16.03.2024 It's never ending!

 ~o~

  Saturday 16th 42F/6C. Overcast with strong NW winds up to 19m/s gusts promised.

 Up at 6am after a five trip night. Lower back pain and no washing up done.

 7.00 Breakfast. 66F/19C in the room. 

 7.30 Going for walk. 

 8.30 Back again. Unpleasantly strong wind going. Almost comfortable on the way back. Lots of skylarks this morning. The strange Butterbur flowers were everywhere on the verges. They will have large, rhubarb like leaves later.

 8.45 Brightening with some sunshine and blue patches. A ride to the shops? 

 I was hoping a gentleman would pick up the large green dome today. Now it sounds as if he is unwell. I might as well carry on with my normal activities.

 10.15 Back from the shops. Bright sunshine but blowing a gale! Easy going there in mid 30s kph and Sport mode. Turbo mode and only 22-26kph into the headwind on the way back. Wind roaring in my ears and eyes streaming despite my large sunglasses.

 13.00 Full sunshine. Lunch. I have been stuffing the trailer with willow branches. Then lashing it all down tight. I shall take a tour to the recycling yard. The greenhouse is at 35C/97F! All inner doors are open to spread the warmth. Until I go out.

 14.00 Heading for the recycling yard.

 15.15  45F/7C. Fierce gusts. I delivered the trailer piled high with branches. Being blown about on the huge yard. As a member of staff raced up and down with a huge broom attached to a forklift truck. Very efficient! 

 Then I returned. To start throwing demolition rubble into the sunken part of the garden.This was never possible while the bushes were in the way. So piles of rubble were just standing around. Waiting to be dealt with. I am far too tired to go on now. I have stopped for a rest. The internal windows [covered by the greenhouse] are wide open to let the warmth in. 

 18.30 Washing up backlog cleared. Now I can eat.

 Dinner was cheese on toast with tomatoes. Washed down with a small, organic beer. 

The wind will drop and there will be an overnight frost.  

 

  ~o~

15.03.2024 Time is an illusion. With 10% elasthane.

 ~o~

  Friday 15th 48F/9C. Relatively mild and grey with possible light showers. Up at 7.30 after a very disturbed night. I ran out of digits for counting the number of visits to the fire bucket. Possibly 11? I can only blame the water and the beer. Not necessarily in that order. The was some tea involved too. So it is difficult to point the finger at the real culprit. 250ml of tea. 300mls of beer and 500mls of water. Just as the doctor ordered. I know! Let's blame the apple I ate. As a modest pudding to a non-existent dinner.

 8.15. I might risk a walk. Perhaps I should carry a bucket. Just in case. The greenhouse roof is wet but nothing else obviously so.

 9.00 I caused traffic mayhem. When the helpful driver of an otherwise empty bus took my nod to mean I wanted a ride. I thought I was acknowledging his gratitude. When I took to the verge to let him pass unimpeded. 

 As a reward it rained on me as I walked along the lane. To reach my all too familiar turning point. Where, years ago, I once swore to myself. That I would always complete this journey. To the grassed island at the junction to a narrower lane. Or I knew the rot would surely set in and I would continue to increasingly cheat. Until I hardly even left home before turning back.

 The empty stretch of road here offers ample opportunity for internal reflection. With only the overhead skylarks to break the spell that nothing really changes. Meanwhile, a headwind provided added impetus to an inadequate shower. Even though it relented for the return journey. It was still borderline cold on my bare hands.

 The morning was spent in online communication with distant contacts. Invaluable social assets and ones whom provide mutual amusement and interest. Particularly in the complete absence of any more local enthusiasts. Who might have shared/suffered from my lifelong hobbies/obsessions. Though I have never made any attempt at inviting direct social contact at home. 

 The situation at Chez Hovel was never really conducive to such socialising. Hoarding has unspoken and unforeseen disadvantages. As well as the highly visible. I would return to that state in the blink of an eye. If only it were possible to have my dear wife back again. An old fart living alone is a piss poor substitute for a pair. Even for our relative disharmony. Though I 'd have to insist on doing more household chores. If she would let me. I do have the hard-won, proficiency badges now.

12.15 Cold, grey and overcast. The stove has been lit. My having finally relented. The room had sunk to a miserly and miserable 62F/17C. Early lunch I think. The movement will help to warm me up.  

13.00 53F/12C! Lunch over. I swear it is getting even darker. A more comfortable 64F/18C in the room. I had better do some washing up. If I am to continue eating from clean crockery. Though I am not adverse to rinsing a mug used earlier in the day. Not one used for coffee with milk. I do still have some standards!

9.00 49F/9C in March! Dinner was chicken, mushroom, beans and two fried eggs. Washed down with a small beer and more glasses of water. Obviously a glutton for punishment. I have managed to get the room up to 70F/21C. 

  ~o~

 

 

14.03.2024 Cooking class.

 ~o~

  Thursday 14th 46F/8C. Grey and misty. Early light rain. Up at 6.15 after a quieter night. My left nostril feels like blood but is just damp so far.

 Cooking class today after ex-school kitchen renovation had caused a pause in activities. With early rain in the forecast I will drive there in the old car. Milder weather means 64F/18C in the room. I shan't light the stove before leaving. 61F/26C in the bathroom is easily warm enough for a shower.

14.00 Returned from cooking class. Where I made a salad. The Morris Minor problem is still not diagnosed. It has been set aside while the backlog of other work is attended to. It may be a fortnight until I get it back!

 I had an afternoon nap and then lit the stove. It was still 64F/18C in the room. So not uncomfortable.

 No need for dinner. As I had eaten too well at the cooking class. I made do with a small tin of beer and several glasses of tap water. Let's not forget the two chocolate biscuits. One milk and the other dark chocolate.

 

  ~o~