23.08.2026 Not, as you were.

 

  Sunday 23rd 55F/13C [8.30] Overcast, with showers and some sunny periods forecast. 20C/68F in the room. The greenhouse the same as outdoors. The weather and wind from the NW. It feels cooler.

 Up at 6.50 after a night attending the fire bucket. Perhaps the result of consuming large quantities of salad. 

 The upstairs windows have also been closed. Rather than left slightly open. "On the catch." For beneficial ventilation and any slight chimney effect. From  warm air rising up the open stairwell escaping through the gaps. With any cross draught differential. From the wind aiding heat extraction.   

 The display cabinets need to be restocked. I may bring down my late wife's teapot collection. See if I like having that on show. It will be well lit for photography. Should I decide to sell those too. Are there any collectors willing to buy a whole collection? I haven't a clue how many there are. 

 I have been enjoying comfortable temperatures. Now, with a sub 20C/68F trend in the weather. I have closed the skylights and doors of the greenhouse. It is time to take advantage of the isolating properties of the greenhouse. Since it covers most of the southern facade. I'll take down the shade net as soon as it is dry. So any solar gain will be stored in the southern wall. As much as a single glazed lean-to greenhouse can manage. They are not particularly airtight. 

 I dusted and polished the cabinets and began to install my late wife's collection of teapots. I discovered a full tea set. Top go with the flowery teapot, milk jug and sugar container. On the second shelf from the top. The coffee pot and mugs on the top shelf are from Wales. 

 I had moved the glass vases upstairs during the building work. To install the new doors. I think the glass vases might look better in the corner cabinet. To replace the cats. 

 19.00 It has been pouring down with claps of thunder.

 Dinner was chicken slices on wholemeal bread rolls. I am letting the chicken cool before adding it to the rolls. It worked but I should simply have sliced the chicken normally. Rather than trying to cut it in only two [rather thick] slices. Which had to be cut up anyway. To spread them around. 

11.00 I have been watching a film on TV and have had pain over my heart for quite some time. About half an hour.  I have used the nitroglycerine but it hasn't helped yet. 

11.05 But now it has. Good night.   

 

  ~?~

22.08.2026 The cats are gone!

 ~?~

  Saturday 22nd 55F/13C[7.50] Overcast, but sunny periods are promised. Peaking at 19C/66F. Rather windy from the west. Gusting to 14m/s/32mph. 21C/70F in the room. 13C/55F in the still open greenhouse.

 Up at 7.00 after a quiet night.

 I need some groceries but need to be back at home. For the cat collection buyers at 12.00. 

 So I drove into the village. With the trailer attached. Carrying a load of cardboard from packaging materials for recycling. The recycling yard is badly designed. With the popular cardboard container alongside the refuse container. Both the last on many and right on the exit from the yard. And, always with cars with trailers blocking access to these containers and to the exit.

 12.00 My cat buyers have arrived and were a delight to deal with. They both spoke excellent English. 

 14.00 They have just left after nearly two hours of packing cats in newspaper. 

 I can have lunch. Now I have to decide what to display in this large, newly empty cabinet. More decorative glass? Teapots? Ideally I should be housing something I can photograph. To advertise more things for sale.

 Dinner was a pile of salad. I left out the boiled eggs this time. To leave enough room on the plate.

   

  ~?~

21.08.2026 The cats are going.

 ~?~

  Friday 21st 56F/13C [7.30] Bright but risk of scattered showers.  Peaking at around 21C/70F. Breezy from the northwest.

 21C/70F in the room. 13.5C/56F in the greenhouse.

 Up at 7.30 after another quiet night. 

 Delivery of my e-bike's new tyre and inner tube confirmed by email. For later collection from the local parcel office. Which deals with multiple carriers.

 9.10 I have had my online, morning chat. Now I am going for a gentle walk. 

 9.45 And back again. From a slow loop of the northerly neighbours' drives. I had to return early yesterday. When I became too breathless to continue with my visitor. No breathlessness today but my quadriceps were aching from lack of walking. A neighbour's expanded plot is looking good. It was a rough field only a few months ago.

 The robot mower was still busy. Steadily improving the grass sward on the drive embankment and paddocks. Lots of new trees are growing out of the marshy area. Which is likely to block my view eventually. After my clearing a narrow window in the garden trees. The mere existence of trees suggests that the marsh is drying out. In past years it was prone to annual, winter flooding. The few trees clung to the banks of a natural pond.

 12.30 Returning from the village with the new tyre and inner tube. I drove back through the forest to enjoy the sunshine and countryside.

 13.45 Had lunch. Fitted the new tyre and tube. Used washing up liquid and water as a lubricant. 

 I have a buyer for the cats. They will be calling tomorrow around lunchtime. 

 Dinner was the pork chop. Halved into two thinner slices and fried. Arranged on wholemeal rolls. 

 

  ~?~