31.03.2026 Heat pumps 'Я' Us.

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  Tuesday 31st 41F/5C [8.45] Quite a bright day promised but windy from the west again. 

 Up at 7.30 after failing to gain altitude at 6am. 

 My English friend is visiting me today.   

 I had a walk. Which was rather spoilt by the cold and strong wind. Despite wearing a warmer jacket.

 I have had the estimate for the installation of a Panasonic NZ35YKE-1 heat pump and have accepted it. Now waiting to hear how soon they can do the work. After Easter probably means next week. In the meantime I have to source some paving slabs. For the exterior unit to sit on its rubber feet.

 My visitor was delayed but brought some tasty cakes with him. By then I had the room up to a toasty 72F/22C. After he'd left I let the stove go out. 

 My nice neighbours sent me a message to say the drive is to be repaired on Thursday. It is full of potholes from the heavy vehicles associated with the work on the two empty properties. 

 Dinner will be fish fingers and chips. And was. It is still 70F/21C in the room.

 

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30.03.2026 Your life in THEIR hands?

 ~o~

  Monday 30th 39F/4C [8.30] A mixed days of sunshine and showers. Breezy again. 63F/17C in the room. 44F/6.7C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 7.30 after waking at 6am. It was still quite dark so I went back to bed. 

 10.20 Back from a chilly walk. I should have worn three jackets rather than one. A pair of gloves would have helped too. 

 I dragged the wheelie bins back with me. They ignored my tying a green, food waste bag to the handle of the relevant bin. They should have left a couple of new rolls. At least, that is how I have seen it done numerous times. Does one have to call at the recycling yard for more kitchen recycling bags now? They are only open twice a week.

 I have to go shopping. Better this morning. With a wet afternoon forecast. Or go in the car later.

 I watered all the plants. 

 13.00 43F/6C. Heavily overcast and rain. Lunch. 

 15.15 Returning from the shops in the Morris. Two very full carrier bags. No tomatoes or baked beans. Lucky I went in the car. It has rained on and off.

 I seriously doubt that one in four of the vehicles I saw today was traveling at or below the speed limit. Speed limits are seen as purely voluntary in Denmark. They have been for the three decades I have lived here. On some roads probably 95% of drivers are traveling too fast. 

 There is often no excuse because there are large road signs which indicate the speed of the passing vehicle. Which flash when the set limit is broken. When every single vehicle makes the sign flash then the road badly needs a speed bump. The truly fair and democratic speed limiter. Though even these humps are removed at times. When too many lunatics have their sumps ripped off by taking the hump at insane speeds! 

 There is no speed limit anywhere on the Danish road system where you won't be tail gated. There is no village in Denmark. All with the national speed limit. Which will prevent drivers overtaking another vehicle. While the overtaken drivers are traveling at the legal speed limit. 

 For years I was convinced the speedometers in all my various old cars were inaccurate. Because I was ALWAYS the slowest driver on the road. Simply for keeping to the indicated speed limits. None of them have a clue about sight lines, reaction times and braking distance.

 On a parallel theme: Over 5,000 drivers have now been prosecuted for "insane driving." Which usually means confiscation of the vehicle. To be later sold at auction. Provided it wasn't damaged during the police chase. The rules include driving at 100% over the speed limit. Senseless driving and driving under the influence of drugs or drink. 

 There is no excuse for a car police chase these days. All it needs is a follower drone to be released by the police vehicle. Whenever they spot seriously poor driving. Chasing a drunk, drugged or raving lunatic driver just excites them. A drone wouldn't appear in the perp's rear view mirrors. 

 The drone follows the driver home and then the police can SAFELY make the arrest. Probably with a video recording on the drone to convict the perp of numerous driving offenses. Why are there always time limits for being banned? Causing death by dangerous driving ought to mean an automatic lifetime driving ban. Regardless how much two tier justice you can afford each time.

 A lazy day. Mostly spent on YT. 

 Dinner was poached eggs on toast. I lit the stove while the eggs boiled.

  

 

  ~o~

29.03.2026 +1hr & 49km.

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  Sunday 29th 38F/3C [8.20] A bright, cool start but increasingly windy from the SW. Peaking at 7C/45F at lunch time. Showers and more cloudy after lunch.  67F/19C in the room. 45F/7.2C in the greenhouse.

 I woke at 6.15 after another busy night. Having forgotten the clocks moved forwards overnight. Though not magically. I had to go around correcting them.    

 Copenhagen announces that all of its busses are now electric. Denmark was reported self sufficient in wind and solar power.

 9.50 Back from a walk down the road. Cool breeze but sunny. Bare hands just tolerable. I took my camera. No deer today. 

 I plan to have a modest ride. Just to check progress on the new railway route. Then catch up with some shopping on the way back. 

 11.05 Off we jolly well go. I shall head further east to enjoy quiet and hilly lanes. 

 Two young chaps went past. Out training, side by side, on their racing bikes. Which was not polite or even sensible. As half a dozen cars came up behind us and were completely blocked from overtaking on a long climb! As was I. 

 Eventually there was no more oncoming traffic and the ignorant pair continued along the flat just chatting. As the string of balked traffic could pass at last. I became bored with sitting on their wheels and overtook them. Quickly putting half a mile on them in Turbo mode. Or half a kilometer when dealing with complete ignoramuses.

 13.50 Back from a 49km ride. It was cold and there were several showers. The last and heaviest as I neared home. The wind tried to spoil the ride but I persevered. I found half a dozen railway crossing sites. A couple of them on newly opened roads. With brand new bridges marked 2026 neatly cast into their faces. 

 The enormous earth moving exercise continues. As hills are cut away and raised humps push upwards. To provide an increasingly level track bed. Deep hollows seem to have no obvious purpose but may be emergency reservoirs to avoid flooding. 

 There were no organic tea bags but I bought a couple of bags. Of my favourite, organic, porridge oats.  

 After a nap I brought the trailer along to the greenhouse. To empty it of the remaining logs and kindling. Enough for several weeks I hope.

 Now I'll drag the two wheely, recycling bins along the drive.  

 17.30 65F/18C in the room. I had better light the stove. 

 Sunday Dinner was chicken, peas and roast potatoes. The obvious mistake was not having bought any carrots. The chicken breasts were a day past their "Best by" date and discounted. So I cooked both pieces. 

 I boiled the potatoes for ten minutes in salty water first. Before placing them around the chicken in the baking pan. I gave it 40 minutes in the oven at 200C with the fan going. It was all fine. The roast potatoes were cooked through and brown on the exterior. After five minutes rest the chicken was beautifully tender. 

 

  ~?~