14.10.2026

 ~?~

  Wednesday 14th 49F/9C [8.10] A sunny day but windy again. Peaking at 14C/57F. Westerly wind gusting to 12m/s. Peaking around lunch time. 

 Up at 7.30 after an unusually quiet night. Though with dreams.

 No immediate plans. Other than a walk. 

 

  ~?~

 

13.10.2026 Knee-high IQ?

 ~?~

  Tuesday 13th 46F/8C [8.50] Grey day. Wet evening.  Peaking at 12C. Gusting to 14m/s from the south later. 22C/73F in the room. Heat pump remote set to 18C. Resting on the coffee table.

 Up at 7.30 after a quiet night. No visit today. 

 After my chat with my minder I went for my walk around the drive loop. No micro guard dog today. The weather was overcast and already too windy for comfort. Which put off any thoughts of a ride.  Wind is no fun on a bike. It pushes me sideways when I emerge from the shelter of a roadside hedge. Which greatly increases the risk when a sociopath brushes past too closely. 

Or, perhaps they simply have a knee-high IQ? They really aren't all evil tyrants in supposedly German made cars. Who think their "luxury" car purchase gives them a license to own the road. They may simply be too thick [retarded] to know how much harm their dreadful driving behaviour causes. 

 I notice recently that many of them have moved over to Teslas. Which have suddenly developed a habit of close passing. Can we we expect that full self driving will remember the 1.5m rule? Their current drivers certainly don't. Hence the notion that the brain dead, BMW/Audi brigade have gone full EV. 

 I spent the day semi-comatose on YouTube. Apart from working my way through the laundry at suitable intervals. Then dragging the damp stuff upstairs. To hang on the clothes airers. Well, I need the exercise. What an exciting life I lead!

 No afternoon nap. I was dozing at intervals already. 

 Dinner was fish finger and chips. I washed up while it happened.

 

  ~?~

 

12.10.2026 My kingdom for a QR Code.

 ~?~

   Monday 12th 39F/4C [9.00]  Bright sunshine all day.

  Up at 8.00. Dentist at 9.30. Therapy at 11am.

  12.15 Back from both. The therapy was a harder workout than usual. I always push myself to work hard. To get maximum benefit. If I'm not breathless then I am not trying.

 15.00  After lunch I drove into the village to post a parcel. Having prepaid the postage online. No QR code sent. So they couldn't accept the parcel. I wasted 15 minutes on the phone outside the packet office. Just to get a QR code sent via SMS.

 The Lady of the Manor turned up at 15.30. She stayed, chatting for a couple of hours.

 After which I had a half hour nap. 

 Dinner was cheese on fresh, wholemeal rolls and tomato soup. I didn't want to OD on Cheddar. So only added it to two halves and closed the rolls.

 

  ~?~

11.10.2026 A slightly chilly 16km.

 ~?~

  Sunday 11th  47F/8C [9.00] Overcast. A cloudy day with a few sunny periods is forecast. Peaking at 10C/50F. Breezy to 8m/s from the north-NW.

 A toasty 23C/73F in the room. I'll try setting 19C on the  remote. Instead of 20C.

 Up at 8.30 after a quiet night with dreams.  

 I'll have a walk after chatting with my minder. 

 Along the loop around the drives. The hairy, little, guard dog refused to let me pass. So the owner had to collect it. It was slightly too cold for bare hands.

 It is brightening to sunshine. I've had morning coffee. So I'll go for a late ride. 

 12.45 50F/10C. Back from a 16km ride to the village to shop. Back via the forest and the stately home. It was slightly too cold for bare fingered racing mitts. I had taken fingered gloves but was too lazy to stop and put them on. Mixed cloud and sunshine. The beech woods haven't turned to their autumn colours yet.

 Yet another afternoon on YouTube. I took the recycling bins along the drive. Tidied the carport. Sent the mower out for a run. Had a nap.

 Sunday dinner was chicken, mushrooms, peas, mashed potato and gravy. It was perfect.  

  

  ~?~

10.10.2026 Goats win!

 ~?~

  Saturday 10th 47F/8C[7.45] Rain and sunny periods. Windy from the SW. The hedges are already waving about.

 22.5C in the room. Panasonic HP remote set to 20C on the coffee table. I'll try moving the remote further away. 

 Up at 7am. Slept well between tending to the fire bucket.  

 No immediate plans. Rain and wind do not make for a happy [old] cyclist. '

10.15 I had a chat with my minder. Then went for a walk. A smart Ford EV was carefully parked at the end of my drive: With trailer attached. Ownership unknown and no sign of life at either abandoned property. 

 I pressed on along the main drive. Where I should have recognized the black sky and rainbow to the west. As a likely portend of approaching rain. Being surrounded in bright sunshine did not engage any of the usual warning signals. 

 So I carried on. Even as heavy, horizontal drops began to darken my cargo trousers. My breathing was already laboured by the time I reached the road. Though fortunately this soon pased.

 I managed the drive loop at a steady. Rather than a frantic pace. Though I was certainly picking up speed. As I climbed the drive on the embankment. One might even suggest a certain briskness towards the end. As the wind driven rain zipped across the road in bright droplets. 

 The goats had read the signs and had already gone indoors. Absolute proof, if any were needed. That goats are far more intelligent than some elderly human beings. Albeit based on a sample of one against three. 

 I would have repeated my gushing praise for their having reduced an impenetrable jungle to the almost manageable. The brambles were really looking the worse for wear! This after only a day or so. While the flock of chickens hadn't visibly dented their former play area of several months. 

 12.20 I have wasted the entire morning on YouTube. I could have risked a ride but decided I was too lazy. Given the changeable weather conditions. I am pretending to learn from the goats. Though I think I'll pass on the brambles for lunch. 

 Dinner was, an all too predictable, chicken fry-up. 

 

  ~?~

9.10.2026 Battery swap!

 ~?~

  Friday 9th 50F/10C [9.30] Overcast. A wet and windy day is forecast. Peaking at 11C/52F.

  Up at 8.15 after a quiet night. A toasty 23C/73F in the room. I have lowered the heat pump remote down by half a degree.

 Just had a chat with my minder. I intend to go for a walk before the rain arrives. 

 I need to go to the village for more tablets. 

 10.15 Back from my usual walk. A little breathless on the way out. It soon passed. I had a chat with my neighbour's goats. They have been moved into the chicken's former ground. Where they are doing an amazing job at removing the brambles and nettles!  I showered them with praise but they remained unmoved.

 12.20 I drove into the village to shop. I was gone only five minutes in the apotek but had left the lights on [again]. The headlights were dim orange and the engine wouldn't turn over. The old battery must have been running on fumes. So I rolled gently downhill and the engine fired. I parked the car on the flat where I could move around the vehicle. 

 Fortunately I had enough tools to remove the battery. Then found myself unable to lift the sheer weight of it. Being right at the back of the engine bay. With the hot water tap sticking up right in front of it. Somehow I managed to tilt the battery sideways and finally haul it out.

 Replacement took a few minutes and then I could go shopping. I have perhaps 100 assorted spanners at home but wasn't carrying anything very useful in the car. Sheer idiocy on my part! One of the only two spanners in the Morris oilskin folder. Was only just able to manage the four nuts involved. 

 15.45 Blowing a gale and tipping down. 

 Dinner was a salmon pasty, peas, pasta and tinned tomatoes. 

 

  ~?~

8.10.2026 The phone awakens from the dead!

 ~?~

  Thursday 8th 56F/13C [7.00] Rain this morning. Temperature dropping like a stone at lunch time. Wind blowing a gale from a north westerly direction. 

 Up at 5.30 after another sleepless night. 

 Cooking class this morning.

 One+ phone still playing the dying fly.  

 I don't know what happened but somehow I managed to restart my phone through Google. The screen was not responding until then. My thousands of photos were backed up to the cloud and my PC. Now appearing on the phone too. This will save me the considerable cost of a new phone!

 13.30 Back from cooking class. Where I made tomato. leek and onion soup. Which proved popular. There were seven of us today. 

 The car is behaving normally for the moment. The phone is catching up on apps and contacts. Not helped by my failure to take a note of a new password. Typed in haste, late at night and approved with a click.

 No dinner required. 

 

 ~?~

7.10.2026 My One+ phone brick!

 ~?~

  Wednesday 7th 52F/11C. Rain this morning clearing to sunny periods. Peaking at 17C. Modest easterly winds going southeasterly. 

 A tropical 23C/73F in the room. I have reduced the heat pump remote to 20C/68F and moved it further away from the indoor unit. 

 Up at 7.50 after quiet night. I am slightly congested. The Danish news reports cold-like symptoms doing the rounds. 

 Doctor and dentist appointments around lunch time. I need to change the car battery. 

 The car continues to start instantly. I am carrying the new battery to be safe.

 The doctor has given me an antacid. The new pills seem to give me acid indigestion.

 The dentist and nurse both cleaned my teeth. Almost simultaneously but it didn't come to blows. 

 My One+ phone has turned into a brick. Thanks to One+ well known fault. I have tried erasing all the data several times but it is demanding a PASSWORD WHICH DOES NOT EXIST. Again, this  another well known One+ fault. 

 Do I risk my money on a replacement phone by the same dodgy company? Those who are in still in denial of their well know faults going back for years. 

 Google popped up and wanted verification that my phone belonged to me. Once I had entered pages of text it sent a confirmation code to the damned phone! Which is a brick for all intents and purposes! Oh joy!

 Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast. No pictures, so you'll have to take my word for it. 

 

  ~?~

6.10.2026 62km and a new car battery.

 ~?~

 Tuesday 6th 56F/13C [8.30] Heavy overcast with rain this afternoon.  

 A comfy 22C/72F in the room. The heat pump remote is set to 22C/72F and lies on the coffee table. 

 Woke at 8am after an unusually quiet night with more weird dreams. 

 I shall be visiting my English friend. After missing last week due to his business demands. He runs a B&B.

 15.40 Back again after a 62km ride. The Morris's battery was flat this morning. Mild and light winds made for good cycling conditions. My friend also has a Bosch driven e-bike. So he offered to charge my battery while I was there. I left home with 65% charge. It was into the orange after 30km. I left his place with 55% charge. Barely scraped home with only 2km of range left in Tour Mode. A car overtook me in a 40kph/25mph village. As I was entering a supermarket entrance on the off side. Just another fuckwit.

 Now I have to decide what to do about getting a new car battery. 

 16.40 Back from town after buying a new car battery. By sheer luck the car fired on the first turn of the starter when I got home. It was completely dead first thing.  I left it to charge for a while before leaving. 

 The car ran out of petrol in the detour required between the industrial estate and the nearby petrol station. The entrance to the big shed retailers is a hideous mess! Cobbled. Sunken. One way only. So no exit. 

 The Morris's petrol pump was clacking continuously by the time I reached the petrol pump. I have put the new battery on the smart charger.  Before swapping it for the one in the car. Probably tomorrow.

 I have a doctors appointment and dental appointment tomorrow. An hour and 16km apart. Rain is forecast. So I didn't want to ride. I'd be late for the second appointment. Cooking on Thursday is even further away and even wetter.

 Dinner was a fry-up with the last of the sausage. 

 

  ~?~

 

 

5.10.2026 Sausage manglais?

 ~?~

  Monday 5th 55F/13C [8.50] Rather heavy overcast. Possible sunny periods between the clouds. Peaking at 17C/63F. Rather windy from the SW. Gusting to 13m/s [30mph] for hours.

 21C/70F in the room with the heat pump remote set to 19C/66F. AI says to hang the remote on an inside wall. There isn't anything suitable. Only the wood stove chimney.

 Up at 8.00 when my minder sent me a message.  I had a quiet night with more weird dreams. 

 Exercise therapy again this morning. 

 Back from my torture session. It went well. My legs are strong but my back isn't.

 I sent Euforia, the robot mower, out for a couple of tours this afternoon

 No afternoon nap. 

 Dinner was mangled sausage on wholemeal bread rolls. I fried one portion of sausages and realised it was not enough. So I used a plastic spatula to break up the nearly cooked remains in the frying pan. 

  

  ~?~

 

4.10.2026 33km and the embankment.

 ~?~

  Sunday 4th 50F/10C [9.25]  Bright sunshine. Sunny periods peaking at 15C. Light westerly winds.

 21C/70F in the room. Heat pump remote set to 18C/64F.

 Up at 8.45! After waking, dreaming and drifting. Another ride?

 10.15 Back from a walk around the drives on the back fields. A male pheasant was caught out in the middle of the newly sewn field. Without any local cover it dashed off to the far side. Quite a distance. 

 I decided to have an afternoon ride. Neither battery was fully charged. 

 16.10 Back from a 33km ride. Heading north up to the new railway track. Where the embankment seems to have finally reached the required height at the new bridge. 

 It was mostly bright sunshine but several large plates of cloud went over. There was a blustery crosswind for most of the ride..

 I shopped in the distant village on the way back. Still more roads closed for the district heating expansion. It seems to go on forever. I was directed to use the railway underpass. Which meant quite a steep flight of stairs. So I had to dismount. 

 Dinner was free range pork sausage, mushrooms and plum tomatoes. 

 

 

  ~?~

3.10.2026 39km in bright sunshine.

 ~?~

  Saturday 3rd 50F/10C [7.50] Mist clearing to sunshine and 17C. Modest southerly winds. 21C/70F in the room. It was 24C/75F at bedtime!

 Up at 7.20 after being too hot and lying awake in the night. I got up for an hour at 2.30 and sat watching YouTube.

 I should enjoy my Saturday morning ride today. 

 First I had a walk around the loop. It was quiet, sunny, warm and pleasant.

 13.25 Back from a 39km ride. I started on the untreated leg from Glamsbjerg to Voldtofte. Of the new cycle path. 

 Then I climbed up to the ridge overlooking the sea to the south. Where I photographed an old farmhouse my wife and I looked at. Years ago now. When it was cheaply for sale. It was very isolated. 

 A number of outbuildings have been demolished. A young chap was working on renovating the place. He vanished and the place remains as he left it. The view of the sea is blocked by the humped field in front of it. 

 Bright sunshine, very steep, but empty rural lanes and a gusty wind. Marked most of this section of my ride.

 I did some light shopping on the way home. No chicken breasts. Not unless I was willing to pay double for half the quantity in free range! 

  Dinner was a salmon pasty, peas and chips. 

 10.00 I have been watching TV. The heart pain returned. I used the nitro spray and the pain has gone. 

  ~?~

 

 

2.10.2026 As you were.

 ~?~

  Friday 2nd 56F/13C [8.45] Heavy overcast with showers. Clearing to sunshine after lunch. Light westerly winds. 21C/70F in the room. The heat pump has been on all night set to 20C in Heat Mode. It is currently blowing cool air at 19C! Odd.

 Up at 8.15 after a quiet night with dreams and lying awake. 

 I have a carport full of tools which need to be put away. They are safe under a heavy tarpaulin against any rain.

 14.45 62F/17C. The sun came out and the greenhouse shot up to over 100F. So I opened the skylights. 

 I have dragged all the tools in the carport back to the shed. There was a disappointing lack of new space with the lathe cabinet gone. I could go for a ride. 

 But didn't. Chest pain over my heart again. I had forgotten to take the new tablet at lunch time. I took it with a glass of water and was soon pain free.

 No afternoon nap. Perhaps sensible but unexpected.

 Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast. 

  ~?~

1st October 2026 My Smart & Brown [Sabel] Lathe has gone.

 ~?~

  Thursday 1st 54F/12C [7.00] A bright morning is promised. Followed by rain in the afternoon and overnight. Windy again from the east, south-east. 22C/72F in the room with the heat pump remote set to 20C/68F.

 Up at 6am after a fairly quiet night. With weird dreams again. I was stabbed in an unfair sword fight! Probably from watching too many Asian gangster series on Netflix. A ferret just ran across the drive.

 I have a potential overlap between selling my heavy, vintage lathe and exercise therapy. There is some tidying to do if the lathe is to be easily accessed and removed. Mostly lawnmowers and other electric gardening tools. 

 I don't want it all standing outside in the pouring rain. In the vague hope of somebody turning up with an army of enthusiastic weight lifters. I could house the overflow temporarily in the shelter of the carport.

 If I park the Morris alongside the carport. Then I could treat the tidying as an exercise in itself. It needs to be done. So I can actually get into the shed. Without having to clear a pile of stuff first.

 9.00 I have had to have a rest. Having cleared loads of stuff from the shed. Dragged two full wheelbarrows across the gravel to the carport. Nostalgia is welling up at the sight of my wife's gardening tools. Most of which I was prohibited from using. I was either "clearing the Amazon" or unable to follow direct orders.  

 I've been having a chat with my minder while I cooled off. Meanwhile the "gardeners" at the house on the road. Are beating a tin shed to death with sledge hammers. Prior occupants built scruffy sheds. No doubt the new people are having a proper clearance.

 It's odd to hear anything from that direction. This house is not far away but the view is completely blocked by all the trees. I hope they don't get too ambitious with the tree felling! Though I don't think they own the 30m wide, wooded strip between our boundaries. There is a stream there and the intervening ground is very wet. With mature trees forming a shelter belt between us. Which helps to block traffic noise.

 There are two houses left. Side by side. After one oder house was demolished. Their front doors are at road level. Built on ground which drops at 45º. So they look like bungalows from the front but have split levels. And probably need ropes and crampons to climb up from their steeply sloping, back gardens.

 I walked round and had a chat with the chap who is doing the work. With the aid of his family. I was given the guided tour of the large garden, the boundary stream, etc.. They plan to do a full renovation of the house. They are clearing all the sheds, shrubs, brambles and trees. It was interesting to finally see the arrangements. After living here for thirty years. Because of the drop to the garden it was impossible to see anything from the road.  

 11.45 Time for another rest. I have been sorting the original lathe parts. From the accumulation of accessories and tools I built around the machine. For all my different projects over the years. No point in hanging onto things I shall never be able to use again. 

 14.30 Finally separated everything into lathe relevant and personal junk. Cleared all the accumulated swarf. 

 There is some cosmetic surface rust from several years of standing untouched. Though not on the ways. Where it matters for accuracy. These are protected by a special oil. Vænge olie in Danish. Google doesn't have a direct translation. So I suppose "machine or way oil" will have to do.

 The rain isn't supposed to arrive until 18.00. 

 16.00 The buyer brought a younger and stronger chap with him. Even so, the lathe was incredibly heavy. Luckily they brought a low trailer. So there was no final lift. It just had to be rolled on and then pushed forwards. 

 There was nothing exciting on the floor behind the cabinet. I thought there might be. The snap is from the security camera as they drove away. The buyer lives in the next village north. About 3km away. I owned the lathe for at least 35 years. I shall miss it. Still, a major step in downsizing. What's next? 

 18.15 Heavy rain. Dinner was fish fingers, peas and chips. I'd forgotten to buy more chips. So the portion was a bit mean. Chips nouveau?

  

  ~?~

30.09.2026 Blighted neighbourhoods!

 ~?~

  Wednesday 30th 57F/14C [7.30] A sunny day is promised. Peaking at 19C/ 66F. Rather spoilt by a gusty easterly wind. Blowing to 10m/s. A cosy 22C/72F in the room thanks to the heat pump. Remote set to 21C/70F. 

Up at 6.50 after a quiet night. I have an appointment with the ENT specialist. In town this afternoon. 

 I had a long chat with my minder. Then went for a walk.

 9.15 Back from my walk. Just the usual loop around the drives to the north. I was quite breathless on the way out but gradually recovered. I was able to maintain a modest pace. The wind was picking up steadily.

 The "gardeners" are back clearing brambles at the vacant house on the road. Having a big, smokey bonfire with the felled greenery. With a very fortunate, easterly wind direction. At least as far as I was concerned. A mini digger/excavator has been brought in to help. 

 They have access to the house. So may be the owners. I believe it has always been rented in the past. No "For Sale" signs have ever appeared. The entrance enjoys the same terrifying exit into speeding traffic. Immediately following a tight, completely blind bend. Where my own, shared drive lies right on the apex. 

 Not helped, at all, by the overgrowth of self seeding trees and shrubs. At yet another of Scrapman's abandoned building sites. Now untouched for five years and counting. Much the same as all the rest of his properties. Bought for pocket change at forced auctions. Then left to decay once he has done just enough damage to make it look like quite deliberate blackmail. 

 In the hope that somebody will pay him an obscene amount of money. Just for him to go away. He always dumps ridiculous amounts of junk and building materials on the grounds of all his properties. Old decrepit boats, rusting cars and agricultural implements. Just to maximize the pressure. 

 His toll on numerous unlucky neighbourhoods and very real neighbours. Is completely ignored by the council. One neighbour lost £30,000 in the value of their immaculate home. Not that there was the slightest chance in hell of it selling. Not with Scrapman's hideous eyesores. Right next door and deliberately placed as close as possible to their boundary.

 His activities even hinder businesses. As he makes their approach drive look like hell on earth! With deliberately placed junk narrowing their access. Isn't it nice to know? That cheap, property speculators hold infinitely more power in Denmark. Than honest, tax and rates paying, working home owners and their working, tax paying families. 

  11.00 I put off my planned ride. To do the washing up and to put some laundry in the machine. 

 16.00 67F/19C and bright sunshine. Back from town after visiting the ENT specialist. I don't need to go back until November. Unless the dizziness returns. 

 Dinner was cheese on toasted rolls with halved, cherry tomatoes. 

  ~?~

 

29.09.2026 New med.

 ~?~

  Tuesday 29th 57F/14C [9.15] Overcast.  A cloudy start. Clearing to sunshine and 18C/65F later.

  Woken at 8.20 by somebody quite local. Ringing about my lathe. They should be here soon. I had fallen back to sleep after waking at 7.30.

 9.00 I have a buyer. An active 84year-old, living in the next village. He has always wanted a metal lathe. He's coming back on Thursday. We had a good chat. 

 12.30 I rang the doctor earlier about my recurring heart pain. They gave me an emergency appointment. 

 A chat, checked my blood pressure, then a wait for an electrocardiogram. Back for another chat with the doctor. New tablet to suppress the pain. Which had been removed by stopping the original tablets. Hopefully the will lack the same side effects like dizziness.

 Dinner was a chicken fry-up. With mushrooms and tweggs on toast.

 

  ~?~

 

28.09.2026 A walk + exercise class.

 ~?~

  Monday 28th 56F/13C [7.50] Overcast, with only a little sunshine forecast. Mild, peaking at 19C/66F later. Southerly winds and much lighter. 

 21C/70F in the room without the heat pump. Probably thanks to the greenhouse and yesterday's sunshine. 

 Up at 7.15 after a fairly quiet night. 

 Exercise therapy class today in town.   

 9.00 Back from my walk around the usual loop. No breathlessness or tiredness. No dogs barking today. It was overcast and spitting with rain. Not heavy enough to be a problem. I was having my online chat while I walked. All thanks to the rubber tipped stylus. My fingertips are too large to type on the virtual keyboard. 

 12.20 Bright overcast. Back again. I deliberately pushed myself at the exercise class. Did a bit of shopping too. 

 The afternoon was wasted online.

 I had to go shopping in the village before dinner. I'd run out of essentials.

 Dinner was baked beans on wholemeal bread toast with tomato soup. 

 I put the heat pump back on and it started blowing cold air. It was set to Auto Mode. So I changed it to Heat Mode. 

 Why does my heart hurt every evening? I am having to use the nitro spray every evening now. It stops the pain almost immediately but why is it necessary? Am I overdoing it?

  

  ~?~

27.09.2026 Another walk & a 38km ride.

 ~?~

  Sunday 27th 49F/9C [8.00] A sunny day is promised. When it reaches me. Currently blocked by the absent neighbours hedges and trees. The house involved is supposed to be under renovation but has been abandoned again. As the temporary plastic covering tears to rags in the wind. Today's wind is set to blow from the east. Gusting to 11-12m/s on average. Not ideal for a ride.

 A rather warm 23C/74F in the room. The heat pump has been on all night. The remote is set to 20C/68F and Heat Mode. I'll try Auto Mode to see what happens.  

 Up at 7.20 after another quiet night. With more weird dreams. 

 8.35. I think I'll go for a walk. This is a bigger deal than most realise. I completely lost my confidence after the backward somersault. Ending in an ambulance trip to hospital. I tried a walk with a recent visitor. Having to give up at halfway. When I became too breathless to continue.

 9.30 Back from a loop around the neighbour's drives at the rear. In bright sunshine. No wind. No breathlessness. No tiredness. Even my posture and pace looked more normal on the security cameras. The small, hairy guard dog barked from the safety of its low fence. As did the Alsatian at the bungalow on the road. Safely secured behind two wooden fences. 

 The intervening, marshy ground beyond my northern boundary is rapidly growing trees. There will be a wood there within a couple of years. My view towards the far fields. Through the narrow window I made between my own trees, will soon be gone. The embankment they built for their new drive must have dried out the marsh.  Though willows can easily grow in such damp conditions.

 10.30 Off we go for a ride. 

 12.30 Back from a ride for the full length of the new cycle path. With only the stretch from Glamsbjerg to Voldtofte yet to be surfaced. That was still covered in rough sand, earth and nasty, pebble sized, loose gravel in places. Strictly for wide tires or an MTB and nerves of steel! There is no sense of direction. So I have to float over it and keep pedaling. 

 Lots of people were enjoying the rest of the route. Which is now paved with the fine, grey, surface gravel. They were mostly mature or elderly cyclists and a few walkers. I slowed to a crawl as I passed walkers. Greeted or thanked them all for giving me room and most responded. 

 Everybody was cheerful in the perfect conditions. Loose dogs were quickly gathered in once they knew somebody was approaching. Though free range walks seem pointless. When they can be so easily reeled in on extending leashes. I used my tiny new bell only once at 100m distance. They heard it instantly and pulled their dogs into the verge.

 The route is a little over 18km long in all. Still work to be done on the numerous road crossings. Some thoughtful hedge trimming at these crossings would greatly increase safety. Allowing cyclists to easily check for approaching traffic.Without having to stop or dismount. Or carry on regardless. On what are mostly narrow lanes with very light traffic.

 The two, main road crossings are quite another matter. The road speeds here are still the national limit of 80kph or 50 mph. Usually ignored by the vast majority of drivers. One main road has had a new island installed. Which has taken a fortnight and counting. To provide some shelter for cyclists at the midway point. The speed limit here was 60kph or 40mph. Again completely ignored by most drivers. Perhaps the only answer is a bump, pillow or ramp? The only truly democratic traffic calming measure. Which actually works. 

 Lots of new signposts have been erected in blue. Giving details of distances. 

 After lunch and a nap I have been running the robot up and down the drive. I brought out the big, push-along, battery mower and trimmed the entire length several times. Including the verges. To ensure the robot mower wasn't being hindered by taller grass or weeds. It tends to see overhanging growth as valuable shrubs to be protected. 

 My attempts to cut The West Lawn with the big mower failed. Due to flat batteries and molehills repeatedly stalling the blade. Now on charge.

 The unshaded greenhouse is hot. So I have opened the internal doors. 

 Sunday Dinner was chicken, mushrooms, peas, carrots, chips and gravy. It was delicious. 

 

  ~?~

26.09.2026 A walk, 32km and a recalcitrant robot!

 ~?~ 

  Saturday 26th 55F/13C [7.10] Dry, sunny later and breezy from the west. Peaking at 17C/63F. 20C/68F in the room. No heat pump.

 Up at 6.45 after  quiet night.  A good day for a ride?

 As I chatted with my minder online. I noticed a red van parked by the distant road. Then a JCB digger turned up and figures walked about. Eventually moving to the back of an old farmhouse. I decided I needed a walk. Curiosity was my driving force. The red van had moved nearer. As an old chap began to turn off the water at a stop tap on the verge. 

 I asked him what was happening and he said they had a pipe break on the field. Probably due to the massive seed drill. Working out there yesterday. It had returned and completed its sewing while I wasn't watching. The water would be off for a couple of hours. No warning.

 Further on I could see the result of all the gardening noise on a roadside house. Which had become completely overgrown over the last few years. While standing empty for most of that time. They must have been working hard on the brambles. I could hear the engines of their power tools beyond the trees but could see nothing until now.

 I continued on my walk at a fairly brisk pace. Yet I was not breathless. In fact I completed the loop along the neighbours' drives without much effort. I suppose it could be the therapy exercises improving my overall fitness. 

 Or even the outing with my English friend. Where we had to walk around a huge yard to examine the items on display. Followed my walking up and down several vast supermarkets. As he shopped on the way home. 

 I have filled the kettle to the very top. With the dribble from the tap. Had morning coffee. I'll change now and go for my ride. To mix shopping with checking progress on the massive embankment. Where the new, high speed, railway track has to match the height of the newly cast bridge. After emerging from what was once a deep hollow.  

 10.30 Off we jolly well go. 

 12.20 And back again after 32km. The traffic was light but the wind stronger than forecast. A cross headwind going. More of a crosswind coming home. It felt slightly too cold on my hands in fingerless mitts. Though it soon passed. I stopped to put on a GripGrab medieval cap. 

 Later I climbed the long hill up to the new railway track. Still some way to go for the embankment to match the bridge level. More roads were closed for the district heating expansion.

 I shopped on the way back. The water was back on. 

Then I sent the robot mower out four times before dinner. It is still refusing [or ignoring] certain areas of the drive. No matter how many times I send it out. Dinner was beans on toast. 

  

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25.09.2026 8.4km test ride.

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  Friday 25th 46F/8C [7.15] Dry with sunny periods. Medium, westerly winds. 24C/75F in the room. Too warm! I have turned the heat pump remote control down by one degree to 20C. It has overheated the room when set to 21C.

 Up at 6.30 after another wakeful night. Should I give up the afternoon nap? 

 I need to fix the dropper post on the e-bike. The cable was barely long enough and the outer frayed at a junction. Causing severe unreliability. I have a spare dropper post somewhere with a brand new lever amd cable attached. Bought before I realised I could get more drop. Now I can't find it! These dropper seat  cables are standard gear change cables. So I could obtain some spares from the bike shop in town and knit my own.  

 13.00 Back from the shops. I bought a couple of inner gear cables in town. Then detoured to two farm machinery shops looking for better cable clamps. Aka: Wire nipples. I was lucky at the second. The original XLC cable clamp ruins the cable. Due to the pointed clamping screw separating the strands. Where a flat ended screw would hopefully not. The original nipple was also tiny. Needing a tiny, straight bladed screwdriver to tighten it. This did not fill me with confidence that the inner cable/wire was being held firmly. 

 It has been a beautiful, sunny morning but I could not safely go for a ride without the dropper post working. Lifting myself onto the saddle. From straddling across the bike was too far. As was dismounting from a seated position.  

 17.00 60F/15.5C Back from an 8km test ride. The seat dropper post has returned to solid and reliable support. With snappy movement up and down. Bright sunshine and I was overdressed despite the wind.  

 Dinner was cheese and curried herring on wholemeal bread rolls. With half a tin of Heinz tomato soup. Washed down with village apple juice.

  ~?~

24.09.2026 Cooking class.

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  Thursday 24th 52F/11C [8.30] Heavily overcast again. Dark indoors. A grey but dry day. Peaking at 15C/59F. 20C/68F in the room. I have lit the heat pump. 

 So much easier than the wood stove. Probably a lot healthier too! Almost immediate heat instead of waiting for ages for the warmth to escape. I should have bought a heat pump years ago. 

 I was woken at 8.00 by my minder. After my being awake again in the night. She has building workers in making a racket. So she was up earlier than usual.

 Cooking class today. Going in the Morris. 

 14.10 Back from cooking class. Where I made a cabbage, orange and nut salad. I also dropped in on the Morris minor expert to ask about spares.  

 No need for dinner. 

  

  ~?~

 

 

23.09.2026 Inclemency is my burden.

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  Wednesday 23rd 53F/12C [8.00] Heavy overcast. Making it dark indoors. A grey, rainy day. Peaking around 15C/59F. 20C/68F in the room.  Wind increasing steadily to peak at 18m/s after midnight tonight. Continuing into tomorrow.

 Up at 7.20 after a mostly quiet night. I felt warm despite the modest indoor temperature.

 9.45 Just had my daily chat with my minder.    

 18.00 Back from the village supermarkets. I didn't buy any meat. Organic meat has doubled in price from last year! I'll have to rethink my diet. The second supermarket was stocking my lunch rolls again. Not reliably though. 

 I had to buy more petrol. I usually buy 250kr worth. Roughly £29! So the tank needs refilling far more often. As prices rise. 

 The rain persisted heavily. As I was heading back to the car from the supermarket. So I had to make a dash for it. 

 Dinner was poached eggs on toast.  

 

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22.09.2026 240km!

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  Tuesday 22nd 44F/7C [8.20] Bright but much cooler. A sunny day is promised. Peaking at 17C/63F. With lighter winds. 19C/66F in the room. The heat pump has been turned on. Set to 21C/70F.

 Up at 7.30 after being awake and then up in the night. No explanation. Just wide awake at 3.30. Stayed up until 5.30. Watching YT videos. I did the washing up at 10pm last night.  

 My English friend is coming to me today. 

 We had Danish pastries and then set off in his car. 120km later we were at our destination. We had a good look around and then headed home again. Shopping at the half way point on the way back. It was a perfect day. Pleasantly warm, full sunshine and no wind. 

 Dinner was a chicken fry-up. With mushrooms, tomatoes and tweggs on toast. I am getting paranoid about eggs being properly cooked. Turning them over always results in overcooked. Or broken. I am not sure which is worse.

 

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21.09.2026 16km

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  Monday 21st 51F/11C [8.15] Bright overcast. A dry day with sunshine is promised. Peaking at 16C/61F. 

  Up at 7.45 after checking the clock at 5.15. I was too warm in bed and too warm now at 22C in the room. I have turned off the heat pump. 

 I have had a follow up enquiry for the lathe. 

 Exercise therapy in town this morning. 

 13.00 Returning safely from my torture session. Mostly exercises about checking and improving balance.  I shopped in town while I was there.

 On the way back I drove past several of the new cycle path, road crossings to check on progress. The main road is completely blocked at one crossing today. With marked detour signs and plastic barriers. Machines and people are busy at work doing something. It is dry with sunny periods but blowing to 15m/s. Around 30mph. Not ideal for cycling.

 I have started sorting out my chests of drawers. Using three, shallow plastic baskets so far. To separate pants from winter and summer socks. Since they are mostly black. It has always been impossible to see what they are until now. One day at a time.

 16.00 Going for a ride. 

 17.00 Back again. 16km. I shopped twice on a double loop. Still no wholemeal rolls! They are building an island and narrowing the road where I saw the plastic barricades from the car. I rode the last leg of the new path on fairly firm sand. A strong headwind coming home. 

 The person interested in the lathe is having a think.  

 Dinner was toasted cheese rolls with cherry tomatoes. 

 

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20.09.2026 More rain!

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  Sunday 20th 56F/13C [8.30] Bright periods in an overcast. Another rainy day. With westerly gales gusting to 18m/s or 40mph! 

 21C/70F in the room with the heat pump set to 20C on the remote. I slept in a fleece jumper over my usual T-shirt. Getting up at 7.50 after waking at 7am and drifting. I ought to raise the setting to 21C. It is much more comfortable with the room at 22C. Otherwise I have to wear a fleece jacket over the jumper. All the doors closed of course. 

 The rain and gales will deny me any chance of a ride. I ought to have an alternative plan!

 12.30 Hours of sunshine. So I sent the mower out. I went around cleaning the lenses of the security cameras from up a ladder. The cobwebs were getting very silly. I even walked to the far end of the drive to trim a mad rose. Which was growing stems as thick as my thumb. Straight out from the verge. 

 It started raining without warning. Heavy rain! So that my remaining hair was soaked and my fleece jacket was wet. Then, as soon as I had returned home. The sun came out and it is dry again. Enforced cabin fever by intimidation, I call it. Or lunch time, if you prefer.

 I ran the robot again when the rain disappeared.

 I've had another message about my lathe for sale. Requesting more images. Done.

 Sunday dinner included chips. I had forgotten to buy more potatoes. 

 

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19.09.2026 Disappointing dinner.

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 Saturday 19th 58F/14.5C [8.50] Heavy overcast with rain and wind. Two more days of the same. 21C/70F in the room. The heat pump has been on all night. Remote set to 20C.

 Up at 8.10 after a quiet night with dreams. 

 There will be no ride today. Perhaps I should populate the new cupboard. The day was wasted on YouTube.

 16.50 Back from grocery shopping in the village.  

 Dinner was a tin of scraps of mackerel in watery tomato sauce by Sæby. I had bought several tins to stock up the larder. A mistake, as the quality is dropping like a stone into water. It used to be one of my favourite foods and a safeguard against an empty fridge. Meanwhile, of course, the price goes on rising.

 

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18.09.2026 Success!

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  Friday 18th 63F/12C [7.40] Overcast and windy. Rain and wind expected for several days. 19C/66F in the room. Too cool. I'll fire up the heat pump. Currently set to 20C/68F on the remote.

 Up at 7am after an unusually quiet night. Though with lots of dreams.  

 10.00 Occasional brightness but generally grey and blowing. I've had my online chat with my minder. 

 Time to think about a run to another charity shop? I'd need the trailer and its cover. Or go back if I find something worthwhile. The overall mileage could get very silly again. If four journeys are required. 

 14.30 Returning from a trip to Fåborg. It rained and blew on the way there. After visiting numerous other charity shops I returned to one. Which didn't open until 13.00. They had several candidates but their prices were higher than other shops. I spent 500kr in the end. On a light wood grain cupboard with drawers. Not too deep and 140cm long.

 With the help of a couple of elderly gentleman volunteers it only just fitted in the trailer. I covered it with my thick blanket, roped it down and set off. Only to have to stop in a layby after it started raining. So that I could fit the tarpaulin cover. 

 The rain was just a sprinkle and lasted only a couple of minutes. Never mind. Safely home. Now to get it indoors! Through the new, glazed, patio door methinks. I have furniture moving trolleys. If I can find them. After lunch!

 16.00 Al is safely gathered in. I used 2x4 stumps to lift the cupboard feet above the trolleys. The cupboard could go back a few more inches. It just needs the cables to be tidied. It's not a masterpiece. Certainly not an antique. Just a cheap, modern piece of furniture. Functional and quite pleasing to the eye. I don't think it has ever been used. Probably refused for the pale mark defacing the central door.

 Dinner was a salmon pasty, peas and chips. 

  

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17.09.2026 Keep on rowing.

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  Thursday 17th 50F/11C  [7.30] Bright overcast. A dry morning followed by continuous rain. 20C/68F in the room. 10C/50F in the greenhouse.

 Up at 7am after numerous visits to the fire bucket.

 My doctor has already answered my online query about my low blood pressure. He suggests I have a rest from one of the six tablets I take daily for my high blood pressure. 

 Exercise therapy today. I can go this week because my cooking class is fortnightly. 

 13.00 And back again.  The exercise session went very well. I was doing more repeats and intervals than required. It was all on different exercise machines this time. I visited two secondhand shops and a charity shop on the way home. Still looking for furniture. Nothing really suited my needs.

 13.30 The rain has already started. Expected to last three days. 

 It became winder. Gusting to 15m/s according to the DMI. 

 Dinner was two boiled eggs on wholemeal bread rolls. Lowered into boiling water. Seven minutes before dumping the hot water and chilling with cold. Five minutes to soak up the remaining heat. Perfect!

 

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16.09.2026 Go NW, young man.

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  Wednesday 16th 56F/13C [8.45] Overcast, with sunny periods and odd showers. Peaking at 17C/63F. 20C/68F in the room without the heat pump.

 Up at 8.10 after a fairly quiet night. 

 I'll probaby go furniture hunting at charity shops. Towing the little cage trailer behind the Morris Minor. There is a whole string of village, charity shops with furniture for sale. Off to my NW. 

 I think I am refining my needs. Now preferring wood grain to harsh white. The softer wood grain does not draw the eye quite so much. Hopefully providing a more harmonious impression. It's all completely and utterly meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Entirely for my own comfort and amusement. I get so few visitors at the hovel. That any change will go unnoticed by humanity. Most importantly it gets me out of the house and away from YouTube.

 10.00 Had my morning chat with my minder. I'll have a quick shower before I'm off.

 15.15 Back from my search. I reached as far as Fredericia. It was 9 charity shops in all. Still no luck.  

 As soon as I had eaten a late lunch of two rolls I was dizzy. My vision went blank white. With the brightness turned right up. My hearing was droning. I was burning up and sweating profusely. After sitting with my eyes closed for half an hour I lay down and slept properly for half an hour. Feeling better afterwards. My guess is that my blood flow was redirected. Away from my brain to my digestive system. 

 19.15 I just took my blood pressure at 5 minute intervals. Before deciding on having any dinner.

111/71 Pulse 77, 106/66 P 79,  96/65 P 79. The BP advice online for active 80 year-olds is 140/90 to avoid dizziness and falls. I sent these figures to my doctor. 

 I had no dinner. Just a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit. 

10.15 I have been having quite severe pain over my heart for some time this evening. So I have just used the nitroglycerine spray under my tongue. The pain has gone. I am going to bed. 

  ~?~

15.09.2026 Arse over tit! Innit?

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 Tuesday 15th 60F/16C [9.00] Overcast. Cloudy all day. 20C/68F in the room. No heat pump last night.

 Up at 7.20 after a quiet night. No visit to my English friend today.

 10.30 Had an hour's chat with my minder.

 11.30 I stayed home instead of riding in what soon became rain. I have been moving furniture. Trying to minimize the various assaults on the eye. Which means removing junk from direct observation.

 The white box unit had been hiding all the wiring under the window but was hopeless for storage. It was bought [recycled] to go under the TV. Until the Heat pump took its place. 

 So I have moved the white unit over to beside the bed. With plastic basket/tubs to hold stuff which needs repeated and regular access. Which means I need something to replace the white storage/display unit under the window. Perhaps a multi drawer unit? To absorb some more junk and conceal all the hideous wiring. 

 Modesty prevents an image. The space contains a wireless router, internet fibre optic router, an 8 way, POE switch and several large power supplies. Three multi-mains-sockets. Including an eight way. Plus all the various cables connecting this ugly assortment. Quite honestly, I no longer have a clue if there is any duplication or redundancy. Could I wall mount any of it? Who knows? It was once and was just as ugly even then. Conduit is utterly meaningless in this context.

 12.00 Still fiddling. 

 16.15 Back from a  drive to four charity shops. The recycled gods did not smile upon this unfortunate soul. At least, not today. I had taken the trailer. In anticipation and false optimism.

 I passed a police car supervising the rescue of a car. Which had somehow managed to overcome a steep bank. To end up on its roof. Well above road height. Not something you see every  day. My guess is excessive speed on a completely blind, extremely sharp corner. Made worse by being on the brow of a hill.

 A large rescue lorry was busy sorting out the acrobatic vehicle. As the traffic built up in both directions. Two young women sat up on the bank. Not obviously injured. More looking bored. No doubt it will take a little more than a car wash. To sort out the mess.

 Meanwhile the search goes on, To lift the living room by a notch or two. There are at least three more charity shops, with furniture, in the same direction. Go north west young man! 

 Dinner was a chicken fry-up. With mushrooms and tweggs on toast. I flipped the eggs to be sure they were properly cooked. 

 

  ~?~