"It'll be fine Mr Winterburn. Why don't you take a walk into town, have lunch maybe. Say one ish? They will be pretty much done by then I think"
No use saying don't worry, it's what I do. This has been months coming, and I cannot imagine it will go smoothly. My mind drifts and I let it. Route Napoleon, sun strobing through the trees. Picos de la Europas, Breathtaking views to sleepy farmsteads below. The Outer Hebrides, Harris and Lewis, and midsummer at Clannish. Lost in Europe, France, Italy and Ice cream on the shores of Lake Garda, Austria, Switzerland, swimming in the icy waters of Lake Constance. Germany, Netherlands. Nordkapp, was I ever so alone? Nope, great company always. Rocky roads and heart in mouth. The Fjords of Norway and smiling faces at VMCK, the first time. Sweden, and Sweden, and Sweden. Faces come and go. Dear friends and the sun always shines.
Can't put it off any longer. I walk straight past. The guy smiled and pointed back the way I had come. Satnav Jane sits perched on the handlebars of the new steed. The operation was a success. Jane continues beyond Elsa. Bertha is a fine machine. Another beemer. R1200GS, for the forests and dirt tracks that almost had Elsa beat. If I strain my neck, and look out back I could see Elsa standing lonely, waiting for collection. I did this with a good dog once, turned my back and walked away. Is it the same for all bikers?
The wonderful thing about love is that every time is the first time. It always comes again, if you let it.
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Thursday, 1 May 2014
The Warmest Winter....
.....on record, pretty much everywhere. In Sweden I was accused of importing an English one. I understand what they mean. Cold, wet, grey, miserable. At least the grass isn't growing...
...or it wasn't. Time flies. Dark, damp February gave way to a dry March, and a few days that crept above 10C for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Tentatively I started the big spring clear up. An acre generates a lot of dead heading, pruning, trimming, and a lot of leaves and cones.
April and Easter/Pask. Keep at the clear up, friends arriving for the holiday, always a special occasion. Allan & Sue always bring a taste of England with them. Familiar company, conversation and practise with my English language. It may be my mother tongue but it deteriorates without practise. It's the little things that delight. Swamp safari with Allan. Sue had more sense. We found the way out the back of Vitared and onto the old Tidaholm road. It's a long straight dirt road that links dozens of sleepy farmsteads. With early evening sunshine, a joy. No stone chips on Darwin is also a bonus. The lawn, which is what I call it, got it's first cut with the tractor mower before A&S trundled off heading for the airport. There are worse ways to spend 5 hours than cutting grass. Here it only grows for three months of the year, so I am not complaining.
Sanding and oiling woodwork, a lot of it. A workshop roof to repair. Elsa is ready for her last journey with me. Sorry gal, I can hardly look at you, I feel such a traitor. The big red German motorcycle has been my companion on my adventures for 8 years. Irreplaceable?
Two barrels of beer from my micro-micro brewery. All strictly for private consumption. A barrel of IPA for midsommer, and an experimental barrel of Pilsner for later. My decision, it's time to learn to brew lager for my Swedish friends. My decision is a Pilsner brewed to German purity standards. The hops grow in my garden, and the water is spring water. We are blessed that that is what comes out when you turn on a tap here. The process, grains, hops, yeast, temperatures and timings are all different to English real ale. I am expecting it to take 3 attempts or so to produce a convincing Scandinavian Ale.
Saturday is the big clean up at VMCK camping, ready for the new season. I'm resting a little. That will be a tough day, followed by after work pizza and beer at Lillgarden. The new owner is to be supported for providing us with a "pub". Still miss Anna and her wonderful Swedish food though.
Martin drops off a cart load of fire wood. I'm already stocking up a cart load at a time. I am learning. I used to be shocked by summer wood piles half as big as the house they sat next to. Cold, winter, Sweden. I get it now!
...or it wasn't. Time flies. Dark, damp February gave way to a dry March, and a few days that crept above 10C for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Tentatively I started the big spring clear up. An acre generates a lot of dead heading, pruning, trimming, and a lot of leaves and cones.
April and Easter/Pask. Keep at the clear up, friends arriving for the holiday, always a special occasion. Allan & Sue always bring a taste of England with them. Familiar company, conversation and practise with my English language. It may be my mother tongue but it deteriorates without practise. It's the little things that delight. Swamp safari with Allan. Sue had more sense. We found the way out the back of Vitared and onto the old Tidaholm road. It's a long straight dirt road that links dozens of sleepy farmsteads. With early evening sunshine, a joy. No stone chips on Darwin is also a bonus. The lawn, which is what I call it, got it's first cut with the tractor mower before A&S trundled off heading for the airport. There are worse ways to spend 5 hours than cutting grass. Here it only grows for three months of the year, so I am not complaining.
Sanding and oiling woodwork, a lot of it. A workshop roof to repair. Elsa is ready for her last journey with me. Sorry gal, I can hardly look at you, I feel such a traitor. The big red German motorcycle has been my companion on my adventures for 8 years. Irreplaceable?
Two barrels of beer from my micro-micro brewery. All strictly for private consumption. A barrel of IPA for midsommer, and an experimental barrel of Pilsner for later. My decision, it's time to learn to brew lager for my Swedish friends. My decision is a Pilsner brewed to German purity standards. The hops grow in my garden, and the water is spring water. We are blessed that that is what comes out when you turn on a tap here. The process, grains, hops, yeast, temperatures and timings are all different to English real ale. I am expecting it to take 3 attempts or so to produce a convincing Scandinavian Ale.
Saturday is the big clean up at VMCK camping, ready for the new season. I'm resting a little. That will be a tough day, followed by after work pizza and beer at Lillgarden. The new owner is to be supported for providing us with a "pub". Still miss Anna and her wonderful Swedish food though.
Martin drops off a cart load of fire wood. I'm already stocking up a cart load at a time. I am learning. I used to be shocked by summer wood piles half as big as the house they sat next to. Cold, winter, Sweden. I get it now!
Enlightenment
I don't want to write about the fact that Uncle Dennis died, so I'll write this instead. He was a lovely man. A proper Uncle as well. I miss him. He seemed wise to me.
I don't want to be goofy all of my life. 50's is late enough to pay attention and try to gain at least a little wisdom while I'm still here.
I think I found a problem with enlightenment though. Which one? A Christian one, or Muslim, or Budist, Socialist? What you see depends on where you stand. The religious helpfully tell you that the true path is through their lord. The socialist, that only their agenda is progressive.
To be ignorant is to be scared. Knowledge may ease and satisfy, but it is entirely possible to gain knowledge and still be scared. Before enlightenment, chopping wood and fetching water. After enlightenment, more of the same.
No cabin fever here.
I don't want to be goofy all of my life. 50's is late enough to pay attention and try to gain at least a little wisdom while I'm still here.
I think I found a problem with enlightenment though. Which one? A Christian one, or Muslim, or Budist, Socialist? What you see depends on where you stand. The religious helpfully tell you that the true path is through their lord. The socialist, that only their agenda is progressive.
To be ignorant is to be scared. Knowledge may ease and satisfy, but it is entirely possible to gain knowledge and still be scared. Before enlightenment, chopping wood and fetching water. After enlightenment, more of the same.
No cabin fever here.
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Darwin IV
3 weeks the lurgy had me. I was barely fit to travel on departure day. I got the car loaded with supply mission 4. Workshop equipment and tooling, and some of my books and files this time. I apologise to anyone I passed what seems to have been swine flu to. Mild but very contagious it is rife in Northern Europe just now.
The journey fully laden to Harwich was in a force 8 storm. More than an hour of delays left me with 10 minutes to spare. Time enough to fill the tank at UK prices. Embarkation ready for a roller coaster voyage across the North Sea. Esbjerg Jutland to the bridge 3.5 hours. The fever came back a little but I wasn't too bad as I drove across into Sweden, ready for a routine stop and search. It happens a lot with foreign plates. I know a little of how black guys feel in the UK, but here is the thing. The policeman was just doing his job. No problem unless I want it to be. Anyway my snuffling and coughing may have influenced him. I was on my way. "Welcome to Sweden.
3.5 hours to Bankeryd. 100 miles to go and I was spent. Problem, the next motel is 50 miles (UK) north. I did it, so just 50 more to get home. Finish the job was my decision. I think anyone would have made the same dodgy call. 5 Days with a friend good enough to nurse me until I was well enough to go home and look after myself. Funny a few day earlier I thought I was coming out of the flu. It turns out I hadn't hit the bottom.
Thanks to the lanky girl for helping unload Darwin. A woman friend significantly taller than me is a god send sometimes. Shame my back gave out. Shit happens. Job done though. It may have felt bad but it was actually a successful trip.
The journey fully laden to Harwich was in a force 8 storm. More than an hour of delays left me with 10 minutes to spare. Time enough to fill the tank at UK prices. Embarkation ready for a roller coaster voyage across the North Sea. Esbjerg Jutland to the bridge 3.5 hours. The fever came back a little but I wasn't too bad as I drove across into Sweden, ready for a routine stop and search. It happens a lot with foreign plates. I know a little of how black guys feel in the UK, but here is the thing. The policeman was just doing his job. No problem unless I want it to be. Anyway my snuffling and coughing may have influenced him. I was on my way. "Welcome to Sweden.
3.5 hours to Bankeryd. 100 miles to go and I was spent. Problem, the next motel is 50 miles (UK) north. I did it, so just 50 more to get home. Finish the job was my decision. I think anyone would have made the same dodgy call. 5 Days with a friend good enough to nurse me until I was well enough to go home and look after myself. Funny a few day earlier I thought I was coming out of the flu. It turns out I hadn't hit the bottom.
Thanks to the lanky girl for helping unload Darwin. A woman friend significantly taller than me is a god send sometimes. Shame my back gave out. Shit happens. Job done though. It may have felt bad but it was actually a successful trip.
Check List
The month wasn't going badly. A trip to Lincoln, all be it with what felt like the start of a cold, was a real treat. Always good to catch up with Paul and family. The journey home was problematic though. The warning light came back. Then one cylinder started miss firing. Then it packed up completely. I limped home on three cyclinders the last 3 miles. The long hill southbound to M42 junction 10 I was dropping through the gears, hoping not to end up as a breakdown on the hard shoulder. Made it, just.
Car Repairs Check
Road Fund Licences Check
New Drivers Licence Check
New Credit cards Check
Provisions for Sweden Check
See Friends and Family Check
New Motorcycle Check
Influenza Check
Ohh crap!!
Car Repairs Check
Road Fund Licences Check
New Drivers Licence Check
New Credit cards Check
Provisions for Sweden Check
See Friends and Family Check
New Motorcycle Check
Influenza Check
Ohh crap!!
Thursday, 13 February 2014
Suffolk
January 2014:
There is nowhere more typically English than the county of Suffolk. Great to be here and have time with a long standing friend and his charming wife.
12:00 GMT at Harwich. 1 hour to Melton. 6 hours to get beered up and talk crap with Ali. Unfair, our conversation ranges but he is a great wall to bounce ideas off. He has worked with me conversationally with my Swedish adventure. He has some good Ideas, and the pubs of Woodbridge are perfect for the work. The home cooking including full cooked English breakfasts are not half bad either. Thanks Ali you pulled a blinder.
Sunday afternoon drive to Warwickshire ignoring the exhaust system warning light. Darwin is booked in for Monday diagnostics. England is flooded. Seriously. The wettest winter for 100 hundred years. One flooded field has goal posts at each end. That'll be a football pitch then!
Cats to feed and a house to sit. Home for a month. Looking forward to seeing Allan and Sue fresh from their cruise, but that is 2 weeks away.
Switch the computer of and switch it on again. The warning light has gone. Apollo say to bring the car back when the warning light comes back. No problem, I'm here for a month.
There is nowhere more typically English than the county of Suffolk. Great to be here and have time with a long standing friend and his charming wife.
12:00 GMT at Harwich. 1 hour to Melton. 6 hours to get beered up and talk crap with Ali. Unfair, our conversation ranges but he is a great wall to bounce ideas off. He has worked with me conversationally with my Swedish adventure. He has some good Ideas, and the pubs of Woodbridge are perfect for the work. The home cooking including full cooked English breakfasts are not half bad either. Thanks Ali you pulled a blinder.
Sunday afternoon drive to Warwickshire ignoring the exhaust system warning light. Darwin is booked in for Monday diagnostics. England is flooded. Seriously. The wettest winter for 100 hundred years. One flooded field has goal posts at each end. That'll be a football pitch then!
Cats to feed and a house to sit. Home for a month. Looking forward to seeing Allan and Sue fresh from their cruise, but that is 2 weeks away.
Switch the computer of and switch it on again. The warning light has gone. Apollo say to bring the car back when the warning light comes back. No problem, I'm here for a month.
A New Year Journey
Breakfast was bread and cheese, then hit the road south. To the ferry at Helsinburg for Denmark, bright sunshine, the sun low in the sky behind me. Leap frogging the journey to Jutland with Roland. Coffee and chat as we stop for refuelling both vehicles. The big guy is heading back to Germany to work. Thousands of German trees to fell, and a big Swedish lumberjack to do it. For me, homeward bound. Home that is an illusive concept.
Tea time for an Englishman and I reach Esbjerg. A warning light illuminates on Darwin's dashboard. A symbol I am not familiar with. Waiting in line to be loaded onto the North Sea car ferry and I have time to read the manual. Exhaust system problem, go to a dealer. Apollo Auto on Monday then.
Being greeted by a 5ft blue parrot capering, is not a good sign as I emerge into the passenger accommodation from the car deck. I already had my suspicions. I couldn't get out of me car for parents slowly unloading little kids form their 4 x 4s. The crossing is a kindergarden run!! Later in the bar the musician stops playing in the face of overwhelming decibels from the goblin hoard, led by a jolly pirate.
Question: Why are pirates cool? Because they Harr!!
Mummy and daddy deposit their three pre-schools with the blood chilling invitation to go run around and have fun in the Columbus cocktail lounge. No chance they will go to bed early, so I do. Grumpy old bugger that I am. (PS: If not mother tongue English and translating, Old bugger is not to be taken literally. It doesn't work that way.
How I hate the travelling public.
Tea time for an Englishman and I reach Esbjerg. A warning light illuminates on Darwin's dashboard. A symbol I am not familiar with. Waiting in line to be loaded onto the North Sea car ferry and I have time to read the manual. Exhaust system problem, go to a dealer. Apollo Auto on Monday then.
Being greeted by a 5ft blue parrot capering, is not a good sign as I emerge into the passenger accommodation from the car deck. I already had my suspicions. I couldn't get out of me car for parents slowly unloading little kids form their 4 x 4s. The crossing is a kindergarden run!! Later in the bar the musician stops playing in the face of overwhelming decibels from the goblin hoard, led by a jolly pirate.
Question: Why are pirates cool? Because they Harr!!
Mummy and daddy deposit their three pre-schools with the blood chilling invitation to go run around and have fun in the Columbus cocktail lounge. No chance they will go to bed early, so I do. Grumpy old bugger that I am. (PS: If not mother tongue English and translating, Old bugger is not to be taken literally. It doesn't work that way.
How I hate the travelling public.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Shhhhh
If a man speaks in the middle of the forest
and there isn't a woman to hear him
is he still wrong?
The Long Goodbye
Sorry Elsa. Nothing lasts for ever. I can't believe we have been together for more than 7 years. I've had her from new. We have had the most wonderful adventures together. I cannot reasonably re-register her Swedish. I cannot store her in a shed unable to ride her. I have to have a Swedish registered steed for what comes next.
Enquiries and research, weighing the alternatives. I have to bring her back to the UK for sale.
I cannot bring myself to talk about the new one in the same post. She can wait her turn. She'll have to be good to top what Elsa has given me.
Enquiries and research, weighing the alternatives. I have to bring her back to the UK for sale.
I cannot bring myself to talk about the new one in the same post. She can wait her turn. She'll have to be good to top what Elsa has given me.
Monday, 6 January 2014
Min 1st Jul Tid
Sunday 20 December. Went to the bathroom at 07:15. Is this really important? Yes when you turn the faucet and nothing comes out. The water for the whole settlement is off just 1 working day short of the holiday. The private maintenance contractor was on site at 09:00. Electric supply and control systems are OK. It's a plumbing problem, so with nothing more I can do to help, I went out for the day. Fingers crossed for water later, but not holding out hope. They were starting to search for a leak when I left.
Coffee and Christmas cards with local friends. I cadged 20 liters of water off Roland and began contemplating serving Christmas dinner with no running water. No need to worry further. The maintenance guys got it back on before sun down.
Jul Afton: 24 December, Swedish Christmas, and a Julbord party to go to. Simon and Alex did us all proud. Food too varied to describe in detail, but for me highlights were Elk tongue, Pickled eel, and Gravadlax. 16 guests and a Christmas present game that is like secret Santa but with dice. Went home sober. I'm breaking new ground.
25 December: Complete with running water and everything! Traditional English Christmas Dinner at my place. Guests commented that roast Tupp (cockerel) was a low fat Jul meal. A healthy alternative to roasted ham and pork. The Christmas Crackers were insanely popular. You can't get them out here. Health and Safety rules. It was hard to explain that even translated the jokes are not funny. They are supposed to be bad. It's a tradition, like Mr Bean with the turkey on his head. Actually that is different. Mr Bean with a turkey on his head is still hilarious after a couple of whiskies. Thanks to Swedish friends for taking part and trying something new, to humour an Englishman.
26 December: Annandag, Boxing Day, St Stephens: Clearing up after yesterday.
Saturday I awoke, I don't know what time. The clock wasn't working. Actually the red light on the UK adaptor on the socket wasn't working either. Nothing was working. The house was stone cold. The electricity was off. Looking out of the window neighbours lights are on. Ohh joy! Fault finding for an hour and a half, initially with a torch, got everything back on except one faulty circuit. The lights and sockets in the garden. Isolated and made safe, the garden repairs will have to wait until the Spring.
Happy New Year to you all. Mine was spent cooking dinner for 23 at the VMCK club house. Thanks hugely to those who worked with me in a busy little kitchen, and those who did equally valuable work behind the scenes, to make this first dinner event a success. Crayfish salad, Fillet of beef wrapped in Palma ham and stuffed with chanterrelles, served with a Swiss Rosti potato cake, and finishing with Tiramisu. We pulled it off. Not perfect, but I hope they saw the potential for improvement towards something special soon. I'm up for more if they like it. Champagne outside looking to Jonkoping for a free view of the city's fireworks. I sang Auld Lang syne solo. Sorry about that!
Here is hoping 2014 is a good year for us all.
Coffee and Christmas cards with local friends. I cadged 20 liters of water off Roland and began contemplating serving Christmas dinner with no running water. No need to worry further. The maintenance guys got it back on before sun down.
Jul Afton: 24 December, Swedish Christmas, and a Julbord party to go to. Simon and Alex did us all proud. Food too varied to describe in detail, but for me highlights were Elk tongue, Pickled eel, and Gravadlax. 16 guests and a Christmas present game that is like secret Santa but with dice. Went home sober. I'm breaking new ground.
25 December: Complete with running water and everything! Traditional English Christmas Dinner at my place. Guests commented that roast Tupp (cockerel) was a low fat Jul meal. A healthy alternative to roasted ham and pork. The Christmas Crackers were insanely popular. You can't get them out here. Health and Safety rules. It was hard to explain that even translated the jokes are not funny. They are supposed to be bad. It's a tradition, like Mr Bean with the turkey on his head. Actually that is different. Mr Bean with a turkey on his head is still hilarious after a couple of whiskies. Thanks to Swedish friends for taking part and trying something new, to humour an Englishman.
26 December: Annandag, Boxing Day, St Stephens: Clearing up after yesterday.
Saturday I awoke, I don't know what time. The clock wasn't working. Actually the red light on the UK adaptor on the socket wasn't working either. Nothing was working. The house was stone cold. The electricity was off. Looking out of the window neighbours lights are on. Ohh joy! Fault finding for an hour and a half, initially with a torch, got everything back on except one faulty circuit. The lights and sockets in the garden. Isolated and made safe, the garden repairs will have to wait until the Spring.
Happy New Year to you all. Mine was spent cooking dinner for 23 at the VMCK club house. Thanks hugely to those who worked with me in a busy little kitchen, and those who did equally valuable work behind the scenes, to make this first dinner event a success. Crayfish salad, Fillet of beef wrapped in Palma ham and stuffed with chanterrelles, served with a Swiss Rosti potato cake, and finishing with Tiramisu. We pulled it off. Not perfect, but I hope they saw the potential for improvement towards something special soon. I'm up for more if they like it. Champagne outside looking to Jonkoping for a free view of the city's fireworks. I sang Auld Lang syne solo. Sorry about that!
Here is hoping 2014 is a good year for us all.
An Error Occured................
................."nothing wrong with your PC Kevin".
"boB is OK?"
"I think so."
"So why can't I blog with boB?"
"Not sure. Try another Browser maybe"
Firefox Installed
Yep. We are up and running again. We got there in the end. I'm bushed. I need a coco and bed. It's the little victories adding up that move us forward.
Firefox has speeded up boB's operation. Interesting. I lose a lot of capacity to Microsoft updates. Sometimes the little PC is useless for 20 minutes when you start up. Early days but Firefox is looking good.
Darwin has an exhaust system warning light up. Sounds expensive. I'll sort that in the morning when I have rested.
"boB is OK?"
"I think so."
"So why can't I blog with boB?"
"Not sure. Try another Browser maybe"
Firefox Installed
Yep. We are up and running again. We got there in the end. I'm bushed. I need a coco and bed. It's the little victories adding up that move us forward.
Firefox has speeded up boB's operation. Interesting. I lose a lot of capacity to Microsoft updates. Sometimes the little PC is useless for 20 minutes when you start up. Early days but Firefox is looking good.
Darwin has an exhaust system warning light up. Sounds expensive. I'll sort that in the morning when I have rested.
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