diff --git a/my/core/time.py b/my/core/time.py
index 7f856b0..fec90ba 100644
--- a/my/core/time.py
+++ b/my/core/time.py
@@ -1,20 +1,50 @@
 from functools import lru_cache
 from datetime import datetime, tzinfo
+from typing import Sequence
 
 import pytz # type: ignore
 
-# https://gist.github.com/edwardabraham/8680198
-tz_lookup = {
-    pytz.timezone(x).localize(datetime.now()).tzname(): pytz.timezone(x)
-    for x in pytz.all_timezones
-}
-tz_lookup['UTC'] = pytz.utc # ugh. otherwise it'z Zulu...
+
+def user_forced() -> Sequence[str]:
+    # conversion from abbreviations is always ambiguous
+    # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/36067621/python-all-possible-timezone-abbreviations-for-given-timezone-name-and-vise-ve
+    try:
+        from my.config import time as user_config
+        return user_config.tz.force_abbreviations # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+    except:
+        # todo log/apply policy
+        return []
 
 
-# TODO dammit, lru_cache interferes with mypy?
+@lru_cache(1)
+def _abbr_to_timezone_map():
+    # also force UTC to always correspond to utc
+    # this makes more sense than Zulu it ends up by default
+    timezones = pytz.all_timezones + ['UTC'] + list(user_forced())
+
+    res = {}
+    for tzname in timezones:
+        tz = pytz.timezone(tzname)
+        infos = getattr(tz, '_tzinfos', []) # not sure if can rely on attr always present?
+        for info in infos:
+            abbr = info[-1]
+            # todo could support this with a better error handling strategy?
+            # otz = res.get(abbr, tz)
+            # if otz != tz:
+            #     raise RuntimeError(abbr, tz, otz)
+            res[abbr] = tz
+        # ugh. also necessary, e.g. for Zulu?? why is it not in _tzinfos?
+        # note: somehow this is not the same as the tzname!
+        tzn = getattr(tz, '_tzname', None)
+        if tzn is not None:
+            res[tzn] = tz
+    return res
+
+
+# todo dammit, lru_cache interferes with mypy?
 @lru_cache(None)
 def abbr_to_timezone(abbr: str) -> tzinfo:
-    return tz_lookup[abbr]
+    return _abbr_to_timezone_map()[abbr]
 
 
 def zone_to_countrycode(zone: str) -> str:
@@ -30,3 +60,6 @@ def _zones_to_countrycode():
         for timezone in timezones:
             res[timezone] = countrycode
     return res
+
+
+# todo stuff here could be a bit more defensive? e.g. dependent on policy
diff --git a/my/google/takeout/html.py b/my/google/takeout/html.py
index a50fb3f..fd702e8 100644
--- a/my/google/takeout/html.py
+++ b/my/google/takeout/html.py
@@ -29,22 +29,29 @@ def parse_dt(s: str) -> datetime:
     if end == ' PM' or end == ' AM':
         # old takeouts didn't have timezone
         # hopefully it was utc? Legacy, so no that much of an issue anymore..
+        # todo although maybe worth adding timezone from location provider?
         tz = pytz.utc
     else:
         s, tzabbr = s.rsplit(maxsplit=1)
         tz = abbr_to_timezone(tzabbr)
 
     dt = datetime.strptime(s, fmt)
-    dt = tz.localize(dt)
-    return dt
+    return tz.localize(dt)
 
 
-def test_parse_dt():
+def test_parse_dt() -> None:
     parse_dt('Jun 23, 2015, 2:43:45 PM')
     parse_dt('Jan 25, 2019, 8:23:48 AM GMT')
     parse_dt('Jan 22, 2020, 8:34:00 PM UTC')
     parse_dt('Sep 10, 2019, 8:51:45 PM MSK')
 
+    # this testcases are interesting: in pytz, abbr resolution might depend on the _current_ date!
+    # so these used to fail during winter
+    # you can see all the different values used in in _tzinfos field
+    parse_dt('Jun 01, 2018, 11:00:00 PM BST')
+    parse_dt('Jun 01, 2018, 11:00:00 PM PDT')
+    parse_dt('Feb 01, 2018, 11:00:00 PM PST')
+
 
 class State(Enum):
     OUTSIDE = 0
diff --git a/tests/takeout.py b/tests/takeout.py
index bc746c2..f45a51d 100644
--- a/tests/takeout.py
+++ b/tests/takeout.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 from itertools import islice
 import pytz
 
-import my.location.takeout as LT
+import my.location.google as LT
 from my.google.takeout.html import read_html
 from my.google.takeout.paths import get_last_takeout
 
@@ -69,3 +69,5 @@ def parse_takeout_xmllint(data: str):
     out = res.stdout.decode('utf8')
     # out = data
     return out.split('<div class="content-cell')
+
+from my.google.takeout.html import test_parse_dt