Brom and Mouse go on another long trip

Coocoo

I haven't written for a while and there were things that happened, but we decided to enjoy rather than write, which I think is a very good idea! Anyway, we went on another long trip. And guess what: it was just as long as the other trip!

Waving at the other drivers

Mara had decided to take it a bit easier and leave earlier than the original plan. Especially since she couldn't sleep anymore anyway (at 5.45am). In the end it was only 20 minutes earlier though. Mainly because she couldn't find where we were going! So, after we had started driving, she had to pull over after a while to find it properly. 

It looks quite nice now, but we actually had (light) rain most of the way

The first stretch led us east and then north. The bad traffic jam trouble we had last week however was nowhere to be seen and we cruised past Bremen. Time for a toilet break and some coffee (both Mara, me and Mouse know how to behave when traveling). We then continued towards Hamburg and again: cruising! Yes, there were roadworks, but we were outside rush hour and before we knew it, we had passed Hamburg as well. We had another stop for petrol and then we were going again.

SELFIE TIME!

Mara decided however, that since everything seemed to be going so smooth, we could stop for a warm dinner (in the middle of the day!). We were told to look out for a restaurant, but when we saw one about 40 kilometers from the German/Danish border, Mara said it was a bit too early. About 80 kilometers later however, she felt that it was time and we got off the road. 

There was meat! But Mara said it tasted really nice.

Mara had saved up some Danish kroner (they are part of the EU, but chose not to take part in the Euro) and paid most of her dinner with it. The rest she had to pay by card. We asked her how much it had been and she didn't know! How can she not know?! Anyway...

Royal bins at the parking lot

On we went and soon we got to the first of the larger towns that could cause trouble. But no, no trouble whatsoever and we had soon passed it. Then came another one and there was the sign: Traffic jam! Well, if all traffic jams were like that, we wouldn't mind, because yes, we had to slow down, but we never ever stopped! And we only lost like 5 minutes in all. 

We have our beds Mara, you just have to find somewhere else...

Soon our final destination for the day came close. Mara slowed down a bit, but in the end, we still got to the port in good time. In fact, we got there at 4.45pm when the ferry wouldn't sail until 8pm! So, Mara got out her knitting to finish our latest friend. She didn't quite manage it waiting in the check-in line, but once we had checked in, she continued and well before we were able to embark. 

Grrrr

We got to our cabin at 7.45pm and after a small cold meal and some television, Mara turned everything off, stole our pillow and went to sleep. At 8.30pm!! But, we didn't know she had to get up very early again, because the ferry would get to Stavanger in Norway at 6.30am and we needed our breakfast before then. 

Our total for the trip. In kilometers!

We finally got home at 8.45am. Right now Mara has unpacked everything but her suitcase (tsk tsk). She had to find room for several things and rearrange some cupboards, but everything is tidied away. 

Brom starts a shop

Coocoo

Well, I could start a shop! Because Mara bought So Much Food! She says she can't get it in Norway, so she bought extra of Everything!! And she didn't even get everything she wanted. 

She got chocolate sprinkles and beans and breakfast cake and Chinese noodles and tea towels and apple sauce and more beans and sweets and glasses and spreadable mice (she is NOT getting her hands on Mouse, that's for sure) and spinach and French crackers and white chocolate and loooooots more. 

You may be able to see (if you biggify) some fabric in the front: the white one is a pretty net curtain for the living room and the one with the birdies on is going to be curtains for the kitchen. She also bought a shirt and a pair of three-quarter trousers and a lovely cardigan. 

Then there are the drinks: chocolate milk, raspberry and peach drinks. In the back you can see the two books she made, they look amazing! Everybody was really impressed. There are some balls of yarn in the photo as well, that Gera had to get for her. 

She got tompouce flavoured popcorn, that sounds quite exciting. There is sugar (they don't sell this type in Norway), beschuit (a Dutch breakfast food that we tried to make in June, but failed on), Dutch pea soup and I think I have still forgotten things. 

I do wonder how she will get everything in the car though. Because we me and Mouse don't want to get squashed in somewhere! But Mara says we will be fine, although the load of the car could cause it to go a bit slower...

Brom's Photo on Sunday 2017-27

Yes, the chair collapsed under Gera! And the next day Mara's chair did the same thing!! On the plus side though: we were able to sit outside until quite late in the evening!!

Brom and Mouse go on a long trip

Coocoo

Well, that was a looooooong trip. First Mara packed the car. Then we drove to Stavanger where we would take the big overnight ferry to Denmark. We were early, but there were already some other people waiting in the queue. Since we had to wait, Mara got out her knitting (yes, really) and continued with another friend. Finally we were able to check in and then we had to wait some more.

Perfect

Mara said the ferry had to come from Bergen (further North in Norway), but it finally arrived and we were able to drive on. Then Mara collected her little overnight bag, us and her handbag (with knitting) and we went upstairs to find our cabin. It was a beautiful cabin and it even had a television. Me and Mouse divided up the beds, but Mara didn't think it was such a good idea and in the end she slept at one side of the bed and me and Mouse slept on the other side. 

Mara said no, even though they were proper beds!

We say slept, because where we did sleep like hibernating bears, Mara did not. She says that boats and sleeping are not good. She always gets seasick and even though the sea was not rough at all, she didn't get sick and she didn't hear any of the other passengers due to a great pair of earplugs, she felt every single up and down in her stomach! Up and down and up and down...

Well, okay then...

In the middle of the night she woke us both up, because she couldn't sleep at all and decided she would work on the new friend! But, in the end she did manage to get some more sleep. Finally the lady in the roof told us we were close to Denmark and that it was time to get up and get some breakfast. And when breakfast was over, we went back to the car and waited for the ferry to arrive, so we could disembark and drive home. 

The view from our cabin at the front

Denmark is very different from Norway. It is almost flat! But it was just as wet as Norway: a lot of rain and rain and more rain. But, the music was going, the gps was set (only 850 km to go) and the car was going great. After half an hour though, the rain stopped and the sun came out. It got warmer and warmer and Mara had to turn the airconditioning on. Then we had to stop: Cookie the Car needed a drink and Mara needed the opposite. On we went...

I got a stamp in my passport!
It says that we were on the MS Stavangerfjord!

We got to Germany (still flat, still sunny and warm) and passed Hamburg without too much trouble. We drove on to Bremen, where we got stuck in a traffic jam. We lost some good time there. But, we passed Bremen eventually and made our way South again. Another traffic jam, this one even worse! But, we passed that one eventually as well. We saw the first sign for a Dutch place, but it wasn't the way we were going, so we ignored it and drove on. And on. And on.

Let's go!

And then all of a sudden, we drove in the Netherlands. We were getting close! We were ready by that time, because we had been in the car since early that morning. One more stop (thirsty Cookie, opposite driver) and then the last stretch. We entered Mara's hometown, then the suburb, then the street and then we saw the house! In the end our car journey had lasted from 7.45am to 6.30pm. Without any long stops, but even though Mara was very tired, she was not doing badly at all. The nice food and the big bowl glass of wine probably helped get her getting right on top of things again!

Finally we were home!

The last bits and pieces

Well, not sure whether they are the last bits and pieces, but I think I have everything. I have the book my uncle loaned me, I have my walking shoes, my pills and my knitting. I did not forget the mice, nor my sister's picture. I even remembered to pack enough socks and underwear and yes, I brought some laundry as well, since I didn't have enough for a load here. 

I still have to go to the post office today (somebody ordered 2 mice last night, yippee) and swing by at work, since there is a package waiting there. I have to remember the perishables, but they will be last minute and then just before the actual drive starts, I have to fill the car up with petrol, so we don't get stranded on the first bit!

Brom (and Mouse) are looking forward to a great trip, although I think they are mainly looking forward to having a bed EACH tonight! I ordered a cabin on the night ferry, but all they had left was a four-person one with a sea view. Which means that we have a bed left over! 

Anyhoo, I don't know when we will be posting again, but be assured: we will have a great time!

Supplies

Of course, when taking a road trip, you need to take enough sustenance to cover the whole of the trip. And not all of it should be made of sugar either. When my sister and I went on a road trip last year, the person not driving was responsible for providing the person driving with the food. Be they mandarins, apples, drinks or whathaveyou. This time however, it will be just Brom and me (and Mouse) and I am the only with opposable thumbs! 

That means no mandarins, no sandwiches that have to be made and no apples (I am not too fond of them). Instead there are winegums, liquorice-type sweets and sweet chocolate brioches. Plus (yes, yes) cherry tomatoes and grapes. All easy to grab and easy to stuff. The drinks will be in easy to open bottles. Then again, I might stop underway somewhere and get a nice bite. Or not. 

The salad and the yoghurt are for my dinner on the ferry. I felt that the 40 euros asked for dinner in their buffet restaurant was highly over the top! Instead I will have a small warm dinner at home and then the salad as a supper-type meal. Both those together didn't even come to 10 euros!

One more night...

Tøfler

Have you ever heard of Arne and Carlos? You haven't? Well, let me tell you that they are two Swedish guys who love knitting and write books with lots of great patterns, for lots of different things like dolls or tøfler. And that is Norwegian for slippers. 

Before I started with Mice for Mama, I had bought the doll book (I tried, too fiddly) and the slipper book. Mainly inspired by the sister of a colleague (who I actually never met, but the colleague spoke highly of her and her experiences in 'toving' or felting), I thought I might give the slippers a go. I even bought some wool to give it a try. I never got around to do it though. 

Until I started Mice for Mama that is. After weeks and weeks of working on other things (ie the books) and knitting mice (did you know you can even place an order for favourite colours?), I thought that I might try and diversify and knit something else as well. But fit for Mice for Mama!

Before they were washed and with the heads unfilled

So, one afternoon I got out the book (remember it's in Norwegian), the wool and then started hunting for my sock needles. I found lots of them, but not in the size in wanted. Of course! But, in the end I managed to locate the right quintet and off I went. The first thing I noticed was how hard it actually was on my hands. I am a loose knitter and that caused me to use the smallest size possible for the wool's thickness, so as not to make something that doesn't work. 

After a while though, I got the hang of it and tried to follow the instructions. Which were simple and easy and totally understandable. Before I knew it, I had the heel done (the trickiest part) and then the rest of the slipper. It looked good as well, albeit a bit big (it's the smallest size slipper). I then went on to make the second slipper, which was even easier, since I now knew what to do. 

But I wasn't done there yet! Because the slippers have to be fit for Mice for Mama and that means that mice have to be included. So, off I went to find my thin felting wool and some knitting needles. Which proved tricky, since I have every size under the sun, expect the one I needed. In the end I found one that was nearly there (only a quarter off) and they turned out to be perfect. 

The slippers weren't ready then. They needed to be washed and so do the mousies' heads. They are washed at a higher temperature than should be used for wool (40 instead of 30 degrees) and that means shrinkage! Which is exactly what is supposed to happen. After they had dried out, I stuffed the heads and sewed them to the slippers. But, to me it doesn't look good. Well, not good enough anyway. I will have to come up with another solution!

A clerical error

We have six-week long rotas at work. After the six weeks are over, we start anew. You always know what you have to do, which is brilliant. Recently we got a new rota and even though I had one copy in my money bag, I did not have one at home. Which meant that I was sure I had to work today, but I didn't know at what time exactly. I knew it was early, but how early? So, last night I checked online.

Well, that wasn't right: it said I didn't have to work, I was on holiday! Which wasn't the worst of it though: it said that next week I would have to work!! Well, that couldn't be right, I can't be working next week, I am going to the zoo next week. Where was my vacation application? See, there it was: free from the 25th of August, nothing to do with the 21st. Hold on, the person who okayed my application had put down week 34. Which starts today, the 21st. 

After a nice lie-in (I am on holiday now they say), I made my way to the office: get this mess sorted, because next week I will NOT be working! Well, the result of that is: I will not be working next week. Nor will I be working this week, since I now have two weeks off. I am two days short really, but we are sure that can be sorted at a later time, either by some overwork here or there, or by having some days go without pay. 

Either way though: it's a holi-holi-day!!! Bliss...

On second glance

A few weeks ago I wrote about how the new pills I had received from my GP did not live up to expectations. At least the ones I had to take when I had an attack going. Was it the wrong type of headache, did I take the pills too late? Either way, they did not work. 

This morning I felt another attack coming on. A different type. The type that is totally debilitating. Which makes me loose my lunch. And breakfast and dinner. The one that sees me in a darkened room, preferably with ear plugs feeling extremely sorry for myself. Of course I could wait until it had become a full-blown attack, or I could take a pill before. I chose the latter.

The question of course is: does it work? Well, seeing as how I am still mobile, still in a light room, still without earplugs, still knitting/computering away: YES! The pressure on my nose and just behind my eyes is still there, but it doesn't cause me grief. My breakfast stayed down (taken after the pill) and I feel okay. Of course driving is out of the question, seeing as how there is a big red triangle on the box, but no pain. 

I get this type of headache about three to four times a year and I do know some of the warning signs: heavy hands/arms and a light headache one to two days before, easily treated. But unless I am at home relaxing, I don't always feel/notice those warning signs. I noticed the heavy arm last night, but didn't think much of it. But remembering back to my childhood: that was one of the things that always happened and this type of headache was the only one I ever got back then. 

Anyhoo, the pill worked and I am happy. Now I can continue cleaning the apartment!

It's ready!

And by it I mean the car. It hasn't got a name. I do refer to it as my cake tin or cookie jar, because of its smallness. Other than that it's just 'it'. And it's ready!

This morning I got out the vacuum cleaner and the extension cord, because for the first time since I have owned it, it got cleaned! First I hoovered up all the little stones sand what? in the boot. Apparently I had spilled some cat litter at some point and it had taken up the moisture in the car and then decided to stick to the floor. I got it out though...

Then it was the turn for the backseats and front seats (why is backseat one word and front seat two?). Taking out the mats and getting rid of several years of pebbles, sand, dirt and other assorted ickies. When I was finally finished with the vacuuming (is that even a word?), I decided to get even more radical. 

I got out the bucket and filled it with soap and water! Oh yes, the outside was up next! I sponged and soaped and the water got blacker and blacker. But the car looks shiny and fresh again. It won't for long, knowing the weather here in Norway, but I feel pretty chuffed over a morning's work. 

The car is ready. Now me...