20.10.2023 Head & Shoulders and "The 100 year flooding" [and storm.]

~o~

 Friday 20th 40F/4.5C. Overcast and windy. The forecast is for gales and heavy rain. I just tried to embed a video of my stove but broke the blog post instead. Something may be missing compared to earlier updates.

 I am adjusting the small radiators in the kitchen and bathroom to maintain 55F/13C. There is no point in having them warmer than needed. I spend as little time out there as possible.

 The "100 year" flooding: Sea levels are already exceeding those predicted. Sometimes by as much as 20cm [8"] With official warnings to storm tourists to stay well away from affected coasts. However tempting, leave your photography and videography to the "Head and Shoulders." Of the "TV personality" news reporter and their 20 production staff. All busily blocking your potential view of the flooding on your TV screen. As they ham out their usual performance. From a well-rehearsed script of superlatives and a safe vantage point. That is if they ever leave the studio in the capital. 

 I have just watched a DR News video of a "TV reporter" shouting at the camera with water up to her knees. Which could be filmed almost literally anywhere. There is no context or viewpoint. Some small power boats have sunk in the marina. So what?

 Next up is another Head & Shoulders interview in close-up of a boat owner who came down to check. You really couldn't make this up for drooling, pedantic stupidity! Do these TV "outside broadcast" people actually get paid? With real viewer's, TV license fees? How do they sleep at night? Talk about false pretences!

 There's a wonderful irony here. DR TV is appealing to the public for videos and photos of the flooding. While the emergency services are appealing for people to stay at home! DR TV is showing worthless views of Head & Shoulders of their own staff and little else. When everybody wants to see the historic "100 year" flooding. There were 15 trees reported to have been blown down in the night on Fyn alone. Not a single picture of a fallen tree? Nah. Back to Head & Shoulders.

 8.00 40F/4.4C Up at 6.30 after a relatively peaceful night. Having to get up only once at 02.30. Thanks to my small cup of milk after early dinner. Rather than my usual, small tin of beer with dinner and a mug of coffee to follow. 

 Not sure about a morning walk. I want to monitor the water level in the back field/marsh. Between my northern boundary and the new, earthworks dam. It is easier to walk along the road to check. Than to peer through the thrashing trees from my own garden with stuff hitting me on the head. The trees mostly hang down to the [wet] ground. 

 9.30 Enjoying morning coffee after a quick tour along the road to check on water levels. Any change in the drain inlet through the dam was too subtle to notice. The natural pond looks unchanged. A few twigs blown down onto the roads. The wind wont reach full strength for some hours. It started raining so I went no further.

 I have just watched yet another Head & Shoulders, TV2 News interview. With only a tiny area of flooding grudgingly allowed into the background. The producer must have been napping after the long drive from the capital. With the snacks truck and celebrity news reporter's caravan in convoy, of course.

Meanwhile, the news headlines are now monopolised by yet another drug gang warfare shooting. Yawn. It is far easier to film an empty street in the capital. Than to risk getting your designer coat and shoes damp on an outside broadcast "out in the sticks." How would they find a Michelin Star restaurant for their own snacks? The food truck is only for "the staff."

 10.00 The living room temperature has been stuck at 60F/15C since I got up. I am dressed warmly. So wont bother to waste firewood yet. 

 OMG! This is awful! The latest news headlines is that a Head & Shoulders TV News Reporter is stuck on an [inhabited] Danish island. After all the ferries were cancelled. Surely a case of bringing in a rescue helicopter? OMG! He may easily suffer from malnutrition. If there is no nearby Michelin Star restaurant for his snacks. A license fee millionaire has to keep up his standards after all! 

 OMG! The salt water spray could easily spoil the shine on his stretched limo if he has to "sleep rough" overnight. Some "local" [peasant] is bound to give up his sprawling luxury home for such a celebrity. There won't be the Emperor Penthouse Suite, hotel accommodation, of course. 

 OMG! He may even need treatment for PTSD! Poor dear! What if the gloss goes off his hand stitched, designer, mink microphone, wind stopper? His career could be in serious danger. Unless he finds a suitable replacement of the same quality. 

 Why did he agree to leave the Capital? It was all so unnecessary! They could just as easily have green screened him. Against a flooded backdrop from some archive material. From some other, god forsaken, backwards hole. Like Gravely Blighted, or somewhere like that. Nobody would notice the difference. As long as there was water, just visible, behind him.

 Meanwhile, back at the [flooded] ranch: A kilometre long, 1metre diameter, water filled sausage has been laid in Aabenraa. To try and stop the flooding from causing unnecessary damage. They are expecting 2.4m over normal high water. Summer house owners have sandbagged their properties to YouTube instructions. Then abandoned them to the fates.

 11.00 The living room dropped under 15C/60F. So I lit the stove and brought in a ring rack full of split logs. It takes about 5 baskets full to fill the rack. Having handy surfaces at each point. Where doors need to be opened and closed. Helps to avoid heat loss. While reducing the effort require to put down and and lift heavy loads repeatedly. 

 I shall have to fetch another trailer full of logs from the timber yard. To restock the greenhouse. The wind sounds much louder out there. Barely noticeable indoors. Though I can see the trees thrashing about outside.

 11.15 Already up to 62F/17C and I can feel the heat from yards away. The trick is to get the air supply low enough that the logs last. Without causing oxygen starvation and explosive gas mixtures. Where the usual, orange/yellow flames disappear. The outside temperatures remain at a steady 40F/4.5C. The high winds are probably causing increased draughts and infiltration into the rockwool, roof insulation.

 What I should be doing is working on something indoors to keep warm. Rather than sitting here waffling on the computer. First find the motivation!

 12.00 65F/18C.

 14.00 Lunch over while I chatted on WhatsApp. The stove powered fan is working well. Still only 65F.

 21.00 40F outside. 66F in here. Mackerel on toast for dinner. The fridge and larder were empty. A small glass of milk instead of beer and coffee with dinner. 

  The harbour at Assens was flooded over the road level. 

~o~