Saturday, 12 January 2008

Well, the sun has tried to come out today, and it also tried to snow and rain. Temp just above zero Celsius outside (21 inside). The dog doesn't stay out long when she gets let out to do her business.

Looking out now I don't think the sun's going to get a chance today. People are still talking about this definitely unseasonal thaw and the news has issued warning to people not to walk on ice as it's thin and dangerous. People drill holes in frozen lakes, dams and rivers to fish in winter.

Life in winter here in Canada is so different to winters in South Africa. Some people leave their cars idling in the supermarket car parks so they're not cold when they get back! Can you imaging leaving your car idling in a car park in South Africa? It would be stolen before you walked away from it! But leaving the car running in Canada is not a thing that is done much because according to my sister, the Canadians are becoming more eco aware now. In summer big shopping centres and supermarkets only have about half their interior lights on in an attempt to keep electricity usage down. Home owners are encouraged to turn off lights when they're not in the room, and the municipality supplies different crates to each household for recycling e.g. plastics, paper tins, glass. South African should take a leaf out of their book. Drive through any city or large town in SA and see all the highrise office blocks a blaze of lights. (See the comments on 11 January) I think we must write to our city managers to get them to look into this situation. I know I'm going to speak to the general manager of my work place about turning office lights out at night when there's nobody there. Sometimes I go around the building turning passage lights out during the day. It's a pity other people don't care about these things too! Oh well.....

Babysitting my nephews is an easy task because all day and every day (in winter) they're at their computers playing video games (except when they're at school, and I wonder if they sit there longing for home time so they can get back to the games!!) They get on well together and I don't have to be referee of any fights.