19.11.2024 Frost and light snow.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 19th 34F/1C [8.00] Overcast and possible wintry showers. White frost on the grass.

 Up at 7.10 after waking earlier. I need an easier way to see the time. At present I have to switch on a blinding table lamp and stare at a small, shiny clock dial. I have a digital clock with large red digits from my observatory. I'll see if I can find it in the chaos. 

 And did. After searching high and low I finally found it safely stored indoors. The time setting button had stopped working. So I had to open up the case and short out the contacts on the push button switch. It is running a few seconds slow but I can live with that. Anything which demands my attention is likely to wake me far more than a glance. So now I can check whether it is a sensible time to get up.

 The intention is to visit my friend this morning. As the roads are expected to be wet and slippery there will be no ride today. I hope the Morris tires are grippy in the cold. 

 I just checked. The software updated Bosch Nyon computer has been storing my rides for over a month. Without being able to show them on my phone. Or even the Nyon screen itself. Now I can see all the details. My total distance from new is 10,569km.

 13.00 37F/2.8C. Returned from visiting my friend. My voice was going after two hours of chatting. Light rain. Shopped on the way back. The roads were fine. Just a few puddles.

 13.20 Only 59F/15C in the room. I ought to light the stove.

 9.00 32F/0C. There was light snow falling when I went outside to the bins. It can't have lasted for long. Because it looked no thicker than a frost. When I checked again two hours later. 70F/21C in the room.

  Dinner was a salmon pasty. With boiled potatoes and peas. I deliberately overcooked the pasty again to avoid previous greasiness. The mini-oven doesn't get hot enough. So needs a longer duration of cooking for the same effect.

 

 ~o~

 

18.11.2024 85km.

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  Monday 18th. Wet start then sunny morning.

 Up at 7.45 after a fairly quiet night. Physio. I had better get moving! 

 10.15 Back from physio and light shopping. Sunshine but breezy. My nose is still trying to bleed but I am avoiding blowing my nose.

 11.20 I have the second battery on charge. Readying for a ride. I'll head north to avoid a westerly headwind on my way home.    

 12.00  Ready to go. Taking lunch rolls with me. 

 17.00 37F/3C. Stove lit. 62F/6.7C in the room. Returning after 85km ride to Middelfart and back. Cold headwind going. Blue-black sky ahead. Ragged showers hanging underneath. The massive dark cloud passed over before it started with stinging hail. Turned to rain, enough to thoroughly wet my trousers. Then went off. 

 It remained cold and miserably windy. I had left my waterproof trousers at home. I did a tour to see what else was available. Nothing in the charity shops or the bike shops. The bike shops are discounting due to changing their stock but had nothing left in my size. M.

 The Contec leather Touring saddle was fine again. Best bibs worn under cargo trousers. Not quite warm enough up top. Thermal vest, racing jersey, medium jumper and Endura rain jacket. Not sure what to add. A thin jumper? Swap to my thickest jumper? Take a medium weight jumper in case I get too warm? 

 My hands were getting cold too in the thick, fingered gloves. So I changed to lobster mitts. Still cold. So went back to the fingered gloves. All by GripGrab.

 The jam rolls worked much better than the previous honey. Which leaked into the poly bag. I enjoyed the rolls much more than stuffing sub-micro Corny bars. Though I didn't drink anything at all despite taking apple juice. It felt too cold for a cold drink. Plenty of room for a flask. If I have one. There should be a stainless steel one somewhere. It hasn't been used for years. 

 Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce with halved tomatoes. 😋

 

 

 

 

  ~o~

17.11.2024 Bloodbath!

 ~o~

  Sunday 17th bright but cloudy. Squally showers and gales possible. 40F/4.4C.

 Bad nose bleed on blood thinners. I have saturated five tissues and lots of cotton wool but it is still pouring from my nose and down my throat. Typing with one hand while I pinch my nose. Still bleeding after 5 minutes of pinching. Try another 5 mins. And another. And another. Still running slightly but it has finally stopped pouring. Can I ride my bike while pinching my nose? Can I drive?

 9.00 First sunshine and the wind is picking up. I'll sit still, pinch some more and hope my nose behaves itself.

9.45 Nose still bleeding. Sunday, so no doctor or pharmacy. I'll go on pinching while passively watching YT videos.

 12.40 It was quite a sunny morning. With none of the promised rain. It clouded over about half an hour ago but there has been no sign of the squally showers. Only now has my nose become reliable. The wastepaper bin would look more at home in a battlefield hospital! It is half full of bloodied tissues. 

 The room is at 65F/18C. I am just beginning to feel a bit chilly. It doesn't look like I shall safely manage an outing today. So I had better light the stove.

 Dinner was organic sausages with mushrooms, organic Fettuccine pasta and organic tinned tomatoes. 😋 I ate an organic apple for pudding.

 

 ~o~