The snow was well above my knees as I waded in to select my tree. I had identified it and got permission in October. It's fate was sealed during a working party, specifically clearing saplings that are too close to roads and the water treatment and pumping station. I saved it from inhalation for me to cut it down 2 months later. Having cut it down I had to tramp, crawl out with it. Exhausting work this deep snow. Trimmed it is 2.1M and looks very nice in my open plan lounge.
The house is looking good. I'm early by Swedish standards, but with weekend visitors I decided to go for it. Northern European style with various light displays at windows, candle lanterns on the porch. Down stairs I have been turning the morning room into a dining room for 25 December. 24 December is Christmas day here. For the Swedes 25 (English Christmas day) is a lot like out Boxing day I believe. I have friends over on 25th for a traditional English Christmas dinner. Will that work after the roast ham and trimmings of the day before? We shall see. Try it this year and see if it works.
My credit card statement is in, so I can spend again knowing I don't have to pay up until early February. That is the cue to finish the Christmas shopping. A6 Mall is OK. Not the lunatic crowds we experience in the UK. They keep Christmas to Christmas from what I can see. There is no denying that it is commercialised, but to no where near the obnoxious extent that the UK has gone over recent years. The focus does indeed seem to be family and friends, rather than stuff.
21 December. Winter solstice. 6.5 hours of light per day now. Similar to Scotland? Only without the Wee church to spoil the fun.
Planning for my dinner party 25 December, and the VMCK New Year Banquet is done. Everything is under control (which may mean I don't know that I've forgotten something). This is the first Christmas I've organised in..........ever actually. Thanks to all over the last 5 years who have had me as a guest for Christmas dinner. December is traditionally my worst month and you got me through nicely. I'm mostly enjoying the season, except...........
........So sorry Uncle Derek. We knew it was coming, but it still manages to shock. So hard to be a way from Family at these times. A funeral 23 December is impossible for me to get to. I paced the floor like a caged animal. I've gotten used to the fact now that there is literally nothing I can do. Love and Light all. Hugs when I can.
Friday, 20 December 2013
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
And More Snow
It was snowing steadily again on Sunday morning as I came home from my three nights in Bankeryd. Heart in mouth as usual driving on the ice, but no drama. I am nervous of the hill where I got stuck, but keeping my speed steady and in broad daylight, I did it no problem. I swung Darwin into the carport and tramped through the fresh snow up the paths I had cleared, to my front door. They will need clearing again tomorrow.
As it got dark it looks as though I have a fresh 30 - 40cm. Please let it stop before it buries me. Nothing to be done tonight except cook my Lamb Ragout and Aubergine. With a grating of nutmeg on top and the dish well matured, this is pretty close to Moussaka. Very comforting on a cold winters night. While I was eating I heard the very reassuring sound of the farmer with the snow plough. The road is clear and the snow has stopped. With luck the job tomorrow is to dig Darwin out and link my place to the cleared road. 2.5 hours hard labour should do it.
Less than I thought. Maybe another 12cm. It mounts up. The garden between the grill place and guest cabin is half a metre deep now. The exercise is warming. What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger, and all of that old gough.
It's happened before. The weather system moved away and nighttime temperatures got up to an unbelievable 4C. By afternoon we have a serious thaw in progress. The roads are hell with slush and ice, but it's an improving picture. With plus temperatures and no snow to clear, I decided to use my energy in my workshop. 1st up was a settle to sit the cask of Ale on for New Year. Are you keeping up? Exciting stuff. Then sadly with the end of the road inevitable for Elsa in the Spring, I put some effort into smartening her up. I should do this before winterising her anyway. Actually, winterising is what I did.
On the way back to the house an ornamental tree that is broken from the weight of snow caught my attention. With so much energy to spare I took it down. It's a ten footer and removing the debris exhausted me. There are times when an afternoon is not only right, but inevitable. The Christmas lights woke me when the timer brought them on.
Advent is OK this year. If it wasn't only Tuesday I'd heat up a pan of glögg. I'll save the steaming boozy stuff for a colder day.
As it got dark it looks as though I have a fresh 30 - 40cm. Please let it stop before it buries me. Nothing to be done tonight except cook my Lamb Ragout and Aubergine. With a grating of nutmeg on top and the dish well matured, this is pretty close to Moussaka. Very comforting on a cold winters night. While I was eating I heard the very reassuring sound of the farmer with the snow plough. The road is clear and the snow has stopped. With luck the job tomorrow is to dig Darwin out and link my place to the cleared road. 2.5 hours hard labour should do it.
Less than I thought. Maybe another 12cm. It mounts up. The garden between the grill place and guest cabin is half a metre deep now. The exercise is warming. What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger, and all of that old gough.
It's happened before. The weather system moved away and nighttime temperatures got up to an unbelievable 4C. By afternoon we have a serious thaw in progress. The roads are hell with slush and ice, but it's an improving picture. With plus temperatures and no snow to clear, I decided to use my energy in my workshop. 1st up was a settle to sit the cask of Ale on for New Year. Are you keeping up? Exciting stuff. Then sadly with the end of the road inevitable for Elsa in the Spring, I put some effort into smartening her up. I should do this before winterising her anyway. Actually, winterising is what I did.
On the way back to the house an ornamental tree that is broken from the weight of snow caught my attention. With so much energy to spare I took it down. It's a ten footer and removing the debris exhausted me. There are times when an afternoon is not only right, but inevitable. The Christmas lights woke me when the timer brought them on.
Advent is OK this year. If it wasn't only Tuesday I'd heat up a pan of glögg. I'll save the steaming boozy stuff for a colder day.
Saturday, 7 December 2013
The Storm
5 dead in Sweden.
The track that arrows from the little lake, through Grenen, to the 195 takes 2 miles (UK) of the journey to Roland's. Over breakfast the forecast said heavy snow this afternoon. It's my call, but I decided I had time to get to the dogs and put plenty of dry food and water out for them.
Job done. Satnav Jane picks out a route through to Tidaholm for groceries, fuel, and a parcel at the post counter. I'm watching the weather like a hawk as I make good progress along unfamiliar forest roads. My estimation is that I have 3 - 6 hours before the snow arrives.
Back to base: Pack an over night bag. I have dogs to look after, and a Christmas dinner on Saturday night in Bankeryd. I'm bailing out of Vitared for three nights. I can be stranded on this windy hill, or in the town. 3pm and the snow arrives, and hells bells is it heavy. I sling the bag in the car boot and head out. It's not settling yet, and I have daylight, just about. I took the forest track through Grenen again. It will close behind me I think.
The behaviour of the two dogs is interesting. The older one isn't happy with the snow and the feel of the air. The little one just wants to play. She is only a child. The older one, Salsa, was visibly shaking as I left them. I watched the news and it was apparent that one hell of a storm was just starting to hit North Western Europe. Roland has satellite TV. The BBC World Service covered the chaos in Rhyl, and up along the British west coast. I headed out for Bankeryd to my own billet for the storm, and promised Salsa I would see her in the morning. Ever seen a dog cry?
The wind battered us for the whole evening and night, much the same as the rest of Northern Europe. We battened down the hatches. Morning light showed what the blizzard had done to us. Snow drifts to dig to release cars. Impressive is that the council already have the work parties out battling to keep the community moving, through the continuing blizzard. I have to get back to Fagerhult and the dogs. In hind sight I chould have stayed with them and kipped at Roland's. I now know the limitations of REGULAR winter tyres. I cannot use studs due to my need to return Darwin to the UK during January. Studs are only legal in Norway, Sweden and Finland as far as I know. Bo drove. She has the day off and her Beemer has studs. She also has the experience I lack.
The 195 is sheet ice but the only effect on local traffic is a decrease in speed of maybe 10kph. They really know how to do this. Even so we drive in silence. Getting in to Roland's place wasn't possible so we parked up in the village and Bo' decamped to the 7/11 for coffee and Cinnamon buns. I take a half hour round trip hike into the teeth of the gale. Wading through snow drifts I could hear the dogs as I approached. They knew I was coming. Never has a man been greeted better. Job done. I had the phone number for a mutual friend who lives in the village. I cannot get back tonight, and I cannot stay. My ride will be leaving very soon. I called Kenth and no surprise he is happy to get down to the dogs later. I'm done. Bankeryd beckons, and a long winter lock in.
Hamburg has sea levels 6 metres above normal. This is my story of the worst storm in 60 years. Hardly exiting, and for that I am not sorry. How many lost their lives? I'll hear maybe. Mother nature is a savage god sometimes. You don't need to make one up.
Saturday: Calm. I sneaked back into Vitared for five hours of daylight. I got to within 100 metres but my yard is inundated. I couldn't get Darwin onto the property. I spent my time digging out my parking and paths, ready for the next lot due tomorrow. 40cm this time + drifting. Temperature range is now -8C nighttime to -2C Afternoon. Not full winter, but we are getting there. Hot soup, emails, blog, pack more clothes. I think I'm coming back tomorrow PM, but you honestly cannot be sure. I'm no hero. I am inexperienced in these conditions, and happy to admit it. I'll play it safe. Any way, I have a Christmas dinner to go to 15 miles away. Back onto the ice roads then.
The track that arrows from the little lake, through Grenen, to the 195 takes 2 miles (UK) of the journey to Roland's. Over breakfast the forecast said heavy snow this afternoon. It's my call, but I decided I had time to get to the dogs and put plenty of dry food and water out for them.
Job done. Satnav Jane picks out a route through to Tidaholm for groceries, fuel, and a parcel at the post counter. I'm watching the weather like a hawk as I make good progress along unfamiliar forest roads. My estimation is that I have 3 - 6 hours before the snow arrives.
Back to base: Pack an over night bag. I have dogs to look after, and a Christmas dinner on Saturday night in Bankeryd. I'm bailing out of Vitared for three nights. I can be stranded on this windy hill, or in the town. 3pm and the snow arrives, and hells bells is it heavy. I sling the bag in the car boot and head out. It's not settling yet, and I have daylight, just about. I took the forest track through Grenen again. It will close behind me I think.
The behaviour of the two dogs is interesting. The older one isn't happy with the snow and the feel of the air. The little one just wants to play. She is only a child. The older one, Salsa, was visibly shaking as I left them. I watched the news and it was apparent that one hell of a storm was just starting to hit North Western Europe. Roland has satellite TV. The BBC World Service covered the chaos in Rhyl, and up along the British west coast. I headed out for Bankeryd to my own billet for the storm, and promised Salsa I would see her in the morning. Ever seen a dog cry?
The wind battered us for the whole evening and night, much the same as the rest of Northern Europe. We battened down the hatches. Morning light showed what the blizzard had done to us. Snow drifts to dig to release cars. Impressive is that the council already have the work parties out battling to keep the community moving, through the continuing blizzard. I have to get back to Fagerhult and the dogs. In hind sight I chould have stayed with them and kipped at Roland's. I now know the limitations of REGULAR winter tyres. I cannot use studs due to my need to return Darwin to the UK during January. Studs are only legal in Norway, Sweden and Finland as far as I know. Bo drove. She has the day off and her Beemer has studs. She also has the experience I lack.
The 195 is sheet ice but the only effect on local traffic is a decrease in speed of maybe 10kph. They really know how to do this. Even so we drive in silence. Getting in to Roland's place wasn't possible so we parked up in the village and Bo' decamped to the 7/11 for coffee and Cinnamon buns. I take a half hour round trip hike into the teeth of the gale. Wading through snow drifts I could hear the dogs as I approached. They knew I was coming. Never has a man been greeted better. Job done. I had the phone number for a mutual friend who lives in the village. I cannot get back tonight, and I cannot stay. My ride will be leaving very soon. I called Kenth and no surprise he is happy to get down to the dogs later. I'm done. Bankeryd beckons, and a long winter lock in.
Hamburg has sea levels 6 metres above normal. This is my story of the worst storm in 60 years. Hardly exiting, and for that I am not sorry. How many lost their lives? I'll hear maybe. Mother nature is a savage god sometimes. You don't need to make one up.
Saturday: Calm. I sneaked back into Vitared for five hours of daylight. I got to within 100 metres but my yard is inundated. I couldn't get Darwin onto the property. I spent my time digging out my parking and paths, ready for the next lot due tomorrow. 40cm this time + drifting. Temperature range is now -8C nighttime to -2C Afternoon. Not full winter, but we are getting there. Hot soup, emails, blog, pack more clothes. I think I'm coming back tomorrow PM, but you honestly cannot be sure. I'm no hero. I am inexperienced in these conditions, and happy to admit it. I'll play it safe. Any way, I have a Christmas dinner to go to 15 miles away. Back onto the ice roads then.
Snow
That first snow hung around a week with temperatures never getting above freezing. Then one night the temperature shot up. I was aware of it. I was actually hot in bed. When morning light eventually arrived Vitared was completely snow free. Daytime temperatures reached 5C for a couple of days, then the temperature fell and we got fresh covering. Just 1cm so I wasn't worried. I should have been more concerned because after dark it predictably froze. taking it easy on the ice and snow, the journey home through the forest wasn't too bad, until some arsehole in a pick up thundered up behind me and tailgated unmercifully for the last 3 kilometres. He mast be able to see my GB plates. He was blinding me with moose lights and breathing down my neck. I would have pulled over to let the prat pass, but there was nowhere to do that. So I held my nerve, and my speed. Not far, concentrate on the road, and ice, not the knuckle dragger behind. I got my turn signal on early to let bollock brian know I was getting out of his way, and slowed right down for the left hander onto our track. Made it. A big sigh of relief as my friend hurtled past, hurrying to catch the accident he was late for.
I relaxed. Which is where what I think of as a forced error happened. I was crawling along, mentally exhausted, and already thinking of a stiff drink and an open fire. I should have been doing the hill with it's long left hand bend, and adverse cambre. I hadn't enough momentum to get up the ice road. I slithered to a halt. Hill start on ice? Don't try it. I couldn't reverse down around the bend without a likely slide into the ditch. 1st gear just produced wheel spin, oh and a little backwards slide. I was stuck.
Mikael: "When you end up in a ditch, which you will, call me on my mobile. Don't call the breakdown people. You will pay an absolute fortune."
"Fuck!" Sorry about that expletive. Apparently I am still partly Anglo-Saxon!. Unfortunately it seems to be the useless bit between my ears.
2nd gear and balance the throttle/accelerator and clutch/cuppling. I gained 40cm then wheel spin. Vitared is empty. It's a winter's evening and I have honestly never felt so alone. My heart was in my mouth. Abandon the car and walk the last quarter mile? Block the track so that a Swedish neighbour gets stuck as well. Try again. Another 40cm and then wheels spin. I rested and calculated. I was near the crest of the hill. I had made the best part of a metre. Keep at it. Where is that British Stiff upper lip? Just above the wobbly British lower one! 15 minutes later and in an awkward slither as the road became less steep, and I could taste success. YES, oh crikey watch the left hander, tending to waltz past. Home and breathing hard. A shower is enough detail, and a large Highland Park.
Note to self: Practise. Don't just wing it. I have to become proficient at ice driving.
I relaxed. Which is where what I think of as a forced error happened. I was crawling along, mentally exhausted, and already thinking of a stiff drink and an open fire. I should have been doing the hill with it's long left hand bend, and adverse cambre. I hadn't enough momentum to get up the ice road. I slithered to a halt. Hill start on ice? Don't try it. I couldn't reverse down around the bend without a likely slide into the ditch. 1st gear just produced wheel spin, oh and a little backwards slide. I was stuck.
Mikael: "When you end up in a ditch, which you will, call me on my mobile. Don't call the breakdown people. You will pay an absolute fortune."
"Fuck!" Sorry about that expletive. Apparently I am still partly Anglo-Saxon!. Unfortunately it seems to be the useless bit between my ears.
2nd gear and balance the throttle/accelerator and clutch/cuppling. I gained 40cm then wheel spin. Vitared is empty. It's a winter's evening and I have honestly never felt so alone. My heart was in my mouth. Abandon the car and walk the last quarter mile? Block the track so that a Swedish neighbour gets stuck as well. Try again. Another 40cm and then wheels spin. I rested and calculated. I was near the crest of the hill. I had made the best part of a metre. Keep at it. Where is that British Stiff upper lip? Just above the wobbly British lower one! 15 minutes later and in an awkward slither as the road became less steep, and I could taste success. YES, oh crikey watch the left hander, tending to waltz past. Home and breathing hard. A shower is enough detail, and a large Highland Park.
Note to self: Practise. Don't just wing it. I have to become proficient at ice driving.
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