Off we go....

Heh heh heh.... Yay! I shall be back by Sept 4th by the latest...

Packing...

Am currently listening to 'London symphony Nr 2. Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis' by Vaughn Williams whilst I pack. Usually when I go on holiday I only pack a load of underwear and T shirts and just wear the same pair of jeans the whole time, though I also have shorts and a jacket in case it gets cold.
Its been so long since I went any where though that the frame on my rucksack (an old US army ALICE pack) broke when I lifted it up. I looked at the crack and pondered the poigniancy of it. My old body, symbolized by this relic of my youth, is in much the same way and I think I need this holiday more than I know.

I've bought numerous interesting books to read along the way. The last two arrived this morning, via Amazon.co.uk.
I have:
Thermopylae; Battle for the West.
The memoirs of Usama Ibn Munqidh; An Arab Syrian Gentleman & Warrior in the period of the Crusades.
Trafalgar: An eyewitness history.
The Safeguard of the Sea: A naval history of Britain from 660 to 1649.
and two novels:
Enigma by Robert Harris.
The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte

I'd also bought another novel by Perez Reverte, but when it arrived the blessed thing was in Spanish! Fortunately my sister in law is a translator and fluent in Spanish, so she got that as a present.

Yesterday I packed down all my Cd's into plastic sleeves. I used to be quite greedy about jewel cases and the little books that went with Cd's, but now I find they are more annoying than anything else so I hacked my collection to bits and threw out all the jewel cases and any bits of paper that didn't fit in the pockets. Suddenly my Cd collection has been reduced to a single well packed shelf. I wonder which idiot dreamed up the idea of putting Cd's into thick, easily breakable, plastic boxes in the first place?

The Snoos was a great help as you can imagine. She's starting to develop a naugty streak now where she deliberatly does what she's not allowed to do. The word 'NO!' has no effect what so ever except to ellicit a sombre shaking of her head. Two seconds later and she's back under the desk, worrying athe computer cables, or pulling the books from my self (or the spines form the books!!!! AAAARGH!) or grabbing something dangerous like a stanley knife or a pair of scissors that got put down for ten seconds and running about with it in her mouth....

Its enough to drive one insane!

House hunting

Looking around the area's to the north and north east of Århus, we've come across several really nice houses. This one in particular strikes my fancy though its all the way around Kalø vig. Here is an aerial photograph of the village. The whole place is beautiful out there, but far off the beaten track and my social and gaming life would take a serious hit!

It would be the perfect place for Freja to grow up in though. Beautiful countryside in all directions, a small village with a school and a kindergarten and the sea is but a few minutes walk away in the picturesque and sheltered cove of Kalø vig.

If only... the house is Udb: 73,000/knt1.448,000, Brt:9,448/nt 7,799. So close, but so far.

For Peter

http://www.jp.dk/biler/artikel:aid=3903580/

Autumn

We're gradually gearing up for our holiday in the sun now... and the weather forecast shows rain for the next five days. I don't actually mind, though Mette is convinced that I am opposed to the whole vacation on the grounds that I wasn't consulted as to whether or not I wanted to spend two weeks in a summer house on the west coast of Jutland, and true enough I would have liked to have had some say in the matter, but the thing is I don't actually mind rainy holidays. I am just as happy swimming in the rain as I am otherwise... more so in fact since I am grown fat and pale and shy and rainy beaches seldom have many muscular onlookers to throw me into a poor light.

The only real problem I find is in other people's company. If truth be told, I am not a social person and I only really enjoy myself when I am either alone, or with people I have something fundamentally in common with... science fiction films, or role playing... escapist stuff like that. I like my in-laws a lot though and I've been on holiday with them several times... and its rained on almost every occaision! I've sat in summer houses with Mette's family and sat on the shores of mountain lakes in Italy and its rained and rained and rained. It rained on Mette's thirtieth birthday as well as Freja's first. Rain is a constant feature of Northern Europe, but it seems to follow us with dogged persistance. Maybe we're like the bloke Douglas Adams described who drove around and never knew he was a rain god...?

So, any way, I'm rambling. Its 00:52 and I'm listening to Harold Budd Mette has just gone to bed, disatisfied with herself and her lack of productivity, and I suspect with me for my lack of enthusiasm and encouragement in the face of the daunting weather. We just watched a truly appalling film called 'Crush' and it did nothing to lighten the mood. C'est la vie.

Freja gave us a terrible shock today. She fell flat on her face and started bleeding all over the place. At first I thought she'd bitten the tip of her tongue and I was afraid it would hurt for ages, but she soon stopped crying and we found that it was her upper teeth that had taken the bash. For most of the day the gum around them looked bruised but it gradually died away again. She seems to be a perfect model of health. The exact opposite of her father, thankfully. Here she is, from yesterday, wearing her new leopard skin shoes...

Pipski faldt på gulvet i dag og fik slået sine fortænder så blodet fosset ud over det hele. Mette fik sig en ordentligt shock og Freja var nær hysterisk i nogle få minutter, men så faldt hun hurtigt til ro igen. Jeg frygtede at hun havde bidt sine tunge så jeg var faktisk lidt lettet da vi så at det var hendes tænder. De kan trods alt repareres, men hvis hun havde bidt ended af sine tunge... puha!

Billedet er fra i går da Snus'en gik rundt i hendes ny sko.

-ROCKETMAN-

Unlike my productive friend the Grimsby Mariner, (I like the new look by the way) I am slow at painting figures. This is because I am a slower and methodical painter of small miniature soldiers and because I use enamal paints rather than the safer, easier and quick drying acrylic paints. The reason why I choose to intoxicate myself in the fumes and vapours of enamel paint is because I prefer the greater range of subtle tones on offer.
No doubt the quick witted amongst you will ponder on why I don't just mix up my own tones with acrylics, to which the answer is simply because I am too lazy. I like to open the pot and have the colour ready and waiting. There is also the small matter of past experience with acrylics (in my teenage years I was a great D&D player and painted many figures in Humbrol acrylics) as opposed to enamel. The best figure painter I ever met used enamel and so, the habit rubbed off.

Of late I am engaged in a small illustration project so I have not had a great deal of time to paint figures really, but I have made a start and based all my latest acquisitions from Copplestone Castings (my favourite manufacturer of small toy soldiers) and begun painting my Bolsheviks. I wasn't quite sure what colour scheme Bolshevik soldiers had (if indeed they had any at all) so I've gone out on a limb and am giving them olive drab coats and khaki trousers, all insignia will be 'commie red' and all the leather bits will be dark brown rather than 'SS black' to give them a more provisional look.

The Good Guys: 1, Rocketman (bought from Eureka Miniatures). 2, George Macarthur. 3, 'Mad Dog' Mitchell. 4, Lady Penelope Carfax. 5, Murdoch. 6, The Colonel. 7, Sgt Sternov. 8, Bolshevik rifle's. 9, German Falshirmsjäger motor bike & sidecar with mounted MG34 (I may replace this element with another armoured car to even the balance, but also because I can't find anything that indicates the Russians were ever into motor biks with side cars) 10, Rolls Royce armoured car (in truth I doubt the Bolsheviks woul have had RR's, but they certainly had a lot of similar vehicles, also from the UK, and besides, its not like there is a lot of models on offer from this period). 11, Rolls Royce staff car (again, this is a compromise given the lack of period models. I'm using a Matchbox collectable I've 'borrowed' from my Mom) 12 & 13, Bolshevik trucks, (more Matchbox compromises. These are repainted Crossley's). 14, Bolshevik machine gun. 15. Ivan the conductor.

The bady guys: 1. Viktor Korsarov. AKA the Iron Czar (another miniature from Eureka). 2, Olga. 3, Yeltsinsky. 4, Yuri. 5, Agent X. 6, Korsakov's tank crews and engineers. 7, Korsakov's rifle men (are actually French soldiers from Crusader Miniatures because I haven't got any more Bolsheviks, I'll replace these later on with White Russians) 8, Kosakov's machine gunners, (more French troops. There is also a mortar crew, but they're not in the picture). 9, A 1/47 scale Renoult FT 17 tank, (from Gaso Line. Still under construction. I hate resin models, they never fit together as they ought to). 10, A Renault truck (yet another Matchbox conversion). 11. Staff car (this is atually a German desert army kupelwagon which an online friend sent me. He also sent me the Indiana Jones tank). 12. An International Mark 7 tank with a modified turret (this model came from Disneyland in Florida, where it was sold as a kids toy. It is a model of the tank Indiana Jones battles in the film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.)

Freja's First Birthday

And so today was the day. Freja's first birthday! I was afraid the weather wouldn't let up, but lo and behold, the morning dawned as bright and beautiful as any summers day we've yet seen! The rain came eventually of course, so we couldn't use the terrace, but for the morning at least, the angels intervened... or maybe it was Freja's ancestors? ...and it was mild and sunny for most of the day.
Its been a great day and Freja had a blast. Due to the rain our little apartment was completely full to the brim with people but every one was in a great mood, chomping cheese cake, trifle and home made buns. Pipski got a load of presents and stayed awake all day long and every one sang 'Happy Birthday', and 'She's A Jolly Good Fellow' for the Snoos who clapped and hopped happily in her chair (she even kept the rythem as I can see on the video I took) along side her friend Josefine, (who is four months older and was as pretty as a peach with her hair done up, like Lille My).

Looking back over the last year I have to say that its been the happiest of my life. Even before Freja was born the joy of her imminent arrival spread such a joy through me that I hardly dared believe such emotions could be real, and yet since her birth those feelings have grown with each passing day until now I look upon my family with such gratitude and joy that I scarcely know how to express it. Words seem so small and insignificance besides the overwhelming happiness that brings sadness in its wake for the loss of innocence that must inevitably occur one day. Until that day I bask in the reflected light of Freja's blissful existence, grateful and content.

I feel I need to say thank you to all my friends and family. To those of you I've never even met, yet who sent presents on the occaison of Freja's birth from America, Britain, Canada and all the way from New Zealand, and to my friends here in Århus who brought clothing and gifts and who have been a constant support during the last year. Thanks to all my family and friends, the year has been easier and I think Freja is a happier child as a result. I can't really write out a list of names (imagine if I forgot one), but I can say a special big thanks to Malene!

I can't possibly say what the future will bring, but I can honestly say this last year has been a perfect year.

The family gathered / Freja tries on her new bike helmet

Mette opening Freja's presents(Josefine helped)

Me, sitting in the corner / My Dad (the Thunder god) teaching Freja about dolls...

Rikke & Josefine / Josefine & Freja

Thank You Every One!

Freja

Tomorrow is Pipski's first birthday and so today is a day of preperation. Some twenty or so members of the family are exepected tomorrow and this might be a problem since the weather has gotten steadily worse during the last week so it doesn't seem likely we can use the terrace... This is a shame since the whole point of timing Freja's birth was so she could have sunshine on her birthdays. August is usually a warm period in Denmark. Alas it is not to be.

Last year August was the only decent monh of the whole year and this has tricked Mette into thinking the same thing might happen this year. Not only did she plan a party for Freja on the terrace, but we're due to go on holiday in the North of Denmark in a few weeks time. Its going to be a barrell of laughs if the rain is pouring down again... just like last time.

I morgen er det Freja snus'ens fødselsdag og vi tror der kommer omkring tyve medlemer af familien. Det er lidt problematiske i at Mette havde planlagt at brug terrasen, ligesome da hun blev tredive.... ah ha!

Oprindeligt have vi planlagt at Freja skulle altide have solskin på hendes fødsels dag, men såden ser der ikke ud til at være. Mette er ikke særligt heldig med solen mere...

JRC-1139

I've decided to split my blog into two parts and from now on, this blog will only deal with my life, family and interests.
The political and news stuff will be posted on a seperate page which I've titled JRC-1139.

This means all the current events and political blog links that used to be on this page are now on that page.

Latex casting

Sounds a bit edgy but its all mundane stuff I'm afraid. In the last two weeks I've been experimenting in my spare time by making my first ever mold. Using a small polystyrene box and an old model of a stone wall I made from modelling putty, I applied fluid latex (sometimes called rubber milk) in layers until I had built up the mold.

Once the polystyrene box was removed, casting could begin and I have now made ten sections of wall. Here is an image of the first couple along side the original and a 28mm figure for reference. The latex cost about 50 kroner for a 250ml bottle and I've used about 75% of it. I think I'll try making my own slate roof sections next time.

I've also been using modelling putty to make sand bag positions for my -ROCKETMAN III- games, but these are far simpler to make and less interesting. The one on the left is only half made.

News and comment from Denmark: The Queens Loyal Opposition.

As always, I am taken up with the goings on in the Radikal Venstre. I may be out of line with a good many other people, but I can't but help regard the Radikal Venstre as a good barometer of the political situation in Danish politics. The battle between the old guard, as embodied by Marianne Jelved and the new, under the auspices of Naser Khader is slumbering and sputtering like a forest fire about to erupt.

moif: I'll be frank and explain (for any one who hasn't noticed) that I am hoping to see the political demise of Marianne Jelved!

Last night on DR nyheder I read that Naser Khader has been supported in his low intensity campaign by several prominent members of the party's grass roots. One member in particular, a council member from Frederiksberg: Pernille Høxbro, is quoted on DR as saying; "I support Naser Khader and his statements, 100%. If one makes an ultimatum, as Jelved has done, then it becomes difficult to create results. I don't simply understand her. One gets no where by making ultimate demands in politics, and Marianne knows that full well. It pains me to see how she has backed the party into a corner". Høxbro defines the differences between Khader and Jelved as a battle for the leadership of the party.

Other members of the party, like Peter Thyssen, who is a council member for Århus, is more hesitant in his support, observing that Khader ought to have made his observations to the party first, but offers it nonetheless.

moif: I'm interested to see how this falls out. Its quite possible that if Naser Khader knocks Jelved off her post he might then become party leader in her stead. Not probable, just possible, but if that happens then Denmark, so often criticised for being 'racist' in the recent past by the EU and UN, will not only have the first Arabic leader of a main stream party in Europe, but a popular leader to boot!

If Jelved falls then it will be the end of the old guard in Danish opposition. She is the last remnant of the previous Nyrup government still in power as far as I know. Mogens Lykketoft is still lurking behind the scenes in the Social Democrats but since his pitiful defeat in the last election his influence has waned with passing month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Social Democrats have also seen some movement in the deep waters. A few months ago the party saw a reshuffling in its shadow cabinet as a result of an internal power struggle. I didn't catch all the details but the end result was the former political spokesperson, Lotte Bundsgaard, was dumped by her party leader, and ally, in favour of some one called Henrik Sass Larsen whom I'd never heard of. Apparently, Sass Larsen, despite his age, is well connected to the old guard and I think he may be some sort of anchor to make sure Helle Thorning Schmidt doesn't run off and do something the old timers don't approve of, though I could be wrong. One thing is certain. A recent poll asked politicians who their favourite co members were, outside their own party, in the Folketing, and Henrik Sass Larsen was at the very bottom of the list... Ouch!

So, now Lotte Bundsgaard, who enjoys a deal of popularity I believe, is back in the warmth as integrationsordfører (immigration spokesperson). She is already listed as such on the SD site.

moif: ...and that didn't take long! I'm not really clued into the intricacies of the Social democrats. Despite their open handed rheotoric they are probably the most secretive of the opposition parties and its difficult to know whats going on in the deep water, not least because a lot of the 'has beens' never seem to really let go. I take this as a move by Helle Thorning Schmidt to consolidate her hold on power, but what its going to mean in the long run, I really can't say. It is possible that Thorning Shmidt is finally starting to lay about some stick and come the next election (still three years away) she will be in solid control of her party, surrounded by her own people and ready to take on Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Every prognosis I've seen has put Fogh Rasmussen in the better position though and some people have said Thorning Shmidt would be better served looking towards the next election again, but I'm not so sure thats her game plan. Who wants to wait seven years!?

Thorning Shmidt has made several attacks against the nationalists recently, most probably trying to woo back the voters who migrated there in the last election, but whether or not she can succeed in this against the back drop of international events, the memory of the mo'toons affair and the impact Naser Khaders possible success might have on the nationalist mentality, is any one's guess.

Freja. T minus 6 days and counting

In a weeks time, Freja Olivia will be one year old. On Sunday 13th August, 2006 to be exact. I suppose all parents feel that their children grow up too fast and I've heard it said many times that parents wish their children could just stay small and cute a little while longer. I don't know if I feel that way or not. I'm looking foward to hearing Pip speaking and every new pseudo word is greeted with exclamations of joy and the certainty that no other child was ever so fantastic!

As it is, the Snoos is coming along in leaps and bounds, she is still 'Thunderpants', saving the world and dashing along with great style (Daddy's lil assistent in crime fighting). Yesterday was the monthly mothers meeting and as usual Freja shone brilliantly, walking about and generally bursting my heart with pride. Neither of the other two girls can really walk yet, though Sofie had just begun the day before so Freja was like the star attraction (it was also her lil birthday event). The black and white images here are all from then.

I know I'm laying it on pretty thick, but sometimes I just can't get over how quick she is. All the other kids I know in her generation seem like grokes in comparions (heres for those of you who don't read Moomintroll. Shame on you!). Todays big surprise was when some friends were leaving and every one was saying good bye. Freja waved her lil hand and say 'Bah bah', just as naturally as every one else. Mette and I leapt about chortling and Freja just giggled at us.
Its been a happy day today. I woke up this morning from a very happy dream about Mette and the mood has been with me all day. It probably helped I went to bed very early yesterday and got a really good nights sleep.

Later on today we all sat and had dinner together and Pip invented a new recipe. Creme freshe with potato and veg mush. Very appetizing!



Om en uge er Freja et år gammel. Det er nok alle forældre der syntes at det går så hurtigt og jeg har tit hørt folk sige at de kunne ønsk deres børn kunne forblive små,og sød bare et lidt længere. Om jeg har det såden, ved jeg ikke endnu, jeg glæder mig så meget til at hør hende tal og nu om dage bliverhvert lil ord, eller bare en hentydning at et ord hilst med så stor begestring og glæde at man skulle tror at at ingen andre barn har nogensinde værest så fantastiske!

Snus’en (Mette har fortælte mig at såden skulle det stavnes) kommer hen så hurtigt at jeg kan næsten ikke følje med, men hun er stadigvæk min lille ‘Thunderpants’ (min medhjælper i vores verdens redninger). I går ver det mødregruppens møde og de sad alle ud på terrasen og nyd det god vejr. Som altid skinnede Freja som en lille sol. Hun gik frem og tilbage og viste sig frem og jeg var så stolt som man skulle tror det er løgne. De andre børn kan ikke rigtig gå endnu (Sofie var lige begyndte dagen før) så Freja var den stor vidunder barn igen… det var også hendes fødselsdags ‘fest’ så det er nok naturligt at hun fik så meget opmærksomhed. All de sort og hvid billede I denne post er fra i går

Jeg ved godt at jeg er lidt blæret men jeg kan ikke lad være. Hun farer frem og jeg kan næsten ikke tror det nogen gang. Alle de andre børn i hendes alder virker som klumper i sammenligning (måske syntes de andre forældre det samme eller er jeg bare forgabt I min egne lille solskins dråb?). I dag da Alison, Kristoffer og Christian to afsted, sagde Freja ‘Bah bah’, ligesom ‘Bye bye’ på engelsk, og vinkede med sin lille hånd, lige så naturligt som os andre. Mette og jeg sprang rundt og grinede som chimpanzer mens Freja bare grinede ad os.

Det har været en rigtig god dag i dag. Jeg havde en lykkelig drøm om Mette og vågnede I bedst humor. Det hjælp nok at jeg gik I seng meget tidligt I går så jeg fik en god nats sovn for en gangs skyld.
Senere i dag spiste vi sammen og Snus’en fandt på en ny måde at spise hendes aftensmad på… med crème freche. Lækkert!

News and comment from Denmark

For a long time now, the various opposition parties have been in a turmoil. This seems to be quite normal for opposition parties and I note its been even worse in the UK. The Radikal Venstre, of which I have made mention before, is no different, with an internal feud threatening to break out into open rebellion at any time. As before, the trouble stems from the party's two main figures. Its leader, Marianne Jelved and its most popular figure, the Syrian born Naser Khader. Khader's rise to popularity, on the back of the mo'toons crisis has given him the political weight needed to pose indirect challenges to his party's leadership.

The Danish government has had a policy of no new taxes since 2001 known as the Tax Stop. This policy was a precondition of the Conservative Party for joining the government in partnership with Venstre (the Liberal Conservative's). Now Naser Khader has defied his party's leader and announced that he believes the Radikal Venstre should accept the Tax Stop, as well as several other government policies if they are to have any chance at joining in the next government coalition.

It should be noted that the Danish government is a two party, minority government which can only govern by means of assisstence in the Folketing (parliament) from the nationalist Dansk Folkeparti under the leadership of Pia Kjærsgaard ...Jelved's long time arch enemy. To say that these two women have strong differences is putting it mildly. Jelved in particular loaths Kjærsgaard and cannot contain her emotions when both are present in a TV studio. For a politician, she has a remarkable lack of self control, though she tries to retain a passive visage.

Considering then that the best way to undermine the nationalists influence is to put her party forwards as an alternative, and official, partner in government, it seems odd that Jelved should be so adamant in her opposition to the government's Tax Stop policy. Jelved has firmly refused to accept such a deal and seems to believe her opposition is enough to gather the support she needs to put herself forwards as a candidate for the job of Prime Minister.

moif: Jelved is a bit like a Swedish politician in her reactions to the nationalists and her own bloated sense of self worth. I'll be amazed and surprised (and horrified) if she really can get her self into the top job. She's a monster EUrophile, even broke down crying when the Dane's rejected the Euro, and given half the chance I have no doubt she would sell us all up the river to those bastardos in Bruxelles.


In other news, a Danish institute called Dream has released findings regarding the fertility rates of immigrants. One of the most common perceptions of immigration in Denmark has been the premise that the Muslims will out breed the Danes within 50 - 70 years (though some scientists say our climate isn't going to last that long with the current rate of heating anyway).

Now Dream has released new figures that show a marked drop in fertility rates amongst immigrant women, from circa 4 children in 1980, to 2.4 children today. If these findings are accurate and the trend holds steady then within another generation, immigrant fertility rates in Denmark will probably reach the same level as Danes.

At the same time, Denmark's rules for quota immigration have been changed and now more Christians than Muslims are entering the country. This has been called 'racist', not least by Marianne Jelved, but the government has dismissed such accusations xplaining that many Christians are just as needy as many Muslims, and they have an easier time adjusting to Danish society.

Jyllands Posten has a piece (in Danish) on this which, with no uncertainty, explains the cause as being due to Denmark's tight new immigration laws.

moif: This would change a lot. For almost two decades now we've been told that there is a credible threat from Muslim immigration due to excessive birth rates and I think this, as well as the rising criminality of Denmark's city's, is one of the big factors upon which so much of the nationalist vote is based. If it now comes to pass that immigration from Islamic countries slows down, as has happened, and the domestic fertility rate drops to the national average, then I can't see how the perception of a threat can be maintained. The only thing to worry about then would be Marianne Jelved coming to power and opening the gates to the Middle East again and allowing yet another wave of Muslim immigration...

edited to add....

A poll has been undertaken in Denmark regarding the conflict in Southern Lebanon.
57% placed the blame for the conflict on Hezbollah
37% placed the blame for the conflict on Israel

48% admitted to having a greater sympathy for Israel
7% admitted to having a greater sympathy for Hezbollah, when asked, almost all these identified themselves as left wing voters.

39% feel the Danish government is doing a good job with regards to the conflict.
19% feel the Danish government is doing a bad job with regards to the conflict.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

I finally got to see this on a decent screen. The copy I have is quite dark so that on my old computer screen it was near invisible and very difficult to make out what was supposed to be happening. Now, with this new screen I can see the film, though it is still quite dark. I take the darkness to be an attemt at using the 'film noir' premise to create a period ambience ...and hide the sometimes dodgy c.g.i.

There is a lot to be said for the idea behind this film, but alas, the execution is some what flawed. The casting is a problem and and actors don't always seem to mesh well with their backgrounds.

Apart from that it also suffers from its ambitions, and tries to cram as much into the film as possible. I think perhaps that is another attempt at recreating an ambience, in the this case, that of the 1930's comic books. These are alluded to on several occiasions and the flying airfields are straight out of Dan Dare ...come to think of it Sky Captain is a DD clone too... I need to read more DD for -ROCKETMAN- inspiration!

Any way, the film was okay. Nothing fantastic. It had some really nice moments and sound ambience happening, but the wooden acting was a let down, they should have taken their lead from the Flash Gordon movie and gone right over the top! I suspect they were trying to meld the comic world with the 'film noir' ambience though, and in that they failed.

Circumstances

Yesterday Mette and I learned the plans for the building in which we live. It seems the owner has some extensive alterations in the pipeline and these are so intrusive and annoying that we have decided to push forward our plan to eventually move into the country side. I don't know when this is going to happen, a lot will depend on how the housing market reacts in the next year I think. Denmark has been witness to a sharp rise in house prices for close to six years, ever since we got back from England in fact and waiting for this bubble to burst has been a part of the plan.
Things are looking good (for us) since the market appears to be stablilising now and with luck, prices will start to drop again. We've already decided that our best option is to move to the north of Århus (Mette wants to have a sea view). The biggest problems are compounded by neither of us have a driving license, so that is another bridge we'll now have to cross.

Freja will be better off in the country side. The city is becoming more and more brutal, with ever heavier traffic and all time levels of increased social violence as the advance of 'modernity' devours all before it. She can run about and play without fear and we can also get a dog! I've always wanted a border collie called Laika.
=)

News from Denmark.

There may be a possibility that Denmark will send military forces to South Lebanon any way. According to Defence Minister Søren Gade, who only last week said it was impossible to send more Danish service personnel abroad, the Royal Navy (of Denmark) could contribute to a UN force if asked. Gade is quoted at Jyllands Posten as saying ; 'The Navy has done good things in the past. It's a possibility. Now we will have to wait and see what we are asked to contribute, and whether we can deliver.'
Current talks for a UN force point in the direction of a French-led action consisting of between 15,000 to 20,000 troops'.

moif: French led eh? That'll be worth seeing... I wonder how the French will cope with the Penguin Patrol ...and considering how the western nations are being described as Crusaders, I wonder if al qaeda will take to calling them the Franks...?

Its a strange irony that after the French King left the Christian crusaders in the lurch, and so many years since the French were screwing Lebanon for all it was worth as a colony, now the French are back once again, playing the good guy... Like a recurring migraine. Maybe they could send Zidane down there...? He'd soon sort them out!


Jyllands Posten also comments (in English) about todays fire fight in Musa Qala which saw a Danish soldier seriously wounded (apparently he took a bullet in the head, but still lives). Søren Gade is quote by DR online as saying; "Only by [having Danish troops in Afghanistan] can we guarantee that Afghanistan doesn't become a haven for terrorists. Terrorists that could hit us here, at home." Gade expects several more such incidents in the near future but is unfazed by the prospect.

moif: I also read today that the Iraqi PM has said Iraq will be able to take over its own security by New Years Day. This is good news indeed (with luck we can pull out the Danish troops in Iraq) and if true it means GW Bush was right all along. I wonder how that will go down amongst the socialists here. No doubt they'll deny Iraq is any better than it was under Saddam Hussein... but then again, he claimed to be a socialist as well...

Klostertorv

A Christian youth organisation, singing their hearts out as I passed by Klostertorv (Abbey Square). Jesus loves them, which is nice. The building in the background is the old monastry from which NyMunkegade (New Monks Street) gets its name (there is an Old Monks Street as well).

We had a nice warm, but wet day today. I was down in the city centre (about 200 metres from our front door) and was amazed at the crowds. A lot of foreigners too. Tourists probably but how they can afford to come here!?

I couldn't but help notice how many over weight girls there were either. Mette noticed the same thing, or so she said when I mentioned it. They say we are getting fatter and fatter (I certainly am) so it ought not to be a surprise, but it was... not that I'm complaining mind you. I like to see a girl with a fat bottom. It cheers me up no end!

I don't have much to relate today. Pip has been in a good mood, but I didn't take any pictures (we are currently averaging about 150 per month, + 5 - 6 video's) and Mette has been her usual self. She has a stabbing pain in one ear and I'm not to happy about it. Its the same side as a weird eye infection she had about four months ago and my paranoia is acting up. In the mean time, I've bought a new drawing board. This one is 150 cm wide so it has masses of room. Pip helped me set it up by knocking things over and crawling underneath me when I was lifting the heavy bits. Very helpful.
Tomorrow is the first gaming day in ages. Yay!

BTW: Ken. I saw the pics of you & Lil D yesterday. Ye gods but how he has grown so much so soon! He is still as cute as a button though.

Rain on Nørre Allé

Artist of the Month: Geoff Hunt

There isn't much to say really. Hunt is the artist who illustrated the Patrick O'Brian novels I have... and which, frankly, I only bought in the first place because I found the cover images so captivating. He is easily my favourite artist in the small but brilliant, historical naval genre and he has the format to keep up with O'Brians story telling.
Click on the image above to see more of his work.

-ROCKETMAN-

So, I'm currently working on my third set of -ROCKETMAN- games, and enjoying myself a lot. The best part of these games is also in the playing of course, but there is much fun to be had in researching them and following up the details of the crazy world of the 1930's when technology was characterized by unchecked enthusiasm and boundless exploration. Its no wonder that so many high adventure stories are set in this period. On the one hand you have the great swell and immediacy of twentieth century history flowing about you in glorious technicolour and on the other the sepia toned mystery of the distant past. Its excellent stuff. Some people prefer the muscle and might of SS panzer divisions or fast flying P51 Mustangs, but I much prefer the eccentricity of the first armoured vehicles and the pure absurd, pulp literature/art-deco style of the jet pack wearing hero flying to the rescue and pitted against aristocratic Prussian nobles and power armour wearing Bolsheviks poised to take over the world. Armoured trains, rigid framed dirigables and steam chain traction engines.

Naturally, this amount of historical detail has to be reflected in the elements used and I've been quietly buying models, kits and figures for the past two years in anticipation of these games. RM1 dealt with a secret Teutonic order under the command of a Prussian baron seeking a mysterious power in the depths of a desolate region called Ash Shamaliyah and which was said to grant immortality. RM2, which was only a two game, single afternoon side show, dealt with Zombies in a secret nazi research base in the North pole. RM3 will be about a crazy Bolshevik general who has a suit of power armour, a captive Russian scientist building a doomsday weapon and having discovered the secret of the rocket-pack has kidnapped Rocketman's fiancé!!!

The new games can be seen under construction here.

Freja: The Snoos...

Fast food/Dagens hurtig snack...

Helping Mom/ Hårdt arbejde...

Meeting Pickle/ Davs Pløk!

The Snoos!/ Snoos'en!