~o~
Tuesday 30th 50F/10C A day of sunny periods.
8.15 Rather dark grey and breezy outside. I still want my walk.
Only a short, brisk walk along the road.
Time to visit my English friend. We had a good chat over coffee and Danish pastries and I was back home again by about 12.30.
I spent the afternoon improving my telescope. Very pleased with the result. It will save me having to dispose of yet another item from my countless hobbies.
Dinner was sardines on toast.
~o~
~o~
Up at 6.30 thanks to dozing after a reasonable night.
I am expecting a parcel. So must remain home until it is delivered. He usually comes after lunch. So I shall have no excuse not to work on the carport. I might even sneak in some gardening.
I watered the outdoor plants yesterday. It hasn't rained for a while. The indoor plants sulk if I water them. They prefer to be ignored. Putting out healthy new leaves instead of dropping them.
8.15 Time for a short walk. I don't think there is any danger of the postman delivering this early.
8.30 Back again. Traffic busy and noisy. Brought the recycling bin back with me.
12.30 My parcel arrived.
15.30 Back indoors as it clouded over. Dark enough to suggest rain.
It didn't rain while it was light enough to see. Dinner was Sunday dinner but a day late. Chicken, mushrooms, boiled potatoes and peas. With Bisto gravy.
~o~
~o~
Up at 6.15 after another active night.
8-9am A walk up to the forest and back down by the edge of the fields. It was wet underfoot but manageable. Continuous sunshine and a light breeze. A beautiful morning. The windmills just happen to be in line of sight from the top of the climb. I was feeling fit today and walked briskly up the steep incline. It must be around 1-in-4 on the last slope.
11.20 Back indoors from digging holes for the carport foundation blocks.
12.20 Final hole dug. Now I need to level all four. The gravel falls away to the west. So the western pair of blocks will need to protrude slightly. I need a rest so I might as well prepare an early lunch.
I will wait until the sun has gone down. To use my laser level on the carport foundation blocks.
This worked well. Three blocks were level with each other. One was too high. Or not deep enough. Depending on one's viewpoint. A few second's work to correct this tomorrow. I also need to measure the diagonals. To ensure the blocks are equidistant on a true, 3m square. The moon is dull orange and sulking below the distant tree line to the SSW.
Dinner was two, perfect, poached eggs on toast.
~o~
~o~
Up at 7.15 after nodding off again. I woke much earlier and kept glancing at the clock. 6.15 seemed like a reasonable time to get up. I closed my eyes again and it was suddenly an hour later.
8.30 8.45 Time for a walk.
There was a sad climate story in the Danish news. Denmark's favourite tree, the beech, can't tolerate a warmer or drier climate. Beautiful beech trees dominate the landscape here. Covering 80,000 hectares of forest, woods and copses. The beech provides a unique and accessible woodland. With towering columns of grey trunks.
The wood burns well and is a favourite for wood stoves. It is no wonder that the beech is Denmark's national tree. It is even mentioned in the national anthem. Yet, at present rates of warming it may no longer exist in Denmark within 100 years.
I have taken thousands of pictures of beech trees since coming to Denmark. The image above is from fifteen years ago. Where a narrow, undulating road passes though the forest from a stately home. My trike is parked on the leaf laden verge. Beneath the gorgeous canopy of autumn colour. Yet another recycled bag is hanging on the trike. Ready to receive the day's shopping. This always beautiful lane often tempted me. To go the extra miles home from the village. Despite the steep hills and the noisy cobbles. Of the vast yards leading to them. Google Street View caught me climbing one of the hills on my trike. Bags of shopping dangling from the rear. That was back in 2010 too.
Enough of the nostalgia. I'm going to ride to the next shopping village to the south east. With its charity shops. It has become a bit of a habit. Going there every Saturday. This time I shall take alternative routes. To enjoy the scenery. Rather than the fastest route with the roaring traffic.
10.30 Sunshine. Time to go.
12.40 And back again after 39km. I was fighting the wind for the first half distance. Several cyclists went past. Going the other way. The Husqvarna robot mower was playing dead beside the road today. I was finally able to read the model number. Definitely a 450X. Talking to it with empathy and sympathy had no noticeable effect. There was no visible or audible reaction. This model has a capacity of 5000m^2 and costs up to £4000 equivalent. I stopped to grocery shop when I reached the village.
Dinner was fried chicken, mushrooms and chips.
~o~
~o~
Friday 26th 51F/10.6C [8.30] Clear, with wall to wall sunshine promised. Breezier from the SE. Reaching 15C this afternoon. 65F/18.3C in the room. The stove has helped maintain the indoor temperature. The soapstone cladding was nicely hot at bedtime. It goes on giving off heat for hours.
8.45 Up at 6.15 after an active night. Feeling slightly dizzy and rather unwell again. Intermittent, brief, stabbing pain in my right, upper chest. The pain was there when I woke at 5am. Indication of further heart/circulation problems? Muscle strain from Tuesday's 57km cycle ride? Why now and why not continuous pain? No breathing problems or sign of indigestion. Not dehydrated. Taking my prescribed tablets. Should I risk a gentle walk?
9.30 No walk yet but the pain has stopped.
Back from my walk. Eye wateringly windy. There was a strong smell of chemicals on the air. With the source most likely the whine from the tractor beyond the concealing hedges. I felt a bit wobbly at first but steadily improved. The newly sewn fields were attracting a lot of crows and seagulls. A keen cyclist passed at speed. No doubt helped along by the tailwind.
I need to go into town to buy a cable for connecting the telescope. Before or after lunch?
Before. Back from town with the cable I needed and another coconut door mat.
17.30 I have closed the doors and windows again. It wasn't going to get any warmer indoors. 68F/20C in the room. Warmer in the kitchen. I have loads of flakes from the firewood to burn. They get picked up by the shovel on the loader. As it scrapes along the ground. A single log on top lasts until bedtime.
Dinner was a fry-up. Organic chops, mushrooms and an egg on wholegrain toast. The latter could be considered more healthy than fried bread. Besides, there was no room in the frying pan.
~o~
~o~
Finally got up at 6.00 after waking much earlier. Feeling a bit dizzy.
Cooking class today. I'll go in the Morris.
8.00 Back from my walk. It was cold on my hands as the blinding sun rose over the hill. The ponies came to see me. The traffic roared. I took to the grass verges now they have been shorn. Drivers approaching would have the sun in their eyes. I wore the recycled, pile lined, fleece jacket again. It is proving a good purchase at about £8 equivalent.
13.30 Back from cooking class. I had dizzy spell while I was there. I went for a walk in the fresh air and it went away. I made potatoes. Boiled and fried with bacon pieces and finely chopped onions. Then into the oven. I suppose they were a form of roast potatoes.
I felt very tired when I got home. So I have just had a short nap.
8.30 It was too cloudy this afternoon to get any heat from the greenhouse. It was hovering at 64F/17.8C indoors and has remained so into the evening. The thin fleece jacket wasn't warm enough. So it's back to the pile lined one. I should light the stove of course. And now have. Using flakes and scrap of firewood. Of which I have loads. No kindling required. Just a firelighter.
~o~
~o~
Wednesday 24th 37F/2.8C [7.30] It must have been close to a first frost. Another cool, autumn day. With lots of sunshine. The overnight cold has dropped the room temperature to 63F/17C. I am quite comfortable in a fleece jacket over my light jumper. I'll put off lighting the stove until the sunshine ends. Borrow some heat from the greenhouse to boost the indoor temperature later.
Up at 6.50 after dozing for an hour. I woke at 5am but decided it was too early. My hands and wrists are hurting again. Probably from yesterday's ride. I had better stay off the bike today. The holes for the carport foundation blocks need to be finished. Two done, one half done and one untouched. I ran into a tree root in the third hole. Then it was dry and the ground was too hard.
8.50 Back from a walk. Still, a cloudless sky and bright sunshine. The fields are already green. Only a couple of days after ploughing and seed drilling. I chatted with my nice neighbour about his new electric car. As his two small dogs explored the drive. His cat was there too. I was comfortable in my new [recycled] pile lined, fleece jacket.
11.40 57F/14C. I have been outside. Trying to capture images of the sun. My fleece jacket is proving very useful. Perfectly comfortable sitting outside in the shade.
14.30 Back in after capturing some more images of the sun. The routines are coming back to me now. Without the internet I can't unload the pictures from the mini-PC.
17.20 Constant sunshine. Back from the shops in the Morris. Which is still looking as lovely as ever. Thanks to my sister's excellent, and very thorough, valet service. No journey is complete without admiring glances and usually a chat. A vintage Land Rover driver raised his vintage hat to me today.
Dinner was an organic, pork chop, brown organic mushrooms and boiled, organic potatoes.
~o~
~o~
Tuesday 23rd 40F/4.4C [7.00] The cooler, autumn weather continues. Wall to wall sunshine but peaking at only 15C/59F. Much less windy today. Gusting to 6m/s. Temperatures are falling slowly indoors. 66F/19C this morning. I can borrow the sun's heat from the greenhouse. Though it currently only at a rather chilly 48F/9C out there.
Up at 6am after an average night. Only a sub-micro apple juice after dinner. No coffee. 10.30 bedtime.
9.30 No walk. Riding over to my friend's place.
14.00 Back from visiting my friend. A 57km round trip. Grocery shopping on the way home. There were no bread rolls in the supermarket.Going well. I was averaging over 30kph on the way with a very light tailwind. A light headwind coming home. Every time I rode into the shade of trees, or woods, it felt as if the temperature dropped 10ºC.
The previously unused, brown, Brooks B17 felt hard but mostly, surprisingly okay. I was wearing my best [Assos] bibs. Which probably helped. The Bosch battery dropped to well into the Orange danger zone from 100%. I decided not to stop and swap batteries.
I passed the Husqvarna mower. Busy making stripes on the school lawns near the road again. I think it was a 450XE NERA. Rear wheel drive. A top of the range model capable of caring for 7500 m^2 of lawns.
I should have taken a picture to confirm the model number. There is also a 405XE NERA. With front wheel drive and only 900 m^2 capacity. I can't be absolutely certain of the accuracy of my memory now.
A lazy afternoon on the computer. Dozing at intervals.
Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast. Washed down with a small glass of locally pressed, apple juice.
~o~
~o~
Up at 6.00 after an active night. After dinner milky coffee didn't help.
48F/9C [9.00] Back from a 35 minute walk. The first cold day this autumn. Though the wind wasn't too much of a problem. I had to put my hands in my jacket pockets.
The prairie is still being ploughed. Flocks of small birds are moving about. Perhaps preparing to leave for warmer climes.
I played with my telescope indoors. In between wasting another day online. Doing homework and watching reviews of telescopes.
It remained mostly sunny. Out of doors. Which brought the lean-to greenhouse up to a toasty 38C/100F. So I opened the internal, hall door to warm the house. The kitchen and living room rose from 18C to 21C. It doesn't sound like much but the difference was well worth the measured increase. More importantly it didn't cost anything.
Dinner was fish fingers and chips. With a few fresh, cherry tomatoes.
~o~
~o~
Up at 6.45 after a busy night and more weird dreams.
8.20 No walk yet. It's not fair. The rainfall radar shows a narrow strip of rain passing lengthways over us. It keeps becoming very dark and the rain roars down. As the trees and hedges bend to the gusty wind.
10.00 Sunshine. Walkies. I had barely reached the road before a female Kestrel appeared. It was heading straight into the wind when it saw me. Changed its mind and vanished behind the trees downwind.
The roadside poplars are getting very tall. Many with overhanging branches. Which could catch tall container lorries, excavators on trailers and agricultural implements. Lots of overhanging roses and brambles too. Cyclists are at risk.
Most of the day was spent on the computer. Learnin' stuff. Telescopes, astronomy. cameras, software, reviews..
Dinner was a huge mound of salad. Helped down by Heinz salad cream.
~o~
~o~
Up at 7.15 after several earlier failures to rise from my bed.
I was greeted by an all black, ferret-like creature on the security camera. It ran across the gravel at 7.15am. There is a hint of brown to its fur in the still image.
I might have a ride to another shopping village. If I can squeeze a short walk into my busy schedule. No.
11.10 Back from a 27km ride. Let's call the new saddle variable. I wore an old pair of padded cycling shorts under my cargo trousers. This seemed to help my comfort levels most of the time. Thanks also to the slightly upward tilt of the saddle. I was going well despite the headwind on the way.
A charity market hall on the industrial estate had moved into the high street. Bringing more foot traffic. It was nicely arranged on shelving. Instead of the former untidy tables. Though I couldn't find anything I wanted. So I rode down to the next charity shop. Where I was delighted to find a dark grey, fleece jacket with thick pile, fawn lining. Slightly generous in size for wearing over winter jumpers if needed. The jacket will come in very handy. For watching TV or out in the greenhouse solar imaging.
After some grocery shopping, to stock up the larder, I headed home. On the way back I passed a robot lawnmower working near the road. It had a huge area to cover in the grounds of a school. Probably thousands of square meters. With winding paths, parking areas, steep sided undulations and flower beds to negotiate. I was really very impressed by the neat stripes and perfect, short sward. So I followed it along a winding path to try to identify the manufacturer.
The mower was heading for its recharging station. So I was lucky to catch it. Just before it was almost hidden from view in its neat, grey, plastic garage. It was a Husqvarna. Though I couldn't identify the model. It was all grey and quite large. So probably a bigger domestic model for private use. Their professional models are usually orange. For increased visibility. As it had become shy and hidden itself on my approach. I had no time to capture a picture. The model number should have been visible on the nose. I'll check next time I am in the village.
I am used to seeing large, ride-on mowers racing around these same lawns. Sometimes causing real damage to the grass. Due to the haste and very rough maneuvering of the idiot contractors. Nor did their noisy mowers pick up the cut grass. The Husqvarna was incredibly quiet and traveled at a calm but useful speed. There was absolutely no sign of any imperfections. The stripes even carried down into the deep, but smooth channels and up the other side. Probably a bit more expensive than some budget makes and models. £1500-2500? Though I'd say the immaculate appearance of the sprawling lawns was worth every penny.
I spent a couple of hours outside this afternoon. Trying to capture the sun through cloud. Not with any great success.
It became steadily more cloudy. Rain by 18.00. Heavy showers after dark.
Dinner was poached eggs on toast.
~o~
~o~
I feel the need for a ride but the strong SW winds have been demotivating. As are the pains in my hands and wrists. I can't be any more upright on the e-bike. The handlebar stem is as short as they go. Hand and wrist pain on longer rides has been a problem for years. I bought a swept back pair of handlebars to go with the short stem. So I have reduced the load on my hands as much as possible.
The well-used [but laced] B17 surprised me with its increased comfort. Over the wider saddles I have been using. I have an unused, dark brown B17 which needs breaking in. It would look much nicer and less obvious. Than the faded honey of the old saddle from the trike. The red tape marks the width of my 110mm sit bone spacing.
8.50 I'll have a short walk first. A large tractor with doubled wheels all round was dragging a giant seed drill up and down the prairie. While the tractor doing the ploughing was busy further over. My neighbour was walking her fierce little dog. It chased me for some distance down the drive. Barking madly all the while.
It have added Proofide to the brown B17. I'll swap the saddles over before leaving for Assens. The difference in length is due to stretch of the honey coloured saddle over the years. As it was repeatedly re-tensioned. The light coloured saddle is easily depressed. With the fingers or thumbs. The brown one feels like it is sculpted in stone, solid wood, or concrete. I had better wear some padded cycling shorts!
10.30 I have buffed the brown saddle with a cloth. Just to save getting my shorts greasy. Off we go.
This seemed to help. Further aided by the time I spent in each shop. Which gave me time to recover. The return journey was much less painful. Not to mention much more comfortable with a tailwind.
I saw several super sports cars. A Bentley and a Porsche were models I had never seen before. Long and low and very, very wide. Very beautiful too to my eyes. I think both were electric. There was no sound as they overtook me.
Now I am cross! The cheaper one is identical but larger! It fits the full width of the front hall against the battery recharging cupboard. I'll have to get some more of these for the entrance hall. The smaller one looks out of place out there. Winter means stuff sticks to wet shoes and gets dragged indoors.
Dinner was chicken, mushrooms and cauliflower. With Bisto gravy. Because it looked too naked without.
~o~
~o~
Up at 5.15 after an unusually quiet night. I was restless after waking earlier.
We'll see what the day brings. When it is light enough to see anything.
Last night I was experimenting with different software on my solar telescope mounting and astro camera. The move to a smaller instrument. On a relatively tiny mounting. Has required me to discover some new ways. To manage what was once completely routine. In my (now demolished) observatory.
The HP keyboard worked perfectly. Allowing me to communicate wirelessly with the mini-PC. Without the hindrance of connecting cables. Where there is/was a severe lack of USB3 ports. I found my 4-way USB3 hub. Previously hidden in the tubs of stuff I'd salvaged from the observatory.
Ironically Bluetooth worked fine between the mini-PC and the mounting. So the mini-PC is definitely transmitting BT. Why it was not similarly doing so via Wi-Fi is quite another matter. One which will have to be further investigated.
For all our reliance on technology and software. There is a remarkable lack of reliability. YouTube is stuffed with videos. Where supposed experts try to rescue us from the bottleneck of our dumb "intelligent technology" toys. Yet the AI, which now pops up on so many of my searches. Is very useful for solving problems or providing clear definitions of the abstruse. Which no amount of Google's utterly corrupt, hard sell results. Would ever hint at in the past.
8.40 Back from a half hour walk. Lots of traffic. A large tractor, pulling a 6x6 flip-over plough, was making steady progress across the prairie. The wide stripes he made were clearly visible from a great distance. Though not in the phone photo above.
11.40 Back from the shops in the Morris.
I spent the afternoon cloud watching outside with my telescope. Just re-learning the routines.
Dinner was a sausage and mushroom omelette. The trick is to wear an oven glove. When flipping it onto the plate.
~o~
~o~
Wednesday 17th 54F/12.2C [8.00] Bright but cloudy start. With more showers and wind than sunshine.
Up at 7.15 after a quiet night. I glanced at the clock at 5am. Had a weird dream about competing with a girl for the use of a triangular office. Then it was 7.15.
I am off to the city to buy an HP650 Wireless keyboard and mouse. I shan't bother with the HP mouse. I still have at least three, working, Logitech M705 mice. All I needed was a reliable Plug and Play. WIRELESS keyboard for my new Mini-PC. I ordered a "wireless" keyboard online. All I got was Logitech's Bluetooth crap! With the built-in, Guaranteed, Plug and Play, Logitech, hours of time wasting!
Life is too short, for Logitech!© They can use that in their next advertising campaign. At my expense, of course.
14.10 Back from the city. Where it was mostly sunny. Except for a shower. While I was in the giant mall. The ground was wet when I exited.
The HP 650 keyboard worked the moment I inserted the batteries, the USB receiver and switched on. Just as one would expect in 2025. The keys have a different feel but I like it. Short stroke, crisp action and not too noisy.
Dinner was cheese on toast. No tomatoes. I'd run out. No pictures.
~o~
~o~
Tuesday 16th 55F/12.8C [7.00] A wet start followed by showers. Possibly with thunder. This afternoon might see some sunshine. The gusty wind is slightly lower at 17m/s peak.
Up at 6.00 after a fairly quiet night.
I shall be visiting my English friend. Going in the Morris of course.
And back again. With a huge bag of shopping on the way home.
I spent the afternoon trying to take pictures of the sun through thick cloud. It rained several times too!
Dinner was organic sausage with peas and chips.
~o~
~o~
Monday 15th 55F/12.8C [7.15] Two days of gales and heavy rain are forecast!
Up at 6.45 after a quiet night. Very dark this morning. Misty drizzle on the greenhouse.
8.45 Back from a short walk. Looping around the neighbours' drives. To get away from the traffic. Blowing a gale already. Peaking at around 20m/s later. I was nearly taken out on the blind corner where our drive starts. None of them was driving within their braking distance. All of them relying on some delusion of having commuter autopilot. All of them too close to the vehicle in front. Despite 5km/3miles of solid, double white lines.
How many lives would they risk? To gain one place in the endless queue to nowhere? How many microseconds would they save on their journey? Before wasting their entire day away. Staring at their phone. For life's true meaning to be revealed.
I brought the two, recycling wheely bins back with me. From the junction of the drive where they are emptied. The ponies weren't impressed by the racket I made. No containers or workers now.
11.45 The heaviest rain I remember seeing. It soon stopped and now the sun has come out.
Their dummy chatbot keeps demanding the serial number. I keep entering the serial number. The idiot keeps asking for the serial number. I keep entering the serial number. Until the universe grows cold? If this is what AI customer Support is going to be like. Then it is lucky nobody will be able to afford food. Let alone technology.
I checked the supplied new batteries. 1.6V each. And yes, I remembered to pull the insulating strip from both batteries.
Dinner was sardines on toast. With halved, cherry tomatoes.
~o~
~o~
Sunday 14th 52F/11C [7.00] A mixed day of sunshine and showers. It may reach 19C/66F.
Still here. Up at 5.50 after a bit of clock watching and a fairly quiet night. The chest pains stopped before bedtime. The nitroglycerine spray is almost instant in its beneficial effects. My heart was beating wildly and completely erratically. No recognizable pattern to the rhythm. Even a sense of a repeated mechanical clap.
The advice was to call an ambulance if I ever had chest pains. I don't want to bother anybody with a false alarm. Particularly during the night. I carry the spray full time. Even though it says not to carry it in your pocket. How else am I supposed to have it handy on a walk, ride or drive? I feel oddly free of fear about dying. Almost relaxed. It has to happen some time. I just don't want it to hurt!
11.00 Going shopping in the car.
The afternoon was sunny. So I spent some time outside setting up my solar telescope. Then capturing some videos. Not processed yet.
Sunday dinner was chicken, mushrooms, peas, boiled potatoes and Bisto gravy. It was perfect. I washed up while I was cooking.
~o~
~o~
Saturday 13th 54F/11.7C [7.15] Very, very dark! And quite windy. We are promised some sunshine this morning. Once the cloud has cleared. More rain this afternoon. Though the worst of it is currently forecast to slide past to the west of us. Golden light has just illuminated the tops of the western trees.
Up at 6.00 after a middling sort of night.
12.50 A power cut. The main switch had tripped. I had just switched on the kettle. Otherwise I am not using much electricity at all. Everything went back to normal when I pushed the switch back on. The kettle came back on and boiled as usual. It boiled later as well. Very odd.
I have spent the rest of the day successfully setting up astronomical equipment. I dragged it all outside. Only for it to immediately cloud over. Of course the sun came out a bit later.
Dinner was a huge pile of salad.
11.00 I was watching TV. Nothing exciting. When I started getting chest pains at about 10.45. My heart seemed to be working far too hard despite my being relaxed. I have used the nitroglycerine spray. It has helped.
I have an emergency bag of clothing inside the main [back] door and left the door unlocked. In case I need to call an ambulance. I have charged my phone and will leave it by my bed. Along with the charger and my hearing aids. I had nothing with me when I last went into hospital. I didn't know I would be needing it in advance.
11.15 Bed time.
~o~
~o~
Friday 12th 55F/12.8C [8.00] A cloudy morning with sunny periods. Will be followed by potentially heavy rain this afternoon. Aided and abetted by a gusty wind.
Up at 6.15 after a mixed night. One minute I was clock watching at 5am and wondering whether to get up. The next it had gone six.
No walk again today. I have an appointment at the dentist at 10am. In the next shopping village to the north. If I go early I can shop beforehand. Get back early.
In case the parcel delivery service gets its act together. They sent me notification of delivery yesterday. It is still showing in my emails and on my phone. Despite the parcels still sitting in their German facility after 24 hours.
Now the parcels are in Denmark. Having arrived at midnight at their local sorting facility. I am still awaiting an update for delivery today. No delivery at the weekends. Will they? Won't they? I had better stop waffling and have my shower.
10.40 Back from my short trip in the car. A lady said nice things about the Morris. I bought another plant. Indoor this time. Variegated lanceolate leaves. Dieffenbachia.
Those working on the district heating expansion had left up an old, detour sign on a mini roundabout. Placed there weeks ago when the main road surface was being relaid. Now sending hundreds of cars through a new housing estate at low speed. With multiple ramps and humps. Then exit out of a difficult junction. Down a steep hill. To find the road is completely dug up. A vast hole blocking their exit. Though no sign of any workers.
Which means the drivers now have to reverse uphill. Back into the turning for a small industrial estate. Just to be able to turn around. Then retrace their steps [slowly] back to the main road. Where the traffic is moving normally. Without hindrance from any roadworks. I guarantee this detour sign will be remain forgotten for the entire weekend. Possibly for weeks more. Sending yet more traffic on a fool's errand.
12.15 A roaring downpour and a loud clap of thunder!
12.25 Still tipping down. Increasing constantly. It continued to shower heavily on and off until the evening.
Dinner was a fry-up of chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes and an egg. Helped down with a buttered bread roll. No drink at all tonight.
I went out to lock up and a bat was circling.
~o~
~o~
Thursday 11th 53F/11.7C. Bright morning followed by more rain after lunch. The overnight mist has mostly lifted. Both rain gauges are showing just under 20mm. Hardly surprising with several roaring downpours. They had flooding from the heavy rain in Germany yesterday. Germany is spread out just to the south of Denmark. For those who are geographically challenged.
Up at 6.30 after a very disturbed night. No nap and only a small glass of apple juice with dinner just before 7pm. I should have slept well but lost count of the number of trips to the fire bucket.
I don't feel up to going to cooking class today. I have been having slight headaches and dizziness for a couple of days. Probably from spending too much time on the computer.
I have regained my enthusiasm for solar astronomy and imaging. So I have a lot to catch up on. New techniques and equipment. To build a whole new photographic system. One which I can manage unaided by ropes and pulleys. It must be lightweight enough to allow me to carry it all. Out into the sunshine. Rather than remaining ready for use in my [now demolished] observatory.
I had an afternoon nap. To stop myself from dozing off while seated.
Dinner was poached eggs on toast.
~o~
~o~
Wednesday 10th 61F/16C [8.00] Uniformly grey. With rain on the way. Possibly heavy with thunder.
Up at 7.15 after dozing for hours. A much quieter night but with weird dreams.
My back and wrist are still hurting. Walking doesn't help the wrist. No problem lifting the milk carton this morning. I ought to go for my walk before the rain starts.
The neighbour's cat is sitting on the temporary wall of foundation blocks. He walks back and forth to his own house hour after hour. Walking miles or kilometers every day and night. 300m round trip. Again and again. He triggers the smart cameras.
Talking of walking: I have worn the soles of my Sorel, lightweight walking boots smooth.
8.45 I only walked a couple of hundred meters along the road today. Just far enough for my back pain to subside.
10.30 Stair rods! Tipping down! Cloudburst. Pick one. Or all of them!
There were further cloudbursts throughout the day and evening.
I spent the day on the computer. Lazy git!
Dinner was a salmon pasty, pasta, peas, and tinned tomatoes.
~o~
~o~
Tuesday 9th 58F/14.4C [8.00] A bright start leading to showers this afternoon. [This evening.]
Up at 7am after being awake for hours in the night. I got up and sat on the computer for three hours. 2-5am.
8.10 Time for a walk.
I had a hearing test in Assens at 13.00. They sent me to see the specialist just up the main street. Where I was tested again after having my ear wax scraped. I have another appointment with the specialist in November. My left ear is getting worse. More deaf.
Having arrived back at home I had a very late lunch.
Then I drove into the village to shop and to collect my package. Containing the Schuko extension cord. Duly fitted. Ordered on Sunday afternoon. So Tuesday delivery is really next day service.
I couldn't stay awake. So I had a 30 minute timed nap.
Dinner was sausage, mushrooms, an egg and chips.
~o~
~o~
Up at 6.30 after a very wakeful night!
8.50 Back from my walk. I met my nice neighbours walking their dogs and cat. Stopped for a chat. Traffic rather busy. No sign of the builders this morning. I dragged the recycling bin back with me.
10.00 Morning coffee over. Whoops! My right hand is struggling to lift a 1kg milk carton without severe pain! I had better let it rest. So no e-biking or heavy work in the garden or at home.
More home improvements? I was discussing kitchen door removal with my sister while she was visiting. It seemed impossible to just fold the door back into the corner. Not unless I moved all the furniture well to the left. My recycling cupboard would then become much more accessible and is quite easy to move.
The IKEA high level cupboard can also be emptied and moved. Though it would presently be in the way of the door when folded back. I positioned the IKEA cupboard to clear the new, tall fridge freezer on the left. So the fridge and both cupboards would have to be moved perhaps 15cm to the left.
The fridge has plenty of room behind the other kitchen door. Which leads to the [rear] main entrance hall. The problem is the rather short Schuko terminated cable on the Vestfrost fridge. Which plugs into a brand new Schuko socket. Recently fitted at great expense by an electrician. Who's van became completely stuck on my [previously] soft parking place. The socket is on the right hand wall in the corner but would have been better mounted on the back wall. The cable will not reach if I move the fridge to the left.
I did a search for Schuko extension leads. Several outlets had 2m leads with a very flat plug. Which would allow the door to lie much closer to the right hand wall than with a standard [90º] plug. Cable duly ordered online.
There would need to be an annual emptying and removal of the two cupboards. To allow the door to be folded back into the corner in early summer. Back again to normal service in the autumn. To allow the door to keep the heat in! The kitchen is currently heated in winter only with an oil-filled radiator. No central heating or heat pump. I am still waiting for a breakthrough in heating technology. One which doesn't cost a fortune to fit or to run. Wet heat pumps wouldn't pay for themselves until the great grandchildren inherit the place from their own parents.
I haven't had much luck with doors fitted with draught stripping. It makes them difficult to close properly due to the spring effect! The sponge rubber strips are simply too stiff and won't compress! Regardless of their exorbitant pricing!
Door folded right back. Taken with G9 and 12-60mm wide angle lens.
Removing the kitchen door from its hinges would require it be parked somewhere else. The kitchen ceiling is low and has exposed beams. Moving the heavy, fully glazed door would become increasingly difficult with advancing age. Not to mention reduced strength and fitness. Folding it back would be optimum. Despite the repeated fiddling with the cupboards at long intervals.
A much simpler solution would be to move everything to the left. Leaving the door hung as it is. This would improve access to the cupboards but still requires a longer lead on the fridge. I found an extension lead. The Schuko lead can replace it when it arrives in a couple of days.
Wider angle from my phone camera. One+ Nordic 0.6x.
I had to move the IKEA support rail to the left. Before lifting the cupboard and rehanging it on the rail. Minus the doors and shelf to reduce the weight. So much for resting!
I replaced the doors, shelf and all the produce. Brought back the plastic baskets holding the bread rolls and fruit. Job done. Not a great image but I couldn't get far enough away. Not with the G9 and 12-60mm wide angle. [Image above] And yes, I should have painted the wall white first. Or even the door as well. I don't think my right hand could cope with painting at the moment.
Unbelievable! It is so much easier not having to juggle with the kitchen door. Even the fridge is easier to access. The cupboards are now effortless. One less door to open. When carrying coffee or tea to the living room. I am very pleased with this simple improvement.
18.00 It is 75F/24C in the room but I am feeling cold in my t-shirt!
Dinner was cheese on toast with halved cherry tomatoes.
~o~
~o~
Sunday 7th 52F/11C [7.00] Another sunny, late summer day. Peaking around 21C/70F. Breezy from the east/SE. Some child has been doodling on the sky with a soft pink brush.
Up at 6.25 after a very quiet night. Weird dreams and some dozing were involved.
A walk first to ease my lower back pain. My right hand and wrist hurt. Probably the result of having to tighten levers and knobs on the bike carrier. I may also have been overdoing it on the gardening and tidying. Not to mention having to stir the Danish marmalade. The last several jars have been solid peel on top and watery jelly underneath. No names. No pack drill.
8.15 Back from a short walk. Sunday traffic was very quiet. There was a lot of thin, high cloud. In streaks and splodges. A few vapour trails hanging about. The hedgerows are full of berries. My aching back was soon cured.
The neighbour's cat clearly wanted to talk. Unfortunately I don't speak cat. So it wandered off after letting me stroke it's wet fur. Very unusual. It usually keeps a very wide berth. Perhaps it was complaining about the lack of rodents in my garden. Which it visits constantly. Day and night according to my security cameras.
16.20 Returned from shopping in the village by Morris. Lovely weather. Lots of people about.
I took the recycling bin along to the corner to be emptied. I am not sure how well the lorry driver will cope. With the container/skip parked just there.
Sunday Dinner was organic sausage. With mushrooms, peas, mashed potato and Bisto gravy.
~o~
~o~
Up at 5.15 after an unusually quiet night. I woke at 5.00 and couldn't go back to sleep.
B17 "Special" in 2014.
It might be a good day for a ride. Changing the saddle to the well worn Brooks B17 saddle was a surprise. It did very well on my only proper ride on it. Albeit while wearing the obscenely expensive, Assos bibs.
The B17 is supposed to be for a more forward leaning, riding posture. My light tan, B17 has copper rivets and I laced it very early on its life. Which. as in previous examples, when the leather skirts are punched and laced, extended its life almost indefinitely.
https://pedal-trikes.blogspot.com/2013/05/hi-honey-im-home-brooks-b17-champion.html
7.30-8.15 My morning walk. The three deer were grazing on the prairie again. I was standing beside the road for ages. Snapping away with my G9 and the Leica 50-200mm. Trying to capture the decorative mist in the background while the trio moved about in various configurations and poses. I was moving slowly forward as the doe kept looking up. Eventually they panicked and ran for cover. Hundreds of meters away. Once they had gone I risked the spray tracks on the damp fields. Fortunately the ground was firm.
Distant Munkebo cranes on the wharf seen from Fynshoved.
I fancied a tour around the north east point of Fyn. It is too far for comfort on the e-bike. What if I drive there in the Morris? With the e-bike on the rear carrier. I really haven't done that enough.
9.40 e-bike loaded on the Buzzrack. Scorpion-1.
10.30 Time to go. Showered, lunch packed, apple drinks.
I arrived at Fynshoved [Fyns Head] at 12.00. Ate a roll, unloaded the e-bike and rode 35km. I saw dozens of cyclists today. There was even the annual road race. e-bikes everywhere. I left at 14.10 and arrived back at home at 15.30. It was a perfect day. Solid sunshine but not too hot.
Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast.
~o~
