E-Bike

It stayed dry for all the light hours but was a wretched breezy cold day that did not invite one to do all those autumnal jobs that desperately need doing in the garden.

Angie is suffering with back ache, very similar to a slipped disc problem about 10 years ago which put her out of action for well over two months. Luckily back then she didn't have a doctor who worked on the "operate first, then ask questions" basis. Sadly a trend that started in the 1990's when Germany was sold the Anglo American health system which categorised every illness /surgical process and from there on in hospitals were set budgets which encouraged them to perform certain operations, those that they got the best reimbursement for - hip replacements and back operations being two of the favourites. Germany has a frighteningly high hip replacement record, you need to be wary of going in to hospital with a broken toe as the chances are you will get a new hip. The days of being rewarded for having healthy patients are gone, they don't make money. Hospitals should be rewarded for empty beds not full ones.

Unloaded yesterday's trailer load of sugar beet pulp in to large plastic containers. Took on the task of getting the dishwasher demounted from the kitchen and from what I can see, there is no point it even trying to get it repaired - I doubt there are any spare parts available. I think I overstated the age the other day but it is at least 20 years old. I gather nowadays, 10 years is seen as a good life time in the dishwasher scene.

Angie got worse all day and thought a sauna may help but she didn't feel up to driving the 6km to Ottobeuren and her sports club where membership includes 5 different types of sauna. So despite the low amount of PV electricity being produced, we heated up our sauna and she tried a couple of 15 blasts of 90°C heat. Didn't help much either and she collapsed on the sofa and a even fell asleep, an event I can count on the fingers of one hand in the last 20 years.

Luna didn't get to go for a horse ride out today so in the evening I put bum to saddle and set off with her on the push bike. I am out of training but I noticed very quickly burning muscles and it really wasn't over any hilly tracks. Will look in to the E.bike issue again. I do enjoy being out on a bike but if it's more pain than pleasure then it's not going to happen much.

Luna enjoyed it. Much of the time she is off the lead and indeed even on normal public roads she is well behaved but particularly in the village where a distraction (another dog or a cat) could pop out at any time it is too risky, On main roads such as that in the blip where there is a nominal 100km/h speed limit but often not kept to, I feel safer if she is on the lead and she knows exactly which side of posts, trees and lamp posts she needs to go on, so near sudden emergency stops required. Not sure if it is illegal to bike and take a photo with the mobile - phoning and biking is.