Hi-Tech Weather

The weather reports will benefit now from a slightly more hi-tech data source, with automatic recording via my new wireless weather station - pictured here in situ on the side of the garage.

The internal reader panel shows the temperature and humidity outside (and inside), pressure, wind speed and direction, and rainfall, among other things.

So for the first few days of January, my lo-tech system gives us:

And the weather station recorded outside temperatures as follows, and a somewhat measly 0.6mm of rain on Friday 4th, with winds that never got above 1 on the Beaufort Scale:

Last week similarly comes out as:

Sunday 11th stands out as the point at which we passed over into a wet and mild period - Sunday night (or rather Monday morning) certainly sounded wet and windy, although apparently we only had about 8mm of rain overnight, and the wind only gusted up to 4 on the Beaufort Scale.

Unfortunately we've no figures to compare with from last year, as we come up to our first year anniversary in the house - will be interesting to make some comparisons in 2010 - particularly as we planning to get some better insulation / double glazing fitted (will be digging out the inside temperature graphs then).

Wood Piles

And piles, and piles. We managed to gather rather a lot of wood over the course of 2008 - we filled the wood shed, and then piled it into the garage out of the rain . . .

. . . then Martin took a chain saw to it . . .

. . . and we stacked it in the garage wherever there was space (including against the broken garage door).

It didn't prove to be the best of drying environments however, so over the last week we've been restacking outside, under the covered porch - it was all going quite nicely until a cat or some such took a short walk along the top of the pile . . .

So this weekend we built ourselves a proper log storage area - it seems much more stable anyway. The separate 'pile' is designated 'dry' (tested at below 30% water content) and is there ready for burning.

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone all the best for a Healthy and Happy 2009!

December Weather

Well December has given us some interesting contrasts in its last couple of weeks - from frosty days to damp and mild ones, then back to clear and crisp, and frosty once again.

2009 will bring a whole new technological Weather Extravaganza courtesy of the Weather Station I got for Christmas . . . and hopefully something resembling a Summer in due course.

Watch this Space!

All Things Christmas . . .

Another year, another Christmas . . .













Always feel a bit strange about it - not really religious, but love the Tree and the Lights and everything - maybe I'm harking back to Pagan Midwinters or something.


Kind of enjoy the cooking bit as well - although of course we then have to eat it all. Must admit to being rather chuffed with the way the cake turned out - well the way it looks anyway (the holly leaf cutter was well worth the £3.40 investment!) - of course it's already Boxing Day and there's so much else to eat we haven't got as far as cutting it yet!

Anyway, hope yours was a good one . . .

Nadolig Llawen!

Frosty Days Gone By . . .

It looks like we're in for a mild Christmas at the moment, but Monday gone was beautifully frosty. Walked into work somewhat more slowly than usual as kept stopping to take some photos. From frosty fields . . .

To icy leaves . . .

And more lovely scenery . . .

Couldn't resist this final shot, but did rather feel I was the one being watched . . .

And again . . .

Two for the price of one . . .