30th November 2019 It's an age thing! 😳

*

Saturday 20th 29F, -2C, a hard white frost. Promising to be sunny again when the sun rises. 8.30 and it is still thinking  about it. A walk to the lanes in low but bright sunshine. A very pale bird of prey was sitting bolt upright in a tree across the fields. Highly visible even to the naked eye at several hundred yards. A heron was on its way to the marsh pond.

Rather unexpectedly they sent me an SMS that storage tubs were ready for collection. I hit a new milestone today. Two people helped me outside by carrying my parcel for me.  It wasn't particularly heavy, just huge. They must have thought I looked too old to manage it by myself. Mind you, one of them was built like an "8' tall gorilla." He could probably have carried it outside, under one arm, with [little old] me perched on top of the parcel. 😊 The trike shed reorganisation went well but rapidly used up the tubs.  Heavy shopping in the car.

 

*

29.11.19 Fraug puts his Foot into Fat Borris!

*

Friday 29th 36F, cool, grey and windy start but with sunshine promised.

The BBC reports that Channel 4 held a climate debate for political party leaders. The two most famous, circus clowns failed to turn up. The usual culprits: Fat Boris and his straight man: Fraug. Two lifetime, obsessive attention seekers not turning up for a TV debate? This, immediately after the EU Parliament unanimously passed a "Climate Emergency" notice to promise increased coal burning. Does not compute!

Channel 4 pulled off a dramatic publicity stunt by erecting two ice sculptures of the missing Blighted clowns. Which slowly [and dramatically] melted during the debate. The leader of the labour party did turn up after getting a pass from his decrepit people's home. Nobody knew who the rest were. All obviously in desperate need of a vote or two amongst swing voters.

Some audience members claimed that the labour [taxing] leader was really Michael Foot. With a "Short Back and Sides" haircut to hark back to the Party's grass roots. Both Clown's parties complained afterwards to the TV Ombudsman for Continuously Lowering Standards about the ice sculptures. Which [allegedly] showed a total lack of respect for professional [and increasingly endangered] clowns.

Talking of which: This week's Ozzie prime minister is in denial about climate change too. As half of Australia's remaining non-desert chokes under a blanket of smog from burning coal koalas. Coal is  now Australia's only export after wool sales collapsed. This was due to cruelty issues in keeping sheep in a desert without water. So no Ozzie dares to mention coal in the same breath as fires or they'll go broke.

Danish climate experts are telling the "New Green" government that their CO2 reduction plans are mere cake decoration and will take years to have any real effect. The rest is just massaging the figures to make them look better in 2330.  

A walk in a cold, gusty wind along the marsh, up to the woods and then back along the main track. All very soggy underfoot. I was grateful for the waterproof trousers and the hood on my jacket. I didn't take gloves so relied on the hand warmer, hip pockets. Not ideal when tottering on steep, muddy banks bereft of useful grip.

A couple of herons took umbrage and left in a slow motion huff. Only about thirty Mallards were cruising the leaden pond under a leaden sky. It was 9.45 before the first, brief glimpse of the promised sunshine between layers of cloud. It was soon gone again. Though it left some bits of turquoise sky edged with pink just to tease us. After 11am it was solid sunshine until well after lunch. It remained clear later. With a beautiful, red sunset decorated by a thin, crescent moon. Already a frost at 6.45pm.

The storage tubs were a myth of the tracking website. Now they won't turn up until next week. Which means the trike shed must wait for its makeover. While my chances for the Nobel prize for extreme shed tidying is now equally unlikely. Never mind, I'll just wear odd coloured socks and go for the 2019 Guinness Record for shed tidying while wearing odd coloured socks as a [completely worthless] consolation prize. Well, it's not so utterly meaningless as spending years setting up dominoes just because you can't think of anything more interesting.

*

28th November 2019 "My other car is a Tesla 3!" 🤣

*

Thursday 28th 46F, dark grey overcast with rain forecast for most of the day. A walk to the village. Dry at first, then fine drizzle and then stair rods. The drive is liquid from end to end! Am I having fun yet? More time working on tidying the trike shed. The Trykit front wheel reached within 3' of the far end of the shed by this afternoon. Which is a global first. Do they do a Nobel Prize for shed tidying?

More storage tubs arriving tomorrow. Including plenty of shallow ones. I need to divide my screwdrivers, pliers and spanners at the very least. I haven't counted them but there must 100 screwdrivers collected over 50 years. Not even counting those indoors and in the other workshop. Neither shed has had a proper workbench in years.

Remember the "New Green" Danish Government? Their election catch phrase of: 70% reduction in CO2 by 2230! Well, they will increase the road tax for the Tesla 3 from £400 in 2020 to £14,000 in 2021. Meanwhile petrol and diesel cars will enjoy a reduction. Only in Denmark!! 😂

The Tesla 3 was the most sold electric car in Denmark of the total of 15 EVs sold here in all of this year. There must be tiny Pacific islands, by now, with far more electric cars on them than the whole of even tinier Denmark.

So, instead of running around in a Porsche or Ferrari, from now on the Danish pimps, drug dealers, people traffickers and pensioned politicooze will be flashing their wealth in a leased, Tesla 3! I will just have to make do with a rear screen sticker for my 1990's Japanese banger:

🤣

 *

26.11.19 Consumer protection? Que? No comprende!

*

Tuesday 26th 41-44F, dark grey and raining lightly. Very little wind so far. Walked to the lanes with my hood fitted to the jacket and my new waterproof trousers on. Stayed warm, dry and comfortable. The gulls were too depressed to move. Continuing to tidy the trike shed.

The Dark Tower hovers above the mist in the distance. A strange picture deprived of light.

Wednesday 27th 44-45F, dark grey overcast again. Rain at lunch time. I wonder whether it has anything to do with Denmark's increased burning of imported coal in its power stations? Increased over the increase of the previous year. In other words expanding. I walked to the lanes in a light, south easterly wind.

Later, I rode further afield to find the items I can't buy locally in the same supermarket chains. A waste of time because there was no stock there either. Worse, it rained hard all the way home! 14 miles. Despite the short rain jacket I had to change every single item of clothing.

A major, Danish, electronics chain has been accused of falsehoods by the media. Why has it taken this long for the crooks to make the headlines? When will somebody report on the other major electronics chain of crooks too? Both chains run a scam where you can reserve a product online. But it is never available when you drive the 20 miles to their big shed stores to collect. Despite their having shown stock of several of the item at that branch when you placed your online order.

Though you can always trade up to a far more expensive item, of course. Or, their favourite scam:  The same item but with "professional" preparation. Like having Windows 10 installed on a laptop! Or a "pretend" calibration of a brand new TV.  Which means nothing at all because it is only designed to impress under bright, showroom lighting conditions. Both items were advertised at one price but this was not available. Though they had a tall stack of "calibrated" TVs with special printing direct from the factory. Which you didn't want or ask for but costs hundreds or even thousands more kroner. [Tens to hundreds of British Pounds or US Dollars.]

I believe they wanted £120 equivalent for each "special service" on top of the widely advertised price. I walked away and was then ripped off just across the road! I didn't want to buy such items online, sight unseen. So felt I had no choice but to use a bricks, mortar and corrugated tin store where I could see the goods first. I thought it was just my being English and elderly and therefore [hopefully] an easy target for them. Now it seems to be a routine scam deliberately aimed at the Danes too.
 
I know these scammers operate just across the road from each other because I had dealings with both at the same time. Like two gangs of outlaws setting an ambush for the unwary at the pass. That's the problem living in a country with absolutely no consumer protection. There is no sheriff. So the bandits run riot. You'd think they'd send in the EU consumer troops, by now, but not so far.

Another chain is reported to be still  breaking the law on special offers despite a £70,000 fine last year. The same chain which frequently advertises special offers in their supermarkets but they never arrive. This has been going on for years. So much so that the staff rattle off the no delivery excuse without batting an eyelid. The vast profits from increased sales must easily exceed any piddling fines.

 Ask me about the local garage which did £300 [equivalent] of unrequested "minor fiddling" when I only asked for an MOT check on my old car. With no agreement to do anything at all but report back. Of course they belong to the national chain of approved vehicle repairers. As if the plaque outside meant anything at all except false marketing.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

25.11.19 Bad petrol!! Or better batteries?

*

Monday 25th 41F, dark grey again but with lighter winds. Fine drizzle and a thin, easterly wind accompanied me on my walk to the lanes. Heavy shopping in the car.

I bought some Shell petrol and the car immediately started misbehaving. Juddering and failing to pick up from low speed. The tank was probably 1/4 full beforehand. Now I have to burn off more than £20 of petrol [as a very low mileage user] before I can add some more from a different petrol station. The advice online, to avoid tank draining and injector cleaning, is to top up with premium. I usually use 95.

This problem has occurred before but I can't remember why it went away. It is nasty to try to pull through a gap in the traffic and then stall on the middle of the road! Even revving the engine repeatedly doesn't guarantee a safe pick up! Though it gets lots of glares in the supermarket car park!

There is a new fuel type coming up in 2020 with extra bio [ethanol?] mixed into it. We can blame the EU for this. The advice is to avoid it with older cars like mine. [1990s] Compulsory vehicle redundancy?

Q. How do you replace an "old banger" with a new electric one? A. You can't. One is completely worthless. While the other costs an arm and a leg and one and a half kidneys in Denmark with its 200% import taxes!

You can't even access any of the websites dealing with electric cars in Denmark. They all insist I close my ad blocker. I finally found an independent website listing EV prices in Denmark. The cheapest is the I-Up from VW.

You know, the completely trustworthy manufacturer. The one with a perfect record of honesty when it comes to statistics and testing. Not to mention factory installed rust. I've owned several VWs over the years. Though it was a close run thing, with Ford, where competitive rust is concerned.

Q: What are the chances a VW battery will outlast their claimed specs?

1) 1%.
2) Depends which heavily subsidised advertising magazine or website you ask.
3) 0.001 seconds after any supposed [vaguely worded legalsleeze] guarantee ends.
4) Who has £28,000 plus delivery plus "hidden extras" anyway?

There's no chance the new <cough> Green Danish government <cough> will reduce import taxes on EVs. They have a vast fleet of Chumpy's gold plated F35s to buy. Plus all the homes they will have to buy up and demolish because of insanely high noise levels.

Then there's all the publicly owned ghettoes they have promised to demolish to reduce imported criminality. 11,000 people are expected to leave the ghettos with large bribes readily available. The young criminals will just have to find alternative entertainment. Other than setting light to blocks of flats full of families and then stoning the fire brigade and police who respond.

In climate news: Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations actually increased faster in 2018 than in previous years. The Victoria Falls are in grave danger of drying up. Flow sometimes drops to 50% of normal and is predicted to get much worse.

Danish businesses, including factories and supermarkets usually release "waste" heat into the atmosphere. When it could be conserved in the local district heating systems. A large wind farm has been suggested for the seas of Bornholm. A Danish island just below Sweden on the map. The mayor of Bornholm is delighted at the chance to gain some commercial activity in what is usually considered a tourist island.

Parts from a vast, 200 meter high, wind turbine have been moved from the coast to the giant wind turbine testing station at Østerild in northern Jylland [Eng: Jutland] The tower base was ferried upright on a huge, multi-wheeled transporter. With the huge nacelle travelling behind at a walking pace for the entire 23km/ 10 hour journey.

The event made the national Danish news. Affected resident were asked to leave their homes in case of accidents. Though it is reported to have passed off uneventfully, just as expected. Many sightseers turned out to witness, photograph and film the journey. The experimental wind station now has nine pads to house a regularly changing series of turbines as manufacturers constantly develop newer and usually, even larger and higher, offshore designs. A maximum height of 330 meters or 1000 feet is considered possible.

The test site is a popular tourist attraction. With the surrounding area landscaped to provide ideal conditions for wildlife. Including, somewhat ironically, birds of prey. The filthy rich, coal, gas and oil lobby would have you believe there are huge losses to flailing turbine blades. The true figure is vanishingly small in comparison with the truly colossal losses to skyscrapers, industrial sites, road transport and domestic cats.

But don't let the truth get in the way of world destroying and totally obscene, taxpayer-subsidised profits. Ask any resident of a major city in China or India how they feel about the constant smog. When did it become a basic human right to poison your neighbour's air? Just for the convenience of driving to the local, McLardy's disabled space?

Tesla's "Battery Boy" has explained the window damage from hurling large steel balls at his new EV pickup truck. They whacked the stainless steel "Delorianesque" bodywork with a sledge hammer first. Before throwing the large, steel balls at the windows. The hammer caused a crack in the glass which failed on further torture. Next time they promise to throw the steel balls first and then whack the bodywork with a sledge hammer.

The larger Tesla easily beat the popular Ford F150 in a very unfair, tug of war. Note how Ford sneaked a jet fighter sounding label for their horribly outdated pickup? They should have gone with the jet powered one to compete with Tesla. How soon before the major, Ford production worker lay-offs begin? Their electric pickup is still years away. As they struggle to incorporate enough, built-in obsolescence in a much simpler vehicle. The Tesla looked like alien technology to the Ford's mid '70s styling. "Beam me up, Elon!" 😎

*

24.11.19 The one man, cycle jumbler/hoarder.

*

Sunday 24th 43F, remaining mild but dark grey. It is past 8.00 and it is still not light. The American ambassador is telling Denmark to buy more F35s. You know, the jets which are so extremely noisy that half of Denmark will need to be cleared of inhabitants around the airfield. Well at least they know where to put the next big wind farm that nobody wants either. Do 150 meter high wind turbines mix with low flying fighter jets? There won't be anybody left in Jylland to care. They will all be paying inflated rents to foreign money launderers in Copenhagen.

Walked around the 3 mile block in very blustery conditions. Just to avoid hunters on my usual off- road routes. A male Kestrel passed close by me after being disturbed by a crow. Even such experts on the wing struggle in such gusty winds. The huge, field puddles were unchanged in places from the last time I walked that way.

I spent the rest of the morning tidying the trike shed. Need more storage tubs! Two clear plastic tubs literally fell in half when I lifted them! I have brightly coloured storage tubs probably 40 years old and still doing well despite heavy loads.

Three more hours tidying in the afternoon as well. I could hold my own auto jumble with all the stuff I have in boxes and tubs. Square axle cranks, chain rings, sealed and loose BBs, pedals, gear changers, front and back, levers.

Sprockets from 8, 9 and 10 speed cassettes. Brakes, lots of saddles, pins and handlebar extensions. The list goes on and on. [Just like me.] I even found a period, trike gear hanger and a pair of Longstaff, alloy trike hubs.

Then there is the early, LongJohn transporter bike with vast, mid-frame, tubular basket. A small front wheel, carrier bike. A period American cruiser with a dummy "petrol tank" and chromed, girder suspension forks. My wife's early and remarkably lightweight, curly top tube, small ladies/ girls, step-through bicycle. A tasty 24" racing bike frame with aero down tube which was sadly, too big to make a trike with the Longstaff trike conversion. I can't even remember the name or model of the frame any more. The years just race by.

The [lugged] Higgins 'Ultralite' [quickly fitted with Trykit 2WD & journal bearings] is hanging from the rafters to take up less room. I still have the original Higgins mudguard stays that a trike fan, very kindly sent me.

The Higgins had sprints and tubs on it when I bought it on eBay and had it sent over. Not ideal in a flint prone area. It came with a 5 speed, close ratio, TT block on original, Higgins carrier. Mr Trykit built me some nice HP wheels to go with the 2WD conversion to escape from the punctures ASAP! Sadly the Higgins doesn't look quite so pretty [or original] any more. Not after I put tens of thousands of miles on it in all seasons!

Then there's the Longstaff trike conversion with very pretty, aero, rear HP rims on alloy hubs. None of these are ever likely to be ridden again.

Probably have to get them all back to Blighty to find anyone remotely interested in buying them. Or any of the spare junk pile/collection. It will all go to scrap if I drop my clogs. Can't put any of them, nor the junk, on eBay, because of the freight charges.

I took 23 wheels and a load of frames and complete sports and mountain bikes to the recycling yard a while back. Just chucked them all into the scrap metal skip. What else can you do with them? They have no value in Denmark. Not unless they are the latest high end kit to tempt a "weekend warrior" to "upgrade" to save 5 grammes.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

23.11.19 Heads you lose, tails you lose.

 *

Saturday 23rd 44F, heavy overcast but dry.  One weather forecaster suggests sunny periods this morning. The other goes with grey all day. Quite a windy weekend in prospect if either is to be believed.

Not to put a further damper on things, but Denmark has enjoyed the wettest autumn since records began in 1874. With a week to go, 2019 has already beaten the previous, wettest, record year of 1967.

Climate change predictors suggest a parallel between global warming and increased rainfall. With a "wettest" record increasingly more likely. However, two years ago Denmark had the driest summer on record with crop losses. 1967 was also a very long way from our present, peaking, global temperatures. So trying to peg this particular, "wetness" record to climate change might be a bit of a stretch.

There are always variations from year to year. As occurred here in 1967. That's just the difference between weather and climate. At least it is mild. One year we were clearing a 16" overnight snowfall along a 100 yards of drive just to get the trike out. That snow hung on for 5 months!

Today's weather, so far, made do with a cold wind and leaden sky. A gang of gunmen were ambushing the pheasants again. Not with any great success. Eight shots seems poor reward for the investment in breeding stock, bird food and feeders, green clothing, artillery and matching four wheel drives. It's not as if they get much exercise standing around, out there, on the muddy fields. Perhaps they should try chasing the pheasants with nets? Like they do with butterflies.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

20.11.19 99% of Danes...

 *

Wednesday 20th 38-43F, overcast and misty, but both are thinning. The sky broke up to blinding sunshine between banks of cloud. Layers of mist and a natural tobacco filter provided stunning landscapes. Capturing the views is not easy when I am holding the camera as high as I can manage at arm's length to avoid nature's nearby obstructions. The wind turbines were still. Shopped in the car, in the rain, to bring back a load of fuel for the stove.

Thursday 21st 38-45F, dark and heavy overcast. I need to visit a DIY outlet 10 miles away. Today might be a good day for a ride. My walk to the lanes revealed a sharp edged lid on the sky to the north. The huntsmen were disturbing the peace again. With two waves of shots somewhere off to the south. The forecast is grey but dry with light winds. Ideal for a ride. In misty rain, on wet roads I rode 20, very hilly miles.

Going through the forest I was able to wash some of the mud off the tyres in the long puddles. Two large lorries passed me carrying huge stacks of hay bales. At the speed they were travelling it will be a surprise if there are any bales left to unload at the other end. A continuous stream of straw was being scattered behind them by both.

Friday 22nd 45F, early rain and cloud has cleared to sunny periods. I was having to retreat to the back of the verge to avoid horizontal sheets of spray from passing traffic. Having left very late for my morning walk I can confirm that 10 o'clock is not remotely too early for some drunks to be driving in tradesman's vans. I was also passed by a sports car with a Danish price tag of 6 million. And, no, it wasn't your run of the mill, drug dealer's or slave owner's Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini. It was something with far more class.

In today's news: 99% of Danes, of those who responded, would take a handicapped parking space if it meant a shorter walk to McLardy's door.

80% of the world's children do not get enough exercise. The other 20% is made up of child slaves carrying baskets of bricks or heavy rolls of cloth for absent billionaires.

The United Nations says that the planned, new, global investment in coal, gas and oil will make CO2 limitation completely impossible. Or, in other words; you can all kiss your lardy arses goodbye!

Gates admits that he would never have bothered to build his Microsoft, global monopoly into a personal fortune of $111,000,000,000. Not if had he known increased taxation would mean having only $110 billion and change. Even 1% extra taxation would kill any incentive to be the world's richest man. That must be why they call them the 1%? I call them sociopaths.

More, filthy rich sociopaths are being named amongst the growing number of robbers who stole billions from the Danish treasury in a VAT refund scam. [Only possible because the politicooze cut back on staff.]

The robbery doesn't just mean no new roads, but hospitals, already desperate for nurses, never being built. Those few nurses left are constantly being assaulted by "entitled" thugs and drunks. Promised huge increases in the number of nurses [in election Politicooze] actually means hundreds fewer in as many months.

Meanwhile billions [of real taxpayer's money] can still be found to tart up the hangars for Chumpy's huge fleet of gold plated, F35 jets. Jets which will probably be grounded due to illegally, excessive noise. Unless, of course, the Politicooze buy up literally thousands of real people's homes [with real taxpayer's money] and then demolish them all.

Still, it's only monopoly money [and monopoly people] to the politicooze. One of those special jobs where success, or abject failure, still means a lifelong, hereditary pension. Which would be the envy of the vast majority, of the monopoly people, paying the world's highest taxes. The tragic thing about democracy is having to choose between worst-case candidates. Then watching the skittles fall as new or historical charges arise. Self praise is [very obviously] no recommendation [at all!]

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

18th November 2019 The all pervading greyness..

*

Monday 18th 46F, mild but with a dark grey overcast. Two more days of overcast are promised by both competitors in the weather forecasting trials. It is no wonder the Vikings wanted to get away!

A walk to the lanes. Talked to a curious pony. Though it didn't seem impressed with the offering of a handful of grass from the verge. It is forgetting to get light today. And remained that way.

Tuesday 19th 41-45F even darker grey with a promise of rain at lunch time. Just another walk to the lanes. And, yes, it did rain at lunch time.

The New Green Danish government has announced a bribe which it is calling a "bonus" for neighbours of wind turbines. They will receive up to 5000DKK which is about £500 a year. Or £10 a week to put up with VLF noise and shadow flicker. The bonus will be paid only to those within a prescribed multiplier of the height of the turbine. I'd better check Google!

An interview with a neighbour of large windmills says he subject to noise unless he keeps his windows shut. This suggests very low frequency flutter from the blades passing the tower. The sound can be further reinforced by certain room volumes and dimensions. Wind direction and strength vary along with the subjective effects they cause.

We once lived near a major new gas pipe installation and the rumbling sound was intolerable indoors. Fortunately they stopped work in the late afternoons. A similar effect can be produced by plate vibrators in building work. I spent years researching and producing high levels of  deep bass for reproducing realistic organ music. These deep [infrasonic] sounds can be completely inaudible but still extremely distressing at high levels.

There has been ever increasing resistance to new wind turbines. Both on land and offshore. It is hoped that the bribes will make "ordinary" people less resistant to the arrival of more and much larger turbines. New neighbours will have up to a year to experience the effects or sell their homes to the wind turbine owners. Wind turbines almost always depress prices. If the homes can ever be sold at all.

Interestingly, there are many neighbours to the forces airfield where new, very noisy, F35 jets will replace the quieter F26s. There have been efforts to insulate the airfield neighbour's homes against the noise. Though residents claim it makes little real difference. Something like 1600 homes are directly affected. The cost of the hangars alone is over-running into the billions.

We suffer jet noise on an almost weekly basis as they practice for hours over Fyn. Just as we did in Gravely Blighted in our last, rural home there. Where we were on the flight path of a very large airfield. It was a daily occurrence to look up at a stream of jet fighters banked onto a wing tip at 200 feet. Or several, four engined transports similarly banked over. So close you could see the rivets and the pilot looking down at us. Frequent, overflying helicopters merely added to the racket. Thank goodness the UFOs were quiet. Even if they did fly much lower over our garden. 30 years on and still no explanation for black cheese wedges cruising over at 50 feet. 👽

.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

15.11.2019 As if through a mist, darkly.

*

Friday 15th 41F, heavy overcast and rather windy. The car is covered in leaves from the hedges. They have taken their time in shedding their leaves while most of the trees are already bare. With the exception of the red oaks which are still clinging to many of their brown leaves.

Just a walk to the lanes where a pair of small deer were browsing on the crops. The gulls were reluctant to settle again after I disturbed them. Whirling in circles in the strong wind. It's odd how they all rest together in large numbers on particular fields. Yet don't seem to forage for food.

I zipped up my new jacket for the first time today. I usually only do up the poppers but the eye watering wind was blowing inside the rain flap from that side. I passed a single bush beside the road and the wind dropped to almost nothing. There are only a few hedges on the edges of these big fields.

The field flooding has finally shrunk to almost nothing. Leaving a large, brown scar to be re-cultivated and re-sewn. A pair of Goshawks were soaring slowly overhead, several times today. A cold, grey day made worse by the wind.

Saturday 16th 46F, dark grey, misty overcast but light winds today. All day rain forecast by both weather websites. One offering rain and sunny periods. The other just grey skies with rain. As we approach 8:30am it seems to be getting darker by the minute! Fine drizzle accompanied me on my walk to the lanes. I tried to capture the mist with my camera but everything just looked out of focus. A dead mink lay on the verge. Bigger than most cats it was.

In the end, we went with the rain all day, hold the sunshine, option.

Sunday 18th 38-43F, cool, sunny morning with cloud forecast after lunch. Walked to the lanes. The three deer were grazing at their favourite, undisturbed spot. Out in the rolling fields against their hedge. A cold, easterly breeze has made it feel much colder than usual. A shopping trip has been approved for this afternoon. And so it was. In weakened sunlight I set off on my mission to restock the larder. Duly provisioned, I returned heavily laden. For the grand total of some 7 miles. Which to some might be worth a chortle. While others might consider it a marathon. From the viewpoint of advancing old age. Myself included, were it ten times the distance. I was once a mileage snob too.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

12.11.2019 Drought or flood? Boom or bust?

*

Tuesday 12th 41F, dark, heavy overcast and windy. Every morning I read the Danish DR News, followed by the BBC News website and finish off with Google News.

Yesterday, there was quite a rare astronomical event. Mercury transited across the face of the sun. Mercury's 5000km diameter to the Earth's 13,000km ought to make it feel much smaller. Except that it doesn't have 7 billion aggressively territorial ants constantly waging war with each other across its barren surface.

Seeing "tiny" Mercury cross the huge disk of the Sun should be a wake up call. Particularly  to those who imagine we are invulnerable and somehow vaguely important. Nothing could be further from the truth. It wouldn't take much of an asteroid hit to wipe out most of what we laughingly call "our civilisation." The Sun itself, or one more distant, could easily wipe us out with a blast of radiation.

It makes you wonder about donning that silly hat at a political rally. Placing your faith in the self-serving, slimy hypocrites who only like making rules for others. Real choice is one of the rarest elements on our constantly, shrinking planet. Real freedom only a half-formed myth. From birth to death, our fragile lives are regimented to the tiniest detail. Step out of line and test the consequences for yourself. If you live to tell the tale. 

I shall have to go shopping today, if we are to survive. But first my morning walk beckons. Stuffing the Ecco boots with stiff, brown paper seems to have helped for the moment. A lion with a thorn in its paw is not much use to anybody. Except for myth manufacturers with an agenda.

Wednesday 13th 36F, clear sky, light wind and sunshine soon.  What a difference a day makes. It was not to be. After being blinded by the low sun as I crossed the prairie it became steadily more cloudy and windy. I looped around the firebreaks in the forest heading for home. There were hundreds of mushrooms under the conifers. I disturbed a pair of herons browsing on the fields going both ways. They pretended to be afraid and wandered off over the nearby woods before returning for a rematch. A large tractor was painting the green skyline brown with a train of bright red ploughs.

Holland is reducing the maximum road speed to 100kph during daylight hours. Denmark has been raising theirs. Denmark's homeless are moving to the countryside. They must have heard about rising sea levels in all of Denmark's major, coastal cities.

Thursday 14th 40F, heavy, grey overcast and misty. 100 yard invisibility stretched to 200 yards as I climbed up to the woods and returned anticlockwise. A Goshawk landed on a tree just ahead. Then changed its mind before flying off into the mist.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

11.11.19 II Commuter clones on the "dodgem" train.

*

Talking of a reality check: The next time you sit on the tail of another car. Desperately trying to make up time for leaving for work late. Just as you do every single day of your entire "working" life. Ask yourself whether you really ought to see a psychiatrist. You show all the symptoms of a severe, mental illness.

I can no longer separate commuter driving behaviour from virtual, fairground dodgems. Idiotically set up in the sprawling grounds of a dilapidated, planet-wide, psychiatric hospital. Reality has long fled from this chaotic scene. It made no sense a century ago and will almost certainly not do so in another 50 years.

Have you never stepped back and looked at yourself and what really passes for your daily life? The road ahead has solid, double white lines for miles. The same as they were yesterday and will be again tomorrow.

No team of jolly council workers has been along to reduce your personal misery in not being allowed to overtake. The speed restriction signs are still there. The double white lines are still there. Not that you take any notice of them. And what if you did overtake anyway? You'd actually risk your life and others? Just to gain one place in the endless queue to nowhere? Of course you would! Like a shot.

Because only overtaking gives you the delicious delusion that you are actually in charge of your vehicle and your life. Instead of having your absolute speed and route rigidly dictated to you. Freedom of the road?  This is reserved solely for dictators like Pootin and Chump.

The speed limits on your route are the same today as they were yesterday and will be again tomorrow. Does your driving license purchase bring special entitlement to you, and you alone? When all the other [obviously inferior] billions of other commuter clones must refrain from overtaking. And must do so into the far, far, distant future.  

So why exactly are you sitting right on the tail of that car at the back of the endless queue in front of you? When all of you are travelling at just above the legal, speed limit. At least some of the time. Does reducing your safe braking distance really shorten your journey time? 

Does the commuter alighting from the very last carriage on the train really have to run faster to get to work on time? Your ridiculously expensive, reserved seat, in your employer-provided car, is no different from sitting in a very long train of very small carriages.

A very old fashioned train, mind you. Where all the compartments are isolated from each other with doors which you cannot open, while in motion and there are absolutely no toilet facilities. At least, not until you arrive at your very own, "special" station.

You are all on a train which travels in constant circles to nowhere in particular. Stopping at regular intervals to allow commuters to uncouple and find themselves an imaginary parking place. Which do not really exist except in the commuter's feverishly, deluded minds.

Shame on you if your "office" is out of town and the vast area of utterly pointless tarmac is directly contributing to global warming. I bet they don't have any trees between the endless ranks of reserved spaces. Reserved, so that the managing director can have his heart attack a year or two earlier. From a total lack of exercise. Walking the least distance because he is far too busy and far too important for such things. Until he is replaced by the next managing director clone and they have to repaint the reserved sign

So, have a nice day! The nurse, with your medicine, will be doing her rounds soon. A "happy" pill and a blood pressure pill and something for that nasty asthma. Which you only get from insisting on driving a new and highly toxic car. Meanwhile, do try not to grip the bars of your restraining "wheelchair" so tightly. You know it makes absolutely no sense. At all! 🦽

Click on any image for an enlargement. 

*

11.11.19 We are saved! The Climate Ambassador has landed!

*

Monday 11th 41F, rain and heavy overcast at 7am. It cleared for my walk and turned into a pretty sky of high, fluffy clouds against blue. Though banks of thicker cloud are threatening to take over again. A cold SE wind on my walk along the road. Where a stealth digger battled with the endless task of draining the corrugated fields.

After years of use and abuse the lanyard on my Lumix TZ7 has finally parted at the thinnest bit. I had no idea how much I depended on it until now. I had taught myself to use it to draw the camera out of its dirt cheap, but long lasting, vinyl case. But only once the thicker loop was safely around my wrist. It has saved the camera from countless falls. Providing security without conscious thought. Vital when conscious thought is in such short supply.

Denmark's new "green" government has appointed a Climate Ambassador. His team's responsibility is to reduce Denmark's increasing CO2 production by 70% by the year 2130. They keep talking about 2030, only 11 years away, but at the present rate of CO2 increase they really ought to me more honest. I know, let's all aim for a slightly smaller increase by 2130. Just like the rest of the planet. 

The Climate Ambassador will no doubt be flying all over the same planet to encourage others to reduce their CO2 production. His private, Jumbo jet, reserved for junkets by his growing "empire" of lavishly rewarded, private consultants, all on a hefty retainer, will be named "Hypocrisy."

Probably written in solid gold leaf six feet high. In a font specially designed by a famous Danish architect. For an obscenely, overgenerous handout and lifelong, tax-free pension for his entire family into future generations. No, that's not right. This reward is reserved exclusively for those "who serve." The politicooze class. Those who have slaved away, day and night and weekends, to make this world the absolutely perfect place it is today. After all, they have been in charge for so long that it couldn't, possibly, be any other way! 

Click on any image for an enlargement. 

*

8.11.19 Cloud? Or more cloud?

 *

Friday 8th 42-45?F, heavy overcast, but dry so far. I'm going for a short [errand] ride instead of a walk. Just over 8 miles of undulating country lanes. More wind than I was promised in the forecast but none of the sunshine.

This is very odd. The seagulls look as large as the deer in this full zoom image. Suggesting that these are the same family of small, Roe deer. Which I see sunbathing against a nearer hedge.

I disturbed a flock of Redwings numbering probably well over 1000. The sky was black with them off into the distance. They, and Fieldfares, are regular visitors to our garden trees in winter. Flocks of 50-100 are commonplace at this time of year. They seem to like berries but are very nervous of people. They look much like a common thrush but with red "armpits."

A proper shopping ride brought me to 25miles total for the day. I'm riding so little these days that I could feel my knees aching on the hills. I caught up with a white haired chap on a roadster with great difficulty. He was cruising at 17mph in white daps. Then I noticed the battery on the rack and the motor front hub. When I drew alongside and mentioned the assistance he said they weren't helping. I was wondering why he had slowed so much on the hills! Enough for me to catch him. I left him standing once we were back on the flat.

Saturday 9th 36F, misty, calm and cloudy. I have just discovered that my internet connection speed has doubled without warning, bragging or even a demand for more money. 202/213Mbps via Ookla. I saw some fibre cable work locally so that may explain the change. Having had a high speed connection for so many years I forget that many countries don't routinely provide their citizens with such a vital service.

Many countries, like Gravely Blighted, relied on greedy monopolies. Who were only interested in the low hanging fruit of cities and towns. They obviously ignored many rural customers because of higher costs and lower, guaranteed profits. Denmark placed fibre, internet connections in the hands of the electricity supply companies. Who, at the very least, had a century of cabling as direct experience. They also had an established billing and administration systems.

When I was cycling all over Fyn and beyond, I saw small excavation and cable laying teams everywhere I went. They use distinctive, orange, triangular section, plastic conduit which is easy to recognize. The Danish government saw the potential of a proper Internet and encouraged its expansion.

Denmark has the most amazing aerial imagery and mapping services. Free on demand, with the most incredible detail of all aspects of value, grounds and the building itself. Several if them make Google Earth look like amateur night. Most Danes use online banking, online shopping and paperless administration of public services.

A walk to the lanes in 100 yard mist. Of all the vehicles which passed me only one had its rear fog light showing. Some were driving on sidelights. Which is illegal in Denmark where headlights must show 24x365. The local hunt let off only five shots before becoming bored and moving on.

My Ecco walking boots have started to hurt at the deepening crease between the toe cap and the laces. I'm going to try stuffing the toes hard with stiff, brown paper.

Sunday 10th 32F, light frost, early sunshine, quite lot of cloud and stratified mist. There must have been an inversion layer because I could clearly hear sounds a long way off. The ducks were laughing at the same old jokes on the pond half a mile away. Distant gulls called loudly at distances which required binoculars to see them properly. I kept looking behind me for cars . Which were travelling on the main road out of sight beyond low humps of fields. The overnight, stuffed boots were improved but not perfectly comfortable.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

6.11.19 Skiing undies.

*

Wednesday 6th 40-43F, heavy overcast and calm. 11,000 scientists say mankind is threatened by climate change. Herr Chump [the US immigrant] says his wealth is threatened by a lack of coal burning.

Walked to the lanes in occasional spots of rain. Grey and depressing. A heron went over followed by another. Which swerved away as it came flapping, slowly over the hedge. It even had the nerve to complain in its Pterodactyl shriek! It should fly higher, like its mate. Then it wouldn't be caught unawares by the only walker in the village.

Thursday 7th 37-43F, a promising start with brightness and thin mist forming. Though the mist did not last for long locally it was still visible across the landscape. There was maintenance work for one wind turbine. Something was visible rising on a rope outside the tower. The early sunshine was soon lost to a plate of cloud. With only brief glimpses after that.

I disturbed the gulls and extended my walk to an hour and half along the lanes. Three large deer were visible in the distance but too far away to capture successfully. A solitary jogger smiled as we passed each other in the lane.

I have swapped my usual summer T-shirt for a new, long sleeved, thermal vest thanks to a special offer at the supermarket. Top and bottom set, in black, "ski underwear" for less than the cost of  postage if you bought it online.

This was my standard, 3 seasons, "base layer" clothing when I still tricycled thousands of miles per year. Being so thin the man-made material cannot absorb sweat on a climb and then hold it, icily against your back, on the next descent. A huge step up in comfort for so little expenditure. They also last for years and years even with daily washing. The "long johns" may be thin but they are fine to keep your legs warm between your shorts, socks and winter, MTB boots.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

4th November 2019 Wet or dry?

*

Monday 4th 50F, breezy, dark grey and wet. With some sunny periods or no sunny periods. All depending on whom you believe. Since it was raining lightly it was chance to walk around the block. Later, it was coming down in sheets on the 3rd leg driven by an easterly wind. Not large droplets but heavy drizzle with no gaps between the drops. My new jacket was beading nicely and I was snug and dry with the hood up. I kept taking pictures despite the rain.

The jacket is [literally] standing up in the bath now to drain off. This was the first real test of its waterproofing powers. I wore the shell trousers too and remained dry and comfortable. This is a strange new experience for me. I have never really had suitable clothing for rain. The man-made fibres may be light but those I have had were either leaky, or sweaty, or both. Now I can actually look forwards to rain. Instead of getting cabin fever when I should really be out enjoying my morning walk as usual.

Denmark is already close to the record rainfall of 1967. With still, nearly a month to go, it only needs another 52mm. Nobody, except the farmers, remembers last year's record drought. Though areas of our lawns, subject to hours of direct sunshine, turned white! Australian farmers have been celebrating the end of a five year drought, which ended with flooding!

Tuesday 5th 42F, dark overcast & wet again. It rained for most of yesterday.

The USA [or rather, Herr Chump, the 2nd generation immigrant] is pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Thereby throwing away trillions in potential earnings and tens of millions of jobs. Casting it all into the cesspit of extreme right wing dogma. Instead of enjoying all the fruits of the next great stage of human, technological development following the Tech wave.

Never try to take a close-up in heavy rain with the camera inverted and reversed. At least, not without setting the camera to macro first.

No longer able to protect its present global monopolies with global, tax-free status, the US will descend into a third world nation status far behind China. No doubt Chump's impeachment will lead to a civil war if wealth, justice and power division get any worse. They should have scrapped the Statue of Liberty decades ago and put up a vast effigy of a middle finger. To represent the absolute power and colossal arrogance of the 1%.

Meanwhile China will become a global magnet for increasingly well paid jobs in the Green Economy. Russia, Most of Asia, India and Africa are all far too corrupt, to enjoy anything but continuing, malignant dictatorship.

China may well be more corrupt than all the rest put together. However its sociopathic dictators have a wider perspective than merely robbing their own people of the everyday freedoms enjoyed by most other nations. Or stealing their paltry wealth to make a derisory billion or two to stash offshore or to spend on gold toilet bowls and sports cars.

The Chinese despots could still get it all horribly wrong of course. Nobody would accept another Tienanmen Square in Hong Kong. When mere survival and finding the next meal is no longer the preoccupation of the working poor, then they have enough time to place greater value on freedom.

Can Sly manage the mindset of the Communist Party psychopaths? While allowing more visible freedoms in exchange for continuing dictatorship? Herr Chump "The Immigrant" has damaged the Chinese economy. Lashing out at the newly unemployed, as would normally happen in Europe and the USA, will not further endear the Great Lifelong Leader to his billion downtrodden people.

An hour and half walk down along the road and past the marsh pond. Up through the steep fire breaks in the forest and then back along the main track. Lots of small birds foraging in flocks. While there were dozens of pheasants hanging about at the edge of the woods. Steady rain throughout and very wet to waterlogged underfoot. The track was literally a stream from field run-off.

The waterproof trousers proved not to be quite as breathable as hoped. I also need to replace the ridiculously slippery cord at the waist. It would not hold a knot for two minutes! Despite being made by a household name in outdoor clothing it is no wonder nobody stocks these particular waterproof trousers any more.

Click on any image for an enlargement.  

*

2nd November 2019 Janteloven and the Danish CO2 problem.

 *

Saturday 2nd, 44-53F, milder but promised to be wet. Or just grey. Or wet. Or just grey. Perhaps with a little sunshine? Or just wet. Or just grey? You get the message. Danish Meteorologists speak with forked tongue! In fact there was light drizzle throughout my walk but none of the half-promised sun.

There were also lots of pheasants pottering about now that the huntsmen have given up the struggle for the moment. Something had upset the local gulls too. There were hundreds each, in several groups, swirling in circles out over the fields. Which, BTW, were landscaped by "Capability" Hanson back in the 18th century.

I can't be certain but it looks as if the main road has been swept. I hope they alerted the archaeological authorities. It would be awful if important fossils were missed amongst the debris on the asphalt. Or even early Viking treasures? You'd think they'd send a metal detectorist along. So that the archaeologists have more stuff to put into store and ignore for a few decades. 

Danish history could be re-written in a moment of inattentiveness. By a council worker using his mobile phone behind the wheel of their road sweeping machine. There was a short phase of believing the weird patterns on Danish park lawns were made by aliens. The infamous "Danish Crop Circle" boom. It soon proved that it was only council workers using their mobile phones while driving their ride-on lawnmowers.  There was a huge sigh of relief because the mere concept of "advanced aliens" seriously conflicts with Janteloven. Life in Denmark, as we know it, could cease to exist!

Getting back to the climate issue and the new government's lies empty election promises to reduce CO2 by 70% by 2130. An extreme right wing party, which previously, flatly denied climate change even existed, has suggested they use Denmark's North Sea Oil profits to pay for green research. They also demanded a seat on the climate group to ensure they can thrust a spanner into the works whenever it suits their dogma.

Somebody forgot to clean out the bath afterwards.

The problem [as ever] is Janteloven. Jante's law. Which clearly states, in Runes carved in imported pink granite, that nobody must ever think themselves better than any Dane. Including village idiots, peasants & pig farmers. So Pure Bred Danes must re-invent every single bit of "green" technology, for themselves. Or Denmark must simply go without. It's no use plagiarising other country's research. Nor is it any use bringing in clever, foreign researchers to work at Danish universities. That would conflict with Janteloven. The Danes, including all the peasants and pig farmers, would know and burn all the "immigrant's" books.

Sunday 3rd, 48F, calm, dark grey overcast. It remained resolutely grey during my walk. The Red Kite decided yesterday's free entertainment was enough for one person and turned away. I teased the gulls by climbing the lane past their roosting field. Even at 200 yards they become agitated by human presence. Well, mine, anyway. How this lot would survive on a diet of stolen ice creams and chips at a [dying] British coastal resort is anybody's guess. 

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

November 1st 2019 Not a lot to say, really.

*

Friday 1st November 33F, grey and rather overcast with only a light, frost on the grass. A Red Kite entertained me on my walk as it searched for breakfast. One field pond has almost vanished but there is still a strong spring out in the middle and a steady flow disappearing under the road.

A light breeze made it feel much colder today. An early ride is promised. Sadly, "the ride" turned into another fuel run for the wood stove.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*