29.02.2024 Minor Trailer, director's cut.

  ~o~

 Thursday 29th 40F/4C. Rather windy with a smudgy sky. 

 07.30 Up at 6am. 60F/16C in the room. I have been too lazy to light the stove so far. My right hearing aid has stopped working. I have changed the battery three times to no avail. It plays the little tune but  can't  connect via Bluetooth to the Companion App.     

 8.00 Fire lit. Going  for a short walk.

 8.30 Just my usual loop along the drives. It is blowing a gale!

 Drove to my friend's house to bring back my ladders.

 Afternoon and I drove to see some small car trailers for the Morris Minor. It rained lightly all afternoon.

 Dinner was chicken, fried eggs, baked beans and chips. I overcooked the eggs slightly after turning them. It is a battle to get the clear fluid to cook unless the egg is turned. Perhaps I was using too high a heat. They tasted fine.

~o~

28.02.2024 AI has [human] shit for brains?

 ~o~

 Wednesday 28th 36F/2C. Overcast and breezy. Early rain is promised.

 Up at 5.50 after a restless night. Feeling a bit achy after yesterday's ride. 

 Museum day. I'll probably get enough exercise there to avoid a morning walk. I'll go in the old car.

 It seems Google AI is having serious problems. With human bias, conspiracy theory and drooling idiocy corrupting its answers to text prompts. Its text to image generator is painting German WW2 soldiers as black or Asian. Which is more than slightly absurd. Even by woke standards.

 It seems that the Internet training data, on which AI feasts, is hideously biased. So much so that it takes an unbiased [?] human to intervene. The latter, I understand, are in rather short supply. Not quite what AI promises, is it? 

 There seems to be no easy way out. The AI would need the entire history of mankind to guide it. Much of which is nationalistic, religious dictatorship, misogynistic, racist, economically or politically skewed. It is also constantly updated. As morals, societal norms and wars alter our perceived, collective reality. What was acceptable, only a few short years ago, is now hilariously or hideously outdated. Except for slavery and misogyny. Both of which are still widely accepted in backward countries.

 Influencers are now untouchable cult leaders. With nobody questioning their vile corruption. It seems that these evil narcissists are peddling ever more dangerous products and habits onto their worshipping followers. With corrupt businesses queuing up to sponsor these virtual dictators. 

 Where will it all end? Starvation cults? Surely not? That would be silly. Only religious cult leaders can get away with that. Again and again. There's none so dumb, as shit for brains, followers. Ask any dictator, witch doctor, bully or mafia boss.

 14.15  58F/14C in the room. I have lit the stove. 

Back from the museum.Where I helped to lay a new loft floor in a barn. Now half completed but not shown. The picture, of the inside of the old, thatched roof, was taken from the new, raised viewpoint.

 Dinner was mackerel on toast.

 

  ~o~

27.02.2024 An e-bike is no free lunch.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 27th 34F/1C. Cloudy and cold but dry. Forecast to peak at 4.6C/40F. Mostly cloudy but the risk of some sunshine later. Light winds all day. I was considering a ride but the low temperatures need respect. Mitts for the hands. Layers to avoid cold bridging through the jacket. 

 At the risk of repeating myself, yet again: E-bikes do not provide the same body warmth from cycling hard up hills. The higher speeds involved dramatically increase wind chill. The combination is not a happy one without careful preparation. 

 A purely manual cycle often overheats the rider on climbs. Only to chill them to the bone on the next descent. Ironically a cooling draught is not available at lower climbing speeds. This requires completely different clothing to an e-bike. The jacket should be opened to cool the hard working rider as they ascend. Closed when speeds increase downhill. When the sweaty rider often feels as if they have been plunged onto an ice bath! 

 Conversely, the e-bike frees the rider from the pain, breathlessness and sweat on the climbs. But, subjects the rider to a continuously cold headwind for most of the entire ride time. So e-biking requires much more thorough wind-proofing. Simply to avoid serious discomfort. 

 The eye watering headwind was a complete shock when I first rode my e-bike! Even at the very modest speeds practising in the drive. This, after 70 years of cycling, was totally unexpected. It really put me off. Because my recycled cycling wardrobe was found to be seriously wanting.

 The e-bike is not remotely a motorcycle or even a 1960s style scooter. Where the rider must protect themselves from wind chill at all times and at all costs. Without having to give too much thought to flexibility. They have no need to pedal except to change gear. 

 With the e-bike there is still some warmth to be had from the effort required. Depending on the rider and the motor assistance mode selected. Sport or Turbo mode will usually lift them above 20mph/32kph. Where wind chill or wind induced cooling becomes serious. Most climbs can be taken almost effortlessly if Turbo mode is selected. The motor provides 3x the effort the rider puts into the pedals in Turbo mode. The septuagenarian cyclist [moi] is lifted into a youthful, race trained, club rider!  

 Logic suggests that a cold rider should force themselves to work harder. By selecting a lower assistance mode on climbs. The increased physical effort required should help to warm their chilled bod. Though in practise it rarely seems to work like that. I find that being cold does not make me want to work harder but rather less.

 Higher assistance modes also eat up battery charge. Which limits range quite drastically. There are indicators of range on the Nyon computer display. Going from well over 120km in Tour mode. To perhaps only 40km in Turbo mode. 40km is only 25 miles! That's not much of a ride at all!

 Running out of battery charge on ride is a very bad thing. My 45kph/28mph Speed class e-bike is far heavier than almost any other manual cycle. Well over 30kg/60lbs with panniers and a couple of choccy bars. 

 The fat tyres may provide comfort and safe grip at speed but will cause serious drag. Even riding down a steep hill. Which explains why it is so hard to get above 30mph. Where a lightweight racer would go much faster. Usually with the rider pressing his dripping nose onto the stem. 

 While the e-bike rider is often close to sitting vertical. I certainly am when I check my reflection in the empty shop windows I pass in the village. Wind resistance, or drag, is what seriously limits cycle speeds. Just in case you haven't heard already. Higher gears on a bike or trike only work if you have the strength to turn them. Most human beings can't. Except for that very small elite. Who make the news in major race tours. Or track events.   

 A dead battery, as the rider tires at the end of a longer ride, is arguably, potentially life threatening. Particularly in bad or winter weather. When hypothermia is a very real risk. Crawling along at 5kph or 3mph on such a heavy machine, without motor assistance, is absolute torture! Even the lowest assistance modes, like Eco, feel as if the brakes are dragging. I don't ever use Tour mode. Not unless I am desperate for range. The freedom of the open road is only found in Sport and Turbo modes. Tour mode literally feels slower than my lightweight trike. When it is only being pushed along by my 76 year old legs!  

 7.30 64F/18C in the room. Up at 6.30 after a quiet night.

 8.30 It is brightening up. I can't sit here waffling all day! Move! 

 15.00 38F/3C. Overcast. Returned from a 61km/40 mile ride. Spending 81% in Sport mode. 23% was my effort. 77% was motor assistance. Average speed 23kph. Maximum speed 44kph. 

 It included a visit to my British friend. I had dressed warmly and it was fine. Except for my face feeling cold. There was a light headwind coming home. I cannot confirm whether the B67 saddle caused the discomfort. Or that it was friction from wearing too many layers. Padded shorts, thermal long-johns and thin, stretchy trousers. I had to stop when I was almost home. Because the battery was flat. There was lots of flooding on the fields. With a few huge puddles overlapping the road.

 15.45 Late lunch over. 60F/16C in the room. Stove now lit.

 Dinner was chicken, brown mushrooms, baked beans and boiled potatoes.

  ~o~

 

26.04.2024 Ride, park and drive.

 ~o~

  Monday 26th 33F/1C. The sky looks clear but misty down below. Light northerly winds. With a slight risk of wintry showers and some sunshine. 

 The greenhouse is opaque with dew. The  plastic panels are always wetter than the glass. The glass roof attracts dew too.

 Up at 6am after a reasonable night. The room was flooded with moonlight this morning. Shining obliquely through the greenhouse and the windows from the southwest. Onto the wall near my bed.

 7.30 It is already light enough for a walk if I dress warmly enough.    

 8.15 Returned from a short loop along the drives. The mist was patchy and even threatening in the north west. Dark mist, roiling up from the fields and into the leaden sky. In best Hollywood fashion. The low sun broke through its veil of cloud and tobacco filter. Not a breath of air movement. 

  I wore a fleece jacket under my winter, Ventile jacket. Providing a comfortable warmth without overheating. There were many small birds. Foraging and even singing here and there. A few, larger wood pigeons practised their climb and stall. No doubt intended to show off their prowess to the ladies.

 Yesterday's intended ride to the shops never happened. So I must go this morning. Or risk having no lunch at all. 

 10.30 Returned from shopping in the village on the e-bike. I was overtaken by a much faster electric [?] scooter. They must have been doing a silent 40mph without pedalling. I didn't have much of a chance to identify the machine but it looked like a normal IC scooter. I was cruising at about 30kph or 20mph. With no chance whatsoever of catching them. They were out of sight within a few hundred metres.

 I made the mistake of wearing a normal, hi-vis, outdoor walking jacket. The hip pockets were a serious nuisance. Making pedalling awkward and hard work. At least I have restocked the larder. I ought to light the stove. It is only 60F/15C in the room.

 15.15 Quite a lot of sunshine. The room is a comfortable 68F/20C thanks to the stove and large logs. I have returned from a shopping trip to another village. Where I could buy three sacks of kindling. A pleasant young chap was delighted to help. He was strong too! Carrying two sacks effortlessly to the car. Then the third as if were a down pillow.

 The main road closures continue. As district heating piping is extended to further villages. The detours run to many kilometres of narrow lanes. These small lanes have had no obvious preparation for the increased traffic. With the verges chewed to liquid mud for much of their length. Where opposing vehicles struggled to pass. Not helped by record wet weather. 

 One-way notices have been erected opposite many private drives on these detours. Yet the traffic flow remains almost equally two way. Stage two of the project is expected to last until December 2024. Stage three into 2025.  Eventually two district heating systems will be joined in the middle. To maximise the system's efficiency. 

 There are no plans to extend "fjernevarme" district [remote] heating to my area at the moment. No doubt the high cost of excavation and installation of the insulated piping requires sufficient customers to warrant the huge investment. 

 There are very few houses along my particular road. Even though it will soon lie between two systems. 62% of  large number of potential customers must sign up before a new system can be approved
. They should come up with a microbore system. It would save a lot of digging.

 Dinner was poached eggs on toast. I nearly forgot to photograph the proof of the pudding. WYSIWYG! It was lovely. Thanks for asking.

 I have been watching a lot of YT videos on AI. The sooner they let it loose. The sooner we can dispense with crappy products. Like a waste food, recycling basket. With a tiny, rounded bottom. Try and lift the lid and the damned things leans backwards! Every time! Until it is almost full. Full enough to be heavy. Then the lid can be opened easily. A committee of idiots designed and approved this piece of crap. Before more idiots accepted it and paid for it. In the tens of thousands! 

  ~o~

25.02.2024 Not again!

 ~o~

 Sunday 25th 36F/2C. Similar to yesterday. Southerly breeze with bright clouds in the east. Up at 5.45 after lying in bed tormenting myself with memories of my late wife.

 7.45 I heard a bang last night.  Looking around indoors suggested nothing had fallen. So I thought it must be thunder. It was pouring with rain at the time. This morning I find my new greenhouse pane is lying against the outside of the greenhouse. It must have been pulled out by a squally shower. I was intending to bolt it to the greenhouse frame to avoid such problems. Alas too late!

 The polycarbonate is very unlikely to be broken. I will have to attend to it now. Perhaps it slipped down because there was no support from below? I used a large overlap with the lower pane and intended to bolt through to the frame on either side. I used as many spring wire, glass retaining clips as would fit but it obviously wasn't enough. 

 I could cut the lower panel shorter to use greenhouse S clips. These are shaped like a square S. To support the next pane above when smaller panes are used. They also maintain the location of both panes via the double hooked form. The overlap of the sheets allows the rain to run down the upper pane without penetration behind the lower. Some slight air leakage due to the material thickness of the S clips is likely. 

 The upper plastic sheet looks unharmed. The lower one remained in place. All the spring wire glazing clips are lying nearby on the ground. Everything is freezing cold to the touch and covered in dew. I will now have to cut the lower sheet shorter to use the S-clips. Keeping the factory  No doubt a full length toughened glass sheet is available at considerable cost from the manufacturers. Halls is now under the Juliana umbrella. I could buy a sheet of polycarbonate big enough to cover the whole pane area in one piece. Polycarbonate allows me to drill and bolt the sheet in place. Glass does not. Plastic is more prone to dewing and scratching. machined edge at the top will help to minimise the visibility of the joint.

 8.30 I am going for a short walk to be rid of my lower back pain.

 9.00 And back again. Lots of small birds moving along the slashed hedges. I could tell I hadn't walked along the road lately. There were branches everywhere. Blown onto the road by the recent gales. I have always kicked them back onto the verge as I toddled along. Skylarks were singing overhead under the dark and rumpled overcast. Some turquoise sky but only low down and off to the north. My hands were cold even in my GripGrab gloves. Both, previously empty houses have cars or vans parked outside. 

 There is problem with editing. The images won't drag and drop. They disrupt the text.

 10.30 38F/4C. It is raining lightly. Just to make life more difficult working outside. I deliberately made the first cut at an angle. To cope with the slope on the bottom of the top pane. Inverting the bottom pane might improve matters. 

 I have neglected the stove this morning. Until now. It has just dropped below 60F/15.5C in the room. 

 I cut the top edge of the lower sheet square and it now fits. The joint is fairly invisible.

18.30 I have just dragged a wheely bin to the end of the heavily be-puddled drive. There were lights on in the two, previously empty homes. It is the weekend and getting late. So less likely to be building workers. Who tend to have clearly marked vehicles. Lights are rather more indicative of residence. Than random parked vehicles in the daytime. 

 Dinner will be traditional fish fingers, chips and peas.

 

  ~o~

24.02.2024 What a pane!

 ~o~

  Saturday 24th 38F/3C. Small silver and gold clouds against a turquoise sky in the east. Risk of sunshine. Low wind.

 Up at 6.15. 63F/17C in the room. 

 7.45. Time to cut out the replacement greenhouse pane in polycarbonate. I'll probably use my battery powered jigsaw. A slight worry is whether the cardboard pattern is level and square to the greenhouse. If not, it will mean re-cutting the curve on the polycarbonate. The cardboard pattern does not have the metre deep, lower pane extension to guide it. Perhaps I can prop up the plastic sheet to check. 

 It might be best to cut it to width first. So that it can seat itself correctly in the greenhouse framework. Then I can mark the curve from the inside. To check the uprightness of the curve on the pattern. For which I used corrugated cardboard from a box. Which does not cut perfectly straight with scissors. 

 9.00 The polycarbonate cut easily with a low speed [2] and mild pendulum action on the DeWalt jigsaw. I used a fine toothed, metal cutting blade. There was no re-welding of the cut. As is commonplace when sawing acrylic. The plastic pane fits fine. Without the need for further trimming. 

 I might drill and bolt this pane into the framework. To avoid it blowing out again. The spring wire, glass clips just aren't strong enough. Not even when enough are added to fill all the frame space available. 

 The framework itself has proven to be storm resistant so far. It must have been up for 20 years by now. I joined two Halls Silverline end to end. Leaving out the two end gables in the middle. Halls used so sell a strong joining profile to allow longer lean-to greenhouses. I believe it was discontinued but can't be certain.

 This one has 11 bays of 60cm or 2'. 8' deep by 8' high at the wall from fading memory. An occupant of a house in a nearby village was dismantling his Hall's in readiness for a professionally built extension. I bought it and transported it home. Then I went to the Hall's dealer in Odense and bought another Silverline at a discount. 

 It would have been nice to have it even longer. To cover the second kitchen window. A colour enamelled framework would have given it a bit of a cosmetic lift. Bare aluminium can't pretend to be anything other than a greenhouse. Fortunately I was able to get both models in long sheets of glass. Rather than the fussier looking square sheets. 

 The glass remains remarkably clean. Despite my best efforts never to clean them. I have cleaned the greenhouse once of moss and algae after my wife died. When I could finally take down all the hideous white shading inside. The feeling of the bare greenhouse one of open, but protected space when inside the greenhouse. 

That is, until the sun shines. Then sweat and nausea from heat stroke quickly take over. The huge variations in temperature were only [finally] cured by fitting two layers of professional shade netting on the roof. Leaving an overlap down over the curved shoulders. Do not believe advertising images showing real human beings in unprotected glass greenhouses. The feeling of the sun beating down is really awful. It must be just like being lost in the desert! If you are shopping for a lean-to greenhouse or conservatory then go to the display models on a hot, sunny day.

 I made fine weldmesh panels with aluminium frames. To allow the double sliding doors to remain open all day in summer. Without the risk of anything larger than a fly getting in. The through draught, due to the open doors, is still essential to keep temperatures modest in sunshine. Usually no more than 10F above ambient when open. 

 No doubt this differential could be reduced further. By covering the front glass wall of the greenhouse in hot sunny weather. Then it would no longer fell like an open space but more like a mesh tent. I use tensioned ropes tied off at each end to support the heavy shade netting. This allows them to be quickly added or removed. The rope is threaded though the hem via the holes provided. This ensue the shade net is evenly supported. Typing a rope to the corners would achieve very little. The net stretches readily.

 The opening, skylight windows are a waste of space, money and materials in my own experience. I bought thermal openers but the temperature didn't change. Not even with four skylights wide open! A complete waste of money! The shade net can't be draped over them either. 

 On the Halls Silverline the skylights drip constantly in rainy weather. Gaining access to them, to add silicone sealer, is extremely difficult with a lean-to construction! Not can I reach the leaking gutter joint. It would take a carefully driven cherry picker. One mistake and the roof is shattered! A ladder would need to be incredibly long. To lie flat on the roof and touch the ground.

 This larger 8' deep Hall's Silverline is discontinued I think. Only the smaller 6' deep, with a single sliding door is listed online. I like the double doors for the ease of getting a wheelbarrow in and out. The greater depth of the 8' allows me to stack logs against the house wall without major impedance of the walkway past the junk.

 The pictures above show the progress so far on the new pane. I am leaving the protective foil on the clear plastic until I have finished work. The clutter inside the greenhouse remains. A mixture of recycling and my late wife's gardening paraphernalia. Next step is to cut the second sheet to fit in the lower section. The odd pieces shown in the earlier images were just to keep the wildlife out overnight. 

 11.00 42F/5.6C. The wind is picking up and the sunshine becoming brighter. The cold wind is making it rather uncomfortable to work outside. I decided to make an overlap between the two sheets for the moment. I will have a better idea of what it will look like when the protective foil is removed. 

 It is Saturday. So I could have a clear-out to the recycling yard. It looks an awful mess but there isn't much volume to make a trailer trip worthwhile. I could drop the rear seats down in the old car. Take a boot full. I am still making excuses. Not to have to sort through my wife's gardening things. It will only make me horribly depressed again. 

 12.00 I managed to fill the extended boot. A quick trip to be rid of it. The rest looks useful. It just needs to be housed more sensibly. 

 13.00 45F/7C. Lunch over. I delivered the greenhouse junk and some charity stuff to the recycling yard. It didn't make much of a dent in the mess on the floor. Though every little helps. I ought to sort through it and put it in tubs, or boxes. For storage out of sight in the shed. If only I could get into the shed!

 14.00 And there it was, gone. Well invisible anyway. I had to remove both plastic panes again to peel the protective film. The white bundles of film on the floor have now been tidied away. Using polycarbonate made the job far easier than using acrylic. No splintering or cracking. No half-melted, rough edges. Much cheaper than "cut to size" acrylic. Cost of two sheets at 3mm x 80cm x 120cm. 536kr. About £61 + petrol.

 It has been a pleasant enough day. Apart from the earlier, chilly wind. I could have gone for a ride. Showers and hail later. I have the greenhouse connecting doors open to warm indoors. 70F:61F. It is rather cloudy but worth trying now the sun is square onto the newly re-sealed greenhouse. The greenhouse warms very rapidly. Now 75F/24C. While the indoors lags behind. 62F/17C.

 17.00 Stove lit. The solar heating was very short lived. Far too much cloud as it headed for full overcast. It had dropped back to 61F/16C by the time I'd had an afternoon nap. 

17.45 I have done some more tidying in the greenhouse before dusk. Handling all my wife's gardening stuff wasn't as bad as I feared. It just needs to be properly organised. So that it is accessible when required.

 Dinner was cheese on toast with cherry tomatoes and a large bowl of Heinz tomato soup. A whole tin. I am fed up with throwing away half tins of stuff I don't ever get around to.

  ~o~

23.02.2024 Solar greenhouse glass sucked out!

 ~o~

  Friday 23rd 40F/4C. Storm force, overnight gales reducing and heavily overcast. Up at 6.15. I woke at 3.30am and could hear the greenhouse shrieking and whistling in the wind. There was nothing I could do. So I turned over to place my deaf ear upwards and went back to sleep. 

 7.00 As it became lighter I could see a large sheet of broken glass lying beside the old car. The SE corner glass of the greenhouse has travelled right around the house. From the greenhouse on the south side to north of the house. 

 It is still blowing a gale with nasty gusts. I'll stay indoors until it is fully light. Then I can have a proper look around for any more damage. The glass may easily have hit the old car. Several large pieces are lying around the front wing of the car. 

 I have been out into the greenhouse to check again and it is suddenly very draughty out there. It is remarkably difficult to see the glass in the greenhouse from the inside. Which usually gives the enclosed space a very open feel. An illusion only broken when the glass is wet or misted over.

 7.30 It has just started raining hard. Now I can clearly see the greenhouse's glass roof is still intact.

 7.45 On further examination the broken "glass" by the car proved to be clear plastic. Perspex or similar. Which I had replaced, over two decades ago, instead of glass. That was after a previous storm in 1999. This SE corner panel is subject to aerodynamic suction or lift from south westerly winds. I had bought lots of extra clips to ensure that all of the glass stayed in place during storms. Which over time proved to be an absolute nuisance. Since moss readily accumulates on the clips. Making it look unsightly and cleaning remarkably difficult.

 It might have been sensible to silicone the glass in place. However I feared deterioration due to weathering and UV. Which would have made replacing any broken glass much more difficult. Though it would have made the glass structural. Due to stressed skin effect. Now I have to find a replacement for the missing glass, or plastic.

 3mm polycarbonate is the best choice. Cheaper than acrylic and unbreakable. Now to find a stockist within easy reach. It seems I'll have to drive into the city to buy from a discount warehouse. The plastic specialists charge far too much for delivery. The builder's merchants sell only acrylic. 

 The 80x120 sheets of polycarbonate will easily fit in the old car. Provided I can get from the shop to the car without them taking off! This time I shall use clear silicone to ensure the plastic stays in place in the next storm. It's a good job the car has been fixed!

12.30 I have returned from the city with two sheets of 3mm polycarbonate. Crossing the road from the huge shed to the car park was a bit fraught! The crosswind was focused by the large buildings. While the sheets were too wide for laying on the flat bed trolley. I tilted them so that the wind pressed the sheets down. Rather than causing them to lift. They could easily have sliced somebody's head off. If they had caught the fierce wind!

The pedestrian crossing was blocked by a huge lorry. Why not use the goods loading bay at the side of the building? Too bløødy lazy? Of course. While the passing traffic had absolutely no desire to stop. To make matters worse there is a considerable cross slope. Both on the road and in the car park. So shopping trolleys are always trying to run away downhill.

 The local authorities really should look at this busy crossing point. Give way to pedestrians signs would help. Or even a push button, light controlled pedestrian crossing. Though, given the long delays these usually cause it may not be remotely in the pedestrian's interest. A properly marked and lit, zebra crossing is all it probably needs. Then the intermittent traffic has no excuse for mowing down those struggling with their wayward trolleys.

 16.00 43F/6C. I have come in to warm up again. I have been cutting a pattern out of cardboard. To match the curved shoulder of the missing end gable glass. The entire height is missing. The wind is so strong that it tries to snatch the cardboard from my hand. Every time I try to mark it or take it down again to trim. My eyes are streaming with the cold wind and splashing my tears onto my reading glasses. It's hell out there!

 I have to make a decision on where to have the joint. The last time I made it to lie [almost invisibly] at the crossbar of the greenhouse frame. The new, shorter sheet size does not allow for that. Where to place the joint between the two vertical sheets? Unfortunately this corner of the greenhouse is the first thing any visitor sees. Then there is the matter of the kind of joint. Overlap? Butt joint? Butt joint with strip reinforcement inside the join? 

 A butt joint would allow rain to run down the outside unimpeded. A step would look ugly. It also risks lifting the clear plastic away from the framework seal. A reinforcing strip would avoid the cut edges from flexing too freely. It can be made short enough to fit in the space between the metal framework. So it won't distort the bedding rubber, sealing strip. 

 I favour a reinforced butt joint at knee height. That way the joint will be better hidden by the detailed brick floor. Or the usual junk on the greenhouse floor. No, I still haven't tidied the greenhouse. As promised probably over a year ago.

 The storm has passed but the wind and gusts are still fierce. I think it would be too risky to try and fit the new plastic in place today. The wind is supposed to drop away overnight. Giving me a window of opportunity early tomorrow morning in the shelter of the north side of the house. No pun intended. I don't even have a safe place to do the sawing to shape in this wind. I have blocked off the missing glass area as best I can. Enough to keep cats, mice and two legged rats out overnight.   

 I should have mentioned that I bought a smaller frying pan in the city Føtex sells Kitchen Aid. The huge pan[s] I have now often make the food look lost. I also need to fry eggs sometimes. Which doesn't need a huge pan. So I added a 24cm to my cooking arsenal. 

 Dinner was fried eggs with mushrooms and boiled potatoes. Cooked in my new frying pan. I as going to fry the boiled potatoes but ironically, had no room in the pan.

 

  ~o~

22.02.2024 Storm warning!

 ~o~

  Thursday 22nd 43F/6C. Misty, breezy and overcast. Some rain is forecast for this morning. A severe storm is promised for tonight. Not a favourable wind direction either! Peaking at 27m/s gusts from the west at 4am on Friday. The wind starts southerly, then SW before turning temporarily westwards at its peak. I might be lucky and be protected by the trees when the wind is at its worst.

 Up at 6.15 after waking twice in the night. The room has dropped from 68F at bedtime to 63F this morning. From 20-17C.

 I need to shop or there will be no lunch and only toast for dinner. The log situation is getting grim. I haven't heard from the garage workshop yet. I can't tow the big trailer full of logs with the Morris. Nor use the old car's hatchback's huge boot area for half as many logs. The Morris doesn't lend itself to carrying logs. The boot is tiny and divided by a shelf. 

 The Morris is registered to tow 350kg. The 1150S trailer weighs 100kg. Leaving only 250kg load allowance. It's volume, with 50cm high, mesh sides is almost exactly 1m^3.  I have searched online and failed to get an exact answer for 1m^3 of loosely jumbled, stove ready, beech logs. One forum suggested 250kg/m^3. 

 There are conversion factors going from solid wood, to neatly stacked, to loose fill. More air is taking up space with each case. Moisture content adds greatly to the total weight. It is assumed to be below 20% for burnable firewood. I'd have to discuss trailer volume with the timber yard. They use a huge bucket loader and rely on experience to measure volume in loose jumbled logs. 

 I have no easy way of weighing such volumes. Nor am I sure the mesh sides can tolerate having a bucket load of logs dumped on them. They are willing to dump logs onto the ground. Though it is hard and slow work loading a trailer that way. I did that with half a cubic meter when filling the car boot. Though the boot's lower boot lip was probably higher than the trailer's.  

 8.30. Its not raining. Time for a walk.   

 9.00 I returned from a short walk in wind driven drizzle. I wore my winter jacket and kept my hood up. As I plodded around the drive loop. Puddles everywhere and minor flooding. There seems to be renewed activity in two of the long-empty houses. Electricians and plumbers working at others. The builders are busy at another neighbour. Are they teasing?  

10.00 Stove lit. Waiting for it to settle down before I go shopping in the Morris.  

 I stopped to check on the old car at the workshop. It was ready. They had fitted new spark plugs and ignitions cables. I drove home and then headed straight back. It took me 40 minutes to walk there. I was stripped down to my T-shirt because I was so warm as I walked briskly. There was mist and fine drizzle but I didn't care.

 The extensions to the district heating system are enormously disruptive. The detours go for miles. [or rather kilometres] Because there are no alternative routes across the agricultural landscape. Only narrow lanes connect outlying villages. While all the main roads are blocked by their lengthy excavations. Fortunately I was able to squeeze through on foot. Then plod on along the mud caked roads.

 13.00 The trailer and old car are finally hitched together. I will fetch more logs as soon as I have finished lunch. The long term forecast is a return to winter conditions for March. Which means I must have a good stock of logs. It may not be possible to collect more if the roads are icy or snow covered. Pushing the big trailer around on the sloping parking area is becoming very hard work. I am just not as fit as I was once as the years accumulate. It is odd to think I am much nearer 80 than 70! 

 14.30 Returned with a trailer load of logs. I had a chat with the bucket loader, machine driver but came to no firm conclusions about a smaller trailer. Much depends how big a bucket he has on the machine. He told me that a cubic metre of dry beech weighs about 250kg. Which would place it just inside the ball park for the smaller trailer.

 15.00 I have brought about a quarter of the logs into the greenhouse. It is raining lightly, I am tired and my back is aching. So I am having a rest. Tonight's storm gusts have been upgraded to 31m/s or 70mph! Still tending to westerly at its peak. Which will provide some shelter from the trees. If they stay up! Their roots have been sitting in water for months.

 16.45 Had a nap then back to work. The trailer is now empty and parked out of the way. The wheelbarrow still contains the odd shaped lumps. They burn well enough but are difficult to stack. There is the strong smell of damp in the greenhouse again. Hopefully a bit of sunshine will hep to dry the new load out. They measure between 19% and 22%. The last dregs of the previous lot average just under 20%. This is after a month in the greenhouse with some sunshine.

 The storm force gusts are now forecast to be southerly to south westerly. Where I have least protection. From about 1am to 9am it will be gusting over 20m/s. Peaking at 30m/s at 4am.

 Dinner was salad. I forgot to take a picture.

  ~o~

21.02.2024 A minor trailer for the Morris?

 ~o~

  Wednesday 21st 41F/5.6C. Lots of small, fuzzy clouds. Promise of sunshine in the forecast. Museum day. I'll probably go in the Morris Minor.

 7.45 62F/17C in the room. Up at 6.45 after a reasonable night. Woke in the dark from weird dreams.

 I have had another idea about cars and my shrinking need for two. The old car is costing far too much to keep going. Its main purpose is providing the pulling power for the trailer. Scrapping this car would leave me with the Morris Minor. Which has much less pulling power and poorer brakes. 

 If I buy a new, but much smaller trailer, then the Minor shouldn't struggle. It is not only logs I need to fetch but trips to the recycling yard. Occasional shopping trips for recycled furniture. There is also the need to be rid of garden waste and to fetch gravel to repair the drive.  

 I was looking at Brenderup's smallest trailer. With mesh, add-on side panels. A matching tarpaulin cover will ensure the contents remain dry. I was given a price for the 1170 S yesterday. By a trailer specialist I happened to pass on my e-bike ride. When I got home I discovered the model he offered is discontinued. I looked it up on he manufacturer's website and to check prices. Nobody else lists the 1170 S for sale. So it must be some time since it was a current model. 

 Later models have a folding tow bar triangle and body tipping. Which would allow it to be more easily stored on end. Instead of constantly gathering rainwater in the PVC cover and deteriorating. I could probably sell my old trailer for a couple of hundred pounds equivalent. It is a good size but over two decades old. And looks it. I replaced the base board quite recently but I can't undo twenty years of standing outside. 

 8.10 Weak sunshine. I had better shower and dress for my weekly stint of manual, modern slavery. 😄

 12.30 Returned from the farm museum. Where I helped in various situations.

 14.30 I have been trying to use the greenhouse to warm indoors. Unfortunately the sun has been veiled. The greenhouse was at 66F while indoors struggled to reach 63F.

 Dinner was broccoli with fish fingers.

 

 ~o~

20.02.2024 Another 62km/40 mile ride.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 20th 42F/5.6C [at 9am]. Overcast but mostly dry with a moderate westerly breeze. Up at 7.50. I got up at 6am but went straight back to bed. Then it was suddenly light. 61F in the room and kitchen. 

 A suitable day for a bike ride? Wednesday museum tomorrow. So that's out.

 Crocuses outside the greenhouse.

 I just discovered a reader's comment from January about saddle springs and rider weight. Unfortunately I missed seeing it. Then had to open Chrome to be able to reply. 

 There seems to be almost no recognition of rider weight from cycling manufacturers. This is despite average bodyweight rising steadily around the globe. My own weight has crept up to 80kg [12.6 stone] after a winter of little physical activity. There has been record rainfall to match a record mild winter. 

 While it is certainly possible to ride in the rain it really isn't remotely as pleasant as in the dry. Or even in the cold. Every aspect of one's clothing has to be considered. Even waterproof shoes. Mudguards are not as protective as the manufacturer's might hope. I am very tempted to add a flap to the Moustache's substantial front mudguard. The front tyre sprays liberally well above ankle height. Moustache make much about their double pressing for stiffness, strength and quietness in use. They must not have tested them for spray patterns when riding through puddles! 

 I prefer lighter shoes for higher pedalling revs. [Cadence] My taller Sorel boots provide the most protection but tend to lift off if I pedal faster. This really is noticeable and must be due to their greater weight. My lightweight [Energetics] trainers allow me to pedal above 100rpm. The Sorel more like 80rpm. The difference is 500g to 300g. Quite a margin!  My Scarpa leather, walking shoes, with Vibram soles weigh 450g. The soles are slightly too rough for sure pedalling. Which is why I started searching for smooth soled trainers.

 I chose my cycling footwear to have smooth sole patterns for grip on the spiked, flat pedals. An intermediary fur lined Puma was a very poor choice. Pitiful grip in the wet and 535g. They slide all over the pedals and on many wet road surfaces. Unfortunately the lightest Energetics shoes provide poor protection from the wet or the cold. So are reserved for warmer, dry weather. They provide excellent grip.

 9.50 It is brightening up! I ought to stop waffling and get moving if I am going for a ride! There is a charity shop 30km away. With another a little nearer. Which I missed because of Friday closure. Both are open today. A ride I have done many times. Through beautiful countryside.  

 10.30 Finally ready.

 15.15 45F/7C. Returned form a 62km/40 mile ride. Mostly overcast and feeling cold. Though with occasional watery sunshine. Despite the mild temperatures. Lots of birds of prey were perched, flying and calling. I ate two Corny micro bars and drank one micro carton of organic apple juice. The SW wind seemed to get stronger and colder on the way back. 20% battery charge left after 89% in Sport mode. With a bit of Turbo for effortless hill climbing.  The B67 Brooks became progressively more uncomfortable after 40km. Though not too badly. I just kept moving about on the saddle. Or lifting off for a moment. Wandering around the charity shops was a useful break and helped to relieve the pain temporarily. 

 I wore padded racing shorts, long-john thermal tights and stretchy trousers. A long sleeved, thermal vest, racing jersey and cardigan under the Endura rain jacket. I took a thin jumper as a warm reserve but couldn't be bothered to get any colder. By removing the jacket to put the jumper on. There was very little shelter from the wind to be found. So I pressed on. My shoulders and chest felt slightly cold for most of the return journey. I am feeling cold now as I finish a very late lunch at 16.10. 

 16.30 61F/16C in the the room. Lit the stove. I have almost run out of kindling. Time for a nap. As soon as the stove is going well.

 Dinner was mackerel on toast with cherry tomatoes.

  ~o~

19.02.2024 What a disaster!

 ~o~

  Monday 19th 39F/4C. A dry day is promised after yesterday's deluge. I need to fetch more logs. Which means starting and extracting the old car. The Morris Minor can't manage a heavy trailer. The constant rain has turned the parking area into mush. Which doesn't help at all.  

 Up at 6am. 63F/17C in the room. I am warmer in the long, thermal underwear. Always in modest black. Just in case you imagined a Hollywood cowboy. Heading for the frontier town bath for his annual dip. In his hideously stained, off-white underwear. With buttoned, rear trapdoor.

 13.00 I have spent the morning in the village waiting to be rescued. The car started without a problem and reached the village before it misfired, stopped and wouldn't start again. After waiting for an hour the rescue chap arrived and boosted the battery enough to start. He then followed me the five km home. Just to be sure I reached my destination. It was touch and go at times. The engine ran very rough and wouldn't pick up.

 I drove the car into the 200m long, shared drive and it immediately died again. So I needed the sack truck to bring the new battery to the car. It spins the engine over but it still won't start. Now the car is 100m from home but  not blocking the drive. I am now trying to get the rescue service to deliver the car to the garage in the next village. They are presently consulting with each other on the problem. 

  13.30 47F/8C. Mild and mostly dry but overcast. Even some brief, sunny periods. The rescue service is coming later to pick up the car. For delivery to the garage workshop. I need the car to fetch more logs in the trailer. Which is where I was supposed to be going this morning. At least I am safely home now and can have some lunch. I spoke to the mechanics and they are happy to have a look at it. Luckily I have been going there for years to get through the Syn. The periodic, Danish MOT.

 14.45 The car was stuck in his usual turning space. So I helped the pleasant young dustbin man reverse his big truck out. On the very dangerous exit on a sharp corner. Luckily there was a lull in the traffic. My first time being near the truck while it was tipping my bin. A pretty violent exercise to ensure the bins were fully emptied. 

 The poor old car has now been picked up and will be carried to the workshop. Had a nice chat, in English, with the young driver. He spent some time in the USA and spoke excellent Eglish. It must be quite an interesting job moving between call-outs on a car rescue service. He must cover most of Fyn in a fairly short time.

 Diner was fried chicken, chips and cherry tomatoes.

   ~o~

18.02.2024 Delayed hypothermia?

 ~o~

  Sunday 18th 39F/4C. Rain and wind. A long, very wet day is forecast. Rain until after midnight tonight. 

 Up at 6.30. I was up earlier for an hour. 3.30-4.30. Became too cold sitting at the computer. Despite wearing a fleece jacket over my clothes. 64F/18C in the room at the time. Now dropped to 62F/17C. 

 The online medical advice is for a room to be maintained above 68F/20C. I can only rarely manage that. It takes hours to get the room up to that heat. The young and elderly are most at risk of hypothermia. Being an old fart and childish puts me firmly in both camps! I went back to bed fully clothed except for the jacket. Still felt cold under the duvet. I was literally shivering.

 I am wondering if it isn't delayed hypothermia from my cycle rides. The Endura jacket is almost windproof apart from the full length, front zip. Though not at all warm. Which it should not be for active manual cycling. I can feel the cold on my arms and chest while riding. 

 Perhaps I should wear a warm jumper under the jacket for insulation? Or even two, thinner jumpers for layering. I am not working remotely so hard on the e-bike as I was on the trike. My higher speed is also causing much greater wind chill. So I need to seriously rethink my dress code for colder rides. The two large panniers can easily hold any surplus clothes I might need to take off.

 8.45 I have lit the stove. I have also gone upstairs to fetch some long underwear. I have not been wearing it indoors this year. Because I have moved downstairs. To be nearer the stove. I have put a warm hat on too. The activity has stopped my shivering! 

 Talk about energy poverty! I resent paying 1000kr/£115 per month for logs when I am still not warm enough. I try to make the logs last. Which is probably hindering the stove's heat output. I would probably double my log consumption to maintain 68F/20C. 

 I keep thinking about getting a heat pump but it makes zero financial sense. An air to air heat pump is cheapest but cannot heat my [unused] underfloor pipes in the bathroom and kitchen. So I continue to rely on the oil filled radiators and the stove.

 The Danish TV2 weather website was showing how crazy global temperatures already are. After a record breaking 2023. High temperature records are being broken all over the world and it is still only February. Though this may help those who are struggling to warm their homes. 

 Meanwhile the pampered elite are forcing increased expense on those who cannot afford the latest cars. Pollution charges in cities and passing laws to limit car repairs? This will only hit those on lower incomes. They cannot afford an e-Porsche? Then let them have a Tesla?  

 8.30 64F/18C in the room. Three logs at once on the stove to boost temperatures. I have fetched some more logs indoors from the greenhouse.

14.30 Another rainy day spent on YouTube. Where I came across the channel of a London cyclist. Who actively seeks out mobile phone users behind the wheel. He reports them to the police and presents his video evidence. Resulting in 1000 prosecutions so far. 

 I immediately thought of that lunatic lorry driver. Using his handheld phone on my morning walk. Swerving wide on a sharp, blind bend. Where most vehicles drivers, going the opposite way, cut the same sharp, blind corner. Resulting in a possibly catastrophic overlapping, head on crash. Probably with deep penetration if the collision involved a bus. Collision with a school bus [of which there are many on this road] would probably kill more than half the occupants. Leaving the rest fighting for their lives and suffering a lifetime of PTSD. But hey, it's only worth a 1500kr/£172 fine for phone use while driving.

 Were I to film mobile phone users behind the wheel in Denmark. Then share the videos online. It is I who would be prosecuted and heavily fined. Probably fined more than the absolutely pitiful 1500kr [£172] fixed penalty fine. For illegal phone use behind the wheel. 

 That is, if the police accepted my video evidence of an alleged crime being committed. I would be invading a person's privacy by sharing a video online of their alleged, criminal behaviour. Even if they were a deranged terrorist. Beheading school children outside the village school. It is I who would be prosecuted and my video evidence probably dismissed as inadmissible.

 Meanwhile, CyclingMikey, in London, provides a public service. In filming and appearing in court whenever he catches one of the countless, illegal, mobile phone users. His campaign was instigated by the death of his father to a driver breaking the law. He claims there are thousands of like-minded cyclists using cameras to film alleged criminal behaviour. Sadly the publicity of their activities does not seem to reduce mobile phone use.

https://www.youtube.com/@CyclingMikey

 Dinner was chicken, pasta, peas and tinned tomatoes. There was an odd smell in the kitchen when the recycled, frying pan was heated. If my decomposed body is found in several months then we know what to blame.

  ~o~

 

17.02.2024 Feel the free warmth!

 ~o~

   Saturday 17th [?] A grey start became sunny later.  Up at 6.15. Wasting time on the computer and laundry. 62F/17C in the room. I haven't lit the stove.

 10.30 41F/5C. Bright sunshine but feels cold. The forecast is 7C/44F maximum this afternoon. I should be doing something interesting out[of]doors. Let's start with the trailer. See how much useful firewood is in still in there.   

 11.15 42F/5.6C. Bright sunshine. I split the oversized logs to overfill a wheelbarrow. I am sweating but it probably represents a whole day's worth of logs. Why does the timber yard operator not split these large logs using the power of their hydraulics? Laziness? If an old fart, like me, can split them with a maul. Then they aren't much of a problem. 

 I emptied the trash wood splinters in the trailer into its large container. For possible heating emergencies. Or useful kindling. The real garbage wood dust goes down to the path at the bottom of the garden. Some wildlife might enjoy it.

 It is over 80F in the greenhouse. So I have opened the internal doors to share the warmth. The room is still only 61F/16C but should warm by a few useful degrees. All without lighting the stove. Which is far more important. Full sun all day today. Rain all day tomorrow. Use it if you've got it. 

 13.00 The heat exchange between the 90F greenhouse and the [now] 65F indoors is too weak. I have tried opening a window out to the greenhouse but now it feels like a cold draught. Ideally the greenhouse would have top and bottom vents in the house wall. To form a natural circulation system. This is not possible in this house. A pillar fan in front of the greenhouse door might help. To cause forced circulation into the dividing hall between the kitchen and living room. 

 The white painted house wall does not offer much heat gain or storage. Measures 28C/82F The inside of the same wall is showing 18C/65F. So it is tracking the room's air temperature. The greenhouse floor is bare brick on sand. So must be absorbing some heat. If only a little. Which will probably be released overnight. I cut down the front hedge to shoulder height. To allow winter sun to reach the greenhouse floor. Though the sun is already far too high to worry about the beech hedge now. 

 13.20 44F/6.7C. Both the living room and kitchen are now showing 66F/19C. I have opened more windows in the greenhouse covered, house wall. Even if the warm air doesn't come directly from the greenhouse. The sunshine passing through the open windows will warm items indoors. The carpet is showing 28C/83F! 

 The temperature sensor behind the cardboard is showing 94F/34C. The card itself is showing 34C. I have added a white paper towel in front of the card. The indicated temperature has already dropped 5F. Two layers of paper towels over the white card = a 7F drop. My air temperature measurements in the greenhouse are obviously biased by the sensor's immediate surroundings in bright sunshine. This needs more work.

 13.45 It has reached 67F/19C in the kitchen and living room. Both digital thermometers out of direct sunshine. My LG computer monitor is reading 30C/86F on the screen! Useful waste heat on a cold day. It will also be radiating heat towards my face and bod while sitting around 90cm/3' away. 

 14.00 68F/20C in both the kitchen and living room. Greenhouse sensors reading 85F/29C. 

16.30 Returning from the shops. . I couldn't put the shopping off any longer. Came back the long and hilly way through the forest and into the wind. It felt freezing! Caught up with a chap on a racing bike weaving all over the road. Oblivious to anyone overtaking him. I selected Turbo mode and went past at 42kph. Staying as far away from him as I could. A Dane stopped in his car and asked for directions. 

 I was descending a long hill at 37kph and decided to see how a more streamlined position would help. I hit 46kph with my nose on the bars. Until I sat up again. Back to 36kph. On the trike I used to see 32mph/51kph on that descent when it was still. The road points west in long a straight line. Which usually means a headwind. Only 15km/10 miles today. 

17.00 The kitchen is still at 68F. The room at 66F. The greenhouse at 67F. Despite the sun now being behind the tall shade and wind protection bushes. I have all the cycling clothing hanging up out there to dry.

 The white van is still outside the house next door. So something might be happening after standing empty  for two years. It was already black with mould two years ago. When I had a peak in through the windows. Which can't be healthy.

 18.00 38F/3C. Clear, with the moon overhead. I have lit the stove and brought in the cycling clothing to dry indoors. It is too cold in the greenhouse, at 56F/13C and falling fast, to dry anything properly. I have caught up with the laundry backlog. I know it should be washed soon after wearing something. Another roundtoit.

 Dinner was a bit of a disaster. How badly can poached eggs on toast go wrong? One of the eggs was full of water like a bladder. I foolishly thought it was just the white. It promptly burst onto the toast making it all wet. So I had to start again with the toast. Luckily both eggs were still warm and tasted fine after a change of bedding.

  ~o~

16.02.2024 64km/40 mile ride.

 ~o~

 Friday 16th 47F/8C. Unusually mild, heavy overcast. Possible showers around lunch time. Up at 7.15 after earlier failed attempts at lift off. Strangely hyperrealistic dreams again. I was in an extremely hilly city with lots of traffic and pedestrians. Asking for directions to somewhere which I thought I knew to exist. Though not in this reality.

 8.30 Aching all over when I got up. I now realise it was lifting mattresses and bricks which have probably caused the muscle pain. I thought it was the museum. Now I am going of a walk. The stove can wait. 63F/17C in the room.

 9.15 Back from my walk. The hazel catkins are everywhere. It took longer than normal to walk off my lower back pain. So I couldn't shorten the distance today. The sky was nearly 50% blue as I retraced my steps. The flail tractor had clipped the hedge on one side of the road but not the other. It had left a broad swathe of mud. Which forced me out into the road. With no chance of escape to the muddy verge when cars failed to drive around me. Though most of them did. 

 A huge and long, low loader, with a similar trailer, went wide on a sharp, 80º blind bend. It was obvious why. The drooling moron behind the wheel was using his mobile phone handheld. Lucky there wasn't a school bus going the other way and using half of the opposite lane. As they usually do. Despite the double white lines. Which have recently been restored but are already beginning to wear. Global headlines are only ever a fuckwit's idiocy away!

 9.45. Sunshine? I had better have a ride. I found my waterproof trousers the other day. They can go in a pannier. Just in case I am back too late to miss the promised, lunchtime rain.

 10.15 Finally dressed and ready for a ride. Circling several charity shops I think.

 14.30 61F/15C in the room. Returned from a 64km/40 mile ride to several charity shops. Disappointed to find the last and furthest away is closed on Fridays. I found another Jamie Oliver Tefal frying pan in a smaller size. In good condition by the look of it. I paid 25 kroner. Which is about £2.90.  

 I had been hoping to add a smaller version of my own largest pan. Which has revolutionised my cooking. After struggling for ages with the enamelled pans Which I had inherited from my late wife. Now I can put away the enamelled pans and enjoy my cooking. Oh, dear. The "new" pan is the same size as the other one! Not to worry. Still useful if it has retained its non-stickiness.

 It was raining hard as I left and kept it up for ages. So I had to stop and put on the waterproof  trousers. They were stiff and uncomfortable. So I took them off again as soon as it brightened up. There was even some watery sunshine at times. I was fighting the wind for much of the ride. 

 Flooded fields everywhere again. Riding through the deep puddles on the roads was a mistake. It washed the mud off the tires but soaked my trousers! I ate two small choccy bars but had nothing to drink. The battery charge dropped from 100% to 16%. Which is close to shut down. 

 The B67 saddle was weird. I started feeling some discomfort at 40km. Then it went away. Sort of. I wore padded racing shorts under my thin and stretchy, cycling trousers. The B67 is already showing signs of sagging and shaping itself. This is not a criticism. It is what is expected for saddle comfort. I shall avoid re-tensioning it until I see how it goes.

 A couple of blokes were poking about in the sheds next door as I rode down the drive. I could see them through the bare hedges. They had a white van open at the back and a silver car. There is no way of knowing if they are supposed to be there. There's not much left to steal. Not my place to get involved in the security of an empty home. They could get nasty if they knew they'd been discovered. They might have been tipped off that there was some building materials left lying about. 

 Dinner was sausages, mushrooms, egg and chips. I need not have turned the egg. I used the original [new] frying pan. The recycled one has been washed up and is being further soaked overnight. Just in case of some unwanted residue.

 I reached down for a damp cloth on the bathroom floor and it fell strangely cold. A salamander was sitting on top of it! Both the cloth and the wildlife were black. So it was perfect camouflage. I carried the salamander to the greenhouse. No idea how they are still getting into the bathroom.

~o~