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My
Diary/Blog For the Month of January 2024 |
Wednesday 31st
January 2024 |
09:29
BST
Yesterday was very dull, and it was not very warm. At least it stayed dry. The highest temperature was forecast to be just 9° C, and I think that was about right.. The funny thing about yesterday was I was acting like the weather was like the previous day - a day when I actually did very little. Yesterday I did a few major things, and raised a bit of a sweat. What I didn't do was my early prediction that I would shave, shampoo and shower to save a bit of time today (only a shower needed). My busy day is described in my complete archived page for today, which also has some notes about last night and this morning. |
Tuesday 30th January
2024 |
09:23
BST
I don't think The BBC or The Met Office managed to forecast the sunny spells yesterday. The BBC forecast too many, and The met Office too few. The good thing was that there were "some" sunny spells to brighten up the day. Even when the sun wasn't shining it still seemed moderately bright, and particularly from late morning to mid afternoon, the light had a soft sort of feel to it, and it inspired me to think about doing work in the garden that most gardeners would have started towards the end of last November. I only thought about it, and took no action. It was a mild day, at least in theory, and the temperature peaked at about 13° C. Yesterday got off to a depressing start, and much of the day seemed rather less than scintillating ! On the other hand, I did achieve two useful little jobs, and so the day was not totally wasted. The depressing aspect of the day probably spilled over to my choice of lunch...of which more later. All the important bits of my day, night, and this morning, are described in my complete archived page for today. |
Monday 29th January
2024 |
08:35
BST
Despite the red sky in the morning, yesterday was a nice bright day with sunny spells up to early afternoon, and although I can't recall any sunny spells after that, it continued to be fairly bright. The temperature reached 11° C, and didn't fall much at all in the evening. Yesterday was a fairly pleasant day that was really only marred by one thing - an excessive hunger that spoiled, but didn't ruin my blood glucose readings this morning. On the whole I had a very lazy day, and apart from having a shower, the only other thing of note that I was to prepare and cook my dinner....oh, I also drank some beer ! The full description of yesterday, last night, and this morning, can be read in my complete archived page for today. |
Sunday 28th January
2024 |
08:36
BST
It turned out there was more sunshine/sunny spells than The Met Office forecast for yesterday (although the BBC correctly predicted it. It took the chill off indoors, but it still only reached 8° C, or possibly 9° C. The temperature started to fall after sunset, and it was a cold night. Yesterday was another moderately good day. I did two notable things, plus a bit of washing up and dinner preparation, and cooking. Actually there could be three notable things, and that last minute third was to have a shower before going out into the big wild world to get some shopping. As usual, the story continues in my complete archived page for today, which also includes notes, and some pictures from this morning. |
Saturday 27th
January 2024 |
08:37
BST
It was not very warm outside yesterday, but with it being a very sunny day, it was warm in my south facing rooms. I noted the downstairs front room warmed up to 20° C just from the sun shining through the windows. Outside it barely reached 9° C. Even before sunset the temperature started to fall, and it was 5° C (and possibly less) by 11pm last night. Yesterday was a very successful day when measured by certain metrics. In other respects it was slightly boring. I did a few small things, but in some respects I did very little, and in one specific case I did nothing ! Doing that special nothing was quite a challenge, or maybe it was easy. All will be explained in my complete archived page for today. It also includes some notes about my night, and this morning. |
Friday 26th January
2024 |
09:44
BST
Maybe there were a few more sunny spells than expected yesterday, but most of the day was still dull, and there was even a light sprinkle of rain in the morning. However, the day seemed to warm up fairly quickly to 12° C, and I think I even saw 13° C. With hardly any wind that almost felt warm without the benefit of any sunshine. Yesterday was a generally good day, but I made a terrible mistake in the evening. More about that later. The mild air, and a sunny spell or two made it seem easy to go out shopping after I had had a shower. Of course I opened the front door to find I had just dodged a light shower that I hadn't even realised had fallen. All that happened yesterday, including my disastrous error, plus how I slept, and the terrible result this morning, can be read in my complete archived page for today. |
Thursday 25th
January 2024 |
07:44
BST
Yesterday was a day that almost felt like spring, even though spring is still some time in the future. It was mild out, and there were plenty of sunny spells until about 2pm when enough cloud appeared to block the sun, but still allow it to be fairly bright outside. The temperature only rose to 11° C, but these was only some breeze, and that wasn't enough to make it feel cooler. Yesterday was a generally good day, but it had it's moments..... The main thing on the menu was my usual Wednesday lunchtime drink in The Jolly Farmers pub. I had done the shave and shampoo but the day before, and all I had to do was to shower and get dressed before going out. How I fared during the day, what diversions from reality I had, how I slept, and all tthat has happened so far this morning is described in my complete archived page for today. |
Wednesday 24th
January 2024 |
09:19
BST
Yesterday was horrible, grey and wet, but at least it wasn't that cold. at Midday the temperature reached 9° C during all the rain. Once the rain stopped the temperature rose again, and reached 13° C by 7pm. Yesterday was one of those days that was good and bad. The good can be summed up by saying I successfully hand washed another thick pair of sweat pants, plus a couple of pairs of underpants. That accounts for more than half of anything useful I did yesterday. The rest of my day, plus my night, and this morning are described in my complete archived page for today. |
Tuesday 23rd January
2024 |
08:40
BST
Yesterday was modestly mild with the temperature reaching 10° C. It was also modestly sunny, although there was less full sunshine than predicted in the early morning forecast. Later revisions did show some hours of sunshine changed to just sunny spells. As well as being modestly sunny, and modestly mild, it was modestly nice ! Yesterday was a semi productive day, and that was because, once again, I was feeling almost good. I still felt modestly lazy (or was it very lazy ?). Apart from a few minor tasks, like washing up Sunday's beer glasses, and preparing and cooking my dinner, I did do two major things. Those things, and more about yesterday, last night, and also this morning are described in my complete archived page for today. |
Monday 22nd January
2024 |
09:49
BST
Yesterday was very mild compared to most recent days. The morning started at 8° C, and by midday it had risen to 12° C. It is a shame there was almost no sunshine, although I think I remember the sun coming out for about 27 seconds ! What might have been a major feature happened well after dark, and so I barely noticed the rain, even when some of it was forecast to be heavy rain. The real main feature was some very strong winds from mid afternoon, and well into the night. Yesterday felt good for several, probably interlinked, reasons. Maybe it was because it was milder, maybe it had to do with barometric pressure, and maybe it was something as simple as fighting off a, possible viral, infection that was not instantly obvious. The fact is I felt practically pain free for the first time in ages. My day is described, along with my night, and this morning, in my complete archived page for today. |
Sunday 21st January
2024 |
09:16
BST
I recall very little sunshine yesterday. In fact I am not there was a single sunny spell. About the only good thing was the temperature rising to 6° C. Although only a very small rise it did seem noticeable, and probably cut my electric bill by a few pence. The day before yesterday I made a stupid mistake, and my blood glucose readings were very high yesterday. Yesterday I made a similar mistake with similar consequences. There is a reason for this, and that it was that I didn't feel like going out shopping again, and bought yet another naughty takeaway. Yesterday is more fully described, along with my night, dreams, and this morning in my complete archived page for today. |
Saturday 20th
January 2024 |
08:53
BST
Once again, yesterday's sunshine was very nice. With the day starting a degree higher than the previous day, and the full sunshine, the temperature rose to a glorious 4° C. It seems unlikely, but that extra degree seemed to be noticeable. I'm not sure if yesterday was overall good or bad. It was a bit of both, but the good bits were more comfortable than the bad, and I suppose that swings it towards yesterday being a good day. It was certainly a very lazy day, and that plus keeping warm, did seem to make most of my pains fade away for some of the time. My day, night, dreams, and this morning are all described in my complete archived page for today. |
Friday 19th January
2024 |
08:58
BST
Yesterday's sunshine was very nice, but it only lifted the temperature from -3° C to +2° C. A very cold day ! Yesterday was another semi good day. Some bits were good, and other bits bad. One bad thing the return of a problem experienced last winter. There is a pronounced sag in the pipe that carries waste water from the bath to the main soil stack on the back of the house. Like last year, water trapped in the sagging bit froze, and I couldn't have a shower, or wash my hair. That problem solved itself, but I had a flannel wash instead. The rest of my day, night, and this morning, is described in my complete archived page for today. |
Thursday 18th
January 2024 |
08:36
BST
Yesterday was a very miserable day weather wise. It was generally grey, but sometimes dark grey, and it was cold. The afternoon temperature only reached 3° C, and for a short while it seemed like there were hints of snow starting to fall, but that came to nothing. By 11pm the the temperature had fallen to -1° C, and clear skies meant it kept falling. Yesterday was another semi good day. I guess I could say I was quite excited to be going for my Wednesday lunchtime drink. It was too cold in the bathroom to do the full shave, shampoo and shower. I just had a shower, and left it at that. I put on my thick, hooded, orange winter coat, and plunged into the frigid air. The story continues in my complete archived page for today, that also includes notes about my night and this morning. |
Wednesday 17th
January 2024 |
09:11
BST
Yesterday was another day that was wonderfully sunny, and yet still freezing cold. The temperature did climb to 3° C in the early afternoon, but the day started at -2° C, and ended at 1° C. Yesterday was a semi good day. The brilliant sunshine raised the goodness of the day, and sort of acted as a catalyst for other more minor stuff to be good. One good thing is that staying warm, and coddling my chest on Monday meant that I only suffered the most minor of chest aches at times when it was stressed. I write more about this, my day, night, and this morning, and also included are a few pictures in my complete archived page for today. |
Tuesday 16th January
2024 |
08:12
BST
Yesterday was lovely bright and sunny, but it was still very cold. The highest temperature forecast was just 2° C, and I have no reason to doubt that wasn't any different to reality. Yesterday was not a good day because much of it was very boring. There was stuff I could have found to do, but I was not in the right mood for it because I was treating myself as being ill for the day. Really that just meant keeping myself warm, and hoping that my inflamed operation scar tissue would settle down. This is discussed further, and my day, night, and this morning are all described in my complete archived page for today. |
Monday 15th January
2024 |
07:58
BST
The later revisions of the weather forecast took away the single time when a few sunny spells were forecast. The reality was that there were quite a few sunny spells lasting at least 5 minutes during the late morning, and the early part of the afternoon. Maybe they helped take the temperature up an extra degree to 7° C for an hour or so. Having said that, yesterday still felt almost icy cold ! Yesterday followed the recent trend of being good and bad, but one difference is that it was very good and very bad. The very good was some great entertainment, and the very bad was health problems. Also good was that for the first time in ages I managed to get out to see that great entertainment. It is all described, with copious pictures, along with some notes about my night, and this morning, in my complete archived page for today. |
Sunday 14th January
2024 |
09:16
BST
I think yesterday followed the weather forecast quite well. There was dark cloud in the morning and light cloud in the afternoon. The late afternoon temperature reached 5° C, and stayed that low for the rest of the day.. I did a couple of important-ish things yesterday, and while that was good, it was still not a great day. On the other hand, the day ended well....except it did get a bit tedious. I will explain all these things further down the page, and there is a slight chance they may make sense when I do (but I doubt it). Hmmmm....anyway. My day, night, and the start of this morning are, as usual, described in my complete archived page for today. |
Saturday 13th
January 2024 |
09:08
BST
Yesterday was like living in a cave - it was cold, damp and gloomy. There was no actual rain fall that I was aware of yesterday, but the world still looked damp to me. The maximum temperature was 6° C for a few hours, and either side of that it was 5° C. I think I could describe yesterday as a very odd day. Apart from ruling out a gig I would have liked to go to on a warm and dry evening, I didn't have any plans or ideas for yesterday. I have a feeling that even if I had thought of some plans, I probably wouldn't have done any of them. It was that sort of day. I did do a few things in the end, and my day, night, and this morning, is described in my complete archived page for today. |
Friday 12th January
2024 |
10:34
BST
Yesterday started out bright and sunny, but it only lasted to about midday. The afternoon was very grey, but at least it was dry. It was another cold , but not freezing day - except at 8am when the temperature was actually freezing, or 0° C. By the evening it has slowly warmed up to 6° C. I guess most of yesterday could be called good, except for Michael. He sent me a message saying he was getting his wife taken to hospital, and later on I read that he had been waiting for 14 hours in the hospital. That obviously was no fun at all. My complete story about yesterday, last night, and this morning, is described, for what it is worth, in my complete archived page for today. |
Thursday 11th
January 2024 |
09:02
BST
Yesterday was lovely bright and sunny during almost all hours of daylight, but it was still a very cold day. The temperature peaked at 5° C for a couple of hours, but for much of the time it was just 3° C. Half of yesterday was good, and the other half was not so good. It was the morning and early afternoon that was good, but from then on things went downhill. Maybe they picked up again later in the evening. Let me explain it all as best as I can in my complete archived page for today. It also includes notes and my night and the start of today. |
Wednesday 10th
January 2024 |
08:24
BST
Yesterday was bright and sunny, and when standing behind glass there was a little bit of heat in the sun's rays, but outside there was a really icy wind that blew away any heat from the sun to leave it feeling really cold. The temperature did rise to 3° C, but the wind chill might have been in negative numbers. Yesterday was a sort of medium OK sort of day. It seemed to get off to a great start thanks to the sunshine, but as soon as I went outside, even wearing my second warmest winter coat, the blast of icy feeling air made it feel very cold outside. I had a vague plan to possibly go out shopping twice yesterday, but one shopping trip in that icy blast put me off going out again. All I can remember doing yesterday, last night, and this morning, is described in my complete archived page for today. |
Tuesday 9th January
2024 |
09:18
BST
There were quite a few flurries of snow yesterday (although some may have been sleet). None of it settled, although maybe some did on the neighbours shed roof, and the one behind that. At 11am, the time the first snow was due according to the latest revisions to the weather forecast, the sun came out ! It was only out for a single minute, but it seemed ever so nice. The snow actually started falling at midday, as per the early morning version of the forecasts. It seemed to continue until sunset made it difficult to see. Even in daylight there were times when the flakes were so small, and so sparse that they were difficult to see. The highest temperature yesterday was a very chilly 2° C. Yesterday was one of those days that was a mix of good, bad, and bland, with bland predominating. It was too cold to go out, although that rule could have been overridden if there was sufficient snowfall to make some good pictures. I just had to stay in and find ways of amusing myself. It is all described in my complete archived page for today. It also includes a few notes about my night, and this morning. |
Monday 8th January
2024 |
09:07
BST
Yesterday morning featured some very cheerful sunshine, albeit mostly as sunny spells. However it was a still a very cold day, and during the dull afternoon the temperature only rose to 5° C. By 11pm it had fallen to just 3° C. Yesterday was quite a good day, although it would have been a lot better if it had been a lot warmer, but I guess we are in the middle of winter, and we can't expect to have low electricity bills ! Despite the cold it was still a far better day than the day before. My day is described, along with the bad night I had, and the good news this morning, in my complete archived page for today. |
Sunday 7th January
2024 |
09:44
BST
Yesterday was not only cold, but it felt cold because it was so grey. There were a couple of brief, rather watery, sunny spells in the morning, but later on, even when large areas of blues sky could be seen, it stayed gloomy because the blue sky wasn't where the sun was. On top of everything else, we even had a brief light shower. that wasn't in the forecast either. The temperature stayed at 6° C all day until it started to fall further after about 7pm. Yesterday had it's moment, but I think of it as a generally bad day. I even had one minor disaster ! The problem, as I mentioned in the weather section above, was the cold and gloom. It really was dim yesterday despite some areas of blue sky on the other side of the sky to where the sun was. All this and more is explained/described, along with how I slept, and a few notes about this morning, in my complete archived page for today. |
Saturday 6th January
2024 |
09:26
BST
Yesterday was cold and overcast. Through the day there was complete cloud cover ranging from some white clouds to dark grey clouds. However, it stayed dry. The temperature only rose to 8° C, and that only for a few hours. My conjecture that yesterday I was over the head cold I had the day before seemed to be correct. I can't say I felt that wonderful, but maybe that was just boredom. The reason for that was partly because I didn't want to stretch myself while still recuperating....or something like that. I didn't do a lot yesterday, but what I did do, how I slept, and how this morning has started, is all described in my complete archived page for today. |
Friday 5th January
2024 |
09:54
BST
Yesterday may have started sunny, but not enough to provide much warmth, even behind glass. The real feature of the day was the rain that started in the afternoon. Sometimes it was very heavy, and sometimes just light rain, but it continued seemingly non stop into the early hours of today. It was a fairly cool day yesterday with the temperature only reaching a mere 9° C. Let's start with some good news. My cold, of which there will follow some commentary, seems to have dried up this morning. It either wasn't a very good cold, or I treated it correctly. Some of that correct treatment started many months ago when I added Vitamin C plus Zinc to my daily collection of pills. All this, and more, including my night and this morning, is described in my complete archived page for today. |
Thursday 4th January
2024 |
09:34
BST
Yesterday featured some real blue sky, albeit not all the sky, and some real sunshine. Most of the sunshine was sunny spells, and most of them were in the morning, but the afternoon was still bright. Much later in the night there was some heavy rain. It was a cool day with the temperature only reaching 11° C. Yesterday was mostly a good day, but things started to go wrong in the later half of the afternoon. It was easy to blame booze for it, but maybe there was another reason that only became apparent this morning. More about that later. It is all described in good or gruesome detail in my complete archived page for today. It includes some notes about my night, and the unpleasant details about the common cold, aka nose fountain, that I have started this morning. |
Wednesday 3rd
January 2024 |
08:48
BST
Yesterday was just plain horrible ! It was almost all very dull, and a lot of the time it was raining. Then there were the high winds. I said "almost all very dull" because just as the sun was setting the clouds started to split, and on the horizon was a dazzling strip of sunshine. The only other positive, even if it were washed away in the rain, was that the temperature reached 13° C for a few hours in the early afternoon. A lot of yesterday could be described as bloody miserable, but there were a few highlights during the day. It was a day when I part failed at some of my ideals/targets, but I think I might have mentioned yesterday morning that they were not set in stone (or words to that effect). The good and bad of my day, night, and also this morning, is described, with some pictures, in my complete archived page for today. |
Tuesday 2nd January
2024 |
08:47
BST
Yesterday morning was fairly bright, and the forecast sunny spells did happen, although the periods of sunshine seemed a bit short with some long gaps between them. From late afternoon it rained, but it seemed to be mostly light rain, and not the log periods of heavy rain that were forecast. There were some periods of heavy rain though. The temperature for the afternoon was just 9° C, but it rose a couple of degrees in the late evening. Yesterday definitely had it's moments. I did some useful stuff, but by the afternoon it was starting to get a bit boring. On the plus side it was a modestly healthy day, although my resolve was crumbling a bit by late afternoon. Some of what I was doing may sound like a New Years resolution, but I was merely addressing specific problems. There is more about all this, and other stuff in my complete archived page for today. It also includes notes about my night and this morning. |
Monday 1st January
2024 |
09:10
BST
There was some nice bright sunny spells yesterday morning, but in a couple of cases they were punctuated by quite heavy rain, and later on some drizzle. Even the afternoon featured an occasional shower or drizzle. It was all quite different to early versions of the weather forecast. After a cool start the temperature went up a couple of degrees to just 9° C. Today, the first day of the new year, I am using my new icons. They were originally supposed to be purple, but now seem to be a very girly pink.....Oh well, I might make them more purple, or maybe I'll get used to them as they are. Yesterday had it's good moment, but also plenty of bad ones. I don't think a single thing I thought might happen, actually happened. Some of the problem was me, and in particular my guts, but the weather didn't help. In fact the weather was in a teasing mood, which made it seem worse. Anything notable about my day, night, and also this morning, is described in my complete archived page for today. |