Flying steady in formation. We fly safe in any kind of weather. Stay on course with the Quacknav. Tested for many generations. The way we can see even when flying over the sea. You can huff and you can puff. We just quack on.
More pictures from the windy Friday and the ducks wanted to be the stars also today. Ha de Gött!
The sun created an aura around her head as she leaned over him for a kiss. Her laughter was like the blackbirds singing in spring. He was confused. He felt no joy but instead a feeling of discomfort was throbbing in his head. The taste of blood filled his mouth instead of the soft feeling from her kiss. Her image swept away by a dark cloud and a thundering sound. Yet not irregular like thunder but more a rhythmic pounding. He came to when a bucket of ice cold water was thrown in his face. He found himself laying on his back on a steel deck. And instead of his betrothed, two rough coast guard officers leaned over him.
How did he end up here? In his hazed mind he slowly remembered, through the coast guards shouting, how he and his brother crashed into the coast guards steamboat in the thick fog. The coast guard vessel made good speed so his brothers small wooden boat was crushed by impact. They ended up in the ice cold water. He saw his brothers head sticking up over the surface just before he lost consciousness. Now he realized that the rhythmic pounding came from the steam engine.
A slap in the face face from one of the officers pulled him away from his thoughts. Over the engine noise, the ringing in his ears and the throbbing headache he tried to understand what the coast guard officers was shouting. Only with quite some effort he could make out that they spoke Norwegian. The tongue failed him when he tried to speak. All swollen and bloody as his lips. He tried to tell the officers that he was Swedish hoping they would treat him less violently. One of the officers kicked him before they went out slamming the heavy iron door shut behind them.
He was laying there on the floor all wet, in the noise and heat from the steam engine wondering if his brother made it. He cursed him for the idea of running contraband booze to Norway. Would he ever see his beloved again or rot away in a Norwegian prison cell?
This is the second part of the story contraband. Click here to read the first. Stay tuned for the continued story. Ambition is the connect it all to a novel in the future. Ha de Gött!
Crazy old Ram McMutton Built an empire out of cotton Was a bit of a fool Better to set up in wool In despair began to weep Lost his flock, the sheep Went to competitor mr Wolf Now graze on meadows for golf Managed by a speckled beagle Clear from people hitting an eagle His wife, the lovely Ewe Stops this poem now, leave
Was not sure if I should press Publish or Delete but I guess I’m fearless today. Ha de Gött!
I put the kettle on for you. Boiled coffee that you like so much. Pored it in our best porcelain coffee pot. You know the one with the blue and brown decorations. The coffee cups and small plates for the chocolate cake you love. Just took it out from the oven, so it is still warm. This morning I also made gingerbread cookies.
Now I sit here in the garden. It is still warm in the late summer sun. I look at the horses out on the field and listen for the sound of your car. I stroke my hand over the tablecloth that you brought from the city last visit. It was so long ago. I suppose the studies keeps you busy. Now, that must be your car! I get up and walk to the side of the house. Oh, it was only a gust of the wind.
I put the coffee pot on the small side table on the porch. The sun is starting to set behind the hills and it’s getting colder. I take all the garden furniture in also, should it start to rain. Chase some flies of the cake before I put in the pantry. Sitting down in my chair I turn the radio on and take up my knitting. In the darkness I see the headlights from your car lighting up the wall.
Story from the abandoned house. Ha de Gött!
There in at the edge of the forest. Alone and neglected. Lawn mower locked in the outhouse for many years. Bushes and trees running wild in the garden. Dry paint falling off, leaving the wood open to the forces of nature. In dire need of attention.
Found this yesterday and I think it looks good in Black & White. It is still salvageable. The chimney looks fine and there is electricity, but I doubt if someone pay the bill. There is also an outhouse that I wrote of yesterday. Ha de Gött!
The dragons egg. Hard boiled in the depths of mother Earth. Frozen and shaped by ice and water. Lifted up to be ornament over the food cellar.
What if it hatches. What would come out? A cute little dragon or dinosaur. Piping for its mum. What would it eat? Flies, birds and a moose.
Grow, and grow, and grow, and grow! Would it then, take you for a snack?
Ha de Gött!
He shivered in the cold fog. He sat at the boat stem looking out for shallow water and rocks. More important, looking out for the police and the coast guard. His brother sat by the oars, gently lowering them in the water at each stroke. Making sure there was no sound made. They could hear the dogs barking at the Norwegian side as the customs officers patrolled the shores. Nothing was heard from the Swedish side but they knew that the police were at the lookout for them.
The cold mist was their friend, he thought. They stayed in the middle of the fjord trying to stay out of reach. The yawl was loaded up to the rail with home-burned liquor. It was to be delivered to Norway where those distilled drinks were banned since a few years. He knocked gently on the wooden rail and his brother turned around. He pointed to the shore at the faint blinking light. It was the signal. With a few oar strokes his brother steered the boat in that direction.
They could hear the thumping of a steam boat approaching fast. Now his brother picked up the speed significantly. No need to be quiet anymore. Soon they could see the strong searchlights over the water. His heart was beating hard but he stayed focused on his task. With a low voice he directed his brother to the light. At each stroke the oars where now splashing in the water. They manged to steer the boat under a large alder with branches out over the water just as the searchlight blinded his eyes.
The Scandinavian countries are part of the “liquor belt” and in the beginning of 1900’s the alcohol abuse was a major problem. In Norway liquor was forbidden between 1917 to 1926. In Sweden only a limited amount was allowed per month. This was regulated with a small book where all purchases was logged, Motbok, from 1917 all the way to 1955.
Maybe this was the place, I found yesterday, used by the moonshiners? Don’t forget to like, subscribe and please let me know with a comment if you like me to continue the story. Ha de Gött!
He shivered, from cold or the fact he was scared. Sun disappeared and the light faded fast. In the pale light from the moon the shadows seemed to come alive. The forest sounds that was familiar during the day now started to feel threatening. He felt a shiver down his spine as an owl started to sound its, ho-ho. He hesitated before he snuck his hand in his older brothers hand. Expected him to pull it back and start to ridicule him for being scared. To his surprise and relief his brother took a firm grip with his warm hand.
One hundred word story, I had to sneak in my new friend the owl from yesterday. Hope you like, subscribe and comment. Ha de Gött!
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!
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!
UlleHaddock 