19.11.2025 Snow later?

 ~o~

  Wednesday 19th 31F/-1C [8.25] Slightly misty and another white frost. Rain or wintry showers after lunch. 61F/16C in the room. 4C/39F in the greenhouse.  

 Up at 7.30  after quiet night. I was going to get up earlier but drifted off again. My right hand is hurting again after all the log moving. I have a nosebleed. Dripping at less than one second intervals. That could be due to dragging the trailer across the gravel. I have squeezed the bridge of my nose and stuffed it with tissue. I was going to go for a walk. I had better wait a while.

 The nosebleed soon stopped. I was only gone for 20 minutes. Every passing vehicle reminded me of wind chill. Dull grey skies and uniform frost.

 10.40 33F/0.6C Overcast. The room temperature dropped to 60F/15C. So I have lit the stove.

 I have wasted the day educating myself on YouTube.

 Except for an afternoon nap. 

 The forecast is for snow. It is just raining at the moment.

 Dinner was fish fingers and chips. The room has reached a cosy 68F/20C. It is eating through the logs.

  

  ~o~

18.11.2025 Ice is not nice.

 ~o~

 Tuesday 18th 36F/2.2C. A cloudy day with showers is on offer. 62F/16.7C in the room. 47F/8.3C in the lean-to greenhouse. No doubt helped by yesterday's sunshine. 

 Up at 6am after another quiet night. The hand and wrist pain is hardly noticeable now.  

 I shall be visiting my English friend. Hopefully the roads will have been salted. As they have been over the last few days. There were many accidents on icy cycle paths in Copenhagen yesterday. With too many falls requiring ambulances to be called out. Aside from the vast numbers who cycle in Copenhagen. It must be remembered that cyclists are literally of all ages. A sudden, unexpected fall from a cycle in old age can be life changing! 

 The cyclists blamed the council for not salting the cycle paths. Somebody badly misjudged the weather forecast. The cycle paths are often the lowest priority. I am constantly having to duck to miss overhanging branches above cycle lanes and paths. Or having to crawl though deep leaves and moraines of twigs and vegetation. Built up over countless years of neglect. I would often joke about archeological finds being buried there. 

 The lorry snow ploughs often cleared the roads into the cycle lanes. Particularly in towns and villages. Forcing the cyclist out onto the road. Where the impatient traffic always wanted to break the speed limit. Just as they always do in fine weather. Risking lives to overtake. Just to gain one place in the gridlock to nowhere. The only way they know how to drive. Raving insanity.

 For years I have complained [here] about how perfect the roads alongside often were. Spotless billiard table surfaces as far as the eye could see. While the cycle paths had far more in common with extreme mountain bike trails! 

 I was incredibly fortunate to be riding a two-wheel-drive trike for most of those years. Which gave me a high level of stability. Not enjoyed by the often absent majority of cyclists in poor winter conditions. I could easily ride on black ice and snow. Even on hills. When there were literally no other cyclists to be seen all day. I wouldn't go out in icy conditions on the e-bike!    

 11.30 Safely returned and with shopping. The car windows were covered in water ice before I left. I had to dig out a spray bottle of de-icer.

 14.30 Back with a trailer full of logs.

 15.00 Most of the logs are now stacked in the greenhouse. The trailer is covered against possible rain to avoid wetting the remainder.

 16.00 59F/15C in the room. I had a nap and then lit the stove. I should really have lit the stove much earlier.

 Dinner was scrambled egg on toast and tomato soup.  

  10.45 32F/0C outside. I am keeping the stove going with more logs tonight. As it has only crept up to 66F/19C in the room. Which is comfortable for sitting at the computer in a thick jumper and fleece jacket. Which I obviously can't wear overnight. So when I get up, to attend to the fire bucket, it is much chillier as the room steadily cools overnight. 

 I have warmer down duvets but haven't felt the need. To change from the summer weight, down duvet yet. I wear a thin jumper over my t-shirt in bed when it is cold. There is a large tub of thermal underwear upstairs. Much of it years old. Which I wore on the trike in winter. Again I haven't felt the need to wear any indoors so far. Though I ought to wear it on the e-bike now the weather is cold. The modern TermaTech wood stove is much more efficient. Than the old Jøtel box stove. I am also sleeping downstairs. Quite close to the stove. Which has soapstone cladding to slowly release heat for hours after the fire has gone out. 

11.15 Bedtime. 

 

  ~o~

17.11.2025 Grr-avy!

 ~o~

 Monday 17th 32F/0C [7.00] Another white frost. We are promised some sunshine today. 63F/17C in the room. 45F/7C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 6.30 after a fairly quiet night. 

 I ought to fetch some more logs in the trailer. Last winter's stock has gone down more quickly than I had imagined. Despite my not lighting the stove until the late afternoon or evening. However, I have another parcel coming today. An item returned for repair under guarantee. I am expected to be home to accept the parcel. They came in the morning last time but are normally here well after lunch. 

 8.30 Time for a walk. I tried a different clothing idea yesterday. A felted, heavy wool jumper under my down sweater. Instead of a heavier down jacket with a thin jumper. I was more comfortable and didn't overheat. 

 9.00 Back from my walk in bright sunshine. Thanks to the frost, the ground was firm enough to walk on the spray tracks. So I looped around a smaller field at a brisk pace. Even managing to get slightly out of breath. 

 A small, fast, bird of prey did a loop around the garden. I am calling it a Merlin. Buff, pointed wings, swept back. There were noisy Redwings in the wild cherry trees. Smaller birds everywhere.

 I spent some time tidying up after using the living room as an assembly hall for my telescopes.

 Then I captured a lot of videos of the sun and processed some of them. A late lunch and then back to the fray. 

 15.30 Now I should go shopping.  

 16.00 35F/1.7C. Cold. Back again. Shops full.  

 Dinner was a salmon pasty, peas, boiled potatoes and gravy. 

 

  ~o~

16.11.2025 Wee, sleekit, cow'ran, tim'rous beastie.

 ~o~

 Sunday 16th 30F/-1C [7.15] Another white frost and a confusing forecast. The verbal description talks of sunshine. The graphs show none. The room has dropped to 62.9F/17C overnight. The stove struggled to bring the room up to 68F/20C by bedtime. Only 14C/57F in the bathroom. I have adjusted the small, oil-filled radiator I have in there. Just to keep the chill off. 

 Up at 6.45 after lying awake for hours between weird dreams. I was going to get up many times but managed to resist the temptation. This morning I had a [short] nosebleed for the first time in ages. Could it be the paracetamol? Nope. Dr.AI says it is recommended as a pain killer for those subject to nosebleeds. After one day of taking it my hands are already much less painful. I was beginning to fear for my independence.   

 9.00 31F/0C. No sunshine yet but brightening. Time for a walk. 

 9.40 Most of the sky was speckled. With thicker cloud in the east. Doing its best to veil the sun as usual. A few gulls drifted over. Then a flock of jackdaws chattering noisily. I reached my usual turning point in the lanes. A hunt was just setting up for a shoot by a popular copse. There was low lying mist. Which gave the dark silhouettes an air of mystery. They sent the dogs in to drive the game towards the guns but there were no shots fired. 

 I had ordered a new mouse when my usual one finally gave up. It was years old and had been dropped onto hard floorboards several times. It was delivered on a Sunday to the newspaper pipe on the corner. A hundred meters from the door. I saw a car turn into the drive just as I left. 

 Should I be grateful for a Sunday delivery? Probably. It was sheer luck that I spotted the bag as I passed. There was no newspaper delivery this week for some unknown reason. So I was double checking in the dark depths of the pipe. 

 Theoretically I was supposed to be at home for receipt but there was no notification of intended delivery. They claimed that it was delivered to the door. I checked the security camera recordings. They never drove down to the house. Luckily the M705 worked straight out of the box. 

 Washing up completed. This was no small feat! 

 12.30 I am playing with the solar telescope again. Thick cloud is making it pointless. I'll make lunch.

 An afternoon of education on YouTube. While I was actually awake.

 Dinner was sardines on toast with halved cherry tomatoes. 

   

  ~o~

15.11.2025 What light through yonder window breaks?

 ~o~

  Saturday 15th 34F/1C [8.30]  White frost. A sunny day is promised. 62F/16.7C in the room. It struggled to reach 69F/20.6C by bedtime. This was with the stove burning well. 40F/4.4C in the greenhouse. The pond has dropped to 50F/10C.

 Up at 7.50 after dozing off. I saw 6am, then 7am on the clock. 

 8.45 Time for a walk. There is some movement in the trees. So I'll need to wear something warmer than usual. 

 9.20 Back again. A solitary bird of prey left on first spotting me. Gulls were more reluctant to move but were soon gone. The traffic was very light at first but then it wasn't. I was toasty warm in a duvet jacket. While my hands were soon aching with cold in my GripGrab gloves. Blinding sunshine everywhere. Except at Chez Hovel. 

 As the sun came around to the front of the house I took some videos of it with my solar telescope. Through the double glazed, dormer window. The results weren't exiting or even sharp but useful in software processing practice. Opening the window resulted in a bonfire of thermal agitation. As the warm, indoor area escaped through the gap. Exacerbated by the chimney effect.

 Dinner was a weird omelette of sausage, mushrooms. Plus baked beans.  

 

 

 

  ~o~

14.11.2025 40km Electoral bias?

 ~o~

  Friday 14th 42F/5.6C [7.40] Dark grey. Another long, grey day is promised. Hovering around 7C/45F all day. Light winds, cartwheeling towards the east later. As cooler and brighter weather moves in. Possible sunshine tomorrow afternoon.

 Up at 7am after an unusually quiet night. I got up only twice. I am feeling more positive and my hands are in less pain after visiting the doctor. Talking helps? Perhaps it was the longer walk to the forest yesterday. Even some sunshine. My daily walks had been getting much shorter and repetitive recently. I was becoming very apathetic. With no motivation to do anything but sit on the computer watching YouTube. 

 I could blame the long dark days. SAD? To that end I have been using a bright, LED work light over my plants. Though above and behind me, this lights up the whole room. Which would otherwise only be lit by a table lamp near the computer. Talking of which: The Philips LED bulb had gone dark and dim. It was only a year old. I replaced the bulb and the room is very much brighter. I always open the blinds as soon as there is some light outside.   

 Perhaps I should go for a ride today. Light winds are always more pleasant. The higher speeds of the e-bike only add to the buffeting when it is windy. Even though they can usually be overcome by the pedal assistance. It is a fine balance between clothing and temperature. Much like an ordinary bike or trike. Though with less warmth generated by the rider while pedaling. Higher headwind speeds add to the cooling effect. I wear far more layers than I would on the trike in the same conditions.  

 I could check the progress on the new railway line. It is strangely hard to see any actual activity on my visits. Yet they are moving vast quantities of soil. To flatten the route over the undulating landscape. As well as building lots of new bridges and retaining walls for deep cuttings. Often to provide a crossing for very minor roads and lanes. 

 The new rail route crosses the island from east to west. Lying very close to the existing motorway for most of its 35km distance. The rolling, road closures are evidence for how quickly things are really moving. The map above shows only the central stretch of crossings. There are more to the east and west. Which fall under different local councils.

 8.35 Light enough for a walk. I'll go "the wrong way" for a change of scenery. 

 9.30 Just under an hour's walk. I headed towards the village. Then took the direct route up the south face to the forest. Maintaining a brisk walk even where it climbs to 1-in-4 near the top. 93m of vertical movement. Sopping wet underfoot but my boots were fine. Not much wildlife to see. Only a cat sitting in a roadside orchard. Horses being horses.

 The village lampposts are presently decorated with countless portrait placards. Of candidates for the local elections. It seems some of them are illegally placed. As to rules regarding clearance from cycle paths, height, etc. Which has resulted in complaints, reports and a story in the online news channels. The boundaries of some villages are similarly decorated with placards staked in the grass verges. 

 However, there is a distinct. Let's call it a 100% bias. Towards a particular party in rural areas. A party which might as well be run by the farmer's union for all it matters. Which means that only their own party may erect placards. 

 Or even vast hoardings on roadside fields. Supporting ONLY their own party candidates. One can travel for many kilometers and never see another party's placards planted on the fields. Not one. 

 I would argue that such advertising has a far greater impact than the crowded, village lampposts. Nor least because of the difficulty of isolating individual faces and names from the multitude. Particularly while driving safely in a built-up area. Very few voters are on foot these days. Not unless there are shops within walking distance. For the elderly using walking frames. 

 While the placards on the roadside fields are often much larger and so nicely separated. That drivers [and their passengers] can easily see and recognize this one party's candidates names and faces. Simply because they are so easily seen, identified and read at leisure. 

 13.20 43F/6C. Back from a 40km ride. The images above show a new bridge structure from both sides. Where the new railway and existing motorway both cross a busy main road.  

 I explored more crossings. Another new bridge had been built. There was a whole fleet of earth moving tipper trucks, bulldozers, excavators and tankers. All parked beside mountains of soil and sand. I couldn't take a picture because the edge of the road was full of huge drainage pipes. Which completely blocked the view.

 The Ryet "Aircode" 3D printed CF saddle went unnoticed today. The warmest possible accolade. I wore a pair of DHB padded cycling shorts under my thin, cargo trousers.

 I wasn't nearly warm enough. Though I stopped after a couple of km to add a spare jumper under my jacket. I wore a racing jersey, long sleeved, man made sweater, the medium weight jumper and a soft, "Nuckily" cycling jacket. 

 Every time I stopped after that I was literally shivering. I didn't feel it on the bike. My feet were cold too. Thin socks with Scott flats. My hands were progressively colder in GripGrab split mitts until they ached. So I changed to a pair of Reusch "Powder Spirit" GORE-TEX gloves to get home. I presume these were designed for skiing. 

I don't wear them much because they are rather bulky. Making them very clumsy on the silly little Bosch handlebar, motor control panel. Presumably designed to suit a little girl. Just to be properly inclusive. 

 Talking of Bosch: I keep getting a "Service Required" notice on the Nyon display. Which requires I remove my gloves [yet again] to return to the normal display. Because it demands I confirm I have seen the message. With a finger press on the displayed button. Every single time I turn the display back on after a stop. 

 It does the same thing every time I want to show the route map on the screen! A screen full of microscopic text appears. With dire warnings against touching the screen controls while riding!!! Which means one has to come to a stop. Take off one's gloves, find one's reading glasses to read the warning. Then press the damned button repeatedly. Always after a long delay for the button to become 'active.' What drooling, utter idiocy!!!  

 16.25 Back from the village shops with two new kinds of tablets and a load of groceries. 

 Dinner was a humongous fry-up with beans. 

 

 ~o~

13.11.2025 No rain: No gain.

 ~o~

  Thursday 13th 47F/8.3C. A grey and windy day is promised. 12C/53F & 15m/s peaks. SW wind.

  Up at 6.10 after a quiet night. 

 9.20 Back from a longer walk. About 5km according to a tracking app on my phone. 7000 steps. Down the road. Up the main track to the forest. Explore possible escape routes in the forest. Too many brambles. Much has changed since my last visit. There used to be a loop. Heading back to higher ground. 

 I cut down through a steep firebreak. Across the marshy saddle and then skirted the prairie past the lake. Not a single duck in sight. When there were once countless hundreds. About an hour and 20 minutes of quite heavy going. Distinctly soggy in places. A low, blinding sun on the last leg along the busy road. I am quite warm but a little tired now. 

 I spent the morning setting up my telescope to view the sun. Should the sun ever come out again. The sky was leaden.

 A message came from the hospital following my recent ultrasound scan. Since there was no change over the last year. It is decided not to scan again for another three years. I'll be 81½! 😳

 Dinner was toast. Cheese on toast with halved sub-micro tomatoes. I think they were "Quantums." I didn't dare read the label. In case they disappeared.

 

 ~o~

12.11.2025 Get a grip!

 ~o~

  Wednesday 12th 48F/9C [7.45] A grey, rather windy day, with showers. 64F/17.8C in the room.

 Up at 6.10 after an average night. 

 No walk. 

 Doctor's appointment at 11.30. To discuss chronic muscle pain and dizziness. Possibly due to the known side effects of a specific heart medication. Now say all of that in pidgin Danish while chewing gum.

 12.25 Back from the village. My statin tablets will be halved in strength. Pain killers for the hands and wrists. Shopped afterwards.

 I made several attempts to complete the washing up. At three laps I am still two frying pans short of a set. Fortunately I only need one.

 Dinner was a fry-up with chips, peas and tomatoes.  

  ~o~

11.11.2025 Through a glass darkly.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 11th 45F/7.2C [8.30] Another grey day but with extra rain. 66F/19C in the room after reaching 72F/22C at bedtime.

 Up at 7.30 after failing to get up at 6.00. I was having chest and back pain last night. I shall need another 5 liter dunk of nitro at this rate. 

 No immediate plans for today. The room could do with a tidy. 

 The goldfish in the 1500 liter greenhouse pond are doing fine. As the temperature falls continuously. On a grey day, like today, the air temperature is 50F while the water is at 52F. The water is crystal clear. Thanks to the Oase internal filter in the left, front corner. Where it is least visible. The pump has a simple pipe facing upwards for minimum surface disturbance and zero noise. While providing maximum flow for filtration. The tank surface dimensions are 165x125x70cm deep. With sloping sides.

 The Elodea canadensis plants are the only survivors of the many I have tried. Costing around £5 equivalent each. These other plants were very expensive salad! The elodea is forming long chains across the pond floor. While sending shoots upwards from the gravel. The initial, heavy coating of algae on these plants seems to be melting away. As summer's high light levels fall naturally with the changing seasons. I hope these plant continue to grow abundantly to absorb excess nutrients from the water. They also provide hiding places and visual interest. This species is considered a pest in some parts of the world. Being so hardy and quick growing it takes over many waterways.

 The fish like to browse on the algae on the inside walls of the pond too. I like the dark walls this algae forms. Rather than the original light grey, GRP tank material. 

It is unfortunate that the aluminium skeleton of the greenhouse features so strongly in photos. Here gamma has been greatly reduced in this darker image. For increased surface penetration. I have temporarily switched off the filter for a steady water surface.

 I would probably have to drape a black cloth above the pond. To allow a camera to penetrate the strong reflection off the water surface. Perhaps with some form of internal underwater lighting. Though I am not keen on that idea in the long term. Pond fish have their own circadian rhythms and might prefer to be asleep after dark. 

 The two largest fish are about 20cm long. To the right of centre in the image above. I have had these two fish from the very start. They were half the size of my little fingers and at first enjoyed the tiny tank. Only June of last year but it seems longer. Which had triggered my renewed interest in fish keeping. Before moving them into the 100x50x50cm [again recycled] tank. All of them are growing rapidly. Currently eight of them at the last count. More than enough for such a limited pond size. They could all reach 30cm or 12" in length eventually. 

 11.45 Back from a short walk. Looping along the parallel, shared drives. It was cool, damp and slightly misty.

 15.30 Brief glimpses of the low sun through holes in the overcast. 

 Dinner was a chopped up omelette on toast. I forgot how to do scrambled. 

 

  ~o~

10.11.2025 Semonts manoeuvre.

 ~o~

  Monday 10th 42F/5.6C [7.45] Another grey day. With the light wind slowly increasing.

 Up at 7am after hours of restless drifting.   

 I have an appointment in town at lunch time. If I go early I can shop. I'll eat when I come back home again.

 A glowing, self seeded, field maple on the western border in the garden. 

 9.10 Back from my walk. The clouds were clumpy and it wasn't very warm. No wind but definitely hands in pockets weather. Only the smaller bird of prey was holding the field down this morning. Just as it flew away another came soaring over the hedge from behind me. It flew right over my head at no more than 20' high. It was quite startled when I greeted it. I had been hearing something calling from that direction. The traffic was intermittent. Though I kept jumping onto the verge to ensure my own longevity. 

 12.50 Back from town after having my ears scraped. I became dizzy while lying down on the operating table. So there followed some discussion and a suggestion for a formal exercise to ease the problem. This was well within their field of expertise. So they were all keen to repair me for the journey home. 

 They are such warm and kind ladies. They had me sitting up and lying down. Turning my head this way and that. To see if it triggered my dizziness. Or eased it.

 I have to go through my own doctor to be officially treated by these specialists. An appointment has been made with my doctor for Wednesday morning.

 The car performed normally today. A huge relief!

Dinner was a chicken and mushroom curry. Which I hadn't made for ages. This was with Basmati, white  rice and less water. For a crisper rice. Previously we had always used brown rice. With Ben's Medium Curry sauce. Half a jar was just the right amount today.

  ~o~

9.11.2025 Keep on truckin'!

 ~o~

  Sunday 9th 43F/6C [6.20] Another cool, grey day with light winds.

 Up at 5.40 after a restless night. 

 I had my usual walk. Both birds of prey were out on the fields. One moved away. 

 12.15 Back from a second shopping village. The first trip was to the local supermarket. To test if the car would behave itself. All seemed well. 

 So then I went further afield. I have an appointment in town tomorrow. To have my ears scraped. So I wanted to be sure I could trust the Morris. Which received many admiring glances and lingering stares. 

 The afternoon was spent on the computer. Educating myself with YT videos. I am now qualified to answer questions on exploding packages. In the imaginary thieving hands of porch pirate barstewards. The majority of which are probably regurgitated AI. I hope this information doesn't spoil anybody's Christmas.  

 Dinner was fish fingers Fettuccine pasta and tinned tomatoes. 

  ~o~

8.11.2025 My kingdom for a condenser!

 ~o~

  Saturday 8th 43F/6C [7.50] A misty start to a long, grey day. With the temperature sinking very slowly. Winds light from various directions. 

 Up at 7am after a fairly quiet night. I saw 2:22:22. 3:33:33 and 4.44:44 on the big, red, digital clock.

 I will have to discover if the Morris Minor is going to behave itself. The only way to find out is to go for a drive.  

 9.30 Back from my walk. It was dark grey and damp. With fine drizzle in the air. The local guard dog was upset at building activity nearby and kept barking. The two, dark brown birds of prey were back. The larger of the two was more nervous and moved away twice. Despite already being hundreds of meters away. The second bird waited far longer. Then moved back over a hump to disappear from view. 

 The set-aside fields were still holding literally hundreds of small birds. Which lifted off in a cloud and flew around at random. Just as they usually do. Making it all but impossible to identify them through my binoculars. Because they never settle within sight.

 11.50 I hope to have finally solved the misfiring of the Morris. It would not start today. So more drastic measures were needed. I decided to fit the new condenser. Kindly provided by the Morris Minor specialist. 

 A few failed attempts to fit the tiny, holding screw were increasingly trying. It needed a magnetic screwdriver. Which I don't have in my drawer of some 100+ screwdrivers. So I borrowed the driver from the DeWalt battery screwdriver. This allowed me to fit the Philips screw. Without it dropping into the darkness, yet again. 

 After reconnecting the internal, distributor leads and cap the car started immediately. It actually sounded healthy. Without any missing or hunting. Despite being started from cold. I took it for a tootle around the block. All seems well. The old condenser must have had an intermittent fault. 

 I lit the stove to push the temperature up to 70F/21C. 

 Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast. 

 

 

  ~o~

7.11.2025 Another 60km round trip [to the hospital.]

 ~o~

  Friday 7th 40F/4.4C [6.50] A sunny morning is promised with light winds. I can see patches of white frost on the overgrown western lawn. The overnight mist is almost absent.

 I deliberately got up at 6am. To avoid eating or drinking before my ultrasound scan within four hours. I sneaked a half bowl of porridge flakes with milk and a cup of coffee. I am supposed to fast within four hours of the scan. Which raises some other problems.

 As I mentioned yesterday, I shall have to ride to the hospital in the city. Some 32km away. Because the Morris is choosing just now to badly misbehave. The engine keeps misfiring and losing power. So I didn't want a fairly long ride on a completely empty stomach. 

 Getting up early to circumvent these fast restrictions seemed sensible. I don't want to have hunger knock half way to the hospital. Because I have so little battery reserve as it is. My 60km ride on Wednesday put the battery into the red. I just checked. My average moving speed was 21kph. [12.4mph] With lots of stops for window shopping and sightseeing. Bringing the overall average speed down to only 16kph. 

 I shall be using my second battery with 100% charge. Though there is no difference between the two batteries. Not that I know of. I simply swap back and forth. Depending on need and the battery charge available when I need it. I usually charge at least one of the batteries to 100%. Because they don't spend long periods in storage. When a lower voltage would be kinder to the battery chemistry. Swapping back and forth gives both batteries some exercise.

 While I could take the spare battery with me today I can't safely leave it outside the hospital. It would be a considerable financial loss. Carrying the spare battery into the hospital would add considerably to the load I'd need to carry. Though there is no history of Bosch batteries catching fire. They are considered very safe thanks to extensive research, the sturdy casing and charging protection. The battery weighs 3.5kg/8lbs but feels much heavier when handling it. 

 It always makes me cynical when considering the piss poor range on offer for e-bikes compared to electric cars. 70km maximum range in Sport mode is only 43miles. Most buyers would sneer at an electric car which had a range of TEN times that distance. 

 It should be remembered that I am riding a 'Speed 45' e-bike. 28mph maximum pedal assistance. The higher speeds are inevitably going to demand more from a battery than the standard e-bikes. With their miserable 15mph assisted speed limit. The average price of the Bosch 625 Powertube battery is around 7000 danish kroner. Or £824 at today's exchange rate. Retail prices seem slightly lower in the UK.

 Another worry is that Bosch is developing equipment which is not backwards compatible. Their 'Smart' electronics system won't work on my 2022 bike. Nor will their 'Smart' batteries. The chances of major breakthroughs in battery chemistry are very unlikely to trickle down to older models. There is too much profit to be made. By keeping the buying public hungry for the latest kit. For those who can afford it.

 Paying several thousand pound equivalent for a new e-bike every three to four years is not a pleasant prospect. Yet the media is constantly full of the latest hype. Surrounding new motors, new "improved" power levels, batteries and their complex control systems. Which is ironic considering that the vast majority can only dawdle [legally] at 15mph. 

 All thanks to legal restrictions. Which leave the youth demanding more power and higher illegal speeds. A whole industry is catering for upgrades and de-restriction add-ons. Just as they do for IC motorbikes, mopeds and scooters. Why not simply arrange for different classes of e-bike? With insurance, helmets, training, registration plates and age limits appropriate for each class.  

 8.50 Leaving. 

 12.30 Back again. I was glad for my mitts. As my GripGrab gloved hands soon ached with the cold. The cloud never lifted until well after 11.0. Then only slowly revealed a veiled sun. I used Tour mode for most of both journeys. The scan took only a few minutes. It seems that the enlarged artery is no worse than before. I stopped twice on the way home to munch a bread roll. 

 I was following an electric scooter. Where the teenage lad was standing bolt upright. With his clothing flapping in the light headwind. It took me ages to catch him in Sport mode and then to match his speed. He was traveling at 30kph on every slight descent. 26-28kph on every slight climb. The 60km total distance today reduced the battery from 100% charge to 33%. Still a useful margin to get home. 

 As my energy levels were depleted I decided on a decent dry-up for dinner. 

 Update: I changed the title. I am unlikely to be capable of 60kph even in free fall!  😊

  

 

  ~o~

6.11.2025 Car problems.

 ~o~

  Thursday 6th 49F/9.4C. A rather sunny day is forecast. Though I can see smudgy clouds to the east. Where it matters. The mild temperatures are keeping it warmer indoors. 69F at bedtime is still 67F this morning. 

 Up at 6.20 after an average night.

 Cooking class. I checked the points yesterday and the engine started okay. It was missing [hesitant] on its last journey on Tuesday. 

 13.40 Returning from cooking class.Where I made shrimp stuffed avocados. My partner in crime made the sauce. There was a meat stew dish with boiled potatoes. Followed by rhubarb tart with meringue topping. The car engine kept missing going both ways.

 15.00 Back from a drive to the village. The car was misbehaving so badly I stopped in a lay-by to check the points. They seemed fine. I struggled to pull away with the engine misfiring badly. Then it cleared and drove normally. Can I assume the points are no longer the problem? Condenser or coil?

 I have an appointment for a scan tomorrow morning at the hospital in the city. Dare I risk going in the car? Or should I ride the e-bike? It's roughly 30km each way. Just doable with one full battery. I have to fast tomorrow before the scan. I'll take some rolls and a drink to give me the energy to ride back home. 

 The weather forecast is fine and sunny with light, easterly winds. Risk of overnight fog. Which should have cleared by the time I leave. Downside is carrying panniers. Dare I leave them attached outside the hospital? I can padlock them to the carrier. Is that enough to deter the thieving sociopaths? Take one bag and carry it into the hospital. That's much easier. The ridiculously heavy locks will be holding the bike down to something immovable outside. So they don't have to be carried indoors. The bike rack is close to the hospital main entrance.

 No dinner required. 

 ~o~

 

 

 

5.11.2025 A 60km autumn ride.

 ~o~

  Wednesday 5th 50F/10C [7.50] Another grey day. Possible showers. Wind slightly reducing.

 Up at 7am after a rather busy night at the fire bucket. 

 8.00 I shall be going for a walk soon. 

 9.00 Back from a half hour walk. Grey, breezy and cold. Busy traffic. The only highlight was the absence of the micro guard dog and the freedom to loop along the drives. This gets me away from the traffic noise and provides the beauty of trees and nature. The autumn colours are amazing. Even when it is overcast.

 11.00-14.15 A 60km/37mile ride to various charity shops. I detoured to examine progress on several crossings of the new, high speed rail line. Which runs close to and parallel with the motorway. 

 Considerable progress has been made with the new track bed, deep cutting retention walls and newly cast bridges. It was possible to see extended lengths of the new track bed level. Though still devoid of gravel.

 I used 74% of battery charge. Ending on 26% from 100%. I ate one sub-micro, dark chocolate Corny bar. Before turning for home. There was a headwind all the way back. As I rode home into a low, blinding sun. The brightly coloured trees and forests were gorgeous in the sunlight. 

 The wrist support seemed to help. While the Ryet saddle was variable in its level of comfort. Though still arguably better than any other I have tried. I wore an old pair of Wiggle's DHB padded shorts. Two soft shell jackets over a racing jersey kept me snug. Aided by a GripGrab "Aviator" medieval hood under my helmet.

 The stove has been lit. The temperature has risen from 64-67F.[18-19C.]

 Dinner was an organic pork chop, mushrooms and boiled potatoes. Very tasty.

 

  ~o~

4.11.2025 UV unstable.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 4th 52F/11C [7.45] A grey, windy day is offered. Just under 12C/53F all day. 65F/18.3C i the room. It was 69F/20.6C at bedtime. I let the stove go out early. 

 Up at 6.50 after a quiet night with weird dreams.

 No walk. I was getting ready to go to my English friend. I drove over there. Grey and breezy.

13.00 Back again with a load of shopping. Plastic carrier bags are not UV stable. I collected some from the balcony room to stock up the car. The bag literally fell in half as I loaded it from the checkout belt! I'll have to check the rest of the bags for tensile strength. They are all years old. The car engine was missing on the way home. Not badly but noticeable. 

 I tidied up the aquarium plants. Many had not been de-potted from purchase. I was surprised that most were tropical according to the labels. When I had specifically asked for cold water plants. Only the Elodea is hardy and growing well in the greenhouse pond. 

 So much so that it is an illegal pest to buy and sell it in some countries. Where it has swamped waterways with unchecked growth. The room is just warm enough. To be at the bottom of the tolerable temperature range for those plants I checked. [20C/68F]

 I have lit the stove. A rise of a couple of degrees F is enough to take off the chill. 

 Dinner was supposed to be toast but I made salad instead. 

 

  ~o~

 

 

 

3.11.2025 And then there were four.

 ~o~

  Monday 3rd 44F/6.7C [7.50] A mixed day of showers, possible sunshine and steady rain later. 66F/19C in the room. It reached 72F/22C last night thanks to the stove.

 Up at 7am after waking earlier and drifting. For all my irritation at lying awake I was completely unaware of the bright orange, flashing lights of the recycling lorry. The cameras recorded it with a quarter of an hour interval at the front and back of the house. Albeit at a distance of one hundred and two hundred meters distance. A male pheasant has taken up residence in the area. He keeps triggering the camera's AI software. I just watched him ponder on escaping over the hedge. Finally he jumped and was gone.

 I am expecting a parcel. The delivery company is, yet again, demanding my presence. Is there any other commercial business? Which can dictate a home owner make themselves available. Only to regularly fail to deliver on their side of the contract. May I go for my morning walk? They state only from 8-16.00 in their virtual missive. From previous experience I would hazard an after lunch audience.

 I decided to go anyway. No birds of prey visible. Though one was calling from behind the dense, roadside hedge. A gaggle of geese flew over. Sunny periods but rather cloudy. 

 9.10 My parcel arrived just as it became very dark. 

 15.00 I now have four security cameras covering the entire circumference of Chez Hovel. The last two were very inexpensive. Having recently been replaced by updated models. They still provide all that I require in image quality and night vision. With high scores on reviews.

I hope to catch, on camera, whatever is digging under the fiberglass pond. 

Dinner was a salmon pasty with chips and gravy. 

 

  ~o~

2.11.2025 Life is silly.

 ~o~

  Sunday 2nd 50F/10C [7.40] A grey, windy day with possible showers.

 Up at 7am. 

 I had a half hour brisk walk but there were no birds of prey this morning. I looked for the queue for a wildlife refund but it was Sunday. I also live right in the middle of nowhere. So being realistic.. it wasn't really going to happen. Like so many other things in my life. It tried to rain but gave up when I pressed on.

 For some unknown reason YouTube is suddenly flooding me with home improvement videos. When I would much rather be watching something else. Like how not to kill my plants. I was advised to bring my outdoor plants into the greenhouse for protection. Do they want or even need protection? Apart from protection from my haphazard watering routines of course.

 11.30 It appears to be brightening up. Blue holes are leading to brief sunny intervals. It didn't last.

 16.30 Back from town with plastic storage baskets and network cables. There is a group of big shed outlets open on Sundays. Very handy. The sky was black in the west as I left each shop doorway. Though it stayed dry. 

 Dinner was sausage on toast. Yes, I know it is very silly but the sausage was past it's 'best by' date. I added brown sauce for a touch of sophistication.

 

 ~o~

1st November 2025 25km in a busy day.

 ~o~

  Saturday 1st November 46F/7.8C [8.00] Grey and breezy. Supposedly a sunny morning but a rainy afternoon. Mild peak at 11C/52F.

 Up at 6.30 after getting bored with lying there feeling sorry for myself. 

 8.12 Time for a walk. 

8.55 And back again. I made it to my usual roundabout in the lanes. Despite the cold easterly wind.  Two, large, brown birds of prey retreated. A huge flock of geese went over at a good height. Heading east. 

 The traffic was quiet on the outward journey. Much busier on my return. Several pheasants were hiding behind the hedge outside the house. They exploded noisily into the air. I was glad for my gloves and deep pile fleece jacket today. The heavier jacket is much warmer and far more wind resistant than the other. Both are recycled and cost pocket change. 

 After morning coffee I shall have my routine Saturday morning ride. To another shopping village about 12km away. With two competing, supermarket chains we don't have locally. Plus a couple of charity shops.

 I have moved the poorly rubber plant into the room. It has suffered from brown stains on the leaves since purchase. Which was probably a couple of years ago. I liked the plant for its creamy variegation. So I hoped it would improve over time with new leaf growth. 

 The front hall, where it was previously standing. Suffers from large temperature variations and draughts. It was quite sunny but shaded during the summer.  All its new leaves are fine but the original leaves are still ugly.  

 12.25 Back from a 25km ride to the more distant shops. A headwind going but almost effortless return. A female kestrel was hovering at the end of the drive.

 14.15 It has started raining without ever turning to sunshine. 

 I removed the greenhouse pond filter and gave it a clean. Actually more of a repeated rinse. Using rainwater collected in all the buckets outdoors. The pump casing was covered in thick algae but still pumping well. 

 I rescued a few Anacharis elodea plants too and brought them into the indoor aquarium. There are no fish indoors. So I hope the many plants will use up all the build up of fish waste. The goldfish ate every plant in the tank. So I only restocked after they went out to the greenhouse pond.

  It was too expensive to feed them salad plants at weekly intervals! They ate almost all of the plants I put out in the pond too. Except for the Elodea. Which is currently spreading across the gravel in the pond.

 I am still trying to balance the lighting against algae growth in the aquarium. Currently two LED strips on for 12 hours per day. I have recently lifted the lights onto battens. An idea suggested online to combat algae. It spreads the light and simultaneously reduces its intensity.

 The water is crystal clear in both the pond and the aquarium. I have not removed the mini baskets from the plants. Because I planned to double the depth of the gravel. Which would require that I remove all of the plants for this operation. 

 It is presently running on an under-gravel filter. With two airlifts. The tank measures 100x50x50cm for about 250litres. Bought secondhand. I keep meaning to bring two of the smallest goldfish indoors but it has never happened. I will probably buy a couple of small goldfish for company over the winter. Let the others grow on in the pond. 

 A busy boy deserves a good dinner. Sausage, mushrooms, tweggs, tomatoes, beans and a round of toast. All helped down with a buttered roll.

 

  ~o~

31.10.2025 On the road again.

 ~o~

 Friday 31st 44F/6.7C[8.10] Grey. We were promised sunshine!

 Up at 7.30 after drifting for hours. 

 9.30 I was correct in my diagnosis of the Morris engine fault. The low voltage lead feeding the points. I swapped to the replacement obtained during yesterday's ride. Starting is back to normal. Instant with a bit of choke from cold.

 I cleaned the lenses on the security cameras while I was nearby. Spiders like to arrange their webs. To catch all the insects attracted by the four bright diodes at night. The same insects set off multiple hits at night. I may have to turn down the sensitivity to movement.

 15.30 Back from the shops with groceries. Remind me never to go again on a Friday afternoon. The village was packed. With long traffic queues. People parking on the grass verges due to a lack of parking spaces. 

 The supermarkets were packed too. With at least 30 people in each checkout queue. A chap in the supermarket car park was absolutely delighted with the Morris Minor. Which finally behaved itself today. 

 Dinner was cheese on toast with halved cherry tomatoes. I have finally lit the stove.

 

  ~o~

30.10.2025 30km and career criminals.

 ~o~

  Thursday 30th 47F/8.3C [8.10] Another wet and windy day is forecast. It may clear up later. Even with a risk of some sunshine.

 Up at 7am after a fairly quiet night. 68F/20C in the room. It was 71F/22C at bedtime.

 The Ryet saddle looks normal this morning. Further studying of the shape and depth of the complex, porous padding. Suggests it cannot possibly fill with water if exposed to heavy rain. The layered CF texture may simply be wiped dry with a cloth or paper towel.

 I was surprised to discover the saddle still felt wet this morning. This after overnight, unheated, secure storage. It took quite a few seconds to dry the saddle using a dry microfiber cloth.  

 The bike was standing outside in the rain yesterday while I worked on the car. I never thought to protect the saddle from the rain. The rider's body protects the saddle during a wet ride. Provided they remain seated. While the supporting under-tray stops tire spray from reaching the CF padding from below. 

The Moustache e-bike has sturdy, aluminium mudguards. Though the front guard is not long enough to stop spray from reaching the rider's feet. A flap on the front mudguard would help here. Attachment might be an issue. The mudguards are twin wall and very close fitting to the Schwalbe 2.7" x 24" wide tires. Any grit picked up by the tire is noisily dragged around until it is safely ejected. The strange sound can be a bit disconcerting at times. 

 Riding on wet roads, covered in autumn leaf fall, has proved very safe so far. Only riding on very loose gravel feels a bit unsteady in tight turns. Though I have never had any real instability. Largely because I am always careful to avoid accidents. Which might well end my career as a cyclist. Or even deny me my independence. 

 Yet I ride around at far higher average speeds than most ordinary, pedal cyclists. Only fit racers, out training, have ever matched. Or exceeded my cruising speed in Sport mode. I can always call on Turbo mode if needed. Not that it proves anything [at all] to use motor assistance against manual cyclists. I mostly use it for climbing hills when I am tired.

 Holding a higher average speed can make life much more difficult for many other road users. So I am always keeping them in mind and use my handlebar mirror constantly. On today's busy roads anything which extends their exposure on the wrong side of the road. Must be carefully considered. Lives may well be at stake. So I use every opportunity to let them pass safely. Even if it means letting my speed drop. I can always make it up again once they have safely passed.

 Cycle paths are another world. Mixed ability riders on every kind of bike. Hunting grounds for immature, retarded teenagers out to prove their manhood. Overtaking all and everyone. Usually at some illegal speed. On an IC moped at least you'd hear them coming from a mile off. Their illegally noisy exhaust actually helps the cause for safety. 

 On an e-bike nobody can hear them racing towards you. I have watched the young riders. With their shrunken brains fueled on some powerful but legal poison. No hand signals. Zero interest in what is going on around them. Pulling wheelies across a packed supermarket car park. Seriously? Where were they hiding? When the empathy was being handed out at birth. 

 The problem is that blanket rules are handed down to everyone. Even those, like myself, who have many hundreds of thousands of miles of experience. Usually on many kinds of transport. I just watched a YT video about a supercharged EMTB in the US. Where rules already limit where an e-bike may ride. Depending on all the different classes of speed and power. 

 All the complex and often different regulations and speed limits depending on location. Applied across the board and relying on strict adherence or heavy fines. There has been a century of experience with IC powered bikes. Why isn't it the same for e-bikes? Age limits, compulsory training, clear classes, compulsory insurance, instant confiscation of a bike for dangerous behaviour. Helmet rules according to the class of bike.

 Those, with equally shrunken brains on IC bikes, riding at 200mph on public roads, will hopefully kill themselves. Before they destroy whole families. Perhaps it will take AI to limit access to classes of machine. Based on intelligence, maturity, history and mentality. Any fool can afford a stolen bike. They can then ride it any way they like. Or so it seems. Meanwhile blanket restrictions are limiting access and usefulness. All because of a tiny minority of career criminals. 

 8.30 No walk yet. It is tipping down! The garden trees are a riot of autumn colour.

 10.40 Back from a brisk walk. A lot of rain must have fallen overnight. The drives were flooded with almost continuous puddles. There was a cold and strong northwesterly wind. 99% of drivers, who expressed an opinion, said they had never heard of tire spray. So I was forced to the back of the verge with every passing vehicle. To avoid being sprayed from head to foot. The back gardens of the roadside houses were flooded. As was the shelter belt of trees. The drainage beck was swollen to several times its usual width. 

 It brightened up so I went back to checking the Morris distributor. The internal low tension lead to the points is in very poorly condition. It is worn thin from decades of use, but worse: It is earthing itself somehow. So no spark can be generated. I have checked it for continuity in place and disconnected. Every time I put it back in place it earth the contacts to ground.  

 12.25 I replaced the frayed lead with a short length of mains lead. The motor started. I shall see if my Morris Minor specialist can provide a better replacement.

 16.00 Back from a 30km ride to the Morris expert and back again. I rode the first 14km in just under half an hour. 17mph average on a very hilly and twisting route on narrow lanes in Turbo mode. Because he said he was going out. 

 The 28mph/45kph Speed Class limit is the stuff of a fevered imagination for a weaker rider. I rarely see 45kph and that is usually on a long downhill with a following wind. Pedal assistance does not mean sitting like a sat of potatoes, moped or scooter performance! I see them going past all the time. Usually at twice my own speed.

 I now have spares of the major spark components. Just in case I need them. I detoured on the way back. To enjoy the beech forests in their autumn finery. It was really quite windy at times and not particularly warm. Despite the sunshine my hands were cold in the GripGrab gloves. I'll have to find the split mitts. A mass of geese flew low overhead just as I reached the top of a hill. Noisy lot! Lots of minor flooding in the fields. Streams running across the roads and deep puddles everywhere. 

 Dinner was chicken, mushrooms and baked beans. Helped down by a buttered, bread roll. 

 

  ~o~

29.10.2025 Not sheltering in place.

 ~o~

  Wednesday 29th 48F/9C. Quite a bright start but showers and then rain promised. Windy too.

 Up at 7am after a fairly quiet night. 

 First a walk. Then I have to fix the points on the Morris. So I can get to a haircut in the village. I can use my meter to check for continuity and isolation. 

 8.45 Back from a half hour walk. Dry but slightly breezy. No too cold. A solitary brown bird of prey retreated to behind a bank. No tiny guard dog today. So I was able to complete my loop. Traffic heavy but intermittent.

 8.55 Back to working on the car. A red kite came over calling. It seemed to ignore me as it circled overhead.

 11.25 I couldn't solve the problem with the distributor. The dark wire shorted out whatever I did with it. The orange wire from the condenser was fine. So I had to go on the bike. Fortunately it remained dry. So I reached the hairdresser on time. Then bought a couple of carrier bags of groceries at the supermarket afterwards. It is usually possible to slide a full carrier bag into each of the Ortlieb panniers. A cold and stiff headwind coming home. All the lampposts are decorated with council election placards.

  It rained on the Ryet saddle. While I was fiddling with the Morris and getting wet. The mesh looked as if it was full of water. Am I supposed to tip the e-bike into a wheelie to empty it?

 Dinner was a salad. The usual heap but not quite as life changing in its dimensions. Both eggs cracked as I lowered them into the pan. 14 minutes later they promised not to tell anybody. 

 

  ~o~

28.10.2025 22km for points.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 28th 42F/5.6C [7.40] Two, long, wet days with wind ahead. Dry at the moment. Tne room has dropped from 71F at bedtime to 66F this morning. 22-19C.

 Up at 6.40 after another quiet night. 

 7.45-8.05. Cold, blowing a gale and raining. A brisk walk. Two large, dark brown birds of prey were out on the field again. I stayed behind the hedge. One moved further away. The other remained. 

 There was a story in the news about walking and survival rates into old age. The gist of which was walking is good for you. Several YouTube medical "influencers" suggest specific exercises are better. I disagree. There are so many other benefits to walking. Not least getting out of the house. I can see how much more upright I am walking now. After being shocked by my bent appearance in the security cameras.   

 I shall drive to visit my English friend. Gales and rain are no fun at all on a bike.  

 It went well enough on the way there. Then the Morris misbehaved on the way back. With the engine running rough, cutting out and backfiring. I had to stop and try to adjust the points. Which were so tired that it was all but impossible to get any gap at all.

 I rang a contact to ensue he had spares for the distributor. Only to discover the car would not run at all. So I had to change and jump on the e-bike. 22km later I was back home with new points and a rotor. I have a hairdressing appointment tomorrow morning. So I hope to swap the points first. To avoid riding there in the rain.

 18.30 Working in semi-darkness was no fun. The points are in place but the new rotor doesn't fit. The motor turned over fast  but wouldn't fire. I have my doubts about the points gap. I need better light and a feeler gauge. I was working by a feeble LED torch. 

 After a bit of research I think I have earthed one or both internal wires going to the points. Only the bent contact spring should be connected to these wires. Not the support post. The new points had a different arrangement of insulation to the original. The hat shaped, insulating washer wouldn't fit. I'll try pointing it inwards tomorrow. So that the projection passes through both loops. 

 Searching for a decent image of this connection was hopeless. The verbal descriptions on the Morris forums made no sense in the context of the new points I have now. Only the original part. The Haynes manual doesn't help. 

 Dinner was mackerel on toast with tomatoes. I forgot to take a picture. So I borrowed one from the past.

 

 

  ~o~