18.03.2025 Brambles and raking the pond.

 ~o~

 Tuesday 18th 32F/0C. A sunny morning, reaching almost 7C after lunch. Rather breezy from the west. A white frost on the car.

 Up at 7am after lying awake from 2-4am. The air felt cold in the night though I was comfortable under my down duvet. Currently 61F/16C in the room. Stove lit. 68F/20C at bedtime. Though the stove had gone out.

 I shall be driving to visit my English friend after an extended lull due to flu. He caught it before I did. Which doubled the period for our recovery. 

 I could ride there but am put off by the relatively low temperatures. It is almost 30km each way. Depending on the route I take. A longer duration in the saddle with no chance to warm up on the way. All routes are delightful. As they pass through undulating, rural countryside. 

 8.15 Time for a walk.

 8.45 Just another tour around the spray tracks on the fields. The wind was cold on my hands. Flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings were moving about on the fields. Skylarks overhead. The traffic was very busy and noisy.

 I have just paid for the Nyon anti-theft service. I had no idea if I was still registered. The Connect app is just circling endlessly after I agreed to all permissions and paid online.

 13.00 Returned from visiting my friend. The wind has increased and it feels cold. I shopped on the way home. 

I spent half an hour raking the fibreglass dish pond clear of leaves. The bottom was solid with fallen leaves. Fortunately the rake cannot damage the fibreglass. As it might with a rubber membrane, pond liner. It is important to allow anything removed from the pond to lie nearby. So that any wildlife can safely return to the sanctuary of their home. 

 The down pipe from the front gutter on the house has now been extended over to the pond. Not very pretty but it will soon raise the water level if it rains. The area of the roof being so much larger than that of the pond. Burying the pipe would not take more than about half an hour. After that I went back to attacking the brambles. I am making steady progress.

 Dinner was a fry-up. Of chicken, brown mushrooms and tweggs.

 

  ~o~