13.11.2026

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  Friday 13th 38F/3C [8.10] Wall to wall sunshine is promised but windy from the WNW. Peaking at 7C/44F and 16m/s. 

 Up at 7.10 after another wakeful night.

 I am still trying to send scans of the documents relating to cashing on my investment. The PDF I sent, after spending ages filling it out, didn't save anything. Despite telling me it had. So they got only the blank form back via email. 

 So then I scanned and sent half a dozen images of relevant blocks of text. They didn't like that because it couldn't be separated into the three original pages. So now I have scanned and sent images of three full page A4s. Being Friday 13th and the last day for the compulsory cashing in does not bode well.

 Back to more important matters: Cycling in cold weather. Yesterday was a farce. I threw on a hi-vis jacket and put my warmest gloves in the panniers. Before loading the rack and e-bike on the Morris. For the journey to the garage.

 When I got there I had to unload the e-bike from the heavy rack. Then remove the rack and store it nearby. Then chat about my car and repairing Minors in general. 

 It was about 3C and blowing a gale. So I was already chilled before I climbed onto the bike. 11km straight into the wind at that temperature was never going to be fun. My core temperature was probably low. So no gloves were going to have much of a chance in keeping my extremities warm. 

 Today I shall probably go shopping in a village to the north. The supermarket there sells the organic porridge oats I like. That puts the wind on my shoulder. On what is a very exposed and fairly busy main road. Sadly there is no other north going road or lane I can borrow. Major detours would be involved.

 There is hardly a hedge to be seen over ten kilometers of main road. Few drivers adhere to the speed limit. There are no cycle lanes. Just the white line. Marking the edge between muddy grass and the muddy asphalt. Which has been repeatedly dug up and poorly resurfaced at short intervals. For expansion of the district heating system. Over several years now and still ongoing.

 I've had a chat with my minder. She has survived the flu.

 10.00 40F/4C. Back from my walk. Sunny, chilly and windy. I wore my new [recycled] down jacket. It was toasty warm without overheating. I was even able to walk with my bare hands exposed. Not needing the beautifully warm jacket pockets all of the time.

  

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