postkort/post cards

2011-12-15T19:13:00.006+01:00

Samuel 3 år // Samuel 3 years old

Samuel turned three today. The first birthday that he understood - marginally anyway. He knew he'd be three and not two - and therefore big! And he'd decided that dinner was going to be rice pudding - his favorite Christmassy meal.

When asked if he had any wishes he'd answer "a parcel ... and a letter". Preferably brought to him from Santa Claus. So obviously the concepts of birthday and Christmas have been mixed a bit. Then, you can't really blame him with the two things being so close together!

For breakfast we had pancakes the american way (= thick, tasty things). The boys had theirs shaped like hearts. Also the birthday candle was on the table.

Presents and letters were opened this afternoon where we had plenty of time to look at them. And good thing too. He opened the present from us first, finding a yellow Lego bus and immediately started playing with it. I think, he spent quarter of an hour on that before he was ready to open anything else. The clothes were looked at, pj's with bull dozers, lorries etc. were examined - then back to the bus!

All cards were opened by Duncan and I. (Thank you all) I think, the little man has really enjoyed himself - mostly because of the attention and the amount of presents than for anything else. He's a contended little guy, luckily!

2011-12-01T10:21:00.000+01:00

Min James // My James

At the end of October James came to visit. It really was good to see him. Especially he and Duncan enjoyed having time together - not surprising as it's been a couple of years since they've even seen each other shortly. It's agreed it won't take years before we next see each other again.

James kindly brought Duncan's presents from a far - needed things like hobnobs and tea, I think it was.

And as Samuel is a great judge of character he soon decided that James is "My James". A title not every one is deemed worthy of :-) But then James understands the importance of playing as is seen below. Samuel and I drew James to the airport (so, so early) and as we got out of the car Samuel needed to run. Enthusiastically he shouted: "Come, James. Run!" And so they did.

2011-11-30T22:07:00.004+01:00

Samuels dåb // Samuel's baptism

A month before Samuel was to be baptised Samuel and I went to see a friend of mine's little boy be baptised. Samuel was very excited about it, as he knew, he was going to be baptised too. In fact, he was ready for the minister to put water in his hair there and then!

So, needless to say, he was very excited when it was finally "my turn", as he said. so much so, in fact, that he wanted to know when it was his turn, as soon as the service started.

Our good friend and collegue Thomas had come to baptise. He and Duncan had split the service between them. It worked really well, and the service really was special, as one of Samuel's very best friends, Joel, was also going to be baptised.

Here's them hugging before the service:

We were a bit nervous how the two little ones would react, as they have a nag of winding each other up. We hadn't had to worry at all. They behaved so well and took it all very seriously. The only outburst came when they were both presented with a little book of bible stories and prayers, and they happily shouted "Present!"

I was filled with such gratitude during the service. Gratitude that we could stand there as a family with this precious child. That he's well and happy. That I'm getting well too and that we have friends and family surrounding us, encouraging and helping. God is good!

Here's Samuel looking up at Thomas as he prayes after the baptism it self.

After the service we had pictures taken. Samuel had to stick a finger into the baptismal font and try to put a bit of water on his own head :-)

And here's the cake we had made for coffee in the afternoon. Samuel's mad about Postman Pat, and this cake made a huge impression. We still haven't been able to eat the cat.... It is amazing, tho. A girl/woman from our congregation gave Samuel the cake as her present. Very special in deed!

2011-11-30T21:54:00.003+01:00

Samuel blev døbt // Samuel's baptism

Here's some more pictures from our day. Samuel enjoyed all of it - opening presents (though he had some questions as to why he didn't get a tractor as Joel did), the cake ("Can't eat Pat, mum") and his visitors. It was a joy observing him and how he thoroughly took pleasure in having his "best" people around him all at once.

Here's the lavish table of presents:

The children from both our party and from Joel's family had fun playing with each other - and Ian :-) Lina caught it on camera.

After lunch in the church we went for a walk - we were so fortunate that the sun was out and shining. It was lovely, and I think everybody enjoyed having a chance to stretch their legs!

Samuel and Andreas plays with leaves in the park.

Lisette and Lasse.

2011-08-26T14:21:00.003+02:00

Samuel's quickly becoming a big boy. Not only is his group at daycare changing from being playschool to being kindergarten (vuggestue til børnehave), he's also skipping his midday naps. And THAT is hard!

One minute he was moving about on the ottoman, the next he was fast asleep :-)

He nows naps on Monday, Wednesday and sometimes Friday too.

2011-08-11T09:55:00.002+02:00

The first week of our holiday was spent in Sweden at the holiday centre Framnäs, the methodist church in Sweden runs. Close to a lake there is plenty of possibility for bathing, splashing, fishing, sailing in canoos or just walking in the woods or enjoying the view. The stay comes with five meals a day (yes, five!) following old swedish dinner times.

We went there with the Gaarde family - Lina and Mikkel with their two daughters Anna, 7, and Thilde, soon 5.

The kids played and explored, and by the end of the week, Samuel was gone for hours at a time, going around with the "big girls". Bliss.

Here he's helping Anna explore a puddle:

Father and son canooing: (Please don't ask about the first part of the outing. It was a test of our marriage.... We'd placed our selves all wrong in the thing, and I couldn't stear and Duncan couldn't paddle and...) Samuel sat perfectly still for two hours just talking about the scenary, the birds and the water.
In the evenings we sat out side the door to our little house and read, knitted, ate chocolate (which only appeared at night post-children's bedtime) and talked while fighting off the moscitoes. Here is Lina with a new cook book bought at our "big girl's outing" to a real town centre.

Nearby is a little village called Grenna, that is famous for a man, who tried to reach the North Pole in an air balloon and failed miserably; the airballoons lost air after about a week of the expedition, they continued by foot and a month later they had all died. This man is celebrated with an air balloon festival once a year. Why, I ask, why?!

The other thing the little village has is a production of "polka grise" (literal translation: dansing pigs - a boiled sweet that's a bit like Blackpool rock). Lovely!

And here's Duncan and Samuel at the ferry on our way over to Sweden. The ferry was so big, that Samuel never quite accepted it as the boat, we'd been talking about before we went.

(See next post for pictures of Framnäs)

2011-08-11T09:30:00.000+02:00

Framnäs is an old summer residens that belonged to a baroness. She wanted to donate the place to a church, and the Methodist church of Sweden was the only of two candidates, that agreed with the terms: the place was to be used for the recreation of retired ministers. And the poor people of the area was to be fed - at the usual dinner times :-) Hence the bizare times of meals: light breakfast at 8.30 am, then actual break fast at 10.00 am, coffee with three types of cakes at 2pm, dinner at 5 pm, and tea with bread and jam at 8 pm.

Several new houses have been build around the site to facilitate meal times and people sleeping. This is the view from the kithcen and dinner house:

The baroness' house is still on the grounds, decorated as she left them. The baroness' maiden name was Nobel, and several famous peoples have stayed in the house such as Rudyard Kipling.

This is the lounge upstairs:

This is the sitting room downstairs:
And this is the library:
We stayed in a little house with three rooms. Duncan, Samuel and I had the room down stairs. The Gaarde family stayed upstairs. All rooms had their own bathrooms.

Here's Mr. Thompson showing off:

2011-08-11T09:27:00.004+02:00

July in the summerhouse is a real time for relaxing for us. And also a chance to see family and friends.

Here Samuel and I are enjoying the sun, each other and the red currants (ribs). He's delighted at all things you can pick and eat outside!

The little gravel road outside our house leads down to a big farm, that produce milk. Duncan and Samuel went down to see one day and met the farmer, who showed them around. They saw his tractors, the cows and a little calf who was only a couple of hours old. It couldn't even stand up yet!

The farmers name is Allan, and because that is also the name of the farmer in Postmand Pat, I'm afarid he thinks that's what all farmers are called! :-)

One the workers came to repair the little road - huge lorries drive in and out everyday, so it takes some maintanence. We wathced, and Samuel was captivated. A real tractor working on "his" road!! We even plucked up the courage to ask, if Samuel could drive with the guy in the tractor. He drove about ten meters with him. All along having an arm out for me. Afterwards he's been so excited telling everyone willing to listen about him driving the tractor - alone.

Uncle Lasse came to spend a day with us. He was also placed in the hammock :-)

His girlfriend, Lisette, came and we all had dinner. Here Lisette and Samuel are taking pictures of the two of them.
And, off course, we saw mormor og morfar. Samuel and I went to visit a couple of days, and they came over for dinner at ours. Here morfar is helping Samuel crunching little biscuits into his youghurt (koldskål).

Summer-holiday is over. I'm tempted to say it's summer, that's over. It sure feels like it with wind and rain, but Duncan refuses to let me take August away from him as a pure summery month. So I won't mention, that I think summer is past us.

Still, it's been lovely as long as it lasted!

2011-08-11T08:25:00.002+02:00

Uncle Alistair and auntie Sam also came to visit us in our little summerhouse. This was the first time either of them saw the house. Samuel particularly enjoyed having them around - constantly dragging one or the other by the hand to show or get help for some thing or another.

Here Samuel is helping or hindering Sam in making dinner.

We went to the sea a couple of times, as it is quite close to the house. At a particular beach we had icecreams and ended up being rather wet, as Samuel ran away from the waves.
Alistair and Sam went all in to try the much-talked-of icecreams!
Being full-time aunt and uncle takes its toll. Luckily we have a hammock!

Here everyone is captivated by the adventures of Postman Pat - or Bob the Builder...

2011-08-11T08:15:00.002+02:00

In June several new things saw the light of day. Most importantly our friends became parents to little boy Frode. (The name is rather difficult to pronounce, Duncan tells me, as the d is "soft".) The picture is from when I took Samuel to visit in the middle of July.

Our little house had a new front door put in. Oh joy! It is no longer necessary to kick the door a little to get it opened. It is easy to lock, and it is in fact completely tight.

And Samuel cracked the secret to riding a three wheeled bicycle (which I guess is then a tricycle?) And had great fun making morfar ride it too!

2011-07-01T09:26:00.002+02:00

Jens' Birthday

A very concentrated Andreas eating his ice cream:

Samuel and Lisette are playing guitar - though Samuel insists it's a bass. (kontra bas)

Kjeld, Henrik og Jane

The birthday boy him self
Fun and games in the garden.

A happy day!

2011-06-18T20:48:00.002+02:00

Splinten // The splinter

It all started so nicely with a barbecue at my parent's to finish off a weekend at the summerhouse. After dinner Samuel was running around in the garden, when he fell on the terrace and got a huge splinter in his little hand.

Much attention was paid to the little piece of terrace now lodged in his hand. Though daddy and mormor tried, it wouldn't move. (mainly because of Samuel's wriggeling). Two day's later it still hadn't moved, but had become rather infected. So mor and dad

dy decided to be brave, and put a needle in the thing to get it out. We didn't succeed, but did get most of the puss out. And now had a little boy who would look at us at tell us NOT to touch his splinter :-)

A little week later, we finally managed to get it out with a pair of tweezers, many tears and much protest. After some cuddling and an ice cream later, Samuel was very proud of the whole in his hand, where the splinter once lived. It now sits on a piece of paper, so be put in his book!

2011-06-18T20:40:00.002+02:00

Lisette's birthday

2011-05-24T12:55:00.002+02:00

We all love being at the summer house. Duncan and I were a bit nervous to see how Samuel took to it this year. He might not have remembered it from before the winter. But he did. And quite likes his little new bed.

The favorite past time is to play in the car, to wear wellies (gummistøvler) and to model everything Daddy does:

2011-03-09T08:31:00.002+01:00

Billederne taler hvis for sig selv. Hvis han kunne, så gjorde han det. // I think the pictures speak for themselves. He would if he could.

2011-03-01T20:31:00.002+01:00

Stakkels Duncan // Poor Duncan

Duncan's off ill from work and has been for more than a week now. His sinuses are inflamed. I swear sometimes you can see his whole head throb as if he was a figure from a cartoon. The doctor's given him some antibiotics - but not promised they'll actually help. Almost halfway through the treatment he still has a splitting headache.

Whether it'll be the pills or Samuel's kisses and blowing on Duncan's head to make it better that proves most helpful only time can tell!

2011-02-24T15:45:00.003+01:00

Indlæg nr. 100 // Post no. 100

This is the 100th post on this blog. I guess it's some kind of anniversary or something :-)

These pictures were taken this afternoon while we were having our afternoon tea. I picked Samuel up from preschool (vuggestue) and Duncan had the tea ready, once we'd finished playing in the garden.

Samuel finds the play dough both interesting and strange as it clings to his fingers - and he's not much for sticky fingers.

However, playing that he and daddy are making sausages or tasting the stuff is good fun.

Also waving ones' fingers about if a piece of blue stuff sticks to ones finger. Bamba (his teddybear) gets to taste the various products. Samuel is big into tasting things at the moments. Preferably with his tongue. I guess, it is in part catching up from not being able to stick all sorts of things in his mouth when he had the right age to, and in part that's it is a mimick of Holly using her tongue to drink with. Also he has discovered the fun of sticking his tongue onto the snow...

And after a little intensive concentration he's done. This picture is saying "Færdi, færdi, finisshh".

Hope you all have had an enjoyable afternoon!

2011-02-10T10:52:00.000+01:00

One of the big things for Samuel is Daddy's drill. He loves it and has his own little play drill. The other day he and I made muffins, and when I took out the hand mixer, he confidently pointed at it and said: "Daddy, drill".

The hand mixer is now known as mor's drill :-)

2011-02-08T10:22:00.002+01:00

Some of the things he manages to is a constant source of bemusement (forundring og morskab). He's put to sleep. We hear nothing, and when I go to bed two hours later his sock is on his hand. A manouvre he can't perform when he's awake!

2010-12-25T09:54:00.003+01:00

Juledag // Christmas day

Christmas Day was a relaxed and happy day. Just look how the men all dressed up nicely in musical ties :-)

We took our time opening presents. Duncan and I gave Samuel a bike (en løbecykel) which he was very proud of, and helped morfar and Daddy to put together.

Since we had a white Christmas, most of us went out to play on the sledges just behind my parents' house. Samuel absolutely loved it. Even on the steep hill.

Afterwards there was more playing for Samuel, reading in books for the adults, laughing at the comic books, that had been given, marvelling at whatever presents we had been given, drinking tea and eating sweets.

God gave us the greatest gift of becoming our family in Christ. And o, we are thankful for our family!

2010-12-24T09:37:00.000+01:00

Jul // Christmas

In preparation for Christmas, we took part in the family service in Vejle the week before Christmas. Samuel enjoyed - as usual - all the music, the children and danced around when the children's choir sang. His "hero" Christian played the drums, and Samuel was quite awed.

Every Tuesday since September Duncan and Samuel has spend with their friends Jaco and Joel. Taking turns to visit each other each week the four "boys" have played and had so much fun together. The two boys call each other "El", not being able to pronounce each other's names properly yet. The last Tuesday before Christmas the celebrated the end of their Tuesday meetings as Samuel is off to play school (vuggestue) after the new year.

On the 21st we went up north to my parents to celebrate the birthday of my dad on the 22nd. Samuel and I stayed with my parents and my brother while Duncan went to Vejle and Esbjerg to celebrate the services for Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve (which is the time Christmas is celebrated with gifts etc. in Denmark) we were at my parents with my mum's old Dad. Samuel quite enjoyed having his Uncle, grandparents and even is greatgrandad around. The picture below is my grandad opening the picture he was given of our little family. The ear-muffs are a form of hearing aid.

All though Samuel liked his presents and were proud of them, the best thing about Christmas, I think, was that Uncle Lasse was there for several days in a row, and had the time to play with him. Here they are reading a book about a noisy car:

2010-12-12T19:51:00.003+01:00

Fødselsdag // Birthday

This weekend we have celebrated Samuel's second birthday - though the first birthday with us. It's been a great succes. Not that he's understood the concept - except the cakes. And the delight of having grandma, mormor, morfar AND uncle Lasse here at the same time! Presents are a new thing, and not something Samuel rushes through. He spend a long time discovering each thing he unwrapped. He loved his Postman Pat, his little play egg and the digger from Lasse. And his mum and dad loved all the clothes (Sam and Aly gave him a t-shirt which said "Little man, big attitude - to general amusement)

THANK YOU ALL for the lovely presents and cards you've send him!

And then, off course, we've had grandma visiting. Samuel was not a happy bunny when he had to say goodbye! Luckily we know she'll be back soon - next time with granddad!

2010-12-04T19:19:00.002+01:00

Winter has come to Denmark for sure. It's white all over, and has been for a week now. Still more snow is coming. Last night it was -14 in a neighbouring town. Samuel has learned the use of wearing gloves!

Last week he and I went to visit Louie, who Samuel lived with in South Africa - we travelled home with Louie and his parents, and are seeing them regularly. At Louie's there's a little car in the garden. Big enough to fit in for the boys. With a steering wheel and doors to open and shut it's perfect for Samuel's games of coming and going. He has gone directly to it every time we've visited and been in the garden. Last time was no different.

He wanted me to push him around, which would've been no problem if the ground hadn't been covered in around 20 cm of snow. We tried to lure him to the sledge. We tried to show how much fun such a thing is - and how much easier it goes on snow. To no avail. Samuel wanted the car and nothing else.

A proud man and his car. Who cares for snow and sledge-fun when there's a car around?!

2010-08-27T19:32:00.003+02:00

He is one cool dude. Just look at those glasses!

But not only that. He's helpful too. Just look how elegantly he lays the table:

And yes, it's only a matter of time before he's off to work. I believe what he said was: "Bye bye" and then asked to get him his shoes :-)

2010-08-26T22:52:00.001+02:00

2010-08-21T10:58:00.002+02:00

All will be well // Det skal nok gå

Samuel and I went with the congregation in Vejle to a small zoo near by on Sunday. We had a good time.

To day Duncan and I have been to see the adoption consultant again. She's good, and it's a great help to have someone, who understands about adoption, feelings, nervous systems, development and family relations all at the same time! We gain a greater understanding of Samuel, of our task as parents and of our selves in the new situation that we're in.

And yes, she kept underlining, it is a new situation - even if it feels as though he has always been here 5 months is not a long time. It isn't. And we know it. Yet it's so easy to forget. And therefore easy to expect a lot of ourselves: shouldn't we have a routine by now? Why is it so difficult to start back at work? We ought to be able to put him to bed.... And many thoughts along those lines.

I think she gave us a healthy perspective. And most importantly she gave us hope and confidence. All will be well!!

2010-08-19T18:55:00.005+02:00

Too big? // For stor?

Samuel is exploring the world big time. There's no other way to get to know it. He's good at finding things to discover. And he's good at trying what we s how him: water, light, textures, food etc.

The other day he found my slumber cardigan. A huge thing I have taken from my grandad's. It's o so cosy and warm! Apparently, it's also great fun to dress up in!

2010-08-08T19:21:00.003+02:00

Gagaerne // The Gagas

This week we saw The Gaga's off. That's how Samuel pronounces both Granma and Grandad. For a little week we had them here to talk with, play with and teach us new songs. Well, new for Samuel and I anyway. Duncan did remember once he was reminded.

It's the first time Ian has been over since Samuel arrived, so it took a little time, before he was accepted, whereas Jean was taken by the hand around the house quite quickly. Though once Grandad was figured out, playing hide and seek was a great thrill - in fact, we've had to check out the good hiding places since they've gone home.

As you can tell from the pictures granparents are good to have at hand when huge lorrys or weird slides need to be examine. Duncan and I thought they were great too for putting up lights and shortening trousers :-)

It's becoming very obvious now that we have Samuel just how far away both our families are. Luckily my parents are down next week, and Jean is back in just four weeks! Hoorraa for trains, plains and automobiles.

2010-08-03T16:32:00.004+02:00

July//Juli

As July is over so is our holiday - almost. We have had all of July to spend how we chose. Lovely! It's not quite been holiday as we're used to - no lounging around reading books while sitting in the sun or the shade as we please. No card playing tournaments that lasted all day. Not much in the way of spontaneous outings, and definately not much in the way of sleep. Instead we've spend a lot of time playing, sleeping in shifts and enjoying quiet evenings.

As written else where our time has been split between Vejle and our summerhouse. And a little weekend at my parents' to get some much needed sleep and rest.

We've been with friends for a couple of days.

And lately we have Ian and Jean (Samuel's English granparents) visiting. We were originally meant to go and see them in the UK, but as Samuel has been reacting as he has, we decided against it.

The end of July sees the end of my maternity leave. I start work again on the 9th of August, where Duncan takes over on leave.

What have we learned in July?

Sandboxes are FUN!

A day out to a crowded place is no use for a toddler or his parents.

Holidays are still holidays - just different!

Lego really know there stuff - when the write "From 1 1/2 years" they're spot on

Samuel has a talent for building with his Dad

Duncan's too got at the card game of 500 (he wins too much)

Anne, however, isn't too anything just because she'll win the cribbage tournament

We love, love, love our little house in "the north"

So many new words from Samuel that I've lost count.

2010-07-30T19:28:00.004+02:00

Holiday impressions // Ferie indtryk

Both Duncan and I are still off - at the moment we are sharing some time on maternity/paternity leave. (In Denmark you have 48 weeks of leave to share more or less equally between you for each child.) In about a week and a half I go back to work, and Duncan and Samuel will take care of each other.

The past weeks have been shared between Vejle and the summerhouse. In an attempt to give mum and dad the holiday they like and not taking Samuel away from home for too long.

The weather has been hot, sunny and lovely, so there's been a lot of bathing - either at the beach or in a tub in the garden. I like this picture as it looks as though even Holly thinks the splashing is entertaining - however, if you look carefully, you will see her stick hiding behind the bathtub. A stick is all it takes to make Holly happy!

Here we are on a small outing. Duncan and I thought we were going to walk for a little while, but as it turned out Samuel knew better. So here we are having our picnic.
Which, as you can see, made someone both excited and happy!!
One of the friends I have that go back to my childhood came by my parents' ahere we have been staying for a weekend to get some sleep. Samuel is having difficulties falling a sleep and sleep through the night. It can take up to two or three hours to get him off to sleep. Amazingly it seems to be affecting Duncan and I the most. Our adoption advicer has told us to think of ourselves as a couple, who has a child suffering from cholic - not the most hopeful of all things. However, he does seem to be coming in to an easier period. (fingers crossed!!)

Anyway, back to the subject. Louise came to see us with her husband and their daughter Signe. Her and Samuel played well together - and were very busy making all sorts of sandy cakes!

At the moment we have gaga (grandma) and gaga (granddad) from England visiting (Who knew Jean was Lady Gaga?! Again: Samule is the wisest). We are looking forwards to spending a little week with them both.

2010-07-20T18:34:00.002+02:00

Sommer på stranden // Summer at the beach

It is most definately summer!! And we have so become a young-children's family: at 9 o'clock we were off to the beach.... Fully awake and everything. Only ones there except us where other young families and pensioners. See, we have become part of a whole new kind of people....

2010-07-20T18:29:00.002+02:00

Nyt soveværelse // New Bedroom

Samuel's helping Daddy put up a new bed in the little room in the summerhouse, that has now been all restored. He didn't like the drill much, but as soon as that had finished, he ran from mum back to daddy to help out (or hinder) with skrews, drawings and measurements....

2010-07-10T18:08:00.003+02:00

Varmt // Warm

It is incredibly warm here today. Has been all day. Samuel was so warm at one point that even his ears were sweating! So we have been in the garden most of the day - keeping to the shade. Samuel has been busy splashing in water - tomorrow we hope to make it to the beach so we can all cool off!!

2010-07-09T08:13:00.005+02:00

Konzentrazione //Concentration

Samuel i dyb koncentration med den lille saks til hans negle. Den har sådan en sjov ting, der skal på efter brug... // Samuel deeply concentrated with the little scissor for his nails. It has this little holder thing, that needs to go on after use ...

And a lovely smile to finish off on ...

2010-07-07T19:13:00.004+02:00

Ferie // Holiday

Duncan's off on holiday now. He has held his last service in 6 months as his holiday becomes paternity leave in three weeks. That means we now have 5 whole weeks together as a family! The only other time we have had that was the summer we got married and moved into Cliff Park in Derbyshire....

This weekend we spend at my parents' and getting the summer house ready for all three of us to stay there. My parents has invested in a sand box (?) which Samuel absolutely loved! They will now have sand all over everywhere on their patio :-)

At the house we managed to get the little bedroom ready for the bed to be build in next time we come up. So far Duncan and I have slept at the alcove above the living room, but with Samuel waking up in the middle of the night we've decided against that. Just look at those colours - aren't they nice?!

Being with family here, makes us feel the pull for family there too...

2010-07-03T13:55:00.003+02:00

Kære familie og venner! Så er der kommet gang i postkortene igen... Bloggen her bliver fremover alene brugt at fortælle om vores familie liv - i høj grad gennem billeder, og mest omSamuel. Da vi har mange kære folk, der bor for langt væk til at de kan komme forbi og se Samuel, bliver bloggen her vores måde at hjælpe dem/jer at lære ham bedre at kende, og give en mulighed for at følge med i hans udvikling. Vi skriver minimum én gang om måneden - men sandsynligvis også mere end det! Velkommen igen! // Dear friends and family! The postcards are back again... From now on this blog will be used only to tell about our family life - mostly through pictures and mostly about Samuel. Since there are many dear folks, who live too far away to pop by and meet Samuel, this blog will be our way to help them/you to get to know him, and will hopefully give you an oppertunity to follow his development. We will write once a month as a minimum, but there are more than likely to be posted more often than that! Welcome back!

Billedet viser Samuel med hans yndlingsbeskæftigelse: at åbne og lukke døre - nu med sit helt eget nøglebundt! // The picture shows Samuel doing his favorite thing: opening and closing a door - here with his very own set of keys!

2010-07-03T13:48:00.002+02:00

Mere juni // More June

2010-07-03T13:42:00.001+02:00

Juni // June

2010-07-03T13:36:00.001+02:00

Mere maj // More May

2010-07-03T13:29:00.001+02:00

Maj // May

2010-07-03T13:23:00.001+02:00

Mere april // More april

2010-07-03T13:13:00.002+02:00

April // April

2010-07-03T13:07:00.003+02:00

Marts // March

2010-07-03T12:55:00.003+02:00

Going there // På vej

2008-09-29T17:36:00.004+02:00

September har været en god måned i år. Vejret har været temmelig godt og jeg har sunget "Septembers himmel er så blå" og andre efterssange. Det er så rart at blive mindet om årets gang også på den måde, synes jeg. Duncan har arbejdet, og gør det godt i menighederne. Jeg er fortsat sygemeldt, men i bedring. I løbet af oktober har jeg tænkt at begynde igen lige så stille - hvis ellers jeg bliver ved at få det så meget bedre i de næste par uger, som jeg har fået det i den sidste måned. Billedet af blomsterne er fra haven. Vi nyder i fulde drag at have have. Jeg elsker blomsterne og at noget gror - og holder meget af at kunne gå ud og plukke en buket med ind. Og så er det rart at kunne være ude uden at skulle tage langt væk for at være det.
Det store tema for os i september i år har været adoption. Jeg kan nu afsløre at da jeg startede bloggen her for nogle år siden var bagtanken at det ville være en måde for os at gøre det muligt for de, der er langt væk fra os geografisk både her og der, kunne følge med i graviditet, billeder og tanker. Sådan skulle det ikke blive. Det har været meget svært. I nogle perioder selvfølgeligt mere end andre. Vi var i foråret i det, som hedder "udredning" for at finde ud af om der var nogen fysiske grunde til at det ikke lykkedes for mig at blive gravid. Det er der. Vi har så besluttet at fertilitetsbehandlinger med alt hvad der til hører ikke er for os. Og da beslutningen først var taget om at vi gerne vil have børn trods alt, har vi tilmeldt os den lange process som det er at skulle adoptere i Danmark. I kan læse om adoptionsprocessen på www.adoptionsnaevnet eller på www.a-c.dk (siden kan oversættes til dansk). En del af forberedelsen til at blive godkendt til at adoptere er at deltage i et forberedende kursus om adoption, og det har vi brugt to weekender på her i september. Først en lørdag først på måneden, og så lørdag-søndag sidst på måneden.
Det har været et meget intenst forløb. Vi var på kursus med 12 andre par, og oplevelsen af at være sammen med mennesker i samme båd var meget befriende. Vi er kommet meget tæt på folk på meget kort tid, er blevet stillet spørgsmål sammen og skulle redegøre for følelser, forestillinger og tanker som vi ellers aldrig ville have tænkt på. Vi har mødt mennesker, som jeg håber vi vil kunne følges med fremover også!
Kurserne er til for at ruste os som vordende forældre til et adopteret barn, på nogle af de problemstillinger som disse børn har som børn, der er født lige ind i en familie, ikke har eller som ikke er så presserende. Vi er blevet undervist om hvordan børnehjem virker, og hvad der sker med et barn, som ingen tæt voksenkontakt har i lange perioder af sit liv, og hvilke overlevelsesstrategier sådanne børn udvikler: Hvordan det er som lille barn aldrig at blive trøstet, altid at blive fodret på række uden tid, og hvordan det er at føle sig svigtet af alt og alle. Vi er blevet undervist om børns tilknytning, og hvordan man skaber kontakt og tilknytning til at et barn, man får når det er 2 år og allerede har dets egen historie. Vi har skullet tage stilling til hvordan vi vil takle barnets historie med eventuelle biologiskle søskende og forældre, og barnets spørgsmål om disse og hjemlandet. Vi er blevet provokeret omkring indvandrere og flygtninge, som kan måske vil ligne vores børn mere end vi selv gør fysisk. Og vi har kunnet se på vores egne reaktioner spejlet i andres.
Vi har summet og snakket og tænkt og læst. Vi har været til landesamtale i AC (vores organisation) og kigget på hvilke lande vi overhovedet har mulighed for at adoptere fra. Det er nemlig ikke så lige til at være udner 30 år i denne sammenhæng. Alle lande, som frigiver børn til adoption, har selvfølgelig krav man skal leve op til for at kunne modtage et barn. Det er et forsøg på at sikre sig at barnet kommer til gode familier. Det er nemlig langt fra alle lande som har så grundig og rustende en process frem mod adoptionen som Danmark har. Vi har nu lagt os fast på to lande, som vi skal vælge imellem hvsi (=når!) vi bliver godkendt. Efter kurset har det være muligt for os at indsendt ansøgning om den sidste del af godkendelsen. Hvor lang tid, der går inden vi kommer dertil ved vi ikke endnu. Vi har besluttet først at fortælle vores menigheden og andre end nære venner og familie om at vi skal adoptere når vi er endeligt godkendt og står på venteliste.
Fordi hele har været så intenst lever adoptionen meget i os lige nu. Det har givet os håb for det barn og den familie som bliver vores, og vi er meget glade for det, selvom vi har besluttet at vi ikke "venter" os før vi er endeligt godkendt. Men vi er også meget følelsesladede. Særligt for mig er det en meget bevægende process ligenu. Vi begynder at kunne forberede os på hvordan det bliver et få et barn i armene, som vi skal tage os af. Og vi kan vende og dreje alle mulige scenarier og snakke "hvad ville vi så gøre?". Vi kan begynde at forberede os på hvordan vi vil gøre i den første tid hvor det er meget vigtigt barnet får tryghed og rutine for at kunne knytte sig til os som dets forældre, og hvordan det bliver at have en barn, som vi i en periode ikke vil kunne opdrage på uanset hvor gammelt det er fordi det er vigtigere at få kontakt til barnet end om det spiser pænt. Der er nogle ting, som vi ellers er vant til med børn, som vi måske skal tænke anderledes om og handler på på en anden måde end vi ville have gjort hvis vi havde fået "hjemmelavede" børn. Vi har fået at vide at vi skal dividere barnets alder med to når vi får det - og det er så den alder vi kan forvente det opfører sig ud fra.
Vi får selvfølgelig verdens 8. vidunder, men ligenu fylder tvivlen, håbet og tanken om en graviditet på længde med -eller længere end - en elefants en hel del. I er meget velkomne til at spørge ind til processen, barnet, vilkårene og os - vi skal nok sige til hvis det bli'r for meget!
//
September has been a good month this year. The weather has been good and clear. Duncan has worked, and does a good job in the congregations. I'm still off sick, but am feeling better. Sometime in October I plan to start up slowly again - at least if I keep being better as I have become the last month or so. The picture above is from our garde. We are so enjoying having the little garden. I love seeing the flowers and plants grow, and like being able to go out and take in a bouquet. And it's nice to be able to go out and be outsude without having to drive anywhere to do it.
The big theme for us the month has been adoption. I can now admit that when I started this blog it was in the hope that it'd be a nice way for people who were geographically far away here as there to follow a pregnancy. That's not how it turned out. It has been very hard. Obviously more in some situations than in others. During the spring we went through a process to find out whether there were any physical reason why I couldn't fall pregnant. There was. We have decided that fertility treatment with all the things that come of that is not for us. And once the decision about whether we then wanted children at all was taken, we have signed up for the long process of adopting in Denmark. You can read about the adoption process on www.a-c.dk (this site is also in English.) A part of being approved for aoption is to participate in a course preparing one to adopt. And we have been away for two weekends for that this month. First part on a Saturday in the beginning of the month, and Saturday and Sunday at the end of the month.
It has been very intense. We were on the course along with 12 other couples. Being with other people in the same boat has been hugely liberating. We have become close with other people in a very short time. We have been asked questions and have had to explain feelings, perceptions and thoughts we wouldn't ever have even thought. We have met people, whom I hope we will be able to walk with over the nexts years too!
The courses are made to equip parents-to-be to adopt a child. On some of the problemacies these children have, that children who are born into a family do not have, or that would otherwise not be so present. Vi have been taught about how a childrens home operate, and what happens to a child who has no or little contact with adult in long periods of their lives, and wich survival strategies the develop: How it is to be a little child who is never comfortet, who is forcefed, and how it is to be let down by all you should have been able to count os. We have been taught about how children attach themselves and how to make a contact and a relationship with a child, when it is 2 years old and allready has a history of its own. We have had to decide how we would tackle this history with biological parents and siblings, questions about these and the home country. We have been provoked about immigrants and refugees, who might physically look more like our child than us. And we have been able to see our own reactions in reflected in the reactions of other peoples.
We have ponderet, thought and read. We have been to a conversation with the organisation we are adopting through. And learned of which countries it is possible for us to adopt from. It turns out that being under 30 in this context isn't necessarily a good thing. All countries has some demands for those who are to adopt from them. It is in an attempt to secure the children, and is very reasonable as not all countries has as thorough a process of approval and education as Denmark has for adoption. We have decided on two countries which we will have to decide between when we have been finally approved. After the course we have been able to apply for the final stage and aprroval. How long time this will take, we do not know yet. We have decided that we are not going to tell our congregations and anyone except close friends and relatives that we are going to adopt before we are on a waiting list.
Because it has all been so intense adoption is very alove for us at the mo. It has given us a hope for our child and the familiy we will have. But we have decided that we are not "expecting" before we're on a waiting list. We are quite emotional. It has been a moving process. We are able to begin preparing for how it will be to get the child in our arms. And we can consider all possible scenarioes and talk about "What will we do if..." We can prepare for how we will do in the first time with the child, because this is so important for the child in order to relate to us as parents. And on how we will have to not discipline at all untill the child trusts us - no matter how old the child is. There are some things we are used to expect from children trhat we might not be able to in the first long time. We have been told to divide the age of our child by two and expect it to behave as if it was that old. Obviously our child will be the 8th wonder of the world, but at the moment doubts, hope and the thought of a pregnancy the length of an elephants pregnancy - or longer - takes precedence. You're very welcome to ask questions about the process, the child and what it comes from and us - we'll let you know we can't handle it!

2008-08-13T19:55:00.003+02:00

We have just arrived home from holiday - first in The House, then the Peak District and Sutton Coldfield where Duncans parents live. It's been very very good to have so much time together just the two of us. After this spring we have really needed some solid time to find our feet again. I think we're getting there. Duncan's almost back to full weight - if not full muscle capacity yet. He's been working full time since the end of June. I've been signed off work since the middle of May because of the stress of this spring. I feel better, although not great yet.

July has - as it always is - been a quiet month even when Duncan has been working. All activities, meetings and getting together's in the churches except for services are on hold until August. So we have had plenty of oppertunity to go for walks and be with family. The picture of Duncan is from Grønhøj - the summerhouse of my uncle and aunt. The entire Klitgaard klan met there the one of the weekends of July. It's always great fun being with that part of the family. Vi fik spillet Bob, noget som jeg ikke har spillet i mange år! We went in the sea, we ate (!) and laughed.

In The House we did some serious chilling. I read "The Time Travellers Wife" (Den tidsrejsendes kvinde - se min anmeldelse på www.praestens.blogspot.com) We tried out several of the nearby beaches, and Duncan managed to get the front of the barn painted (næsten i hvert fald - der mangler lige den aller øverste trekant). Og så havde vi besøg af Lina, Mikkel, Anna og Thilde. Det var rigtig hyggeligt og rart! Både mens pigerne var vågne og plaskede rundt i det gamle badekar, og da de sov og vi voksne gnaksede chokolade og chips! Jeg fik også besøgt min mormor og morfar og brugt en halvdagstid sammen med dem. Det er så hyggeligt. De er gamle, men levende.

This year it's three years since we bought The House. When we did we decided to evaluate three years down the line wether to keep it or not. The evaluation pointed to an agreed decition that there was no decision to be made.... We couldn't sell it now. It's too good, we've worked to hard on it, and we love being there!

In England we landed in time to go and see Alistair (Duncans brother) on his 25th birthday - and to see where he and Samantha lives. A very nice flat very close to the Thames in London-ish. For the first time on holiday to England we'd rented a car while we were there - that was a very good thing to have, and I don't think it'll be the last time we do that. We drove up to a bed and breakfast in the village where we went to collage and where we met. We've not been on holiday just the two of us in England since we moved to Denmark four years ago. And we haven't really been back to Calver since we moved either. It was GOOD to be back. We went down "memory lane", we ate where we used to when we escaped collage life, we walked where we used to, we found "our" bench ... It was magic. A good feeling to reconnect with that part of us. The weather was a mix - some rain, some sun. So I've now got gaters for my boots (sådan nogle regnfrakke agtige tingester man sætter uden om sine støvler som så dækker hullet mellem støvlerne og bukserne), and Duncan's got himself new boots!

After Calver we went down to Duncan's parents and stayed with them. We picked up my mum on the way. Duncan's Auntie Ruth was 90 in July and we were invited to celebrate her and Jean's (Duncans mor) 60th birthday. It was a good party. Many happy people, barn dancing (en engelsk udgave af square dance), magician, good food and great chocolate cake (jeg spiste rester to dagefefter festen). It was nice to see everybody from the english side of the family. The only one missing was my dad, but he had to start school on the Monday, so he wasn't able to come. The picture here is taken by Alan of the Edginton clan. From the left it's Jean (Duncans mum), Barbara (Duncans aunt), Ian(Duncans dad), Cathrine with Eve (Duncans cousin and her daughter), Duncan with Holly (Eves littlesister), me (Duncans wife), Jane (my mum), Auntie Ruth (Duncans almost-grandmother).

We came home yesterday with suitcases laden with vinegar (til Duncans pomesfritter), mature cheddar and Cadbury's chocolate. We're ready for daily life to kick in :-)

2008-05-22T12:39:00.003+02:00

Kom maj, du søde milde! synger vi - og maj har virkelig været smuk! Yesterday - on the 21st it was three months since it all began with Duncan. 3 months - that's quarter of a year. That's a long time. Since the last operation he's recovered very quickly. Still tired, still sore everytime he's done something new - especially in his back, but that's to be expected trying to regain muscles and strength. He's started working a little bit and is enjoying it. I'm signed off sick at the moment trying to regain myself, composure, strentgh, energy - the lot. Morfar (mum's dad) turned 90 last week and I was able to spend the day with them. It was nice, and because I was so confused and the weather was so nice I stayed with my parents for a little week. Getting the garden in the House ready for summer and whitening the house itself (Jeg kalkede det) was great. Physical work is good for the soul!
I got the chance to watch films with my brother, have dinner with my parents on work days and things I never get to do because I've moved away - and a long way away. That too was nice.
In less than a month we will move in to the flat above the church. Work is still in progress there. They will only just make it in time - and maybe not completely finished - by the time we move in. The garden is still a sand pitch. Sand because the old tiles were taken off in the autumn, and no new ones have been put down yet. It'll come. And you'll see it will become a great little garden!
The picture is from my big garden up north - our old apple tree in full bloom. Gorgeous!

2008-04-27T15:49:00.002+02:00

We're both home again. The doctor suspects Duncan's intestines have grown together or have attached to the inside the abdominal cavity (sammengroninger af tarmene eller at tarmene nogle steder er groet fast på indersiden af bughulen.) This some times happens when there has been an infection or when the intestines have been disturbed - as Duncans have with the operation. Lægen sagde han havde alle grundene til at de skulle ske. However, since the pain is what Duncan calls "managable" they have agreed that he comes back in two weeks to see how it feels then. Sometimes, apparently, the pains disappears as the intestines stretches slightly. This could also not happen, in which case he will need surgery. So, in two weeks we know if its another operation or we're done. Duncan says for now it's okay, but not for good. The pains is at its least when he is sitting completely still - not very helpful for a normal life in full vigour!
My very mature respons to this has been to sit down and cry because I can't believe it just keeps coming. Guess I should be gratefull it's not worse (which I am - but still, it's not as it should be and that is a sadness/sorg)
Two weeks takes us to pentecost when we were going away for some days to relax and try to get a little bit on top of the world again. But there you are - hopes and plans are not for us at the moment. So, we still need your prayers!

2008-04-26T20:11:00.003+02:00

As I am writing this Duncan is laying in the hospital yet again. This time because he has had some pain in his stomach which we thought came from the irritation in his stomach which they found last time he was in the hospital three weeks ago. I didn't think it was right for it to be quiet to soar still, so I phoned the doctor, who asked us to come past lunch time. She send us on to the hospital because she didn't like the fact he was soar on the bottom hos torsoe. (altså ikke om mavesækken men længere nede ved tarmene) At the hospital he was asked to fast (he arrived at 2 o'clock) and at 8.30 pm he was sent home. "If it continues og get worse come again". Which it did this morning. So off we went again. A young doctor looked at him - she feared he might have developed a new irritaion in the stomach. But she wasn't so keen on the pain in the bottom of his stomach/the intestines, so she called her senior. He says it sounds like the intestines aren't working properly, as if he is constipated. At the best its constipation at the worst some of his intestines have grown together because of the operation on his intestine (hullet i tyndtarmen). So they're keeping him at least until tomorrow to see how it developes. The doctor took time to emphasise that this is nowhere near as serious as what we have been thorugh no matter what it is. He compared it to having a broken leg.
We were meant to go on a weekend with our congregation, but as this with Duncan has developed they have asked us to stay at home. Which I think is very nice of them!
Other than this we are fine. Normality had starting to creep in again. The house is clean, we eat proper food, Duncan's started working a little bit every day. So I hope that this is nothing more than yet another short interlude before we can enjoy the sun full time and plan our moving into Vejle!!

2008-04-06T18:37:00.003+02:00

Meget tidligt lørdag morgen (eller sent fredag nat?) blev Duncan indlagt til observation på A260 på Vejle hospital. Nu har han jo være indlagt der i et stykke tid, så flere sygeplejersker og social og sundhedshjælpere kom hen og sagde velkommen igen. Jeg tror ikke de var glade for at se ham. Han fortalte dem, det var fordi han sådan savnede dem. Hvortil én af dem raskt svarede: "Så skulle du tage at komme med en kage næste gang du savner os!"
I eftermidag fik han lov til at komme hjem igen. Det er rart. Han er blevet sat på en anden slags smertestillende og så har han fået mavesårsmedicin med hjem. Dem skal han tage den næste månedstid. Så skulle irritationen have lagt sig.
Det er selvfølgelig hårdt fordi vi ikke har fået sovet så meget fra fredag til lørdag. Men det værste var skuffelsen over at den normalitet, vi var begyndt at ane lige forsvandt igen. Og at Duncan ikke kom med til Esbjerg og var med til at konfirmere Emma derovre. Det havde vi ellers alle sammen glædet os sådan til at han skulle!
Jeg tror nu at det ikke bliver mere end et lille tilbage skridt. Han har ondt og er øm i maven som for fjorten dage siden. Både i selve mavesækken og i såret. Men hans arme og ben føles stadig stærke, siger han. Og han har taget 1 kilo på siden han kom hjem!
Ligenu sidder han ved sit "legebord" og vi har blomster i hele huset. En buket fra vores distriktsforstander Jørgen, en fra et par i menigheden i Esbjerg som var ment som "velkommen igen", og "resterne" fra Emmas konfirmation. Så her er liljer, roser, brudeslør og nogle jeg ikke ved hvad er. Og inde i haven i Vissingsgade er mine tulipaner sprunget ud og vibeæggene står spinkle og smukke!

2008-03-14T10:10:00.002+01:00

Renoveringen af det, der bliver præseboligen i Vejle og vores nye hjem er gået i gang. Alt nedbrydningsarbejdet er mere eller mindre færdigt, og de er begyndt at bygge nye vægge og sætte nye lofter op. Meget spændende! Det er lykkedes os at få Duncan med op af trappen så han også har kunnet se det. The pictures here show: What will become our new bathroom. Hard to tell at the moment. But it'll be bigger than what we have now. And there will be a window!! It used to be the kitchen.

The big mess is what will become kitchen/bedroom/childrens romms. Severeal walls has been taken down and two staircases moved. The farthest corner will be our bedroom, and where the picture is taken from will be the kitchen. To the left will be two small bedrooms.

The final picture is of the living room. It's not very big, but it'll be cosy. There will also be a dining room. What I am amazed at is in how good condition the old floors are. They have been covered up for several years. I'm not entirely sure what floors we will get - but some kind of wood.

The work should be finished at the end of May, and mid June we are sat to move in. Only three months from now! Incredible. It's hard to imagine what it's going to be like, even though we have known since we oved here 3 1/2 years ago that one day - if we stayed - we would live there.

2008-03-14T09:55:00.003+01:00

Here's a few pictures from Duncan being ill. This piture below is from the first week after the operation. His stomach is still bloated. As Jean said: "Now he only looks 4 months pregnant as opposed to 10!"At the moment he's home but has to go in every day to have the bandages changed and checked. The latest thing is that the wound opened up again when they took out the stitches a week ago. It's a known complication in situations like Duncans, although the doctors and nurses hadn't expected it with such a young person. So Wednesday he was fitted with a vacuum machine to help him heal up. We think he will have to wear it for at least two weeks. Maybe more. When Duncan asked the doctor yesterday for how long he's to wear it, the doctor stuck his fingers in his ears and started singing - they don't dare say. But with the machine from today he only has to go in twice a week and not every day. That will make everything easier!

We have been amazed how many people have phoned, written, sent flowers and cards or prayed for us. Our dog has been looked after, Duncan has had visitors, I have been fed and taken out. People all over Denmark and half of England. Protestants and Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists and folkekirken - Duncan thinks he's become an ecumenical movement :-) We're very grateful for it. I have felt carried by it. And with out the support from so many it would have been difficult. This pictures shows a selection of the flowers Duncan had at one point. The teddy bear is from some children in the congregation.

2008-03-14T09:47:00.002+01:00

One og the fantastic things with the House is the garden. In it I have made a little wood bed (skov bed). And lo and behold: erantis stikker op af jorden. (I have no idea what they are called in english). Min farfar havde rigtig mange erantis i hans have.... I love seeing things I once out away in the soil find its way back up. It's very satisfying. And although we're not there very often I do think I can make a noice garden out of it. The evening picture is out from our garden over one of the fields around us.

2008-03-14T09:27:00.002+01:00

One of the best things of our holiday - I though - was the walk in crisp weather down to see our bit of the marsh. Holly found a stick as big as her self. We saw a fox. Duncan and Holly had a run a round underneath a big tower made for looking out our the landscape. (Udsigtstårn) And the last picture is a view over the marsh (mose) including in it our part of it. Breathtaking, isn't it?!

2008-03-14T09:18:00.002+01:00

It's been a while, I know. I also realize that the winter half term is some weeks gone now. But still. Here's some pictures from the lovely House, where we spent our only too short break. I can't remember the weather entirely - we had some fantastic clear days with sun. Did some good walks as you can tell. We went into the marsh (mosen). Beautiful! We hadn't inteded to do any work at the house really. But when we came up and turned on the water we found that the old hot waterboiler (varmt vandsbeholderen) was broken. So we had to have a guy out and put in a new of those. Also Duncan did a bit of shelves to the kitchen, I put lights up in it and cleaned everything thoroughly. And we bought a new oven. Very expensive. Very nice! It happened when we realized we could look into the fire through the chimney of the old one! this one heats everything up much more evenly. Even the floor feels warmer! The pictures show the new oven and our fantastic kitchen.
I have to split the pictures in several posts - they take up too much space.

2007-12-15T12:22:00.000+01:00

Postkort, ja, det har knebet noget med at få nogen af dem sendt. Det er ellers ikke fordi vi ikke har oplevet noget siden foråret - nærmest tværtimod. Jeg er blevet ordineret, vi har haft en dramatisk sommerferie med Auntie Ruth på sygehus, efteråret er gået slag i salg med kurser, bryllupper både i England og Danmark og en begravelse i England også. Vi har fået en meksikaner i familien og har derfor lært alverdens små ord som f.eks. smør (Jeg kan sige det, ikke stave det). Vi er kommet godt igang med at dele menighederne i Esbjerg og Vejle imellem os. Indtil videre tegner det godt - jeg tror vi bliver glade for det. Og forhåbentlig gør menighederne så også - de virker i hvert fald godt tilfredse ind til videre.
Det helt store er nok at jeg efter en god men hård retræte i Sverige i begyndelsen af november har haft det ikke så godt. Jeg er træt, ked og slatten. Der er ikke noget unaturligt i det, det er vist bare faktisk godt at det kommer. Jeg har for første gang i tre år rigtig grædt over hvor svært det var da menigheden i Vejle eksploderede. Jeg har først nu mærket hvor trist det var da Duncan var syg. Og jeg lader mig selv være ked af at vi ikke endnu har fået det barn vi/jeg så gerne vil have. MEN jeg har det bedre nu end jeg havde for tre uger siden. Selvom jeg nu hvor jeg har arbejdet fuld tid i en uge godt kan mærke jeg ikke har så mange kræfter.
Anywho, glæder mig til julen: til ikke at "skulle" noget i to uger i streg. Til få lov til kun at være sammen med mine yndlingsmennesker, og til bare at være herhjemme flere dage træk.
Nåeh ja, og så har vi været til informationsmøde om adoption -fordi det jo kan være det er sådan vi skal have barn. Det var godt - og mærkeligt. Befriende at sidde der og se at de andre 30 der var der så lige så ualmindeligt almindelige ud som os. ACs hjemmeside er: www.a-c.dk hvis der var nogen, der skulle have lyst til at kigge. Det vi fik ud af aftenen - udover at vide en hulens masse om at huske bleer, børns reaktioner og etik i forhold til adoption og en masse andre gode ting, var at vi ikke er klar til at bestemme os for at adoptere - heller ikke selvom processen tager ca. 3 år (!). Så nu venter vi på hvad gynækologen har at fortælle os når vi skal se hende i januar. Og så forsøger jeg at huske på at kvinder før har grædt og bedt til Gud, og at han har givet dem børn. Og at det for nogen af dem endda var deres dybeste længsel endda det samme som hans vilje for dem. Maria, Hannah, Rakeel.... //
Post cardsm, we haven't sent many of those lately. Not because we haven't done anything since the spring. I've been ordained, we've had a dramatic holiday with Auntie Ruth on the hospital, the autumn has been filled with courses, weddings, a funeral and what not. We've got a mexican in the family and have learned to say all sorts of things like butter (I can say it but not spell it)We've started well with working together in the congregations in Vejle and Esbjerg. So far it's looking good, and I think we'll be happy with it. And the congregations doesn't seem to mind it either.
Since I was on retreat in Sweden in the beginning of November things have been quiet - I came home tired and sad although it's been good. I think it's a good thing. For the first time since we've been in Denmark I've felt how hard iot was when the crisis hit Vejle, and how sad I was that Duncan got ill. And I'm letting my self be sad that we haven't got the baby yet tthat we/I would so like to have. BUT I'm much better now than I was three weeks ago. ALthough noew after a wek on fulltime I feel very tired - I can feel I'm not in full stregnth yet.
Anywho, I'm looking forwards to the yuletide: Doing nothing for two weeks or so. Just being....
O, and then we've been to an information meeting about adopting - because maybe that is how we are going to have a child. It was good - and strange. Liberating to sit there and see that the other couples looked just as normal and ordinary as we do. If you're interested the website for the organisation is: www.a-c.dk - and it's in English too. It was a good evening, and we now know that we're not ready to decide to adopt - although the process may take up to 3-4 years(!) So now we're waiting to hear that the gynecologist has to say to us when we go there at the end of January. And I'm trying to remember that other women have cried and longed and that God heard them too. Mary, Hannah, Rachel ...

2007-04-28T15:45:00.000+02:00

Det er forår, alting springer ud .... Der er gået planter i den. Jeg skrev for noget tid siden at hvis jeg skulle have en hobby var det at have venner på besøg til god mad, det er også et godt bud. Men jeg har opdaget at jeg faktisk har en lille hobby - min have. Til stor morskab for min kære mand, som har brugt meget krudt på at fortælle mig om sin barndoms traumatiske oplevelse i al Englands plantecentre med forældre og lille bror, om ikke bare interesserer sig for planter, men som også kan deres latinske navne ;-)

Sidst sommer var jeg på besøg i Tine og Jens' kolonihave og der så jeg den flotteste valmue, en meget stor og kraftig staude. I sidste uge fik jeg så frø af den - Tine var lidt i tvivl om om de ville spire når de nu var så gamle. Duncan købte et mini "drivhus" (som han har set Jean, hans mor, have). Og så i dag - sørme om der ikke er kommet spirer frem! Hurra! Så nu kan jeg vente spændt på at se om de bliver til mere end det. Jojo.

I sidste weekend var jeg på retræte en 30 km. nord for Vejle i et meget smukt område - og der tog jeg en blå bunddække blomster ting med hjem - jeg ved ikke hvad den hedder, men den er pæn. Og jeg så skovsyre blomstre, noget jeg aldrig før har oplevet.

Glædeligt forår!

It really has become almost summer! And I have nothing but plants on my mind - almost. A while back I wrote my hobby might be to have friends around for dinner - that might also be true. But I've discovered that I do have a little hobby: my garden. Both my little balcony and the one at the House. This is a great amusement for Duncan, who has gone into great detail in telling about the traumatising visits to varius garden centres across England with his parents and his brother. Who doesn't only like plants but even know their latin names ;-)
Last summer I went to visit Tine and Jens in their little garden, and saw the most beautiful poppy. Big and quite robust. Last week Tine gave me seeds from it, although she had some doubts whether they would sprout, seeing as they were fairly old. Duncan went to buy this little miniature "´green house" (which he'd seen Jean use). And then - today - there's little tiny sprouts. Hooray! So now I'm all excited to see what will come of them.

Last weekend I went away on a retreat in a very nice woodland area. And I took home some blue flowers from the forest floor. I have no idea what they're called. Also I saw these little plants, that taste sour (I don't know their name in English) in flower. Something I've never seen before. Happy spring!

2007-04-16T22:05:00.000+02:00

Duncan on the roof. And after the fall with ice on the leg - and finally the bruise up close and personal. In the end it doesn't look very dramatic.

//Duncan på taget. Og efter faldet - og det blå mærke. Som endte med ikke engang at se ud af noget særligt.

2007-04-16T21:50:00.000+02:00

The ends meet at last! // Orden ud af kaos

We have come home tired, slightly tanned and veru happy from a weekend off at the House. For three solid days we're been working our socks of. And finally we can see light at the end of the tunnel ( or rather: we can see the floor beneath the dirt) In either case both of us feel we've achieved something. Let me list it: SKirting bioards have been painted (till my back ached, luckily the weather was so good I could stand outside) , doors have been painted, walls have been painted, the ceiling has been painted a third time, we've put wall paper up, we've established that the lamps don't work (???!) the roof's been repaired, ready for painting in the summer (Duncan only fell down once - without getting the hammer/drill in his head and wihtout breaking anything). We've had the help of my mum, my brother, my uncle and his wife, and Jane & Jesper came on a surprise visit Sunday. We've slept very soundly from all the fresh air, and we've come home with a smile of, well, gratitude that we own such a pearl. We actually think we'll soon be able to have people in the House to stay! Obviously there's still little things to be done ( and I know its those that takes for ever) but still, it is little things. And above all its things that doesn't create that much dust! //Vi er kommet trætte og en lille smule solbrændte og meget glade hjem fra en friweekend i Huset. Der er blevet knoklet solidt i tre dage. Og endelig begynder vi at kunne se lyset for enden af tunnelen - eller er det gulvet under alt støv og skidt? I hvert fald føler vi begge vi har fået undrettet noget. Jeg nævner i flæng: Malet fodlister (til min ryg gjorde ondt- men heldigvis udenfor), malet døre, malet halvvæg og skorsten, malet loft tredje gang, tapetseret spisekrog, fået slået fast at lampestederne ikke virker (???!!), repareret tag (Duncan faldt kun ned én gang, dog uden at få hammer/boremaskine i hovedet eller brække noget), haft hjælp af min mor og lille bror (min far har været syg), min onkel og hans kone, haft besøg af Jane og Jesper (overraskelse med jordbærtærte), været til Tantens fødselsdag. Vi har sovet rigtig godt af al den friske luft, og har fået smil på læben af solen og vejret og ---- ja, glæde over at Gud la'r os eje sådan en lille perle. Nu tror vi snart vi kan inviterer gæster og sætte dem ned i en ordentlig stue! Der er selvfølgelig stadig "småting" der mangler at blive gjort, men det er til at overskue nu, og fremfor alt er det der mangler i stuen ikke noget, der støver så voldsomt!

2007-04-16T21:37:00.000+02:00

Tjekket have // Groovy garden

Jeg blev så glad da vi påskesøndag havde gæster og Tine sagde at min have lød tjekket - fordi jeg havde klippet lavendler ned... Ak ja, hvis bare sandheden om haven var at den er tjekket. Det er den ikke - den er vild og vovet. Jeg holder vældig meget af Claus Dalbys udtryk om at dyrke have på slump, men ikke engang det er vores have vist endnu. Men hey, den er dejlig og solen skinner i den, fuglene synger, og kastanjerne sprang ud denne weekend! Så er er nogle billeder fra den tjekkede have! // Last week I told a friend that I'd trimmed the lavender in the House garden, she though it sounded like the garden was all groomed. Well, I wish (or do I?) It's not groomed, it's groovy. There's a Danish gardender who talks of gardening as of cooking: a little bit of this and littel bit fo that., I'm not sure we're even there. But still, the sun shines and the chestnuts became green while we were there this weekend. Here's a couple of photos from the groovy garden.

2007-04-11T17:34:00.000+02:00

Lydia K er kommet til!

Jeg har haft det så sjovt idag, sammen med Tine. Vi mødtes - i arbejds øjemed - i Build-a-Bear butikken i Århsu i formiddags for sammen at bygge en bjørn. Det vil sige jeg byggede ogTine fotograferede, så hele processen er "dokumenteret" til en artikel til Himmel og Jord. Det var rigtig skægt! Tine havde på forhånd sørget for at vi måtte fotografere løs, men alligevel var der flere af de ansatte som så lidt sjovt på os (eller også var det noget jeg synes?) Der var i hvert fald en der sagde til mig: "Nu er den her bamse jo ikke til dig..." "Øh, jo, det er den faktisk... Øh, jeg er præst og øh... vi laver en artikel...." Han tog det meget pænt.

Hvis du ikke kender Build-a-Bear konceptet, så er det at man er med til at putte fyld og lyd i en bamse, man bestemmer selv dens ydre, og så kan man bagefter væklge forskelligt tøj og udstyr til den. Det store scoop er at alle bamserne får en hjerte indeni, som man skal fylde med kærlighed. Det hjerte putter man så inden i bamsen. Jeg skulle gnubbe på hjertet og ryste det, og blæse på det og sidst men ikke mindst kysse på det for at vække det til live. Jojo, det er ingen lille sag at lave en bamse!

Og fidusen er så, at jeg jo kan se hvordan man ud fra de her bamser som utroligt mange børn har, kan snakke om hvad det vil sige at være skabt af Gud, være skabt i Guds billede, og at vi også er blevet kysset og vækket til live inden i af Gud. "Jeg er lille, men dog stor, når Jesus i mit hjerte bor."

Nu laver vi en artikel til Himmel og Jord, jeg kommer til at holde en børnegudstjeneste med bamsen og der kommer også en post på min præsteblog om det. (www.praestens.blogspot.com)
Jeg skal også nok sætte nogle billeder ind her, så I kan se hvordan det gik til ;-)

I første omgang er her et billede af Lydia K (Det hedder hun, for man skal selvføgelig også give bamsen navn). Jeg kunne ikke stå for grisen - hun har endda krølle på halen. Og for anstændighedens skyld købte jeg underbukser til hende. Med hjerter på (!)

2007-04-09T12:14:00.000+02:00

Han er opstanden, sandelig, han er opstanden! // He is risen - he is risen indeed!

Så er påsken her! Vi har begge haft nogle gode gudstjenester der hvor vi har været. Jeg har været i Vejle, Duncan har været både i Århus og Esbjerg.

Efter gudstjenesten fredag kørte vi op til Huset og mine forældre. Vi sov i huset og fik lavet noget der. Duncan fik malet halvmuren næsten to gange, jeg fik ordnet en smule i haven. Rykket lidt ukrudt op, ordnet en kant og plantet en bonderose. Det var dejligt at fingrene i jorden og at være udenfor! Det meste af tiden deroppe var vi dog hos mine forældre. De passede Rasmus (min nevø på 7 år), og min lillebror Lasse var der også. De var begge med ude i huset fredag eftermiddag. Rasmus sad troligt på en stol og holdt øje med ilden i brændeovnen - det er meget spændende! Sjældent er en brændeovn blevet så godt fodret med pap, papir, kastanjer og bark! Efter aftensmaden legede "drengene" krig - det var så sjovt at høre på! Jeg er meget i tvivl om ikke det var Lasse og Duncan der morede sig bedst. Hele huset (undtagen køkkenet hvor vi sad) blev mørklagt, og så gik de, bevæbnede med geværer af Dublo, på jagt i huset efter hinanden. Stakkels Rasmus. På et tidspunkt kom Lasse gennem huset med et gult lagen over hovedet og grinede ondskabsfuldt. Rasmus, der på det tidspunkt meget modigt havde gemt sig i et mørkt skab, kom ud, ligbleg og sagde med meget lille og høflig stemme: "Vil I ikke godt la' vær' med det der? Jeg kan altså ikk så godt li' det." Ak ja, det er svært at lege med de store! Lørdag kom mormor og morfar til frokost. Skiden æg, lam og nougatkage. Jojo, hun kan nogle sager hende mor Jane!

Lørdag morgen (kvarter over syv!) ringede Jacob for at fortælle os at han og Adriane nu er forældre til lille Eva. Så sent lørdag eftermiddag kørte Duncan så stærkt som aldrig før ned igennem landet. Vi nåede det liige inden besøgstiden sluttede. Eva er kommet til verden - og har allerede betaget os.

Søndag aften - påskedag - havde vi inviteret 11 mennesker til påskefest. Filosofien er at hvis påsken er årets største fest, så skal vi også opføre os som om det er det. Det blev en rigtig god aften! Duncans lam med rosemarin var fantastisk, han havde lavet Yorkshire puddings, så det var en rigtig engelsk søndags middag. Min citrontærte og kartoffelkager blev også gode. At være sammen med gode mennesker om god mad er noget af det bedste jeg ved. Hvis det kan være en hobby at have folk til middag, så tror jeg det skal være min. Det er godt for sjælen at være med mennesker man kan lide, have gode samtaler og dele dejlig mad! Billedet her er af borddekorationen, og påskeæggene.

En af gæsterne var Anne på to et halvt, som er Hollys særlige ven (Eller også er det omvendt). Igår lykkedes det dem at være på gulvet samtidig - og snakke sammen. Det blev dog for meget for Holly da Anna begyndte at løbe frem og tilbage i gangen.

Idag skal vi vaske op, slappe af og se den lille Eva igen - måske en smule mere afslappet denne gang! Og så tror Duncan han skal vinde over mig i Risk eller Settlers senere.

Så selvom vi ikke har haft ferie synes jeg nu vi har haft mulighed for at gøre rigtig mange gode "påskeferie"ting, og vigtigst haft mulighed for at se rigtig mange mennesker!

(Og i torsdags blev vi så godt som royale. Auntie Ruth modtog nemlig en særlig pris af den engelske dronning. Så vidt vi har hørt var det noget af en oplevelse. Vi er ret stolte af hende, for det er ikke en automatisk ting at få, det er noget man skal indstilles til af andre. Vi har altid vidst hun er noget særligt, men er glade for at andre også kan se det!)

Easter has arrived. We've both had some good services where we have been. I've been in Vejle, Duncan has been in Århus Thursday and Friday and in Esbjerg on Sunday.

Friday we went up north after the services. We managed to do a bit in the -House, but mainly we spent the time with my family. Duncan painted the halfwall almost twice, and I did a bit of gardening. My parents were looking after Rasmus (our 7 year old nephew), and my brother Lasse was there too. After dinner the "boys" were playing war - I'm not sure who had the most fun. The entire house, except the kitchen, was laid dark. I think Rasmus got himself quite a few sacres - it's not quite fair when your teammate and the "enemiy" can lay tactics in English without you realizing what's happening!

On Saturday morning while lying asleep in the House my phone went off - it was our friend Jacob telling us he and Adriane had become parents. So late that afternoon Duncan drove as fast he has ever done from one end of the country to the other - and we just got there in time to see the little wonder. Eva has entered the world, and our hearts.

On Sunday evening - Easter day - we'd invited 11 people around for dinner for a celebration of Easter. If it is the biggest feast of the year, we should act as if it is, is our philosophy. It was a really good night! Duncans lamb and rosemary was amazing, he even made Yorkshire puddings! So it was a decent roast dinner. My lemon pie-thing and cakes were great, too. And being with good people is just one of my favorite things. If it can be a hobby having people around for dinner I'd like to make it mine! I'ts good for the soul to be with people you like, have good conversations and share good food! The picture here is of the table decoration, and the easter chocolates. Anna, a little girl om two and a half, is one of Holly's special friends (Or is it the otther way around?) Last night they managed to be on the floor at the same time, although it was too much for Holly when Anna started running backwards and forwards in the corridor. Not that you can blame Anna; it's a long corridor that's made for running in with little legs!

Today we're going to wash up (!), relax and go to see Eva and her parents again - a bit more relaxed this time. And I think Duncan said something about whipping my behinds in a game of Risk - he wish!

(O, and then, off course, this Easter we almost became part of a roayl family as Auntie Ruth recieved Maunday money from the queen. Quite a day, from what we have heard. We're quite proud of her since it's something she gets because she has been recommended. We're always known she was special, and are happy others recognize that too!)

2007-04-04T20:22:00.000+02:00

Mere Stonehenge

Jeg tog en del billeder af Stonehenge. Og kan huske noget af det, jeg fik at vi i øre sneglen. F.eks. er de store sten kommet hele vejen fra Wales. Først over land, så med båd fra kysten på Wales, udenom Cornwall og så op af floden Avon, og endelig over land igen de sidste ca. 30 km. Hvorfor lige Wales? Ja, det ved man faktisk ikke. De mindste sten indeni, som er blåagtige (Det kunne man dog ikke se) er lokale sten.

Stonehenge blev først bygget i træ, og siden rejste man så, ved hjælp af stilladser stenene. Man kender ikke betydningen af Stonehenge, eller de "woodhenges" som findes rundt omkring (Altså tilsvarende steder bygget i træ). Men man har fundet ud af at stenene virker som en slags kalender, fordi solen på midsomme dag, ved hjælp af en sten placeret udenfor cirklen, kaster en skygge gennem cirklen ved solopgang på sommer middøgnet. Derfra viser solen sig så midt imellem forskellige sten hver måned. Men hvorfor det har været vigtigt at vide, ved man ikke, ej heller ved man hvorfor Stonehenge blev bygget præcist på denne bakke, der dengang var skov.

Det er vældig fascinerende at tænke på at mennesker for så lang tid siden at man kan blive svimmel af at tænke på det, havde brug for at kende tiden ligesom vi har det. Og at de kunne bygge noget så kolossalt ved hjælp af rå muskelkraft, træ og snilde. Det får mig til at tænke at jeg er uhyggeligt afhængig af maskiner for at kunne noget som helst.

2007-04-01T21:32:00.000+02:00

Marts måned kom og gik - men ikke uden begivenheder. Egentlig ville vi have puttet nogle billeder ind fra Huset i februar - vi har ikke været der oppe siden, men skal afsted et par gange i april. Så skal der nok komme en opdatering. Først i marts var der min fødselsdag, som blev fejret behørigt, synes jeg. Fredag aften havde vi "diverse" venner på besøg - det var rigtig hyggeligt. Og da de tog hjem sad jeg tilbage med en følelse af at være meget rig. Lørdag kom mine forældre, min onkel, tante og fætter Jens på besøg. Det var en god dag - selvom jeg er bange for at jeg overfodrede dem. Men jeg havde fundet en opskrift ( i min mors blad) på både flødekager og napoleonshatte, som jeg var nødt til at prøve på dem ;-) Så kom foråret også i marts - og vi fandt straks vanen fra sidste år frem med at tage til Tirsbæk Strand med en madpakke. Det er det nærmeste vi ligenu kommer på at have en have hernede. Vi kan mærke nu hvor foråret for alvor har indfundet sig at vi savner lidt græs at gå og pille i. Der er grænser for hvor mange gange man kan vende en urtepotte... Selvom vi bestemt er glade for vores terrasse!

Den sidste uge i marts har vi brugt i England i Salisbury på Sarum College. Det er der hvor Duncan læser. Han havde nogle forelæsniger og et par vejledninger. Jeg havde min computer og mine bøger med. Det var ikke en ferie uge, og det føltes heller ikke som ferie. Vi var meget arbejdsomme, synes jeg. I hvert fald er jeg nået betydeligt længere med min opgave end da vi tog afsted. Den skal aflevedes om en måned, så det skal også til at være. Som min kære vejleder sagde, da jeg fortalt ham jeg var ved at gå i panik for godt to måneder siden: "Jaeh, men det er da også ved at være på tide, Anne." Det er godt med ærlige folk!

Lige ved Sarum ligger en af Englands ældste katedraler. Den ældste del af kirke er 800 år gammel (!). På billedet Duncan har taget at skibet kan man rigtig få en fornemmelse af rummets størrelse. Det er en særlig måde at være kirke på, i en katedral. Men en måde jeg holder meget af - i hvert fald at besøge. Jeg ved godt hvorfor jeg hører til i en lille menighed, når jeg har været i katedralen i en uge. Men der er også noget fint ved at have så gammelt et sted, der stadig er levende. Og som nærmest har dets eget liv. Fordi huset er så gammelt, og traditionerne så gamle har jeg nærmest fornemmelsen af at vi mennesker bare er små ting, som får lov til at flyde igennem for en tid, men katedralen har egentligt sit eget stroe og langsomme liv. Det er en meget betryggende fornemmelse, som giver vældig meget ro. Og så er det utroligt at opleve en kirke som har råd til meget finere ting end vi andre har. (Jeg ved godt de ikke har uanede mængder penge til rådighed - jeg snakkede også med stedets præster). For eksempel havde de i år en række billeder af påsken udstillede, som var meget smukke og enkle.

Duncans forældre tog sig tid til at køre ned og besøge os. Det var rigtig godt at se dem, og have en hel dag sammen med dem. De tog os med ud til Stonehenge, som kun ligger en halvtimes tid væk i bil. Det var en meget speciel oplevelse. Først var det lidt "okay, der står nogle store sten på en mark - og hvad så?!" Men efter at have lyttet til den guide jeg havde i øret og faktisk kigget på stenene, kunne jeg godt synes det var utroligt. Stenene blev rejst omkring samme tid som pyramiderne blev bygget. Det er så lang tid siden at det ikke er til at forstå! Det mest imponerende, synes jeg, var den jordgrøft, som var det første, der blev lavet for 5000 år siden - den kan man stadig se! Er det ikke utroligt at jorden mærkes så meget "bare" af en grøft? Det synes jeg var ... ja, tankevækkende.

Og nu, vel hjemme igen? Ja, nu ser vi frem til at fejre påsken!

2007-02-20T10:35:00.000+01:00

Well we've just had a weeks break at our summerhouse, and we're nearing completion, so much so that we actually had a few days without working on it. All the dusty building work is finished now, so we've cleaned, and cleaned, and cleaned - its amazing how much it takes to clean up after all the building work we've done. But we've now moved in almost properly, we've got a sofa, table, chairs, bed - all in; the only thing missing is the kitchen, which'll be built next we're up, but thankfully that shouldn't make as much mess as the other stuff we've done - so hurrah. I'd put a picture in too, but our camera is very fussy over which batteries it likes (got to have lots of power) so we couldn't take any pictures :( But heres a picture from when we first bought it (I really look forwards to summer again)
Duncan

2007-02-01T20:14:00.001+01:00

Nu hvor jeg var ved at fortælle om mine vægge er der egentlig to andre ting, som giver varme. Det første er en lyskæde i et af vores store, og ligenu mørke, vinduer. Den gi'r et urtoligt rart lys. Ikke særligt stjernehimmel-agtigt....Men rart. Den anden ting er en ikon, som jeg efter at have kigget på den i to år, nu har købt. Jeg så den første gang da Duncan og jeg var i Rom. Det, der først faldt mig ind som usædvanligt er at Jesus barnet sidder på Josef's halvdel af billedet. Og så synes jeg der er en utrolig ømhed og helhed i billedet. Det hænger i min nye krog. Her har jeg et lille skrivebord og alle mine bøger. Både skole-studiebøger og andagt-"studie"bøger.

// Seeing as I was telling about my walls, there's two other things. The first one is the fairylights I've bought and put up in one of the big windows of the living room. It gives such a nice, warm light. The other thing is an icon I have bought now, after looking at it for two years. I saw it when Duncan and I were in Rome. The thing that caught my eye about it is the fact that the Christ child is om Joseph's half of the picture. And then I find such an immense sense of tenderness and wholeness in the picture. It hangs on the wall in my corner of the living room. I've got a little desk there, and all mu books - both for study and for relaxing.

2007-02-01T14:25:00.000+01:00

At male på væggen og andre finurligheder .... Sidste weekend blev en finurlig weekend. Fordi vi gjorde nogle usædvanlige ting. Torsdag tog vi på skovtur på stranden med varm kakao om aftenen i frost og blæst. Det var MEGET koldt. Og det var ikke så romantisk, snarere sjovt. Men Holly nød det, og der var noget rart ved at gøre noget skørt. Senere torsdag aften blev vi inviteret på aftensmad i Hjørring hos min nærmest-kusine Lene, som skulle have barnedåb søndag. Lasse ( min lillebror) og hans kæreste skulle stå fadder. Og fordi det var søndag, og vi ikke havde haft så længe til at gøre det anderledes og det ene med det andet, gjorde at vi ikke kunne være med til dåben, hvilket jeg var ked af. SÅ derfor tog vi imod invitationen til aftensmad fredag. Som Duncan retorisk spurgte: "Hvad er mest skørt: At tage på stranden i frost eller at køre 400 km for aftensmad?" Det blev en rigtig hyggelig aften!! Lene og Rene er både hyggelige og sjove mennesker, og det er Lasse og Maria også.

Lørdag morgen kom et par fra menigheden i Vejle hjem med deres lille søn fra Etiopien. Det var meget, og det skulle vi selvfølgelig være med til. Desværre var de en time forsinket fra Frankfurt, og det betød at Duncan var nødt til at køre igen inden de landede, for han skulle være i Holstebro kl. 15.00 fora t planlægge en lejr for teenagere ... Men jeg var med hele vejen og så både deres glæde og den lilles ro ved synet af alle de her mennesker, som stod med flag i hænderne og tårer i øjnene. Der er noget meget stærkt ved oprigtigt at dele andres glæde!

Vel hjemme igen blev jeg enig med mig selv om at vores vægge er for hvide, så jeg bestemte mig for - sådan helt diskret - at male lidt på en af dem. Måske bli'r det til mere en gang? Det gav en vis glæde at bryde konformiteten og gøre noget som jeg ellers for 20 år siden ville være blevet skældt ud for ... Jeg husker stadig hvor uimponerer især min far var da jeg havde kradset et kunstværk på hans klaver - det kan stadig ses, hvis det skulle have interesse ;-)

Søndag var der gospelgudstjeneste i Vejle med medlemsoptagelse! Duncan var jo i Holstebro og sluttede af der - det endte med noget rollespil i marts for de nyligt konfirmerede... Og søndag aften lå jeg foran fjernsynet mens han holdt meditativ gudstjeneste i Esbjerg.

Nu må I ikke blive alt for forpustede over denne her weekend (Selvom jeg blev det lige i tawe') Det er alt sammen gået meget godt. Vi har gået nogle lange ture sammen og sovet længe, og så er det egentlig landet meget godt. Denne her weekend er også fyldt, men både lørdag og søndag aften er frie - så det er dejligt! Og om en uge? Ja, så har vi ferie! //A Peculiar Weekend Last weekend was a peculiar weekend. BEcuase we did peculiar things. Thursday we went to the beach with hot chocolate in frost and strong wind. It was VERY cold. As you can tell from my red nose. It wasn't romantic - more funny. But Holly enjoyed it. And there was somethign nice about douing something so silly! Later Thursday evening we were invited to come to Hjørring (up north) for dinner Friday evening. My cousin, Lenes daughter was getting bepatized on Sunday, but for various reason we couldn't be there - which I could have really liked to be. So we accepted the invitation. As Duncan said "I don't know what's most cracy - picnic in the dark and cold or driving 400 km. to get dinner?" As it turned out it was a really nice evening.

Saturday morning we went to the airport to meet and greet a couple from the congregation in Vejle, who returned from Ethiopia with their son. Unfortunately they were an hour late from Frankfurt, and that meant Duncan had to leave before they arrived. He had to go to a planning meeting for a teenage camp later this spring. But I was there and saw both their great joy and the little boys calm at the sight of all these people with flags in their hands and tears in their eyes. There is something very powerful about sharing other's joy.
At home again I concluded that yes, our walls are just too white. So I painted - descretely, off course - on one of them. It felt good to challenge conformity, and do something that 20 years ago I would've been told off for. I can still remember just how unimpressed my dad was when I had scratched a little masterpiece on his pianio. It's still there to be seen, should you be interested.;-)

Sunday there was a gospelservice in Vejle where new members were accepted into the congregation. Duncan was off planning, and in the evening, when I was lying in front of the telly, he was in Esbjerg doing a meditative service there.
Please, don't gett o out of breath at the sound of all this (although I my self was at the time) It all went well, we've been for some good walks this week, have had a lie in, and this weekend, althoug busy, at least we're inthe same place. And in a weeks time? Well, that's holiday!

2007-01-25T16:32:00.000+01:00

Well I've finally done it! I'm sure that the 4c catagory means that I'm 'Rigspolitichefen' (Police Chief), so watch out! :P Second time round, didn't speed this time, I failed because I drove too fast - not that I intend to be a boy-racer or anything. I've had a paper driving card for the last week and then the 'real' thing arrived yesterday in the post. Its a funny thing driving because you gain alot more freedom in being able to get were you want to be when you want to be(within certain limits), but with that freedom also comes responsibility, responsibility for your car, other motorists, pedestrians, after all it is a potentially lethal thing you're now in control of. That duality of freedom and responsibility is probably true of much that gives freedom, with it comes the responsibility to use it properly.

2007-01-25T15:44:00.000+01:00

Det kører for Duncan! Frem og tilbage over det mest af den sydlige region ;-) Det føles også som ren luksus at få lov til at være passagerer. Den første gang han kørte tilbage efter brunch i Esbjerg hos Jane og Jesper var godt nok lidt underligt - jeg vidste ikke rigtigt hvad jeg skulle stille op med mig selv. Når man nu kun har siddet bag rattet i næsten et år. Hvad får man lige tiden til at gå med ved siden af?! Jeg har dog opdaget at man kan se mange ting ud af vinduerne. Og så prøver jeg at koncentrere mig om ikke at kommenterer alting ---koblingen er ikke altid ligenem og gearskift er ikke så glidende, endnu altså.
Ellers går det stille og roligt. Vi har været glade for at bo på anden sal i den forgangne uge. Vandet i åen skal stige en del før det påvirker os her! Selvom det nu var "vores" å, der skabte kaos i midtbyen. Stenen vi plejer at måle efter var helt væk. Man kunne ikke engang se hvirvler ovenover den, så der var meget vand.
Efter de sidste to dage at have mødet mennesker, som har turdet være ærlige med hvordan de har det, vil jeg øve mig i også at turde. Det er så nemt at svare pænt, når man bliver spurgt om hvordan det går. Især når der bliver spurgt til hvordan Duncan har det. Svaret er at det går op og ned. Og ikke altid ligemeget op. Det kombineret med det her uafbrudte regnvejr har gjort det knap så fedt. Jeg har grund til at tro at det vender nu - ikke kun fordi der er klar frost og solskin udenfor. Men af mange grunde. Bl.a. fordi vi den anden dag blev ringet op af en ven, som vist ikke var sikker på hun skulle, men som gjorde ret i det hun sagde. Det er godt med folk, som kærer sig (godt gammelt udtryk) nok til at blande sig ;-)
Derudover er der to uger til vi har vinterferie. Den skal bruges på "Projekt Hus" og så hinanden. Jeg glæder mig!
I aften skal vi på skovtur til Tirsbæk. Forhåbentligt er der stjerneklart!

2007-01-11T10:41:00.000+01:00

Vi har ikke skrevet siden vi kom hjem fra England. VI havde en god tur. Særligt Duncan nød sproget, fish'n'chips, og Christmas pudding (Jeg har stadig ikke helt fanget pointen med de sidste to?!) Selvom vores ophold var lidt kort passede det hele nu meget godt. Måske fordi julen er et tidspunkt hvor alle har afsat tid til at være sammen, og måske fordi dem vi gerne ville se var samlet på ét sted på én gang. Og nogen af dem kom endda over til Ian og Jean så vi ikke skulle rejse efter dem. Det betød bl.a. at vi fik set lille Eve (Duncans kusines datter) Hun var et år til vores bryllup, nu går hun i skole og delte knallerter ud til os alle sammen inden vi spiste. Nogle stykke fra Duncans ungdomsgruppe spiste frokost sammen en dag (på en café hvor varme var et fremmedord) Allerbedst var det at se James igen. Han planlægger at tage til New Zealand i 18 måneder. Måske er det længe nok til at vi kan spare op og tage ned og se ham? Han har problemer med at udfylde de relevante ansøgninger hvor han skal forkalre de faglige fordele ved hans ophold. Det viser sig at dykning og snow boarding ikke tæller som fagligt materiale for revisorer...
For en gangs skyld havde vi også mulighed for at være med til det årlige Thompson juletamtam. Det var rigtig sjovt - godt at ha' tid til at snakke med kusinerne og deres kærester, og opleve at vi er en del af en familie også i England. Det var begrænset hvor meget vi nåede at være sammen med dem mens vi boede i England. Den dag vi tog afsted spiste vi frokost hos Granddad og Winnifred. Granddad især ser gammel og skrøbelig ud. Det er altid mærkligt at tage afsted fra dem - vi kommer til at tænke på om de mon er her næste gang vi kommer?
Vi kom hjem til midnat d. 30, Duncan stod op og tog til gudstjeneste i Århus søndag, og om aftenen holdt vi Nytårsaften i Esbjerg. De første dage i 2007 blev brugt på at hvile. Og ligenu kæmper jeg med den forkølelse jeg reddede mig i den kolde café. Næste ting på programmet: Duncans køreprøve!! ///Haven't written since we came back from Christmas. We had a great time in England. Especially Duncan loved the language, the fish'n'chips and the Christmas pudding. (I still don't quite get the latter two?!) ALthough our stay was rather short everything fitted in nicely. Maybe because Christmas is a time of year when people have time to be together anyway - and maybe also because so many of the people we'd like to see was gathered at one place at one time. Some of them even came to us. So we saw the lovely little Eve - she was 1 at our wedding but is now a little lady who attends school, and hands out crackers to every one. Some of the guys from Duncan's old youth group came together for a lunch. Duncan was happy to catch up with them. I was happy to get a chance to catch up with James. Good man, good friend. He's off to New Zealand for at least 18 month. Maybe long enough for us to save up to go and see him?! He was having problems filling in the forms to his firm to explain the actual benefits for his work if he went (apparantly scuba diving and snow boarding doesn't count as professional targets in accounting?!) For once we also had the oppertunity to be at the annual get-to-gether-Christmas-party in the Thompson Clan. On the day of us leaving we had lunch with Granddad and Winnifred. Especially Granddad looks frail and old. It's always strange leaving them, because we can't help but think "will they be here next time we come over?"
We came home at midnight on the 30th, Duncan got up for the service in the morning, and in the evening we welcomed the New Year in Esbjerg. The first days in 2007 was spend resting - and now, secong week, I'm fighting off the cold that started in that *** cold restaurant in Sutton. Next up: Did Duncan pass his driving test today?!

2006-12-25T18:15:00.000+01:00

One of my Christmas presents came from an unexpectant place. And as you know that does make a present worse ;-) It is a bouquet af sweets and finger puppets. Etable, Coulurful and entertaining! What more can you want? I'm so happy and impressed by it that I'd thouht I'd share it with you! //

Èn af mine julegaver kom fra ganske uventet kant. Det gør jo som regel ikke gaver værre ;-) Det er denne slik buket med fingerdukker. Spiselig, farvestrålende og underholdende. Hvad mere kan man forlange?! Jeg er så imponeret og glad for den at jeg lige ville vise den frem...

2006-12-25T12:36:00.000+01:00

Glædelig jul! Vi er lige kommet tilbage efter en stille gudstjeneste i Vejle - vi var ikke mange, men dog flere end sidste år. Duncan og jeg havde gudstjenesten sammen. Det var dejligt, for der er længe imellem vi får lov til at være sammen på den måde, og det er der noget fint ved at være. Duncan ledte gudstjenesten, hvor alle var inviteret til at tage en julegave med - og de havde gjort det! Det var sjovt ;-) Det største hit var nok det elektriske målebånd ... Jeg prædikede, men havde hård konkurrence idag. Naomi, en lille pige på to år, nyligt adopteret fra Syafrika, var nemlig med i kirke. Det er der bestemt ikke noget galt med for der hører børnene jo også til, og Naomi er et vældigt stille barn. Men hendes far havde taget sine nye tøfler med som hans julegave. Så mens jeg nok så alvorligt stod og fortalte om underet at Gud selv blev menneske, og at både krop og ånd er vigtig hvis vi skal være hele og sunde mennesker, ja, så stod Naomi og balancerede på ét ben for at prøve sin fars tøfler .... Det var temmelig svært at holde masken!
Idag ligger vi på brak, og imorgen flyver vi til Manchester for at besøge familien i England. Selvom vi skal se en masse, bliver der også tid til at slappe af og gå en god tur i Sutton Park. Vi glæder os i hvert fald til det. Og er glade for at vi i år har mulighed for at holde jul både på dansk og engelsk! // Merry Christmas! We have just come back from a quiet service in Vejle - the big Christmas service is on the 24th in the evening. It was a small number this morning, but we had a good time. Duncan and I shared the service. That was noce, because it's not very often we get to do that anymore. But it's a good way to be together. Duncan let the service, where everybody had been invited to bring along a Christmas present - and they had! It was fun ;-) I think the best one was the electrical tape measurer... I preached, but had very hard competition to dag. It just so happened that Naomi, a little girl on 2, recently adopted from South Africa, had come to church with her parents. There's nothing wrong with that - on the contrary. But Naomi's dad had brought his new slippers as his present. And so, while I was telling about the wonder of God becoming human, and that we need to remember both body and spirit if we are to be whole and healthy people, well, Naomi was balancing on one leg, to try on her dad's slippers - on top of her own shoes. It was not easy to keep a straight face!
Today we're vegging out. And Tomorrow we get on the plane to Manchester to visit familie in England. Eventhough there's many people to see, there'll be time to relax and go for a walk in Sutton Park. It'll be great. And we're very glad that this year we have the oppertunity to celebrate Christmas in both Danish and English!

2006-12-10T14:37:00.000+01:00

Tænkte at jeg ligeville vise jer noget af det, der gør mig glad for mit arbejde: Gospelkoret Joy & Comfort. Det er et kor, som holder til i menigheden i Vejle, og som jeg er en del af. Billederne her er fra en støtekoncert for Amnesty International i november.

Det var en rigtig god aften. Vi holder jævnt tit gospelgudstjenester i menigheden hvor koret synger, men at synge en times koncert er noget helt andet - man bli'r helt høj af det. Det særlige ved den her koncert var bl.a. at to nye solister sang, og at vore lille ny gospelkor for børn på 9-15 år sang en rigtig koncert for første gang - og gjorde det godt! // Thought I'd show you one of the things that make me happy about my work: Joy & Comfort, a gospel choir. The choir practices in the church where I work, and I take part in it every week. The pictures is from a concert we did in support of Amnesty International. About once a month we have a gospel service (sounds ironic, I know - shouldn't each Sunday be a Gospel service, but you know what I mean). Yet giving an hour long concert is something else entirely! The really great things about this particular evening was that two "new" people gave solos, and that our new choir for children 9-15 sang for the first time, and did great!

2006-11-30T16:31:00.000+01:00

Som vor mor lavede dem - bortset fra jeg ikke kan huske min mor nogensinde har syltet rødbeder. Vi fik for uger (måneder?) tilbage en del rødbeder fra Tine og Jens' kolonihavehus. Men har ikke rigtig vidst hvad vi skulle stille op med dem. Det viser sig der er grænser for hvor mange rødbeder vi sætter til livs.... Men til alt held har jeg arvet "Den Grønne Syltebog"! Vældig husmoderagtig følte jeg mig da jeg stod der i eddikedampen med røde hænder. Nu ligger de røde rødder i gamle henkogningsglas og venter på julemaden. Så hvis I kommer forbi vil jeg med stolthed stille hjemmesyltede rødbeder på bordet! (Forresten er det som at smutte mandler at tage skrællen af kogte rødbeder. Temmelig sjovt, faktisk) // Luckily I have inherited an old book of recipies for pickling and storing vegetables and fruits. We got a bunch of beet roots from some friends weeks (months?) ago. As it turns out we don't eat that many beet roots in every day life. But the old books had the answers. So very 1950's house wife'ly I have been pickling beetroots. I didn't get pickled myself (although I'm sure you could if you inhaled anough vinegar steam!) Should you care to drop by I will proudly present you with home pickled beet root for Christmas lunches or dinners! (By the way: taking the peel of a boiled beet root is a lot like taking the skin of an almond - quite funny, actually! )

2006-11-30T16:15:00.000+01:00

En god fest//A good party

Adriana og Jakob - nogle af vores gode venner blev gift i lørdags. Adriana er fra Spanien, Duncan lærte hende at kende på sprogskolen. Jakob og Adrina har været med til at få os til at føle os hjemme i Vejle. Deres bryllup var helt anderledes end vores bryllup - det er sjovt at se hvor mange måder den samme ting kan gøres på. De var glade, og det var stort - og dejligt at få lov til at være med. Festen blev holdt på en lille kro lige udenfor Jelling. Vi anede ikke hvor vi skulle hen, havde aldrig hørt om kroen før. Jeg er en af dem med en ikke helt fuldt udviklet stedssans. Så selvom vi har boet her i mere end to år er der stadig mange lokale stednavne jeg ikke aner hvor er - selvom jeg har hørt om dem flere gange. Så da de sagde "ved Fårup Sø" tænkte jeg "Nå?!".

Det viste sig at kroen ligger lige i skovkanten, men udsigt over en herlig lille/halvstor sø. Smukt, smukt sted med bakker omkring. Så to dage efter festen hvor vi havde fri trak vi i vandre støvlerne og varme jakker og gik en tur langs søen. Så nu har vi fundet et nyt fristed: og det ligger bare lige om på den anden side af bakken, små 10 km. væk!! Adriana and Jakob - some of our good friends got married on Saturday. Adriana is from Spain, Duncan got to know her on language school. Jakob and Adriana are part of the reason we started feeling settled in Vejle. Their wedding was quite different from how our wedding was - it's funny how one thing can be done in so many ways! They were happy, and it was special - and great to be part of. The dinner was at a little inn around 10 km. away from where we live. We had no idea where it was. I'm one of those people with an underdeveloped sense of direction, so although we have lived here for 2 years now, there are still pieces of local gepgraphy that I have only heard of. So when they said "Fårup Lake" I though "Right ?!"
The inn turned out to lie just outside a wood with a view over a lake. A beautofull place! Two days later on our day off we got in our walking boots and warm coats and went for a walk along the lake. So now we have found another little oasis. And it's just on the other side of the hill- Around 10 km. from us!!

2006-11-23T11:45:00.000+01:00

Hi Peeps!
This is my official first post, I've been putting it off for ages now, mainly 'cos I didn't know what to write :) I still don't know quite what to say, but thats just like me! But anyway this is my first post - Anne doesn't know I'm doing/I've done it yet so we'll have to see what she says ;)
Anyway I'm sure we'll see you around here...
Duncan

2006-11-17T13:45:00.000+01:00

Duncan har bestået teoriprøven og nærmer sig altså med hastige skridt kørekortet! Det er rigtig dejligt. For os begge to. Selvom han holder af at forberede sig i toget, så er der nogle ting, der er nemmere med en bil. Og sover man over er det nemmere at køre i bil end at være afhængig af DSB!! Og så glæder jeg mig til ikke altid at skulle være den, der er frisk nok til at køre. Om han så får en Aston Martin lige med det samme.... jeg tror han må nøjes med Mazda'en // Duncan has passed his theory test and so he's closer than ever to his drivers licens. It's really great. For both of us. Even though he likes to prepare for meetings and read on the train, there are somethings that are just easier in a car. And if you oversleep its easier to get there in a car, than waiting around for a train!! I look forwards to not having to be the one who's always awake eanough to drive everywhere! But whether he gets to start in an Aston Martin ... I think he'll have to make do with the Mazda

2006-11-15T20:21:00.000+01:00

Ode to an Ice Cream

Så smuk kan en italiensk is tage sig ud! Købt en varm oktober dag i latinerkvarteret i Paris. Normalt er is skønne fordi de skal spises - men den her er ikke min. Men skøn er den nu. Fordi den er købt i anledningen af et jubilæem, et venskab. Og uden den slags var verden ikke til at holde ud. Det gælder både is og venskab! // The beauty of Italian ice cream! Bought on a warm October day in Paris. Normally ice cream are great because of the eating - but this one isn't for me. Yet, still it's amazing! Because it's bought in celebration of an anniversary, a friendship. And without those the world wouldn't be the same. And that goes for both ice cream and friendships!

2006-11-15T14:46:00.000+01:00

Så er Huset lukket og slukket for i år - sidste store ryk indenfor bliver til foråret. Men vi ER kommet langt. Takket være Duncans glæde ved arbejdet. En glæde jeg ike deler helt så entusiastisk... jeg vil bare gerne kunne sidde i en god stol, gå en tur og være i haven. Billederne viser hemsen - faktisk færdig. Mangler bare rengøring. Vinduerne er malede to gange, væggene har fået. Og Duncan har pudset halvmuren op og det medste af skorstenen. Holly elsker haven, her har hun fundet sin gamle ven - kødbenet fra i sommer. Adw!! //The House has been shut down for the winter - the last bigg push inside will be next spring. But we HAVE come a long way. Thanks to Dusncan's joy in the work. A joy I don't share quite so enthusiastically.... I'd like to sit in a good chair, go for a walk and be in the garden. The pictures show the little room above the living room - almost finished. Needs a good clean. all the windows have been painted twice, and the walls as well. Duncan has done the half wall up, and most of the chimney. Holly loves the garden, she's found a good old friend again - the bone from this summer. Yurk!!

2006-11-09T21:48:00.000+01:00

Snakkede med én idag som sagde at skrive en blog er et udtryk for overskud. Jeg tror hun har ret. Og det er nok også derfor jeg ikke kan/vil/har lyst til at fortsætte. Fordi jeg ikke føler jeg kan være ærlig, ikke har noget særlig værdifuldt at dele og egentlig føler mig til kunstig ved det. Ville gerne være god til det, og endnu vigtigere: synes om det, altså synes det gav mening også for mig.

Tjaeh. Måske er den bedste måde at give mening for mig at snakke med dem omkring mig og fortælle dem om mine sære indfald og nye opdagelser. Ellers måske er det bare overskuddet der ikke er til det...

Har lige været møde om tilskud til foreninger i Ny Vejle kommune. Der er nogle mennesker i de forskellige kommuner, som har gjort et enormt stykke arbejde for at harmoniserer fem kommuners tilskud og regler for foreninger. Og alligevel sad der nogle i salen og brokkede sig fra ende til anden. Eller det vil sige ham jeg tænker på sad ikke, han stod op med mikrofonen for det meste. Jeg blev så træt af at høre på det.

Hvad er grunden til at vi ikke er mere glade for hinanden? Eller ikke værdsætter andre menneskers arbejde. Suk. Tal er tørre nok i forvejen, synes jeg, også uden at en eller anden smart fyr skal gøre sig klog på andres bekostning!

2006-11-09T13:59:00.000+01:00

Bye Bye Blog-land!

Having a blog was a bit of an experiment. And as such it has been revised - and I've decided to stop this blog.
The blog set up is changing to a Bete blog where it is possible to make a "private" blog, where only invited people can read the blog. So maybe, when this is fully in place, I'll switch to that.

Anywho - thanks for stopping by!

Anne

2006-10-12T16:32:00.000+02:00

Jeg har sådan et godt forhold til min kiropraktor. Dels er hun en herlig kvinde, og dels er jeg kommet der en del. Desværre. Men sådan skal det ikke være længere! Hurra. Der var nemlig ikke noget at komme efter idag da hun tjekkede min ryg.
Jeg vidste det jo godt inden jeg sad hos hende - at jeg ikke "har kunnet mærke min ryg". Og alligevel var det en fantastisk lettelse at høre hende sige det. Min rygtræning og svømning har battet noget! Alene gi'r mig en fornemmelse af at have bedrevet noget, at have gjort noget godt for mig selv.

Og det utrolige er at jeg i mandags vovede mig ud at løbe i mine nye løbesko.... og det kunne ryggen også holde til. En fri kvinde!Dejligt!

2006-10-06T09:36:00.000+02:00

Adams Æbler: sjov, men også ret sørgelig.

Præsten Ivan viser er et studie i fornægtelse - og ikke i selvfornægtelse på den fede måde. Nej, han nægter at se virkeligheden i øjnene. Den spastisklammede søn er ikke lam - han er bare ikke på toppen efter en hård influenza. Og konen begik ikke selvmord -hun troede bare pillerne vare gule M&Ms. Og Khalid røver ikke Statoil mere, han sparer bare op til nyt tøj. Ingen er onde eller har evnen til at gøre noget forkert. Nej, det er den Onde selv, der tester dem.

Hans fornægtelse af sandheden har store konsekvenser. For ham selv, selvfølgelig, fordi han ikke rigtig oplever noget som helst der sker rigtigt. Men også for de mennesker som er omkring ham. Hans manglende mod til at se realiteter i øjnene holder alle omkring ham fanget også. Kvinden Sarah som kommer fordi hun er gravid, men har fået at vide der er 60% chance for at barnet bliver født handicappet. Ivan fortæller hende om sin egen søn: "Vi fik at vide der var 75% chance for at han var handicappet .. men når jeg ser på ham når han løber rundt eller bare sidder og laver lektier, så er vi da lykkelige at vi traf det valg. Du skal følge dit hjerte og få det barn." Men virkeligheden er den at Christoffer ikke kan løbe, og at der ikke længere er noget vi til at være glad - eller ked - af drengen. For Ivans kone begik selvmord pga barnets handicap. Men Ivans fornægtelse af sin egen sanhed gør ham ude af stand til at tage en andens problemer alvorligt.

Det samme ser vi da han er på besøg hos den døende Poul, som under 2. Verdenskrig arbejdede for tyskerne - måske i koncentrationslejrene. Poul ligger for døden og lider af dårlig samvittighed. Han føler ikke han fortjener andres godhed, og fortæller at han har det dårligt med at komme i kirken fordi han er bange for det han har gjort. "Det kan ingen tilgive." Ivan lytter, men hører ikke hvad Poul siger. Alle fortjener godhed, og alle har slået en skævert, men Gud tilgiver alt spå Poul skal holde op med det pjat. Ivan er igen ikke i stand til at tage et andet menneskes kvaler og problemer alvorligt. Og det ender med at Poul dør uden at få fred og syndsforladelse. Til Pouls begravelse fortæller Ivan hvordan Pouls sidste ord var: "Jeg er klar" i skrigende kontrast til scenen fra hospitalet.

Det uhyggelige, synes jeg, er at Ivan ganske givet tror på at det hænger sådan sammen. Ikke før til sidst trænger Adam igennem til ham - og da han gør kommer Ivan til at tro at det ikke er den Onde der er ude efter ham, men Gud. Ingen i filmen snakker om muligheden for at vi mennesker selv har ansvar også for hvordan det går galt og gør ondt i vores og andres liv.

Det er selvfølgelig det evige spørgsmål: hvor kommer ondskaben fra? Fra Gud, fra djævelen eller fra mennesker? Ivan har valgt menneskene fra - de er ikke i stand til at gøre hverken ondt eller galt. Og på den måde kan man elske dem uanset hvad. På den anden side gør det jo lige præcis at han ikke kan elske dem. I hvert fald ikke som de er.

Det er så nemt at digte små historier om virkeligheden sådan at den er til at holde ud. Det er måske også okay til en vis grad. Vi har brug for historier. Det er kun gennem historier at vi kender os selv og hinanden, men når historierne tager overhånd og ikke kan erstattes med andet i mødet med andre, så bliver det forkvaklende.

For mig blev filmens budskab at ens egne historier om virkeligheden kan ødelægge andre og være med til at holde dem fast i deres problemer. Man behøver ikke altid at have historier eller svar, nogle gange er det bedste at stå ved livet, omstændighederne som de er. Fordi livet nogle gange leves, der hvor det gør ondt, og hvor der ikke er nogen god grund til hvorfor det er sådan.

Åh, giv mig mod til at bekæmpe min indre Ivan.

2006-10-04T18:53:00.000+02:00

Jeg undres ... Der er i hvert fald nogle ting jeg ikke helt forstår. Jeg er ligesom det meste af Danmarks befolkning blevet rigtig forarget og forskrækket over hvordan nogen koldt og kynisk kan finde på at misbruge andre. Nærmere beskrevet unge piger - og børn.
Men samtidig er jeg skruet sådan sammen at jeg ikke kan lade være med at zoome lidt længere ud end den her ene mand.
Og så er det jeg undres - eller ikke rigtig forstår. Jeg synes det er aldeles forkert at misbruge andre - og især mindreårige. Men jeg kan også godt forstå at man kan blive forvirret hvis i forvejen er syg, ude på en glidebane, mindrebegavet, hvad ved jeg....
For hvordan kan vi(vi = samfund) på den ene side fordømme mennesker som tiltrækkes af unges seksuelitet og udstråling, mens vi på den anden side synes det er helt okay at smække den op over det hele?
Som eksempel den her plakat som jeg i lang tid er cyklet forbi hver dag på arbejde:

I mine øjne ser hun ikke særlig gammel ud. Og tager man en tur i H&M og køber undertøj, så er det også meget unge piger, der reklamerer der.

Det ene retfærdiggør ikke det andet. Men måske skulle vi (vi=os, der udgør samfundet) turde se vores egne tabuer i øjnene og snakke om, hvordan forskellige ting påvirker hinanden. Og ikke mindst det ansvar vi hver især har overfor andre.
Nogle vil påberåbe sig ytringsfrihedens ret til at vise hvad som helst. Men som kristen er jeg nødt til at sige at vi, der ikke har problemer med at se de uldne grænser, er nødt til at hjælpe de, der har svært ved det. Som der stod på et advarselsskilt mod lommetyveri i den hal jeg trænede badminton i som teenager: "Lad vær' at friste andre". Eller som Paulus skriver: "Alt er tilladt, men ikke alt gavner. Alt er tilladt, men ikke alt bygger op. " (1. Korinterbrev 10:23-24)

2006-09-29T19:54:00.000+02:00

Bøn er sådan en mærkelig størrelse. F.eks. Fadervor som jeg bruger så meget. Det er så nemt at glemme hvad jeg siger fordi ordene er så kendte, at de ligesom er blevet en tryg og kendt remse med en bestemt rytme. Indimellem er det guld værd at det er sådan - for det kan være så svært med alle ord jeg selv skal komme med. Og det er trygt at kunne gå ind i noget velkendt.

På den anden side er det nogen gange nødvendigt at se på indholdet, og tænke over hvordan jeg selv ville sige det. Fik på vores præste kursus i denne uge øjnene op for Fadervor omskrevet af Jokeren, det er fra hans album "Alpha Han".

Fader Vor.
Du som styrer i himlen.
Respekten er din - Jeg er nede med dit rige.
Ske din vilje i mit kvarter, som den sker i alle andre kvarterer.
Tak for den gode æder, vinen og de smukke mennesker du omgiver mig med.
Jeg ved du altid har min ryg, selv når jeg fucker up,
og på samme måde vil jeg altid have mine homies ryg, når de er på skideren,
og endda tilgive dem, der kopierer min Cd´er.
Fristelserne lurer overalt i min del af byen,
men giv mig styrke, mod og visdom til at forvandle dem til inspiration i stedet.
Pas godt på dem jeg elsker, dem jeg ikke elsker og selv på dem, som playerhater på mig.
For Evigt, der. Amen.

2006-09-23T21:57:00.000+02:00

Stjerne for en aften, Scenen er din, Vild med Dans - det er helt vildt hipt. At det også kræver en vis portion mod, rytmisk sans og koordination, ja, det har jeg egentlig aldrig været i tvivl om. Jeg har været på kursus idag om børne arbejde i kristne menigheder. En af de workshops jeg valgte handlede om "Playstation drenge og Scenen er din piger". En af workshoppens pointer var hvor meget vi egentlig ved om det, de her børn/unge går op i? Og hvor forskelligt det egentligt er for det vi selv gik op i da vi var på deres alder? Måske er det bare den teknologi, der er tilgængelig som er forskellig.

At musik har været på mode i laang tid er der vist ingen der er i tvivl om. At det kan være sjovt at danse har mange også erfaret. Men hvordan er det nu lige dansen har udviklet sig?

Bliv imponeret, smil eller le højt: www.evolutionofdance.com

2006-09-05T13:10:00.000+02:00

Tourist killed - don't worry!
In case you have seen the news, heard something or read abouta tourist being killed in Amman yesterday I have good news: Duncan and his team are fine. He wrote home to say that they are all safe, and that no one around them are worried about what has happened.

I spoke with him prior to this, and he is having a great time - although it's hot and the food is fatty. But the people are very friendly and welcoming. And teenagers/teen leaders in Jordan like the exact same amount of silly games that we do ;-)

The dog and I are doing fine. Rattling abit around in the house - it's feels empty. And just once in a while Holly takes a tour to see where Duncan is hiding.

Over the last couple of days I have been amazed just how incredible modern technology has become. Sitting in Denmark I can communicate with Duncan (almost) as if he was just somewhere local. And when the incident in Jordan happened yesterday I heard through a text from my mother-in-law in England! Honey, the world has shrunk!

2006-09-02T15:26:00.000+02:00

What is he doing down there?

Well, apart from having seen where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, the site where Moses look in to the promised land and where Elijah was taken up to heaven, he is actually doing work. Duncan is the leader of a team of six young people (18-28 yrs). This weekend (and next) they will be a youth camps for young Christians from around the area. The purpose of the camps is to encourage these young folks in their Christian faith and identity. The Christians groups in Jordan are very much minority groups and young people often find themselves alone in their congregations. (Even more so than in Denmark or England) So bringing them together is a way of assuring them that they are not the only young Christians. And the team from Highway being there also serves to show that "the world" hasn't forgotten them.
During the week days Duncan and his team will be in schools doing lectures about Christianity. They will be going into schools/universities with mixed groups of Muslims, Jews and Christians. These lectures, we have been assured, will e challenging. Simply because most people are very aware of religion, and are used to religion being visible. The more extreme you are, the more obvious it is from the out side. Previous teams have found these conversations very helpfull and challenging for their personal faith.

O, and then, off course, they end the tour with going out into the Jordanian dessert to visit Petra!

2006-08-31T18:19:00.000+02:00

Amman

Duncan has just left for Amman, Jordan to work with young people of both Christian, Jewish and Muslim background . He is going with an English based organisation, Highway Projects who has worked in the area for the past ten years. Their website is: http://www.highway-projects.org/

2006-08-30T21:40:00.000+02:00

Superman Returns

Since I am intrueged by the need for superheroes at the moment, I had to watch "Superman Returns". It is, I think, a really good film. I know its not breaking new ground in stunts, animation or filming techniques. But the story of Superman coming back is, nevertheless, a good one. Superman returns to earth after a journey to his home planet. We get the impression that he is desillusioned because he has found out for sure that he is the only one left from his planet. This desillusion only grows when he meets Lois Lane, who has won a pullitzer prize for an article on "Why the world doesn't need Superman". And this, I think, is the key question of the film. Does the world need a saviour - or not?
The answer of Lois Lane is clear: No! We've moved on, a saviour is old news. "The world doesn't need a saviour - and neither do I!" Yet, she has no come back when superman shows her his point of view: "You say people don't need a saviour. Yet I hear people cry out for one every day."
This question would without a doubt start an interesting conversation in most groups!

Although the setting of the film is Superman returning to earth, the main returning is that in the end where Superman returns to face Lex Luthor. Basically returning to face death in order to save life. It poses the question: Is it worth going back to something you know have the potential to kill you, ruin you carreer and humiliate you? This is a very moving and rough scene where superman is beaten and humiliated by Lex Luthor and his gang. See it and read Matthew 27:27-44. One of the gang scornfully shouts "Go on, fly away!" Both Duncan and I heard the echo: "Go on, save yourself!"
The meeting with Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor was one of the real high points of the film for me! Spacey is terrible, cynical, egocentric and charming. He is the man, who after having cheated a dying widow into leaving him her entire estate, hands his wig to a little girl and remarks: "You can keep that. The rest is mine."
Then there ware Lois Lane, played by Kate Bosworth. When you are to Terri Hatcher, she was a bit tame. There wasn't much of a desperate housewife about her. More like a nice girl you knew in school...

Throughout the film we meet the conversation between Kal-El (Superman) and his father. We hear the father tell his son about the human race. How it has immense capabilities for good and high moral, and how it easily falls prey to evil. But because, the father says, man kind seeks the goodness in themselves he has sent his son to help. And, as he says, because he as a father tells his son these things, the father becomes the son, and the son becomes the father. A possible starting point to pick up on in a conversation about Christ as the son of God.

Finally, a common thing in the whole hero genre at the moment is that we need our heroes to be modern, soft men. Spiderman doubted his calling as a hero, 007 has trouble with women and now Superman is struggling with the role of being... (don't read of you're going to see the film) a father. We need the heroes, but we also need to know that they are "real" and human - like we are ourselves. An interesting tendency for me as a Christian, who do actually believe that God "returned" as a human to save us. To restore the capabilities for good that are in us. (Read Philipians ch. 2: 5-11)

2006-08-19T20:15:00.000+02:00

Being absorbed
Lots of good memories from a holiday well spend. With work at our little house, with good friends and family.
I've broght home several little gems. Treasures to ponder, or just keep in a pocket for a while. One of them was given to me by my nephew at 7.
We were at my parents, sitting outside with the barbeque. Rasmus, as he's called, hero-worships Duncan. He always has done, and there's something special about seeing them together. This evening it was around the mexican fireplace; a kind of oven made of clay. Duncan og Rasmus had spend a loong time chopping twigs and sticks to make the fire. An important and exciting job.
When we'd finished eating they lit it, and we were all amazed - off course. But, after a little while us grown ups got bored and started talking about other things. Rasmus, however, were mezmerized by the flames. He sat right in front of the fire, looking into it. And that's when it came: A big sigh, and a little happy voice saying. "It's like a fire telly, this." "A fire telly?!" I ask, grown up that I am. "Yeahr",he replies, "It shows nothing but flames."
Indeed! So simple: a fire telly. A place, a space, a moment where everything else disappear except you and the fire. O, how I want to be absorbed by the fire of God's love!

2006-07-23T21:43:00.000+02:00

Der er gået sommer i den!

"Ferie, ferie, feire!
Slap nu af, du har fri,
og syng en glad melodi.
Op mod solen ler vi,
den skal skinne til ferien er forbi."

Der bli'r nok lidt stille over de næste uger. Vi har "arbejdsferie" i Huset. En dejlig plet på jorden....

2006-07-13T00:10:00.000+02:00

Pirates of the Caribbean
Have just come home from the cinema where we watched Captain Jack Sparrow in action. Action and humour - it doesn't get much better. The best things, however, is the fact that there are many thoughts about life, destiny, eternal life and salvation.
For instance: In the first film we saw how Elizabeth, the daughter of a noble governor and Captain Jack Sparrow, who are not at alle noble but does what he can to pursue happiness and freedom, are both appalled by and attracted to each other. This time they have a very interesting conversation as to their characters. Jack Sparrow tries to convince Elizabeth that she will indeed become a pirate. Because, as he reasons, she longs for freedom: for being able to follow every egoistic whim just because she can. When she asks what makes him so sure, his answer is simple: "Curiosity. you want to know what it feels like. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is convinced that he is in fact a good man, and that he will "do the right thing" when he gets a chance. Because of curiosity, she muses, "You really, really long for a taste of it."
I guess they are right. We talk about temptation in Christian circles, and doesn't the power in temptations lie in our curiosity? I'll won't tell you what they do, so you can still go and enjoy the film.

A second scene is where Davy Jones (For danskere: havet selv hedder Davy Jones i engelsk literatur) is taking on board new crew. He asks them, men who are terrified: "Do you fear death, the dark and judgement? Do you fear for it all to come out in the open?" One poor soul nods his head with tears - another warns him not to answer. This second man is holding a rosary (rosenkrans) Davy Jones turns to him: "Do you not fear the deep?" And the man's answers: "I take my chances" while he holds on to the rosary with a cross on it - this has him killed. A third man protests at this. Davy Jones turns to him and shouts: "Life is cruel, why should the after life be any different?!" Turning to the first man he says, mildly: "I can offer you a way to postpone your judgement..."

Yep. I think the Pirates need to be watched closely with a notebook at hand, because surely there's some good points for conversation here!

O, and we saw a trailer for the new Superman film. A promising quote from Lois Lane to Superman: "The world doesn't need a Saviour. And neither do I." Guess we'll have to watch that too!

2006-07-11T12:56:00.000+02:00

It can be hard work being a well-meaning new minister ;-)

Pastor H. Oly, came fresh from college to start his position in the parish. The head of the church board encouraged him to pay a visit to old Edna.
The paster goes with hopefully, and is sat down in the living room with a cuppa. "So, Edna, I'm the new pastor of the congregation." "Sure" old Edna replies. Slowly the conversation moves over a few light subjects, but soon there's not much to be said.
The pastor hits on the brilliant idea of talking about more personal stuff.
"How are your children doing, Edna?" "Sure," says Edna "I have a daughter, but she's been in prison for nine years." This more or less kills off the conversation.
Luckily Edna breaks it: "I also have a son - but he jumped from the 6th floor."
What to do, what to do? The minister feels he saves it by asking: "Do you have other children?"
This makes Edna take a deep breath before she answers:
"Sure, I have a son at uni."
Relieved pastor H. Oly lights up, convinced he has hit fertile ground: "So, what does your son do at university?"
After a short pasue Edna answers: "He's preserved in the Institute of Anatomy."

2006-07-09T23:47:00.000+02:00

Man's best friend is known to be the dog. Which is quite true in our home. However, dog's best friend is the dog across the street, Noah.
Holly, our dog, watches the windows. Sometimes she barks, or "comments" on the people and dogs walking past. And on bad days the ducks and black birds also get a greeting. But one day she reacted completely different. She came running in from the window, first to Duncan, then to me. Jumping up and down, tale wagging, ears up, happy barking. Both of us followed bewildered - what on earth had the barmy dog found?
When we came to the window we saw Noah and his owner walking along the path outside our window. The dog had seen her friend outside and wanted to go and play!
Today it happened again, except this time she was out on the balcony, and I swear that if she'd been tall enough to jump over the fence and two floors down she would've. And if Noah (who's a sausage dog/gravhund) had wings, he would've flown up to play with her.
What could we do, except take the little creature down to play with her little mate?
They both enjoyed it - that's obvious for anyone to see. Like two little kinder garten children they roll around, play tig and chase each other round and round. And when they get tired, they lie down together, tongues out, enjoying each other just being there.

Who doesn't need a friend like that?!

2006-07-04T13:05:00.000+02:00

Ny Salmebog
Min kirke har lige fået ny salmebog. Et projekt som har strukket sig over 12 år. Når man som mig ikke har været bevidst om hele processen, simpelthen fordi jeg var for ung da den begyndte, er det svært helt at tage ind hvilken mammut anstrengelse her er tale om for en lille kirke som vores.
Men vi kan være stolte af den - og selvfølgelig af det enorme frivillige arbejde som er blevet lagt i dens tilblivelse. Jeg tror, vi bliver glade for den. I hvert fald er det dejligt at have en bog som ligenu samler alle de sange og salmer som vi bruger. Og flere til.

Til præsentationen af salmebogen sang vi en sang, som endnu ikke har sluppet mig. Den er ny og den er relevant. Den handler om Jesus, men Jesus i verden. Der hvor han hører til! Den sætter nogle utrolige ord og billeder på Jesus' nærvær:

Søger du mod fjerne havne
efter guld og røgelse,
vil du se, på tusind favne,
noget, som et spøgelse.
Som et lys, der lydløst følger
skibets farefulde færd,
kommer det på nattens bølger
undertiden ganske nær.

Når de store have stiger,
og din nabos skib går ned,
og I danser, mens de skriger,
følger skyggelyset med.
Der er huller i dets hænder,
i dets hjerte dybe sår.
Det er hul i ho’det, venner,
at I ingenting forstår.

Kan det lys vel være andet
end min spøgefulde ånd.
Hvem sku’ ellers gå på vandet
med en udstrakt hjælpehånd.
Selv på dødens oceaner
færdes jeg på sikker grund,
jeg kan danse på vulkaner,
jeg er nær i hver en stund.

Jeg er nær, når livet lykkes
i de kæres sammenkomst.
Jeg er nær, når kisten smykkes
med en ynglings yndlingsblomst.
Jeg er med i statistikken
over unge, hængte mænd.
I kloakken, på klinikken,
overalt går jeg igen.

Jeg er med jer alle dage,
alle mørke nætter med.
Jeg er mægtig, i de svage,
til at rive mure ned.
Det er mig, der kalder sammen
til det store gæstebud.
Det er mig, der tænder flammen,
når et oprør bryder ud.

Jeg er sjælen i kritikken
af et destruktivt system.
Jeg er inde i musikken;
jeg ta’r fat på dit problem.
Det er mig, der protesterer,
når de mindste mangler brød.
Skønt jeg ikke eksisterer,
må du tro mig for min død.

Jeg går gennem låste døre
uden larm og låsesmed.
Jeg har tusind ting at gøre,
tusindfryd at frådse med.
Det er altid mig, der er den,
når I leger syndebuk.
Jeg går ind for dig og verden;
jeg gør dig og verden smuk.

Jeg er med i dine tanker,
når de flyver i det blå.
Jeg er med på korsets planker,
det må alle lide på.
Jeg er med i alles smerter,
jeg er kroppens sjette sans.
Lad mig bo i jeres hjerter;
tag mig med i jeres dans.

Jeg kan danse på vulkaner,
jeg kan kysse med din mund.
Under dødens oceaner
har jeg rod på sikker grund.
Når den store stormflod stiger,
og selv Noas Ark går ned,
skal I bygge høje diger
af min dybe kærlighed.

Kommer du fra fjerne lande
tung af guld og røgelse,
vil du se, på nære vande,
mig – og intet spøgelse.
I min favn er tusind favne.
Evigt liv er i min ånd.
I mit navn er alle navne.
Dumme-Peter, tag min hånd!
Hans Anker Jørgensen.

2006-07-02T17:30:00.000+02:00

Memory of Eden

I believe we all have a memory of Eden. A touch of Paradise in side. A recollection of how it was meant to be. And it is this memory, this knowledge that makes us react to injustices and meaninglessness. That is why we cry out "why?!" with pain, sorrow and grief. It is because we know we are meant for eternity that we are angered, filled with sorrow and un-knowing when a life is taken - too soon.

I believe we were made for eternity. You and I are meant to live forever. Our lives are not meant to be short, our being was not created as a short interlude. I believe we are made for relationships and love - the everlasting kind. I believe that God is love, and I believe that we are made in his image. And since we are made in his image, we too have the longing for eternity.

And I believe, that as we cry out with pain and grief, so does God. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 26-28) Because this was not how he intended it to be. I believe that he wants to restore us to eternity. I believe that life eternal is ours to have. And I believe the offer is for all!

2006-06-24T13:23:00.000+02:00

Sleeping Beauty or Goofy?

I have found a rather funny little quiz. It tells you who you are in Disney characters. I am not entirely sure how to respond to the verdict on my personality: a mixture between Sleeping Beauty, Goofy (Fedtmule) and Peter Pan.

Have a go: http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=3049&first=yes

2006-06-23T23:06:00.000+02:00

There are holy places on this earth. One of them is Taizé in France. Taizé is a community of Christian brothers from all over the earth, from most church traditions (except Orthodox). It was started by Brother Roger, who died a month before we were there. And it has become a beacon of light, working with dialogue as a means to reconciliation. (forsoning). Thousands of young people from all over the world go each week to take part in the life and prayer of the brothers.
Duncan and I are so fortunate that we were given a trip down there with our colleages by our church. We went in September last year. We went with three colleages and had a great time - together and alone with God. I was very touced by the experience. It was so simple, and so straight forward. The important thing was to be with God.

So it didn't really surprise me when Duncan said that he would like to go there for a week. He wanted to spend a week in silence. I think that because I know the place, it felt perfectly safe to send him away. He has come back different than when he left. God has touched him. It was the right thing to do! And off course it was: taking time out to be with God in a place where they take seeking God and the thirst for him seriously - how could that ever not be a good idea?

Here's some pictures from September:

To find out more click onto www.taize.fr - you'll find a site in your own language. And you can even hear the special singing from Taizé!

2006-06-17T18:23:00.000+02:00

Smoked salmon patê:

200 g. smoked salmon
200 g. cream cheese
100 g. crème fraîche
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tbsp. chopped fresh dill and one dill leaf

The salmon, cream cheese and creme fraiche is mixed together (in food processor or with blender). Stir in the lemon juice and the chopped dill. Decorate with the dill leaf.

Served with toast or biscuit, and a good white wine.

Rigtig lækker i sommer varmen! Og den ta'r ingen tid at lave.