I am sad…..and grumpy. I think it’s S.A.D. or Seasonal Affective Disorder. The thing people get when they don’t get enough sunlight. All my life this has never been a problem. For as long as I can remember I have spent much of every winter away, either skiing or following European golf to far distant (and sunny) lands. Normally I would be in Abu Dhabi this week, having already had weeks in South Africa. My new work-free life means joining the great unwashed in suffering month after month of British winter, untainted by foreign relief. I feel as though my circadian rhythms are up the creek, although I haven’t got a clue what they are. I heard somebody talking about them the other day and they sound important. Apparently you can get lights that will work as a substitute for the sun, to balance your melatonin and serotonin. I’m a bit worried though about increasing my carbon footprint with a mega powerful lamp, although thinking about it if I’m not flying over one hundred thousand air miles, I must be in considerable credit; carbon negative even. Which apparently is what Microsoft are aiming to be by 2030. I’m not clear yet what that means either, but no doubt David Attenborough will soon hove into sight to explain that as well.
I am curious to know how we can reduce air travel or perhaps more importantly reduce the pollution from jet engines? Solar powered electric engines? Hydrogen seems to be gaining traction as a clean fuel, but will it power aero engines? Or are we all suddenly going to stop holidaying abroad? Will all international business be done on Skype? Will all freight go by sea? I was a bit concerned that in my previous eighty four blogs I hadn’t used enough question marks.
I am actually doing my bit for climate change. I had a period a year or two back where I was a vegan, mainly on health grounds, but also on the basis that we should dramatically reduce the number of cows on this planet because they produce enough methane gas to raise sea levels by three feet. I discovered though that an overdose of veg meant I was suddenly emitting as much gas as half a herd of Fresians myself. The family were relieved when I returned to a more balanced diet.
Talking of diets, I have persuaded my slightly acne-afflicted daughter to try a glass of celery juice every morning before breakfast. There seem to be good case studies to show that it might work. We are only on day two so it’s probably a bit soon to pass judgement, but I will keep you posted. It might be pure coincidence but she suffered with a badly swollen knee today, for no apparent reason. Can celery do that?
I have joined her in this mission, in the hope that it might make me less sad and grumpy.
P.S. If you care, Google will provide a simple explanation of Circadian Rhythms.
ADayInTheStrifeOf 