Poor insulation.

Usually in academia these things work on a collaborative basis, so if you are part of an institution that cooperates and contributes then the data is available.

Dendrochronology works by comparing the sequences of variation in growth rings. Not every growing season is the same everywhere and there is more growth some years than others.

Over time massive data sets have been developed that allow growth sequences from different times, and locations to be compared.

So the variation in rings is compared to find a match.

There are other football codes - Australian rules is hugely popular ( and worth watching), American, rugby union and rugby league.

Using the proper name avoids ambiguity and in this context is helpful.

It’s the JWs of course, they’ve been at this since they dialled back on the door to door stuff.

You are probably ready to try it with strings.

Green comes from the norther European traditions of decorating with evergreens for the midwinter festival, presumably because of the association with the rebirth of spring. Red probably because of colour contrast. But it’s noteworthy that when Christmas trees became popular in the U.K. and then the USA gold was the usual colour of ornaments.

So, like all things it evolves over time.

It looks like you are talking about the U.K. - so right at the start there was a shortage of trained staff and as you say those with experience of stationary steam locos would be recruited and others with mechanical experience such as those in engineering workshops.

There’s accounts of the London & Birmingham of Stephenson locomotive works having staff accompany trainee drivers and firemen on trips ( usually with goods) to show them the best way of working the engines and what the hand signals meant.

There were also periodical labour disputes where all the engine staff would be dismissed and basically anyone who had an inkling would be employed, including drivers who had been dismissed by other companies for drunkenness or worse.

It was a chaotic time that lasted until the 1860s or so. But even then as railways expanded rapidly you could be promoted to driver, the elite of the working class, in your mid 20s.

You are quite right. My eurocentrism was showing. Towards the equator would have been better :)

Classic bit of “whataboutery” there.

Yes about the same as Madrid in Southern Europe.

Somewhere a long way south.

There was a young lady named Bright

Whose speed was far faster than light;

She set out one day

In a relative way

And returned on the previous night.

Inflation is nearing 10%. That money won’t be worth as much next year.

Potatoes ? There was a film and everything…..