3°C, mostly dry & sunny
Plus temperatures today. At last a ride into work, I’ve needed this so much. The last two miles saw me with second thoughts, snow started which covered up the tarmac enough to hide the patches of ice that were so obvious earlier. No crashes though & I feel so much better- my blood feels cleaner now.
Vairations In Static
-12 to-10°C
For part of the journey, we dipped into -12C air. Yeah, it’s colder than last winter. It’s like a scene from “let the right one in”, or maybe Narnia out there.
This is a jolly album, it has folk overtones with complex overlapping rhythms & percussion. Beginning to think that I like it.
-7 to -3°C, thick freezing fog, no wind.
New CDs: Beirut- the Flying Club Cup
Olafur Arnalds: Dyad 1909
Olafur Arnalds:Variations Of Static
The frosticles haven’t dropped all day. They usually do in this kind of freezing fog, a bit of sun releases their grip on trees’ twigs, but today, the light was too weak. So there they are, all coated in thick furry crystals of ice, white , stark and ragged. Sometimes they look as if covered in broken glass, or some crusty crystalline industrial chemical.
Sorry to go on, but this is really penetrating cold- worse when it’s damp & we’re due a minus ten tonight. Should I leave the heating on low all night?
-10 tonight, thick fog
0°C, fog & black ice.
Black ice: rain all day yesterday, then the sky cleared at night. The resulting black ice was scary to say the least. On the footpath, you could stand still, and look down to see yourself slowly moving even on a shallow slope.
It’s not brilliant this car. The engine is starting to misfire occasionally, oddly enough near the end of a long drive. The boot doesn’t always close properly, there is the whirring of an electric motor that pulls it shut, but a rear light cluster seems to stop it- maybe the car is not that well put together. Also, I miss the fuel consumption gauge; it’s nerdy I know, by it would help you get used to gear changes on a 6 speed diesel car that you don’t know.
It’s got curvey door mirrors, so what? Well, with the mirror mount with stylish curves the wide view is actually blocked by the mirror bezel. What’s worse is that unnecessary blind spot is also a view blocked by the door post when looking rear-right. How stupid. the other irritation is that the seat is too small. The boot doesn’t always close, it seems to snag on a mis-aligned light cluster. Oh dear.
-11° to +3°C, more damned snow.
That temperature left me aghast this morning. Minus eleven! The ice outside achool is quite something too. The council refuse to grit/salt it and have done for at least 8 years. Why? It’s not their policy- when I hear that I hear “we’re not going to tell you why”, or “we don’t know”.
I’ve done something stupid, though it seemed like a good idea at the time. To warm up when I got home I decided to shovel snow & spread salt. I have no grit but plenty of salt, someone suggested spreading fire ash on the path. Fine it works, but sooty black wet footprints are coming into the house. I will regret this when the sun comes out and the floor is clearly visible.
Nevermind, I have an interesting car to drive for a few days. Mazda 6 sits outside; comparisons with mine are tempting. Mostly they’re small (apart from the diesel engine & 6 speed box). Maybe I will get a chance to use that 6th tomorrow. Anyway, cars are boring.
The christmas cactus looks good.
-2C snow all day,
Turbo with Throwing Muses’ “Red Heaven”: about 35-40′ worth then. It’s magical how much better I feel for this. eaten by ants feeling has gone and maybe, just maybe, I am on the wind-down towards Christmas. this has been the worst term for a long time.
Meeting after work- these things draw on & was populated by bad words. New “policies have implications for staff”, it would make sense with “consequences”, unless something is implied?
Educationalists are quick to use the wrong words for things- impact/effect, pro forma/template, they are not synonyms I tell you.
-1C, snowshowers & NE winds
Wound up by exercise withdrawal, but a session on the turbo-trainer has taken the edge off that uncomfortable feeling. I must make a point of doing it all again tomorrow.
What a week of horrible weather, driving is treacherous & work will not be closing unlike lots of other local schools. It’s no real badge of honour I have to say…
-1°C, heavy snowfall during rush-hour.
Bessie has shaken off.
Maybe the end of this short but icebound lifestyle is soon. the frustration is blooming, lack of exercise is the worst part- it makes work-stress feel worse. A trip to no-where on the turbo-trainer would have helped, but marking overload got in the way.
The Ladies look more comfortable in the snow than last year- their coats were too short last year.
I have had whiskey.
-2°C & dropping. Snow soon.
Snow flurries, too cold to cycle and it’s likely to stay this way for two more weeks. I’m physically frustrated- my legs are fizzy and I can’t settle. At least I have a turbo-trainer this year. There is a gym in work too.
Found it! how thrilling it is when something lost comes back to you. It’s been over six months & many hours in all, looking. Such an open, honest pleasure from a well meaning inanimate object: though no sentient being, I am grateful to you. Do you need a wash?
-5°C, to +2° back to -3°, clear & still.
Big chill starts here- this could go on for two weeks. Hope the winter is unlike the last. The draught excluder is holding fast, the difference great. A north wind will be the final test.
Work is jambpacked with stress. I want to be a lumberjack.
Micycle 