Sunday, June 29, 2008
Squirrels
Somebody mentioned squirrels? (Thanks for the comment MK) yes they are still here but they are not the same ones any more - they seem to breed and the babies grow and move on to their own, new territory. I think I read that they live in a fairly small area - 200 meters or so? and don't stray much. I think this one I just photographed today might be the grandaughter of the last one I posted.
The tulips are over and I am wondering what to put in the flower bed.
Last night we had "fried stuffed squash blossoms the way William made them" little William made them when W, MK and J were here last summer. These, however actually had squash attached to the blossoms while the others were just flowers. The flowers were stuffed with a mix of Mascarpone, walnuts, chervil, Parmesan and breadcrumbs. A disproportionate amount of work in my opinion but the presence of the actual zucchini made it a bit more worthwhile.
There are some faint signs of life over on awaywithwords. I announce this because I suspect people have stopped bothering to look - like they will at bensbreakfast if he doesn't get back to it!
Worlds Ugliest City Hall
Yes this is where they award Nobel Prizes.
To me it looks like a converted Coal Mine Pithead - it just needs the winding gear.
Oslo
Looking back on Oslo there were a few interesting things I didn't show you - like this gorgeous BMW R100 about the age of the R75 I used to own in England. Notice that it is actually longer then the two seater electric car behind it. There were lots of these little Buddy, I think they were called, electric cars.
These were parked near the Nobel Center - below. The Nobel prizes are awarded in the, nearby and outstandingly ugly city hall. I never did figure out the purpose of this strange square arch thing with lights and holes in it in front of the building
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Twelve Spotted Skimmer
A little research reveals that is what it's called. The wingspan was around three inches - 75 mm or so. It was having a rest on the ground, probably after flying into the newly-cleaned window.
Summer Concert
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Deer O Deer
This was the menu and place mat for the best and least expensive (though still very expensive) meal we had in Oslo. It was a tasting menu where you chose exactly what you wanted from the small, tasting size portions. (I can already hear the sarcastic comments like "isn't that what you always do in restaurants") The food and wine were excellent, with a fun atmosphere not often found in Oslo.They have built a new Opera House, copying Copenhagen perhaps but it does not look as imposing as the Danish one in my opinion.
And so to the subject of the title - I can't seem to be able to move the picture down. I am still learning about Mac computers.
See her (the neighbors told me it is a doe) at the top left.
Backblog
It's like a backlog only it confines itself to blogs. In other words a pile of guilt over lack of blogs.
There are other members of the family, however, who barely blog once a month and have been to Belfast since the last blog about going to London sans-enfants! we need the scoop!
I came home with souvenirs which included jet-lag and my first cold in a long time. I don't think I caught it on the plane but a crowded subway or tram in Oslo.
What awaited me was grass a foot high and weeds four feet high, notes about packages being returned to senders, urgent tax demands, dust blanketing everything and general disorder.
I promise there are more pictures from the trip and there was a deer in the garden yesterday too which I will show you if you wait patiently.
A thousand thanks to friends and family in Denmark where the hospitality alway abounds not to mention fabulous, strawberries, pork, asparagus, potatoes and adorable little boys!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Stopping and scoffing
Careening round the garden
Søro Denmark
which we shared with W, MK, J, K and L. We had a wonderful evening of
food, wine and good company.
Oslo
wealthiest country in the world. I know it's not technically IN
Europe but it is the crummiest capital city I have seen apart from
Ankara (capital of Turkey)
I visited northern Norwegian cities in tv sixties with my dad and they
were much more distinguished. I was in Oslo about 15 years ago and it
seemed nicer than it is now.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Text
of W's bike race but part of the track was closed and we all had to
take a bus between two of the sations. When I say "we" I mean two
thousand Danes each with bicycle and baby carriage. On the train off
the train on the bus, stuff it so full you can hardly breathe then
wait and wait then drive slowly through taffic to the station wet off
the bus, wait and wait for a train stuff the train full and then wait
some more. By this time I had missed the start of the race and needed
to get back to town to meet M so I spent an hour and a half getting
from Nørreport to Nørreport. Do you really want to hear this mundane
drivel?
Not sure what order these will post in but this pic shows the crowds
round Copenhagen's most famous landmark and is related to neighboring
posts.
Today was different
countries too.
Uncelebrated seclusion
Text
I think they are right but se blogs not far away have plenty of text
if you want to read!
I am thumbing this text on my iPhone which I am clutching over my
cornflakes in Copenhagen.
M has gone to lectures and W, as far as I know, is still riding in his
24 hour moutain bike race. Is anyone still awake?
More thrilling text when I find another wi-fi hotspot.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Husmanns Vinstue
Friday, June 13, 2008
Short walk to the seaside
moment we arrived.
Aforesaid Picnic
Reersø fish shop
Constant cake-eater
Another constant gardener
J the builder
Gorsvej gets new kerbs
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A bit of old Russia
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Farewell to Finland
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Shall I get the orange or the mauve?
Sibelius
Helsinki
Monday, June 09, 2008
Runeberg's rose
heard of him either!) Very simple flowers but a hundred times the
fragrance of other roses.
Black?
room in Helsinki.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
High speed police pursuit vehicle
Casa Rosata Buenos Airies?
on the one hour forty minute jet-boat trip home from Estonia to
Helsinki.
Estonian Architecture
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Snow Gone Fountain On
"interblognum"
Monday, June 02, 2008
KOBE!
in the US.
Suckling Pig
Chicago has
become a pretty sophisticated city although I remember eating here in 1970 at a place called "Ratzos" with g and her father's friend Catch and being very impressed.
become a pretty sophisticated city although I remember eating here in 1970 at a place called "Ratzos" with g and her father's friend Catch and being very impressed.
This is at "Tru" restaurant the straight lines are a green zucchini sauce and the blobs are liquorice/kumquat sauce.
Tasty as well as beautiful.
My Twentyniner With new Shifters
700C is still 29 inches. Cheaper Shimano gears with Sram shifters work
better than my XTR's. Time for maintenance when I get home.
Only thing wrong is that it weighs a ton. My old steel Trek is much lighter - I think "Alpha Aluminum" is an alloy of Aluminum and Lead - to keep it on the ground.
Don't like the spring
seatpost but brakes are great. No hills here - I rode it for four hours along the lake.
seatpost but brakes are great. No hills here - I rode it for four hours along the lake.
Swimming at fifty something degrees?
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Tranparent bonnet/boot/engine cover?
New Segway arriving
Dead Segway
View from Segway
There are pictures of g and me paddling in Lake Michigan somewhere in 1970
Segways
above is the new type Segway which I rode yesterday. It has a fundamental difference from the ones I have ridden before, like the one below, in the way they steer. The old ones have twist grip on the left that you turn to steer - that was the only way to steer. To go forward you lean forward and to go back you lean back and to turn you turn the left grip
The new ones like the one at the top and below and the Ferrari Segway are steered by leaning the whole bar column to Left or right. Much more intuitive.Yesterday I took a two hour tour with a large group and of course people have to learn to ride the things first which, in this case, took a long time because some of the people were not naturals at this.
Within an hour though everybody could ride - there is no other motorized vehicle, fundamentally different from anything else that could be learned that quickly. They are very intuitive - you can stand still on them easily and move slowly or turn around. Imagine how long it takes to learn to ride a bike or car or motorcycle - weeks!
I love these things and Chicago is the perfect place with its miles of cycle tracks and parks. While the guide was teaching the rookies I was off having fun close-by. He said that he did not mind if people wanted to ride instead of listening to his narration so I rode constantly. Because of the slow learners the two hour tour took three hours and because I rode all the time I was the one who got the flat battery. I sat and waited at the end while he brought me a new one and took the dead one away - He also gave me a free hour on my own so I got almost four hours for the price of two ($49) much cheaper than they were in Santa Monica.
These things would be a big hit if they did not cost $4,500 to buy. I love them.
