The Monday Mix (06/02/2023)
Hi friends,
It’s starting to feel more like spring. Shoots are pushing through the soil and it’s only a matter of time before flowers are everywhere and the season is in full bloom. As good as this is, I can’t help but feel like this is happening earlier and earlier. I don’t remember flowers starting to push through and bloom when I was younger.
While I’m still reading The Treeline, I feel some dread at what’s happening. Traditionally, March is the time when spring really hits, late February at a push. But this is happening at the start of February when the weather here is normally foul. It’s not unusual for there to be a big storm and lots of snow, you can almost count on it happening in February. But this year, it’s been calm, and apart from a few weeks of bad weather, it’s been relatively mild.
The thing with climate change is that while some things will obviously change, there are lots of things that will change that we won’t be aware of until they happen. As the author of the book mentions, adaption is becoming more and more of a necessity and may be the most prominent course of action in the coming years.
My reading list for January will be out on Wednesday, and will feature The Treeline, as well as the other books I read during the month!
A Mad Mormon Scam
A clean energy scam that involves so many layers it’s hard to believe it’s real. Reading this, you do get the sense that fact really is stranger than fiction. If this story was presented to a Hollywood producer or a publishing house as a manuscript, I’d venture it would get thrown out. Yet, it’s real and absolutely gripping. A ridiculous story that will have your eyes popping out of your head.
The Man Who Walked Around The UK
A heartwarming story about a man who decided to walk the entire coastline of the UK in August 2017, fell in love with someone while on the road and ended up getting married and having a child together. It’s a brilliant story and a little bit bonkers. I have huge respect for the guy as he’s still walking to this day, and is now no longer alone. The story doesn’t make clear his whole route, but I’m assuming it includes islands in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, which makes the trip even more badass! Just goes to show what we can achieve when we set our minds to it and that you never know what you might find when you venture outside of your comfort zone!
Next Frontier For Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are going to be one of the main the energy grid gets decarbonised. A crazy stat in this piece is that 74% of people heat their homes using gas boilers. This needs to be massively reduced if climate targets are to be met and heat pumps are one of the ways to do so. What’s interesting about the article is that the heat pumps mentioned use ground source heat which is considered more reliable than air source. They are then connected to multiple holes that are drilled into the ground, which can connect a whole street to this energy source rather than just one house.
It’s an intriguing idea and goes to show that are many solutions for decarbonising the energy grid that need more consideration as we move towards phasing fossil fuels.
Book I’m reading - The Treeline by Ben Rawlence
As I mentioned above, I’m still reading this and the further I get through it, the more alarming it becomes. It’s not an easy read in this regard, but it is eye-opening nonetheless.
Quote I’m pondering: – “Patience is the key to joy.” – Rumi
That’s all for this week.
Until next time,
Tom