Tuesday 17th February 2026

So, you know the drill. It's Tuesday, and that means up early, be back sharpish, so Jools can go to her class.

At least it was another day without rain, though the wind was building, and the temperature was just above freezing. Which meant once I arrived at the sports centre, there was the rush to get into the lea of the building and so out of the wind.

Then upstairs, on the bike, start the podcast and start pedalling.

I stuck to the higher level, and pushed out the calories and RPM for forty minutes. I snap the result, possibly to use as a shot of the day. Wipe the machine down, go downstairs and put on my jumper, before walking quickly back to the car, then drive home.

I got back at seven fifteen. There was a brew waiting when I walked in, and Jools was collecting her stuff for a morning out.

Nothing for me to go into town for, so I stay here once she leaves, have a shower and am dressed with trousers on by eight.

It is another fabulously sunny, if cold day. And I would go for another short walk, this time when I reached Station Road, going down rather than up.

I see nothing new in flower, other than a single Sun Spurge among Walter's wild flower mix. So I snap that, and go back inside. Hands like blocks of ice, so I put the kettle on.

Once Jools came back, I make lunch. AKA the main meal of the day. Chicken Kyiv, grains, steamed vegetables with a cheese and mustard sauce, and sprouts cooked with guanciale.

It was magnificent.

After cleaning up, we take to the sofa where staying awake was the hardest part, as Bangers and Cash played out on the tellybox.

Jools started to watch The Handmaiden's Tale, but I have little interest in drama these days, so fiddle around online until it was time for the footy to kick off at seven on the radio.

It was light until after five, Spring could be said to be here, but it is chilly, so we turn the heating up a notch.