Time Lord

Here is the Science bit.

According to NASA and other informed sources the rotation of the earth is gradually slowing down ...a bit...so that every so often it is necessary to make an adjustment to Co-Ordinated Universal Time otherwise known as atomic time.

The average day is expressed as being 86,400 seconds long. ( I will wait whilst you do the mathematics....24 hours x 60 minutes x 60 seconds if you do not believe me).

However, it is thought that this has not actually been the case since about 1820.

The Mean Solar Day is slightly different at 86,400 and .002 seconds but that small differential does make a difference over a full year. The use of the Leap Second as the all important method of adjustment takes into account the various factors in play.

Since 1972 when the leap second was first introduced there have been 25 other occasions when it has been used with the last being in 2012.

The fact that the rotation of the earth is not entirely consistent is, to me, a bit of a worry although this is attributed to variations in the earth's inner core, changes in the atmosphere and oceans, groundwater and ice storage and the effect of the tides.

Personally, and this is to be taken in good faith as I have no scientific grounding for my theory, I believe that the earth is getting heavier and older and it is not therefore surprising that it is slowing down. I know that feeling myself.

Time is a precious thing and so we should take the prospect of an extra second at midnight tonight as a blessing.

How best to make use of this bonus second?

Some suggestions have been put forward such as falling in love, spotting a shooting star, sending that inflammatory and frankly risque e-mail, kissing someone you ought not to and sneaking a crafty, free and for gratis belch.

These are all well and good but a bit overly romantic and a little bit boring.

You may not have really thought much about the extra second but here are a few of my ideas.

Start that novel that you always intended to with that elusive first vowel or consonant.
Trade your share of the leap second on E-Bay.
Throw a party for guests between 11.59 and midnight plus 1.
Say the worst swear word you can summon up.
Offer up a prayer for the world.
Throw a dice.
Tap a Terry's chocolate orange.
Say Yes to anything.
Say No to anything.
Look at your wife with new eyes.
Place your hand on someone who is suffering.
Glance heavenwards.
Think of a face you have not seen for an age.
Roll a marble.
Cross out something on your bucket list that you have achieved.
Put an asterisk on your bucket list indicating what you intend to do next.
Lift a spider out of a sink.
Caress the petals of a blossoming flower.
Smell the outdoors air.
Knock the head off a dandelion.
Shout out something nice.
Turn a light switch on or off.
Switch Tv Channels to something you would not normally watch.
Place your forefinger in your belly button.
Look surprised.
Blow a raspberry.
Sniff the hair of a domestic pet
Think of nothing
or
think of everything.
Feel alive.
Lick your lips.
Eat the walnut from the top of a walnut whip.
Take a sip of tea.
Flick a bogey.
Play one musical note.
Tick a box on a form to volunteer for or donate something.
Turn off the alarm that was intended to wake you up in time to celebrate the extra second.
Awake refreshed tomorrow morning fully invigorated and ready for anything.