24.04.2026 The If/Then command.

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  Friday 24th 40F/4.4C [5.00] Another sunny day is forecast. 68F/20C in the room without heating. 47F/8.3C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 4.40 after a quiet night. Heart scan at the city hospital at 13.30.  

 7.50 I made it to the end of the drive before turning back. The lower back pain gets no better.

 9.30 Woke from a one hour nap. Had an email to say my new doors are being delivered on the 30th. Unless told otherwise. 

 While I have been incapacitated by my back pain I have developed a bad habit. Of watching endless YouTube videos. It was becoming quite silly how I was limiting myself to watching YT's suggestions. AI, politics, humour, cycling, various science based subjects, etc. It really was getting a bit obsessive. Hours, days and hole [sic] weeks wasted on passive watching. Video Ketamin. 

 So I reprogrammed the Mk1 Blob with a Basic If/Then command. Every time the talking head asks for Likes, Comments, Subscription or Patronage I close the video. As simple as that. Absolutely no exceptions. This simple rule has made the experience much less addictive. I am back in charge. The talking head no longer has the authority to keep me listening. Full stop. 

 I was already blocking adverts. So I didn't have that option as a major turn off. Which might have strengthened my resolve to cut back on the dosage. Now I just have to find something else to do. Something constructive. Which doesn't involve too much walking. 

 12.00 I enjoyed an hour outside observing the sun through my specially filtered telescope. Carrying the individual parts in and out made me breathless. Time to prepare for the drive to the city hospital.

   

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23.04.2026

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  Thursday 23rd 44/6.7C [8.40] Another sunny day. Though a more cloudy start today. More like a bright overcast. It could reach 18C/64F this afternoon. 67F/19C in the room. No overnight heating. It reached 74F/23C after greenhouse heating yesterday afternoon. 54F/12C in the greenhouse this morning.

 Up at 7.20 after a fairly quiet night. I was awake at six but went back to sleep.

 Cooking class this morning. My back feels a little better. Just as it did yesterday. Until I started moving about. I have decided to go. It will get me out of the computer chair. Forcing me to stand about for several hours instead. I can always sit down if it gets too much. It will confirm if my office chair is causing the pain. It seems unlikely as I have been sitting on it for many years. Recycled of course.

 13.45 Back from cooking class. Where I made a banana and apple tart with two others. It was baked and then inverted to bring the bananas to the top. My back hurt but I brought a chair over. To sit on when I needed it. 110F/4Cin the greenhouse. Internal windows and doors opened. House currently at 69F/21C.

 

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22.04.2026 Crawling wounded.

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  Wednesday 22nd 45F/7.2C [8.20] Another sunny day. Peaking at 16C/61F this afternoon. Another white, overnight frost.

 Up at 4am and 7.20. I was wide awake. With things going around in my head. It felt rather too warm in the room. [22C] I went back to bed at 5.30. 

 My back doesn't feel so bad so far. I should try a walk.

 10.00 I only managed 100m before hobbling back home. My back pain is no better.

 11.00 The greenhouse is easily warm enough to share it's heat with the house. I have turned off the heat pump. 

 12.00 The greenhouse is at 94F/34C even with all the internal windows and doors open. The room is at 70F/21C. The kitchen is usually warmer.  

 14.00 This is maddening! I can't even walk around indoors without it hurting. I had to open the greenhouse skylights to cool things down. 100F/38C in the greenhouse. Now 75F/24C indoors. I have also opened the heavy curtains around the open stairwell. At least the house will be well aired.

 Dinner was fried chicken and 3 minute broccoli. 

  

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