Week 5 a plethora of quotidian ways

Week 5 a plethora of quotidian ways

Yeah, I had to look it up :-)

What is another word for quotidian?


synonyms: everyday, mundane, routine, unremarkable, workaday. ordinary.

We had Ben in hospital last week...to be further looked at in a month. 

The Doctors mentioned "A Schatzki ring" - a thin ring of tissue that forms in your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. The ring is noncancerous and made of tissue that lines your esophagus.

But all is well - so much so that he is again heading off to Madrid this week - he catches planes here and there, just like other people catch a bus...

Speaking of buses...

Our road has suddenly become a major route for buses - more often than not totally empty as they pass us...and they go in both directions so they have to pull over as they pass each other, let alone all the other traffic large and small. 

The moles are busy at the back of our place...

During the week, Tjeerd and I continued with the clean-up outside...

By Thursday it was too cold outside, 

so I found some jobs inside...

More than 20  (probably closer to 30) years ago I put this plank under the big-kitchen cupboards - to stop stuff finding its way underneath....I was going to repaint it, but we found a better way of closing it up - using the old planking from our living room floor ;-) we do a lot of recycling...

We replaced the plug on the trailer - the photos helping to get the right order - worked first time :-)

I put a new switch in for the internet services  (wifi and cable) - 4 apartments, Day Activity Area, Dormitories, outside - we now have a pretty good coverage of the whole property.

I still have a few of the 16 ports over....(the small square sender is for the Philips Hue lighting - voice-controlled via Hey Google or with an app on the phone).

We also put in an extra cable for the TV in apartment # 3. They're slowly getting a bit better than "basic/emergency". The upcoming residents have begun painting with their own colour scheme.

 

and a new security lamp...replacing the orange lamps of 28 years ago...

Walkin' the dog...

The dog and the cat in the Day Activity workshop...

Caught my attention...

When I'm walking, I try to listen to The Economist ( I've weaned myself off the depressing American podcasts - what a mess!) - but the Economist can be every bit as depressing - it does feel a little more balanced, at least.

This weeks major item was the big business of "Scamming" - a thriving 500 Billion dollar a year industry - rather chilling and getting worse - Bitcoin being just one target - so many gullible people wanting to get rich quick. I imagine that most people think that "it wouldn't happen to me" - but it is a many-faceted program, sometimes taking months to gain the trust of the target.

This is just the headline...

https://www.economist.com/briefing/2025/02/06/online-scams-may-already-be-as-big-a-scourge-as-illegal-drugs

EUobserver

 “Any decision involving Ukraine must be made with Europe,” an EU senior diplomat said.

Talks will also focus on identifying gaps in Europe’s defence capabilities, exploring potential joint projects, and strengthening the continent’s military industry to enhance autonomy and reduce reliance on Washington.

But financing is the crux in the EU’s shift to a wartime footing. 

Last year, the EU Commission noted that an estimated €500bn in additional defence will be needed over the next decade. But there is no agreement on where the money is going to come from.

A while ago, I thought that they should simply "announce" that the EU NATO contributions should be hiked to 5% of GDP instead of the current 2 % - like Trump, it wouldn't matter if it bears no resemblance to the truth - just send the message to Putin - but the pearl clutching and hand-wringing continues. At least Poland has the right idea - but they are a lot closer than us, for example.

Today's morning walk...