Yesterday it rained for the first time in a month. It didn’t last long. My cat came in a bit damp, so I looked outside and there were droplets of water on leaves.
England and Wales are officially in drought conditions. A major Nature Reserve at Mimsmere was destroyed by fire. Whole parts of it that supported rare species of plants and animals are gone.
But big companies want drilling for oil, digging for coal, while European countries are ablaze and Canada boreal forest is threatened.
Listen to the world, not politicians, bankers and industrialists.
At the moment there are 19 active wildfires in the UK. They have been caused by three successive heatwaves in the UK since May.
Moorland near Glossop in Derbyshire is on fire. There is another caused by kids setting off fireworks I think. Their friend had drowned in a lake after getting into difficulties, and the idea was to remember him?
Also a forest fire in Conwy, Wales. A fire on Saddleworth Moor near Rochdale. Another on the Hampshire-Surrey border.
There are more massive fires in Southern Spain where several people have been killed or injured, and also in France and Greece.
So those climate change deniers have a lot to answer for.
Red warnings over Ireland and Scotland today for strong winds. Some gusts were over 100 miles an hour. Almost a million houses are without power over Northern Ireland and Eire, and the storm is moving across to Scotland.
Amber warnings for North Wales and the North of England. The rest has had yellow warnings.
I woke this morning to the wind blowing through the cat flaps, seeking the gaps around the kitchen window, and whistling round the door. The bare skeletons of the trees were rattling their branches together. I think the birds were hunkering down in the bushes. Next door has a scaffolding platform in their yard while they work on the roof and walls. That shivered and shuddered as strong gusts blew past it. I was worried it would blow into my yard. The cats have been out but quickly rushed back in.
People were warned not to travel and trees have been uprooted and structures damaged. There has also been flooding in costal areas. This is one of the worst storms recently, but they are getting more frequent.
But the large country to the West of us has a new president that does not believe there is a problem. He wants more oil and gas development.
Cities are working out how to store water and prevent flooding, with massive tunnels below them to allow water to flow away. Storage spaces to trap water then release it slowly as the waters receded. Having beavers upstream in rivers to dam and slow the flow of water downstream. And also reinstating rush beds or filter beds to hold onto the fluid and clean any sewage that has leaked into waterways. You could also build buildings up on higher ground or stilts. Or raise buildings in heavy rain or storm conditions. There is still a lot we can do to combat climate change.
I like cold weather as long as I can get warm when I need to. I like cold, clear, frosty days. Days when trees look like white sculptures, where hoar frosts build crystals of ice on leaves and twigs. Where spiders webs festoon hedges.
I don’t like warm wet winters, where you go out and your feet feel wet all day. Where the rain blows into your coat hood and trickles down your neck. Cats drive past and spray you with water from the gutter.
I don’t like too hot summers. I can’t cool my house down enough. I feel like I’m melting. Cold showers or an electric fan with a bottle of frozen water in front of it (not too close) are methods to keep cool.
Britain can get very cold and very hot but it rarely stays the same every day. Sometimes we have short heatwaves and cold snaps, but the weather has changed over the last few years. Those mild wet winters are confusing the plants and insects. Life is trying to keep up with man made climate change and I don’t think we are doing enough.
I was just watching the news and so far this September is the hottest ever recorded in history, and the year is heading towards the hottest ever too.
Meanwhile our government has decided to cancel a high speed train project and instead wants to support car drivers. They are going to have some kind of war on potholes in the streets! They don’t want to slow traffic to 20 miles an hour in built up areas, although it means children would be less likely to be killed in accidents where the current limit is 30 mph.
Also the petrol or diesel car is seen to be better than electric vehicles. Our government is putting back the date when cars have to be electric from 2030 to 2035. Firms that were planning for the 2030 date and retooling their workshops now have to rethink what they are doing.
And the government have signed off on a new oil field in the north sea, but the oil and gas from there is due to be exported to other countries to be refined and we will have to buy it back at inflated prices!
But as long as our Prime Minister can travel on private jets all must be well with the world!
Soon there should be butterflies and moths flying round the buddlea bushes in the garden. But they, and other insects, have plummeted in numbers over the last few decades. Whether this is due to changes in climate, where their food stuffs emerge earlier than they used to and are not available to them. Or because their food plants are removed or not replaced. Or because insecticides like nicotinamides are being used when they are linked with insect deaths? Why don’t we see sense and try and limit increases in Carbon dioxide? Reduce insecticide use and stop being so destructive.
The bible says man shall have dominion over the animals and plants of the world. I wish that read responsibility for their care? We are the guardians of the Earth. We outnumber everything else and our behaviour is appalling in so many things. We should learn to support the Earth more.
On a tomato plant at the back of the yard. Eight tomatoes in November. We have eaten four but we are waiting for the rest to ripen. But it’s NOVEMBER! How on earth have they lasted this long.
Tomorrow the weather forecast is for temperatures of 19°C. That’s about 8°C above normal. The COP 27 Climate change conference just discussed trying to keep temperatures from going above 1.5°C higher than before the industrial revolution. Only a small rise, but enough to cause damage and disaster. So what? Flooding in costal cities across the world, dangerous increases in the ferocity of hurricanes, tornados and typhoons. Melting icecaps and glaciers. We must all try and do something about it.
It’s a bit chilly inside but I just put my dressing gown on. It keeps me snug. I am concerned that the price of gas and electricity is going up soon and that people won’t be able to heat their homes or food. So what can I do to save money? I’ve started sweeping up instead of vacuuming. I only do that once a week. I try not to use my car as much. I’ve only filled it up about six times this year. I also microwave some foods first to get them hot, then finish them off in the oven. For instance jacket potatoes. I’m wondering if there are other ways of saving power. Maybe I should use a hot water bottle instead of central heating? They say we should insulate our homes more. I did try and find out about that but we didn’t fit the criteria. I’m sure ideas will be thought of. Hopefully before climate change gets us!
Mallaband-Brown 