30.11.2024 Borrowing the light.

 ~o~

  Saturday 30th 34F/1C [9.40] Bright sunshine but a bitterly cold SSW wind. The few clouds are banded and bunched up to the east. Which is quite normal. Often causing the early sun to take ages to break through.

 Up at 7.10 after another quiet night. I'll scribble my blog later to avoid wasting walking time.

 9.30 Returning from a walk to the lanes. I was treated to sunrise over a local mound as I walked along the drive. The builders were absent again. The pretty chickens already foraging over their patch. A bird of prey was resting amongst the gulls and hooded crows out on the prairie. It was the first to leave. 

 I was protected by the hedgerow until I turned sharply into the lanes. To be confronted by the eye watering wind and the blinding sun. The thick gloves, which had protected my hands on yesterday's ride, were not up to the task today. Which is odd considering the much higher wind speed on the e-bike and similar temperatures to today's. 

 I ought to have another ride but, as usual, I am unsure where to go. It doesn't want to be too far. Only far enough to enjoy the sunshine. Logic suggests I avoid riding into the sun. 

 11.15 38F/3C. Bright sunshine. I stayed at home and used a bricklayer's bolster instead. To break away the brickwork below the old window in the corner of the living room. I had previously trimmed back the foolishly oversized, timber window sill. To make room for the grandfather clock. Now I have cut away even more.

 The projecting brickwork and sill has been an irritation for nearly three decades. I have now gained a whole 10cm or 4" of extra room to the left for the new cabinet. Without overhanging the antique, lanceolate, single glazed window. Which neatly and perfectly exposes an otherwise trapped double mains socket on the right. While simultaneously increasing clearance around the end of the dining table. Still not cleared of detritus from everyday living in a hovel. The ugly, naked plasterboard on the walls nicely matches the cream, wood-grained backboard of the cabinet.

 The mirror had also fallen foul of the new cabinet. So that too can be rehung exactly as it was. To match that on the other side of the window. It all helps to borrow light from these north facing windows. To this end, a large horizontal mirror hangs above the [typically cluttered] chest of drawers across the way. Visible in the reflection.

 I added a glass table lamp on top of the cabinet. To spread more light into the area at night. [Top image] I shall probably use an LED strip or two. To illuminate the contents of the new cabinet. This usually adds a real sparkle and makes the contents look as if they are floating in mid air. There are four toughened glass shelves waiting for the cabinet to be cleaned thoroughly before fitting. Yesterday's manhandling has inevitably left its finger marks on all of the glass.

 13.00 40F/4.4C. Still bright sunshine but a horribly cold wind. I swept and vacuumed the dust from the earlier demolition work and put the tools away The stove has been lit. It had dropped to 59F/15C. 

 Yesterday's deflated e-bike battery has been recharged. Just in case I want a ride in the freezing conditions. Which I didn't. One quick trip to each shed to collect and return tools reminded me exactly how unpleasant the wind really was!

 Dinner was pan fried chicken and mushrooms with oven chips. 

   

 

 ~o~