I know that most of you don't want to hear this ...

[blamebrampton]

But holy hell it was hot here today ... not as bad as Melbourne, nor Adelaide, where it was in the 40s again, and will be again tomorrow. Poor anthraxia , I think of you and the lot down there! It was only low 30s in Sydney, so things could be worse, but still quite draining!

I may have to come back to London sooner than I had planned, so that I can strangle the Times's Dominic Lawson. One more chorus of 'Ooh, it's cold, therefore there is no climate change' and I shall be forced to beat him about the head with an atlas, before showing him that London and Calgary and parts of Siberia are all at the same latitude, and then strangling him. If the Gulf Stream stops, he'll be embarrassed about confusing science with alleged left-wing conspiracies, the goose.

Meanwhile, scarves wrapped around heads, two pairs of tights and two pairs of gloves, you lot! Good luck! I hope the gritters make your street and that the heat holds up inside. As for me, I am running out of clothes I can take off and still be able to go out in public ... And if anyone has recommendations for a sunblock that's good for sensitive skin, do share!

Oh, and Happy Birthday ladydeth12 !

Comments

[being-here.livejournal.com]

No need to come back. I'll get him for you.

I think the big mistake was allowing it to be called global warming rather than climate change.

The Gulf Stream has moved at the moment, bringing unseasonably warm weather to parts of the arctic I believe and leaving us here, freezing. Or so my knowledgeable friend was saying last night. I may not have got all the details - I'd just dropped my dad to the airport and was making a dent in my friend's scotch.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh you're a GOOD friend! And yes, that is a rough description of what's going on, from what I have read. Making a dent in the Scotch is an excellent plan: I have Limoncello and gin in the freezer for when it all gets too painful here ;-)

[noeon.livejournal.com]

Sunblock: La Roche Posay Anthelios does pretty well for facial use, which is the hardest to find. I use as many physical sunblocks as I can (hats, treated clothing, linen shirts) but creams are really important under the conditions you're facing. Anything with micronized zinc oxide is helpful, but turns you sticky white. All the others have nasty chemical things in them, it's just a question of degree of nasty.

I've also had good luck with Coppertone Sport block for body (truly nasty) and Lily of the Desert 40 spf (moderately nasty). I use the pure zinc oxide Badger block in the winter, but it's not practical for 30+ degrees. In the current -12 temperature (at 7am), it works quite well.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Alas, La Roche Posay isn't sold here :-( I may need to find that mythical internet shop selling it and Boots No.7 Protect and Preserve ...

I've been using a nanotech zinc block for a few years, but I have to basically scrub it off at the end of the day if I don't want crusty skin by the end of the week. And on a very hot day, you basically sweat it as a pale white mask that remains glued to your face, but mankily so. It's slightly better than the chemical ones that just give me spots ...

Of course, I put up with spots and mankiness, because they are better than wrinkles and skin cancer.

[scabbyfish.livejournal.com]

My brother's Australian and travelling back from the UK to Adelaide next week. That's going to be a shock to the system - sub-zero to 40+ x.x

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That was my excuse for a comatose Christmas/New Year, and he's got 10 degrees more to complain about ;-)

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

My town has given up on cleaning the smaller streets. Only the real big ones get cleared, and they take care that the cable cars can always run. It hasn't stopped snowing since Friday. Non stop snow. I wish I was a child and could enjoy it like I used to.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Heh! I was like that when I looked out the window in Paris: 'Yay! Snow!' and then a few seconds later the adult brain kicked in: 'Your clothes are not very good for snow, you know ...'

Good luck with the transport, I hope everyone stays safe and as warm as possible.

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

"And if anyone has recommendations for a sunblock that's good for sensitive skin, do share!"

I'm very happy with the sunblockers by DM and Balea, but the brand seems to be available in Germany and Austria only...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Sadly, half the good brands aren't available here :-(

[alex-s9.livejournal.com]

In the last ten years we had many mild winters, one very strong and this year we've got what I believe was calles winter about thirty/forty years ago: minus Celsius degree almost all the time and snowing.

That's actually not a problem, the problem is summer. The summers are getting colder and colder, and it rains a lot (while we used to have very dry summers here in Poland). The climate is changing, but in a very random way.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Ah! so that's where all the rain has gone! We had a little in Australia this year, but it has been basically 13 years since there was anything like normal rain here.

[treacle-tartlet.livejournal.com]

Sunblock...have you tried Nutrogena, or one of the organic hippy brands? Natural Instinct make sunscreen. I have sensitive skin, and I use the stuff made for babies or toddlers. Course, I also don't go outside between 10am and 3pm for fear of bursting into flames...damned pale freckly skin...
It was 32 down here yesterday! Inhuman!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Haven't tried Neutrogena yet, but have tried most of the hippie ones: they all separate too soon, and after a few shakings you can't get them back together.

The Hamilton Sensitive Skin for Toddlers is quite good, but still gives me spots. Spots without burning, which is something, I suppose ;-)

And yes, my lunchtime appearances are only conducted with parasols. Your temps made the news here tonight! Ridiculous for your neck of the woods!

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

*tries to conjure some organic sunblock for you*

*it gives off a distinct smell of something you don't want on your face*

*Evanesco it*

I really wish I could donate some cool air, but it's nearly just as bad here. :/ *snuggles*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think we should both grab some cold from pingrid and the other Norwegians, it's been -42 up near them!

[i-autumnheart.livejournal.com]

This sort of misunderstanding is why scientists should never be permitted to name things that get communicated to everyone else. The concept of "warming" => more energentic weather systems as opposed to 'warmer tempertures everywhere' never quite seems to make it through.

On the sunscreen side: I have found the Ego sun sense brand to be OK lately. My skin breaks out at the merest hint of the cancer council ones, but this one has been OK.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

If there was an international science conspiracy, I would have demanded they get me to do their press releases by now, because, yeah ...

Ego are all right, but I still have a bit of a reaction on my face. I think that this is probably going to be par for the course, but fantasise about one perfect brand, rather than my current trick of use one for a few weeks till things become rashy, then change ...

[nuclearsugars.livejournal.com]

I use Burn Out Clean and Clear Sunblock for eco-sensitive skin. It goes on a bit thick, but not white or chalky. Best part about it is that it was developed by a surfer, so it's insanely durable.

Also depending on how fussy my skin is being that day, I switch to Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer sinks in like a DREAM with no white chalkiness. It tends to go on a bit thin and I find that it takes a while for my skin to absorb it fully. And unfortunately it's not sweatproof unlike the Burn Out.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh you're a good soul with your linkage! That first one looks especially good, Sydney is the sweat capital of NSW ... Thank you!

[themadpoker.livejournal.com]

I can not reccommend any sunblocks because I am bad at the health and never use any. >_> Would you like some of our weather though? It's freezing here, I go about the house wrapped in a blanket at all times.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

*Sends you 15-20 degrees Celcius we don't really need*

[sassy-cissa.livejournal.com]

Can I come live with you for a bit? It's currently -16c and not much hope for warming. :(

Although it is delightful weather for curling up with a good book...which I will be doing shortly. Thank god for Bubba and his reading recommendations. :D

ETA: just looked at the weather channel and it's -18c with wind chills of -24c. Perhaps I can send you a blast or two??

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, you can. And you can bring a little of that weather with you. But not a lot. I doubt there are 30 sets of snow chains in all of Erko ;-) And now I want to know what Bubba recommends!

[silvershinigami.livejournal.com]

Wait...are you telling me there are actually people who say 'Ooh, it's cold, therefore there is no climate change'???

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Bucketloads of them. And before you ask, no, they've not done the readings. Sigh.

[astarael02.livejournal.com]

Oh no, poor you! I'd hate to have your weather as well.
I really hate this weather here though. It's been weeks of snow, it doesn't look like it's goin to stop any time soon, and I'm surrounded by 55 degree hills which nobody EVER grits. Seriously. I have to wait until there's been a fresh fall of snow before I can actually make it up and back down the hill, and even so it's terrifying. I'm pretty much stranded D:
Sorry for the rant. Ice scares me and I'm getting fed up. Can I just say both our respective weathers SUCK? lol

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's perfectly rational to be scared of ice, that stuff is dangerous! And bugger! to living on ungritted hills. Do you have enough supplies to be at least stranded in comfort? Things are getting a bit crazy out there!

[ldydark1.livejournal.com]

You can vent anytime.

I am sorry it is so uncomfortably
hot where you are.
I can relate. This past summer
I kept the custom blinds shut
in my home to keep in the a/c.

On days that it was so very
hot and humid, I would walk
around in my undies.

The weather seems to be so
extreme. Nothing moderate.
Just mho.

Take care of yourself.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

No, you're right, the last decade has had more extreme weather conditions than any other recorded decade.

And undies days are the perfect solution!

I know you don't want to hear this...

[ms-kilian.livejournal.com]

but I actually don't mind a few days of Melbourne hot hot heat. I quite like the all encompassing kiln-like heat we are having. Humidity? Can't stand it, tuns me into a quivering jelly. But this dry heat, when the body can sweat and it evaoprates the way it was designed to do. Love it. Except at night, but can't really have one without the other.

Re: I know you don't want to hear this...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yeah, come up here to soupy Sydney and say that :-P

[anthraxia.livejournal.com]

I am currently revelling in the cool change that has come through, although it says a lot about the last few days that 33C feels cool at the moment. I survived the heat by having a wading pool in the living room, which is periodically chilled with ice packs. Delish, until Digby decides he's going to sleep in it again; there is a reason why air freshener doesn't come in Hot Wet Labrador scent.