Fredagsfrustration Ultraforarbejdede fødevarerFriday Frustration Ultraprocessed Foods

NB: Dette er ikke skrevet for at skyde på eller se ned på veganere/vegetarer. Der findes mange sunde veganske alternativer og mange usunde ikke-veganske.
     Det er skrevet for at fortælle at de store -  og mindre - fødevarefabrikker vil tjene penge på det, vi stopper i munden, også på bekostning af vores sundhed.

-  ✽ -

Lige for øjeblikket er der en overflod af diverse reklamer, sundhedsartikler på nettet og mange andre steder, hvor folk tale om at leve sundere, hvor de dels promoverer kød-og mælkealternativer, dels er meget omhyggelige med at advare mod ultraforarbejdede fødevarer. De to ting synes jeg ikke rigtig passer sammen.
     Jeg gik og kiggede på indholdsfortegnelserne på nogle kødalternativer, og jeg blev faktisk skræmt.

For det der med ultraforarbejdede fødevarer ... det lyder sært, verdensfjernt, industrielt og mystisk. Men det er faktisk let at finde ud af, om de er i det, man står med i hånden. Man skal bare spørge:
KUNNE JEG SELV?
Det er det essentielle - og enkle - spørgsmål, der kan afsløre ultraforarbejdede fødevarer:

Reglen har ligget i mit baghoved længe (læsere, der har hængt på her længe, har hørt meget af det her før, undskyld), men udkrystalliserede sig da 5-ingrediensers-reglen blev promoveret af Anne Tjønneland og hendes kolleger i TV2.
     Det var noget argt sludder og Kunne jeg selv?-reglen opstod som en reaktion på den artikel.
     Jeg  brugte kødboller på frost som eksempel:

Mou økologiske kødboller: Grise- og oksekød (60%), vand, ÆGGEHVIDER, løg, HVEDEMEL, kartoffelmel, rasp (HVEDEMEL, salt, gær), salt, oksefedt, hvid peber. Se det er jo hele 11 ingredienser! Men så spørger jeg: KUNNE JEG SELV?     
     Kunne jeg selv: hakke kødet, røre det med salt, tilsætte vand, æggehvider, løg, mel, rasp (som jeg selv kunne lave), salt, peber og fedt og så koge bollerne i saltvand?
     Ja det kunne jeg godt. Altså er det OK. 

Beyond Meat kødboller, ingredienser: Vand, ærteprotein* (14%), rapsolie, kokosolie, aromaer, røgsmag, risprotein, tørret gær, stabilisator (methylcellulose), kartoffelstivelse, salt, kaliumsalt, krydderier, urter i variabel andel 0,5% (Persille, rosmarin, salvie, basilikum og oregano), æbleekstrakt, hvidløgspulver, majseddike, koncentreret citronsaft, løgpulver, granatæbleekstrakt, emulgator (solsikke-lecithin), farve (rødbederød), maltodextrin, gulerodspulver.
*Ærter er bælgplanter. Personer med alvorlig allergi over for bælgplanter som f.eks. jordnødder skal være forsigtige, når de indfører ærteprotein i deres kost på grund af risiko for allergi over for ærter.    
     Der er rigtig mange - faktisk hele 24 - ingredienser hvoraf Aromaer er på fjerdepladsen, og der er flere, hvor jeg tænker ... hvordan pokker gør jeg.
     Ærteprotein, hvordan får jeg proteinerne ud af ærterne? Ditto med risprotein, og hvad med solsikkelecitin? Eller methylcellulose og kaliumsalt ... (E-461 og E-508 altså).
   KUNNE JEG SELV? Nej. IKKE OK

 ✱ ✻ ✱ ✻ ✱

NOTE: This is not vritten to shoot at, ot disparage any vegans or vegetarians out there. There's lots of healthy ways of being a vegan - and lots of unhealthy ways not to. It's only to show that big business wants to earn money at the expense of our health no matter what.

-  ✽ -

Right now, there is an abundance of vegan/vegetarian dairy and meat alternatives in various advertisements, health articles on the internet and many other places where people talk about living healthier lives. At the same time, they are all very careful to warn against ultra-processed foods. I don't think these two things go very well together. I have been looking at the ingredients lists on some meat alternatives, and I was actually shocked. Ultra-processed foods... it sounds strange, otherworldly and mysterious. But it's actually easy to find out if the food you hold in your hand contains them or not. You just have to ask:
COULD I MAKE THIS MYSELF?
That is the essential – and simple – question that can reveal ultra-processed foods.

This rule has been in the back of my mind for a long time (longtime readers might find this a bit repetitious, sorry), but it crystallised when the 5-ingredient rule was promoted by Anne Tjønneland and her colleagues at TV2. It was utter nonsense, and the Could I do it myself? rule emerged as a reaction to that article.

I used frozen meatballs as an example:
Mou organic meatballs: Pork and beef (60%), water, EGG WHITES, onions, WHEAT FLOUR, potato flour, breadcrumbs (WHEAT FLOUR, salt, yeast), salt, beef fat, white pepper.

That's a total of 11 ingredients! But then I ask: COULD I MAKE IT MYSELF? Could I mince the meat, mix it with salt, add water, egg whites, onions, flour, breadcrumbs (which I could make myself), salt, pepper and fat, and then boil the meatballs in salted water?
Yes, I could. So it's OK.

Beyond Meat meatballs, ingredients: Water, pea protein* (14%), rapeseed oil, coconut oil, flavourings, smoke flavouring, rice protein, dried yeast, stabiliser (methyl cellulose), potato starch, salt, potassium salt, spices, herbs in varying proportions 0.5% (parsley, rosemary, sage, basil and oregano), apple extract, garlic powder, corn vinegar, concentrated lemon juice, onion powder, pomegranate extract, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), colour (beetroot red), maltodextrin, carrot powder.

*Peas are legumes. People with severe allergies to legumes such as peanuts should be cautious when introducing pea protein into their diet due to the risk of allergy to peas.

There are a lot of ingredients – 24, in fact – with flavourings in fourth place, and ther question Could I make it myself makes me think... how on earth do I do that?
Pea protein, how do I get the protein out of the peas? Ditto with rice protein, and what about sunflower lecithin? Methylcellulose and potassium salt... (E-461 and E-508, that is).
COULD I DO IT MYSELF? No, I could not. NOT OK

Only the Words

Word for Wednesday is a challenge that was started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable event with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

In September  River will supply us with prompts.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

This Wednesday's prompts:
Shipwreck
Hook
Unexpected
Buttermilk
White-knuckled
Buggy

I do not want to begin any more wild goose chasin' chapters of Unicorn Farm, so I'm taking it slow, trying to find somewhere where I can cntinue the story, using these words. I need inspiration and ideas.

Poetry Monday :: Big City :: in German and no Cities ~ Updated with more verses

    Mandagsdigtet er en blogleg, som Mimi fra Messymimi's Meanderings og jeg har overtaget - midlertidigt håber vi - fra Diane, der slapper af og rejser verden rundt med sin mand. Vi håber hun er parat til at tage over igen, når hun kommer hjem.
     Stikordene kommer fremover fra 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts. Det er en Facebook-gruppe, der udgiver et stikord til hver dag i året, men bare rolig, stikordene vil stadig være at finde både her og på Mimis blog.

Dagens stikord er: Storby! Men eftersom jeg vågnede op i morges med et fuldt færdigt tysk digt! i hovedet, er jeg er alvorligt bange for at der ikke kommer et digt på dansk i dag. Nok ikke engang et engelsk.

- A - - B - - C -

Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health and relaxation, travelling the world with her husband as far as we can tell.
 
We just hope she's going to take back over once she returns home.

The prompts now come from 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group. This is a Facebook group with a prompt for each day of the year, but no worries, the prompts will still be here and at Mimi's blog.

  I have something more to ask of you: If you read this and the poetry of others via the links, would you please leave a comment.
  Half - if not more - the fun of these challenges is receiving the responses of others.

Today's subject is Big City!

- A - - B - - C -

Today is Poetry Monday, the theme is Big City, but as I woke up this morning, a poem in German! was in my head. But why?


Nächtliche Konversation:
A - Ist bald der dunkle Nacht vorbei?
B - Die Uhr zeigt immer noch nur Zwei
    - Leg du dich hin, schlaf ruhig ein
    - Und wacht im Morgensonnenschein.

A - Und was ist's jetzt
B - Dreiviertel sechs
    - bald kommt das Morgengrauen
    - Schließ du bloß deine Augen

A - Jetzt scheint die helle Sonne rein
B  - Jetzt darfst du wach und munter sein
A - Oh weia! ich bin müde du
    - ich mache meine Augen zu.
 




English literal translation:

Nightly Comversation
A - Will this dark night soon have an end?
B - the clock says only two
Lay yourself down and go to sleep
And wake in morning sunshine.

A - Now what's the time?
B - A quarter to six
    - Soon will the morning break
    - now you go back to sleep

A - And now the sun is shining brigth
B - You may get up now, time is right
A - Oh dear, I am so tired now,
    - an hour more will sit just right.


Dansk oversættelse:

Natlig samtale
A- Er den mørke nat snart slut?
B - Klokken er stadig kun to
Læg du dig ned og sov igen
Og vågn i morgensolskinnet.

A - Og nu, hvad er klokken nu?
B - Et kvarter i seks
    - Snart gryer dagens grå min ven
    - så luk du øjenene igen

A - Åh se, nu skinner solne klart
B - Nu står vi op, er det ikke rart?
A - Men jeg er træt, jeg ikke vil.
    - jeg sover lige en time til.

 - - - - - -  - Coming Themes  - - - - - - - -

Sep 15 Tea fusing
Sep 22 Kitchen
Sep 29 Snuggles
Oct 5 Wood
Oct 12 Life
Oct 19 Train
Oct 26 Make believe occupation

Søndagsbilleder ~ Sunday Selection& Colour25

Today I get to use the Beauty Berry colour. I have a few misses, and then a hit ;)

I dag skal jeg så forsøge at finde Beauty Berry-farve. Jeg har et par gode forbiere, og forhåbentlig rammer jeg også.

Først en blomst, der pludselig groede på nogle sjove, lange ukrudter, jeg havde ladet stå uden for vores skur. Det er bukketorn, hvor bærrene er de meget sunde goji-bær - jeg troede det var et eller andet eksotisk, altså.
Næsten den rigtige farve.

-- 💜 --

First a flower from a long, straggly weed I let live in front of the shed. It is matrimony vine, which I find a fun name, and the berries are the much touted goji-berries - I thought they were some tropical tree fruits.
Almost the right colour

En lille omvej til i går, hvor jeg demonstrerede plantefarvning. Først de planet, jeg plukkede på en tur i min have samme morgen: Rødbladet hassel, skønhedsøjer, rejnfan - og i kurvens dyb, grønne valnødder.

A small detour to yesterday where I showed how to plant dye. A basket full of dye-plants from my garden: Red hazel, tansy, tickseed and green walnuts (inside the basket)

The yarn I dyed -- det garn, jeg farvede.

Og så en gentagelse: Det garn, der mindede mig om lakridskonfetti. Jeg fandt noget på indkøb forleden. Ligner det ikke? Og så fandt jeg det på nettet: Bedre billede.

And a repeat: The hank of yarn reminding me of a Danish brand of candy. Down below the candy - I'll let you be the judge. And then I found it online: Better picture.

Og til sidst, mit sære møbius-strik. Jeg forsøger at lære italiensk aflukning, men havde skrevet forkert af, så det ser stadig sådan her ud .. og det rammer farven!

And finally my strange moebius knit. I'm trying to teach myself Italian bind off, but as I made a mistake copying the how-to, I've still not gotten any longer that last time ... but it fits the colour!

Fredagsfrustration - betalingsmurFriday Frustration New York Times Mini Games

Som mange af jer nok har opdaget, elsker Uglemor ordgåder, rebusser og al den slags (bare ikke Sudoku)
     I flere år har jeg nu, ikke hver dag, men regelmæssigt, forlystet mig med mini-spillene på New York Times hjemmeside.
     Det startede med Spelling Bee, hvor man kunne komme et stykke ad veje uden at subskribere, så opdagede jeg Wordle, Conneztions, Strands og Tiles.
     De fire har jeg holdt af at løse de seneste tre et halvt år, og jeg brugte endda Wordle til min A-Z Challenge i år. Men nu er det slut. Tiles, The Mini Crossword og Letter Boxed er fra for et par dage siden kun for abonnenter.
     Ja, Wordle, Strands og Connections er stadig gratis, men jeg gider ikke lege med dem længere.
     Jeg sluttede min serie af spil hos New York Times med nogle rigtig fine resultater. Tiles løst med det laveste antal træk nogensinde, nemlig 31, Wordle løst på tre gæt, Strands "perfect" og Connections med kun et forkert gæt.

Det, jeg nok mest kommer til at savne, er WordLit.
Nok engang gør grådighed verden til et lidt mere farveløst og trist sted at være.

- A - - B - - C -

As many of you have probably noticed, MotherOwl loves word puzzles, rebuses and all this (only not Sudoku).

For several years now, I have been entertaining myself -- not every day, but regularly -- with the mini-games on the New York Times website.

It started with Spelling Bee, where you could get a little way without subscribing, then I discovered Wordle, Conneztions, Strands and Tiles.

I have enjoyed solving these four for the past three and a half years, I even based this year's A-Z Challenge on Wordle, but now it's over. Tiles, The Mini Crossword and Letter Boxed are only for subscribers as of a fweek or so ago - for me it was September 1st. I know that Wordle, Strands and Connections are still free to play, but for how long? For me making Tiles pay to play was the last straw.

I ended my series of games at the New York Times with some really good results. Tiles solved with the lowest number of moves ever, 31, Wordle solved in three guesses, Strands ‘perfect’ and Connections with only one wrong guess.

What I will probably miss the most is WordLit.
Once again greed is making the world a bit less fun to live in.

Words for Wednesday UPDATED & IWSG

Oops, I was bleary eyed Wednesday evening. I forgot to press Publish before going to bed. Hopefully it's still Wednesday somewhere ;)

Word for Wednesday is a challenge that was started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable event with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

In September  River will supply us with prompts.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

This Wednesday's prompts:
Conviviality
Adoration
Willpower
Mellow
Gentle
Guitar

And writing happened again.

With the burial of some of the magic people: M-L, Kai, Martine, and more at the Unicorn Farm, I have been thinking over the religious aspects of the magic community.
It is obvious, to me at least, that magic and religion has a whole lot in common.

We are never explicitly told so, but there's a magicians' graveyard out there too; we have a small giveaway in Percy's words in the "Kai"-chapter. "The next time you come here ... you'll come to bury Sandra, or one of you younger ones". I have it written down more explicitly in a chapter not online -- confusing, I spent a bit of time searching before I realised.

At Unicorn Farm there was a minuscule church - chapel would be the right word for it. And every day, whether education was going on or not, there was a short time of adoration ending with a blessing every morning, and sometimes also in the evening.

At home Susan often lacked the willpower to go to church, it was early and Dad really did not like her going. Also the services in the big, old cathedral were stuffy, boring and not a bit uplifting. The choir did all the singing and even prayers or answers from the people. It was more like going to the theatre than to church.

Susan did not know what she really wanted from a church, but these short, early morning worshipping, often accompanied be mellow guitar music, short prayers clad in solemn words with set answers from those present and subtle meanings, spoke much more to her heart.

Often gentle Gylfi led the worship, but now and then a priest from a nearby town came, and when he did, Susan felt the blessing almost physically, like some kind of ancient magic.

There was a feeling of conspiracy and conviviality to these early morning gatherings, and many of the apprentices gathered there to start off the day.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

September 3 question - What are your thoughts on using AI, such as GPChat, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, story bible, or creating outlines\beats?

My answer - No I would not. I do not use AI - I only use it for removing the background from photos, that's all!

All my websearches are followed by the switch -ai to not get any AI generated replies.

I tried using AI for synopses, structuring of a text, and I even asked it to write one of my Words for Wednesday stories for me.
I was not satisfied with the AI's story al all. I found it generic, two-dimensional, and sterile. I got no kick whatsoever from reading it ... The AI did even not perform as requested, as it did not use all the Words.

That's one of the problems with AI. Another is that it's a 'people-pleaser' for lack of better words. It does not like to disappoint us. If it does not have an answer, it invents one - in short it tells us a lie, politely of course, but it's still a lie.

Poetry Monday :: Under the Sea

    Mandagsdigtet er en blogleg, som Mimi fra Messymimi's Meanderings og jeg har overtaget - midlertidigt håber vi - fra Diane, der slapper af og rejser verden rundt med sin mand. Vi håber hun er parat til at tage over igen, når hun kommer hjem.
     Stikordene kommer fremover fra 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts. Det er en Facebook-gruppe, der udgiver et stikord til hver dag i året, men bare rolig, stikordene vil stadig være at finde både her og på Mimis blog.

Dagens stikord er: Under havet! Men jeg er alvorligt bange for at jeg ikke når et digt på dansk i dag. Ikke engang det engelske er ordentlig færdig.

- A - - B - - C -

Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health and relaxation, travelling the world with her husband as far as we can tell.
 
We just hope she's going to take back over once she returns home.

The prompts now come from 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group. This is a Facebook group with a prompt for each day of the year, but no worries, the prompts will still be here and at Mimi's blog.

  I have something more to ask of you: If you read this and the poetry of others via the links, would you please leave a comment.
  Half - if not more - the fun of these challenges is receiving the responses of others.

Today's subject is Under the Sea!

- A - - B - - C -

Ever since I composed the long poem for Awakening in my head and could remember all of it, I have tried to repeat this feat. It seems to have been a one-off.  I have in any case never succeeded in remembering all of my poem ever since - or indeed before.

Today with Under the Sea, I had an idea in the early morning hours when the dustmen woke me up with their normal noisy ways.

I "wrote" several verses and half-verses, hoping to remember them when it was time to get up. I might have remembered more, had I sat myself down to write as soon as I awoke, but life got in the way. So now I not so proudly present the two first verses and a general outline of the rest interspersed with rhyming pieces:

Under the Sea
Under the sea
that's where well be
We will have fish,
not as a dish,
not on the table,
but in the stable.
That's where they'll be.

And every night
is lit so bright.
A moonfish hung
and starfish strung.
Over the table
hung on a cable
a lampfish-light.

Fun nights with swordfish fights and pufferfish dart, entertainment by clownfish ...

and seahorse races
to secret places

People under the sea, walking their sea-dogs, milking seacows and finding spectacular treasures guarded by lobsters whose bites are worse than their barks ... and factories driven by the sparks
of electric eels. Producing

papers so pink
and midnight ink

from squids and octopuses; to be used by

Poets like me
under the sea.

If time permits and my undersea muse returns, I will be back to add more lines later today.

 - - - - - - - -

Coming up:

Sep 8 Big City
Sep 15 Tea fusing
Sep 22 Kitchen
Sep 29 Snuggles
n

Sunday SelectionSøndagsbilleder

I dag har jeg noget meget kulørt garn at vise frem. Først mindede farverne i nøglet mig om påfuglefjer.

Today's photos feature a very colourful hank of yarn. At first it reminded me of peacock's feathers.

Så om lakridskonfetti

And then about a Danish brand of candy which strangely does not pop up in a web-search.

Og jeg strikkede sådan her, til stor forundring for Ugleungerne, der mente, at der var noget galt med mit strikketøj.

And I knit like this, to the astonishment of the Owlets who were sure I did something wrong.

Der er ikke noget galt, det skal se så sært ud - bortset fra et par mindre fejl. Jeg øver mig i at strikke Møbiusting.

But it is as it should be - apart from some minor errors. I'm teaching myself to knit a Moebiusband.

Jeg er ikke helt sikker på at der er noget strågult i dette garn, selvom det jo er sidste chance i dag.

I'm not sure there's any Straw golden in this hank, even if today was my last shot at this colour.

Colour of the Month :: September :: Månedens farve

I know, I know, we only recently had a purple, but, well, I tried no less than two random colour generators after seeing this photo, and they both gave me a violet. I can't fight the superior force. I suggest Beauty Berry Violet as the colour for September. It is taken from Mary's blogpost on these berries and a whole lot of other stuff.
Beauty berries is also a plant, I have wanted to have in my garden. I had forgotten it, also because I thougth it was highly poisonous, which it is not - let the Beauty berry hunt begin!

     Jeg ved godt, at vi lige har haft en lilla i juli. Jeg prøvede at finde en anden farve, men efter at ikke mindre end to "find en tilfældig farve" websteder havde givet mig en lilla, gav jeg op og accepterede Glasbær - som på botanisk latin, Callicarpa, og engelsk, Beauty Berry, hedder smukke bær - som månedens farve for september.
     Jeg fandt de smukke bær og en hel del andet hos Mary. Det er også en af de planter, jeg altid har ønsket mig at have i haven, men som jeg faktisk havde glemt. Nu må jeg på jagt.

Words for Wednesday August 27Cykelture med forhindringer ~ Biking Challenges

Word for Wednesday is a challenge that was started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable event with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

In August, Mimi of MessyMimi's Meanderings will supply us with prompts.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

Word for Wednesday er en udfordring, der startede for længe siden. Nu er det blevet en bevægelig begivenhed med Elephant's Child som vores koordinator og ordene bliver leveret af en række personer.

Meningen med denne udfordring er at få os til at skrive. Digte, historier, fortællinger, vittigheder, haiku, krydsord, ordspil, ... du bestemmer.
Brug alle ordene, nogle af dem eller kun et enkelt, eller måske endda ingen af dem, hvis det får din kreativitet til at blomstre. Alt er tilladt, men helst ikke noget vulgært eller fornærmende.

I august er det Mimi fra MessyMimi's Meanderings der giver os ordene.

Det er også en udfordring, hvor det gamle ordsprog »Jo flere, jo bedre« holder stik.

Så husk at følge linkene, gå tilbage og læse andres historier. Og skriv gerne en kommentar, når du har læst. Udfordringer som denne holdes i live af interaktion, kommentarer og opmuntring. Og vi har ALLE brug for opmuntring.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

Ordene den 27. august - The Words for August 27:
Horizon
Consciousness
Theorist
Great
Enhance
Enter
          and/or the following sentence
It took him a while to realize that everything he decided not to change, he was actually choosing.


I had some trouble unravelling the sentence to mean that not choosing is also a choice. I did not use it, neither all of the words.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

The past seven days my bike has been on the horizon of my consciousness most of my waking hours. Last Wednesday I wrote about my broken bike and ended with this optimistic statement: "Tomorrow I will hopefully pick up my bike again – and I hope that will be my last visit to the bike repair shop for a while."

"Tomorrow" - Thursday - nothing happened, and not Friday either. I was in town again for PE and shopping, and phoned the bike shop just before going home, hoping they just forgot to send me an SMS. No such luck. They needed a spare part, and although the delivery van had not been at their place yet, the chance of them finishing the bike that same day was not great even should the spare part arrive. Else Monday hopefully.

I waited patiently, getting around by bus and by walking which my stupid leg - the reason fro Friday's PE and quite another woeful tale - did not like at all. Tuesday I phoned once again. nope, no such luck, but Wednesday for sure. Wednesday I was once again in town, PE and shopping, 'running' from place to place, checking my mobile phone between each shop - nothing. I took the bus home, against all wont holding my mobile in my hand, so as to be able to hear any possible notifications. None came. The grandkids stayed at our place for a couple of days, so the rest of the day was spent learning, teaching and doing family things. In the late afternoon, I checked my 'phone once again. You do not need to be a great theorist to figure out when the SMS telling that my bike was ready had arrived - yup. half an hour after I arrived home.

     Today, I finally went to pick up my bike. It had been fitted with new, shiny pedals and was as good as new – now we just have to get used to each other again!

- - 🚲  - - 

Den sidste uges tid har min cykel været øverst i mine tanker meget af tiden. Sidste onsdag skrev jeg om min ødelagte cykel og sluttede med denne optimistiske bemærkning: »I morgen skulle jeg gerne kunne hente cyklen igen - og så håber jeg at det var det sidste besøg hos cykelsmeden i et stykke tid.«

»I morgen« - torsdag - skete der ingenting, og heller ikke fredag. Jeg var i byen igen, til fysioterapi og for at gå på indkøb. Da jeg var helt færdig, ringede jeg til cykelsmeden, i håbet om at han bare havde glemt at sende mig en SMS om at cyklen var færdig. Sådan var det desværre ikke. Der manglede en reservedel, og selvom fragtmanden ikke havde været der endnu, var chancen for at de kunne blive færdige med cyklen samme dag ikke stor, selv hvis reservedelen altså skulle ankomme. Forhåbentlig mandag.
     Jeg ventede tålmodigt og bøvlede rundt med bus og til fods, hvilket mit dumme ben – årsagen til fredagens fysioterapi og en helt anden sørgelig historie – slet ikke brød sig om. Tirsdag ringede jeg igen. Nej, den var ikke færdig, men onsdag ville den helt sikkert være færdig.
     Onsdag var jeg igen i byen, til mere træning og flere indkøb, og "løb" fra sted til sted og tjekkede min mobiltelefon mellem hver butik – intet. Jeg tog bussen hjem og ganske usædvanligt sad jeg med mobilen i hånden hele vejen hjem, så jeg kunne høre eventuelle beskeder. Der kom ingen. Børnebørnene var hos os i et par dage, så resten af dagen gik med at lære, undervise og familie. Sent på eftermiddagen tjekkede jeg min telefon igen. Man behøver ikke være geni for at regne ud, hvornår SMS'en om, at min cykel var færdig, var ankommet - naturligvis en halv time efter jeg kom hjem.
     I dag var jeg så endelig inde og hente min cykel. Den havde fået nye, fine pedaler og var god som ny - nu skal vi lige vænne os til hinanden igen!

Den fortabte cykel er hjemme igen  -- The lost bike is home again

Og den skal overnatte i vores nye skur for første gang i nat.

- - 🚲  - -

And it's going to 'sleep' in our new shed for the first time ever tonight.

Poetry Monday :: Wonderful

     Mandagsdigtet er en blogleg, som Mimi fra Messymimi's Meanderings og jeg har overtaget - midlertidigt håber vi - fra Diane, der slapper af og rejser verden rundt med sin mand. Vi håber hun er parat til at tage over igen, når hun kommer hjem.
     Stikordene kommer fremover fra 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts. Det er en Facebook-gruppe, der udgiver et stikord til hver dag i året, men bare rolig, stikordene vil stadig være at finde både her og på Mimis blog.

Dagens stikord er: Vidunderlig! Men jeg er alligevel bange for at jeg ikke når et digt på dansk i dag.

- A - - B - - C -

Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health and relaxation, travelling the world with her husband as far as we can tell.
 
We just hope she's going to take back over once she returns home.

The prompts now come from 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group. This is a Facebook group with a prompt for each day of the year, but no worries, the prompts will still be here and at Mimi's blog.

  I have something more to ask of you: If you read this and the poetry of others via the links, would you please leave a comment.
  Half - if not more - the fun of these challenges is receiving the responses of others.

Today's subject is Wonderful!

- A - - B - - C -

Wonderful and poem ... oh, sorry everybody. I can't beat What a wonderful world - even if I really do not like Jazz. I like this song very much.

What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed days, the dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying, "I love you"

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Oh, yeah

And as a bonus another "WHat a Wonderful World" This time by Sam Cooke:

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for

But I do know one and one is two
And if this one could be with you
What a wonderful world this would be

Now I don't claim to be an 'A' student
But I'm trying to be
For maybe by being an 'A' student, baby
I can win your love for me

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

History
Biology
Science book
French I took, yeah

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

Listen here:

Mosaikbrikkerne ~ The Puzzle

As I told, I cut out a huge amount of puzzle pieces from the OSB left by the carpenters.

🧩

Som jeg fortalte forleden søndag, savede jeg en masse mosaikbrikker ud af de stykker OSB, tømrerne havde efterladt.

Then painting began -- 🧩 --  Så begyndte jeg at male

     Jeg er ikke glad for den lyseblå, den passer ikke ind ... eller hvad siger I? Flere billeder at kigge på nedenunder.
     Jeg synes det ville se godt ud med en gran-grøn, mørk græsgrøn, eller noget i den stil. Ligesom skruetrækkeren på det første billede herunder.
     Men det lader til at gennemsigtig træbeskyttelse ikke kan være mørkegrøn, kun samme grønne som den blå ... hvis I forstår.

🧩

I'm not happy with the pale blue. Somehow it's not transparent enough, and I think it does not fit in ... or what do you say? More photos down below.

I went out to try buying a small can of dark green -- like the green screwdriver in the first photo here below. But it seems transparent paint cannot be a darkish green, only the same green as the blue one, only green ... if you understand.

Words for Wednesday August 20Cykelture med forhindringer ~ Biking Challenges

Word for Wednesday is a challenge that was started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable event with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

In August, Mimi of MessyMimi's Meanderings will supply us with prompts.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

Word for Wednesday er en udfordring, der startede for længe siden. Nu er det blevet en bevægelig begivenhed med Elephant's Child som vores koordinator og ordene bliver leveret af en række personer.

Meningen med denne udfordring er at få os til at skrive. Digte, historier, fortællinger, vittigheder, haiku, krydsord, ordspil, ... du bestemmer.
Brug alle ordene, nogle af dem eller kun et enkelt, eller måske endda ingen af dem, hvis det får din kreativitet til at blomstre. Alt er tilladt, men helst ikke noget vulgært eller fornærmende.

I august er det Mimi fra MessyMimi's Meanderings der giver os ordene.

Det er også en udfordring, hvor det gamle ordsprog »Jo flere, jo bedre« holder stik.

Så husk at følge linkene, gå tilbage og læse andres historier. Og skriv gerne en kommentar, når du har læst. Udfordringer som denne holdes i live af interaktion, kommentarer og opmuntring. Og vi har ALLE brug for opmuntring.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

Ordene den 20. august - The Words for August 20:
Absent
Satisfaction
Combination
Fun
Echo
Exempt
    And/or the following phrases
Between a rock and a hard place (in a difficult situation with no easy choices)
Knuckle down (applying oneself seriously to a task)
Long in the tooth (aging or getting old)

Jeg har som man kan  se, ikke brugt alle ordene, men jeg har også en idé mere.

As you can see, I did not use all the Words - but I have more ideas.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

Først på dansk

Som jeg fortalte i mit opslag tilbage i juli, er jeg begyndt at cykle, hver dag, så vidt muligt. Min cykel er ved at være pænt gammel, cirka 31 år, men velholdt og normalt velfungerende.
     De seneste godt fjorten dage har der godt nok været udfordringer med det med det velfungerende.

Første besøg hos cykelsmeden
Tirsdag den 5. - altså for to uger siden - var min cykel flad da jeg skulle ud ad døren.
     Næste dag, onsdag, skulle jeg nå alverdens ting og havde regnet med at have cyklen så det kunne lade sig gøre. Derfor skyndte jeg mig ind med cyklen til cykelsmeden - heldigvis kan man stadig have cyklen med bussen, og vores gode cykelsmed reparerer ofte fra dag til dag; nogen gange endda mens man venter eller går på indkøb.
     Men der var naturligvis travlt hos cykelsmeden, sommerhusfolket havde indleveret cykler i stor stil, og det gode vejr havde også lokket flere ud på vejene på cykel med deraf følgende reparationer. Cyklerne hang nærmest i lag på værkstedet, og min cykel kunne først være færdig igen torsdag.
    Jeg hentede den fredag morgen. Da havde jeg på grund af den manglende cykel og en tosset nakke, der gør mig svimmel af og til, siddet så meget stille, at jeg havde fået meget ondt i mit ene ben.

En kort visit hos lægen og cykelsmeden
     Så mandag i sidste uge cyklede jeg ind til lægen, der kiggede på mit smertende ben og heldigvis frikendte mig for blodpropper og henviste mig til fysioterapi. Der var jeg så fredag. Stadig på cykel, men uden helt at kunne se, hvor langt og hvor hurtigt jeg kørte, for min cykelcomputer var sær.
     Mandag i denne uge stod cykelcomputeren helt af, og jeg var forbi cykelsmeden igen, men han kunne ikke lige finde nogen fejl på den.
     Tirsdag - altså i går - skilte jeg den ad; og stod med tre dele i stedet for to. Ledningen var knækket. Jeg splejsede den og viklede elektrikertape om og tog en lille test-tur. Den virkede perfekt.

Tilbage til cykelsmeden igen!
     I dag skulle jeg igen til kiropraktoren, på cykel naturligvis, og nå ind og hente en pakke, og nå toget en times tid senere. Jeg er virkelig glad for min trofaste cykel, der gør den slags dage mulige ... men hvad skete der? Midt ude i skoven sagde det pludselig KRONK! og den ene pedal knækkede af.
     Jeg ringede til kiropraktoren og fortalte om mit problem. Så skyndte jeg mig efter bedste evne afsted, jeg hoppede op på cyklen og trillede når det gik ned ad bakke og luntede afsted med den når det gik opad. Den anden pedal havde sat sig fast, så jeg kunne ikke løbehjule afsted heller. Derfor tog det i stedet for de normale lige under 20 minutter, godt en halv time at nå derind.
     I morgen skulle jeg gerne kunne hente cyklen igen - og så håber jeg at det var det sidste besøg hos cykelsmeden i et stykke tid.

In English

As I mentioned in my post back in July, I have started biking almost every day. My bike is getting quite long in the teeth, if you can say this about a bike. It's an older model, 31 years old, but well maintained and usually in good working order.
However, over the last fortnight or so, there have been some challenges with this "good working order".

First visit to the bike repair shop
Tuesday the 5th – two weeks ago – my bike had a flat tyre when I was about to leave the house.
     The next day, Wednesday, I had all sorts of things to do and had counted on having my bike so that I could get everything done. So I hurried to the bike repair shop with my bike – luckily, you can still bring your bike on the bus, and our excellent bike repair shop often repairs bikes overnight; sometimes even while you wait or go shopping.
     But of course, the bike repair shop was busy. Summer house owners had brought in their bikes en masse, and the good weather had also lured more people out on the roads on their bikes, resulting in even more repairs. The bikes were practically stacked up in the workshop, and my bike wouldn't be ready until Thursday.
    I picked it up on Friday morning. The combination of an absent bike and my crazy neck that makes me dizzy from time to time, I had been sitting down so much that I had developed severe pain in my leg.


A quick visit to the doctor and the bike repair shop
So on Monday last week, I biked to the doctor, who looked at my aching leg and, fortunately, ruled out blood clots and referred me to physiotherapy. I went there on Friday. Still on my bike, but without being able to see how far and how fast I was riding, because my bike computer was acting up.

Monday this week, the bike computer stopped working altogether, and I went back to the bike repair shop, but they couldn't find anything wrong with it.

Tuesday – yesterday, that is – I took it apart and ended up with three parts instead of two. The wire was broken. I spliced it, wrapped it in electrical tape and took it for a little test ride. It worked perfectly.


Back to the bike repair shop again!
     Today I had an appointment at the chiropractor again, I went by bike of course. I also had to pick up a parcel and catch the train an hour later. I am really happy with my trusty bike, which makes days like this possible... but what happened? In the middle of the forest, there was a sudden CRACK! and one of the pedals broke off.

I called the chiropractor and told about my problem. Then I knuckled down trying to make it with a decent delay. I jumped on the bike coasting downhill and jumped off walking my bike quickly uphill. The other pedal was stuck, so I couldn't stand on that one and use it as a kick-bike either. For this reason it took me a good half hour to get there instead of the usual 20 minutes.
 
Tomorrow I will hopefully pick up my bike again – and I hope that will be my last visit to the bike repair shop for a while.

Så hænger den! ~ Barn Quilt hung!

Today is also World Photography Day. Is there any better way to celebrate than by sharing the photo of a happily finished thing? As I'm not doing social media things, this is my celebration.

-- 📷 --

I dag er det også Verdensfotografidagen, der har været fejret siden den franske regering gjorde patentet på fotografering offentligt tilgængeligt på denne da i 1839. World Photography Day. Er der nogen bedre måde at fejre denne dag på end at vise et fotografi af et velafsluttet projekt? Jeg er ikke med på hashtag-bølgen, derfor er dette min fejring.

--  🙨    📷    🙨  --

Friday the two carpenters put in windows and doors. The building is finished.

Saturday and Sunday we moved bikes and boards and bits and bobs in there. I measured and did all the preparation for hanging the Barn Quilt and painted the space around the windows.

   🙨 

I fredags kom vi hjem til et lille hus med vinduer og døre og nøglen i låsen.

Lørdag og søndag flyttede vi cykler, brædder, den tunge drejebænk, planteopsatser ... ind i skuret. Og jeg malede et stykke rundt om vinduerne, der bare skulle være hvidt og målte og satte lægter op til vores Barn quilt.

  👉  🙨  👈 

     Mandag malede jeg rundt om vinduerne anden gang. Og vi hængte vores Barn quilt op. Også mandag fortalte håndværkerne, at de ikke var helt færdige; der mangler noget med gulvet.
     Så vi skal bære det hele ud igen. Også den tunge drejebænk.
     Vores Barn quilt bliver hængende!

 🙨 

Monday I painted the window surroundings once again and we hung the Barn quilt. Also Monday the carpenters told us that they are not quite done! The floor needs something ... so everything has to be carried out again.
     The Barn quilt stays.

In a year the boards are ready for painting, and the shed will turn green.

It also needs a name.

  👉  💚  🙨  💚  👈 

Om et år er brædderne dampet af, og vi maler hele skuret grønt.

Det skal også have et navn.

Poetry Monday :: Don't be afraid!Mandagsdigt :: Vær ikke bange!

     Mandagsdigtet er en blogleg, som Mimi fra Messymimi's Meanderings og jeg har overtaget - midlertidigt håber vi - fra Diane, der slapper af og rejser verden rundt med sin mand. Vi håber hun er parat til at tage over igen, når hun kommer hjem.
     Stikordene kommer fremover fra 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts. Det er en Facebook-gruppe, der udgiver et stikord til hver dag i året, men bare rolig, stikordene vil stadig være at finde både her og på Mimis blog.

Dagens stikord er: Vær ikke bange! Men jeg er alligevel bange for at jeg ikke når et digt på dansk i dag.

- A - - B - - C -

Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health and relaxation, travelling the world with her husband as far as we can tell.
 
We just hope she's going to take back over once she returns home.

The prompts now come from 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and other Arts group. This is a Facebook group with a prompt for each day of the year, but no worries, the prompts will still be here and at Mimi's blog.

  I have something more to ask of you: If you read this and the poetry of others via the links, would you please leave a comment.
  Half - if not more - the fun of these challenges is receiving the responses of others.

Today's subject is Don't be afraid

As ofteh when I do not really know what to write, I found words that rhyme and make something strange. This here peom ended in a totally unexpected place.

This life is just small things galore
- Don't be afraid
Enjoy them, do them, there'll be more
- Don't be afraid
Small things are big and not a chore
- Don't be afraid
Small things deligth me to the core
- Don't be afraid
The polished stones upon the shore
- Don't be afraid
The birds that sing and fly and soar
- Don't be afraid
Wet baby footprints on the floor
- Don't be afraid
A strange knocking at my door
- Don't be afraid
A newborn Child that we adore.
- Don't be afraid.

- - - - - -

Coming up:
Aug 25 Wonderful
Sep 1 Under the sea
Sep 8 Big City
Sep 15 Tea fusing
Sep 22 Kitchen
Sep 29 Snuggles

 

Sunday Selections ~ Second Sunday of August ~ Barn QuiltSøndagsbilleder ~ 2. søndag i august ~ Barn quilt

For nogle uger siden fortalte jeg, at jeg ville lave et Barn quilt til vores nye udhus.

Pladen til at male på, er basis for puslespillet her, så skulle den lige males hvid ... det glemte jeg så at tage billeder af ...

🙩

Some weeks ago I told about my plan to make a barn quilt.

The board is shown here, it's below the puzzle pieces.  Then I had to paint it white -- I forgot to snap a photo of this it seems ...

Næste forhindring var så at købe maling i de rigtige farver, og en rulle malertape.

🙩

The next hurdle was getting some paints in the right colours and some painters' tape.

Then painting began -- 🙨 --  Så begyndte jeg at male

Rigtig mange streger, virkelig meget malertape, og første lag maling!

🙩

A lot of marking up, many metres of painters' tape and the first coat of paint!

And the sun is shining still  -- 🙨 --  Solen skinner stadig

 

     Andet lag maling, det er stadig vådt, og al tapen straks fjernes igen - internettet vidste heldigvis besked, for manden i butikken sagde ikke noget - jeg skulle nok have spurgt.
     Det ligner da patchwork, ikke sandt?

🙩

Second coat of paint, still wet, and all the painter's tape removed right after - I looked it up on the 'net, as I did not know, and the man in the shop did not tell me - I probably should have asked.
  It does look a bit like a quilt, don't you think?

Nu mangler der bare "blomsterne" en firkant i hvert af hjørnerne - og de skal heldigvis være Strågule - månedens farve.

🙩

Now missing the "flowers", one square in each of the corners. And as luck will have it, they are going to be painted Straw Yellow - the colour of the month.

 More sunshine  -- 🙨 --  Mere solskinsvejr

 
And here we are. The straw yellow paint, I thought I had, had dried up, and the small amount, I was able to salvage would not be enough for even these small squares. But a nice lady in the paint shop helped me match the colour. There's soo many colours to chose from!

🙩

Og jeg troede jo at jeg havde den helt rigtige gule maling. Men den var tørret ud, og den lille rest, jeg kunne redde, ville ikke række. En flink dame i butikken hjalp mig med at matche farven ... der er virkelig mange farver på sådan et farvekort.

Så mangler 2. lag maling - og jeg skal nok huske at fjerne tapen med det samme! Hvad gjorde folk dog inden internettet?

🙩

Now missing second coat of paint, and I will remember to remove the tape as soon as I'm done painting. What did amateur painters like me do before the internet?

-- 🙨 --

 
Lørdag var også dejlig varm med masser af solskin og jeg fik søreme malet igen.

🙩

Saturday was nice and warm with lots of sunshine. Painting happened.

Så skal det bare tørre helt og hænges op, det når jeg måske i dag, men ingen garantier. Skuret er færdigt, når vi ser bort fra et par små detaljer 😃

Now it has to dry completely, and then I'll hang it on our shed ... yes the shed is finished, only missing a few details 😃
I might make it today, but I promise nothing.

 

-- 🙨 --

 
And to everybody who has said that my Straw Yellow was greenish. Yes it is, my new monitor makes for better colours.
Here's a comparison between my "Straw yellow" and the colour, I painted the cactus rose flowers:

Fredagsfrustration ~ bagerier Friday Frustration ~ Bakeries

Da vi flyttede ind i nærheden af Helsinge for snart længe siden, var der - ud over supermarkedernes bake-off og et bageri i Kvickly - et herregodt bageri & konditori ved Gadekæret.

  - 🥨 -

When we moved here, long ago now, we had an excellent bakery, called the "Village Pond Bakery & Tearoom". Of course the local supermarkets also sold baked goods, but for cakes, this was where you went. 

Det er der ikke længere. Efter en periode med skiftende ejere - hvoraf den sidste var den fantastiske Sir Bake-a-lot, der åbnede i september 2018, men måtte lukke på grund af helbredsproblemer i juli 2019.

  - 🥨 -

This was long ago. After a period of rapidly changing owners the last and best - Sir Bake-a-lot - had to close down for health reasons in 2019.

Kun kringlen er tilbage    -  🥨  -   Only the pretzel remains

4. maj 2023 åbnede så den polske bager. Han lukkede for godt en uge siden, 6 august 2025. Der var åbenbart ikke kunder nok.

  - 🥨 -

In May 2023 our Polish bakery opened. But sadly he had to close about a week ago. People did not buy enough bread and cakes there.

Det synes jeg er sølle i en by af Helsinges størrelse. Byen selv er på knap 10.000 indbyggere og har et stort opland. Der burde være basis for en god bagerbutik her.

  - 🥨 -

I think this is lousy. Helsinge is not the largest of towns, but it has almost 10,000 inhabitants in the town proper and a big hinterland - lots of rural area surrounding it - and it should be possible to run one real good bakery here.

Words for Wednesday ~ August 13

Word for Wednesday is a challenge that was started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable event with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

In August, Mimi of MessyMimi's Meanderings will supply us with prompts.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

This Wednesday's prompts:
Easy
Student
Invasion
Encourage
Housing
Spectrum
        and/or the following archaic words
Gaud -- a trinket
Moil -- drudgery
Pore on -- think about, dwell on thoughtfully

Biking home today I got this idea for a story. Unfortunately only one of the archaic words  fit, but as we always say: "Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them", I feel good to go.

A Monday in the early summer just before the summer holidays. Or in other words towards the end of the first year on Unicorn Farm.

Susan sat on the garden swing when mom and dad returned from shopping. They looked at her, and mom asked, "But Susan! What happened?"

"It was an accident," Susan began, "and I lost my keys, and my bike is broken something terrible, and I think these pair of pants are only good for the bin."

"But what about you?" Mom asked.

"I'm bruised, and now after sitting, I feel stiff and sore all over, but nothing is broken or even sprained. I could walk home."

"Thank God," mom said, "come in and I'll scrub the wounds."

Susan followed mom into the big bathroom upstairs. Her right arm and leg were bloodied and filled with gravel and dirt.

Mom said: "This is going to hurt, but please remember what aunt Iris always says about scrubbing away the dirt?"

"I do! And her threatening to use a brush if hands are not enough!" Susan said, "I won't promise not to yell at you."

"Yell away," mum said, "but keep still."

Mom scrubbed the wounds with soap, as aunt Iris had taught her, and she even had to use a small brush on Susan's elbow. Susan whimpered and yelled a couple of times. Mom dried the wounds carefully with a clean towel, and put a band aid over the worst of them. "Now they're all clean at least, and you will mend. Luckily none of those need stitches."

"Phew!" Susan said, "I feel lucky after all."

When they came downstairs again, Dad had made coffee, and asked Susan to please tell what happened.

"I had been to the woods, as I told you this morning," Susan began.

What she did not tell was that she had been practising growing and plant mending spells in the woods - it was homework, and Thora had told that these spells would be allowed during the week.

"I was on my way home on my bike, when I saw a giant viper on the road just in front of me. It had that zig-zag pattern down its back and it was poised to strike. I could no way avoid it so I pulled up my legs as fast and far as I could. The wheels must have been hot from my hurrying home, because it went for my front tyre. It bit into it so violently that the tube tore, almost exploding, and having my legs up and all and running over the viper ... it threw me and the bike and the viper all together in one big mess.The viper was quite limp, I suppose it died. The bike was punctured and broken, and I was bleeding all over. I sat down and cried."

Susan took a sip of her coffee and continued: "But then I realised that I could not just sit there. Crying would not mend my bike or revive the viper. I don't know which made me more sad ... and I was growing sore and stiff. I tried walking with my bike, but it was too heavy, my arm and leg hurt, and the tube and tyre grated against the mudguard all the time. I could not walk it home."

Susan was again not telling the whole truth. She had pored on mending the bike and herself with magic, but she dared not run the risk of being expelled from Unicorn Farm.

"So in the end I stood my bike against a fence and locked it, then I walked home and discovered that I had lost my key out there too."

"What a luck the viper did not get you," mum said, "and are you sure it was a viper? They are not normally found here. Now at the place where you werre born, there were many vipers, and mice and one day a mouse even ... "

"Drink up your coffee and get into the van," dad interrupted. It was an old story. Mom had told it many times. "There's room for a bike and more in there, and I think that's a job for the mechanic. If we're lucky we can get there before he closes down for today."

"Sounds like a grand plan," mom said. "Susan, when do you need your bike again?"

"Need it," Susan said, "not until Thursday, when we have tennis lessons in the old sports place, but I'd like to have it back Wednesday after school, as we - me and some of the girls from school - planned a trip to the beach."

"That should be doable," dad said. "I know a  mechanic, who's good and fast. Get aboard!"

Susan climbed into the van, not without some moaning, the band aids stuck, and she had turned even more stiff and sore.

Susan told dad the way, and they found the bike still standing against the fence in its sad state. Dad searched for Susan's keys, but all he found was the viper, it really was a viper and a huge one for a viper 75 cm from snout to tail, and it's neck was broken. Dad loaded it, and the bike, in the behind of the car and drove very fast until they were again back in town.

"Just stay here, Susan," dad said. "I'll hand in your bike and be back in no time."

"Thanks, dad," Susan said and happily stayed in the warm van, not savouring the climb up and down once again, and dozed until dad returned and they headed for home.