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ullehaddock

Writer of sorts with a soft spot for Photo. Writes about life and what comes into my mind.
Five five

Five five

Yesterday I turned 55. Can’t turn the numbers around to sound younger anymore. Next time I can do that in five years when I turn six!? That would be fun to start acting like a six year old.

Some say, old people most, that age is just a number. In a way I can relate to that as I still wonder when I will grow up. But the hard reality is that, even if thew mind is young, the body starts to degrade. Even if you exercise much. Spend time climbing and walking in nature. You can feel how it gets harder to climb that hill or make that jump over a gorge.

Also your mind slows down and it is harder to learn new things. Like what emojis to use without offending anyone, or even find them. In most cases one can compensate with experience but in a faster and faster changing world it is getting harder. The brain needs practice to stay healthy, same as muscles so I always challenge myself to learn new things. In fact my motto is; “If you didn’t learn anything today, it was a wasted day” (sounds better in Swedish). I have not yet lived a day without learning something new.

Another annoying thing of getting older is hair. It leaves your head only to start growing in other awkward places. Your nose, ears, eyebrows and, I think I stop there. It is like the Elvis recording from Las Vegas when he’s laughing through “Are you lonesome tonight” where he sings. “When you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair”. At least you save some money on shampoo that you can spend on nose clippers.

Another positive thing with age is that it’s okay to be grumpy and complain over modern music. You can sit there feeding the doves and complain over the young people walking by staring down their mobiles. Letting your flatulence go on the bus is more okay the older you get and since your nose is covered with thick hair you won’t smell it yourself.

Live long and prosper. Don’t forget to like, subscribe and comment, I put my glasses on to read them. Ha de Gött!

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Ladder

Ladder

He was climbing the corporate ladder. Working hard but only felt sadder. Didn’t care who he hurt. Every step was more worth. Office politics became his trade. He put up a perfect facade. Fast cars and a country house. Got it all, worked like a mouse. Everyone came for Friday beer. Not for love but for fear. Family and friends he neglect. To make the boss him select. Finally got his crown. Took to his chest and fell down.

Was his life a prank? All went to the bank. He made a blunder. Now he is six feet under.

Inspired by the TV-series Suits that we have been watching lately. The series is about a guy, Mike Ross, who by accident starts to work as a lawyer. Problem is that he never attended law school. One theme throughout the series is how the lawyers are more occupied by winning than justice. Also that all new employees are expected to spend long hours at the office.

Make sure you sign out and spend time with your loved ones. Before you go don’t forget to like, subscribe and comment. Ha de Gött!

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Seafood

Seafood

There on the beach lies the shells of, what some call a delicacy. The Oysters, Clams and Lagoon Cockle. The oysters from Skagerack is considered to be the best. I’m not biased, eating a mollusc is over my limit. It is not only food for humans. It is also an important part of the ecosystem as food and to keep the water clean. I think they also make good photo models.

Don’t forget to click the magic button, subscribe and let me know, with a comment, if you like to eat them. Ha de Gött!

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Gullbringa

Gullbringa

Last weekend offered a perfect winter weather for photography. -3°C and and almost no wind. The sun was shining from a clear blue sky. Even if I promised my wife not to climb any mountains I went over the hills. From there overseeing the ocean where I, in the clear sky, could see the Norwegian mountain tops. There was a thin layer of snow on the island cliffs making a perfect contrast to the blue ocean and sky. The high salt content and the currents keeps the water open even if has been cold for several weeks.

I came down on the other side of the hill in the small village Gullbringa. Typical for those small villages where the houses are squeezed between the rocks. Remains of quarrying, read more in a previous post, and fishing. Now taken over by summerhouses making it almost empty during winter. I made a slide show with music composed and performed by my son.

Hope you like, subscribe (also to my new Youtube channel) and comment. Ha de Gött!

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Connect

Connect

A friend lured me to a dance, offered me an chance. To met his cousin sweet, could that be with my two left feet. After moving me around, in the loud, loud sound. Looking in your eyes so blue, I was thinking can this be true. Your smile so bright, blinded me like a light. Just then and there we connect, felt this is correct. We sat down to drink, what is going on we think. Walking home that night, everything felt so right.

You became my wife, in a house just our size. Through life’s ups and downs, the pro’s and the frowns. Never a hard word, from you I’ve heard. Our connection is strong, I’m right were I belong. You have my heart, and the occasionally fart. Forever I’ll be true, to your eyes so blue.

To my lovely wife who has put up with me for 23 years. Happy Valentines Day. Don’t forget to like, subscribe and comment. Ha de Gött!

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Master chef

Master chef

My wife love to watch Master Chef on TV. I don’t know why because she rarely enters the kitchen. When the kids were small and I had to go away on a business trip the begged me, with tears in their eyes, to make lunch boxes. At one time I had to stay away for two full weeks. My wife then tried to do some cooking. She only managed to set off the fire alarm. From that day my, then nine year old, decided to do the cooking. She is a bit like the Swedish chef in the Muppet Show, if you remember that show. I can’t really understand what she say, and the kitchen is a mess. I suspect it is all an act, she is so much smarter than me.

Photo by Ulle Haddock©

Back to the Master Chef show. It started already in 1990 on BBC in UK, but has then been sold to over 40 countries. They broadcast some of them on Swedish TV. Master Chef UK, Canada, Australia, USA and Sweden. I sometimes sit down with my wife to watch but I get really stressed. The panicking music and the shouting, should be read with an Aussie accent “fouve minutes to goahh”! Start plating!

One thing that strikes me is the difference in the interaction between the contestants in the different countries. In Sweden it is very polite and tuned down. The critique from the judges is presented wrapped in cotton. I love Australian version, and the accent. The are all friends and “good on you, mate”. Really supportive and crying when somebody has to leave. The judges are still very sharp in their feedback, without putting anyone down. I like the Australian version best.

In the UK version the judges can give their feedback in a more blunt way. The contestants are very polite but the competitiveness shines through even if they keeping up appearances. The US version is really competitive and sometimes you wish they took away the participants knifes. It is much more back talking among the contestants. Much more about winning than developing to be able to become a professional.

They make all this fancy tiny plate dishes with strange names. Presenting them to the judges while the music builds up to a crescendo before the feedback comes. Relief or frustration, then a cut in scene with someone says they don’t want to go home. But, they miss their family! After the last cook down three wannabe chefs stands in a row to get the verdict while the background music is frantic. Builds up, builds up, wait for it, wait for it! Commercial break!

Back in the kitchen I do Swedish meatballs with spaghetti, semi-finished! I will never catch-up!

What about you, are you a Master Chef? Don’t forget to like subscribe and comment. Ha de Gött!

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