16°C, Sun.
The pond is now populated with some plants, But the water is cloudy with algae now. I’m holding out for the plants having the effect of clearing the water. There are animals in there that depend on it, including leeches!
16C, clearing up, still windy.
Been away: on work’s DofE trip. Now I’m sleep deprived, the first walk didn’t finish until 8pm so the kids were still cooking at 10pm. Other teachers didn’t eat until after that. Such an arrangement doesn’t work for me.
Film:Breaking The Waves– Lars Von Trier. A difficult film this one, but somehow compelling. Not one to watch with your folks I found. Stark and a test of stamina, you need to cope with the mental illness theme; if you can, there is a reward despite the feeling that you’re being tested.
16°C, rain.
The world ended on Saturday afternoon. I was sitting in a field in the sunshine at the time, all I noticed that is mildly relevant was a strong breeze, oh and a barge chugged past on the canal. Judgement days aren’t so bad.
16°C, Sun light breeze
Rode in good time to work today. That malaise has lifted, I had a strong feeling that it was a bug, and this pretty much confirms it. Now I can be bothered to post; you’ll be relieved to hear.
17°C, grey but mostly dry.
I’m bothered by a deep seated can’t-be-bothered feeling. It’s as if there is some minor background illness, perhaps some virus or a cold that wants to be sneaky about it. My legs feel empty, my head sleepy and I’m exhibiting symptoms of laziness. I hate this; it’s burrowed deep inside and leaves me feeling bored. I look on those who complain of boredom with distain. Now it’s me. Last time this malaise lifted after nearly a week. hopefully…
18°C, cloudy & sunny stuff
They’ve charged me for nitrogen filling in a tyre repair. No, I didn’t ask for it, the stuff I have been putting in tyres for 20 years is 80% nitrogen anyway- why pay extra for it. Further, look at what it says in the receipt under “Brakes”:
Unique Lifetime Guarantee on all brake pads…
For as long as you own the car, plus 12 months or 12,000 miles whichever comes first.
12,000 miles is about a 1½ years, great lifespan. What lives for just 12 months?
18C, 
+ 1 shower, Sth wind, RA:60 miles
Summer bike: I used to regard this as my ‘best’ bike, it’s more difficult now while the gears persist in playing up. They still don’t index properly across the middle of the 8 cogs. It’s the middle three that give all the trouble, changing gear is fine at first, but after a few hundred yards the chain jumps onto the smaller cog. There could be a number of reasons for this:
I remain baffled and slightly irritated by this. It’s going to take yet more time & money to fix. Oh well, next weekend I’ll ride the fixed-wheel.
20C, cloudy, but more torrents are a coming.
Filled it up this afternoon. The rim is not exactly level, so I will have to hide the edges with plants. It needs to stand for a few weeks now before introducing water-plants. That gives enough time to tinker with the edges of the waterproof liner. It’s probably too late for the spawning season.
Heavy rains & light suns
Film: the story of a diamond smuggler in Africa. At times compelling, at others cringe-some, clichéd and often peppered with an enormous body count. The scenery was stunning and Djimon Hounsoue’s acting was unflinching. Di Caprio was given the corniest lines which threw me in towards the end. Overall I would not recommend this film.
21°C, close & warm, storms brewing.
Nearly two months of dry, now the lightening.
It has been a bad day for amphibians. He was only crossing to get to a stream, I tried to help. On the ride to work, he was flopping in the other lane. I grasped the brakes and put the bike down, turned and waited for the traffic to clear. the first few straddled him, then I looked left to check it was clear & looked back. Now he was lying on his back, all limp & lifeless. Damn, bad start to the day. I grieved quietly for him all day. I really wanted to save him.
Large globe raindrops now tap on glass and crackle in growing puddles. I shall go and listen.
Alternative Voting system has been rejected by voters tonight. Why, was it too complex? Did so few do the maths? I’ve waited 20 years to see some semblance of democracy appear in British politics: it seems that this nation will get the politicians it deserves. Don’t forget that Britain’s favourite newspaper is the Daily Mail.
Micycle 