Feb 7, 2018 at 3:25 PM | michael hart

In the late summer of 2008 (when I was still considering that there was something wrong about Global Warming and the predictions of Climate Science, but was reluctant to voice an opinion) I was chatting to a Village Cricket Club Chairman.

Sat in his pavillion having called off another days cricket due to rain, he had dug out all the dusty records and score books. 2008 was the wettest summer on record, based on matches cancelled or abandoned due to rain, in his Village.

I was not in the UK for most of 2008 so couldn't comment, but there are dusty records of "weather" everywhere over hundreds of years, recorded by farmers, gardeners, anglers, sports clubs, etc that are completely "local" and independent of formal Meteorological Records, and have not been adjusted or computerised.

tomo:

I recently re-read the whole book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I concur: Swift is easily accessible (though probably the snowflake generation might find it harder going, as they are unlikely to be able to relate to life lived without modern conveniences - a shock that they may find coming to them if they pursue their present course). 300 years and we connect easily. Go back another 100 years to Shakespeare and the KJV, and the linguistic differences are significantly greater, and often we need explanations for the turns of phrase he used - even where they have entered the language as stock phrases. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Feb 7, 2018 at 1:19 PM | tomo

The Ottoman Empire has been largely airbrushed out of European and Christian history, so too many concentrate on the recent history.

Moslems would all like to be part of a World Superpower. There are too many rivalries, jealousies, disputes etc to make it happen. Erdogan is considered a threat by many Moslems, but the EU can't see that.

The "Arab Spring" revolutions were warmly welcomed, but many have gone sour.

Most people do not appreciate that Saudi Arabia has just had a revolution, but Saudi women being allowed to drive cars has attracted media attention.

IF the Saudi revolution reduces corruption and influence by the multi billionaires who can siphon off money for militants and terrorism in other countries, it will have more lasting benefit than the Arab Spring. This may cause a cashflow problem for Erdogan and those that support him.

Strewth. The global bed wetters have finally managed to invade the sports pages at the BBC. Now it's Golf courses that are going to be destroyed by global warming at the BBC. Ignoring the effects of local geology. And that while we were previously being promised a Mediterranean climate that would result in less drawn cricket matches, now it is the worse rain that is going to ruin a national sport.

I expect the 'report' went for Golf courses in the headline because they know Trump owns a few of them. These people are so transparent.