New, even colder, blog

The other cold one is even further north, even further east and often much colder than us. Like a true Finn he cycles to the pub when it's -30C, drinks vodka in the Suana and dives into holes in the ice.

"Life in a Northern Land" is his tale of family life and all sorts of madness in Finland.

Global Warming 10: Winter 1

Finally, winters got the better of global warming. The tractors been past with it's plough on, I've fallen over on my ski's, driven the landy up the nearest snow bank and got it stuck and managed to start my old snow blower.

At the moment it's -9 Deg C out there and there's about 30cm of snow lying on the ground. It's supposed to warm up a little (but not above freezing) at the weekend. the warmer temperatures bringing more snow. I'll be out skiing this week end hopefully, as soon as I've recovered from Friday nights party with my department at work.....

Wet feet.

Earlier today, an exceptionally high tide turned works warehouse and parking areas into a bathing area. All car owners, bar one who had dissapeared, were duly informed and sensibly moved their cars.

Our rescue effort involved one of our electricians using a pair of buckets as a substitute for Wellie Boots. This was a great plan until, as you can see from the photo, some idiot in a 1963 LandRover drove in and created a tidal wave.



The poor lad saw it coming and let out a scream long before the icy waters drenched his feet, I hid my head in shame as the amassed onlookers crumpled in laughter.

I, however, kept my feet dry by driving straight back into the warehouse after the heroic rescue, which you will be able to read more about on More Power, the blog.

Swimming to Iceland.

From the start of January to the end of March, Tønsberg swimming baths has a draw which you can enter every time that you have swam 10,000 Metres. The prize, a trip for 2 to Iceland.

This is providing us with some encouragement and we have manage to maintain 2 swims a week for the first 2 weeks of the year. I had hoped to swim a minimum of 1000 Metres on our pre-work early morning session. This has not yet happened, due to an inability to get up, out of the house and to swimming pool early enough! What it does mean is that it has been neccesary to swim at pace to manage the 800 Metres that I have covered each time.

After 4 sesions, I have reached 3500 Metres, Mrs VL has reached 2500 Metres and the cats foster parent, who also joins us, has reach 4875 Metres, mostly due to her proximity to the pool and ability to get out of bed in the mornings!!!

Blog Century

100 Blog Posts

14 Months and 28 Days

260 Comments

102 Photos

6599 Hits

The new EU baggage regulations

Due to the above mentioned, I was forced to pack the 4 cans of Murphy's and 4 Cans of Beamish (destined for our new years Steak and Beamish Pie) that I had purchased whilst in Ireland in my check in baggage for my journey home on the 30th.

The first problem this caused was that I was 3 kilos over Ryanair's rediculously low 15Kg allowence, costing me €24.

To cap it all, as I was loading my bags into the car at the other end, I was distressed to notice the smell of beer and a damp patch on my suitcase. 2 of the cans of Beamish had exploded and emptied their contents all over my clothes (which, fortunately, were already dirty!). Forensic analysis suggests that this what not caused by any impact to my luggage but was due to the pressure difference between the unpressurised aircraft hold and the inside of the pressurised beer can.

You have been warned.....

A Message from my Mum... Updated 25.1.07

Can I please through your good services pass on my deep thanks to all concerned in the family Christmas at Beeston Farm.

We have had another wonderful, never to be forgotten, time, and it was lovely to be together. My grateful thanks for Mari being left in the cold so generously. That was really appreciated.

So glad that all travelling this weekend are home safely. We will look after Tuulia and Maija as long as is needed and then re-unite them with the family.

Good luck to Richard with the lonely move.

Best wishes to Andy and Mari with their New Year's Party.

Happy New Year to you all.

All my love. Mum of all.

Mum of all would be grateful if you would add to my original thank you which you so kindly put on the main blog, that I didn't think to thank our gallant host and hostess for all their efforts for us too.

Also Our Father is delighted to announce that because you all did so much in the Music Barn, he now has it completely plastered inside too. It looks super. Plans are under way to build the partition and then part of the gallery, so that we will have room for everything hopefully by the time we vacate Dean Street. Its going to be a BIG Job.