9.06.2026 A log by any other name.

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  Monday 9th 30F/-1C [7.30] It looks like a dusting of new snow. Or hoar frost. The hedges are thickly coated in white. Overcast, with possible light wintry showers. Though mostly dry. Hovering around freezing. Modest east to SE winds. 62F/16.7C in the room. 40F/4C in the greenhouse. Coldest winter in 15 years. 

 Up at 6.50 after an odd night. A normal number of visits to the fire bucket but greater quantities. As expected from drinking numerous glasses of water during the day. This is the whole idea. To flush out the plumbing.

 7.30 It is already becoming lighter in the mornings.  Despite the heavy overcast.

 8.20 Stove lit. Last of the logs brought in from the greenhouse. Plenty for today. There are a few more in the trailer. 

 Even if the roads are clear. I doubt I can get out with the car and trailer for another load of logs. Not with this much snow on the drive. There is the possibility of more snow on Thursday. Though it could turn wet. Thursday is another cooking class. I missed the last one due to a flat tire.

 I have just been across the yard. To empty the ash pan. There is at least four inches. Or 10cm of snow on the ground. I checked and there are just enough logs for a couple of days in the trailer. Perhaps I should bring in some chestnut logs to dry. 

 I just tried this. The one I brought in came from under the shed roof overhang. It measured 20% humidity all over. While subjectively weighing half that of a beech log. I have set the chestnut log aside. To see how quickly it dries indoors. 20% will burn but is on the damp side.

 9.30 Back from my walk. The road was slushy. I went to the back of the verge with each passing vehicle. To give them room to drive safely without a detour and to avoid being sprayed. The wind was cold where there were no hedges. The snow on the drive had stiffened. Which made walking on it even more difficult.

 Another day of encouraging cabin fever on YouTube. 

 Dinner was chicken curry. I had no mushrooms. So I added some oversized raisins. I am fairly sure that Ben's curry sauce used to contain sultanas.  

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8.02.2026 Beware of tiny elephants!

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  Sunday 8th 30F/-1C [7.30] Heavily overcast. The snow is still there. Light showers of snow, sleet or rain. Easterly wind gusting to 10m/s. 61F/16C in the room.

 Up at 4.50 after a quiet night but then lying awake for hours. I finally lit the stove at 7.30.

 YouTube keeps showing me two minute adverts for Tai Chi. Are they trying to drive me away? They know my inside leg measurement and probably what I think on most subjects. They also know my age and health conditions. Intimately! 

 I know this because they keep sending me spam for anything I merely mention in passing. Some things I merely think about. Without ever putting pen to virtual paper. They should also know, by now, that I will never buy anything which steals my precious time on this Earth. By telling me about some commercial product or service. Not without my previous, written permission. I also value advertising and advertisers at the same level, or below that, of rapists and scammers. So, is this strange advert choice predatory behaviour by the idiot AI? 

 Brought in another basket of logs from the greenhouse. 

 10.00 I can see a woodpecker attacking the huge willow tree in the corner of the garden. I am going for a walk. 

 10.30 64F/17.8C. Back again. There was about a centimeter of new snow. Which had caused slush on the roads. Where they were clear but only wet yesterday. Lots of pheasant tracks and several birds exploding into the shrubbery. As I passed their hiding spots behind the hedges. The squawk like mad as they fly away!

 A strange set of prints going to the post box. I am settling on a small elephant. Nothing else fits. A small camel would be less likely. Only five footprints and they weren't going anywhere. I suppose it could have been a baby mammoth. Given the weather conditions.

 13.00 Lunch over. I am already on my 5th glass of water. Having no difficulty in drinking the water. Once it is no longer freezing cold from the tap. 

 I had chicken. So I made Sunday dinner. With mushrooms, peas, carrots, mashed potato and Bisto gravy. 

 I think I am on at least my 7th glass of water. Just over a liter. In addition to my tea and coffee intake. Now I just need to keep it up. Or rather down.

 

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7.02.2026 Light rain and a slight thaw.

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  Saturday 7th 32F/0C. Overcast. No new snow. Possible snow showers or sleet during the day. Icy roads. Hovering around freezing point. 60F/15.6C in the room. 42F/5.6C in the greenhouse. 

 Up at 7.45 after a fairly quiet night and some later clock watching. 

 8.30 Stove lit. 

8.55 61F/16C. It's snowing! Big flakes. 

 The snowfall was short lived. 

 12.00 65F/18.3C. Just back from a late, short walk. The snow was dripping from the shed roof. My earlier footprints looked dark as I returned. I scraped some snow away from the stretch between the door and the drive. To make a cleaner path. 

 The snow was no longer light and fluffy but much wetter and heavier. My clothes were wet from light rain on my return. My glasses were wet too. Hopefully this thaw will clear the snow more quickly. 

 20.30 67F/19C. Another afternoon on YouTube, forums and elsewhere. Dinner was sausage rolls, Heinz sugar loaded and tasteless, baked beans and chips. I haven't developed a strategy for economical use of sausage and prepacked plates of pastry. The beans were excessive. There was no room on the plate and no real need. I regret having bought so many tins of the damned things.

 I have been keeping a glass of water nearby. Now on my 4th today. I much prefer it without the icy chill.  

 

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