effective the missus got shut in favour of something more suited the the decor of the bedroom. Bloody wimmin.

 

Have you ever tried a sleep mask?

[Bottesford]

I'm starting to get similar issues in my flat. It came completely bare with no lights, no curtains, nothing. Installed blinds to the small lower windows in the bedroom but the large upper window will require something pretty big to keep out the light.

Mostly its no issue - it faces SSW so only (so far) on weekend lie-ins are we getting sunblasted. Not quite sure how it'll be by June mind!

 

Loving finishing work in the light now - feels so much nicer. Now I finish at 6pm instead of 5pm it's taking that bit longer. Previously it'd be Feb that'd take me from twilight to full light but now it's March. Not such a fan of 9-6 working hours - preferred starting and finishing earlier and working better with the light.

[laserguy]

Have you ever tried a sleep mask?

 

Ye but it kept coming off. Only thing that really works are certain, er, pharmaceuticals... but a chap can't really carry on like that if consequences are to be avoided.

[Jax]

Must admit decent blackout curtains fitted right are a boon if sleeping in the lighter hours, stopped at a motel (sleep nights? I think) and they had fantastic ones when I was in Liverpool recently, you would not know the time of day in that room based on light alone.

[Costa Del Fal]

BST is nearly here. Oh you have been missed. 8pm Sunsets close now.

[Costa Del Fal]

The day arrives where we screw around with the clocks for no Goddamn apparent reason.

Will make evening socialising outdoors far more enjoyable. Perfect on warm evenings for a couple of drinks after a long days work whilst the chiminea burns and watch the sun set. Heaven.

[Daniel*]

Will make evening socialising outdoors far more enjoyable. Perfect on warm evenings for a couple of drinks after a long days work whilst the chiminea burns and watch the sun set. Heaven.

That is true but let's be realistic do we spend all our time eating caviar and drinking champagne, outdoors? It is just a nuisance, just keep with one thing, much more convenient. It is very unatural to see light at 9pm. Far majority carry life out just like they do now.

[Costa Del Fal]

1. Days are so long in June anyway (16+ hours) that it doesnt make much of a difference

2. Why do we throw it back in October? - Days are so short in winter.

3. The morning after DST comes into force, there is a peak in heart attacks due to sleep deprivation. So unless the country likes to kill it's citizens...

That's my grudge towards it.

True in June its quite good anyway but still, we dont get to enjoy it for long so BST helps a bit more. We spend enough time indoors in this country complaining we want to be outside!

 

As for point 3, wheres the evidence for that? Surely it must be a very minor increase if so? Being a Sunday, it must be easier, just to go back to sleep or lie in...

[Costa Del Fal]

That is true but let's be realistic do we spend all our time eating caviar and drinking champagne, outdoors? It is just a nuisance, just keep with one thing, much more convenient. It is very unatural to see light at 9pm. Far majority carry life out just like they do now.

Bit OTT that :lol: wrt to champagne etc. I could argue its just as unnatural to see it dark at 4pm in December... But still, each to their own I guess. For sure, most will get about as normal, but just like some enjoy the dark (!?!?), many will enjoy the opportunities lighter evenings bring too.

[Costa Del Fal]

At least they do do it on a Sunday. If it was a weekday then God knows what. In all honesty I wouldn't even mind if we moved to DST and just stayed there,(ie: always on DST through the year) but messing around with the clocks every March and October is just a hassle and completely pointless.

I do agree somewhat there. I would be quite happy with BST all year. Though I dont mind the earlier dark evenings especially in Autumn as it adds to the Christmas festivities but thereafter, Im craving for light and warmth!