It has turned cold in the past few days so when it isn't raining it is simply too cold to be outside for very long. I emptied a compost bin the other day and dug it into the vegetable plot but after an hour I was feeling cold despite working quite hard.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/dog-kennel-woodsjan21.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6634" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/dog-kennel-woodsjan21-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>In between online exercise workouts I have motivated myself to get out on walks.

A frequent walk takes me up the Linwood Road then across the fields to get back home but it is only 4 miles so I wanted to extend the distance.

I worked out that if I walked up the Willingham Road as far as Willingham woods and then turn right through Dog Kennel woods and back along Legsby Road past the golf course and racecourse it was 6 miles. It was cold but I walked briskly and half way round I was taking my gloves off. My average speed was 3.7 mph which was brisk and I felt quite tired.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/spicy-fruit-loafjan21.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-6635" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/spicy-fruit-loafjan21-150x200.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>Another baking success this week with my spicy fruit loaf.  After my early failures I approach bread making with some trepidation. I have discovered that I was using too much yeast in some of my early efforts. I was buying the dried yeast in sachets and assumed that each mix needed a full sachet - not so. I'm now measuring the yeast and all is well.

I do enjoy a hot cross bun and this loaf has all the flavour and texture of a bun. It is so delicious that as you can see after only three days I'm already half way through. This is one bake I will be repeating.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Samsung-Tab-7.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6636" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Samsung-Tab-7-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>My tablet was over 4 years old and was beginning to slow down. I would have to dab several times at the screen to select an App and the wifi connection was intermittent. After weeks of debate I decided to buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7+. This 12.4" model is larger than the Tab 3 and the screen is much better quality. With the keyboard it is almost a laptop and am wondering if it will replace my Asus which I bought last year. The screen is far better than the laptop and it also has a pen which I can use to write emails. Using Android on my phone and tablet means I'm becoming more familiar with it than Windows or Linux.

My Linux PC is giving me a few problems. For several months it has refused to link to the screen and I have to boot it up several times before it works. Now it has stopped working on the ethernet connection and will only work on wifi. I'm going to have to do something dramatic with it. Backing up all the files isn't a problem and I do that on a regular basis however copying all my emails is more problematic. I don't want to lose my emails which go back more than ten years.