14.06.2022 Gravely Blighted's six week, message service.

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 Tuesday 14th 52F, overcast and breezy. A grey day in prospect. Up at 4.20am. I have hurt both shoulders. From trying to hold that wood-cement board above my head yesterday. The job needs a complete rethink. 

 A helpful suggestion to cut the boards to a smaller size would halve the load at greatest height. While making the next lower boards more accessible by 60cm or two feet. The top, cut edges would not be visible from the floor. More visible joints, lower down, would have to be bevelled. To exactly match all the other edges. Making a cosmetic match all but impossible. 

 Behold the contrast between an advanced IT nation and a truly backward one: Secure communication between the public and any government department, bank or insurance company is but a mouse click away in Denmark. Secure messaging with email and or SMS notification of a new post. Is made via a centralised, secure website/postbox. Payments can be made to and from the public and forms filled and returned online.

 Communication with The British Empire is now a 3 week letter delivery, a £4+ return postage stamp and three more weeks for its return. Repeat ad infinitum. Communication with British government departments is now at the same level as it was when sailing ships carried the post. 

 The service is so slow that they have to employ countless telephone operators. So that the public can waste 20 minutes [every single time] in an endless, international queuing system. Just to ask simple questions not covered by a government website FAQs. 

 Or because the public are worrying whether the incredibly long delays mean that their expensively returned letter never arrived. Or, whether they really need to respond to the duplicate form? With dire threats of withholding future pension payments. For the non-return of their last [£4 return postage] form. Prompt email service? Are you kidding? No email addresses are listed on their paper forms.

 6.30. Breakfast over. Time for a walk.

 

 8.00  57F A longer walk up to the forest. Still grey overhead and breezy though not cold. A hare lolloped right up to me on the climb to the woods. Before realising that I was standing right in its blind spot. It did not run until I spoke. I saw a deer and several birds of prey too. There was much wading through waist-high grass, brambles and stinging nettles. Where old and familiar tracks have grown over.

 12.15 64F. Just returning from a 14 miles ride to the shops. A continuous crosswind took away some of the fun. I had to find a new stapler. Which required a builder's merchants. There was also the matter of buying new bread. Google says that toasting green, mouldy bread increases the toxins. I was hoping the heat would kill the mould. Good job I checked!

 14.30 Afternoon nap.

 16.00 64F. Another ride to more shops in the hope of lower dairy prices. They weren't! I wish the wind would drop. I cruised into the village at 19mph. Fought my way back out at again at only 13mph.  The traffic was very busy. Nose to tail on the main road at times. 

 I overtook a couple on their electric bikes going uphill. They remained seated. While I danced on the pedals. If you think the countryside looks lovely. You should try wearing yellow safety glasses. As I do on the trike whenever it is overcast. Instant countryside on steroids! 21miles in total today. This is becoming a habit.

 19.30 Thanks to fresh wholemeal bread I was finally able to make my cheese on toast. With tomatoes added at half time. Followed by tomato soup and a wholemeal roll. Eaten at the table too.

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