Jack on the Moan
W is for Winter Honestly, sometimes I think the only reason Christmas exists is to lift the general population out of their depression, if only for a day or two. Then, after the leftovers from Christmas dinner have finally been exhausted, and the turkey carcass has been left to rot in the rain-sodden streets, it’s time to face the realities of life again… and the Irish weather. Seriously, fuck this weather! Apparently SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a mood disorder which causes people of generally healthy mind to get depressive symptoms around winter, is not an altogether uncommon affliction; according to an albeit not-so-reliable source, Mr. Wikipedia, upper estimates of the number of people with SAD in the US put the number at 9% of the population. That’s taking an average over a country that includes places like California and Florida, though, where it’s pretty much sunny year round. Even New York, bitterly cold in the winter, at least has guaranteed snow every year! In Ireland, instead of a White Christmas we get a Shite Christmas, full of rain, hail, sleet and wind. Lots and lots of wind. I know I’m being stereotypically Irish here ranting about the weather (next time I’ll be extolling the virtues of tea) but I just can’t stand the weather here. You’ve probably heard the joke: Why do economists exist? To make weather forecasters look good. It’s true, Irish weather forecasters do have a tough job most of the year. However, their job is made a whole lot easier during winter. Anyone can predict the weather in winter: “Today’s going to be shit, tomorrow’s going to be shit, the day after that is going to be shit…” Occasionally the weatherman will try and throw in a few rays of light by suggesting that the weather will be picking up soon, but it always seems to be just over the horizon. It’s always “tomorrow” or “in the coming few days” or “next week”. It appears the only way to get good weather now is to get on a plane out of Ireland. Anyway, rant over. I’m going to go hibernate now. Wake me up when this whole wretched thing is over.

W is for Winter

Honestly, sometimes I think the only reason Christmas exists is to lift the general population out of their depression, if only for a day or two. Then, after the leftovers from Christmas dinner have finally been exhausted, and the turkey carcass has been left to rot in the rain-sodden streets, it’s time to face the realities of life again… and the Irish weather.

Seriously, fuck this weather! Apparently SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a mood disorder which causes people of generally healthy mind to get depressive symptoms around winter, is not an altogether uncommon affliction; according to an albeit not-so-reliable source, Mr. Wikipedia, upper estimates of the number of people with SAD in the US put the number at 9% of the population. That’s taking an average over a country that includes places like California and Florida, though, where it’s pretty much sunny year round. Even New York, bitterly cold in the winter, at least has guaranteed snow every year! In Ireland, instead of a White Christmas we get a Shite Christmas, full of rain, hail, sleet and wind. Lots and lots of wind.

I know I’m being stereotypically Irish here ranting about the weather (next time I’ll be extolling the virtues of tea) but I just can’t stand the weather here. You’ve probably heard the joke: Why do economists exist? To make weather forecasters look good. It’s true, Irish weather forecasters do have a tough job most of the year. However, their job is made a whole lot easier during winter. Anyone can predict the weather in winter: “Today’s going to be shit, tomorrow’s going to be shit, the day after that is going to be shit…”

Occasionally the weatherman will try and throw in a few rays of light by suggesting that the weather will be picking up soon, but it always seems to be just over the horizon. It’s always “tomorrow” or “in the coming few days” or “next week”. It appears the only way to get good weather now is to get on a plane out of Ireland.

Anyway, rant over. I’m going to go hibernate now. Wake me up when this whole wretched thing is over.

Posted 2 years ago