The First of May

May 1. is known as a day of International Labour Solidarity. Wikipedia says it like this:

Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. The majority of countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1, and it is popularly known as May Day and International Workers' Day.

In Norway it has been a Public holiday since World War 2. The day itself is worthy of many posts, but that is not what I'm about to cover here.

For many people the day also hold a personal memory. My father was born on 01.05.1915. He was the second youngest of five children on a typical small, West-coast Norwegian farm. My grandfather was also the local teacher. Since my father could not inherit the farm, he became a carpenter and worked as such until the Nazi-invasion in April 1940. He took part in the fight against the invaders and survived. It was a harassing experience, but he seldom talked about it. Later on he had to go "underground" for a long period to avoid being drafted for work for the Nazi-authorities. During this period he survived thanks to his family and his fiancée, my future mother.

Shortly before the end of the war they married, and he later got a job with the Norwegian Railways (NSB) where he worked until he was pensioned off. It can truly be said of him that he belonged to the generation that built this country. In addition he also built with his own hands the cottage seen at the top of the post. It is close to the farm where he himself was born. After his retirement, he and my mother lived there every year from Easter until the end of September. It is also here where my own heart, such as it is, belongs.

He lost his dear wife and he also almost lost his only son. He sat beside my bed when I got a cerebral stroke. I would have spared him that at all cost, but I think he handled it better than I did. He died in 2003, less than a year before my own operation, but he knew there was this hope for me.

Today was his birthday - he would have been 94 years old. This post is made in memory of him.

I still miss him.

Bench of the week (6) on another blog

My post "Bench of the week (6)" is today posted on my blog Visual Norway Extended.

Sky Watch Friday # 56

The first two pictures are my two monochrom photos from last monochrom Mondays post but in color.

Drøbak

Drøbak

Drammen - Exposure time 15 seconds - ND8 Neutral Density Filter.

For more Sky Watch photos, visit the Sky watch site - Sky watch was Dots idea, now hosted by Sandy, Wren, Klaus, Fishing Guy and Ivar.

Sturnus Vulgaris in the Sky again

To build a nest is a demanding task for our little winged friends.

PS Please visit Sky Watch Friday's own site for more.

Deadly Nightshade in Your Cup of Tea

I'm on a day trip {shopping + more!} today so I just want to share these beautiful photos with you before I go off for some lovely food, enjoy dears! xx

(photos from i put deadly nightshade in your cup of tea)

A POTD to Organ Donation!

This time I feel extra humble, but my post on Organ Donation have won another Post of The Day from the well-known Australian journalist and super-blogger David McMahon. Thank you very much indeed, David! I see it as a support for just that principle - Organ Donation

Goodbye, Ms Bo

Ms Bo on her "inside" perch

It's not how we'd planned it and it's not how we expected it to happen. But nature takes her own course in these things and I'm trying to be pragmatic about it - despite a sleepless, fretful night.

Yes, the inevitable has happened - Ms Bo has escaped, never to be seen again, I suspect.

Strangely, we've been saying for the last two weeks that it's probably time for us to seriously consider setting her free - that was, after all, always the intention. We were hoping to take her to the avian vet on Saturday for a check up and a final verdict on her state of well being and then we were going to open the door to her pen, one day when the Ba-Kaaka Nostra were present, and let her go.

Bo and the Ba-Kaaka Nostra a couple of weeks ago

The reality is that we could never have kept Ms Bo - she was wild from the start and intended to stay that way - a fact that became deeply apparent a couple of months back when we had painters at the house. Although they denied it, we think one of them terrorised her because since then Ms Bo's attitude to humans was one of utter panic. Guinea fowl are neurotic at the best of times, but Ms Bo took to working herself into a frenzy anytime anyone came remotely near Le Palais de Beau Bo - and she took to hiding out in the "hutch" we built on to the back of her house when anyone got to close. Once in there though she obviously felt safe, as she'd suffer having her back stroked by me on occasions and seemed to enjoy being crooned at and told she was a beautiful girl who'd grow up to be queen of all the guinea fowl...
.

Bo's first villa - Bo Vers 0.1

And although the avian vet had suggested that we could keep Bo as a pet, both we and Bo knew that Bo was a wild thing. So, as I say, the intention remained to find a suitable time, when we thought she was strong enough, and release her. But so much for the best laid plans.

Yesterday evening D took Bo her worms and for some reason didn't shut the door of the pen behind him. Although he usually shuts the door behind him, it's not necessarily a problem if he doesn't as Bo doesn't tend to make bids to escape. But this time, as he leaned underneath her to drop her mealworms in the scratching tray, she eyed the open door, whizzed over his head and was out. There was no thought of even trying to catch her - it would have been hopeless. We hoped that if we left her, she'd find herself a spot for the night, settle down and reappear in the morning. (Very often guinea fowl that have been raised by humans and then set free will be quite content to never leave the sanctuary of their garden.)

We watched nervously as Bo pootled around the garden for a few minutes - and then eyed the wall - the one over which the Ba-Kaaka Nostra fly every day. Bear in mind Ms Bo has not had much exercise at flying any great heights, but she stood there contemplating the wall and then in a flurry of wings was up and gone.

At first we thought she'd gone straight over the wall until frantic searches in the road revealed nothing - and then I spotted her shuffling on a thick gum branch some ten feet above the ground. She seemed to be settling in for the night so we left her to it. It was nearly dark and there was nothing we could do. We left the door of her pen open, put out plenty of seed and hoped for the best.

This morning there was no sign of her and although the Ba-Kaaka Nostra turned up for breakfast and although there was a juvenile guinea fowl that flew down from the very top of the tallest gum to join them, and although we hoped that it was Bo, closer inspection of the photos I shot (for confirmation) show that it was most likely not her.

Juvenile guinea fowl, almost certainly not Bo

Bo has four distinctions about her - she has two white claws, a badly damaged left nostril from constantly banging it against the wire of the pen, a deformed breast bone and very rasping voice. But she'd need to call out or one would need to get really close to be able to identify her. And the bird above's face just isn't Ms Bo's - as much as we wanted it to be.

So, we have no idea where she is and we can only hope that she will be okay. Whether she will survive or not out there on her own, who knows - but I'm not holding my breath. Her best bet would be to integrate with another group of guinea fowl - a lone guinea doesn't stand much chance - and bear in mind that Bo has never been out of our garden - has no experience of dogs and cats, let alone cars. We can only know that we did our best for her and that without us she would never have got this far. And as D says, better one day free as a lion than a lifetime penned up as a sheep. So here's hoping that whatever freedom Ms Bo is enjoying or did enjoy, it's good.

Finally the story that started here with this wee and ailing guinea fowl keet...

Bo Peep, an abandoned guinea keet, unable to fledge

Bo Peep, rescued and learning to leap

Ms Bo, munching on a snail

Ooh, bugs, yum!

...ends here with these shots taken just two days ago.

Ms Bo, a nearly fully grown guinea fowl

I'm glad I had the chance to give her one last stroke yesterday and tell her what a beautiful girl she is.

Be safe, be wild and be free, Ms Bo.

Modern with an Edge

I love this modern home, it's clean, fresh, modern but not boring. Touches of colour here and there gives life to these white rooms, while the owner's fun collection of prints and art addes an edge, a personality.

What makes it even better is that it wouldn't cost a fortune to creat the look, it is the result of some Ikea furniture mixed along with flea market finds, topped with some lovely prints from say Etsy, and C'est fait!

Isn't that workspace just wonderful? Ok, I'm off to pack for a little day trip tomorrow ;) The secret will be revealed soon! xx

(images via Angie Cao)

Sunset Drøbak # 2

O is for Organ donation in ABC Wednesday

Regular visitors to my blog will know that I had a successful heart transplant five years ago. However that is not the issue of this post - the issue is what made this possible: A donation of an organ by an unknown donor who no longer needed it.

Wikipedia defines Organ donation like this:

Organ donation is the removal of the tissues of the human body from a person who has recently died, or from a living donor, for the purpose of transplanting. Organs and tissues are removed in procedures similar to surgery. People of all ages may be organ and tissue donors.

WHO has the following sentences as one of the major guidelines for organ transplantation:

Cells, tissues and organs may be removed from the bodies of deceased persons for the purpose of
transplantation if:

(a) any consent required by law is obtained, and
(b) there is no reason to believe that the deceased person objected to such removal.

The laws varies from country to country concerning how this is done and how the obvious ethical questions are handled. Concerning the last question, it is worthy of note that all the major religions in the world accept organ donation - it is the ultimate gift. Registers are often used, either with "yes" or "no". In Norway one can in principle use any organ that qualifies medically and ethically, but in practice a known acceptance by the donor or the relatives is required. That is why there are yearly campaigns where people are encouraged to fill out donor cards that they can carry on their person and to inform their relatives and friends about their decision. The second picture is from such a stand in Bergen in 2006. The text on the poster board says it all:

Organ donation - life as a gift.

I owe my life to a donor whose family gave a positive answer to the ultimate question when no hope of continued life was left: Do you wish that the organs of your relative shall save the life of somebody else? They did so, and I will be eternally grateful.


Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.

For more, you can log on via a Mr Linky enabled site

Tagged by Tessa for a Meme of the Moment

Tessa, over at Aerial Armadillo, artist extraordinaire, tagged me with the following meme. I’m generally a bit cagey about memes like this, but hey, I decided I may as well give it a go…


What are your current obsessions?

I’m not much given to obsessions – except perhaps when I’m writing...


Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often?

Sunglasses... Jeans, cargo pants, t-shirts, loafers or trainers

Sunglasses, Cargo pants, t's and trainers

What's for dinner?

I’ve only just got past breakfast! But tonight – probably roast chicken.


Last thing you bought?

Do the groceries count? Oh yes, that aside, accommodation in Bath and changed airline tickets.

Bath
(image courtesy of wikimedia.com)

What are you listening to?

Doves cooing and the neighbour’s dog barking.


If you were a god/goddess who would you be?

Artemis. Don’t ask, it’s a long story. And I hope to evolve into Baba Yaga – or Granny Weatherwax – though I think they’re the same sort of goddess.

Granny Weatherwax, courtesy of the cover of my very battered copy of Witches Abroad

(original illustration - Josh Kirby)

Say something to the person who tagged you:

Tessa you are a wonderful artist and even though I know you miss "home", "home" shines through your work in vivid and colourful proportions. Keep rocking!


Favourite holiday spots?

The hotel pool, Mauritius... sigh...

Mauritius
Kruger National Park
Tuscany
London

The London Eye and the Houses of Parliament at dusk

Reading right now?

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
The New Earth by Eckart Tolle


4 words to describe yourself.

I had to ask D to answer this one, it seemed unreasonable to do otherwise. He said: “Vibrant, witty, passionate, stylish.”
I’d have probably chosen four other words like “creative, insightful, energetic, intuitive”.


Guilty pleasure?

Computer games and hot chocolate.


Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak?

Good satire – like Pieter Dirk Uys last Thursday night. And classic, clever British sitcom

First spring thing?

Pul-lease – it’s autumn here, all I’m seeing are golden leaves – which means I need to get out there with my camera!

Autumn comes to the Buitenverwachting vineyards

Planning to travel to next?

England (London, Bath and York) and Spain – in May/June.

Staying with a friend who lives near here...
(image nicked off the 'net)

Best thing you ate or drank lately?

Large mug of hot chocolate – my own secret recipe… Shall I share it with you…?


Flower of the moment?

St Joseph’s Lillies – always. Gerberas, tulips, bunches of multicoloured roses.

St Joseph's lilly

Favourite ever film?

Stealing Beauty

(image nicked off someone else's blog...)

Care to share some wisdom?

Everything in life is about perception.
Reality is mostly illusion.
Death is not an end but a returning to the beginning
Everything is one, sharing the same universal energy. We are, in effect, all “God”.
The glass is always half full – if you choose to see it that way.
The human ego is far too dominant, inclining us to forget our true selves.
The best thing you can ever do is to look at yourself in the mirror and say “I love you”, because if you can’t love yourself you can’t really love anyone.


And in turn I'm supposed to tag a few people - so here you go, if you'd like to do this one... and anyone else who'd like to have a go, feel free!

Jane, over at Wittering On
Baino, at Baino's Banter
Laquet at Chez Laquet
Gail at Gail at the Farm
Lane at Lane's Write

This and That

{via Oh Joy!}

This is going to be a tag & awards post, but I promise to keep you entertained with some pretty picutes ;) Thanks for the lovely Sarah for this tag, ok here goes:

What’s your current obsession?
The new china collection by Studio Violet - I only saw it yesterday!!

What’s your weirdest obsession?
Seagulls - a family of seagulls live on our roof and I've seen them at least once everyday since we moved in, like 18 months ago, I'll really miss them when I move

What are you wearing today?
A oversized floral tee with DIY pins added to reshape it, skinny jeans & equestrian style boots - it was raining like crazy this morning

What would you like to learn to do?
Take good photos! Think I need a DSLR as my diginal camera is just not doing the job, I would also like to finally read those two photography books I bought last summer!

What’s for dinner today?
Maybe a takeaway, I'm thinking lamb madras curry... just wondering is curry popular elsewhere?

What’s the last thing you bought?
How I love internet shopping & the sale, hoping to get these tomorrow! :D

{Ring - Outnet.com, Boots - Fly London, rest - Topshop}

What’s your most challenging goal right now?
I really want to open an online clothing store, I've seen these really pretty floral dresses & cute tees made by small manufacturers in Japan, Korean & China, and just don't understand why they have to be so expensive over here. A floral dress on topshop.com is rare & when they do have one it's at least £50, it's not like the quality is so much better.

So a busy summer for me researching and trying to figure out about international shipping + tax etc. it's going to be so fun! - the clothes buying part :D

Favorite vacation place?
Either paris or venice, I can't choose!

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
This Fendi bag!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Relaxing while listening to the sea

What super power would you like to possess?
Magical powers or teleport, I'd be happy with either :)

What’s your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
My huge floral print tee with DIY pins added on of course ;) the original tee looks like this

What’s your dream job?
To be a business woman in fashion/design, say online boutique owner? :D

If you had $150 now what would you spend it on?
These pretty blue & white things from aviewto

Describe your personal style
Feminine mixed with an edgy, currently trying to perfect that edgy!

What fashion show would you want tickets to?
I've dreamed about this since I was a little girl - Chanel

Who’s closet would you want to raid?
Alexa Chung, although her clothes will never fit me, I'm like half as tall!!

the 2nd tag is from the sweet surimay:

{Original photo by Melissa Lund }

Also, I'd like to thank the lovely Little Miss Tiara for the Lemonade Award & Diana for the cutest "deer" award, I'd like to pass the love onto:

A View To ; Blog Goggles ; Lenorenevermore ; The English Muse ; The Princess Portal ; Denoto & WISH WISH WISH

Have a lovely Tuesday everyone! Since it's that time of year - Exams!! I'll be taking a break from {Beauty Tuesday} as it usually take a while to pull together a post, but I will be posting normally, think I'll be needing quite a few revision breaks :)

(all images linked to sources)