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moving through time
Ready for some time travel? (The clocks are going back, and we're trying to make it interesting)
Winter Time begins tonight.
MEMBERS OF THE nation’s news media tend to pine for the return of Alan Shatter around this time of year.
Not for any particular political reason, mind (sure aren’t we all strictly non-partisan?) – but because of those laboriously whimsical press releases, whenever it was time to put the clocks back or forward.
Shatter relished his ‘Time Lord’ role when he was Minister for Justice: his twice-yearly announcements came with references to Doctor Who, reminders about “sensitive equipment and gizmos” and encouragements to “seize the hour”.
In retrospect Shatter’s little jokes probably weren’t really that funny at all, were they?
But when it comes to humour from politicians – well, that famous quote about elephants playing woodwind instruments comes to mind:
“Whether it’s any good or not isn’t really the point – it’s remarkable that it happens at all”*.
Anyway, here’s what you need to know about the time change tonight:
- Winter Time begins at 2am.
- That means you need to put your watches and clocks back an hour at that time.
Spring forward, fall back.
Good news if you happen to be out clubbing, in other words. And if you need to be somewhere tomorrow morning, it’s an extra hour in bed.
*This quote may be a little bit made-up. The actual quote I was trying to remember is from Samuel Johnson and, as I’d quite forgotten, is really, really incredibly sexist.
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