16.06.2025 It's all happening.

 ~o~

  Monday 16th 55F/12.8C [6.30] Overcast but sunshine promised.

 Up at 5.30 after quiet night.  

 8.10 Back from a short walk. The traffic had returned to normal. The wild roses and elders are in full flower. No sign of the deer hiding on the back field. Perhaps it was disturbed by the noisy building workers. 

 11.00 Back from a tootle in the Morris to another village. We visited a flea market and antique dealer. Unfortunately there was nothing to interest either of us into buying something. We looked into a large charity shop in the village on the way home.

 15.00 69F/21C. Back from a tootle to Middelfart to collect my fiberglass, greenhouse pond/industrial container. About an hour each way. It was sunny and windy and very warm in the car. Very pleasant blokes at the warehouse. Friendly and very helpful.   

 The two of us easily lifted the tub into the trailer on its side. Where it was laid on cushions for cosmetic protection. Then constrained with heavy duty, ratchet straps. No discernible problem driving home. I had feared a crosswind might have caused lift. I didn't notice anything unusual. Even while  traveling up to 80kph [50mph.] To avoid slowing the traffic.

 In my absence my guest had washed one hundred china cats. Then arranged them more tastefully in the corner display cabinet. Checking back to pictures of my wife's collection, in the single cabinet, suggested that most of them never saw the light of day. I am most grateful to my guest for her incredible patience. Her sorting and display skills were far more attractive and easier on the eye than my own. The image of the cats drying on the table does not include about 30, larger, china cats.

 Back at home I carefully dragged the tub off the trailer without difficulty. Then had my guest arrange and move an old blanket to protect the rim. As I maneuvered the tub across the gravel drive. Before letting it fall [temporarily] over the privet in front of the greenhouse. The huge tub was by no means too heavy [at around 50kg] to move easily. Ironically, its sheer size gave plenty of leverage and control. 

 It was an illusion that the tub would not pass through the greenhouse, double sliding doors. There should be a couple of centimeters clearance with the tub resting on its long side. I shall put down the old cushions to protect the rim from scuffing on the bricks and aluminium door frame.   

 Dinner was fish fingers, peas and chips. I had never needed to cook this meal for two. So I learned something from using two oven trays on two shelves with the oven fan going. The chips were less crunchy for being on the bottom shelf. While the fish fingers were slightly more crispy than usual. Due to their being in closer proximity to the grill. 

 My chips are often too crispy to allow themselves to be stabbed by a fork. Because I surround the fish fingers with chips on a single tray. Middle of the oven, fan on. A shorter heat might achieve the same results. A woodpecker arrived on an old garden tree as we ate. This plum tree has grown too big and too old. So is slowly dying. An ideal restaurant for a woodpecker.

 

  ~o~