25.07.2025 Sans bolts!

 ~o~

  Friday 25h 63F/17.2C. Bright overcast. Expected to remain grey all day. Possible early showers. Peaking at 20C/68F.

 Up at 5:55:55 after a quiet night. I deliberately swapped to a cup of tea after dinner instead of coffee. 

 7.00 I need some 16mm galvanized, or stainless steel, nuts and bolts. If I am to continue with the carport. That probably means a ride to a slightly more distant builders merchant. The nearest at 10km carries very little stock in the way of fasteners. The other is well furnished. With a vast range of nuts and bolts. Though it is a pleasant and hilly, 32km/20 mile round trip. If I use this as an excuse for a ride. It will eat up a lot more time. Than going in the Morris. 

 7.30-8.00 A short walk. Traffic quiet. Well, more like noisy but well separated. I didn't notice any birds singing this morning. 

 10.50 Back from both builders merchants. Neither had M16 bolts. 

 I tootled around the carport after lunch. Straightening up the foundation blocks and backfilling. With self-stabilizing gravel well tamped down.  I tried the high left jack on the carport roof. It was no problem lifting it but it was very unstable.

 Dinner was mackerel on toast with fresh tomatoes.

After dinner the lady from the village requested my help with a minor repair. So I drove round to her place. Job successfully completed.

  ~o~

 

24.07.2025 Putting your foot down.

 ~o~

  Thursday 24th 65F/18.3C [7.00] Overcast, with a mixed forecast. Sunshine and showers. Possibly thundery. Clearing slowly.

 Up at 6.15 after waking earlier and dozing. 

 7.40-8.10 A shorter walk in light traffic. Dry, mild and humid. 

 12.30 74F/23.3C Mostly hot sunshine. I have scraped an area of granite chippings. To clear down to the self-stabilizing gravel beneath. There followed a sweaty excavation of minimum dimensions. To allow the foundation block to be safely lowered. 

 The stainless steel adapter plate provides a useful handhold. For supporting the block as it is carefully lowered. To avoid dislodging any gravel. I dug with a spade at first but then resorted to smaller tools. To ensure the hole grew no larger as it deepened. I used my gloved hand to remove the loosened gravel. Which was placed on the scrap plywood nearby. To ensure the granite stayed as clean as possible. 

 Replacing the granite chippings will raise the ground surface level. So I want to leave some of the concrete block protruding. I'll leave the backfilling until the second block is leveled. It might be useful to use post hole concrete as the backfill. To expand the footprint and increase the resistance against wind lift. The rough surface of the excavation adds tremendously to friction against the concrete in the hole. 

 After lunch I shall move onto digging a hole for the next block. On the same side of the carport. The laser level will be useful to match the block heights accurately. The holes for the two blocks, on the other side, cannot be dug yet. Not until the carport roof has been moved across. Their siting presently lies under the carport roof. I have scrap plywood tracks for the temporary rollers. Which allows easy, lateral movement of the heavy, carport roof.

 14.30 73F/23C. Overcast and getting darker. Dripping with sweat! Second hole almost to depth. Using the first drops of rain as an excuse to come in for a rest. It didn't come to anything. The gravel is still dry.

 16.00 76F/24.4C Dry and sunny. Heavy thundery showers just beyond my location to east and west. Cloudbursts have caused local flooding not far away. I am going back out with the laser level.

 16.40 Now level and the correct distance from each other and parallel with the shed alongside. 

 Dinner was a salmon pasty, peas, tomatoes and mashed potatoes. 

  ~o~

23.07.2025 Carport feet.

 ~o~

  Wednesday 23rd 62F/16.7C. Overcast and breezy. A mixed forecast of early showers and possible sunshine. The whole area is subject to a flood warning due to streams and rivers overflowing their banks. I can't say yesterday's rain seemed record breaking but I wasn't out in it. I stayed indoors all day. The security cameras showed that even the local cats were sheltering elsewhere. Their normal perambulations were totally absent.

  Up at 4.50 after sinking into a string of unpleasant memories.

 7.00 It could go on raining lightly for another hour. I'm going for a walk.  

 7.30 The drizzle was being blown by the breeze. Very quiet this morning. No warbles singing but I heard numerous wrens. 

 The morning was spent packing a very large parcel, weighing it [at 20kg] and prepaying for delivery. Then off to a parcel drop-off centre and doing a bit of shopping while I was there. 

 After lunch I made a trial assembly of a foundation block, adapter plate and carport leg. If I use doubled nuts on the 16mm foundation block stud [threaded rod] they can become lock nuts. 

 Which will allow me to adjust the height of each leg independently after the event. If one or more legs should sink over time. Easily checked with the laser level. Before and after erection of the carport. There is a threaded insert cast into the tops inside the blocks. Experience suggests the threads be greased to resist rusting. 

 The adapter plates will be just above ground level. Hidden beneath the galvanized feet of the legs. Once the blocks are buried in the self-stabilizing gravel. My experience in lifting all 24 concrete blocks from the former observatory. Is that they hold remarkably well as ground anchors.  

 I struggled to lift some of them using the high lift "farmers" jack. All thanks to their gentle taper. Which would force the hard ground to expand away from the blocks. Should they try to lift in a storm. I shall tamp the gravel tightly around the blocks as they are back filled in their individual excavations.

 The generous dimensions of the blocks resists sinking under load. The blocks are 16x16cm square at the top. 18x18cm at the bottom and 50cm high. 

 I may buy new 100mm x 16mm galvanized bolts instead of using studding off-cuts. Which would simplify the lift and lower, leveling system further. By removing the need for double [locked] nuts above the plates. Requiring just doubled nuts below. [as shown] There would never be any chance of the locked nuts above becoming accidentally loose. While hidden, out of reach, inside the carport legs.

 Dinner was sardines on toast with halved tomatoes. 

 

 

 ~o~

 

22.07.2025 Carport footplates delivered!

 ~o~

  Tuesday 22nd 60F/15.6C [6.35] Heavy overcast with continuous heavy rain forecast. Increasing in intensity until 22.00 tonight. When 14mm per hour is possible. Cloudbursts are embedded in the near stationary deluge with the potential for flooding. The rain continuing but steadily diminishing overnight and tomorrow. South east Denmark had a Double Cloudburst of 77mm yesterday. That's 3" in olde monie.

 Up at 6.00 after a fairly quiet night.

 I have had two, identical, email notifications, from FedEx, at two different email addresses. With contradicting dates for delivery. The latest [by 7 minutes] remains unchanged and the parcel is out for delivery today. The same as the two email notifications yesterday. The earlier mail [by seven minutes] says tomorrow delivery. So? On which day do I stay in all day? In anticipation of non-delivery. Eeny meany miny mo.   

 10.20 Yet another email saying out for delivery today. [Before 18.00!]  

 10.30 My parcel was just delivered! And, he cleverly turned his box van around on the parking space! Very pleased indeed with the packaging, presentation and quality of the workmanship. 21 days from first contact to delivery. Including several weekends. This included shearing four plates to size from unscratched stock and drilling five fairly large holes per plate.    

 I am expecting a visit from my English friend later. Once he gets rid of his latest B&B guests. He has a cut-off time. By which his guests should have left. To make room for the next "victims" of his warm and well polished hospitality. The bedding must be changed and the rooms thoroughly cleaned. He has developed an efficient system but is at the mercy. Of tardy guests who won't leave on time. To be rude to guests, in order to be rid of them on time, might cause his excellent rating to become tarnished. So it's a fine balance between etiquette, diplomacy and recalcitrant hangers on.  

 We have been joking about the need for flotation devices on his car in today's torrential rain We shall not be sitting out in my capacious, Halls Silverline, lean-to greenhouse. All 22' x 8' of it. The "automatic sprinkler system" is working all too well today. In other words: It is leaking all over! 

 I never took the option of using silicone. To seal the long, roof panes. In case of a storm breakage. We had one early on! Silicone would have made it all but impossible to remove the broken pane! Halls introduced new rubber strip seals at one point. However the cost and difficulty of total renewal made it a complete non-starter. 

 How do you reach the roof from outside to remove the glass clips? It would need overhanging scaffolding! Cheap cherry pickers weren't a thing 30 year ago. I have never been able to access the leaking house gutter, rubber joints. For exactly the same reason. The rood slope means I'd need a ladder 15 meters long to lie fat on the roof.  

 The greenhouse skylights are the worst offenders. Even when closed. Sieve and constantly leaking are the most appropriate terms here. The rainwater gets inside and then runs down the undersides of the sloping roof spars. To drip randomly on everything below. I haven't yet found suitably narrow, mini-gutters. To direct the flow safely to the front, inside wall. 

 I quickly discarded the white, lightweight tarpaulins of my late wife's, tyrannical reign out there. They were impossible to fix high enough to avoid my head constantly rubbing against the chalky undersides. They didn't stop the heat getting in either. Once inside the glass the UV converts to the now familiar infra red. To which glass [and Earth's atmosphere] are opaque.

 Halls sell these greenhouses as a pleasant place to sit out in comfort. Which might be true. If the temperature did not swing wildly between -6C and +40C! That it is intolerable to sit [or stand] under bare glass with the merest hint of sunshine. No matter how much they may heavily bribe the decorative models in their brochures.  

 Plus the aforementioned, completely free, completely automatic, hydroponic watering system. It works even in the lightest of dew. I strongly suggest your visit to a Halls greenhouse display is done on a hot day. Or a very wet one. Don't be fooled by the open doors. It WILL constantly steam up inside if closed. Soar in temperature in sunshine. 

 Except in winter. When you will struggle to gain any warmth [whatsoever] from opening the doors to the house. This trick only works in mild weather in spring and autumn. Free winter heat would require double glazing and proper sealing to the house. Hall's missed a trick in not selling sou'westers, wellies, down jackets and umbrellas. With their own designer logo.  

 I had a letter from the UK demanding proof of life to continue receiving my pension. A "prepaid" business envelope was provided. For use within the UK only. It didn't even have the name of the country printed on it. This is for an exclusively foreign living client base. So it cost me 50kr [minimum charge] from the Danish Post Office. To send the letter back to Gravely Blighted. 50 Danish kroner is £5.81. 

 It would never happen in Denmark. Where, for years, everything has been done online. All thanks to everybody having a national ID and secure websites. The plebs in the UK are terrified of having an official ID. For completely paranoid reasons. Only to carry a driving license, bank and payment cards and a phone. Not to mention and a passport while on holiday. 

 In Denmark the ID card [National Insurance Card] is the pass too all the official services. It is of course conveniently identical in size and shape to all your other plastic cards. Bank, driving license, residence permit, etc. It's uses include the health services of course. 

 You log in by swiping your card at the machine in reception. The same for appointments in the hospitals. Or the town hall. Where lots of public services are concentrated. A quick swipe and it welcomes you by name. Without needing to queue at the receptionist's window. It will often tell you precisely where to go to wait for service. Any relevant messages and reminders can be shown on the machine's screen. 

 You don't like being followed around digitally? Do you still pay cash for everything? Your bank card can identify you and your precise location. At any time of day or night anywhere in the world. Whenever you make a payment. Are you still using a landline to make all your phone calls? Do you watch TV streaming services? Do you always wear a mask out of doors? So the millions of security cameras can't identify you.

 My apologies for my wittering on. I am stuck indoors with rain falling steadily. I just realised that I can use the carport as a well lit, sheltered workshop. Great for my power tools in all weathers. When, I finally get the carport to stand up. That's if it isn't already filled to the gunnels with junk!

 12.30 61F/16C Raining hard. Easily visible against the dark background of trees through the windows. My friend has just left. 

 Dinner will be sausage, mushrooms and an egg. Too much fried food! 

   

 ~o~

21.07.2025 Definitely Ark weather.

 ~o~

  Monday 21st 64F/17.8C [5.30] Overcast and raining. Category 2 warning of extreme rainfall. Localized and thundery cloudbursts over the next two days could lead to local flooding. A weather system will stall over the country. A month's worth of rain [for July] could fall in two days.

 75F/24C in the room. Wide awake, so I got up at 4.45. Sweating under the light, summer duvet. I had already removed my t-shirt in the night. 

 7.30 The band of rain [heavy in places] has already moved north east away from our area. 

 8-845 A walk. Almost no traffic until later. My back wasn't hurting today and my posture was more upright. In the security cameras. Modesty prevents further exposure. The baling of the field at the lane junction is complete. They just need to collect the last of them and take them to dry storage. I saw two Black kites bombing each other. There was no sign of aggression. More like they were playing. 

 New project: I have been ignoring the surrounding gable end of the bedroom window I fitted. The wind-stop paper I used around the window is steadily deteriorating. It is supposed to be covered. I have tons of grooved plywood and the necessary tools. 

 First I need some aluminium flashing to protect the cement block sill below the window cutout. More flashing to go under the window itself. To throw the rain over the top of the plywood panel below. 

 The upper half of the gable end was covered in the same grooved plywood that I used for the observatory. The original panels were already painted white when we bought the place. Now 30 years ago. Ideally I would cover the entire gable end again. Above the sill level.   

 The heavy rain warning has been raised to extreme Category 3. For the first time ever! Locally this could result in 100-150mm [4-6"] of rainfall. My own location is just on the lower edge of the danger area. Though still category 2 with up to 80mm.[Over 3" locally.]  

    Today's rain is supposed to start at about 16.00. Though we seem to be uniquely favoured. Because we are lying in the path of a hole in the rain clouds as they head north. The rain may forget to stop until Wednesday night. 

 I hope that drainpipe under the neighbour's embankment/drive can manage the sheer quantity of water being dumped onto the surrounding fields. The entire eastern slope of the hill up to the summit forest. Drains downhill to the area where the stream runs to the west of my garden.

  There has always been a marshy quality to the field to the north of Chez Hovel. In the past the back field would regularly flood. Usually because the iron drain cover was blocked by weeds and woody debris. Brought down by the stream. Which runs through woods. 

 I haven't really noticed any rain. Dinner was cheese on toast, tomatoes and Heinz tomato soup. 

 

  

  ~o~

20.07.2025 40km. To trike or not to trike?

 ~o~

  Sunday 20th 67F/19.4C [7.45] Wall to wall sunshine promised. Peaking at 27C/81F. Risk of thundery showers later. South easterly wind. 

 One minute it was 4 o'clock. The next it was 7am. Where do I queue for a refund for my missing three hours?

 A warm and sunny day demands another ride. Some rain will fall every day in the next week. The traffic is lighter on Sundays. But where shall I go? 

 I had the crazy idea to go for a ride on my trike. A quick tour down the drive and back confirmed I could still ride it. The skinny Schwalbe Durano tires quickly responded to the track pump. 

 The problem was the riding position. While the dropped handlebars are just above the saddle height. My nose felt as if it was rubbing on the front tire. While my hands were on the brake hoods. I have an ultra-short stem and the reach still feels extreme! With my bum sticking up in the air. Though it certainly isn't. The snap taken from the security camera shows I am very upright indeed! I cannot tolerate much weight on my hands any more.

 I should have had the trike converted to straight bars. When I had planned to. Unfortunately the Morris was playing up badly at the time. With the engine regularly cutting out. Demanding several, emergency rescues. So I had to cancel my appointment with the LBS in Assens. I tried fitting the Moustache handlebars but all the cables were far too short. With no idea if they would even work with road brifters. Millimeters cable pull, per click etc.

 In the past I would have just ordered all the parts online and done the job myself. Without a second thought. I never needed the help of a bike shop mechanic until recently. Now I seem to have fallen behind the times on gear and braking technology. I understand there is a poor crossover between MTB and Road gear. With electrical, mechanical and/or hydraulics all adding to the complexity. 

 I am running 2x11 speed Campag Ergo racing levers on dropped [racing] bars. So have no real idea how to adapt these to straight bars and probably all new Shimano kit. Which brakes? The doubled, Tektro TT brakes' cable pull is probably all wrong for straight bar levers and changers. 

 Then there is the matter of choosing cassettes. The Trykit rear axle loop has limited room for today's larger sprockets. 36 teeth from distant memory. Though the number of gears is not a problem on the universal cassette carrier. Nominally Shimano. Not the smaller Campag. 

 I seriously doubt that the Reynolds 953, stainless steel, front fork knows how to accept a modern disk brake. Could it cope with the unexpected loads? It would be fun to have a hub motor up front. 

 9.00 72F/22C. So it's back to the e-bike for the moment. Having wasted another 45 minutes waffling. Instead of getting ready. The spare battery has been on charge all morning. And no, I still haven't decided where to go! There are so many choices and I have been everywhere within reach. At least a dozen times. Perhaps hundreds.

 9.30 I've had a shower and dressed in my best bibs. Greased the chamois, morning coffee. Now it has clouded over and the hedges are moving. A foolish thought about riding to a more distant flea market has been cancelled. They are closed today.

 10.00 Finally ready!  

 12.35 78F/26C. Back from a 50km ride. I headed west for a change. A route full of nostalgia. Places we went together frequently in the car. It was warm but the wind increased steadily. I had the lanes almost to myself. Though there were quite a few cyclists and even joggers about.

 16.30 77F/25C. Back from a 3 carrier bag, grocery shopping drive to the village. Quite busy in the supermarkets. Hot in the car!

 Dinner was fried organic sausages, mushrooms, tweggs and tomatoes. Finished off with a bread roll. I washed up while it cooked.

9.30 70F/21C. There is a category 2 warning for very heavy rain tomorrow and Tuesday. Up to 80mm or over 3" of rain is possible! I have closed up the greenhouse. It would normally have the doors and skylights open to cool off. It is 76F/24.4C in the room. Now I have to take two wheely bins along the drive.

  

  ~o~

19.07.2025 40km.

 ~o~

  Saturday 19th 59F/15C [5.30] A sunny day is promised after a misty start. Peaking at 26C/80F.

 Up at 4.45 after an unusually quiet night. 

 6.25 Going for a walk. 

 7.25 Back from a walk up to the forest on the hill. I saw two deer on the climb. [Left of centre in image right] Then I descended via the edge of the harvested fields. Once closed hedgerows are now open. I could feel yesterday's ride in my calves. Which is unusual. Though it didn't affect my progress. 

 The neighbor's cat was in the drive. I see it wandering in my graveled yard all night on the security cameras. It usually runs away but remained in place today. As I stopped to chat with it.

 9.30 Going for a ride. 

 12.30 Back from an enjoyable 40km ride. The rural, electrical goods shop, where I bought my three kitchen appliances, has closed. Their website is still up. I had enjoyed a circuitous route along the lanes to get there. 

 Another warm day with no wind. So I did some light shopping in two further villages and then headed home. I was suffering from saddle soreness towards the end. [Of the ride.] 

  I have just discovered that the Nyon E-bike Connect App hasn't connected [Synced] to my phone since May 1st! Bosch reliability? Yeah, right!  

 17.00 My latest attempt to reduce my already low sugar intake has failed abysmally. I bought a second jar of organic peanut butter with a different label. To replace my twice a day [50% fruit] orange marmalade on a bread roll. Only to discover that this peanut butter was not to my taste either. Any more than all previous trials. I wonder if my neighbours like the stuff? 

 One of my "wholegrain" bread rolls was half the size of normal. As hard as rocks, obviously damaged and green with mould. My guess is that it had lodged in the machinery somewhere and remained there. Until it fell out unnoticed. Onto the packing belt.  

 Or, they have a worker with a chip on their shoulder. Recent variations in roll size, from the same label, suggest more than one unhappy soul works there. Perhaps the management is filling in for the regular staff. While they are all on the annual industrial holiday.

 Dinner was mackerel on toast with halved tomatoes. I forgot to take any pictures.

  

  ~o~

18.07.2025 69km before lunch.

 ~o~

  Friday 18th 68F/20C [8.00] Bright sunshine. Sunny morning promised. With thundery showers after lunch. It could peak at 25C/77F at 14.00.

 Up at 6.50. Going without coffee after dinner didn't seem to help. I blame the lettuce!

 I am planning a modest ride. Rather than a walk. It is already late [8.15] for a walk. With the threat of cloudbursts after lunch. 

 8.30-12.30 A 67km ride towards the north. I visited the various roads. Now reopened after the high speed rail work. Various new bridges and cuttings show the variations in level. There is still much work to do. To make up the ground and provide a firm base for the track. 

 I had a nice chat, in Danish, with a German lady. As we stood at the bike rack outside a supermarket. She had lived in Denmark for 60 years to my near thirty. She was loading her e-bike panniers with lots of shopping. At 87 years old she had covered 8000km in the last year. Obviously highly intelligent and in great shape for her age. She could have passed for years younger. Despite her white hair.   

 Later I stopped at a private garage flea-market in a village. The gentleman had an e-bike and a Tesla. He was working on a very large, identical Tesla RC model car. We had a chat about e-bikes and Teslas. 

 After that I carried on riding. Just following my nose and choosing lanes at a whim. The battery was down to 22% from 87% on leaving. I hadn't really meant to to ride so far but the conditions were perfect for cycling. No wind, warm and mostly sunny. Despite a sky full of bright, white clouds.

 13.00 77F/25C. Lunch. It is still sunny. Not a hint of thunderstorms yet.

 14.40 First thunder as the sky went black.

 The steel adapter plates I ordered for the carport feet are on their way.

 15.45 First and heavy rain after numerous thunderclaps. 

 Dinner was a salmon pasty and chips with peas. Don't panic! I added the brown sauce after the photo session.

 
 

 ~o~

 

17.07.2025 Under a cloud.

 ~o~

  Thursday 17th 62F/16.7C [6.30] Overcast with early rain forecast. Possibility of some sunshine later. Which will allow me to test my solar telescope.

 Up at 6am. I am feeling stronger today. 

 I was awake earlier. Repeatedly rehearsing the lifting of the carport. I even made some very useful progress. In my head. Based on past experience lifting heavy items for the observatory. 

 I'll make an A-frame using two, folding builders ladders. Then use my chain hoist at the top. To tilt the roof up enough. To fit the first pair of legs. As advised in the instructions. I have two short but sturdy industrial stepladders. To support the roof safely as required as it comes up to the correct angle. 

 The next lift will bring the whole thing upright. To allow me to fit the last two legs. This is still a challenge. I am not sure the A-frame will be high enough. Or if any of my Japanese tripod stepladders are up to the task. I don't see why not. They must be designed to support heavy users. Or even multiple idiots. Who would see it as a bit of fun. To have more than one person climb up there at a time. Perhaps to share a job at height.

 Once the first pair of legs is safely fitted the geometry steadily changes. The structure becoming increasingly supported by the first pair of legs. Which lightens the load on the hoist by degrees. Until the legs are fully upright. When the load on the hoist is theoretically halved. Ladders or stepladders can be used at intervals. As extra safety props if needed. I am still waiting to receive the adapter plates for the carport feet. Which I ordered online. 

 7.15. The early rain hasn't shown up yet. Time for a walk? The front field looks like set aside.

 The neighbour's tiny guard dog wouldn't let me pass. Until she came out and grabbed the dog. The warblers are still singing in the roadside trees.

 I was outside looking through my solar telescope. It was so cloudy I decided to hack down the prickly hedge. It needed a chainsaw and heavy duty loppers. I dragged lots of branches away but there are still plenty left.

 13.15 The afternoon is less cloudy and consequently more sunny. I removed the cut branches to the far end. Beyond the graveled area.

 6.50 72F/22C. Rather than prepare dinner I rebelled and whipped round with the mower. The drive wasn't too bad on 7 but the western lawn stalled the mower repeatedly even on 10! Batteries back on charge. Not sure I'll bother doing any more tonight. The lawn is basically navigable. That'll do for today. 

 It will have to be salad for dinner. I forgot to buy tinned tuna. It will be raw [tinned] sardines. First time ever. It was fine.

  ~o~

16.07.2025 Excused boots.

 ~o~

  Wednesday 16th 58F/14C [7.50] Overcast with the unsettled, thundery showers continuing. My friend had 35mm of rain yesterday. My rain gauge cracked in a winter frost. So I did not record anything useful. Replacements measuring cylinders are available at low cost. Why haven't I bought one? Another roundtoit.

 Up after 7.am following an awful night. As the gnawing stomach pain continued I started feeling horribly dizzy in the evening. So I went to bed early. More heart pains as I kept my eyes tight shut to stop the room from spinning. There is a definite connection between an upset stomach and the dizziness. Which is receding but may only be hiding. I feel decidedly fragile. As I wobble about like an old man. Though I managed my morning bowl of organic porridge oats with organic raisins. 

 8.15 Do I feel strong enough for a walk? No. A shame. I really wanted to see how professionals lay gravel.

 10.00 Weak sunshine. I was feeling a bit better. So I was just making my morning coffee roll with marmalade. When I realised that the organic vegetable spread. Which I use as a butter substitute. Has to be kept cold. It is often above 21C/70F in the kitchen. Where I keep the "Block" on the worktop for several days. To make it easier to spread. The very reason I stopped using butter from the fridge.

 It has to be kept in the fridge from now on! Below 8C/46F. For some reason I had imagined the veggie base somehow made it safe. Simply because it wasn't based on animal products. Silly old wotsit! Have I just poisoned myself again? That was the last of the pack just now. There were many others before that. All sitting on the worktop. Even catching the sun and melting! 

 I just had a Gargoyle on the subject. There is a direct connection between an upset stomach and vertigo. I had noticed that each time I was extremely dizzy I had diarrhea and/or severe "gas." The cause was most likely the upset stomach. [Mild food poisoning?] Not some imaginary, inner ear problem. 

 There is also a connection between heart problems and bad stomachs. Heart attacks can disguise themselves as, or result from upset stomachs. I had bad indigestion. The morning before I was taken to hospital. With the ambulance blue lights flashing. 

 I hereby nominate UPS as the worst service of any kind, anywhere in the universe, in the entire history of the universe. UPS is clearly run by drooling fuckwits/and or psychopaths. Alternatively they are all working undercover for another company. To deliberately undermine UPS delivery and customer services. Never, ever accept UPS as a potential delivery service. Not for the tiniest thing. It will almost certainly shorten your life by several years!

You thought the CIA was spying on you? Try getting the UPS delivery app! If you live long enough to complete their ten page questionnaire! 

 I have just wasted the petrol for a 24 km round trip to one of their more distant parcel box vending machines. Not the one I asked for, of course. But hey, UPS is involved. Aided and abetted by Bring. You know Bring. The parcel delivery service. Which employs only drivers with huge chips on their shoulders and psychotic, lifelong, family grudges. Backed up by office staff with huge chips on their shoulders. And I am sorry but I don't understand any Indian language spoken in Engliandish at 700 words per minute! 

 Don't even bother to turn up at one of these machines if you haven't previously completed the multi-marathon UPS app acceptance speech to the UN and had it personally signed by Chump and Pootin. It will always assume you are an existing customer. One who simply enjoys being fucked about by a bunch of serial losers! 

 I'll be back. 😎

 16.00 I'm back. 48km and the second round trip came within an atom of failing. I hadn't brought my scanning tunneling microscope to read the sub-nano script on the shiny glass, UPS screen. The information on the screen made no sense until I touched the screen. Though there was no prompt to do so and it lead to a long delay. Before a notice saying "Technical problem. Come back another day,week, month, decade, whatever!" popped up. 

 Fortunately I had a pair of supermarket, extra strong, reading glasses gathering dust in the car. Which. When placed over my existing prescription reading glasses. Allowed me make a wild guess as to the near invisible hieroglyphs on the screen.

 In desperation I tried an impromptu scan and was rewarded with a "PING" as a drawer popped open quite unexpectedly. So I must have done something completely wrong. There is no way UPS would let me have my parcel using their own procedures. 

The tiny O-rings I had ordered from Germany must have been delivered by mobile crane and multi-wheel low loader. Complete with police escort. All I can say is that it was lucky I wasn't on my bike! I've seen smaller wind surfing kites. All the effort and expense will now prove worthless. In the face of insurmountable mechanical problems with the optics of my solar telescope. Which has nothing whatsoever to do with the pneumatic seal provided by the O-rings. Sigh. 😣

 16.30 70F/21C. I might risk a cup of tea and a marmalade roll. With a fresh block of <cough> "Block" from the fridge. Which, because it has been frozen to below 3C. Will have a Brinnel Hardness approaching that of granite. It's alright though. Apparently I have plenty of time to waste on spreading butter substitutes. 

 Well, I just wasted a whole afternoon fetching a parcel. So it must be true. I just wish I had gone on my bike. The blast radius of my cursing UPS would have taken out half the village! I'll cut out the middle man if it ever happens again. I'll take an oxy-acetylene burner!

 Back at home I changed the O-rings and assembled the telescope. Before taking it outside and mounting it on the tripod. IT was bright but the sky was almost opaque. With total, uniform, cloud cover. So I will have to wait until tomorrow to try again.

 Dinner was fried chicken, mushrooms, an egg and halved tomatoes. Making sure the egg was well cooked. I added half a tin of baked beans to make it look like a meal. To be finished off with a bread roll. Pudding was an organic apple and a glass of water.  

 NO coffee! It is a diuretic and will keep me awake. 
 NO coffee! It is a diuretic and will keep me awake. 
 NO coffee! 

 

  ~o~

15.07.2025 Oh the pain!

 ~o~

  Tuesday 15th 60F/15.6C [6.00] Overcast and very misty.  Scattered showers. Thundery cloudbursts possible. 18mm or 3/4" of rain is forecast just after lunch.

 Up at 5am. Wide awake.

 My English friend is visiting later. 

 7.10-45 My walk. It was surprising how much damage yesterday's downpour did to the neighbour's sloping drive. It was fine on my last walk there. Deep ruts cut in the loose gravel only a day later. It consists of asphalt road scrapings. Which has poor cohesion between particles.

 I stopped to watch a contractor leveling my other neighbours' huge, graveled yard. He was using a Cat, tracked, mini bulldozer with a Smart Blade. Which has add-on wheels at the front. Presumably to flatten the ground better than the much shorter wheelbase of the prime mover. 

 It reminded me of using a long plane to flatten wavy wood. Though a much longer wheelbase and much shallower cut would probably have helped. At least where the ground level was concerned. Says the know it all!  He was probably doing a first distribution of the huge piles of gravel. Recently dumped by massive tipper trucks. Those interested will find a dozen videos on YouTube explaining and illustrating the Cat system. It is actually very sophisticated. With laser leveling and GPS aiding automation. Even via a phone app. It can level to within a few millimeters.

 8.00 First sunshine. 

 11.00 My friend brought cakes and we chatted for over a couple of hours. 

 13.45 There was a delay before the rain arrived. The radar showed we were in a dry hole. Surrounded by heavy rain. 

 14.00 I am having pain over my heart after eating a late lunch. Just the usual bread rolls. I just checked my blood pressure: 128/95 78bpm. A sugar bomb from eating two Danish pastries earlier? I'll check my BP again after a suitable pause. The rhythm is unusually fast and very odd. With double beats. +5 more minutes 121/90 80bpm. +5m more 123/74 79bpm. 106/72 87bpm. This is after sitting quietly for 20 minutes. +5min 104/69 76. The pain has stopped. I have had a sore throat for two days. Relevance? A stomach ache all day. 

 No dinner. I am still suffering from gnawing stomach pains. Which started first thing this morning. Went off and came back again after lunch. It is over 70F/21C in the room but I am feeling cold. I had to put a warm jacket on.

 

  ~o~

14.07.2025 Just another Monday.

 ~o~

 Monday 14th  60F/15.6C [6.45] Bright but cloudy. With scattered showers later. Thunderstorm and cloudburst warning from 11.00 until late afternoon.

 Up at 6.15 after an odd night. I was doing well until 2am and was then wide awake for long periods. 

 7.00 Time for a walk. 

 7.10 I am readying for my walk but it is becoming darker and darker. I shall just have to wear my rain jacket again.

 7.40 Returning dripping with sweat. I had to take the ran jacket off soon after leaving. The humidity was only at 75%. I expected it to be much higher. My lower back was painful. So I had to keep going until the pain subsided. A serious cyclist went past. Tires roaring even louder than a Tesla.

 I wiped the plastic, traffic safety mirror with a tissue. Which turned black. This helped but needs more to restore the polish to the plastic surface. Gargoyle suggests mild soap and warm water. It's 200m away! It's not going to be very warm by the time I have walked all along the drive. Running isn't in my job description. Then I should be buffing with wax furniture polish. Or even baking soda. Best not with the latter. To avoid being burnt as a witch! Though I should be safe. The only cat's around here are not mine. 

 I stopped to chat to the neighbours' chickens. I think they've sent me to Coventry. Or whatever the Danish equivalent is for deliberate non-communication. In the event of gross egg theft and discounted consumption via a third party. Not much else to report. If it gets any darker indoors I shall be searching for my torch. 

 10-10.30 64F/17.8C. Overcast. I took a chance with the weather and rode into the village. 10.4km and shopping in half an hour. No wind. The local turbine group was still. I exchanged nods and waves with assorted other cyclists.  

 15.45 We have already had a few rumbles of thunder. Now a large area of rain has bubbled up from nowhere on the radar. Just to the east of our location. I had just opened up the greenhouse because it was getting so hot in there. After closing the doors and window in expectation of heavy rain earlier.   

 17.00 Tipping down! The rain was so dense it was like fog. Obscuring the view of the trees beyond the carport.

 Dinner was poached, free range eggs, on toast. 

 

  ~o~

13.07.2025 And there was light!

 ~o~

 Sunday 13th 58F/14.4C [7.00] Overcast. A wet morning is forecast. Brighter this afternoon. Windy from the NE.

 Up at 6am after an overly-active night. I don't think water suits me. 

 7.15 It is drizzling visibly. 

 8.20 Back from a half hour walk. It stayed dry but damp. With the wind flapping my lightweight rain jacket at intervals. A few gulls and warblers. Little traffic, or anything else of note.

 12.15 Back from a drive to Odense. I needed some O-ring tools and fish food. Both big shed outlets were side by side and open on Sundays. 

 14.00 One of the front side light bulbs on the Morris had blown. First it took ages to free the plastic lens. Due to friction and corrosion. Thick and grippy industrial rubber gloves allowed sufficient grip without breakage. 

 Then onto removing the old bulb. Which was frozen fast in place by rust to its housing. After breaking the bulb envelope with pincers. I was able to turn the bulb using a screwdriver inserted into the empty bulb. While the thin brass casing was simultaneously being clamped tightly. To the  screwdriver blade with fine nosed pliers. It was almost flush by then. It really did not want to come out but gave up in the end. Just as it collapsed in on itself. Had it remained stuck it might have blown the fuse.

 Much cleaning of the empty housing and a squirt of WD40. Eventually freed up the contact spring. Then a watchmakers screwdriver was used to clean the grooves. For the bayonet bulb's locking pins. Finally there was light from the new bulb. Without having broken it in the struggle. Success!

 Dinner was fish fingers and chips. I washed up while it cooked.

  

  ~o~

12.07.2025 Wittering on.

 ~o~

  Saturday 12th 61F/16C. A bright start leading to cloud and showers.

 Up at 6.10 after a fairly quiet night and more weird dreams.

 How can one person accumulate so much washing up?

 I have been reading lots of headlines about the dangers of dehydration. Particularly in old age and during increasingly common heatwaves. So I am forcing myself to drink a small glass [150ml] of water every time I make tea, coffee, make a meal, or visit the bathroom. Without the additional water my daily average consumption of tea and coffee is only 1.8 liters. So I am under the 2 liter daily recommendation for old farts. 

 The doctor advised me to drink much more water. He said it would help with the frequency. Which sounds like a complete contradiction. To which I foolishly retorted that I didn't like the local water. Not did I enjoy drinking water anyway. I always feel as if I am drowning. When I try to drink a large glass.  

 Somewhat ironically they no longer stock organic beer at any of the local supermarkets. Of which I would enjoy a single small can after dinner. And, since I have no immediate plans to start drinking bottled water. Nor consume anything fizzy or sugar bombed. I had better do something constructive. Stop sniggering at the back! This is important! 🙄

 I'd normally ride to a charity flea market in another village on Saturday morning. Why not? I have waterproof clothing. It's only a 24+km round trip. Exercise is good for me. Preparing for the ride and a making a shopping list is good for the memory cells. I get out of the house. See real people being people. There are two other supermarkets more than the nearest chains. 

 So, why not? A: Tire spray from passing vehicles. The flea market never has anything of interest. Nothing I might want to buy. To add to the never ending hoard. You can't give loads of stuff away to the local flea market and continue collecting. Dos not compute.

The clock is nearing 7.45. It is still dry. Time to stop wittering on and go for a walk!    

 8.30 63F/17C. Warm but rather cloudy and windy. I walked down to the village. Around the church and back again. I saw a pair of amazing scarecrows on a veg patch. The traffic was almost non-existent at first. Have the commuters all gone south? To top up their skin cancer statistics. They should do a national recall on Danish registered Audis. They seem incapable of cornering without crossing the double white lines. Isn't this a potentially hazardous, steering fault?

 Lots of warblers singing again. Including one in a bare tree. Which had lost all its leaves. Warblers are usually invisible. Hidden in dense foliage. A black kite was circling over me as I neared home. Though I'd have put up a good fight to avoid becoming breakfast. Unlike the mouse. Which a black and white cat caught and immediately started to munch on. 

 9.46 Off we jolly well go. 

 11.25 61F/16C. Returning from a 29km ride. The tailwind was quite strong on way. Allowing me to cruise between 36-40kph. More like 20kph on the way back by another route in the rain. My cargo trousers were soon almost black with wet. While the [recycled] Nuckily, soft shell jacket fared much better. It darkened but no moisture seemed to get though to the soft lining. 

 The air temperature was high enough not to make the wetness feel cold. So I pressed on. Rather than stopping to change into waterproofs. Which I had placed in the panniers prior to leaving. I saw several cyclists out training. Or touring with panniers. I had a nice smile and a wave from some heavily laden, lady cyclists. Who were going the opposite way.

 The afternoon was spent tidying and doing laundry. 

 Dinner was fried chicken, mushrooms, an egg and tomatoes. Helped down with a frozen, wholegrain, bread roll. Thawed in the fridge and then given one minute in the toaster. Just to take the chill off. 

  ~o~

11.07.2025 Felling for a fall.

 ~o~

  Friday 11th 54F/12.2C [7.00] A mostly sunny, dry day after early cloud. Rather breezy from the NW turning NE. A wet weekend in prospect.

 Up at 6.00 after a quiet night. 

 It clouded over and became misty. Though I still went for a walk. It was cold on my hands. Particularly while walking into the breeze. The warblers seems untroubled by the change in weather. I don't remember them singing for so long. 

 The mist provided a little extra drama to the all too familiar scenes. Misted spiders webs clung to the tips of the oil seed rape. Sunshine is expected around 10am. 

 So far I haven't a clue what to do today. There are so many things waiting to be done: Tidy the remains of the observatory. Dig the holes for the foundation blocks for the carport. Tidy upstairs. Tidy the sheds. Where to begin? 

 10.50 65F/18.3C. Bright sunshine. Back from grocery shopping in the village. 

 12.30 70F/21C. Hot! I have been aligning the carport with the shed. 

13.15 73F/22.8C. I brought out my tallest stepladder and attached a rope as high as possible. To the red oak tree beyond the carport. Even with a rope to pull it down. After sawing a notch and back cut. It is still very risky. 

 The carport is one side and the workshop/shed the other. Leaving a very small safe angle for felling. One mistake and it could be very costly! I have to dash over to pull the rope. Only to fall flat on my face and have the tree fall on top of me! 

 Best not to try. It can't be allowed to fall backwards due to the much bigger trees behind. It could hang up and become dangerous.

 15.15 76F/24.4C Too hot to be outside in direct sunshine. Very pleasant in the shade with the cooling breeze. I have gently pruned the brown tips on the dappled willow. There were green leaves growing out everywhere. Even where the tips were completely brown and withered. Hardly a return to its former glory but a definite recovery. Though it has lost its shape. 

 The plant is still sitting in the original pot in the shade under the north roof overhang. It only gets sun in the early morning. So it should survive. Despite it being the wrong time of year for pruning. 

I might even risk re-potting it. Though I shouldn't until much later in the autumn. It was horribly root-bound when I bought it. 

 I have seen several superb specimens on my travels. Usually ball shaped on a clean stem. Planted in the ground or lawn in posh gardens. Pink lollipops spring to mind. 

 Dinner was cheese on toast with halved tomatoes. 

    

 ~o~

10.07.2025 96km not sitting comfortably.

 ~o~

  Thursday 10th 65F/18.3C [9.15] Dry and mostly sunny this morning. More cloudy after lunch. A high of 20C/68F should last for some hours.

 Up at 6am after an unusually quiet night. Though again with weird dreams. 

 8.40 Back from my 40 minute walk in warm sunshine. To the lanes, as usual. Then a bonus loop around the neighbours' shared drives. The traffic was very light. 

 They must have started harvesting the grain crop at the saddle yesterday. No sign of any activity this morning. The warblers were singing merrily away again. Now joined by a repetitive chaffinch.

 It is such a beautiful day that I feel the need for another ride. I have the second battery on charge. While I have a leisurely morning coffee.

Which raises the inevitable question of where to go. Should I change the saddle back to my well worn B17 from my trike? I felt as if my buttocks were the main source of pain on yesterday's 31km/20 mile ride. 

 The Contec "Classic Touring" is the same width as the Brooks B67. Which was awful from the very first ride! The hard edges of their decorative pressing really hurt! While the completely smooth and softer Contec did not. 

 The best experience so far is on the Contec. While wearing the bare Assos bibs with their chamois cream. No cargo trousers worn over the top. The cargo trousers are thin and very useful thanks to all the pockets. As I grow more ancient my flexibility for reaching the racing jersey rear pockets is fast reducing. 

 Lunch packed. I shall ride to Bogense on the north coast. 

 10.20-15.50 70F/21C. 96km/60 miles. I took a circuitous route on the way. All thanks to the work on the new, high speed rail line. With most of the roads blocked to all traffic. I took a few snaps of the major earthworks ad concrete structures. Usually right beside the roaring motorway! As I worked my way steadily westwards. When I really wanted to go north. I could finally escape the road blockages just above Ejby. 

 The nearer I got to Bogense the colder it became. Until I finally had to don my cycling jacket. It stayed on after that. Though it soon warmed up again away from the coast. 

 The countryside was absolutely gorgeous. With most fields full of ripe and surprisingly colourful crops. Made all the more attractive by the straw shortening breeding. Which enhances the gloss on the smooth, visible surface. 

 The Bosch Nyon computer screen went almost blank for quite some time. Until I experimented with pressing the on/off button to reboot. It was fine after that. I'll have to remember this if it happens again. I was more afraid of losing power than the temporary lack of information. I was still able to change assistance Mode without any problem. No ride data was lost. 

 I suffered from saddle pain for about half the ride. Pulling the legs of the shorts down seemed to help. Suggesting, perhaps, that the thick Assos padding must be folded under me. Though I can't imagine fitting elastic stirrups three feet long. My sewing skills aren't that good! Adding more chamois cream, mid-ride, might have helped.

 I saw lots of birds of prey today. Including several hunting slowly over the fields close to the road. I meandered on the way back too. With a bit of grocery shopping in the last village. 

 It is amazing how some villages are expanding. With modern estates springing up all over the place. Elsewhere there are lots of abandoned houses. Particularly old farmhouses. Often overgrown and dying where they stand. 

 Small farms are not economical. When a farmer dies or retires their offspring, if any, have to buy the business. It seems that fewer and fewer want to take on the thankless, unprofitable workload. Often with totally unsuitable buildings. For housing today's vast and cripplingly expensive machinery. So the big farms constantly expand and get richer. They can get somebody else's kid to till, sew, spray and harvest their prairies in a few short hours.

 Dinner was a salmon pasty, peas, pasta and tinned tomatoes. 

 

  ~o~

9.07.2025 Slimming down.

 ~o~

 Wednesday 9th 56F/13.3C [7.00] Overcast. The forecast was mostly sunshine. Though with the risk of thundery showers from the north.

 Up at 6am after a fairly quiet night.

 I have plans to ride back to a builder's merchant some ten miles [16km] away. I drove there yesterday but  must return to buy more O-rings in a smaller size. 

 9.40 I returned from my 31km ride empty handed. They had no O-rings in the size I needed. The ride there was cold and into the headwind. I came back by another way. Mostly a crosswind and then a tailwind at the end. I left at 8.05 and it only became sunny at 8.15. I was pushing myself on the way there. More of a dawdle on the way back. It was hilly going both ways. Though not a problem on the e-bike. I rarely bother with lower gears thanks to the motor assistance available.

 My search for a lost tool in the shed quickly became a marathon tidying effort. A dozen electric clock dials can go to the local flea market. The heap of cardboard boxes and junk will go to the recycling yard. 

 14.50 69F/21C. Hot and humid. Clocks delivered. Off to the recycling yard. I had to clear the trailer of fine gravel first. Now piled beside the pond in the greenhouse. To close off all the toothy gaps around the edges. I am hoping the effect will be decorative. 

 15.40 Back from the recycling yard. A whole trailer full. Just from the shed.

 My other nice neighbours sent their lad over with a pack of eggs. So dinner was chosen for me. Three poached eggs on toast. Well, the rounds of bread are tiny. 

   

 ~o~

8.07.2025 Man about town.

 ~o~

  8th July 56F/13.3C [6.50]  Rain with scattered showers promised. Possibly with thunder.

 Up at 6am after a fairly quiet night.

The tomato plants are doing well in the warm greenhouse.

 8.30 Back from a half hour walk. Lots of cloud but dry. Quite a gentle wind. The warblers were still singing away in the roadside trees. A black kite, with a split and damaged tail, moved away. 

 I feel the need to go somewhere. 

 12.30 Returning from a drive around the builder's merchants. I was looking for o-rings. Fortunately I found a hoard at a rural builder's merchants. The only one left. Not stripped down to bubble packs and rows of power tools. An amazing resource. One which I have called on many times over the years. It has rained lightly, on and off, all morning.

 19.00 62F/16.7C. Back from the city. It was warm and sunny in Odense. I found what I was looking for. Raining only in the village. Dry roads when I left. Lots of pretty sports cars in Odense. Hundreds of Teslas too. I was following a Porsche when an Aston Martin went the other way. While a Mercedes SL500 was in the inside lane. 

 A teenager on a fat bike. With a huge Wolt pack on his back. Went through at least four red lights. While I was trickling along between lights in the car. The real cyclists all held back to obey the lights. He either didn't have a clue or didn't care. No hesitation whatsoever.

 As it was so late for dinner I made something easy. Fish fingers and chips. Then forgot to take a picture! 

  

  ~o~

7.07.2025 On a roll.

 ~o~

  Monday 7th 56F/13.3C[7.00] Bright, when the forecast says rain. It's all happening just to the east. As a huge area of rain moves towards the NE. It looks more like sunny periods than the forecast showers. 

 Up at 6.30 after an over-active night.       

 7.40  Time for my walk. 

 8.20 60F/15.6C. Back from a walk to the lanes under grey, broken skies. Only the gentlest of breezes once I was away from the tall, roadside hedges. Huge clouds were dragging their dark and ragged underskirts off to the north. The warblers were still singing away. A large tabby cat strolled past at the junction to the lanes. I don't  remember ever seeing a cat just there. The traffic was unusually light for a Monday. The annual invasion of billions of slugs was visible every few yards. Splattered on the asphalt. 

 I intend to walk back and clean the mirror opposite the end of the drive. It is plastic and attracts dew and dirt. Unlike the official glass one above. The kommune [council] wouldn't put up two safety mirrors. To protect those exiting the drive on a fast, blind corner. Most of the traffic is speeding and not expecting a vehicle to suddenly appear, from nowhere, in their path. 

  Of course I didn't take my cleaning trip. I was too taken up with more projects at home.

 Dinner was an experiment. It should have been toast but I made chicken and mushroom rolls instead. Which required a degree of juggling to consume but were otherwise fine. I let things cool on a plate. Before adding the contents of the frying pan to the rolls. I think I could enjoy toasted cheese on open, toasted rolls.

  ~o~