h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello, and Welcome to my new Journal. I will still be doing the Allotment Diary but the days I am not at the plot I can report on here!!

WEDNESDAY 15TH NOVEMBER, 2006

Weather today is windy, dull and showery. All in all a very depressing day!!

I am in the middle of my next project. I have to do something to take my mind of things and keep busy. I am in constant pain with my spine but I do bits at a time, have a sit down, bar of chocolate (I have been told to strictly cut down but I am a chocoholic!!) Then after a rest I go and do a little more before having to take another break.

I have 2 sheds down my garden, the one on the left is the main one but is full of junk which has been thrown in there over the years and not sorted out properly!! The one on the right is a small 6 x 3 one which I used as a hide, somewhere to relax without being disturbed where I can watch the birds and wildlife. But over the past 6 months this has also became a dumping ground!!

I have decided to sort out the 6 x 3 shed and have that to put the stuff I want to keep from the larger shed and then I can have the larger one as my relaxing place, my hide!!

I have finally finished sorting out the 6 x 3 today and it just needs some shelving put up and then it is ready for action!!

Then it is the task of sorting out the larger shed. This does need some work doing to it because it is quite old but I don't mind. This shed has been used for many things in the past including to develop photographs before the digital camera's came into force.

It has been boarded out with thin boarding inside and then painted black which is when it was used for the photo developing. The task I aim to do is to clear it out, take down the boarding and see what sort of state it is at the back of there. I know that there are a few field mice also living in there nibbling things so I will have to evict them!!

I am pretty sure they are living behind all of this boarding but won't know without first sorting it out and then starting work on it.

It keeps me occupied and stops me from getting too depressed!!

I will keep you informed on a daily basis how far this project has got and what I have done if anything!!!

Some days I am able to do a bit but on bad days I find it difficult even getting down the garden. It varies so much from day to day.

Your space puts me to shame.

I am glad you are making progress with your sheds. Do you know how lucky you are to have so much space(when it is cleared)? I have one shed for garden tools, bird stuff and any other junk that the house can't hold, and there's tons of it.

I can watch the blue tits and great tits really close up from in there, but there is net up at the window as they see the movement and buzz off. It is strange working in there to suddenly hear thump thump on the roof, and realise the squirrel is cavorting around, trying to find the best way to leap to the feeders. Either that or the magpies are clumping around trying to do the same.

It is quite funny to shout at the squirrel as he can't figure out where the voice is coming from.

Keep up the good work. When you have your hide properly set up - you know - curtains, comfy armchairs, flask and cups and the naughty I shall come around and visit.

Of course, you have got to serve notice on the first and anything else that has taken up residence recently.



TTFN
Websailor

Thanks Nigel, shall look forward to following your progress.

Have you gone down the route of digital photography yet? If so, you could upload some photos at the following site and we could log on and look at them.

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com/

or of course:

http://www.fotki.com/

I'm already a member at both the above and they are free

Scorp

Hi!!

I haven't thought about the uploading of the photo's but it sounds an excellent idea and will have a look at the links. Thankyou.

I have served an eviction notice on the mice, the problem is instead of reading it they nibbled and nibbled until it has all gone!! Will have to try a plastic notice!!! What about some . They are not having my though!!!

I will let you know Websailer when all is set up!! The speed I am working though it won't be for a while. As soon as it is open then you are the first person to have a look!!

Thanks again for the links scorpio and will let you know when I have worked them out. I shall have to start taking some photo's with the digital camera.

Take care.

Nigel, you have a digital camera! My, aren't we posh? I wouldn't know where to start. I do know how to upload photos once I have them on the computer. My son used to send them to me, but he is too busy these days! I don't think this computer could cope with a digital camera. The one that came with it is so old I would be ashamed to put photos up even if it worked. Things have moved on since then!!

Websailor

THURSDAY 15TH FEBRUARY

Well, I am so glad I have my laptop and are enjoying every minute of using it!!

I have a digital weather station and from now on I will tell you the weather forecast on a daily basis. It is never exact all the time and changes so frequently but on average it is correct.

So, here goes:

Time is 1.30 p.m.

Weather for the next 12-24 hours is showing CLOUDY
Current Outside temperature is showing 12.5 C
Barometer reading is showing 1012
It is quite windy out but is slowing down
Almost a full moon tonight - Sunset 5.18 pm

This is the weather forecast for the West-Midlands

Hi, Nigel,

That's very useful. Thanks. Can you arrange for some warm sunshine please. I have a shed to clear, some gardening to do and some leaflets to deliver

On second thoughts I think I'll stay under the duvet



Websailor

PS. Perhaps better not to promise daily weather forecasts in case you have other things to do or you don't feel like it. Whenever you can would be nice though.

xxx

Websailor

Hi All!!

Sorry, no weather forecasts lately. I have had problems with my weather base station and has took me ages to figure it out!!

Anyway, I found out last night, after reading the instructions (not an instruction person!) It is the most obvious thing I never thought about checking!

The batteries have almost gone, so I will get them replaced, reset the base station and weather forecasts should be up and running again (fingers crossed!)

Take care.

Oh good Nigel!

Whatever results you come up with have got to be better than our local weatherman - renowned for getting it wrong most of the time.

I'll look forward to it.

SATURDAY 24TH FEBRUARY - WEATHER STATION UP AND RUNNING!!

After an hour of fiddling and setting the data yesterday afternoon, my weather station is finally up and running!

Nigel's Weather Forcast - Time 11.13 am. Area - West Midlands

For the next 12-24 hours it is showing rain but it isn't flashing mad like first thing this morning indicating rain storms. So, I would imagine it would be heavy showers for the next 12-24 hours.

The Wind levels seem to be rising steady at the momment.

Sunset is at 17.35 tonight and Moonset is 2:22 am.

It is showing half a moon but shouldn't think you would see it because of the cloud.

Unfortunately it isn't showing a current outdoor temperature, not sure why, will have to investigate the outside sensor.

11.27 - SUDDENLY SHOWING A CURRENT OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, THE SENSOR MUST HAVE HEARD ME.

Current outside temperature is 10.1 C and the humidity is 90% indicating it is rather damp.