Happy New Years

[rowan]

& the population of Turkey moves to 80,810,525

[Mellsblue]

and 1 strange Kiwi.

[rowan]

I think they're only counting the nationalized Syrians, because we have 2 or 3 million refugees here; many of whom want to go back home. & at this rate Turkey will overtake Germany soon, meaning it would be the largest nation in the EU if it ever joined - hypothetically-speaking, of course

[Galfon]

Thanks to Mr.E's actions ( & in some cases inaction) in the last few years, 2 hopes: Bob Hope & No Hope.
Shame that, for the more liberal & outward looking peeps.
A wee cold spell coming, but nice n'bright the noo..

[Galfon]

There's a yellow snow warning out for north & western parts.....'don't eat yellow snow'.

[rowan]

Midwinter and still no sign of actual cold weather here. Generally sunny, mid-teens. Don't think we've dropped into single digit maximum day-time temperatures yet. In a city accustomed to a snowfall or two most winters, however light, this is all very amazing

[Galfon]

Summut's 'appnin..

[rowan]

Time to don the cycling shorts, Segafredo!

[Galfon]

Don't forget the bike..

[rowan]

Well, the year is just Marching on now! Almost spring already. Though we finally got our first genuinely cold weather in Istanbul this week, with a few snow flakes floating down here and there, but by the weekend it's supposed to be back up in the high teens. Certainly this has been the mildest winter I've experience in 13 years here

[Galfon]

others not so lucky..there will be plenty more in the weeks ahead given the forecast.Sad.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 20106.html

[rowan]

others not so lucky..there will be plenty more in the weeks ahead given the forecast.Sad.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 20106.html

Yes, the streets here are full of Syrian refugees these days, of course. There's a group that seems to spend all night at the park with a fire going (presumably fueled by trash, of which there is an inexhaustible supply), then sleep during the day when it's generally warm enough to do so without freezing to death.

[Galfon]

Not quite as balmy as you alluded too then R-kid, just a bit barmy by the sounds..

[rowan]

Not this week, no. Almost snowed! The allusion was to this winter in general. Was beginning to think we'd been forgotten. But looks like a 4-day winter. High teens again by the weekend

[Galfon]

High teens again by the weekend

probable overlap here with the nocturnal motorcyclists I imagine..

[rowan]

Probably takes longer to warm the bike engine up when it's five below zero. That makes sense. It's the 2 am part I have trouble getting my head around . . .

[Galfon]

..high as in possible other substances, and associated night time activities....was the intended reference.
but your theory has some legs..

[rowan]

Ah, yes, that is certainly a plausible theory. I also suspect any dude who sits around revving his engine for half an hour does so in anticipation of shag at the end of it; a sort of misguided mating call not dissimilar to the incessant croaking of the bull frog - although the frog probably has more realistic prospects . . .

[rowan]

That moment when you thought you had to leave in 15 minutes, then suddenly realised you had your days mixed up and you've got another 3 hours

Sunny and high teens every day this week. Spring came early

[rowan]

Wow, headed for temperatures in the mid-20s this weekend. We've only had 4 days of winter so far!

[Galfon]

Happy Nowruz !..to Proto-Indo-Iranians and Zoro-Astrian types around the orb.Vernon Ekwee-Knox has indeed arrived which means we're lighter all round, but still freezing our nuts off unless you hang out in balmy places further south and/or down by the sea.

[rowan]

Yes, Spring has arrived. Balmy temperatures continuing here. The Kurds will be leaping over flaming logs tomorrow night. They call it Nevruz, which means New Day or New Light. Kurdish is closely related to Farsi and both are members of the Indo-European language family; emanating from the Sanskrit branch. You can see the connection between Nev (Kurdish), Now (Farsi) and New (English), for instance.

[morepork]

Up to a foot of snow forecast for today. Third storm in two weeks.

Fuck you spring.

[rowan]

Beast from the East. Blame Putin . . .

[morepork]

More like the cunt from the North East.