h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My father used to have a backboard that leaned against a tree in the field. He would bounce a tennis ball against the board.

In the last 12 months I've:
- handed in my notice at the job I was in since 2005
- started a new job with an employer I'd never heard of, manufacturing a product I'd never heard of, before the interview
- left the house that is the place I've lived in for the longest continuous period in my life
- moved into a new house less than a week before Christmas
- moved my toddler from a nursery he and his parents both loved
- had a new baby boy.

Oh yeah, and lived through this bloody pandemic.

I'm really hoping 2021 is less... eventful. (Mind you, there's the second American civil war to look forward to, possibly...)

I hope that civil war can be avoided, but people's mental health has gone pretty far downhill since Covid-19 came to our shores. Can we get through the inauguration without further bloodshed? My fingers are crossed.

Hope those are mostly good changes, Hoovooloo. Good to hear your news.

I'm hoping 2021 will be a bit more eventful for me, as I've been prevented from doing so much that I would like to be doing. Although it will probably also bring sale of my Mum's house & disposal of contents which I expect to be emotionally difficult.

With you there, paulh.
Will be following the news with concern.

I'm on the outskirts of my state's capital city. Plus, the election results here were not close enough to be worth protesting. I know just one Trump supporter, and he's got a full plate with his job and his care of an elderly aunt.

Speaking of riots. We have some here now (Netherlands), after introduction of a curfew. The police had to disperse protesters and looters with water cannon and tear gas. One COVID test location burnt down.

Interesting to see that the riots were covered for the BBC by a reporter called Anna Holligan.


Personally I find a 21:00-4:30 curfew quite lame and don't think it will make that much difference. People still wanting to party despite the existing restrictions will probably go on doing so till 4:30.

We're not on any specific lockdown, just some restrictions here in Texas where the Covid runs free (16% positivity rate, 15000 to 20000 new cases daily, R(t)=1.13 in greater Houston area).

The restrictions are minimal with bars nominally closed in some counties (my county, Galveston County, has decided to ignore state mandated closures). Restaurants are open at 50%-75% capacity depending on regional conditions.

Yesterday I needed to get my motorcycle detailed in preparation for sale. The most convenient place for me to do that was a "car wash & grill" (also a bar). None of the staff were wearing facemasks or distancing. Only about half the customers even wore facemasks when entering. I wore my mask when moving about and I seated myself by the open garage doors with a nice breeze so I'm not too worried, but now I know what's going on out there. I will be continuing my personal lockdown for the foreseeable future.

Once my parents get their vaccinations I may venture out to a local brewery with outdoor seating available, but that's about it.

I think the curfew in Massachusetts has ben lifted.

But it's so cold outside that many people would not be out after dark anyway. How hot or cold is it in Houston?

Currently 72°.

It was in the 30s and 40s and windy last week, with our humidity is quite miserable.

But most of the winter here is tolerable in shorts.

30s to 70s is a wide temperature range.

Do you get frozen pipes?

Not for decades.

I seem to remember local TV weather reports giving us "hard freeze warnings" when there was a sustained freeze for certain number of hours, maybe 24, that could cause burst pipes. Now a "hard freeze warning" is issued for any freeze over a couple of hours that threatens plants.

Most houses here have exposed pipes or thin insulation, so when I was a kid hard freezes caused a lot of damage to some homes. But I can't really recall the last time we had a real freeze or any reports of burst pipes.

Also, when I was a kid we DIDN'T wear shorts in summer, and most of the winter I remember at least wearing a wind breaker or sweater to school.


When "yankees" (anyone from North of I10 for us on the Gulf Coast) come down here and comment on how we southerners must have thin blood since we put on coats and sweaters when it's only in the 40°s I like to correct them. We don't wear winter clothing in the 40° because we HAVE to, we wear it because we CAN! No one wants to sweat all over their nice wool or leather clothing. And it's a shame to let them sit in the closet all year long.

[minor correction] I should have said 40°s through low 60°s.

It's always interesting when the temps are in the 50°s and 60°s seeing some folks bundled and others wearing shorts.

I tend to wear long pants and long shirts when the weather goes below 65 degrees. I've lost aout 40 pounds in the last few years, and I feel the cold more than I used to.

Hovering a little above zero (centigrade) here. I'm wearing gloves as I type. Have always felt the cold - I like to think it means no inner fat. This Winter seems worse than ever but I'm probably just being less active. When we go out for a walk I get reasonably warm.

I went out to the laundromat yesterday. I also walked to the Park Office to retrieve a document to send to the auditor. I photocopied it on my own copier (the office copier was out of paper), then walked it back to the office).

Couldn't get to my nearest supermarket since it had been locked after threats of riots. The hard core of the local football team supporters decided to go and guard the mall against anyone trying to riot. It seems to work so far.

Interesting to see that story appear on the BBC news front page.

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Well himself has had his first vaccination. Apparently I'm anytime after the 15th February. However with variants I guess it's a waiting game until they upgrade to a better version and we all have to get another in the autumn.

This 3rd lockdown seems even harder than the first one but I think the weather is the main reason for that. I hate February. It's always the coldest month.

Hope everyone else is keeping well and cheerful.