Category Archives: 50 Ways to

driving home

Holly Doyne Posted on by

If you live in the U.K., I guess that you just don’t look at the fuel pumps when filling up your car. For those in the U.S. who are complaining about gas prices, let me just remind you that the price scale seems to be that US=Eur=UK only in that a liter can cost about 1,29 in each of the three locations. However, paying 1,29 in Pounds Sterling is a bit more than paying 1,29 E and definitely more than in US$, especially when AFEES is off and I can pay $0.78/liter.

In case you are wondering – I did need to put enough diesel in the tank to make it to Dover and a bit on the other side of the Channel.

The traffic was surprisingly light and we got to Dover around 2 hours after leaving Camberley.

the white cliffs

Unlike the French, the very nice Scottish man at the Ferry booth looked at his watch, checked the computer and offered to let me take the ferry that was currently boarding for no additional price. Saving us a three hour wait till the one for which we had a reservation.

not many taking the FerryDovert

Bailing off in France, we made time across Flanders to Brussels. The sunset was beautiful; my choice was to stop for photos or keep driving. Since it didn’t seem like either passenger was willing to be much help, you are spared some blurry pictures.

Even with a fuel detour in Aachen to the first Esso on our side of the border (coupons, lowers the price a lot. We rolled home listening to various CDs on the player since the radio stations were all full of the usual and I was past tolerance.

I reintroduced the kids to Torfrock (one of their older Vikinger CDs), Julie Silver (Notes from Montana), Urban Tapestry‘s Sushi and High Tea (since we live in Europe, the kids didn’t exactly get all the references, never having seen X-Files – but they certail) and finished up with one of the older Balticon Collections.

Exiting the Autobahn, we were home by 2230.

50 ways

From the Ferry back, and the Beligium rest stop.

the FerryRest Stop - Belgium

have to get it together – put up a page – then I can just send you there….

-Holly

#19

Holly Doyne Posted on by

Our second daughter turned 19 today. Entering the world just after 1 am, she had announced her determination to be early several hours sooner. So we sent our dinner guests home at about 2200 and she arrived for a prolonged stay several hours later.

As with all off-spring, she has her talents and her challenges. This is her last year of being a teenager. She will finish her Abitur this spring. Next year is still uncertain. I think she will be off to study and perform; US? UK? Germany? We are in that horrible applying and decision stage, made more challenging by the necessity of auditions. It is hard to focus on the future with all the school requirements of now.

We took her and her younger sibs to lunch before taking her back to school.

Ms Nina and presents

She is staying through school end on Thursday. The former Ms Pink and her brother came home with us in order to get ready for the trip to the UK.

Minding my other day’s gripe – the sunset in the mountains near Pforzheim was beautiful. A red glowing ball just a finger’s breath above the horizon. Too bad it was barely 1630 in the afternoon.

Sunset near Pforzheim Sunset near Pforzheim

Socks

Finished up the second of Noah’s socks, just have to graft the toe.
Socks
 Socks

I knit two different heels, one a ribbing and the other is version of seed stitch. I will find out which he likes better and go in that direction for the next pair. Since he does not like high socks, I have significant yarn left over. All of them have asked for hand-warmers, so those are next on the small things to knit list.

-Holly

50 Ways

Tenerife,the Canary Islands with a button to push.

Tenerife, Canary Islands

New Project

Holly Doyne Posted on by

I am not sure that any of you may understand this. Perhaps those who have undergone home disasters or renovations may have an inkling, but I may be completely out there.

You see, I grew up in the Upper Mid-West, US. Minnesotans are fairly laconical, not responding without thinking and of few words. Lake Wobegon is real; it is just all small towns, not one in particular. And things just ….are. And that is the way they are.

As a result, I grew up with the understanding that toilet tanks came with this little lever on the side for flushing. And that was the way you flushed a toilet.

Imagine my shock on traveling to Europe in 1972 – everywhere I went, it was different. And many times not an improvement at all. I had been in Israel for the summer of 1970, I don’t remember anything all that astonishing. But Europe – handles and chains to pull, buttons to push down, holes in floors. It was quite an eye opener for this quiet mid-western gal.

Somewhere since then, Paul Simon came out with his song “Fifty Ways to Leave your Lover.”

I moved to Germany for the first time in 1981, then again in 1988. We came back over seas in 1993 and have been living outside the US since.

Do you see where this is going? A refrain started running through my head – “There must be 50 ways to flush your toilet.” Starting with “Pull on the chain, Jane” and going from there.

On the cruise, I started collecting pictures.

In Milan

milan hotel milan hotel

In Genoa

Genoa Marine Termainl

And in Barcelona

Barcelona hotel

My sense of the absurd is piqued. It is totally ridiculous. But I wondering if I can both finish out the song, and come up with 50 (which Paul Simon never does).

I also will stick up another tab for the collection as it grows. If I stop finding new mechanisms, I might ask you for contributions…..

-Holly