Fresh free range eggs and trimming hedges

Yesterday at Ascension Day, I gave myself a day off. Such luxury! Doing nothing but reading in the shadow, listening to the birds in the fields. A cup of tea, a sandwich and a meal from the Slow Cooker and home made ice cream  for dessert. I loved it.

It was also a bit charging the battery for today; I promised myself a few hours of gardening.
Due to all sorts of circumstances, the last weed in the front garden was in September last year (can you see me blushing??).
In my part of the world, weed does not grow during Winter and fortunately Spring did not come early this year. But as soon as the temperatures rose and the sun came out in between showers, the weed grew as never before. The front garden looked like a film set for 'The Jungle Book'. It became embarrassing.

Up early, no shower (would not make sense with the high temperatures of today and all the dirty work), a fruity breakfast.
I gathered all the garden equipments and started with the weed. Their never seemed to come an end to it.
After an hour or so, I got out the trimmer for the Box tree hedges. There are quite a few metres.....
I was not even half way and although all my precautions, I cut the wire and there was silence.
Fortunately I have some more but know I need to restore it as soon as possible. Of course it shut off all electricity of that group in the meter box. I went in to switch it on again and managed to trim the rest without any other accidents (I learn fast....)

My neighbour was also working in his garden and together we drank a cup of Wiener Melange, our favourite drink. We talked a while sitting in the shadow of one of my pear trees. Our conversation was about cars.
People who know me, know this is one of my favourite subjects. I dislike talking about shopping! I dislike shopping too. Do you recognize the feeling of entering a shop like Mr. Jekyll and leaving it like Mr. Hyde??

Temperatures rose and rose and at 2 PM I called it a day, the heat was killing me and I have to admit that I am not in the best shape after a Winter Sleep. But today was a true workout. I feel muscles I forgot all about. It feels good, I feel alive!

Around 12 PM the local sheepfarmer, a lovely man in his 70's and the proud owner of a white bushy beard, passed by on his bicycle with a box with 12 fresh eggs in his hand. He stopped for as what I thought one of his enjoyable conversations but this time it was also to give me the eggs. And I did not had to pay for them. I don't have to say that I am very happy with the eggs, they taste delicious and can't be any fresher.
The sheep farmer often stops for a chat and spoiling me with fresh vegetables from his own land. And the taste is so much better than we you buy them.
I am always grateful!
The sheep farmer received a phone call from his wife who needed him at home so off he went half way one of his stories.

There is still a lot to do in the front garden but enough was enough, there is always a tomorrow, even a next week.

The shower took care of all the dust in my hair and anywhere else dust likes to settle.
Yours truly is writing this post nice and clean. Any complains will be deleted ;-)

Enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Helen

Scandinavian thrillers and fresh tasty Ciabatta

The sun is out and the forecast for this week sounds good. I deliberately say 'sounds' and not 'is'.
I don't know about where you live, but here in Holland they can't even properly predict for the next 24 hours....

The sun was out yesterday too but the wind was still too cold and when the wind blows in the direction of my back door, I can not sit in the garden.
Fortunately it turned for the better: two hours of pure joy in the sunshine with the book 'Hofnarren in Murmansk' of the Danish thriller writer Jens Henrik Jenssen 
Somewhere in March I received an invitation on Facebook to like his FB page which I did of course but felt a bit ashamed that I never read one of his books. Although I love Scandinavian thrillers!! As wel on TV as reading.
The first Scandinavian thriller I read (back in the 80's) was of the couple Sjöwall and Wahlöö, known from the Martin Beck adventures, still on TV.
And of course Stieg Larsson (Millennium), Henning Mankell (Kurt Wallander), Emilie Schepp and many others, more or less well known.

But we also have excellent thriller writers in Holland and my most favourite is Isa Maron (Isa Maron's FB page) with 'De Noordzeemoorden': 4 books you need to read (only available in Dutch and German). When I read them I could not put them away.....

Are you a thriller / krimi addict? I am afraid I am!

Not much reading today as I need to write my own book. Usually I start just after lunch, the mornings I use for domestic purposes. I still don't have a Butler and Housekeeper.
But some unexpected administration spoilt most of my afternoon. Well, tomorrow is an other day and I will start writing early; so many ideas in my head!

The smell in my kitchen which is also a living area and my 'office',  is lovely. My Ciabatta bread with black olives and sundried tomatoes is spreading its wonderful scent, it is almost ready and I can not wait to see the light golden colour and to taste a warm slice with olive oil.
I love baking cakes, bread and quiches. I am not an excellent Chef but since I own a Slow Cooker I enjoy tasty meals.
By the way, my slow cooker is some sort of a Butler. I can work all day and the food is ready to eat by the end of the day. And healthy too. Excellent invention.

Mmmmm... please advice.... will I spend the last 90 minutes before dinner in the sun or will I work on my book?

Hugs,

Helen

Not about Skype but about writing

It has been a long time ago since I posted on my Blog Skype Lifestyle.

So much changed since 2009.... only 8 years but it feels like a life time.
First of all I stopped working for Skype. My own free will.
I married the love of my life in 2009, my husband was 15 years older and a pensioner who wanted more in life than offering me cups of tea, lunches and dinners (which was of course ever so sweet of him!) and conversations like "What time do you like lunch, dinner etc?"

I remember one occasion when I was in a webcam meeting when my husband climbed the stairs to my office with a cup of tea. In Tallinn were 8 people gathered around the table, I was on my own, projected more than large on a screen in Tallinn's meeting room. And so was my husband with his cup of tea which caused complete silence at the other end of the Skype connection. Until someone asked: "And who is he?"

We discussed half a sebatical to see if I could live without a Skype life and surprisingly this was the case.
I am not going to say it was an easy decision, my few years at Skype were educative, entertaining, hectic and above all wonderful. I still feel privalidged that I worked for Skype, an experience I will never forget and with colleagues I will never forget. Needless to say I am still in touch with a few.

A new lifestyle with my husband and our motorhome started.
We travelled everywhere in Europe, I took numerous photo's, wrote numerous log books and wrote stories about peole we watched from a distance and who behaved a little different than one would expect. I made up names and back grounds so all fiction but with a little truth in it. The beautiful thing of writing is that you can combine a gentleman in France with a lady from Norway in an odd situation in Germany (believe me, there are far more combinations possible).

I once read the following advices for writeres: "Write what you know and add lots of  fantasy" and "It is not just about writing, it is about making it visuable!".

In 2014 my husband was diagnosed with a heart problem, more specific; two problems and we stayed at home for at least a year. Than we continued our travels. Motorhoming was a wonderful way to travel for him: I did most of the driving, no luguage to carry (no flights, delayes etc.), our own bed (no noisy hotels), his afternoon naps where ever we were at that very moment, staying put on his bad days and driving to the next locations on his good days.

But in November 2016, one week after we arrived home from our last holiday, my husband's heart stopped working, just after lunch. Altough his heart diseases, no one expected the cardiac arrest.
For him it was a wonderful way to go; no pain, no stress, no hospital. Isn't that what we all want?
For me... I don't think I have to explain that it was very difficut to say goodbye. To addopt a diferent way of life without him.

The past six months I discovered that the wordt 'time' is just a word, there are no time frames anymore.
So much happened, the changes were so massive that often it feels like much longer that 6 months since he passed away.
But there are often moments when I sit down and all of a sudden see him in front of me, at the other side of the table, leaning forward. The moment I realized that his heart had stopped ticking. During these moments it only feels like yesterday. Not only the memory but above all the pain.

But life goes on, I do know that and there is no other choice which I am (as in the past 18 years in my life) well aware off.
One of the major concerns is an income. According the Dutch law I don't get a pension of any kind.

The choice wasn't difficult. Of course I still look for a part time job but my main 'job' now is writing, something I have always liked, often did, but never published.
Writing is a huge part of me. I still think it is a miracle to write letters, collumns, short stories, books with only the 26 letters of the alphabet!!

Against all odds I pubished my first little book 'Observaties' in March 2017.
It contains 12 short stories based on unexpected behaviours of people during our travels. But again, they are all fiction!!! And I never write stories about people I talk to! So don't be afraid you will recognize yourself in the book. You will most likely say: "Oh John, this storie reminds me off...."
I think most motorhomers, caranvaners, backpackers etc. will recognize the stories. And I hope that it will encourage others to travel as well.
Unfortunately the book is (still) only available in Dutch and as an e-book. You will find more information of where to buy it (right upper corner) in my Blog www.helenvarras.blogspot.com
Helen Varras is my pseudonym.

But there is not only a Blog, there is also Helen Varras' Facebook and Helen Varras on Twitter.
And Helen offers freelance writing, proof reading and translations. Feel free to e-mail.

I keep my Helen Varras Blog updated and I will try to post on here in English. After all Skype changed my Lifestyle and Skype is still my tool to connect with family and friends!

From now on signed,

Helen

Skype and the Hungarian Sheepdog called Kuvasz

What does a Kuvasz has to do with Skype? Not much I am afraid.
Although Skype Tallinn is known for loving and keeping pets, I have not seen a Kuvasz yet in the office.
Unfortunately because I love this breed.

Long time ago, back in 1985 I bought my first Kuvasz at the age of 18 weeks. Badly neglected and very ill.
But it had a strong will, good care and medication and it survived.
From a poorly, scruffy dog, it changed into a beautiful healthy, active intelligent dog. She was called Älg (Swedish for Elk).

She definitely was a handful, a mind of her own. But I knew that after reading about the Kuvasz and talking to other people.

I fell in love with the breed after visiting an elderly couple that owned a large male dog called Yoszka.
He was at easy with himself, intelligent, raising an eyebrow when his owner (who really wanted to be the boss………) commanded something.

The decision which dog to look for, was made and Älg arrived.

With enough space in and around the house and Älg being a very friendly dog for other dogs, I bought our second when Älg was two years old. Kuvasz no. 2 came from Sweden from the kennel “Trevnadens” in Mariefred near Stockholm. She was cald Kajsa Kavat (after a book of Astrid Lindgren)

Both dogs got along very well. They were big, beautiful, loyal, furry and loved people.

Unfortunately Kajsa died at the age of 6 due to a brain tumor. It was hard to say goodbye to such a lovely animal.

Älg felt lonely and I looked for a new friend. Again from Sweden came Invandra (Swedish for immigrant).
I collected her when Älg was still at home. How happy she was when she found Invandra in the car!

Both dogs travelled up and down Sweden with me.

Älg died at the age of 12,5 years which is old for such a large breed.

Invandra was 2,5 years old at the time and moved with me from Sweden back to Holland to live in Friesland.


She was very special. Very much at easy where ever she went, hardly barked, very cuddly (especial for kids).
If you can call a dog polite, she was it.

She was my biggest friend and when she died at the age of 12 I cried many, many tears.
I promised myself to get another Kuvasz when living in a bigger house with much more free time on my hands.

But I met Tjep and he already was waiting to get his dog, a Basset Fauve de Bretagne puppy who we called Dée.
One month after we got Dée we also adopted her brother Frits who did not socialize with a breeder who had 10 more dogs.

Although we live in a much bigger house with a much bigger garden, there is no room anymore for a Kuvasz.
We are both very happy with Dée and Frits and are (not yet) temped to buy a Kuvasz.

But you can imagine how tempting it is when dear friends, Han and Marjory Koogje of the Kennel “Egymásra Találtunk”, one of the best breeders I know, call you to tell you that they have 5 beautiful pups looking for a home. (Unfortunately the economical crisis is also hitting them).

Tjep and I tried to convince each other that two very active dogs in the house are sufficient.
And we do not only have dogs but also twop cats, a crow, a sparrow and 8 chickes.
We also own a sailing boat but far from big. Easy to hoist two smaller dogs on board but not a bigly like the Kuvasz……

Although we took the decision not to go for a big dog long ago and although we are telling each other how sensible people we are not wanting a third dog, there is with me that homesick feeling for those big white fuury, gentle, much at ease, stubborn friends who were for 23 years part of my life.

I met Han and Marjory Koogje in 1986 being a member of the Dutch Kuvasz Club. A year after I became a Board Member, ever since we are friends.

I got to know them not only as wonderful people but also as responsible breeders. They are stars in socializing pups. Therefore I regret that they can’t find a good home for their last litter. I promised to help them and hope to find new owners through my blog.

Please be aware that the Kuvasz is not a dog for inconsequent people. Reading about the character of the dog is a must. But if you and the Kuvasz are a match, you are a match for life and you will not regret it for a second!


Very important to me is that the Kuvasz is a very old and pure breed. Not manipulated, how good is that uh?


Please visit the site of Ham and Marjory and say hello from me when you get in touch with them.

Links: Breed Description Character Egymásra Találtunk e-mail Egymásra Találtunk

The days before the wedding

Today is my last day online until September 28.
Everyone who ever got married, knows how much there is to do.
In our case it is not just the preparations for the big day bit there is still so much to do before we can house the 100 friends and relatives who persist to witness our happiness.

Last week our backyard was transformed from a huge heap of clay and building rubbish into a descent green flowery garden with nice corners to enjoy the marvellous view of Friesian fields, dikes and cattle.

The back wall got cemented so all old and diverse bricks are now watertight.
A huge transformation!

Tjep is now painting the outside of the doors and I am painting the floor of our guesthouse.
We will furniture the guesthouse tomorrow for the guests that want to stay overnight.
Yesterday evening we went to Ikea for curtains and bathroom accessories.
All furniture is present, after all we moved to housekeeping’s into 1!!

We also need some more flowers, plants to decorate pots. Not a clue when we find the time to do so but we will manage.
Right now it looks like we will get much rest but we will make that up the 3 weeks after.
We both did not have proper holidays for many years. Last year a few days to the UK and I the year before that, a week to the UK as well.
Nothing booked yet, we will see. First we want to have some peace!

To all my loyal readers: it is good to be back blogging and I definitely will keep doing that from October on.

In the meantime, take great care!!

Long time no see!

It has been a long, very long time ago since I wrote on this blog. Although all good intentions, I never managed to sit down for a written update. My life (I should now say our life) has been very eventful since my last post in July 2008.
So, time to update you all!!

I start with the sad news. Both our Mum’s passed away in the past year.
First my Mother in November at the age of 80. She broke her hip during a nasty fall and due to her heart problems and the way her hip was broken, replacing it or an operation was not possible. My Mother was ready to go to her Father in Heaven and died one week after the fall. We miss her terribly but we are also happy that she does not suffer anymore.
Life got more and more difficult for her. She was a wonderful, special Mum and will not only be missed by us but also by many other people who she always welcomed in her house and heart.

Tjep’s Mother died in March. She too broke her hip. During the night and died that same day during the evening. She was 93, a very blessed age. We do miss her, she too was special and was so happy that Tjep found true love.
We often talk about our Mother’s and although we know they both rest in peace, we would have enjoyed sharing large bits of our lives with them.

Tjep and I moved to a “new’ house in the very North of Friesland.
Although the recession, Tjep sold his house quickly which was a big relief. I rented a little house and leaving it after 9 years of a good and busy life was done in a weeks without too much emotions. Moving on to a new life with Tjep was definitely something to look forward too!Leaving the village was a different emotion: so many people became good friends. Still, it is only 30 minutes driving from our new home and good friends always stay.

Anyone who ever moved house knows how much things one can collect in 9 years. For Tjep it was even 43 years. Sorting it all out with the help of friends and family, took far more time than the actual move! Our new house is far bigger than my old and about the same size as Tjep’s old one. Remember we had to combine to interiors, memorabilia and much more in house.
But we managed and our house looks like if we have always lived here: everything fits perfectly together.
It was not an easy thing to find a suitable house. After all our budget was not endless.
We have seen many houses but either they were too small in size, too large in money, too run down or too modern. But one day, driving around in the beautiful county of Friesland, we noticed a little farmhouse for sale. I remembered that I had seen it before on sale 5 years ago for a ridiculous high price. We phoned the number on the note in the window and were surprised that the price went down so much. But then of course, there has never been any maintenance too the house in all those years.
After viewing it a few times and falling in love with it immediately although the dated look, we made the decision to buy it after we had the house valued and told there was a lot of work to do before we could move in.
The interior was very seventies and we have walls removed that were not original in the house. It was either impossible or extremely costly to bring it back to its original 1920 state but we managed to get as close as possible including the Oxblood red ceiling in the living room.
After 10 months of renovating house and garden (and still not finished but getting close thanks to the effortless patience and help of people around us), moving in half way the renovation (so much dust, no kitchen, no bathroom!!!) we now live in a lovely little farmhouse with endless fields as our view.
We feel fortunate, happy, settled and at home in the county of our ancestors (as well as Tjep’s as mine).

Our love for each other is growing and growing and we have set a date to get married as an affirmation of this love: September 4 – 2009. Still one week to go.............

From September the 3rd till the 28th, I will be off line. No chats, e-mails and away from my still wonderful job at Skype.
By the end of September I will return to this blog and promise to post frequently again.

Pigeons, England and no Skype

Tjep and I have been to the UK. Only for 6 days (incl. the Ferry), too short but so lovely.We returned on the 27th of June but I could not find the time to write about it sooner.

Let me first update you about Pigeon who was too young to eat properly. I fed her until the day we left and then took her to the bird sanctuary “De Fûgelhelling” in Ureterp – Friesland. I had never been there before and was highly impressed by their skills and equipment to help out birds of all sorts.
We saw baby Owls, a Stork, baby Blackbirds, a Kingfisher, etc. etc. All the people who are helping out in “De Fûgelhelling” are volunteers. They do a great job and I know financial gifts are very welcome.

There were also many pigeons and our Pigeon soon found a little friend. We left her in good hands.

As always my and now Tjep’s destination, was lovely Yorkshire and we travelled by Ferry from Europoort (NL) to Hull. The weather was lovely and we had a nice and relaxing stay on board with good food, a good bottle of Chablis and great conversations.
When we arrived in Yorkshire the weather was dull but who cares. First we visited my foster Mum and her partner for lots of hugs.
During the afternoon we cleaned the cottage of my foster Brother. The cottage is having a redo and like David said, it was a building site. They tried successfully to squeeze a bath tub in a small bathroom which required "some" work to the old, thick walls. We could use the bath, the toilet but nothing was tiled yet. I have to see it is quite an experience to bathe between bare walls made from the rock where the cottage is built in / on. The room on the first floor was redecorated and I promised David to clean it properly. A good thing to do on a rainy day!

Our first visit on Sunday was to Fountains Abbey. I did not take any pictures because I already took so many over the past years. It was a windy day which developed into a stormy one. It was so ‘bad’ that they closed Fountains Abbey due to falling branches and trees and walking back to our car instead of accepting a ride back by the National Trust, was on our own risk. After the visit, we took an alternative route back home, exploring the surroundings of Kirby Malzard, Grewelthorpe, Ripon, all situated in Nidderdale.

On Monday avoiding this way the tourist traffic, we travelled around the Yorkshire Dales. Glorious weather: sunshine, beautiful clouds, kind people, quiet roads.
I had told Tjep about how special it is to see the shadows of the clouds moving over the hills with bright pastures in between where the sun is shining. That day it could not have been more perfect and of course I took many pictures. The day ended at one of my most favourite spots “Jervaulx Abbey”
Ever since I visited it for the very first time back in 1978, I left a little part of my heart there and return as often as possible..
In the meantime Jervaulx got a new owner who is now looking after it well. They also changed an old glasshouse into a lovely tea room where they serve excellent food and drinks.

I had a surprise waiting for Tjep….. the Coat of Arms of Jervaulx is exactly the same of that of Tjep’s family, the Mulier’s. Of course it triggered our fantasy and we now will get in touch with the owner of Jervaulx to learn even more about the history. The Mulier’s origin from France and received their Coat of Arms around 1200, just at the time the Abbey was founded.

Back in Holland we learned that there is another family called “Keppel” who has a similar Coat of Arms (different shell’s) and one of the Keppel’s moved to England around 1850. Now it is getting even more interesting!

On Wednesday we stayed close to home and visited Ripley Castle which is definitely worth a visit.
Besides all the culture things we also did some ordinary shopping in Knaresborough and ate our Fish and Chips overlooking the river.

Thursday was a day of reorganizing the luggage, a last brush through the cottage, visiting Mum and Ian for a farewell hug and back to the Ferry. This time the weather was very, very bad. So much rain!! Driving was a hazardous adventure and we were happy to arrive at the Ferry without any trouble.
Wind kept the ferry wobbling and it was not a surprise that I felt slightly seasick when up and running the next morning. I seem never to have overcome that….

Lovely memories of our first holiday together, translated into again another web album!

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