3.05.2025 Another cupboard?

 ~o~

  Saturday 3rd 46F/7.8C. Overcast. Possible sunshine this morning. Peaking around 14C/57F at 12.00. Rain or showers from lunch time onwards. More breezy from the west than of late.

 Up at 5.40 as I found a new well of sadness in my memories.

 I plan to visit a charity shop in the next village over to the south. Only open on Saturdays. I need groceries from another supermarket outlet. Not present locally. I'll probably make it a ride. 

 I should be tidying up the timber from the observatory but haven't decided what to do with it all yet. Logically I should take a lot of it to the recycling yard. It is riddled with long Torx screws. Which won't come out without the assistance of vice grips. Hours of work to what purpose? A firewood reserve for WW3? 

 8.30 52F/11C. Back from a walk around the fields. As I stepped outside I was surrounded by bird song. They obviously like the mixture of mature, native trees. There was a lot of blossom on the roadside trees. Including pink flowers on a huge apple tree. Presumably grown from a throwaway many years ago. It is the favourite perch for a chaffinch. Every year it is calling as I pass under it. Every year the tree drops hundreds of small apples onto the road.

 The sunshine came and went. The difference in temperature was startling. Yesterday I was sweating and had to remove my jacket. Today it stayed on. As tears rolled down my cheeks from the cold wind. I wanted to put my hands in my pockets too.  

 9.15. Getting the e-bike ready for a ride to the shops. 

 9.30 Off we go.

 12.30 I returned earlier on the bike. Then went out in the car to collect a cupboard for the front hall. Not from a charity shop this time. More of an antique/secondhand shop. I said I would have liked a marble top and he promptly produced just what I needed for size. I was thinking of reducing the fire risk from charging on top of the cupboard. It cost me 300kr. Plus another 100kr for the marble top. About £45 in total. The back is boarded so it must be quite old. No chipboard or hardboard.

 I have to clear two small trolleys out of the way first. To make room for the cupboard. It started raining on the way home. Fortunately the trailer was already fitted with its cover.     

 13.15 Paused for lunch. It has turned very dark. To coincide with my having fitted the shade curtain on the greenhouse. Which robs the living room of light through the southerly windows. 

 15.45 The cupboard is in place in the front hall. Primitive, country furniture style. It weighs a ton! Perfect size. One day I may even paint the wall. And fill the gap between the door frame and wall. And paint the door frame. Or do none of these things. 

 What I did do was wipe the plant leaves. I tried wet, kitchen towel but got through so many I used a dampened dishcloth instead. The leaves were black! It's the nearby stove.

 The new cupboard really needs something sitting on top. I tried an aspidistra but it's too big and clumsy. The rubber plant needs indirect light and seems happy in its present corner. Though it crowds the Monstera. 

 I think it looks a bit too tall here but is a gorgeous plant.  It hides the ugly electricity meter and fuse-box. Or draws attention to it! I might try to find a smaller plant for this situation. Something bushier?

 This hall gets afternoon sun but is filtered by the shade net in summer. The left side door in the hall is usually curtained. So the light is very even and shielded from direct sunlight.

 A plant in a smaller pot and upright habit will allow more room. For a battery charger on the top of the cupboard. I have been searching online for south facing window plants. Nothing has really excited me so far. I'll know it when I see it.

 I dare not move the pretty plant from the kitchen. Not after losing leaves to browning and dropping at short intervals since purchase. It finally seems happy on top of the oven cabinet. Warm but no direct sunlight. Not much light at all! I'll have a look in the village garden centre tomorrow. 

 Dinner was another weird omelette. Whisked eggs poured over fried chicken and mushrooms. 

 8.15 It has become chilly indoors. 64F/17.8C. So I have lit the stove. 

 

  ~o~