2.05.2026

 ~?~

  Saturday 2nd 67F/19C [9.30] Another sunny day. Expected to peak at 22C/71F. It is already close to that! A bit breezier than yesterday. Mostly S-SW. 67F/19C in the room without any heating. 71F/22C in the greenhouse. 

 Up at 7.30 after several failed attempts. My back is still hurting. No ill effects from yesterday's 95km foolishness.

  No walk. My hip/back/buttock weren't up to it.

 I wasted ages trying to get my security cameras to work on the phone app and mini-PC. The camera passwords were not recognized. Despite them working perfectly well on the same network on the old PC. 

 My new printer worked straight out of the box. I needed it to print the 8 pages of advice and information for the coming heart scan. Sent as a file from the hospital after my old HP printer had stopped working.  

  

  ~?~

1st May 2026 Happy Birthday Sue!

 ~?~

  Friday 1st 47F/8C [7.30] Yet another sunny day. Peaking at 19C this afternoon. Light SW breeze.

 Up at 6am after a typical night. My back feels slightly improved for the moment.

 Happy Birthday to my sister Sue!  🎉🥳

 I have been wandering up and down the drive. Taking pictures of the next door's overgrown hedge. The white building in the foreground is a shed. The house is lost behind the hedge.

 Then I sent a secure email to the county council asking for advice. With attached images to show the problem. It is a bank holiday today. So it will be a few days before I hear anything.

 A walk should be possible this morning. Followed by a ride. It would be a shame to waste such a pleasant day.

 8.30 Back from a loop around the neighbours' drives on the back field. Warm sunshine and no wind. I even sprinted down the drive! 

 9.00 Bike battery still on charge. The hedges are beginning to rock in the wind. It's only supposed to gust to 6m/s. I haven't decided where to go yet. I might ride to Ringe. Along the old railway cycle path. Gorgeous countryside and very unspoilt. About 36km each way. I had better wear my padded bibs! [Cycle shorts with braces] I will take two batteries. It's a shame the best garden center on Fyn has closed. 

 10.30 Almost ready to go. I have decided to ride to Korinth. To explore the lakes.

 16.15 72F/22C! Returning from a 95km/60 mile ride to Ringe and back via Korinth. I am hot and knackered. Swapped batteries at 70km. Ate three Corny sub-micro chocolate bars and drank three small boxes of organic apple juice.

 17.30 I just had a half hour nap to recover. My neighbour is shredding the branches I cut down last year. He had a lot of material from cutting the face of the hedge which adjoins his field. Which was just left where it dropped until now. Goody! That will save me worrying about disposal of my contribution to deforestation.

 Dinner was a salmon pasty and chips. I washed up while it cooked.

 I siphoned half of the water out of the indoor aquarium. Hoovering the gravel will have helped. The algae build up suggested too much in the way of nutrients. I also added an internal filter to stir things up and remove the disturbed particulates. I had been running a full under-gravel filter but it obviously wasn't enough.

  

 

  ~?~

30.04.2026 PC disaster!

 ~?~

  Thursday 30th 8.30 Last night my PC started playing up. I couldn't get any mouse or keyboard to work. The Desktop Icons had also disappeared. When the keyboard and mouse did occasionally worked. The apps I opened from the taskbar didn't expand onto the screen. Just tiny windows along the bottom. With no way to make them function normally. 

 Searching Chrome for the problem on my phone didn't help. The suggestions all needed normal screen and input access.

 This morning I wasted two more hours without success. So I have connected up my mini-PC. Which I normally only use for video astronomy. Finally I have Internet access, a mouse and a keyboard. The LG monitor continues to misbehave. So I have connected up an old 28" monitor.

 I am expecting the new house doors to be delivered today. Which added to the stress. In case I needed my email service. Which I have avoided using on the mini-PC. In case it distracted from my capturing astronomical videos.

 I closed the mini-PC and connected my 32" LG 4K monitor via HDMI. On restarting it woke up with normal behaviour. Except for re-scaling. The security cameras have stopped working on the mini-PC after a software update. The old PC is still working fine with the cameras.

 10.00 59F/15C. Up at 6.45. Back still hurting. Bright sunshine. Another sunny day is promised. 66F/18C in the room. 72F/22C in the greenhouse.

 11.00 I walked slowly to the end of the drive and back. The old PC is still working with the old 28" monitor. The almost new HP keyboard is now misbehaving on the mini-PC! Now replaced by an old Logitech keyboard with the letters worn away.

 11.45 The doors have arrived. The lorry was struggling for width as it fought the overhanging larch hedge of the absent neighbour. The driver suggested I get in touch with the kommune [council] planning department. To get permission to cut the towering hedge much lower. There is still no sign of a return to work by the builders. Who stripped the thatch off last year. Then left the drive in front covered in old toilets, sinks and bags of demolition debris! Obviously avoiding paying for recycling as a commercial business!

 Having backed the lorry down the drive to the boundary. We managed to drag the doors around to the rear of the house. Where they will be fitted. This was on his ordinary, factory style, pallet truck. With me pushing from behind it rolled quite well. Even on the gravel parking space. The driver was really very cheerful and helpful.

 Both doors are mounted upright on a single pallet and well wrapped. Looking rather like a modern Tardis. The question now is whether I am willing to pay hundreds of pounds equivalent for the doors to be fitted to the hovel. With my back in its present state. I am rather unfit to be doing the job myself. 

12.00 I have opened the internal doors and windows to get some free heat from the greenhouse. Already 100F/38C out there! 

 14.00 I am going to drive into the city. I am one mouse, one keyboard and a printer short of a set.

 17.00 65F/18C in warm sunshine. Back again. The first shop which claimed to have five Logitech mice in stock had none. Which was fine if you had driven 30km and just wanted to talk to a spaced out, hippy nerd. So I didn't buy the new printer and keyboard there either. I drove into the heavy traffic in the center and beyond. Welcome to Odense. Denmark's largest red light district!

 Guinness has had a 1000 sleeper spies observing and still cannot confirm a single, green traffic light. I watched and waited for five changes of light and didn't move two meters. Odense cannot build roundabouts. Because throughout history, no native Odenseonion inhabitant has ever independently invented the roundabout.

 So Odense is singularly responsible for 98% of Denmark's entire petrol consumption. While cars wait for hours for the lights to change from red. You'd think that electric cars would be the answer but Odenseonions are terrified  of their batteries going flat at a red light. Thereby making international
headlines. 

  With shops exceeding the size of several football fields. You'd think they'd have electric wheelchairs. For old farts like me with bad backs. The nice young man in the vast electronics store carried my new printer out to the car. 

 We were chatting in English too. Such service! I expect he was afraid I'd be on my hands and knees by then. Pushing the printer box ahead of me. As I crawled across the car park. Not a good look! Mind you, people would probably think I was just another drama queen influencer. 😊

 Dinner was mackerel in sunflower oil on toast with tomatoes. 

  

  ~?~

29.04.2026 Sprung spring.

 ~?~

  Wednesday 29th 42F/5.6C [7.30] Yet another sunny day. Expected to peak at 15C/59F in the late afternoon. 69F/21C in the room with the heat pump on all night. Remotely set to 17C/62F. Greenhouse at 44F/6.7C. Northerly breeze light and increasing as it becomes variable in direction.

 Up at 6.45 after a rather busy night with more weird dreams. 

 A visit to my English friend was postponed yesterday due to his B&B business demands. However tempting it might be to ride there today I shall be sensible and drive over. 64km[40miles] is a two battery ride at these lower temperatures. EV car owners who complain about 600kms per charge take note. Bosch e-bike batteries are a pitiful joke when it comes to range in Sport mode. Lighter bike batteries, with modern chemistry, are said to be decades away.

 Sport mode provides enough assistance for me [aged 79 and 70kg] to manage average pedal bicycle speeds on the flat  Using Turbo mode, for me to average the speed of a fit racing cyclist, would reduce the range even further. 

 Remember that the motor has to drag a massive all-up bicycle weight with it. The "Speed" models can supposedly reach 28mph or 45kph with motor assistance while continuously pedaling. A speed I very rarely see. Even on long, steep descents! They say extra weight helps here. I haven't noticed. 

 You can buy a complete racing bike. Which is lighter than a bare, Bosch battery alone. The Moustache Friday 27FS "Speed" bike weighs in excess of 30kg or 66lbs. Even more with panniers and enough spare kit for a modest ride. Including the vital ABUS U-lock. 

 I ought to weigh my normally loaded Moustache e-bike again with my digital scales. To get an accurate measurement. I can vaguely remember having done so. But when? Aha! Blog of 29th June last year in 2025. 

 https://pedal-trikes.blogspot.com/2025/06/29062025.html

 Let's call it 40kg with a spare battery, panniers and kit but without me aboard. 88lbs! A Tour de France bike weighs about 7.5kg or 16lbs. 5x times lighter! 

 13.30 Back from visiting my friend. On the way there I chose the most scenic and quietest route. Choosing narrow rural lanes over main roads. The Danish countryside is absolutely gorgeous at the moment. With early flowering trees and shrubs. Adding to the overall wash of fresh green leaves. 

 We sat and chatted in the warmth of his large new greenhouse. While enjoying the Danish pastries I had bought on the way. With a flask of coffee on the table fresh from the machine indoors. Later we had our traditional stroll around his extensive garden. Where lawns dominate. Still decorated by a multitude of spring bulbs. Like tulips and a whole variety of daffodils. The lack of recent rain meant the natural stream was running low. My hip was hurting but I survived.

 After taking my leave I shopped on the way home as usual. Where the heat pump had been running in my absence. So that I returned to a comfortably warm house. Rather than cool. 

 I fell asleep after lunch. While pretending to watch YouTube. Which meant I missed the chance to warm the house. With free heat from the greenhouse at the hottest time of the day. An error quickly corrected. By switching off the heat pump and opening the interior windows and doors.  

 Dinner was a pork chop fry-up. With mushrooms, tomatoes, and tweggs on toast.  

  

  ~?~

28.04.2026 Another 35km not out.

 ~?~

  Tuesday 28th 38F/3C [7.00] Another sunny day. Peaking at 13C/55F. NE winds modest then gusting 10m/s after lunch.

 Up at 6.20 after an average night. My back pain feels variable. Depending on how I move. No ill effects from yesterday's ride. I shall have another ride today.

 I left the heat pump on overnight with a 17C/63F setting. The thermometer is showing 68F/20C. Greenhouse at 44F/6.7C. Fishpond at 58F/14.4C. Fish very active every time they hear me in the kitchen. They think they will be fed.

 8.00 41F/5C. Going for a walk. Fingers and toes crossed. 

 8.30 I managed the loop along the neighbours' drives again. Very slowly but with rather less pain. A YouTube video showed a different exercise. Crouched, but feet well apart. Elbows on knees for support. Rocking gently from side to side. It actually seemed to help. When nothing else has.

I was treated to a sweet song. First of the year by a Yellowhammer. Perched at the very top of a roadside tree. Then several warblers singing in the hedges and trees. A newspaper reports that the Wren population has halved. After the hard winter and late frosts. 

 I had to stand on the verge as dozens of cars passed by. All following a bus. Rush hour? Not today! 

 Blogger is broken. Clicking on New Post just repeats the same post.   

 12.05 Returning from another 35km ride. I went to see the progress on the new railway line. A road which has been closed for some time was finally open. I watched a large CAT excavator loading CAT tipper rucks. 

 The view of the underside of the motorway bridge was stunning. The casing for the casting of the new railway bridge beyond is still underway.  

 I was going well today despite the headwind. Then strained a muscle in my calf. From which I think I have recovered. Simply be keeping going. My hip hurt like hell every time I mounted and dismounted. For scenery this is the best time of year. With blossom and fresh leaves everywhere. 

 Another afternoon on the computer. The greenhouse wasn't warm enough to heat the house. 

 Dinner was beans on toast. 

 

 

  ~?~

27.04.2026 35km to empty shores.

 ~?~

 Monday 27th 37F/2.8C [7.30] Another, cool, sunny day. A moderate breeze. 63F/17C in the room with no overnight heating. 43F/6C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 7am after dozing for two hours. Another quiet night. I have changed from milky coffee. To black breakfast tea after dinner. 

 I don't trust my back. Even when it feels okay early on it quickly becomes painful. I have been using the same office style chair for years at the comuter. 

 I wouldn't mind a ride today. Make the most of the sunshine. Just wrap up well. My foolish optimism doesn't keep me warm! The second battery needs topping up. I cycle between them to avoid depletion.

 9.30 Back from a walk. My lower back hurt like hell but I just kept going. I did a very slow loop of the rear drives. A slight improvement as I progressed. I dragged the emptied recycling bins back with me. The gentle downhill slope did not make me breathless. 

 Good to see so many fresh leaves and lots of birds. The neighbour's screening hedge is doing well. Professionally planted and close to 100% survival over many hundreds of saplings. Their new lawns constantly improve too. Though their robot mower was sulking in a dip. After being forsaken for the big tractor mower. 

 The hospital has sent me an appointment for the heart procedure. It's in about three weeks time. The same problem arises. While I can certainly drive there I am not allowed to drive home. Or even drive for two days afterwards. Which leaves the car there while I wend my way home on the bus. Or rather on various busses. 

 Getting a bus straight home from the hospital is very unlikely indeed. I live out in the countryside between two, 30km distant villages. Reaching the bus station on foot from the hospital is an unwanted journey. With my present back problems possibly persisting. It is several kilometers from the hospital to the station. 

 Last time I was driven home by a taxi under contract to the health service. There were several of us on the ride. I left my car in the car park for a couple of days and nights. Until my friend drove me to the hospital to pick it up. A similar journey from his home as it is from mine. About 30 kilometers. We live on the tips of an equilateral triangle. We are on the ends of the horizontal E-W base. With the hospital on the northern tip. 

 11.30 I am going for a ride along the lanes of the deserted west coast of Fyn. Extra clothing is packed if needed. 

 13.45 Back from a 36km ride. I discovered new routes through farmyards and along gravel tracks. Constant sunshine but never warm. There was an icy, onshore wind. Three layers under the Endura rain jacket. An old pair of DHB padded shorts kept me comfortable.

 After lunch it was back on YouTube. Followed by a late nap. When I could no longer stay awake.

 Upon waking I realised that I had nothing for dinner. So I drove into the village. 

 Dinner was a pork chop, mushrooms, mashed potatoes and peas. I washed up while it cooked.

 The room has dropped to 65F/18C. So I have switched on the heat pump. Fan speed reduced to 2of 5.

  

  ~?~

26.04.2026 Just another day.

 ~?~

  Sunday 26th 36F/2C. Overnight frost. Wall to wall sunshine. Cooler still today. Peaking at only 12C/53F. Winds lighter and variable. 63F/17.2C in the room unheated overnight. I switched the heat pump back on set to 19C. Reading 68F/20C at 8.30. 47F/8.3C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 7am after a very quiet night. I got up only once at 3am. Lower back and buttock pain unchanged. It only hurt when I shifted position on the saddle during yesterday's ride. 

 My back hurt too much for a walk this morning. So I spent the day on the computer again.

 I opened up the greenhouse to the indoors. To borrow some warmth. It worked. The heat pump was turned off earlier. When it reached 70F/21C in the room.

 I sorted the indoor recycling bins into the outdoor wheelie bins. Then dragged two bins along the drive. Which left me completely breathless. 

The nice neighbours seem to have added another goat. Their patch is at the other end of the paddock.

 Dinner is going to be beans on toast. I have done the fish, eggs and cheese. No pictures.

 

  ~?~

25.04.2026 34km and thousands of motorbikes.

 ~?~

  Saturday 25th 42F/5.6C [7.20] A bright but much more cloudy day is promised. Unfortunately it will be windy all day. Gusting to 14m/s from the NW. 

 Up at 6.30 after lying there for what seemed like hours. Drifting in and out of dreams. I'll try to have a walk again. See how far I get. My Saturday morning ride is still possible.

 8.15 I Didn't make it to the end of the drive before turning back. The lower back pain, the overcast and the cold wind offered no pleasure.

 10.30 Off we go for a ride. 

 12.00 51F/10C. Back from a 34km ride. I looped through several villages before reaching my goal at 23km. It was continuously overcast and far colder than I expected. I was being buffeted by the wind and should have taken a spare, warm jumper but didn't. I changed into warmer GripGrab mitts and scull cap before heading home. My hands were already aching with the cold. I knew there would be a headwind for the last 10km. When it blew as  a crosswind I was being pushed sideways and had to lean into it.

 The traffic was light apart from the hundreds of motorbikes. They were everywhere and not all seemed to be going the same way. There is a big, annual motorbike meeting at Egeskov with free entry. They are expecting thousands of bikers to attend. It's a shame it isn't warm and sunny but at least it is dry. Last year the numbers reached 6642 bikes! 

 Motorcycling is very much a seasonal pastime in chilly Denmark. With icy roads a potential hazard for six months of the year. It is very unusual to see a motorbike in winter. Yet cyclists persist unless there is lying snow. During my triking days I was often the only cyclist I'd see all day when conditions were really poor. I'd ride even on snow and black ice. The trike was very safe and could manage to climb steep hills even on 2"/50mm of snow. Thanks to the Trykit 2WD [two wheel drive.]

 Today the wind and low outside temperatures have required a boost from the heat pump. The greenhouse has only reached 80F/27C in the bright, but not sunny overcast. Which makes it pleasant to sit out there. Rather than the rather chilly 65F/18C in the room. The heat pump is now pushing out 42C/108F while set at 19C on the remote. Fan speed 3 out of 5. Blades directing a downward arflow for maximum heat spread.

 Dinner was the salad I bought yesterday. With tuna.

  

  

  ~?~

24.04.2026 The If/Then command.

 ~?~

  Friday 24th 40F/4.4C [5.00] Another sunny day is forecast. 68F/20C in the room without heating. 47F/8.3C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 4.40 after a quiet night. Heart scan at the city hospital at 13.30.  

 7.50 I made it to the end of the drive before turning back. The lower back pain gets no better. Lots of birdsong in and around the garden.

 9.30 Woke from a one hour nap. Had an email to say my new doors are being delivered on the 30th. Unless told otherwise. 

 While I have been incapacitated by my back pain I have developed a bad habit. Of watching endless YouTube videos. It was becoming quite silly how I was limiting myself to watching YT's suggestions. AI, politics, humour, cycling, various science based subjects, etc. It really was getting a bit obsessive. Hours, days and hole [sic] weeks wasted on passive watching. Video Ketamin. 

 So I reprogrammed the Mk1 Blob with a Basic If/Then command. Every time the talking head asks for Likes, Comments, Subscription or Patreonage I close the video. As simple as that. Absolutely no exceptions. This simple rule has made the experience much less addictive. I am back in charge. The talking head no longer has the authority to keep me listening. Instant conversion from influencer to street beggar. Full stop. Bye!

 I was already blocking adverts. So I didn't have that option as a major turn off. Which might have strengthened my resolve to cut back on the dosage. Now I just have to find something else to do. Something constructive. Which doesn't involve too much walking. 

 12.00 I enjoyed an hour outside observing the sun through my specially filtered telescope. Carrying the individual parts in and out made me breathless. They each weighed about 5kg. Time to prepare for the drive to the city hospital. I shan't bother with lunch.

 15.00 Back again. A very thorough scan and discussion to follow. The doctor changed my tablets to avoid clotting. I have to go back for a more invasive examination of my heart plumbing. More drain rodding. My recent symptoms suggest a small artery is already becoming blocked where a stent was fitted. 

 A helicopter ambulance took off from the pad in the middle of the hospital. It was drifting backwards until it was over the car parks. Which threw up a fierce sandblasting cloud of dust! I hid behind a big sign as everybody cowered and covered their eyes! 

 I shopped on the way home. My first salad of the year. All organic. I was inspired to be a good boy. 

 Dinner was fried chicken on bread rolls. I really wasn't hungry despite not having lunch. I washed it down with a small apple juice. No coffee tonight. It is 70F/21C in the room but I feel cold. 

   

  ~?~

23.04.2026 Cooking class.

  ~?~

  Thursday 23rd 44/6.7C [8.40] Another sunny day. Though a more cloudy start today. More like a bright overcast. It could reach 18C/64F this afternoon. 67F/19C in the room. No overnight heating. It reached 74F/23C after greenhouse heating yesterday afternoon. 54F/12C in the greenhouse this morning.

 Up at 7.20 after a fairly quiet night. I was awake at six but went back to sleep.

 Cooking class this morning. My back feels a little better. Just as it did yesterday. Until I started moving about. I have decided to go. It will get me out of the computer chair. Forcing me to stand about for several hours instead. I can always sit down if it gets too much. It will confirm if my office chair is causing the pain. It seems unlikely as I have been sitting on it for many years. Recycled of course.

 13.45 Back from cooking class. Where I made a banana and apple tart with two others. It was baked and then inverted to bring the bananas to the top. My back hurt but I brought a chair over. To sit on when I needed it. 110F/4Cin the greenhouse. Internal windows and doors opened. House currently at 69F/21C.

 No dinner required. 

 

  ~?~

 

 

 

22.04.2026 Crawling wounded.

 ~?~

  Wednesday 22nd 45F/7.2C [8.20] Another sunny day. Peaking at 16C/61F this afternoon. Another white, overnight frost.

 Up at 4am and 7.20. I was wide awake. With things going around in my head. It felt rather too warm in the room. [22C] I went back to bed at 5.30. 

 My back doesn't feel so bad so far. I should try a walk.

 10.00 I only managed 100m before hobbling back home. My back pain is no better.

 11.00 The greenhouse is easily warm enough to share it's heat with the house. I have turned off the heat pump. 

 12.00 The greenhouse is at 94F/34C even with all the internal windows and doors open. The room is at 70F/21C. The kitchen is usually warmer.  

 14.00 This is maddening! I can't even walk around indoors without it hurting. I had to open the greenhouse skylights to cool things down. 100F/38C in the greenhouse. Now 75F/24C indoors. I have also opened the heavy curtains around the open stairwell. At least the house will be well aired.

 Dinner was fried chicken and 3 minute broccoli. 

  

  ~?~

21.04.2026 Limping wounded.

 ~?~

  Tuesday 21st 36F/2C. All day sunshine. Breezy from the NE. Peaking at 12C this afternoon.

 Up at 6.45 after a fairly quiet night. 

 My English friend is coming to me today. To check out the new toy. [Heat pump] He has years of experience with different heating systems and monitoring their performance and costs via various apps. The Panasonic wireless app seems not to apply to my unit. I haven't explored this beyond finding the wireless button is missing from the remote control. 

 Meanwhile I have some tidying to do.

 12.00 My visitor has left with a positive report on the heat pump. I immediately switched it off and opened the internal greenhouse windows and door. To warm the house free of charge. It had reached 100F/38C out there. Despite the single layer of commercial shade net. 

 16.25 55F/13C. It is still 93F/34C out in the greenhouse. The room is at 22C/72F. I have to shop in the village. I shall go in the car. It won't take long. 

 16.45 Back again despite the queues. 

 Once the sun has sunk out of sight I restarted the heat pump. Currently 72F/22C with all the internal doors open. I have used the remote to point the vanes/blades at the ceiling. Rather than the floor. Just to see how it feels at my computer. Warm! 

 Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast. I forgot to buy more cherry tomatoes.

 

  ~?~

20.04.2026 Inactivity! Director's Cut.

 ~?~

  Monday 20th 42F/5.6C [8.50] Bright overcast. Sunshine promised. Slow start in the SW. Becoming rather breezy from the NE. Room at 21C/70F. Greenhouse at 53F/12C.

 A fox poked its nose into the garden in the dark. The light on the camera put it off and it turned tail. 

 Up at 7.25 after earlier failures to light the damp squib. Back still hurting but not so bad. I have been browsing instead of going for a walk.

 Three hours later my back is fine until I try to move from my chair. Then it is agony. The sun has come out. The trees and hedges are moving in the wind. Petals from the plum and cherry trees are drifting.

 My HP printer has died. It won't feed paper at all now. After some earlier hesitancy and refusal. 

 In the afternoon I drove into the village for bread and pastry. Which meant hobbling the entire length [both ways] of the huge supermarket building.  

 Dinner was mashed potato, sausage rolls and fried mushrooms. I washed up while it cooked. 

 

  ~?~

19.04.2026 A pain in the ....

 ~?~

  Sunday 19th 445F/7.2C [8.15] Bright overcast. A cloudy morning with possible sunny periods. Rain later and overnight. Light NE breeze going northwards and N-Easterly. 68F/20C in the room. 54F/12C in the greenhouse. 58F/14C in the greenhouse pond.

 Up at 7.40 after a fairly quiet night. My lower back pain is not so bad so far. The same as yesterday. Only to discover it was a struggle to walk very far. I have tried some sciatica exercises without obvious benefit at the time.

 The heat pump is cycling between 21F and 38.5F. With the remote control set to 19C/66F Heat and Auto. The monitoring digital thermometer is not continuous reading but updates at intervals. The "Outdoor" sensor is hanging free in the airflow. Without direct contact with the heat pump's indoor unit. 

 I am now very happy with the downward firing airflow. After some initial irritation with cold air draughts. When it was blowing straight forwards. Easily cured with the "Air Swing" button on the remote. Allowing the air directing blades to point downwards and stay there. I have "Fan Speed" set to 3/5. Which I find almost inaudible. While wearing my hearing aids and sitting at 2.8-3m from the unit. 

 Now with no discernible draughts while seated at my computer. Which was my reason for choosing the more expensive floor model. I had some previous experience with high level units in shops and petrol stations. So knew I would not have been happy with the resulting draughts. 

 No doubt this problem could have been improved using "Air Swing" to direct the airflow more beneficially. Those with much higher ceilings might well benefit from the high level blower units. The low ceilings [215cm] of my hovel/cottage would not. 

 Plans for a walk or a ride were shelved. It hurts just to get up and walk to the kitchen. 

 I managed to drag the recycling bin along the drive. It hurt like hell!

 Dinner was cheese on toast. 

 

 

 ~?~

18.04.2026 26km & "Air Swing!"

 ~?~

 Saturday 18th 48F/9C [7.20] Heavy overcast. A day of sunshine and showers is promised. With light winds. 71F/21C in the room. 53F/12C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 6.30 after an unusually quiet night. I got up only once. I was comfortable in bed without my usual thin jumper over my t-shirt. It may be too early to be sure but the horrible pain in my right lower back seems to have eased. I hope I can have a proper walk today.

 The risk of showers makes my Saturday morning ride less likely. I'll see how the weather turns out later. I would be wearing a rainproof jacket anyway. With waterproof trousers in the panniers.

 9.10 Brighter, with veiled sunshine. Too warm in the room. I have reduced the remote setting to 18C again. Back from a limping crawl along the road and back. There was no relief from the pain. If the weather doesn't change I shall still have my Saturday ride to the next village 12km away. The exercise might help.

 13.00 Back from a 26km ride to the shops. Bright overcast.  Lots of trees and shrubs in bloom. The first leaves are showing on the sunlit faces of the forest. 

 No pain while cycling but it was hell getting on and off. It now occurs to me. That I manhandled the massive concrete paving slabs the other day. I had assumed that my careful handling had avoided injury. I may have been mistaken. Because I am so used to being active. 

The indoors is at 70F/21C. So I have now lowered the remote setting to 17C. 

 18.00 Raining. The lower temperature setting on the heat pump tended to blow cold air at me. So I have raised it to 19C. 

 I can also use the "Air Swing" button on the remote. To alter the angle of the blades. Repeated button pressing adjusts and fixes the chosen angle. Including downwards. Even to direct the air towards the floor if desired. Pressing the blades downwards manually does nothing long term. They will soon adjust themselves back up again under the control of the programming. The Auto setting always seems to choose upward and outward airflow. 

 Which I want to avoid. Because it is quite unpleasant to feel cold air coming straight at you. Unless I am using cooling mode in a heatwave. 

 The temperature of the air blowing out of the unit is not hot like a fan heater or hair drier. It is much cooler. Much closer to the ambient temperature in the room. Presumably this is much more economical. Than blasting hot air and then having to cool the room. Which might involve starting and stopping the blower motor. 

 I can use one of my thermometers to measure the exiting air temperature. It matches the temperature setting. Just as I surmised. Or not? The fan has just come on audibly and it was briefly blowing at 37C! That was with the sensor on the internal radiator. I have now moved the sensor to measure the airflow. Now falling rapidly. 

 Dinner was a sausage and mushroom fry-up. With an egg on toast and tomatoes on the side.

 

  ~?~

 

17.04.2026 79 not out.

 ~?~

  Friday 17th 43F/6C [8.10] Overcast with thick mist. 100m invisibility. A grey morning should brighten this afternoon. Peaking at 13C/55F. Light winds. Greenhouse at 53F/11.7C.

 Up at 7am after a quiet, comfortable night. I had the heat pump set to 19C on the remote control. Three well spaced thermometers are showing from 20-21C/68-70F. Slightly too warm for my taste while wearing a thin jumper and T-shirt. My back pain has reduced. A walk in the mist might be doable today. 

 10.00 Well, that didn't go well. I barely made it to the main drive before I had to turn back. My right hip/lower back area hurts like hell! I am back and doing laundry instead. The inner doors are all open. As I continue to experiment with the heat pump's capabilities. Now reduced to 18C on the remote. 64.5F. The greenhouse doors are closed. At 61F it can't contribute to solar heat gain in an overcast. Though it can act as a buffer.

 11.00 Reducing the remote control setting to 18C has had no effect on the three thermometers. I understand that a discount is available on my electricity bill for having a heat pump installed. There is a mobile phone remote control App. Though the designer of the App is quite obviously mentally ill. Presumably just another case of serial nepotism. Probably third generation's, 1st born son. With that spoilt brat level of sociopathy. Only made possible by being hoist by Daddy's designer bootstraps.

 11.30 51F/11C. The mist has gone. Brightening to weak sunshine. 70F/21C in the greenhouse. I must go shopping. Not yet.

 12.45 Having completely wasted another hour on the Panasonic Comfort Cloud App it's time for lunch. I should not have persisted with the App. I really should have known better. When I discovered that a whole string of forlorn cries for online help went unanswered. With non-existent buttons on the remote control and multiple button presses thereof being required. Just to escape from the quite deliberate consumer traps. Set by the twisted Panasonic Comfort Cloud App horror fiction writer. 

 The heat pump is as frustrated as I am. It is oscillating around the set temperature. Cooling to bring it down and reheating to climb back up. The surroundings are obviously slightly above the desired temperature setting. So I should really turn it off and let it rest. Done. 

 16.00 Back from the shops in the Morris. Two carrier bags full. Warm sunshine. Still hobbling about.

 Dinner was sardines on toast with halved tomatoes. I have switched the heat pump back on. Set to 20C/68F.

  

  ~?~

16.04.2026 Heat pump installation.

 ~?~

  Thursday 16th 44F/6.7C [7.00]  Overcast. Early rain clearing to a cloudy morning. 66F/19C in the room.  I kept the stove going until it reached 70F/21C last night. It seems to help. 49F/9.4C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 5.30 after a fairly sleepless night. Lower back still aching badly. No chance of a walk in this state! 

 Expecting the heat pump installers. I have been tidying and moving the furniture back from the work site. Lifted the TV off its bracket and placed it on my bed. Moved all the cables. Moved all my plants and the recycling bins outside. Their initial inspection took place at 7.15. So I am assuming a similar time for their arrival this morning.

 10.30 An update: Their first fitter had called in sick. They shuffled their customers around and arranged for a second fitter to call. Two young chaps just arrived. They chose to use a single layer of the large, paving labs. 60x30x10cm. Four, round rubber, isolation feet. Rather than using long, rubber blocks.

 13.30 Finished lunch. The lads were eating in the van. The installation work has restarted. Making very good progress. An amazing range of interesting and expensive tools required. Anyone contemplating cheating and installing one themselves has a vast expenditure ahead of them. 

 It is illegal for untrained and unqualified persons to install a heat pump. I can see why. It was satisfying watching the practiced movements of the installer. I have a large range of abilities in practical matters. With very little overlap with what I saw today. 

  My back is still very painful. I am hobbling about like an old man!

 14.00 Sunny periods.  Greenhouse door opened to the house. Now I can heat the house with the greenhouse and cool it with the heat pump. 

 14.40 Job done. Tested thoroughly. The customer was advised about maintenance and filter cleaning. I was shown the remote control functions. It all works. Tested from hot to cold. They even lifted my TV back onto the wall bracket. It nearly killed me to move it this morning. Very pleasant, helpful and competent young men. They sought my input on every decision where it mattered. Siting, cable runs, spacing, etc. I am a very happy bunny. 

 Once the room has been brought up to the set temperature it all goes very, very quiet. Set to Auto and 20C/68F on the remote. 21C was too warm. Two long blades pivot silently on tiny stepper motors. To direct the airflow.

 I have been experimenting with open internal doors. To see if the heat pump can push air right around the loop. I have to keep turning down the temperature on the remote. The thermometers are still reading 2-3 degrees above the setting on the remote. I have it at 19C and thermometers are showing 22C. Now it is blowing cold air! Endless fun ahead as I familiarise myself.

 Dinner was something simple. A salmon pasty and chips. I washed up while it cooked.

 

  ~?~

15.04.2026 42km. Cool is not cool.

 ~?~

  Wednesday 15th 42F/5.6C [8.20] Bright overcast. Expected to remain dry but cloudy until later. 65F/18.3C in the room. 49F/9.4C in the greenhouse. One of my new digital thermometers was reading a competitor's, wireless, outdoor sensor. 

 I had bought them both from the same big shed store. Each made by a different manufacturer. It seems the new thermometer was only on the wrong channel. As soon as I changed channels it matched the old, digital thermometer. Which I have now been using for over a decade. 

 Both outdoor sensors are placed in the open air under the eaves of the north facing, roof overhang. A site which I hoped would totally avoid, local, solar heating. Which would give artificially raised readings. 

 It is nice to finally have confirmation of the much older thermometer's accuracy. Though it ought to be three samples, or more. to reduce the risk of error. I round the temperature readings anyway. So I am not aiming for scientific accuracy.

 Up at 7.15 after earlier failure to take off. More weird dreams. No noticeable ill effects from yesterday's clash with the crowbar. 

 I feel the need for a ride. Though I would prefer it was warmer. Battery on charge while I have my walk and prepare. Batteries should not be left on full charge. As it shortens their life. The downside is that the bike isn't road ready in an emergency.

 9.25 Back from my walk. I was unable to walk off my lower back pain. It continued to hurt. Making progress slow and painful. The neighbour's cat was sitting in the drive as I left. I spoke and it walked briskly past me. Later to be seen hunting on the back field. 

 12.00 The first e-bike battery is only just full charged. So I have decided to wait until after lunch for a ride. Besides which, I couldn't decide where to go. 

 17.00 Returning from a 42km ride. I rode to a charity shop in a rural village. Then meandered back via the quiet, country lanes. Crossing the motorway and a bridge over the new railway. See images above. It was never sunny and felt rather chilly. 

 I met the lady in the village earlier. So called in on the way home for a chat. 

 Dinner was a wholemeal bread roll with tuna. Followed by a milky coffee and a digestive biscuit. The back pain continues.

 7.40 I lit the stove. After dropping below 65F/18C it was becoming too cool for comfort indoors. Talking of which: I must set the alarm tonight. In readiness for tomorrow's heat pump installer.

 

  ~?~

14.04.2026 A Bloodbath!

 ~?~

  Tuesday 14th 41F/5C Heavy overcast and a wet morning. Brighter this afternoon. 66F/19C in the room. 47F/8.3C in the greenhouse. I put a fresh log in to let the stove burn on after bedtime. This seems to have helped maintain overnight temperatures.

 Up at 6.30 after a busy night. I have an appointment with the doctor after lunch. As a follow up to various tests last week. 

 9.30 I am using the wet morning as an excuse to prepare the site of the internal heat pump unit. The recently purchased, recycled carpet runner needs to run along that wall. This involved removing the existing runner. Which was trapped under the big, old, oak chest of drawers. All the furniture had to be pushed to the far end of the room. Then I had to remove the heavy drawers to be able to lift the chest at all. Old runner removed. Now I have to tidy up before fitting the new. 

 I was struggling with the rudimentary skirting board. Which was held at intervals by large, rusty nails. My intention is to replace the ugly board with box shaped conduit. The board really did not want to come away from the wall. I was lying on my stomach under the dining table. Levering away with a crowbar. When it suddenly swung up and hit me viciously on the forehead. 

 A deep gash and lots of blood followed. I dashed off to the bathroom. To flood the site of the gaping wound. Taking blood thinners is apt to cause problems with clotting but the bleeding soon stopped. Unfortunately my career as a septuagenarian babe magnet may be temporarily over. At least until the wound heals. I am recovering my composure by updating the blog. 

 Now I need some plastic conduit. To hide all the cables running across the floor. There are three security camera cables. Three TV cables. A standard lamp. A table lamp and the mains cable for the computer and all its associated accessories. Most of which are never switched off. 

 There is an alternative socket behind my bed. Which could become the continuous mains supply. It just needs to be connected to the present multi-sockets to tidy up the "knitting."  

 Duly completed. The attached snap [Top right] shows the ugly wall and new carpet runner. Quite a good match between the rugs. The carpet motif is perfectly centered under the TV and the coming heat pump. 

  10.00 I'll have morning coffee. While what remains of my senses return to normal. I use the latter term loosely of course. 

 11.45 I shall have to drive into town after my appointment to find box shaped, snap-on conduit.  

 The doctor is going to give me a stronger medicine to stop me clotting. My heart is fluttering. Increased risk of a stroke or heart attack.

 After that I drove into town. Returning with the conduit I needed. I wanted something wider but settled on two length of 50x20mm. A single length of 25x16mm will hide the cables rising to the TV. The second image shows that most of the ugly wall is hidden behind the chairs. The heat pump will also cover the joint in the plasterboard under the TV. 

 15.15 It is brightening up with some sunny periods. 

 18.30 I managed to extract the pretend skirting board and take it outside. Now there are just the three network cables for the cameras. Which can be lost in the conduit running along the floor in place of the skirting board. The TV can be lifted down from its bracket on the wall. Then laid flat on the bed while the heat pump work is in progress. Now I have to conjure up some dinner.  

 I went with fish fingers and 3 minute broccoli. I lit the stove at 21.00. It was feeling chilly and I saw no reason to suffer.

 

  ~?~

 

13.04.2026 Promises-promises.

 ~?~

 Monday 13th 40F/4.4C. Overcast. Possible early brightness. 24 hours of rain arriving at lunch time. Easterly winds. 63F/17C in the room. 50F/10C in the greenhouse.

 Up at 6.45 after another night of weird dreams. Not weird in appearance but just unlikely and often boring subject matter. Highly realistic. Mixed contexts. Mixed casts from different walks of life.

 09.30 Back from my short walk. It was unpleasantly cold in the easterly breeze. Plenty of birds about.  

 15.00 48F/9C. No rain yet. I lit the stove. It had dropped to 62F/17C in the room. There had been none of the brightness to warm the greenhouse and thus the house.

 It was nearly 19.00 before it finally started raining. 

 19.30 72F/22C. Dinner was poached egs on toast. Another day wasted on YouTube.

 

  ~?~

12.04.2026 41km

 ~?~

  Sunday 12th 42F/5.6C. Overcast as a heavy band of overnight rain moves eastwards. Sunshine is possible later. 63F/17C in the room. 50F/10C in the greenhouse. The fish seem more active after I changed their bathwater.

 Up at 7.20 after a ridiculously busy night. I had moved the big digital clock away from the bed. After being reminded of magnetic smog surrounding electronics. I saw every hour being indicated and twice in some cases.

 I must go shopping. There wasn't even enough milk for my muesli. I had to put the milk in first. Then add organic porridge oats. A little at a time. Until I reached a satisfactory level of saturation. Finally adding a few organic raisins to taste. Reason enough to avoid an old peoples home. They'd never get it right! 

 9.40 Back from a walk down the road and back. Lots of birds. Both audible and visible. Including a small bird of prey. Flapping wildly to make headway against a gentle headwind. Another bird call which left me baffled. A deep sound emanating from a roadside tree. Without at any sign of a bird being present. 

 The nice neighbor's cat nodded at me as I passed. I'll have to go shopping if I want to have morning coffee. 

 10.40 Full sunshine. Back from the village. Loads of groceries and petrol refill. I'll go for a ride after morning coffee. I went outside to sort out the recycling bins.

 12.00 I have just had a nice chat with my neighbours. It was beautiful outside in the sunshine. Almost no breeze and comfortably warm. They had returned my wheelbarrows after I had loaned them for a job. 

 They both speak excellent English and seem to enjoy practicing their skills. Both use English to some extent in their work. Which suits me perfectly of course. Not to mention them not having to suffer my awful pronunciation and mangled grammar in Danish.

 13.20 Off we go for a ride. Dressed warmly but not overdressed. The Endura rain jacket is fine for blocking the wind. I could feel the warmth of the sun on my back. While the cold headwind tried to sneak in at the front. The GripGrab gloves were fine today. The lobster mitts went into a pannier just in case. I wore an old pair of DHB, padded cycling shorts to increase comfort.

 15.30 58F/14.4C. Back from another ride. To inspect progress on the new railway line. 41km. A comfortable distance today. I kept to the narrow, rural lanes as much as possible. Almost devoid of traffic. Though the main roads were quite busy.

 I passed a cat rolling on its back in the middle of the road on a narrow winding lane. Enjoying the warm asphalt. The road and bridge I keep going back to is very close to completion. It just needs some asphalt to reopen.  [Image top right] The sign says opening on the 31st April.

 67F/19C indoors. 81F/27C in the greenhouse. All skylights and the end door open.

 Back on the computer to watch YouTube videos. I have closed the door and skylights now that I am back. So the sun's warmth can be transferred to the indoors.

 Dinner was baked chicken, roast potatoes, mushrooms, carrots and peas. The best roast potatoes so far. They had 15 minutes simmering in salty water. Before going into the baking pan for 40 minutes. I let the cooked chicken rest for five minutes. 

 

 

  ~?~

11.04.2026 Extra Mature Cheddar Fraud.

 ~?~

  Saturday 11th 35F/2C[7.40] A bright start to another sunny day. White frost on the grass. Melting dew sparkling in the hedges from the rapidly rising sun. A rather chilly 61F/16C in the room. 39F/4C in the greenhouse. I can raise the temperature using the greenhouse later. 

 Up at 7am after a dream filled night and the usual interruptions. 

 9.00 41F/5C. Back from my walk. Still cold but unbroken sunshine. A huge pall of smoke was traveling for hundreds of meters from a fire at a distant farm. White smoke and no flames. So presumably burning some unwanted vegetable matter. 

 The last few days has seen an explosion of bird life. Every tree seems to host a wheezing Greenfinch. There are buds everywhere and even a few leaves on the shrubbery. Though the trees are a little slower to get going.

 Both e-bike batteries are showing two bars. One is now on charge. So I can have my usual Saturday ride to the shops. Since I have some time to kill I am pumping out some of the water from the greenhouse pond. The walls of the pond container are heavily coated with algae. Which I have scraped with a squeegee on a pole. 

 The water level has already dropped by about 15cm due to evaporation. So any water contaminants will have become more saturated. The image is affected by the optical effect of refraction at the water surface. The depth of the remaining water is much more than the newly exposed sides at this point.

 11.30 51F/11C. Changing half of the water will help to dilute any toxins. I checked the temperature of the cold tapwater and there is close match with the pond water. Which makes topping back up effortless. No need to match the temperature by adding hot water. As is required with most indoor ponds and aquaria. Fish don't like sudden water temperature changes. It can even cause ill health.

 I am using a spray head to ensure adequate oxygenation of the fresh, cold water during the refill. Which will take some time. I tried a normal, garden hose nozzle but it was much too fierce. Meanwhile the e-bike battery is finally flashing between four and five bars. The room has risen to 63F/17C. With the windows and door open out to the greenhouse. Currently showing 86F/30C and still rising. I'll postpone my ride until after lunch and shop locally.

12.00  I was mistaken about the tap water temperaure. It was colder than yesterday's measurement at 47F/8.3C. So I had to add a touch of warm water at the kitchen mixer. To match the 56F/13C of the pond.

 12.45  I have stretched the first shade curtain over the greenhouse roof. Perfect timing. The pond is finally full again. 

 Time for some lunch. Shame about the utterly tasteless rubber. Masquerading as Extra Mature Irish Cheddar. I presume the supermarket chain saved a penny per metric ton. To want them to go over to this garbage. Simple bribery? A bargain they couldn't ignore? 
 
 Wouldn't you think they would trial the new crap? To watch sales instantly drop. Before discontinuing the real thing. Now I have to try other outlets just to buy real cheese! I wonder what else I can find to buy in these other chains?

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

 

  ~?~

10.04.2026 Ignorance is bliss.

 ~?~

  Friday 10th 36F/2.2C. Heavy overcast with rain. Clearing mid afternoon. Wind gusts to 13m/s easing throughout the day. Snow is reported for Jylland [Jutland] 

 Up at 7.45 after a false alarm at 7am. 

 11.15 It has brightened. I am going for a drive. 

 13.50 Returning from a drive to Middelfart Building Centre. A sprinkle of rain on the way. Huge puddles on the roads suggested heavy overnight rain. 

 I had a stroll around the greenhouse area and a quick look inside the indoor display building. Before taking in a couple of charity shops on the way home. 

 I caught up with a tractor which was traveling at 40kph/25mph on a busy main road. Oncoming traffic made it difficult, impossible or dangerous to overtake. The driver ignored several lay-bys. Where he could easily have paused. Long enough to let the long queue behind him pass. No doubt he will be appealing for public sympathy next week. For the latest crisis to affect farming. 

 Dinner was oven baked chicken breast and mushrooms. With chips and Bisto gravy. The real potatoes had gone all wrinkly and covered in shoots. So the oven chips were a safer choice. I washed up while it cooked. It is 66F/19C in the room so I haven't lit the stove. I need a light in the carport. I can't see to reverse back in after dark.

  

  ~?~

9.04.2026 Broccoli master class.

 ~?~

  Thursday 9th 38F/3.3C. Bright start with lots of sunshine promised. 63F/17.2C in the room. 44F/44F/6.7C in the greenhouse. A wet day with gales and a risk of snow tomorrow! 

 Up at 6.45 after a busy night.

 Cooking class today.  

 13.45 53F/12C. Bright sunshine and breezy from the SE. Returning from cooking class. Where I prepared and cooked broccoli. 107F/42C in the greenhouse! 65F/18C in the room and rising. With the internal windows and doors open. I'm trying to decide where to go for a ride. 

 19.30 47F/8.3C. Back from a 54km ride to Helnæs and back. It was a foolish choice. I was fighting an icy SE headwind all the way there. In bottom gear in Sport Mode I was barely making headway across the viaduct. The inland water was choppy with white horses. It is usually as flat and calm as a farm pond. 

 On my return I was cruising at 40kph on the same stretch. The DMI says 14m/s gust but the base wind was far stronger than that! My knees were hurting and legs were burning. I came within a hairsbreadth of turning back. As I was already committed, half way there and had managed most of the crossing I decided to continue.

 I was cold on the way back and colder when I arrived home. So I piled on three fleece jackets, a fleece hat, thick socks and went to bed for half an hour. 

 I finally lit the stove at 20.00. The room had dropped to 19C.

 No dinner required. I made do with coffee and a biscuit.

  ~?~