Brom went to the bottom of the sea

Brom here again. I was a bit worried before we left today, because the weather wasn't very nice at all. A lot of wind and black clouds and even rain and hail and thunder and lightning. I stood at the window and watched. And I knew it would be very very difficult to see the tulips. But Mara said the rain wouldn't be all the time and off we went. 

We went driving a long time, but I did see lots of tulips. I wanted to sit between the tulips, but I couldn't get over the ditch and neither could Mara. So, we had to take photos from the road. But the tulips were still very beautiful. And lots of different colours as well. Red and yellow and my very favourite: orange. I saw other colours as well, but we didn't always stop to take photos. 

I also saw apple blossoms and an aeroplane (Mara will tell you all about that one later) and lots of different roads. We were driving all over the place. It was good fun. Just Mara and me and beautiful views. It didn't last though. You can already see it in this photo as well. The skies were grey and...

After a while it started raining. Very hard. Very very hard. So hard, that Mara couldn't see the road anymore. Taking photos then is not nice either, although she did try with a wind turbine. And another one that I really liked with grey skies and wet and a stripe of yellow tulips in the distance.

When we were done driving we went to visit an old colleague of Mara's. They had invited some other people as well, so it was like a little party. Again! There were drinks and nibbles (I didn't partake) and onion soup. The best thing though: all the stories I had never heard. Mara had heard some of them, but others were new to her as well. And then there was a slide show. With buses coaches! Puhlease!! Mara got excited though and there were a lot of photos of old colleagues as well. Even one of Mara with a duck on her head!! Very funny! 

Today we are going home again. The holiday is over. And it's only 3 months to our next holiday. In Scotland. Where there will be lots more to see and do. I will see you then! Oh, and the bottom of the sea? That's where we were today. And all the tulips as well. But now there is land and no more sea.

My weekend

Originally I had to work on Saturday, but then the Welfare Committee at work organised a small trip to their lodge in the mountains for people who had never been there before. And it sounded just like something I would like. Plus, it would be a free trip to boot! So, with the help of the traffic controller, I changed my shift and would be able to come. 

The above zero temperatures plus the rain caused some great waterfalls!

The start of the day was by no means promising: it was absolutely chucking it down! It was pouring, raining cats and dogs and basically it was kind of wet. The worst thing? It would even be raining up in the mountains, so the five pairs of skis that were taken along, would probably go back down without being used.

We stopped for some food, got more drink in and then proceeded our way down to the ferry. Because in this country, if you want to go somewhere, chances are, there is a ferry involved at some point! We had to wait awhile, but the ferry ride itself was short and after that it was only twenty more minutes to the lodge. As we were driving up the mountain, the rain slowly changed to sleet and then to wet snow and then to proper snow. The joy!

SNOW!!!

Fortunately I had put on my sturdy new boots, since we couldn't park next to the lodge. We had to go a little downhill and then a little uphill. Through snow, sludge and mud! And me with my suitcase!! But, one of my colleagues wanted to save me for the ski tour later on and carried my suitcase for me. So kind.

The lower bunk on the left was mine.

We made it to the lodge and it was very nice. Three bedrooms for seven people, so plenty of space (one had double bunkbeds) for us all to sleep. A living room/kitchen/dining area, a bathroom with two toilets and a shower and even a shed and a terrace. Those two toilets however were something else. One was a bark one. Do your business and throw in some bark after it. Quite smelly. The other one was a bit more complicated. Put small paper bag in bowl, do your business, close lid, push button and then the whole thing would be incinerated! Not as smelly, but not much.

During the evening we just enjoyed ourselves. We had a lovely Thai inspired dinner, we had some drinks and by eleven everybody was in bed. I slept okay, considering the two gents who both had a bit of snore going on. Thank goodness for earplugs. But I was the first one up again. So, I pottered about, put the heating back on, did the dishes and then one by one everybody (6) made an appearance. After which I started breakfast: bacon, sausages, eggs and beans. 

We had our lunch half way through the afternoon and it was left over time plus salad. And then we had to clean the whole place again. Take the rubbish with us, the left over food, and of course our own stuff. I have however very nice colleagues and one of them had taken my suitcase over earlier. It was a bit later than we wanted when we finally made our way down the mountain again and into lovely dry weather. It was a great weekend in a great location with lovely people. Well worth changing my shift for!!

The alpine ski slope as seen from the lodge.

Of course now you are wondering about all this snow though, aren't you? And did we do any skiing? Well, come back tomorrow and I will tell all!

Swing

Did I ever tell you about the dance lessons I took when I was younger? In my teenage years I took ballroom and latin dance classes for about five years. I was never one to go on to competitions and such, but I was ok and I liked dancing a lot. Since however, I have not danced again. Until last Friday that is. 

Here in Norway they don't really do ballroom or latin dancing. Nor do they go for the boring dancing across from each other. Here they swing dance! And I am rubbish at it!! It's like a sort of rock 'n' roll but not and there has been a fair share of toe stepping from me! But...

Last Friday was the first of two nights of swing dance classes organised by the welfare committee from work. We would learn some basic steps and hopefully I wouldn't be making a fool of myself. I don't think I did. After all, there was only one step for me to learn. Which on the first night I did to infinity and beyond. Step to the right, turn and another step to the right. I did it so often I got quite dizzy.

On Saturday it was the second night. I already felt my muscles from night one and they weren't going to be any better at the end of that session. I was twisting and turning, being thrown about at times, but having a blast! It was so much fun! And the best part? I didn't step on anybody's toes!!

I did get some photos of that night, but since every single one includes colleagues and most are quite blurry to boot, I will only include a photo of me doing some other sort of dance: the hokey cokey!

Herman's mackerels

Herman needed a hobby. So, he bought a fishing pole. Went fishing in the North Sea (or the Sound of Karm). Caught a few fish. Gave me some, because I had invited him for apple pie. To which he had arrived on the wrong day, so I gave him some apple pie a few days later. 

Herman didn't just give me two fishies. He gave me ten! Ten mackerels to be precise. What was I supposed to do with ten headless and tailless mackerels? Don't get me wrong: I like fish and I like mackerel. But me and cooking fish don't really go together that well. I either burn it or I ruin it some other way. I didn't want to ruin those ten mackerels. Because as I said: I like mackerel. 

It took me a few days thinking about it. I then decided to just use a frying pan and fry them. Use a bit of fish herbs and hopefully enjoy it afterwards. Well, you know what: I guess I can do something with fish, because they taste great! 

Thank you Herman. Or should I say dziękuję... (however that may be pronounced)

Herman

I like meeting up with friends. Either at a restaurant, or at home, or on top of a mountain! It's fun. One of my friends makes absolutely yummy cakes. But... so do I! For the Eurovision party I had (which nobody but me watched by the way), I made a Dutch apple pie. And they loved it! So, I decided to make another one and have an apple pie night. 

Now, I needed to invite some of my new friends. After all, having a lovely apple pie and then having to eat it all by myself is not nice. I started asking people over. Some of my female friends, some of my male colleagues. 

One of those colleagues is Polish. He isn't that fluent yet in Norwegian. But I like him, he is nice, he is funny and I feel he needs a bigger dose of Norwegian. I invited him along for my Wednesday apple pie night. In Norwegian Wednesday is onsdag. Sunday is søndag. He understood Sunday. And as I was watching a film last night, I saw him coming of the bus. 

We had a nice evening. He told me about how he got to live in Norway, a bit about his wife and daughters, about his home, about his life in general. He might not be able to come on Wednesday, but one piece of apple pie will certainly be going to Herman*!

*Herman is not his real name. But since he looks a lot like a Dutch comedian called Herman, I tend to call him Herman, before calling him by his real name!

Colleagues

This will be my entry!

When I started working as a busdriver it was hard. I had to learn the routes, know about the buses and get to know my colleagues. All 15 of them. It took me a while, but I got there. I knew the routes, knew about the buses (sort of) and knew the names of my colleagues.

When I started working as a busdriver in Norway it was hard. I had to learn the routes, know about the buses and get to know my colleagues. All 200 something of them! It took me a while, but I got there. I know the routes, know about the buses (sort of) and know about 10% of my colleagues! It has only been four months!

So, I have decided to take on some extra work. Make a large photo album in which all the drivers will be represented. With a photo. And some text. All 200 something of them. And the people in the office. 

My colleagues think it's a great idea. Most of them anyway. They are happy to pose for a photo and answer a few questions. When the book is finished it will be great. I think it will take me some time though! Ah well, I didn't have anything better to do anyway!!

Leaving part 1

Since I am moving to Norway I had thought to give a small leaving party for my colleagues. Normally I would have organised the drinks and the food myself, but this time I thought I would ask a colleague who has some experience in catering. That way I didn't have to worry about how much food or how much drink, I could just let go and enjoy myself. 

And I did! There were colleagues I have worked with for years, former colleagues, new colleagues and the partners of my closest colleagues. We had a few drinks (there were designated drivers), we had some food, we had laughs and I stood and chatted with everyone I think. Everybody wished me luck and asked me about the wheres, whats and hows. We reminisced about the good old days, drank a few more drinks (only cyclists left by then) and finished close to midnight.

I will miss my colleagues for their friendship and their support. 

Colleagues

Homeless area in Rome

One of the more pertinent questions floating around ever since I announced I was actually going to move to Norway was: 'where are you going to live?' Mind you, that was also more or less the question before it was certain I had a job: 'do you have a place to live yet?' And every time I had to say: 'no, I don't!' I knew it was going to be difficult, finding a place to live, that would not cost me an arm and a leg, but still had some room to move around in. 

Of course my current colleagues had great ideas: why don't you pack up a big box! Or sleep on the back seat of a bus! And the best one I heard today (as one of my colleagues was being serious. Really!): if you don't get a place to stay, just go to a covered parking lot, pay for a parking ticket and put down your chair, your tv and everything else you own. Hm, not sure how that would go down in Norway...

Fortunately a new colleague of mine had other ideas and contacted me a week ago to ask me whether I needed help! Well, yes, I do! And yesterday he emailed me to say he had found a place. Not too expensive, one bedroom, fully furnished. It will do. At least temporarily, until I can find a place where I can get my own stuff again.

The main thing: I will not be homeless come November 27th and I have great colleagues (both here and there)!

Laurens

Late August a colleague of mine went to see a doctor about some swelling in his groin area. A few days later he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Unfortunately not in the early stages, because it had already spread to the blood and bones, but the doctors still gave him 9 months, more if the medication would work. His weight kept dropping though, since he couldn't keep his food down and he was admitted to hospital with severe dehydration.

While in hospital they discovered it had also spread to his brain and the nine months was quickly changed into a couple of weeks. He passed away on Monday. Today all the colleagues from our lot said goodbye to him for the last time. He will be very much missed.

Heart

The other day I was showing one of my colleagues my ABC book and as he was leafing through it, he said something about March 17th being the day our former colleague died. I wrote a post about that two years ago: click here. I had been the last person to speak to him and H was the person who found him. We had always said that we should visit A's widow some day, to bring a bit more closure to her and to us.

Today we finally went. A day before the second 'anniversary' of that awful day. And she really appreciated it. She had tears in her voice when I phoned to ask whether we could come, she had tears in her voice and her eyes today. She liked hearing our side of the story which also filled in some quite significant gaps for her. She was glad we hadn't forgotten all about her or her husband.

She's not doing well. Her life has lost its shine, its sparkle with her husband's death. He was her rock, her guide. Ever since she had a severe car accident, he did the cooking and quite a bit of the housework. All that was gone in an instant. On top of that she's gluten intolerant, she suffered from breast cancer (while her husband was still alive) and last year she was diagnosed with bone cancer. She only has a few more years to live. Fortunately she has her family and her friends who come by and see her quite often, but it's not the same.

The visit brought closure to both of us as well. Especially my colleague couldn't have done this last year yet, but now he was fine. Also because we were able to give her some answers. When we left we were both presented with a little gift: the heart you see at the top of this post.

In memory of Anton, who died too young...

Warthog

My colleague. Photo taken in the hot and humid part of dessert/ocean/bush part of the zoo.

You might have wondered a bit about that photo of a warthog I put in my post yesterday. After all, warthogs don't usually have much to do with virus scanners and computers. But since my regular computer is in the shop and with it most of my generic photos and pictures, I needed another one. And since I have visited a zoo only a few days ago, I posted a warthog.

I was with a colleague at the time. A nice and friendly man who will do a lot to help me get the best possible pictures. Every time an animal refused to cooperate, he would make funny sounds and call 'here kitty kitty', even if it wasn't a kitty, but for example a warthog! It made for an interesting visit though, since we must have had some strange looks thrown our way! I told him he couldn't just call kitty to a warthog, but then again 'hey warthog warthog' doesn't have the same ring to it! And in Dutch the name of the animal is even longer! Shortening it to warty wasn't an option either: people would then just give you solutions as to how to get rid of warts!

Despite all his best intentions, the funny looks and the occasional cooperation of some of the animals, I didn't manage to get a lot of good photos. And a zoo without any maras: not a proper zoo at all!!!

I told him specifically...

Driving a coach for a living is great fun. You go places, meet people and you make long hours. If the pay would be better, it would be the best job in the world. At the moment the best job would be taking care of that island off the coast of Australia. Anyway, moving on...

I drive one coach in particular. I know its problems, its quirks, its idiosyncrasies (yes, I do know big words, just don't know whether I spelled it right). But to be honest, even despite knowing all that, I never have any major problems with it. It never stalled on me. Well, apart from the fact when I had the inside lights, the heating and the radio on full, without having the engine running. But that was just stupidity. Over the last few months there have been several problems building though. A light that would come on more and more and more (until it wouldn't go out anymore). A bit of hesitation while trying to start it. But, nothing else.

Today a colleague of mine had to drive my coach since I am off. He phoned me about two hours ago: "ehm, I broke your coach. And it's not the batteries, it's the starter engine (?). I am being towed as we speak!" Now, this is a colleague who will break everybody's coach. If there is a problem lurking, give the coach to him and it will not be lurking anymore. It will be right there, in your face! He even says so himself! Yesterday we had to go somewhere together and where I had a silly light burning all the time, he didn't have any problems. But I still told him last night: 'Don't break my coach!'

Fat lot of good that did!!!

Phone

While I was out shopping yesterday, my phone rang. It was one of my colleagues. But, since it was a day off, I wasn't in the mood and didn't answer. He phoned a further 13 times yesterday! This morning he phoned once more and again I didn't pick up my phone. I've turned the setting to silent, so now I don't even hear it anymore! Whenever I try to reach him on his day off, I can't and now he wants to bother me on my day off? I'm not having it!!!

I know the reason he calls. Probably something else to do with work. The planning isn't doing a proper job, the hours aren't paid properly, blablablabla... He has a point, he is mostly right and I have to admit, he does a great job for us as well. But the way he goes about it is driving me up the wall. He is right, they are wrong (they=company) and that's the end of it. He sounds like a petulant child at times and it gets annoying fast.

So, I don't pick up my phone this weekend. I've got four days of freedom in which I will not answer my work phone. Bliss...

Funeral

All the colleagues who could, went to the funeral today. In full uniform. From very early on, we had decided that was the best way to go. Full uniform with tie! And the family really appreciated that.

When we got to the church we had to wait in line for about ten minutes: there were so many people waiting to offer their condolances to his wife and children. He was well-loved in his parish (he was one of the church's caretakers) and it was really nice to see so many people.

A lot of colleagues had commented on the fact that I had been the last one to see him alive (for about two minutes) and I had been fine with it. But when I saw his wife, I must admit I did loose it a bit, because my last words to him had been: 'give my regards to your wife'.

The service started a quarter of an hour late because of the sheer volume of people turning up and then it was completely different to what I knew. I was raised protestant, so the only funeral services I had ever been to had been protestant ones. However, this service was a catholic one and that was in quite a few ways the same, but in other ways so different. It was a nice service though. After the service we walked to the grave yard which was about a ten minutes walk away.

I was home again at 1.30pm. What a way to spend your morning!

Last

This afternoon I went to work on my bike (as usual). I parked it in the garage/canteen/whatever and as I was locking it up, a former colleague said hello. He occasionally comes to work to clean his car and have a little chat with whoever is present. This afternoon I didn't have a lot of time though. I wanted to make a photograph (see tomorrow) and was already running late as it was. So, we said hello and how are you, I told him to give my regards to his wife and I left.

After I got back from work this afternoon, I saw the police cordoning off the garage. One of my colleagues came up to me and told me that he had found the former colleague. He wasn't alive anymore! The police wanted to know the whole story (all two minutes of it) and they took me in a police car to the station. An hour later (the computer wasn't cooperating) I was taken back to work, so I could cycle home again.

It is weird knowing you were the last person to see someone alive, even if it was only for about two minutes! But I also feel sorry for my colleague who found him. It's a major shock for all of us!