The Shack

The Shack is a bit of a departure for me, although being a closet believer (just not entirely sure what in), it does tug at a few strings. I was given the book from a Swedish family member as I hoover up any English books that I can find on my travels!

I bring up the book here, because the author talks about one of the the harshest realities of life for some people. The issue of child security. One of the characters in the book, (one of the Holy Trinity no less), comments that;-

“A child is protected because it is loved, not because it has a right to be protected”

So we really are alone, unless someone loves us; wow………

And here we are, taking our rights for granted, assuming that our rights will be upheld, but the reality is that without someone to fight our corner, we could be in real trouble.

So, where do our ‘rights’ come from? From the fact that we pay our taxes and are therefore owed some dues? From the fact that we live in a ‘civilized’ country?

But what about greater rights. What of our responsibility towards those unable to enforce their own rights? Where are their rights? Who will defend them?

Too many questions I know. But the book has a point. Our children are protected primarily because of our love, because of our constant attention and care. Many are not so lucky, millions in fact (and not just in war zones or developing countries). And what about those who are loved, but live in insecure places, places where ordinary people themselves have little rights.

It seems to me that having rights is not something that we should take for granted at all.

Stay well

p.s. I haven’t finished it yet, so won’t comment on it now, but if you fancy a copy you can find The Shack at amazon as usual.

I have been in a swelteringly hot Britain this week

I tell you this because I read a short article by Alice Thompson about violent people being released from prison whilst the wrong people stay in jail, and her insight really impressed me.

Alice comments that troubled people shouldn’t be kept away from society, but that actually, they might need introducing to it.

That certainly reflects an experience that I had in Uganda a few years ago working with a group of teenagers from mixed backgrounds. I learned that children from chaotic, often violent and extremely unstable homes are often isolated from art, travel, culture, different and interesting people and personal creativity. All denied to them because of the lottery of birth and circumstances.

But how do we ‘introduce’ deprived children and young adults to a wider world without alienating them and highlighting their lack of social experience? I do worry that their short lifetime of living in a creative vacuum, fueled by peer pressure and aggression; means that learning to appreciate what we consider the finer things in life is already lost to them.

I certainly hope not, because I too, was a slow learner about the wonders of the world and its amazing story. I wonder if it’s time to abandon the ‘virtual’  and supposedly ‘super connected’ world of today and bring back the old fashioned grand tour. I suppose that you would call it backpacking these days!

Anyone at any age could take the plunge, travel somewhere or do something that will push you physically, mentally and socially.

It reminds me of my favorite quote that “to meet interesting people, you have to do interesting things”!

How true.

Stay well

The Flying Saucer from Glen L Marine

There is just way too much pretty water here, not to get out on it and I don’t much like the look of the second hand boats that are in our price range (a tiny bit above bugger all!).

Taking my lead from John Wray, the Kiwi author of ‘South Sea Vagabonds’, who built his own yacht in the 1930′s from timber found floating around in the South Pacific, the scavenge is on to start collecting materials to build my very own fine craft.

It doesn’t look too tricky(!) and I have to confess to taking a shortcut by getting a copy of some classic plans from the well respected Naval Architects ‘Glen L Marine‘ in the USA.

I will also be getting a little help from amazon, as they have a great selection of books on boat building to help me with some of the more nautical woodwork skills.

It will be a little bit like ‘painting by numbers’……………

After all, the plans are designed with first time builders in mind and I am a craftsman after all, so cutting plywood, shaping timber and using woodworking tools is not new to me.

Reading the literature and looking at the photos, the boat looks a lot like a dinosaur skeleton at the framing stage. Lots of interesting techniques are used too, like wrapping timber spars with towels and then pouring boiling water on them to help then around the curves. I love the low tech approach!

Then its lots of planing and sanding to ‘fair’ (see I know all the nautical boat building terms!) the frame, making sure that the plywood skin sits tight against the frame. I will probably cover the outside of the boat up to the deck with fibreglass but this is not essential.

Line Drawing of the Flying Saucer

The Flying Saucer is a small boat (12′ 3″) and only weighs in at a couple of hundred pounds dry, meaning that a 25hp engine will provide plenty of fun. You can leave a comment below if you hear about any rumours of engines for sale on the cheap!

Then of course I will have to think about actually driving the thing. Rules of the err….sea. Amazon to the rescue again for books on seamanship.

You will have forgive the rather quaint name, (by today’s standards), I think that the boat was designed in the late 1950′s you see.

I can’t wait to get started and now that we have a house with a notional workshop, there is no excuses, although I am not rating my chances of getting into the water this summer……

Stay well

Loose moose......

And bumped into this ‘lil old fellow! Well, not this exact fellow as we couldn’t stop to photograph ‘our’ moose (still, he looked pretty much exactly the same!).

My first proper drive around in Scandinavia found it a quiet place, dotted with many peaceful, flat lakes and empty roads. I suspect that the fishing would be very good and certainly if the cries of delight from  the kids fishing from the wharf in town, were anything to go by.

We were in Sweden to celebrate my parents in law’s Golden or 50 years wedding anniversary. No mean feat in itself and one that I suspect can get only rarer, given how late some of us leave it to get married!

A great time was had by all and of course it’s always nice to hit the road to go somewhere new, although I can’t explain why.

I wonder what we are looking for in our little quests into other peoples lives and places? Are we looking for confirmation that we do in actual fact, live in an OK place or are we looking for that place that is better than where we have chosen to live? I particularly feel this as we have just bought a house after looking at (and rejecting) many in the area close by my parents in law (Asker in Norway).

After viewing each house there would be an exchange of views, mine from a UK perspective, Cecilia’s from an out of date Norwegian perspective, my parents who worry about the size of the mortgage and my Mother in Law who just wants us to get started somewhere!

However, lady luck plays a part and because we were picky through most of the ‘selling season’ here in Norway (who wants to move over the summer holidays?) we eventually found a house with a couple keen to sell, as they have another house to go to. This house is considerably bigger, closer to the schools and beach, has a good sized garden and plenty of parking space compared to the earlier houses that we looked at. Smiles all round.

I wonder if it is a modern thing to fear that there just might be something better around the corner? I think that wanting or desiring more is OK if it doesn’t make you dissatisfied now. If pursuing happiness in itself makes you unhappy, then learning to settle for what you have is something that you have to learn or you will be permanently unsatisfied.

For example; on the premise that you can never have everything, (because life just isn’t like that!) isn’t it better to happy that you have a car to drive (most people in the world don’t have any at all) and not be ungrateful that it is not a different, newer, bigger model?

Mentally apply that theory to other aspects of your life and you should be deliriously happy just about all the time………….I guess!

As always, stay well.

p.s. I am on a Norwegian Language Course/just bought a house/planning summer holidays at the moment hence the lack of posts here! But then the life of a blogger has to be lived or there will be nothing to blog about!

So I am going to make like Garfield today,

Thanks Garfield for reminding us that really, less is so often much more……..

Stay well

What's a weed Daddy?

Spring means lots of time outdoors walking to school/kindergarten along rapidly growing pathways, verges…..well, rapidly growing everywhere actually!

William especially likes picking flowers, leaves and other interesting looking objects to be found along the hedgerows. As he brandished yet another bunch of bright yellow dandelions in my face for me to take, I got to thinking about when does this bright little flower that so delights him, become a ‘weed’?

At the moment he is completely unaware that this fascinating little flower is actually despised by most people as a nuisance….who will be the first to tell him I wonder?

Especially when you think that there is no logical reason for it. The dandelion is obviously incredibly well designed and needs no help from us to propagate itself. It produces a fairly pretty and bright flower and a fun seed ball.

Whats more, herbalists consider it to have lots of culinary and medicinal uses too, being rich in vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, along with minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. You can even add its leaves to salads, sandwiches, and even teas. (according to the Dandelion Page on Wikipedia).

If you, like me want to learn more about ‘weeds’ such as the dandelion, try Christopher Nyerges book, the Guide to Wild Flowers and useful Plants, you might get a few surprises about some of our common plants (note I don’t want to call them weeds anymore!). I also have the little Collins Gem book about Food for Free by Richard Mabey; which lives in my day pack so that I can appear knowledgeable about the woods to the kids on our walks!

Perfection or pest?

On reflection I think that maybe we are too quick to listen to others opinion on what is beautiful and what is not. Following the herd is an instinct I guess but I am willing to believe that very possibly, everything is beautiful or useful in some way, if you take the time to look for it.

Especially when you consider that weeds are not a class or type of plant but merely a plant growing where it is not wanted. In New Zealand then, climbing Roses were our ‘weeds’, as I certainly couldn’t get on top of them!

Stay well

Carpet of flowers in the forest

Spring in Norway is initially a cautious affair as frosts continue well into May, but a week or more after the ‘last’ one, spring is really underway as I write this.

Although slow to start, it really does get a move on! Flowers, buds and leaves are visibly bigger each day. I think they realise that they only have a short time to get a lot done before the temperature starts to head down again!

Weird and wonderful

In the spirit of spring, and after being inspired by a friends photographs, we took the kids to the Botanical Gardens in Oslo, as they both seem to enjoy seeing flowers. It was a real treat as everything was in bloom with some pretty weird and wonderful plants in the hothouse.

I am missing my garden this year as we are in ‘transit’ and still looking for a house here in Norway. Still, I have some tomatoes and some radishes in pots, proving that you can grow something, no matter where you are……..

Stay well

P.s.

Taking the time to smell the flowers......

Brand New Tyre

I am talking about tyres. In Africa, tyres were used until they exploded. Simple as that. New ones would be both difficult to find and afford. Instead they rely on cheap part worn imports from us.

So, you really know that you are in a wealthy country when, here in Norway a child’s swing has……..yes, you guessed it,  A Brand New Tyre!

Now that has got to be as mad as can be, millions of used tyres taken off our cars and they go and use a brand new one on a child’s swing….no wait, of course, I’ve got it……. all the old ones have been shipped to Africa!

See, its Africa’s fault again that we have to use a perfectly good tyre on a child’s swing, (he says, tongue firmly in cheek).

Seriously though, life here in Norway is looking pretty good and it is certainly privileged; but alas, all that wealth has to be earned first….so I had better get to it!

Stay well

No "Hey! get orf my land" here

I think that in the UK we take our space for granted. We know where our boundaries are (mostly) and take a rigid view on any trespass at all, no matter how slight.

Park across your neighbours driveway, (even if he doesn’t want to go out) and you’ll see what I mean. It feels a little different here in Norway, open space is all around and even where it is cramped, everyone squeezes in quite amicably.

In a strange paradox, peoples behaviour feels more rigid and formal (so arguably, your neighbour is less likely to park across your driveway!) but it also appears to be more trusting and tolerant too. Many boundaries are blurred and open space is more communal, social even.

Gardens are rarely fenced in and aluminum ladders happily hang on the outside of garages, that would have been long gone in the UK. Most look like they have been there for years.

It’s especially interesting when you consider that people wander around and amongst the houses, as they are not built in straight lines along a street. But rather in a somewhat haphazard fashion, here and there, up a slope and down a slope or all on top of one another up a mountainside! Access is often by an almost pedestrianised strip of tarmac and your garage (all houses have a garage because of the winters) is likely to be some distance away, well, houses in our price range at least!

The ‘family’ houses that we are looking at are especially communal in their layout and life looks to be more social in the street than I am used to. The common theme seems to be that:-

Space is to be shared, not protected or enforced.

Of course, each house does have its ‘personal’ space at the back. Maybe a small deck or patio will host a table and chairs with high screens or dividers to mark each houses boundaries and offer some privacy when using the deck areas.

But beyond the deck, gardens often meld together into common space that can be enjoyed by all of the children as they all run around together. Everyone knows who is who and who belongs to who. Because everyone speaks to everyone else, anyone new or out of place quickly becomes noticeable. Fortunately, crime against children from strangers is almost unheard of.

Consequently, a completely fenced off garden here would feel almost anti social, as it did in East Africa. Gardens are less ‘manicured’ too. Most consist of lawn with lots of robust shrubs and trees. Less ‘hard’ landscaping seems to be the theme with more children’s swings, trampolines and sandpits being the norm.

I wonder if it’s socially related to the ‘right to roam’ system here, which believes in a shared responsibility for the land, in exchange for a shared enjoyment of all those outdoor spaces.

Now, don’t misunderstand me, I am not saying that you will come home and find your neighbour sitting in your garden having a barbecue (Although I am sure that if you did, you would definitely be invited!) But rather that it’s just a little more relaxed and dare I say it………..more neighbourly.

Stay well

Danger to moving traffic.......

Only kidding!

However, Norway is living up to its reputation of the land of the “tall, blond haired, blue eyed beautiful people”, as my neighbour Mirjam (over there) proves. Sadly, only kidding again!

I have never felt so short in my life! 6′ 4″ is not uncommon and that is today. Imagine going back a thousand years when these guys were raised on Moose meat, playing rough and tumble with Troll’s and hunting the Kraken, before growing up into strapping sailors and going on their “grand tours” to Europe!

As for us, everything is slowly settling into place as we tackle yet another countries version of bureaucracy.  And guess what…….it snowed yesterday. The 21st of April and it snowed!

Having said that, the weather here has been refreshing, I never knew that being cold could be so comfortable! It must be all the blue skies and sunshine that comes with it.

Stay well