Spring forward - or - the clock fiddling again!

Post date: Feb 28, 2015 10:4:19 AM

By Peppy Bristlebrush  

Yes, it's that time of the year again: sometime around the beginning of Spring, we all have to set our clocks one hour forward. This has the advantage that our evenings will seem to last longer because the sun will set one hour later (or so it seems. The sun just does what it's been doing for billions of years).That's all nice then. A good invention! But, ahem, there is a snag..Somehow, and in spite of extensive diplomatic consultations, hobbits on each side of the Big Pond cannot agree on which day the clocks should be set forward. So each year there is a small period of time where both groups disagree on what time it is.It is no big deal and we can work out the differences, but it is something to be aware of if you are planning or visiting a party or other event in that period. Let's talk periods first:

This year, hobbits on the West side of the Big Pond ((the USA)) will change their clocks on Sunday March 8 and they will set it back one hour again on November 1st.

Hobbits on the East side of the Big Pond ((Ireland, UK, Europe)) will do so on Sunday March 29 and October 25th respectively.

So the period of 8 March to 28 March is where we'll have to take care!

We always announce events with a reference to the starting time in the West ((servertime)) and in the East ((UK time)).

While the rest of the year the difference between the two is five hours, in this short period it will be four hours.

Green Dragon Friday, for example, will always start at 8 Bells ((8pm UK)) and usually that means 3pm West of the Big Pond. But on March 13, 20 and 27 it will start at 4pm ((servertime)).

If you see a hobbit looking confused because of all of this, it's probably me! But I hope I've explained it without making any mistakes. I'll see  you back in October where the whole thing is reversed again.