5.07.2025 Sun worshipping in its absence.

 ~o~

  Saturday 5th 57F/14C [6.00] Heavy overcast, windy and raining. A long, wet weekend is promised. Continuing wet into the coming week. I knew I should have gone for a ride yesterday. Oh goody! I can continue to tidy upstairs.  

 Up at 5am. Too many memories!

 I have ordered some "adapter plates." To mount my carport feet onto four of the concrete foundation blocks. The extra cost of stainless steel seemed sensible over ordinary mild steel in the long term. Which will inevitably rust and become unsightly. The plates will allow some adjustment of height via the central bolt. To ensure the feet are perfectly level. 

My purchase of the manual stamper. Will allow the bottoms of the excavations to be well compacted. So the precast foundation blocks will not sink. Back-filling around the precast blocks with concrete. Will expand the footprint. Greatly reducing the risk of sinking or lifting in high winds. 

 The advantage of the pre-cast foundation blocks. Is their ability to be moved around within the excavations. To ensure the uprightness of the carport legs. While there is no need to support the carport against all movement. While the concrete sets. Which would be vitally necessary. If poured concrete was used for the foundations themselves. One cannot predict a storm while the concrete is still setting. Which can take some time to reach full strength. 

 I closed the lean-to greenhouse last night. The lower temperatures and wind were making it rather chilly. The lack of sunshine would not allow losses to be easily regained.

 7.30 I am already getting cabin fever. A walk in the rain just needs the correct clothing. I understand that people do it all the time.  

 8.00 And back again. Not really raining. Though quite breezy. The traffic was light and gave me a wide berth. The roads were very wet. I looped around the neighbour's drives for a bit of extra distance. A little over 400m. The warblers were only slightly restrained by the weather.

 A lazy day tidying, browsing and experimenting with furniture layouts. 

 I assembled telescopes as if to observe the sun. The sun did not comply and was absent all day. Instead I watched the ponies on the front paddock exploring hierarchy. As if it mattered in the endless war on overlong grass.

 Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast with halved tomatoes. 

  

  ~o~