Posted by Robert Dilley on March 24, 2001 at 18:05:38 from 216.211.68.39:
In Reply to: FOR EVER posted by Ed Kiser on March 24, 2001 at 03:18:10:
As usual, Ed Kiser has set off several trains of thought. I agree that, for children "Time travels in divers paces with divers persons"; or, rather , in divers situations. One of the most-heard phrases in that context in our house is "I can't wait for...." whatever the anticipated event may be: there is no possible way of passing the infinite time until the longed-for party, movie, vacation or whatever. What I do find interesting is that the Swallows, in particular, seem to live for the present and want to extend it "FOR EVER" while my crew seem to live mostly in the future and "CAN'T WAIT".
As I said, Ed starts other trains of thought going. He mentions the sardines and jam on the frozen-in houseboat. Living in Northern Ontario I have had a lot more experience of prolonged freezing temperatures than the average resident of England (though AR must have survived similar conditions in Russia). No can (or tin, if you prefer) of anything freezable is going to last all that long in a prolonged freeze in an unheated houseboat. The contents would freeze, expand and probably burst the can -- at the least, would not be very nice on being opened. I remember -- years ago, when I was still single -- leaving a case of beer in the back of my car overnight when the temperature dropped to minus 30 -- very messy. Sardines are not as liquid as beer, but they would have been subject to several days steady freezing. Try it in your freezer!
On an associated note, it has always bothered me that, on emptying the cans, they were planning simply to drop them over the side, and were deterred only by the lake being frozen. I guess the idea of being "environmentally friendly" did not extend to taking your garbage away with you then (note that the Coots buried orange peel.) Better than leaving it lying around, but.... (The Lake District National Park no longer provides garbage containers at picnic spots -- you have to take everything away with you).
Keep it going, Ed. Some day I'll have to escape from the North Pole and come and visit Florida (one of only five states I haven't been in).