13.11.2024 Moustache 28 & 29 e-bike recall.

 ~o~

   Wednesday 13th 43F/6C. Another grey day promised after yesterday's sunshine.

 Up at 5am after a dreadful night. I couldn't get to sleep and then woke several times. Lying awake again from 4.20 I finally decided to get up.

 BTW: My bloodshot right eye has almost returned to normal. 

 Certain Moustache e-bike models, including the Friday 28 and Dimanche 28 & 29, are being voluntarily recalled for dealer checks. The steerer tube, on the carbon fiber forks, may be at risk of cracking under impact. 

 Voluntary recall of carbon forks Friday 28, Dimanche 28, and Dimanche 29 - Moustache Bikes

 Stop riding your bike immediately and have it checked by your dealer. Note that any existing damage will not be visible. It will be hidden inside the frame's head tube where the fork bearings sit. The website image does not even show the area affected.

 If you have sold your Moustache then please inform the new owner of the recall if possible. Somewhat ironically, the Moustache website, frame number checking link, is was broken! Now fixed. In the meantime, assume that your bike is affected and contact your dealer. Just to be on the safe side. If you know of, or meet any Moustache owners, then pass the message along. 

A sudden steerer tube collapse could easily be catastrophic! The rider could be projected face down over the handlebars! Death or very serious injury are quite possible outcomes. Particularly in traffic. Assume the absolute worst for your own safety! Get your Moustache 28 or 29 checked!

 

 ~o~

 

12.11.2024 Give me sunshine..

 ~o~

  Tuesday 12th 47F/8C [13.30] A sunny day?!!? Does not compute!

  Up at 7.40 after a fairly quiet night and waking earlier.

  13.00 Returned from visiting my friend. It was hard work driving straight into the low, blinding sun. Made worse by the wet roads.

 I called in at the local pharmacy and doctor's surgery on the way home. Because I had run out of specific tablets. The receptionist said my progress needed to be followed up anyway. So I have new appointments for blood tests and to see the doctor.

 I found a nice, mostly glass display cabinet at a charity shop but the hinges were worn out. Or something similar. The all glass door was hanging askew, wouldn't shut properly and squeaked loudly. I checked the undersized hinges but could not see any means of adjustment. Which is rather annoying. I had to pass on this one. 

 There was more cloud in the afternoon.

 17.00 After taking pictures of a gorgeous sunset I have lit the stove. The room is at 62F/16.7C.

 Dinner was  fry-up of chicken, mushrooms and eggs. Helped down with a whole grain, bread roll and a small, organic beer.

 It reached only 67F/19C in the room by bedtime. Heat loss is increasing as the outside, wall temperatures fall. The upstairs [attic] is also open to the living room via the open stairwell. Though it has 30-40cm of rockwool above the ceiling. A trapdoor would be difficult to arrange because of the projecting banister. A heavy curtain around the bottom of the stairs might help reduce heat loss to the upstairs. All of this has been discussed endlessly over the years on my blog.

 

 ~o~

11.11.2024 More kitchen ramblings.

 ~o~

 Monday 11th 46F/8C [5.30] A wet day is promised.

 Up at 5am after a busy night topping up the fire bucket and having weird dreams. I dashed around watering the plants while I waited for the kettle to boil. I used to over-water the plants but now have leaned the opposite way. They thrive better for being drier rather than wet. And no, I did not use the contents of the fire bucket. I used ordinary tapwater.

 Physio rehabilitation and exercise class this morning. Followed by a visit to the dental technician to see if the fit of my new plate can be improved. There is a gap in between my commitments. So I can go shopping for about an hour. I am still searching for suitable storage tubs for the kitchen. 

 I need to standardize somehow. To bring some sort of order to the unsorted chaos. Or finally begin to question the purpose of keeping much of it on show. Or keeping any of it at all! The space, where the new draining board now lies, once held the rusting cooker. That newly available space became handy for rather visible storage. Made worse by a large wheeled trolley in the corner beyond.  

 I had plans for a new, front loading washing machine. To replace the aging top loader in the bathroom. Then resented the low position of the front loader's door for filling and emptying. Only cutting the draining board away would make any sense. Since I could then raise the washing machine on a dais. To make it practical for use by an old fart like me. Perhaps a storage cupboard instead of a dais?

 I look at the sales displays in charity shops for storage inspiration. The minimalist kitchen displays at IKEA hold no strings to any reality I recognize. The arrival of the recycled display cabinet demands I fix the hideous mess I have created for myself. The unfinished plasterboard on the end wall must be attended to. Preferably with some insulation behind a far more cosmetically acceptable wall surface. 

 It used to be vertically boarded but that had become riddled with woodworm. Nothing attractive has replaced it. Since I ripped it all down after my wife died. Her badly stained, naked pine dresser no longer has any real meaning. Other than to hoard a mixed collection of drinking glasses. Which never sees the light of day. 

 A tall storage cupboard on that wall could hide a lot of stuff. If I had anything worth storing. A large cabinet with glass in the doors above could safely display my wife's glass ornament collection. Illuminated by carefully placed LED lighting. It would keep the dust off too.

 The lower cupboards could house the stuff which should not be seen. That might be the way ahead. Instead of investing in yet more secondhand, display cabinets. Or horribly expensive new ones. The image [above right] was a snap from IKEA's display. Just as a suggestion for the styling possibilities. I am not a fan of solid shelves seen from above. They might work at eye level but not below. Glass shelves can disappear with the correct lighting. Leaving the ornaments appearing to float in mid air.

 8.15 Trimmed my beard, showered, put some laundry on. Off we go.

 11.30 Returning from town. The physio class went well again. Followed by a brief visit to the dental technician. I may have to talk to my dentist about removing a lower tusk. Which juts outside my row of lower teeth. It keeps stabbing me inside my lower lip! 

 I pottered around a discount furniture and bedding shop. They had some cheap display cabinets but the quality wasn't up to much. I was more interested in judging the overall appearance. Solid versus glass shelves.

 Dinner was poached eggs on toast. I almost forgot to photograph it. I hope you like a bit of drama!

 

 ~o~

10.11.2024 The absence of activity.

 ~o~

  Sunday 10th 40F/4C [10.00] Grey and cool with a breeze.

 Up at 8.00 after waking several times. I should have done the washing up, but hadn't. I should have gone for a walk by now, but haven't.

 I wasn't in the mood to do anything or go anywhere. So I have spent some time this morning reading my medical journal online. There are secure websites which record the doctor and nurse's notes during treatment. Another which gives information on prescribed medications. 

 I was surprised how much information nurses record during their normal duties of observation, medication, testing and treatment. So I have even more respect for their skills and knowledge. Beyond my earlier, rather trivial description of their kind and obviously well practiced, patient care. 

 Much of the reports is couched in technical and medical terms and abbreviations. Which the average person/patient are unlikely to understand. Though a little online research works wonders. It was interesting to read how I behaved and reacted. Both during my hospital stay and at diagnostic appointments. 

 I usually try to be cheerful, positive, polite, grateful and optimistic with all my contacts. So reading their reports on my attitude to treatment and ongoing recovery was well worth knowing. All the various disciplines are obviously working in parallel to maximize my health and happiness. An ongoing trend was my reporting how I was still overcoming the loss of my wife. Which is true. As well as my very limited number of social contacts and my continuing to cycle fairly long distances at frequent intervals. 

 I do find my cycling vital to my mood and improving health. Following the surgery and ongoing exercise rehabilitation classes. I just wish my Danish was far better than it is. So that I can more readily communicate with the same level of articulacy as I can in English. I often find myself unable to understand Danish voices with high background noise. 

 After a lifetime of experience of English one can use minute clues to understand what is being said. Almost regardless of level and context. With Danish conversation there is often a drop in level towards the end of a sentence. As if some secret is being imparted in confidence. I find this particular aspect of spoken Danish very difficult to capture enough clues. Just to be able to translate speech usefully. 

 My expensive hearing aids do little more than amplify noise/sound levels. Despite the "hard sell" hype. That they use AI to interpret spoken sounds against background noise. I wouldn't want to be without them now but find the hearing aids incredibly frustrating in most social situations. Voices are simply lost in a sea of noise. I find the various 'modes' are of little help. I often toggle through them to find the best vocal clarity. Usually to no avail.

15.00 43F/6C. 62F/16.7C in the room.  I have lit the stove. Two of the three, recycling, wheely bins have been taken along the drive. It is cold and feels even colder in the wind. 

 Dinner was fish fingers, pasta, peas and tinned tomatoes. I used the whole tin of tomatoes but strained them to remove the bulk of the liquid. I could have left a little more of the juice. Though it was marginal whether it was actually needed. I washed up while the fish fingers were baking in the mini oven.

    

 ~o~

9.11.2024 Just another Saturday.

 ~o~

  Saturday 9th 41F/5C. Just as grey but cooler today. Slightly rougher, Easterly wind. Expected to remain at 5C all day then drop by 1º after 18.00. 

 Up at 7 after another quiet night. I was going to get up at 6am but decided to go back to sleep.

 8.30 Time for a walk.

 13.00 Drizzling. I looked in at a weekend garage sale. Went shopping in the village. Then visited the lady in the next village. Before returning home for lunch. 

 The engine of the Morris continues to repeatedly miss a beat. Unlike myself, where my heart has far too many false beats. I shall collect a monitor from the hospital in December to confirm this. Prior to possibly having a pacemaker fitted. 

 16.00 Still 41F/5C. It has dropped to 62F/16.7C in the room. So I have lit the stove. It remains both grey and very dark. Seventh day in a row without sunshine. A change is expected next week.

 Cycling's most successful sprinter, Sir Mark Cavendish, will retire on Sunday after his last professional race. 

 https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/c629l7533pxo

 Dinner was mackerel on toast with halved tomatoes.

 

 

 ~o~

8.11.2024 The prince[ss] and the dried pea.

 ~o~

 Friday 8th 45F/7.2C. Continuing grey and dry with light mostly easterly winds.

 Up at 7am after a quiet night.

 I feel the need for another ride. While I still can. The saddle problem seems to  have been largely overcome with the Contec "Exclusive" Touring leather saddle top mounted on the Brooks B67 sprung frame. With the aid of my best [millionaire's row] Assos bibs [padded cycling shorts with stretchy shoulder straps.]

 I am wearing my usual [fairly thin] cargo trousers over the top for warmth. Wearing thermal tights on top of the bibs would look pretty weird! Nobody wants to see me banned from the charity shops. Worn inside the bibs might cause bunching friction and the inevitable pain. Which I must obviously avoid. Thermal tights over the bibs with a pair of concealing fashion shorts on top of everything? I might need to adjust saddle height. Like the princess and the dried pea legend of adding mattresses. For those who missed the Disney prequel Director's Cut III.  

 8.30 I ought to have a walk. Not too far.

 9.45 Still horribly dark and grey. I have been researching a better route to Højby, south of Odense. About 32-35km away depending on my innate ability to get lost. Despite having a phone with various mapping apps and the Nyon e-bike computer. Not to mention knowing the area quite well from so many previous visits. Højby [pron: Hoi-beuw] leads to South Odense and several more charity shops on the Svendborgvej. 

 14.30 Home again from a 75km ride. It rained until 30km and then stopped. By which time I was on the outskirts of Odense. My trousers had been dark from being wet but dried again as I rode along. 

I missed Højby due to a road closure and long detour. Which took me too far north to make it worth the double journey there and back again. I managed a figure of eight, between two charity shops in Odense and then rode home. Changing the batteries at 50km. There was only 85% charge when I left. The saddle was fine throughout and I was still going well at the very end of the ride.

 12.10 Just finished watching another romance on Netflix. Dinner was chicken, mushrooms and chips. I am getting heart pains but don't think I can blame the chips for that. I sprayed the nitroglycerine under my tongue. Once I got the damned thing to work. It had given up the ghost. Because it hadn't been used.

 

 

 ~o~

7.11.2024 Cramming.

 ~o~

  Thursday 7th 46F/8C [5.30] Another grey day with light winds promised.

  Up at 4.30 after lying awake for ages. Not ideal, as I have a busy morning ahead. Physio class and then ear wax removal in town. Followed by cooking class at some distance in the opposite direction. My bloodshot eye feels wet and dry at the same time. Looks awful. 

 I am ploughing through the laundry backlog but must do the washing up. I did the washing up before 6am. Having washed up after 11pm the last time. The Guinness Book of Records has been informed and I will expect my prize in the post.

 A full sized tree sculpture. Containing a number of oversized birds made of wood and probably chainsawed from the solid.

 The oil-filled, electric radiators are now keeping the chill off the kitchen and bathroom. I am aiming for 15C/60F. The kitchen was hovering around 58F/14C. Which felt a little too chilly.

 6.15 Washing up done. Now I can have breakfast.

 My red eye reminded me that I have never washed my GripGrab gloves. Whether my wife washed them I have no idea. So I turned them inside out. Which took about five minutes and bit of practice. Then into a bucket with some sports wash liquid. After a squeeze or two the water turned dark brown with filth. Or original colouring? I'll leave them to soak, rinse well and then air dry.

 Time to get going. I have tried the eye bath. There is some sign of the white showing through the bloody redness. My career as a supermodel and babe magnet may not yet be over. 😂

14.00 I have returned from my three appointments. Four, if you count a double helping at the ear, nose and throat specialist. I wasn't quite so fit at physio as I felt on Monday. 

 I was given the all clear by the specialist. Who fed a cameras and light up each nostril in turn and down behind my tongue. My voice box looked perfectly normal to her very experienced eye. It was suggested I do some salt water nose inhalation to clear out some unwanted snot. 

 Practicing opera singing [in private] was further suggested to strengthen my voice. When I admitted that I talked to my goldfish between visits from talkative friends. She said that I ought to practice my opera singing on them too. 

 I had my ears scraped of wax while I was there [as you do] and made a new appointment for 6 months ahead. Which shows considerable optimism by all concerned but then, they had enjoyed my sense of humour. 

 After that I swung past the dental plate specialists. To make another appointment for some further fettling. I dropped by the bike shop to make an appointment for a service check on my e-bike in a week's time. I know the chain needs replacing. Finally it was back into the car to drive to cooking class. Where I was greeted like a long lost, prodigal son. 

 It was now 12.00 and just in time for serving the day's dishes. There was a complex salad. Lots of pork in a fine sauce with mushrooms. Rice to make it all look effortless. I had an extra helping of pudding. Which was cake and ice cream. Washed down with non-alcoholic beer. Just to show my appreciation for all their efforts in my absence. Of course I hung about to the end. To help with tidying and washing up. 

 Two charity shops later I was finally back at home. Carrying fresh bread rolls and a pack of cherry tomatoes. The Morris Minor had attracted warm and appreciative stares wherever I went. I have now taken too tooting at the gaggles of children being taken for walks by their jailers. They seem to like it. Several roadside houses have been demolished recently and a large, garage workshop has closed down. They used to have some very posh cars parked outside most of the time. 

 15.30 I have now caught up with my early rise with a nap.

 16.00 62F/16.7C in the room. The stove is burning safely. So I followed up with intensive hand rinsing of gloves, medieval cycling caps and shorts. It took five rinses in a bucket before the gloves no longer stained the clean water dark brown! I have left them to drain. 

 I have just brought in more logs and kindling. I seem to be getting through a basket of logs per day at the moment. That's only for the late afternoon and evening. Raising the chilly room to 70F/21C by bedtime. It all helps to dry the clothes on the upstairs airers. Nothing will dry outside in this cool, grey, windless weather. Let there be no complaints from me. At least it is not raining.

 I have moved the left side mirror. Which was/is still sandwiching the dining table window. To match the height and spacing of its twin. This made a huge difference to their combined appearance. Neither mirror alone produced the desired effect. It was a case of "look at me" and nobody likes an attention seeker. 

 Modesty prevents a picture. Mostly because the moraine of unsightly detritus on the table. Has gotten away from me again. One has one's pride. Even living in a hovel. I need more light in that part of the room but there is no handy socket. To provide the power for another table lamp on the chest of drawers. Finding clothes therein currently demands a bright day. Or an LED torch.  

 There will be no need for dinner tonight. I am replete.

 

~o~

6.11.2024 A shot of redeye!

 ~o~

 Wednesday 6th 44F/7C [7.15] Another grey day with light winds.

 Up at 6.45 after a quiet night. 66F/19C in the room. 58F/14C in the kitchen. Time to get the electric radiators out.

 Now we know why Musk was so supportive of Chump. He's thinking of the profits from all those tickets to Mars when Chump wins. Boom-boom?  😉

 7.20 I have put the first battery on charge from yesterday's little jaunt. I ran it right down to 12% with only a couple of km range left in the battery. It will be interesting to see how long it takes to charge back up to 100%.

 9.15 Back from a short walk to see if anything has changed on the neighbour's small field. Nothing obvious. I still have a bloodshot  eye. I have rinsed my eyes repeatedly with cold tapwater. I do this every morning anyway. Because my eyes always feel dry and clogged in the morning. I went through some of the things which might have caused it. Wiping away the tears with filthy cycling gloves. From my eyes streaming in the cold on my bike. Filthy rubber eyepieces shields on my binoculars.

 Or anti-calk splashes from brushing it onto the hardness on the kettle. Interestingly [?] the kettle now boils in a fraction of the time and much more quietly than before. Which was surprising. The coating of hardness on the base of the stainless steel kettle really wasn't that thick. 

 I am supposed to visit my friend this morning. I was going to ride there but the chill and dark grey skies have put me off. So the Morris Minor gets another outing. The engine keeps missing slightly. Which is a worry after calling out the rescue service so often. 

 13.30 47F/8C. Returned from visiting my friend. I visited two charity shops on the way home. One of which had two display cases for sale. Neither of which suited my needs.

 Dinner was cheese on toast with halved tomatoes.

 

 ~o~

5.11.2024 85km.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 5th 46F/8C. Heavy overcast. Grey skies for as far as the meteorologists can see. Tiny rainfall figures suggest fine drizzle.

 Up at 7.40 after a quiet night. I had a small apple juice backed up by milky coffee after dinner. Woke at 4am. That was it. 

 Tried rotating my computer desk to face the eastern wall. It's just not working and I have lost my view through the nearest north window. Back to 45º.

 8.45 A free Tuesday for a change. I feel the need for a proper ride. There are lots of real shops in Middelfart.  To continue my search for a suitable display cabinet. Roughly 35km can easily be stretched to 40+km each way. 50 miles total. My favourite rural ride following the coast northwards on narrow lanes. Views across to Jylland. Close enough to the water to paddle in places. Only a few tiny hamlets.

 Very light winds. Mostly SE. Only a slight hindrance returning from such a northerly ride. I can take in some charity shops on the way back by another route. Sunglasses not required today. There is nothing more miserable than cycling under grey skies in sunglasses! I have put the second battery on charge. Currently [?] 77% charge after a couple of local shopping trips. The Nyon computer keeps demanding a service.

 Oh dear. My right eye is completely bloodshot! No memory of injury. I am constantly removing and replacing my reading glasses. This hasn't caused any problems in the past. Brushing acidic, anti-calk on the kettle! I bet that was it! Idiot! I have thoroughly flushed my eye with tapwater.

 9.45 Ready to go. The hedge is moving in the wind!

 15.30 47F/8C. Returned from an 85km ride. [53miles] I actually left at 10.00. Coastal route going north. Inland charity shops on the way back. The Contec saddle wasn't too bad. Better than any saddle I have ever tried.

 I saw two glass cabinets for sale in one charity shop. They wanted £40+ each. Which I thought a bit excessive. These cases are rather fragile. Being all glass and using simple L-brackets between the sides. Less than 6' high. Another shop had two rectangular, double door cabinets like my first triangulated example. One glass door had been smashed in the shop. Making it useless. There were no glass shelves visible for either. 

 I ate three sub-micro Corny bars and drank one micro carton of apple juice. I should have taken the rolls I usually have for lunch. It felt progressively colder on the way back. All the wind turbines I saw were standing still. Except for the three local ones. It was horribly dark grey and it is already getting dark.

 16.00 63F/17C in the room. Not warm enough. I'll light the stove. I may have a slight chill from the ride. I wore a jumper over a racing jersey under an Endura rain jacket. I changed from the thinnest GripGrab gloves to the thicker ones as my hands began to ache with cold. Then returned to the thinner gloves later. Thin cargo trousers over my best bibs. I wasn't very warm but not really feeling cold either. A thermal vest might have been sensible under the jersey. For one more layer. Sorel boots over woollen socks. My lightest trainers are too thin to stop the wind and cause cold feet.  

 Dinner was a fry-up.

 

 

 ~o~

4.11.2024 Interior dysfunction.

 ~o~

  Monday 4th 48F/9C [7.30] Overcast with light winds. Expected to remain cloudy and dry all week.

 Up at 6.45 after a quiet night. 67F/19C in the room this morning. After reaching 71F/22C last night.

 Physio in town. I plan to buy some more clear storage tubs for the kitchen. The moraine of "stuff" has offended the eye for long enough. I have loads of lids which were never used upstairs. So I can stack the tubs on the trolley in the corner of the kitchen. One layer of storage is never enough. There are at least two tubs worth of polythene bags of assorted variety. They accumulated before I was put solely in charge of interior dysfunction.

 I have been attacking various sites of the hardness in the water. [Calk in Danish] I have treated the kitchen tap, shower head and bathroom taps with great success and benefit. Now I need to treat the electric kettle. A paintbrush may be involved. 

 11.30 Back from physio and a tour of the shops. I seem to be getting stronger and fitter with each class. My balance and flexibility are improving steadily. 

 I was hoping for more storage tubs but the three outlets have all gone over to flip-over, locking lids. Which I detest for their awkwardness in use. Though I did buy a pale coffee coloured [plastic] laundry basket for the bathroom. To replace the green examples I have been using. Green tubs and pink tiles just don't work together. Throwing wet towels onto the bathroom floor is downright slovenly. Even by my own inimitably low standards.

 I have been keeping an eye out for display cabinets. Whether for sale or in use. To judge how the construction details and lighting affect the presentation of the objects inside. No internal lighting and the objects might as well not exist. 

 It may all sound a bit obsessive but I am trying to maximize my investment in time and money. While trying to get it right first time. Or second time around, if you count the charity shop example. Which seems much happier standing in the kitchen. So, after initial doubts, the modest investment was well worthwhile. 

 Another drive to the city is indicated. An exploratory stroll around the vast shopping mall will, no doubt, be educational. This is what I always do with every new interest. Homework OCD on steroids! 

 17.30 Home from the city. I visited a number of charity shops, the vast shopping mall and IKEA. Grocery shopping on the way home in the dark in fine drizzle.

 18.20 64F/18C in the room. Stove lit.

 

 ~o~

3.11.2024 More Minor worries.

 ~o~

  Sunday 3rd 46F/8C[8.15] Heavy overcast and breezy. No hope of sunshine today. Yesterday was the day to be outside.

 Up at 7.30 after a quiet night of dreams. The washing up hasn't been done. 

 8.30. A walk, I think. It looks miserable out there.

 I walked around a field by the spray tracks. The dull and breezy weather does not inspire me to go for a ride. I'll go for a drive instead.

  12.00 Back from visiting two Sunday flea markets with pretensions of antiquity. I saw two more retro display cabinets by the same maker as mine. Triangular floor plans seem to have been their theme. Not for sale. They were being used for display. A very smart English grandfather [longcase] clock was selling for only £40 equivalent. I was sorely tempted but have two already. Neither of which is running but could if I wound them. 

 The Morris Minor engine is missing beats. No idea why until I do some research. I have lit the stove. The room had dropped to 61F/16C. Definitely not warm enough.

 16.15 70F/21C. The lady from the village called after lunch. Stayed chatting for a couple of hours. She was bearing gifts. Home made quince sweets, home made raw honey and my favourite tea bags.

 16.45 I have just finished the washing up. Four days worth!

 Dinner was fish fingers, peas and pasta.

 

 ~o~

 

2.11.2024 No, not there!

 ~o~

  Saturday 2nd 33F/1C. Bright and clear. A light frost on the lawn. Now expected to reach only 8C/46F today. For only a couple of hours around lunch time. Dropping to 4C/39F after 19.00. All day sunshine is promised. Light winds swinging around a westerly direction. A good day for a ride? Both batteries fully charged. Some loss of range is to be expected at these lower temperatures. 

 Up at 7.20 after a quiet night. The living room is at 65F/18C this morning after reaching 70F/21C last night. I let the stove go out early, at 21.00, to avoid overheating. The stove continues to give out heat from the soapstone cladding. The greenhouse is at 7C/44F after the cold night. The sunshine will raise that temperature during the day.

 10.30 41F/5C. I decided to do some furniture rearrangements while the outside temperature slowly climbed. The tallboy is now upstairs. Which, I admit, made me a little breathless! I took all the drawers out first but the solid oak construction is no lightweight.  

 Now the display cabinet looks awful in the middle of the living room wall! It needs to be glass sided but isn't. Even with the pointed front the side are big slabs of cream. I may have to  move it between the table and the TV. Then it will be seen face on and provide a TV light. So the sides should shrink visually. 

 The Scottish grandfather clock and the cabinet looked absurdly at odds with each other too. Like nails grating on a blackboard. Back to the kitchen with the cabinet? There is nowhere else for it in the living room. As a last resort I'll try moving it beside the TV. If not there, then it's back to the kitchen with it.   

 Oh dear! Now the cabinet looks like a cross between an undersized shower cubicle and a glass topped coffin! Trapped uncomfortably between the flat screen TV and the disheveled dining table. The cabinet is completely out of context with the hovel theme of interior decoration. I even inserted an E14 LED candle bulb in the hidden holder. Distinctly old fashioned illumination. Almost comically Halloween! All it needs is one of those fake skeletons and the picture would be complete.

 An hour of messing about has achieved nothing very worthwhile. Except in the negative. One trapped dining chair has found new freedom. I can now seat three at the table. Albeit following an hour of clearing. Of what could easily pass as landfill on the table top.

 Do I bring the tallboy back downstairs? Everything it once held is now in the huge, oak chest of drawers on the opposite wall. So arguably the tallboy is a waste of valuable space down here. No problem at all upstairs. The Scottish clock looks unhappy standing there now. There's nowhere else for it. My hovel[ling] theme is turning back to the hoarding look! There is nowhere for the eye to peacefully rest amidst this overburden. 

 I am still glad I bought the cabinet. I have learned far more than I care to mention here. Scale, depth, setting, styling, transparency, finish, colouration, privacy and illumination are all vitally important. Even in a messy hovel. I don't want any potential burglar seeing anything worth stealing from the most easily accessible windows. So a display cabinet standing against the north wall makes the most sense.     

 11.30 43F/6C. 78F/26C in the greenhouse. So I have opened the inside door to warm the house. I have moved the mirror, with the ornate, retro frame over. To beside the Scottish longcase clock. Now I have a view of the stairs from my computer chair. To what end? Who knows? It makes the clock look less self-conscious and the table less trapped between the furniture than before. 

 I have hidden the lower half of the cabinet behind one of my [charity shop bought] designer chairs. That, and moving the table away by a few centimeters helps. I saw the same chair at another charity shop yesterday. It was in black leather and looked hideous to my eyes! I much prefer the light tan and neutral cushions of my own precious hoard. 

 The ugly, dark oak, chest of drawers under the TV needs to be moved or removed. Though it has useful capacity and is being used. It could go under the easterly window. Though that would leave the computer printer exposed  to  morning sunshine. The printer could easily be moved. Or the legs on the chest of drawers reduced.

 Then the 55" TV would have to be raised and hung from the substantial wall bracket. Which I bought ages ago and never used. The placing of the TV is remarkably limited. I cannot sit any closer to the hot stove than at present. Which makes the TV's placement absolutely critical if I am to sit square onto the screen. 

 Without the absurd display cabinet I could move the TV a foot [30cm] to the left on the wall. This would free it up to look more like a deliberate furnishing choice. Rather than hemmed in by circumstance, an unsightly cabinet and a foolishly large fish tank. Right. It's back to the kitchen with the cabinet! It can go in the corner. To house my wife's ornamental china and glass vegetables. Where they won't collect so much dust.

 No doubt this is all very boring but at least I found something to do. Instead of running away on my e-bike. I'll have a tootle on it after lunch. So as not to completely waste the day and the pleasant sunshine. It should be warmer then too. I can shop in the next village where the choice of outlet is wider.

 Is it my job to entertain the masses with my blog? Or is it just more of my thinking aloud? A personal journal of my daily existence. Which would otherwise go unnoticed by humanity. And probably still does. Should I feel guilty that I still post under the presumption of cycling in the title? When the cycling has become a smaller fraction of my output and input.

 13.10 44F/6.7C. Lunch over. I have brought the dry towels in from the greenhouse. I'll get ready and go for a ride. The furnishing arrangements can wait until later. 

 There was an outbreak of gunfire from the hunters. The lack of prey meant the racket was very short lived.

 14.30 Back from a 20km shopping ride. It felt much cooler and my eyes were watering behind the wraparound sunglasses. The winter GripGrab gloves were fine. No need for the mitts. I never even noticed the Contec saddle. I was feeling strong again and kept to higher gears to give myself some exercise. Reinforcing my gains at physiotherapy.

 After putting all the shopping away I moved the display cabinet into the far corner of the kitchen. Now the bottom of the airing cupboard needs to be rearranged. To make room for more boxes of tiles from the corner of the kitchen and other junk. Now that's done as well. 

 I moved the TV to the left but it remains on the chest of drawers. Until I make a final decision for wall mounting. Height and position. 

 Dinner was cheese on toast with halved tomatoes. Very tasty! 😋

  

 ~o~

1st November 2024 A non-existent Tardis?

 ~o~

  Friday 1st 54F/12C [7.20] Heavy overcast and gales. All day.

  Up at 6.45 after a quiet night with weird dreams.

 A short walk. 

 Then a shopping trip in the car. I had found a website by a local company. Which offered a remarkably large, glass, display cabinet. So I drove over there. Only to find that the staff present had never heard of it. One of them rang the absent boss but he knew nothing about it either. It makes absolutely no sense. 

 So I sent them an email with direct links and copies of their own text of their own website page. I have spent hours browsing for display cabinets and inspiration online. There is a popular range of shopfitting cabinets but they are rather smaller than the locally offered one. 

 IKEA has smaller cabinets in glass and aluminium. Their larger models are mostly wood or chipboard. After waiting two years to put my wife's collection on display it is disappointing to be denied suitable accommodation. The cabinet from the charity shop has given me a much better feel for how much capacity I need and where to place it. 

 Not least the shelf spacing and strength required to support large glass vases and bottles. It is here that IKEA has dropped the ball on their glass shelving. Too thin, for  no other reason than to save themselves money and increase profits. While providing no replacements in the event of catastrophic failure! Imagine losing one's entire collection. All of it irreplaceable and strongly connected to a lost partner.

 As I was dozing off on the computer after lunch I decided to take a nap. Only to wake two hours later! I am so deaf in my left ear that I couldn't hear the alarm at 40cm! 

 18.45 50F/10C The temperature is going to drop like a stone tomorrow. Under 3C/37F by 8am. A cold but sunny day is promised with much lighter winds. Peaking at 8.5C/47F at lunch time. Dropping to 3C again by 8pm. The living room has been acceptably warm at 66F/19C all day. Though I was wearing a jacket.

 Dinner was mackerel on toast in tomato sauce with halved tomatoes. The second course was a salmon pasty with broccoli. Served with an organic apple juice.

  ~o~