Ants on the bus

This photo was taken in Norway, but it does contain ants...

On one of the many foreign trips I have done driving my coach, I went to Italy with an agrarian themed trip. Visiting a radish farm, a mozzarella farm and a pecorino farm were the farming ends of the journey, but there were also the more touristy things. And one day, my coach rolled in to Rome. 

I drove up to the hotel and as soon as everybody was off, a porter in a clapped out car (that's how I remember it), told me to follow him to where I could park the coach. I followed him left. I followed him right. I followed him for miles and miles and I was starting to get worried. And the worry didn't ease when he drove unto a court filled with really clapped out cars and a rickety gate. Please park and I will take you back to the hotel.

Not this car, although I do love it

So, I parked, got my stuff together and got in that clapped out car. We then drove back to the hotel (oh yes) and the next morning he drove me back to the parking court yard to collect my coach. This went on for several days. But all good things must come to an end however and on the last morning, he drove me to the parking court yard. The night before I had been told to park it in a slightly different place than the other days and that had been an error.

Apparently I had parked one of the wheels right on top of an ants nest. Ants being ants, they then decided to get up that wheel, just in case there was something edible at the top. Not finding anything edible there, they proceeded up the axel, further and further in to the coach...

By the time we arrived in Florence (several hours' drive), a fair few people had taken a look and reported on an abundance of ants in the toilet area. The passengers would have a few hours of sight-seeing in Florence, I would have a few hours of hunting down ant traps. Fortunately there were some smaller shops even in the center of the city that sold those things.

However, the large number of ants would soon deal with the two ant traps I had gotten. And as we hit the road again after lunch to do some sight-seeing in Siena, I contemplated my options. Of which there were precious few. So far, the ants had kept themselves to one area mainly, but there were already a few daredevils that had ventured further afield. 

After arriving in a large car and coach park in Siena, there was only one real option open: clean the toilet area from top to bottom. With what though? Yes, there was water and I did have some cleaning stuff, but this needed a bit more bite and force. And then I spotted it: the hose pipe used to wash coaches. I was going to have to flush them out! 

I started the coach and drove a couple of meters further forward, so the hose could come straight through the back door. I got the hose, I opened the door and let rip! The ants never stood a chance, as one by one they went down the plughole and onto the tarmac of that Siena car park. Once they were all gone, I gave the toilet another good going over, this time using some kind of cleaning agent as well. 

When we left Siena that day, there was an occasional 'I've got another one' from the back of the coach, but really? They were toast...

Tuesday's Travels 22-08

Wow, several of you knew this was the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium, built for the World Expo of 1958. It represents an iron molecule. Points go to Bettina, Fun60, Gera, Gerrit, Harm and Yamini. Millie and Walter get a quarter point for mentioning molecule.

My story? I have seen this landmark several times, most often because I went to a large multiplex cinema which was in the same area. I remember watching Home Alone there when I was living in Brussels for a few months. I think this photo stems from a holiday my sister and I took to Belgium and Luxemburg around 1996, but apart from this photo, we did not enter the building, going to the cinema instead. Since we were there it has been completely overhauled.

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week. Oh, and by the way, look out for the antsy story later this week.

More telly

Apart from watching films that are geared more towards young adults, children and families, I also love watching another type of film. The type of film where the body count usually is on the higher side of the spectrum. One of the good guys gets it good and then a lot of the bad guys go the same way (ie untimely death). And sometimes they can be quite funny as well. Like 'Spy'. Starring Melissa McCarthy and Jude Law with a brilliant comedic turn by Jason Statham. A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster. Very much a fish out of water story, I had seen parts of it before, but never the whole film. And even though it was very clearly a film, it was also quite believable as you rooted for Melissa McCarthy trying to do her best as a new spy.

Something with nearly the same title was 'My Spy', starring Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman. A hardened CIA operative finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, having been sent undercover to surveil her family. There were parts of this film that were so funny they had me nearly wetting myself as I laughed so hard. I thought the chemistry between the two main leads was very sweet and the supporting cast was brilliant.

'Safe' was another Jason Statham film (I really like him, he could read the phonebook and it would be good). Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail. I fell into this halfway and once finished, I had to go back to the beginning to really get the whole story. There was definitely a higher body count here, as the Triads, Russian Mob and police force all were severely short of people in the end. And apart from some of the wise cracks, there was not much of comedy here. But, as I said, it had Jason Statham in...

I saw a few films recently starring Sam Worthington. 'Clash of the Titans', 'Wrath of the Titans' and 'The Hunter's Prayer'. In the first two he stars as Perseus, a Greek demi-god (Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes also star), in the last he is an assassin who helps a young woman avenge the death of her family. Very much in the same vein as the film with Jason Statham and still quite entertaining, the good guy and the bad guy looked very similar to me and were hard to keep apart until quite far into the film. Which did definitely not help. It was still a nice watch though.

A Mark Wahlberg film next. When I saw this film advertised, I watched it because I thought it had Matt Damon in (there was a tiny picture next to it). A man discovers that his hallucinations are actually visions from past lives. I did really feel for the protagonist and very much rooted for him and his friends. However, I did not get much from Chiwetel Ejiofor. He played the bad guy, but he didn't do it for me. Yes, at times it was a bit far fetched, but with these type of films you have to suspend your disbelief to some extent I think. And as long as they are not billing it as 'based on a true story'...

'In Time' was a film I had seen several times before, but only ever the second half, never the beginning. So when I saw it streamed on one of the streaming services I subscribe to, I had to watch it again. In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system. I am not much into Justin Timberlake's music, but I do like his acting very much. 

To end with something altogether less violent now: 'The Hating Game'. Resolving to achieve professional success without compromising her ethics, Lucy embarks on a ruthless game of one-upmanship against cold and efficient nemesis Joshua, a rivalry that is complicated by her growing attraction to him. When I first saw this, I fast forwarded quite a bit, but once I had finished I went back to the beginning and saw the whole thing from beginning to end again. I especially liked Austin Stowell's acting and his looks were very much cold and ruthless. Until he smiled...

Tuesday's Travels 22-07

It was clear from the start that some people knew what last week's photo was all about, although there were also some people who were a bit confused by the commenting, even phoning me to say there was something wrong. No Dad, there wasn't! He did however get the answer right and gets a point, together with Harm, Hilary and Fun60. It was the Duomo in Florence, Italy. 

My story? When I visited Florence I took my trusted camera with me again, but like in Liverpool, the batteries ran out and this is one of the few photos I managed to take before it went black. I could have gotten more batteries, but I was more concerned with getting an ant trap, as I had an ant investation on my coach, as I had parked above their route I guess. I finally had to hose them out in Siena. 

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week!

I am so done!

I am. I am so so done. I just want to throw the splint in the nearest canal so it can be taken out to sea and drown, but I won't do that for several reasons. Reason number 1: I need it still. Even though the hand therapist told me I would have to start wearing it a bit less, there are still a fair few things I cannot or am not allowed to do without. Heavy duty stuff, making the bed with fresh sheets, sleeping. 

Reason number 2: I have plans for it once I can finally relegate it to the dustbin. I want to use differend coloured threads and such and turn it into a piece of art that will be highly personal. That will definitely have to wait, as I still am not that good in using my wrist.

Reason number 3: The splint is made of a plastic substance and plastic is not good to let loose in nature. NOT GOOD! So, even if I were to throw it out, I would use the proper channels to get rid of it. 

In other words, I have seen the therapist and she was happy with the progress so far. And over the past few days I have taken the splint off several times, mainly during meal times. I will have to do that more and more often now, although as I said: nights and heavy work excluded. Which also includes work of course. Yes, we may have power steering now, but no point undoing all the frustration of not using the hand for so long, to ruin it in one go. 

My boss did ask me the other day when it was the left hand's turn for the CTS and to be honest, I don't know. It does not cause me any trouble right now. The muscles in my left arm have gotten used to more heavy lifting as well (tea pot, pans etc). However, it is a case of preventative as opposed to curative. I will have to have a meeting with the surgeon first I think, before making a decision either way. 

Tuesday's Travels 22-06

Did you think I had forgotten? Well, you were right! I did, I had, I was. As in forget, forgotten, forgetful. As I have to tick each day as it's gone by to just keep any semblance of knowing what day it is, I hope you will forgive me. Back to the 'game' then. Last week's challenge was for some easier than for others, but as several of you so rightly said: it was Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) near Stavanger in Norway. Bettina, Gera, Harm and Gerrit get a point each.

My own story? Well, Bettina said it was easy, but I can tell you that it very much wasn't! In fact it was my first foray into Norwegian walking and it proved to be very hard. I will leave you with the link to the story I wrote back when I actually walked up it and sat on the edge!

Before getting onto this week's challenge, let me just say I altered the commenting bit again so that no other answers show. So where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week!

Tuesday's Travels 22-05

Well, some of you knew where this was, either from personal experience (Janice: 1 point) or from realising where I have been (Yamini: 1 point). It was of course Lake Louise in Canada. 

My story? I visited Canada in 2011 and went to Lake Louise with a Canadian friend. There were three things that stood out for me that day: 1. it was beautiful and cold. 2. There was a wedding and I just thought that bride was going to freeze! Did I mention it was cold? 3. I saw wildlife up close and personal. In fact the only wildlife I saw up close and personal during my whole trip to Canada. Two chipmunks! Yes, I saw Chip 'n' Dale! 

Anyway, moving on to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week!

More of what I watched

Continuing with what I watched recently. There was one film that I had wanted to see ever since I had first seen the trailer: 'The House with a Clock in its Walls'. Starring Jack Black and Cate Blanchett, it is basically a children's film, but that has never stopped me before. A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world. I particularly liked the interaction between Jack Black as the uncle and Cate Blanchett as the friend, as they bickered and called each other names. Overall though I thought it was okay, but not much more.

I watched two films on Amazon recently with the same premise: time loop. The first one was 'Palm Springs', the second was 'The Map of Tiny Perfect Things'. 1. Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again. This was very much an adult version. And it required more than just being a good person to get out of the time loop again. 2. Two teens get stuck in a time loop and make a map to try and get out of it again. This was more of a teenage version and for some reason a bit more fun to watch. Definitely more relatable. 

I had recorded 'Ready Player One' a while ago and watched it the other day. When the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune and control of his world. It is set in the future and the main protagonists are all teens, but I liked it very much and in fact watched it twice in two days!

'Wonderstruck' was a film in two parts. It tells the tale of two children separated by fifty years. In 1927, Rose searches for the (silent movie) actress whose life she chronicles in her scrapbook; in 1977, Ben runs away from home to find his father. The visualisation of both stories was fantastic. The 1927 bits were shown with music only, no spoken word and were for me the best of the film. I loved the ending as well, as it really made the stories come together. 

The last film I will share today was 'The 5th Wave'. Another film starring teens. Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth in ruin. Cassie is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. The film was left quite open ended as it was based on the first of a series of books. I think I would watch a sequel, but only if it were a close ended one. But I did quite like this one.

Tuesday's Travels 22-04

Goodmorning, it is time for Tuesday's Travels again. And this photo here is part of the Liver Building in Liverpool, England. Several of you knew that and points go to Fun60, Hilary, Yamini and Gera. 

My story? I have been to Liverpool twice. The first time I only saw Beatles related things and the second time was with the University of Utrecht. Unfortunately the morning I had off and I could see a bit of Liverpool, was also the morning my camera decided to quit on me (empty batteries) and I didn't carry any spares. So I have very few photos. Oh, for all the non-Brits: Liver in the building is pronounced like diver. 

On to this week's challenge. Where is this? Have you ever been? Tell us your story. Answer next week. Good luck! 

What I have watched recently

Over the past few weeks and months I have been watching plenty of films on television. In the run up to Christmas it was mostly Christmas films, some of them good, some of them utterly forgettable. But I also watched other stuff. One of those I saw was 'A Dog's Purpose' and its follow-up 'A Dog's Journey'. Both lovable films with the main 'man' being Bailey the Dog as he lives his (occasionally her) life as a dog to different people, yet all the time coming back to the same person (the character played by Dennis Quaid) or his granddaughter (played by Kathryn Prescott). 

Another animal film I watched was 'Cats'. Based on the work by TS Eliot, it was turned into a musical years ago by Andrew Lloyd Webber and a while ago they made it into a film. It got really bad reviews, but I loved it. I really did. I thought the sets were gorgeous, the actors were good and I was pleasantly surprised by the whole thing. 

Staying with an animal theme, I recently saw 'Finch' on Apple TV. There are only three real actors in the whole film: Tom Hanks who plays the main character Finch, Caleb Landry Jones who plays Jeff and Seamus who plays Goodyear. It is an apocalyptic film in that it takes place after some 'wipe out humanity' event which is never specified and Finch is suffering from radiation sickness. He has to look after his dog though and for that purpose he builds a robot, which will have to look after Goodyear the dog after he cannot any longer. There are a few other voice characters and sight characters, but these three carried the whole film. I have always liked Tom Hanks and here he proves it again. This film could easily shine at the Oscars!

No animals for the next film: 'Mum's List'. But plenty of tissues were needed for this film based on a true story. Rafe Spall plays Singe and Emilia Fox plays his wife Kate. Following the death of Kate, it shows hos Singe and their two sons cope and deal with that. Flashbacks show how the two met, what they went through and how and why Kate ended up with a list to follow. Rafe Spall was great as a bewildered and scared father, he made the story very real.

The last film I want to give attention to this time around is 'Kalte Füsse' (Cold Feet). It is a German film and even though it wasn't a tear jerker or thought provoking, it did give me an hour and a half of enjoyment. When Denis breaks into the Austrian winter cottage of rich business man Raimund he gets mistaken for the new nurse by Raimund's granddaughter Charlotte. In order not to get busted Denis decides to play along. It is quite slapsticky and crude in places, but I do on occasion love that kind of humour.