24.08.2025 Mind The Gap!

 ~o~

  Sunday 24th 46F/7.8C [6.5] Clear. Waiting for sunrise. The forecast is a cloudy morning. Clearing to sunshine. Peaking at 18C/64F at 16.00. Rather windy with 12m/s [27mph] gusts. Building from early morning and then plateauing. 

 Up at 5.30. Wide awake. Because I had an afternoon nap yesterday? I had been deliberately staying awake all week while my sister was visiting. We were usually our on a trip in the car. Which made my napping habit easy to break. 

 Any plans for a longer bike ride are on hold given the likely wind speeds. 

 Seen from the dining table window the gap I made in the trees is full of light. With the gentle curve of the distant stubble field punctuated by the row of trees. These are seen end-on in the middle of the gap and are situated on the border between two very large fields. The mixed trees have been there for many years. Long before the change of ownership of the roadside fields.

 The view though the window from the dining table is surprisingly enhanced. Which was really quite unexpected. Giving me a good reason to sit there now. Instead of watching Netflix with my dinner on my lap. 

 The Morris will be over to the right in the carport. If the latter ever gets finished. The dark, central tree on my own border could be usefully removed. The one sticking out of the roof of the Morris in the image. The houses on the old drive are safely obscured by my own trees. Which gives the impression that I enjoy only a rural view. I see no point in widening the gap. It just needs to be tidied up. 

 8.30 Back from my walk. With pictures on my Lumix G9 of the view back towards the house through the gap. I have spent the last two hours trying to update the camera firmware. This involves using an SD card with the downloaded updating firmware. I formatted a fresh card to save the pictures on the original card. 

 The Replay button just says No Valid Picture. I have reformatted the card several times in the camera. Copied the update to the card and reinserted it. No joy. The pictures on the original SD card are unavailable unless I can get Lumix Tether to work. What a palaver! Why can't the camera be updated using the USB cable?

 Back to work. I felled the left hand tree in the gap. The horizontal branches were sagging into the gap. Which, having been cleared, have really opened up the view. It looks strangely like a 3D card from the early 20th century. Cars traveling along the "embankment" seem to float in mid air. It is really quite odd.  

 The central tree now looks much more prominent. The trunk is at least 25cm [10"] in diameter. Almost perfectly upright. So no guarantee of it falling safely into the field. Not from a simple notch and back cut. 

 The 16" [40cm] DeWalt chainsaw is far too near its maximum capacity. What happens if it gets stuck half way through? Which it often does. I still have to clean the field of fallen branches and untidy twigs. Then throw the bigger logs back into the garden for potential firewood. 

 16.00 Back from the village just for the ride. My neighbour from behind came over to discuss the gap I had made in the trees. I am not sure he was too happy about it. Saying it was his boundary too. Though there is nothing which can be done about it now. I explained that the estate agent had recommended I open it up. Now I have a view beyond the garden. 

 After four years of his living there I wasn't even sure who he was. He has never called or contacted me. His new build house faces this way. While his vast new buildings are not visible from my house. Not unless I walk down to the gap. So there is no real loss of his privacy. I never objected to his original building plans. His buildings [black sheds] can be seen from miles away from most angles. 

 I believe the general rule is that rural hedges may be not more than 2.5m high where there is disagreement. Or lower by agreement between the adjoining owners. I just checked my early photographs. That boundary was just a few spindly trees. It was completely open in winter. My wife planted many of the trees.

 Dinner was sausage in batter. Or a sausage omelette. Three organic eggs and organic milk whisked and poured over fried, organic sausages. 

 

 ~o~

23.08.2025 And there she was, gone.

 ~o~

  Saturday 23rd 49F/9.4C [7.00] Bright, but waiting for sunrise. Another, mostly sunny day. 

 Up at 6.15 after a quiet night.

 My sister is leaving today. I shall run her up to the local train station later. A successful stay I think. We go out and about every day. Apart from my unexplained dizziness on Thursday. The weather was exceptional. Warm, dry and sunny. Though rather breezy at times towards the end. Particularly yesterday at Egeskov. 

 My sister has suggested I try heavy duty, so-called "smart lining paper" for my scruffy, bare plasterboard walls. After some filling to remove any depressions. The adhesive is applied to the wall. Not the paper. Hence the "smart" identification. The great advantage of this is its application in stages. Much like wallpaper. Rather than an overwhelming demolition of the existing, insulated plasterboard wall. To be renewed completely from scratch.

 7.20 Time for my walk. 

 8.00 Back from my walk. Very little, Saturday traffic. An almost cloudless sky and low, blinding sunshine. Three deer were grazing on the prairie again. Much closer to the road than before. A doe and two young. No antlers. 

 They eventually took fright as I advanced slowly down the road. Taking pictures with my phone at intervals. Then they dashed off for the distant horizon. At least 500 meters to cover beyond the nearest low undulation. 

 I could then safely take to the fields. To repeat my familiar rectangle out on the spray tracks. The neighbor's invisible activities of yesterday. Proved to be completion of another paddock fence. Running around the edge of the freshly mowed field. Just beyond the impenetrable but towering line of trees. Forming the boundary of the absent property developer's wildlife sanctuary. 

 The distant, black roof is not mine. It belongs to another absent property developer. Who is slowly restoring the former dump. Over an increasingly, extended period. Self seeded trees now tower over all the local properties. Felling many of them, so very close to the houses, would now require a skilled, climbing, tree surgeon. 

 11.30  Returning from the station after delivering my sister. I was sad to see her go. We seemed to get on well.

 I saw plants for sale beside the road on the way back. So I have now added a Aeonium "Velour" succulent to my dark leaf collection. Google Lens suggested it is an easy, fast growing  plant for beginners. Not winter hardy but I have the greenhouse or a sunny windowsill. I shopped for essentials on the way home.  

12.00 Did I ought to have a ride after lunch?

 17.30 I have been out there for hours. Making a gap in the northern, boundary trees. Horizontal branches up to 10cm diameter had to be sawn off. Using the DeWalt battery chainsaw. Some of the branches were completely out of reach. Except from my tallest, tripod stepladder. I am dripping with sweat again. 

 There are still sagging branches crossing the gap on a diagonal. Which need the stepladder again. To be in the field to reach high enough. This is considered very unsafe. For unskilled chainsaw use. 

 The central tree could be felled too but it is very tall and wide. Any mistake and it could wreck the shed or the carport roof. There is nowhere to fix an anchor in the field. So that I could use the boat winch to pull it down. 

 Dinner was organic sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes and an egg. Helped down with a buttered bread roll and a non-alcoholic pilsner. 

 My sister has made it home safely. It was lovely having her here. We had a good time on our outings in the beautifully polished Morris. 

  

  ~o~

22.08.2025 Egeskov.

 ~o~

 Friday 22nd 54F/12.2C. Light, even overcast. A cooler, more cloudy, much windier day is forecast.

 Up at 7.15 after a "busy" night at Bucket Stations. I deliberately went back to sleep at 6am. I am feeling much better now. 

 8.30 The neighbour's cat is admiring my sister's handiwork in taming the garden. Time for a walk. 

 The image shows my late wife's flower bed. Which I roughly hacked down with hedge clippers. It was completely choked with weeds, thistle and nettles. I have made  a start on the overhanging brambles beyond. They are overflowing a rose hedge. 

 9.00 The last bales had been removed as I walked along the spray tracks on the harvested fields. The wind was strong. The wind chill enough to make my hands feel cold. 

 11.15 Readying for a drive to a stately home with an excellent transport museum. Egeskov. [Eng. Oakwood] Near Kværndrup.

 17.15 Back from Egeskov. The motorcycle museum is well worth a visit. Lots of old cars and other vehicles. Lots of other things to see. As are the extensive gardens.  It is quite a walk and takes several hours to cover everything. 

 Having enjoyed another heavy, cafeteria lunch at Egeskov we had no need of dinner. So we dealt with producing fried eggs of finished size to match the bread rolls. This was settled with scissors to trim the overhangs. We agreed that sliced bread is probably a more suitable medium.

 Egeskov Palace. 

 It felt cold in the evening despite the 68F/20C in the room. So I lit the stove and closed all the windows. Which I had inadvertently left on the catch to air the house. Not ideal on such a windy day! The stove managed to warm the room by 4F to 72F/22.2C by bedtime at 10.30. With its soapstone cladding nicely hot. To slowly release its stored heat for hours to come. All on the equivalent of one log but using only scraps of beech wood from the last trailer load. 

 

  ~o~

21.08.2025 Sick note.

 ~o~

  Thursday 21st 47F/8.3C [6.45]  Bright but cloudy start. Expected to be cloudier, cooler and windier.

 Up at 6.00 after a quiet night. Feeling a bit dizzy. Hopefully a walk will help.

 Trimming back the overgrown shrubs and trees. The former flower bed, to the left, is swamped with weeds.

 It didn't help so I went back to bed for half an hour. That didn't help either. I may have mild food poisoning. Which is a nuisance while I have a visitor. I can't drive us onto the next planned outing.

 We sat and reminisced for most of the morning while I rested. I had a nap but it offered no patent improvement.

 Rolls for lunch. 

 Then out to the garden. Trimming back the black elder, cotoneaster salicifolia, hawthorn, et al. 

 My sister suggested I cut down the flower bed and expand the lawn. A solution which had not occurred to me. It needs no hiding the fact that I lack the skill, knowledge and determination. To make a go of a dedicated flower bed. I am not a gardener.

 So I used the hedge clipper to lower the area to a more manageable height. I managed to save the four buddleias. Which were in flower but completely swamped in weeds. Mostly rosebay willowherb. 

 Dinner was goulash soup and boiled potatoes. Which made a change from my usual diet and was very pleasant. I still feel a little dizzy and headachy. Hopefully I shall be back to normal tomorrow.

  

  ~o~

20.08.2025 Extreme garden repair!

~o~

  Wednesday 20th 59F/15C [8.00] Bright with sunshine all day.

 Up at 7am after a good night.  

 We shall be visiting the museum. Followed by a tour to my English friend.    

 Secma Fun buggy. Seen outside a supermarket. 

 8.50 62F/16.7C.  Returning from a brisk walk looping around the stubble fields. The wind was stronger than in recent days. Though it wasn't cold. Bright sunshine and quite a lot of traffic.

 We enjoyed a walk around the farm museum where I was a volunteer. We met several of the volunteers still working there. The weather was perfect.

 After that we drove on to my friend's place. Via the village bakery to collect three spandauer. A round flaky pastry cake with custard like cream in the centre. We sat outside in the warm sunshine to enjoy the cakes and coffee while we chatted with our host. Whom suggested the Faldsled marina cafe for a fish and chip lunch. 

 The fish proved to be kuller [haddock in batter] and the portions generous. As were the wasps. Our choice of ginger beer, rather than alcohol free beer proved to be a wasp magnet. We soon collected three drowned wasps in one, half full bottle. They were extremely persistent! 

 There followed another tour of a marina as we freely wandered the pontoons. Yet again there was no obvious security and very few boat owners present. I noticed a small feature, common to many boats,  which temporarily eluded my resident boating expert. This required some later, Google searching for the correct term: Anchor chain locker drain covers.

 Finally, I selected a wending, scenic route to return home. Where my sister launched into extreme garden repair mode. She had soon made serious inroads into the sad state of my late wife's flower bed. 

 The beautifully polished and detailed Morris Minor drew admiring glances throughout the day. The owner of a pretty, MG Cyberstar liked the Morris.

 Having already eaten well. We enjoyed cheese rolls and shared a bottle of alcohol free beer for dinner. 

  

 ~o~

19.08.2025 Japanese Gardens.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 19th 58F/14.4C. Overcast and breezy. A little cooler each day. Sunshine and 22C/72F expected.

 Up at 6.15 after another quiet night.

 8.00 Time for a walk. 

 The Japanese Gardens at Vøjstrup, Broby. 

 8.40 Returned from a much cooler walk around the fields. The farmer had been breaking up the spray tracks to aid ploughing or sewing.  Still a few bales lying uncollected. There was quite a wind at times. So my jacket was far more essential than merely decorative. No deer visible today. Flocks of perhaps one hundred sparrows moved about nervously. 

 11.00 We visited the Japanese Gardens. Not far from where I live. These were incredibly well done. Cloud formation trees soaring high above us. Tens of thousands of plants, shrubs and trees.   

 Followed by visits to Assens and Haarby. In Assens we had a pub meal on the pavement. 

 Later we came across a collection of half a dozen Puch mopeds in as new condition. Being minded by one of the club members while the others shopped. We chatted with the watchman. Then onto Haarby for petrol and more shopping.

 Then home with my sister enjoying more polishing of the metalwork on the Morris. Dinner was fish fingers, peas and chips. Followed by more polishing while I washed up.

 

  ~o~

18.08.2025 Middelfart & Fredericia marinas.

 ~o~

  Monday 18th 58F/14.4C. Bright sunshine. Another sunny day and 24C is promised. Steadily more cloudy and cooler over the next few days.

 Up at 6.30 after a very quiet night.

 8.00 Time for a walk. 

 8.35 Back again. The traffic was much heavier this morning. I was glad to get off the road onto the harvested fields. Where I spotted three deer. A very unusual sight. They were grazing out in the middle of the stubbled prairie. My pet name for the 1000x1000m field. Which leads up to the forest on the hill. 

 The deer were almost in line with the distant radio tower. None of my futile attempts at telephoto images on my phone were worth sharing. I must be doing something wrong in the settings. My pictures are heavily pixelated. I dragged the now empty, recycling bins back with me. Closely watched by the ponies. Which are finally beginning to lower the average height of the grass on the front field. Even given their amazing efficiency this is no mean feat. 

 The plan is to go and look at another marina. This time to the north. Middelfart beckons today. A town on the strait between Fyn and Jylland [Jutland.] Joined by two bridges. An early 2th century girder "old" bridge and a much later motorway bridge. "Fart" in Danish means speed or haste. The town name probably refers to the crossing by earlier boat or ferry of the strait. 

 18.00 Returning from a drive to Middelfart and Fredericia. My sister is an expert on boats. So we visited two more marinas and I was brought me up to speed on the finer technicalities. 

 Again we enjoyed lunch under the umbrellas at an outdoor pub restaurant. Crossing The Old Bridge was beset with delays. Due to temporary traffic lights. We shopped on the way home.

After rapid re-hydration with non-alcoholic beer we started on the car again. This time with polish and trim and tire reviver. The result was remarkable. Dinner was more alcohol free beer and a Cheddar cheese roll.

 

  ~o~

17.08.2025 Fåborg.

 ~o~

  Sunday 17th 48F/9C [6.45] Bright, but still waiting for the sun. It is promised to reach 22C/72F this afternoon. Peak temperatures falling slowly, but steadily, over the next week. Night time temperatures are already lower.

 Up at 6.15 after a fair night. 

 6.50 Almost time for a walk. 

 7.20-7.50 A brisk walk along the road in quiet, Sunday traffic. The low, blinding sun providing the rural atmosphere. 

 A pretty side street in Fåborg. 

 11-ish. We are going for a drive to Fåborg. A coastal town some 30km away.

 15.20 72F/22.2C. Warm sunshine. Returning from a tour of Fåborg and a spot of lunch. 

 20.00 The Morris has just had the most thorough clean since I brought it home. My sister actually enjoys cleaning cars. So that's what happened. Rinsed with the hose, shampooed, rinsed again, wiped dry. Glass cleaned inside and out. Vacuumed the carpets. Cleared the glove compartments. 

The car has never looked so shiny. No doubt it would further respond to a polish but I couldn't find the bottle.

 Having eaten so well at lunchtime we just had scrambled eggs on toast for dinner. I can now add scrambled eggs to my diet. My attempts at scrambled eggs so far were merely untidy omelettes.

 I took the recycling bins along the drive while my sister washed up. The neighbour's cat was hunting outside and looked very cross as I rumbled past.

  

  ~o~

16.08.2025 Arrival.

 ~o~

  Saturday 16th 54F/12C [6.30] A sunny day is promised with a NW breeze. Reaching 22C/72F after lunch. High cloud is presently hiding the sunrise. 

 Up at 5.50 after an average night. Tidying and cleaning continue. In preparation for my visitor's arrival this afternoon. 

 The marshy field to the north of my garden. 

 7.15 Time for a walk.

 7.30-8.00 57F/14C. Veiled sunshine. A brisk walk around the harvested fields via the spray tracks. It was much cooler than of late. With the gusty wind slightly uncomfortable at times. A girl rode past on her racing bike. With a huge lorry refusing to overtake her.

 9.15 Finished vacuuming, mopping and sweeping downstairs. I'll have morning coffee and a rest. Then start vacuuming upstairs.

 10.30 Vacuumed upstairs. Cleaned all the downstairs windows inside and out. Many of them are punctured. So they have streaks and mist inside the double glazing units.

 15.15 An update: My sister's flight from the UK has been delayed by an hour. So she missed her connecting flight from Holland. A long delay before she is put on a plane to Denmark. Which means her travel arrangements. From the Danish airport to Chez Hovel. Are also delayed by several hours. 

 19.15 My sister arrived by taxi. 

 Dinner was beans on toast.   

 We chatted until 22.30. Then bed.

 

  ~o~

15.08.2025 Tidiness is not in my job description.

 ~o~

  Friday 15th 64F/18C [7.30] Bright overcast. Mist clearing. Sunshine expected with 26C/79F forecast for this afternoon.

 Up at 5.30. I was bored with lying there awake. 

 7.30 I need a walk. My lower back and hips are aching. 

 The mist was still lifting off the forest. Up on the hill. 

 7.40-8.10. A pleasant tour around the newly shorn fields via the spray tracks. The constant whine in the background a reminder. That the bumper harvest is not yet over. 

 The neighbour's cat was guarding the drive but refused to be petted. It treats my property as a private resource for tasty snacks of rodents. Why should I lower myself to its level? It's a long way down!

 I need to shop for some depleted essentials. Get away from the serial tidying for a while. Recover a sense of proportion. Some of us are not born to sort and compress. With anything remotely approaching efficiency.

 10.20 72F/22C bright sunshine with a gusty breeze. Returning from the shops with four, well stuffed, carrier bags. As usual, the Morris attracted many stares, admiring glances and smiles.

 14.15 76F/24.4C sunshine. Back to tidying.  

 Dinner was cheese on toast with halved tomatoes. 

 

  ~o~

14.08.2025 Carry on Tidying!

 ~o~

  Thursday 14th 65F/18.3C [8.00] Fairly bright overcast. Sunshine expected later and 26C/79F.

 Up at 7.15 after failing to lift off earlier. I shall continue tidying. 

 11.00 76F/24.4C weak sunny periods. No walk. I have been tidying. 73F/23C indoors.

 12.00 80F/26.7C Sunnier. Still tidying the living room. Trying to tidy the cabling for the computer and all its accessories. Laptop, tablet, fiber-box, router, POE switch, screen, assorted lamps, cameras and all their many power supplies. 

 15.20 78F/25.6C Brighter sunshine. I moved upstairs to assemble steel shelving. To stack trays and tubs more efficiently. At least, that's the theory.  

 Dinner was an omelette. With chicken chunks and halved cherry tomatoes. It looked okay in the frying pan but a mess on the plate. It tasted fine.

 

  ~o~

13.08.2025 It's hell out there!

 ~o~

 Wednesday 13th 61F/16C [7.00]. Bright but rather cloudy. Peaking at 26C/79F. They are calling this a heat wave? Quite breezy from the east. 

 Up at 6.00 after a quiet night. I should stay at home and continue tidying. It's all my own fault for moving stuff around. It has caused a domino effect. 

 7.20 Time for a walk. 

 Our hero raking trimmed hedging in the drive. My property stops at the gateposts in the foreground.

 8.00 And back again. Warm enough for a T-shirt again. With a nicely cool, easterly breeze. The traffic was busy again. Nervous gulls drifted across the newly shorn landscape. A few stacks of bales still hanging forlornly on. Like forgotten luggage. The bare ground had completely changed the acoustic. I kept looking around for the traffic. Which seemed to be approaching but was merely the sound. Carrying across from the main road. 

 A tractor passed with a vast, open trailer. Decorated with bands stretched between V-shaped, hydraulically operated arms. So that the bales could be held tight. Instead of relying only on weight and friction. To remain safely in place.

 10.10 Paused for a rest and to put several flat batteries on charge. I have mowed the drive and attacked the western lawn. Followed by strimming the sides of the drive. It's not my job. The drive adjoins private property. It is the absent property investor's job. To clear the weeds and massively overgrown hedges and trees. If I don't do it then who will? Nobody. Without my intervention access to my own home would soon end!

 11.00 74F/23.3C. Hot sunshine. Dripping with sweat. My arms are tired. I have been clipping the front hedge inside and out. Strimming and clipping along the drive. Brambles have taken over the front hedge. Two more batteries are flat. I need a rest!

 14.15 80F/2.7C. Hot sunshine. Dripping with sweat. I have strimmed the western lawn again. Then repeatedly mowed and raked the grass. The Makita mower couldn't cope with lying grass. It just stalled. So I kept raking and mowing. I ran the mower repeatedly along the edges of the drive too. After strimming and clipping the hedges some more. It is too hot to continue.

 18.40 I went out later to rake the drive. It still felt hotter than indoors. [73F/22.8C in the room]

 Dinner was beans on toast. A whole tin!  

 9.20 67F/19.4C. I have been clearing up outside. Putting the powered garden tools away. Getting very breathless!

 

  ~o~

12.08.2025 53km + 12 Minutes.

 ~o~

 Tuesday 12th 58F/14.4C[7.20]  Overcast. A cloudy but dry day reaching 22C/71F. Very light wind. Ideal for a ride.    

 Up at 6.30 after a typical night. 

 The "back field" to my north is quite marshy. The much neater horse paddocks are now advancing downhill.

 8-8.30 4F/17.8C. Sunshine. My usual walk. It was comfortably, T-shirt warm. Lots of traffic. Most of it on semi-comatose autopilot! I had to take to the verge several times. When drivers did not see me despite the road being perfectly straight. The Reolink Elixir of Youth hasn't worn off yet. I am still a sprightly septuagenarian.

14.00 Back from a 53km ride to visit my English friend. I called in on a village bakery to buy some Danish pastries. To enjoy with our coffee. Somebody was shopping for 35 cakes. Presumably for a birthday celebration at work. Anybody with half a brain would have sent in a list and picked it up later. But no, half a dozen mugs had to stand and watch while this chump choose each cake individually. There was only a single member of staff serving. Though we could all hear voices from the back room. It took over 12 minutes before I was finally served. The cakes were dry again. They have lost at least one customer.

 It was pleasantly warm and sunny most of the time. So my friend and I sat and chatted outside. There was a light sprinkle of rain. So we retreated to the orangery.  Though the shower was short lived. There was a similar sprinkle as I started my ride back home but it soon stopped. 

 There was almost no wind on my way there. I was averaging 30-35kph. Rather less on my way home. 25-30kph. Mostly in Sport Mode. With burst of Turbo mode on the climbs to maintain my speed. I had to swap batteries to the spare on the way home.

 A red kite lifted off from hunting on a roadside field as I approached. At first it turned away but then changed its mind. Swooping low over my passage along the quiet lane.

 I had a chat on the phone with my sister. Who is coming to visit me at the weekend. She will be staying for a week. Which is why I am trying to bring some tidiness to the present chaos upstairs.  

 Dinner was an organic pork chop, mushrooms and chips.     

 

  ~o~

11.08.2025 The Reolink elixer of youth!

 ~o~

  Monday 11th 53F/11.7C [7.30] Bright.A sunny day though with some cloud. Winds lighter.

 Up at 6.40 after an unusually quiet night. I only got up twice. 

 The "back fields" to my north.

 I am expecting a pair of goatskin, TIG welding gloves today. Hopefully these will allow me to clear a lot of thistles in the garden. None of my industrial/builders gloves provide remotely enough protection from the spikes. I was tempted to ride the 40km to the stockist but the wind wasn't encouraging. So I ordered them online.   

 Which kept me at home to make an even worse mess! The fish tank now needs to be refilled. In its new home at the bottom of the stairs. The inside is covered in ugly algae. So it needs to be scraped. At least I have much better access now. With no fish to hamper progress. 

 I'll have to provide power for the filters and lights at the new site. Probably from upstairs. Only an extension lead with a multi-socket to an existing outlet. The electricity demand is very low. 

 8.10 I ought to go for a walk. 

 Purple loosestrife on the marshy field.

 Half an hour's walk in lots more traffic. The holidays must be coming to an end. My lovely young neighbour was exercising one of her beautiful horses and gave me a wave. 

 The paddocks are being steadily expanded downhill. Towards the lowest point. Planting and mowing grass to provide a smooth lawn on the newly raised ground. New fence posts have been erected along the edge of the field. It's a shame I can't see the horses. Due to the dense tree growth in the abandoned garden next to my parking space. The marshy area in the back field is currently decorated by pretty, Purple loosestrife. Lythrum salicaria.

 The dustbin man obviously couldn't be bothered to check that the recycling bin was empty. It wasn't. It was still half full of waste paper! He wouldn't have lasted long in the good old days. When heavy metal dustbins had to be lifted onto their backs. Often being carried across the street to the lorry. Up steps and down if necessary. Before being tipped manually. Then returned to its owner. 

 Set aside with sunflowers on the front field. 

 Now they only have to move the bin a few inches before it is hooked, lifted and tipped automatically, The neighbour's cat was unnerved. By the racket the bin made. As I trundled it back. The cat was hovering in the drive but made a run for it as I approached.

 10.30 The aquarium is refilled. It is so easy with a hose and cold water from the kitchen tap. I bought an adapter which is fitted in place of the aerator. No need to match temperatures from a pumped container in the bath. The water will soon clear and match the room temperature. The ugly patches on the wall are from numerous heating systems over the years before our purchase. It was hidden my a ceiling high, display cabinet. I should have painted the wall white before placing the tank there. Perhaps I should paint around the tank? 

 10.50 I've just had a notification that my welding gloves parcel has arrived in the village. I need more groceries but have been waiting for the parcel. To avoid duplicating journeys. I might as well go now in the car. Then I can do more tidying before lunch.

 11.45 Back from the village. 

12.00 The gloves work a treat on thistles.  Though it is tiring pulling them up by the roots. No punctures so far. I haven't dared to try them on brambles yet.

 Reolink has just updated its security camera app. It magically made me 20 years younger! I am no longer moving in slow motion. Like some 100 year old survivor of an unimaginable holocaust. Which made me look utterly decrepit! I wonder if the next update will give me more hair? Then I can continue building my career as a [mature] babe magnet.

 Dinner was poached eggs on toast. I tried to do something else at the same time and the eggs were hard boiled. Silly old wotsit! 

  

  ~o~

10.08.2025 20 km in a gale.

 ~o~

  Sunday 10th 58F/14.4C [7.50] Bright start to another mostly sunny day but with a westerly wind and lower temperatures. Reaching 20C/68F at 15.00.

 Up at 7.10 after being up in the night. I got up at 2.30 and returned to bed two hours later.  

 The flower garden is lost in weeds! 

 Stay at home and continue tidying? Or go for a ride? Eeny, meany, miny... go? 

 11.00 I was glad that I hadn't committed to a longer ride today. The wind was unpleasantly strong and shrieking in my hearing aids. Turning down the volume rather defeats the point of them. I rode to the village to shop. 

 Then took a farm track on the way home. Where I had seen people walking dogs and cycling over the years. Without ever having explored it. After turning right near the farm buildings I had the wind behind me now. It was a very reasonable rough gravel track. Which first wandered across a prairie and then dived into the forest.

 I eventually arrived at the back of the golf course. Just as I had expected. The mature trees and greens made a gorgeous sight in the bright sunshine. As I filtered slowly between Sunday golfers. To reach the familiar forest road. 

 A trolley from the greenhouse supporting some of my dark plant collection. 

 Where I turned left and took the usual route home. Involving negotiating the vast cobbled yards of the stately home. Before undulating through more woods. Until the "straight as a die" descent to the last village before home. It was here that the headwind was at its worst. I saw several cyclists on my ride. 

 The choice of 70PSI in the forks, to match my weight in kg, is proving ideal. I think the pressure was set too high prior to my purchase. Now the bike seems to float over most bumps and hollows. Instead of jarring.  

 I have recovered a large, catering trolley from the chaos in the garden and parked it beside the dark leaved plants. Which allows the shorter specimens to be off the ground until they grow too tall.  

 15.00 Yet again I am dripping with sweat. I have moved the large chest of drawers from the bottom of the stairs. To allow the aquarium to take its place. The oak chest is now in the NE corner beside the TV. I was tempted to lift the TV onto the chest of drawers but it would then be 30cm/12" higher. Which would make it even more dominant. 

 I have been struggling against the weight. To adjust the fish tank and its cupboard stand to be perfectly level. Moving the aquarium across the room required patience and two furniture trolleys. Plus lots of wedges, levers and scraps of timber. I had to lift the stand enough to wind the screwed feet upwards. So that they did not catch in the carpets on the journey.

 There isn't room for the fish tank anywhere else on the north wall. It would block all hope of having dining chairs on the ends of the table. Not that I think it likely to be entertaining more than one unfortunate soul at a time. I had better have a rest now. Do I dare to have a nap after being up in the middle of the night? Probably. 

 I made a Sunday dinner with Bisto gravy. An organic, pork chop, mushrooms, peas, carrots and mashed potato. The gravy was a smidgen too wet. 

 

  ~o~

9.08.2025 Tidying on all fronts.

 ~o~

  Saturday 9th 61F/16C [8.40] A pleasant, sunny day is offered. Peaking at about 22C/71F. 

 Up at 7.20 after several failures to lift off. 

 Plans for a longer ride are on hold pending spare battery recharge. I had better stay at home and continue with tidying. 

 10.30 No walk. I have been boxing up loose books from unwanted bookshelves. Still two bookshelves to clear. All of them random text books, reference and non-fiction. Mostly purchased from secondhand bookshops and charity shops. Collected for over half a century. 

 Now almost, completely worthless. Particularly being written in English while living in Denmark. I literally can't give them away. No charity shop wants them. Nor the secondhand book stores. Not the libraries or international literacy charities. 

 They can't be burnt in the wood stove either. Poor fuel, with the potential for toxins. Perhaps a winter bonfire? Or three, or five. Just getting them all back downstairs, in their 30-odd, large boxes will be a nightmare!   

12.30 Still tidying and rearranging furniture and plants.   

 14.30 Still at it! I have moved into the balcony room. To try to bring some order to the chaos. I have a another steel shelving unit but it may be limited in usefulness. By the attic's, sloping ceilings. 

 17.00 I decided to rotate the aquarium. From against the end wall. To the same corner, but standing along the north wall. You would not believe how heavy it is on its stand/cupboard. Even with the water drained and using levers, wedges and trolleys. I was still dripping with sweat. By the time I was finished.  

 Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast with tomatoes. 

 

  ~o~

8.08.2025 Pony lawnmower.

 ~o~

  Friday 8th 63F/17.2C [9.00] Bright, sunny start but has clouded over. A blob of cloud is crossing. With the risk of thundery showers. Brighter later. 

 Up at 6.50 after a reasonable night.

 Happy Birthday Darling. Wherever you are. 

 8.45 Back from my usual walk in sunshine. Perfectly comfortable in only a t-shirt. [And trousers! I don't want to start any rumours!] 

 11.00 Back indoors for a rest from tidying the garden. A lot of junk from the demolished observatory was dumped out on the western lawn. The time it took the gravel layers to complete their task gave the grass time to grow waist high! It's not a day for the local recycling yard to be open. So I have filled the recycling bins instead. 

 The sun came out. So I spent some time looking through my repaired, solar telescope. 

 16.30 The tidying continued. Just back from collecting a load of removal boxes in the car. 

 The lady from the village turned up and stayed several hours. 

 The nice neighbours came next. With their spotted pony and their cat which wants to adopt me. The pony made a Makita lawnmower look like a complete amateur. I may have to borrow it.

 Dinner was a plate full of salad.  

 

  ~o~

7.08.2025 Lezyne "Digital Shock Drive."

 ~o~

 

 Thursday 7th 58F/14.4C. Bright overcast. Expected to remain cloudy all day.

 Up at 7.15 after a quite night followed by dozing.

 I must try to stay at home to keep on tidying. I am expecting a visitor next week.

 Lezyne, small bore, "Digital Shock Drive" pump.

 9.00 Having a break to cool down after doing some tidying upstairs. The "removal" boxes I used are too large for books. Making them far too heavy to manage easily. They can't be lifted without falling apart. Fortunately they can be slid along on the carpets. I'll invest in a stack of smaller boxes when I am near a builders merchant. I might even mark them as to contents. Smaller boxes would take up less room under the sloping, attic ceilings.

 I have just heard from the carrier. That the package containing my new suspension pump. Is available for collection at the local parcel pickup point. SMS, email and their own App all sent notification to my phone. What did we do before the Internet? Home delivery I suppose. 

 9.45 Returned with a load of groceries, my parcel and an appointment for a haircut. The latter is just before lunch this morning. Now at a different salon from previous attempts. 

 The Lezyne "Digital Shock Drive" is so pretty it hardly qualifies as a humble pump. More like exquisite jewellery than a common tool. The digits are very easy to read compared to the Topeak analogue gauge. Nor is there any air lost during fitting and removal to the valve. Which is precisely why I invested in this rather expensive digital pump. A single LBS suspension adjustment might cost more. With no guarantee of longer term satisfaction. 

 Digital pressure scale on the Lezyne pump. Far easier to read than a dial!

There is a sensible, rubber covered switch. Which requires some pressure for a few seconds to respond. This avoids the battery going flat if the pump should be carried in a well stuffed bag. The initial pressure in the forks showed a reading of 52PSI. Which I experimentally raised to 70PSI to match my weight. Having read the Moustache instructions for setting the pressures for the suspension. 

 The handlebars lifted as I pumped. Though the forks still sank when I leaned on the bars. Pumping is easy and rose about 1PSI per stroke. Thanks to the small bore and narrow hose. I shall enjoy experimenting with different pressures. Though I have yet to play with the rear suspension strut. Moustache suggested double the rider's weight at the back, as a first trial. Both systems will be affected by the loads being carried in addition to the rider. Not to mention personal taste and riding style. 

 12.30 Back from the village, newly shorn. The young lady hairdresser was excellent. She was attentive, gentle, skilled and did a good job. Though I now smell like the proverbial "tart's handbag." I went to the garden centre and a charity shop afterwards. Looking, in vain, for more ceramic pots for my dark foliage collection. Several plants have blown over in the gales. I added a very dark grass to balance out the group. 

 The sun came out through speckled, high cloud. So I brought out the solar telescope for another trial. Not ideal conditions but the telescope is now performing as expected. The cloud soon became too dense to continue.

 Dinner was sausage, mushrooms and boiled potatoes. 

  

 ~o~

6.08.2025 Give me sunshine.

 ~o~

  Wednesday 6th 55F/13C. Bright overcast. Scattered showers and windy. 

 Up at 6.15 after a much quieter night.

 Vital grocery shopping required. I overlooked the lack of reserve bags of porridge and olive oil. Both can be found in a supermarket in the next village to the north at 10km. They open at 7am so an early ride makes sense. 

 My Lunt LS60MT solar telescope on my Manfrotto CF tripod. Special filters make the telescope safe for viewing the sun in deep red, "Hydrogen-alpha" light.

 I just checked the sag on the front forks at 28mm. Which is a bit excessive but safe. It will provide a softer ride than previously. I have ordered a new pump and a Schrader fitting hose online. So I will have tighter control of pressures in future. Even take the mini pump with me in the panniers.

 7.45. Ready to go. It's quite chilly. So I'll wear a jumper under my cycling jacket. Fingered gloves and a GripGrab aviator cap will also help.

 7.50-8.50 A 20km ride to the shops and back. With quite a strong crosswind shrieking in my Oticon hearing aids. Two standard items missing from stock. I was trying much harder on the way. Averaging 30-35kph and 90rpm. More relaxed on the way back. Only 25-30kph. Lots more traffic later. The softer fork pressure made it feel much more comfortable on the dreadfully bumpy roads. They have been repeatedly dug up for an extension to the district heating. The softer ride certainly didn't feel any slower. 

 11.00 I had to come in to cool off and rest. I am dripping with sweat and knackered. After clearing the oak trees which I felled some time ago. The delayed graveling of the parking space didn't help. Nor having an excavator shoving the whole heap onto the garden. Where long grass grew through it. 

 I stacked the thicker branches and trunks on top of the chestnut firewood heap. To let it dry out naturally. The thinner stuff went down to the far end of the garden. Beyond the parking space. To provide a natural shelter for hedgehogs and salamanders. 

 I have been trying out my solar telescope. Having received it back from repair just before lunch. It seems promising but it has been very cloudy all day. With only brief glimpses of the sun. 

 Dinner was cheese on toast with halved tomatoes. Talking of which: I applied a cap full of Substral to my bucket of tomato plants. Along with 300ml of water.

  ~o~

5.08.2025 One step forwards..

 ~o~

  Tuesday 5th 58F/14.4C. Bright overcast. A mostly sunny day with showers. Peaking at only 18C/64F. It will be increasingly windy. Gusting to 18m/s [40mph] locally at 18.00 before falling to 10m/s. As storm Floris passes over northern Denmark on its way to Norway after crossing the UK. The ferries have been cancelled and restrictions placed on major, sea crossing bridges.

 Up at 6.40 after a typical night. I shall be visiting my English friend. Going a little later in the car. To give him time to clean up after his B&B guests have left. I would have enjoyed the ride but the rain is expected to arrive mid morning. Riding back against the strengthening wind in rain. Would not have been much fun. I am fortunate to be able to choose.

 A trip into Assens is required to obtain a valve extension. Car to car, Schrader type. To allow me to adjust the air pressure in the Suntour forks. The valve is sunk into a cylindrical recess in the top of the left fork stanchion. Making access very difficult with normal pumps.

 Right angle valve extension. 

 The pressures involved are not particularly high but need to be accurate. The air pressure adjusts sag and  suspension "softness" to applied dynamic loads. Shocks from bumps when riding. Sag is the sinking of the forks under the standard load of rider and normal loads. Things like panniers, U-locks, flasks and lunch. 

 20mm or 20% sag is recommended for my 100mm travel Suntour forks. Sag is measured by climbing aboard without touching the ground. The rubber, indicator band on the stanchion can be used for recording this drop. Or a narrow zip tie can be substituted. When the rubber band perishes in UV. 

 Right angle valve extension and track pump on front fork valve. 

 I touched the valve again and the pressure dropped substantially. I can now bottom the forks against the springs while applying the front brake. The air obviously has a major impact on the forks' behaviour. 

 I was hoping to use my Topeak track pump to reinflate the fork but it can't reach the valve. I don't think the volume of air is very large but I need to be able to finely control the pressure. 

 Ideally an old fashioned flexible hose, typical of low pressure pumps, would be ideal. To avoid applying side loads on the valve while pumping. These are available for car type, Schrader valves. Bike shops use a compact hand pump with a manometer. I have numerous pumps but none will fit. 

 My trip to Assens was successful. I found a 90º valve extension. The female part rotates on the valve. To allow the fitting to work in the recess. 

 14.00 Back from my visit. It was windy but pleasantly warm in almost constant sunshine. I shopped on the way home.

 The adapter failed to please. The first valve leaked as it was tightened and loosened. I discovered that the Topeak track pump worked. Though its huge volume made control of pressure very difficult. At least it worked and the forks could now be used. Ideally I want a mini-pump with a Schrader fitting hose. Or a Schrader hose which fits my Lezyne Mini Road Drive pump. I have just found one and will place an order online.   

 Now I am not so sure. Online homework suggests that specialist suspension pumps are deliberately small with high pressure capability. Tyre pumps are valued for volume rather than pressure. I could waste half the price of a dedicated suspension pump on a hose + P&P and be disappointed. I may as well order a proper suspension pump. 

 Dinner was a fry-up and chips. Organic, grill sausages, mushrooms and chips. The egg was not needed. 

 

  ~o~

4.08.2025 Suntour Mobie 45 "Air" forks get a bit of a "pifft."

 ~o~

  Monday 4th 58F/14.4C [7.45] A rather cloudy day is promised but mostly dry. More rain this evening.

 Up at 7am after a busy night at the bucket. Followed by serial clock watching. There was a crash at 3am. Which needed investigating but I found nothing. A book falling out of one of the countless boxes upstairs? There was a double impact. The initial fall and then tipping over. Perhaps I dreampt it?

 Motorway bridge and shuttering for a concrete bridge for the new HS railway line. 

 7.55 It is already brightening. Plans for today? I'll start with a walk and go on from there. 

 8.35 40 minutes walk in warm sunshine. I didn't need the jumper. A fire engine went past at speed. Blue flashing lights and sirens going. I could hear more sirens behind me but they must have taken another route. They didn't pass me. The traffic was about back to normal.

 10.40-12.20 35km ride to the north. A westerly wind with sunny periods. I went exploring the new HS railway line again. Little sign of progress where the roads have been re-opened. Huge quantities of subsoil have to be moved to level out the track bed. Not all of this is happening close to the roads of course. Denmark's undulating landscape may not vary much in altitude but it is anything but flat.

 Air valve on Suntour front forks. 

 The image above shows the shuttering for concrete. Where a new bridge will allow the railway to pass over this very minor road. As does the motorway bridge above me. Which gives some idea of the sheer scale of providing a near level track. I did some grocery shopping in the last village. 

I forgot to mention that I finally looked at the Suntour Mobie 45 'Air' front forks on my Moustache Friday FS 27 "Speed" e-bike. The indicator band on the stanchion has been sitting at about 40mm maximum travel from new. It is claimed to have 100mm travel but never showed it. 

 It feels as if there is no front suspension while riding. Nor when I apply the front brake at a standstill. Or leap up and down on the pedals while underway. As you do. And NO it isn't locked out on the provided lever. 

 So I unscrewed the chromed cap on the top left stanchion to see what was in there. A small air valve hidden in a security cylinder. Obviously intended to keep idiots away from the important little bits. Being exactly that sort of idiot I touched the valve tip. Or rather tapped its protruding pin with my nail. There was a short "pifft" and the handlebars  dropped slightly but noticeably. As if he forks had been sitting on excess air pressure all of this time. 

 Suntour front fork travel. 

 The front fork now had some suspension. I could get it to sink by applying the front brake. Bouncing on the pedals provided a satisfying overall spring. In combination with the rear suspension. Which has always bounced nicely. I had once seen a YT review video. With the rider demonstrating a matching bounce to both front and rear. I badly wanted some of that and now I finally have it. 

 I can report that today's ride was much more comfortable over raised and sunken drains. Asphalt road patches were no longer jarring. I can now maintain a straight line over bumps. Instead of avoiding them. No longer risking my life and aging limbs to following vehicles. 

 One presumes that the fork can easily be re-inflated given a suitable adapter. Simple Schrader valve extension. In case one was tempted to drop the pressure even further experimentally. The valve looks like a Shrader but is sunk into the circular depression. A quick check shows that I now have 58mm of travel indicated by the slip ring. That's a useful increase over 40mm. Could I have more by dropping the pressure further?

 It should said that these suspension forks may look like an MTB's. However they have a yellow, severe warning label against serious off-road use. No jumping or severe drops are allowed. Only casual use on gravel tracks and cycle paths. That sort of thing. They don't mention potholes and drains on normal roads!

 Dinner was poached eggs on toast. 

   

 ~o~