French summercamp Reunion '12

Ever wonder why you lose contact with people? Even though you have them on Facebook?

Maybe because you never bothered to send them a message or give them a call to meet up?

(So glad you did Joy!)

There were plenty of excuses I could have come up with not to drive 100km to meet up with someone I met at a summer camp about 10 years ago and hadn't seen since - but boy am I glad I decided not to be a wimp :D

We had a fantastic time bringing up old memories lounging by the pool, had a delightful lunch, interesting conversations and a fair bit of play & fun (including Belgian vs Dutch jokes) ;)

 and all of that in quite a wonderful setting!

Next reunion coming up soon -possibly in Utrecht-! (We're still trying to locate an English guy called Benjamin James ... anyone?)

Change of Scenery - again :)

Here's something I've been looking forward to: FIGS!!

I could do without the mosquitos and the heatwave, but being able to go outside and pick your breakfast/lunch/snack/dessert of a tree is true luxury to me :)

Back in France for a while - combining work & pleasure ... the way it should be!

Gammelgarn Discoveries

 Already last summer I heard about the owner of this concrete tipi, who coincidentally also is the creator of these wonderful concrete horses (the large ones doubling as road blockers across the island) and the first to take up (and win!) the fight with the authorities on Gotland for the right to purify his own greywater by means of a construction called "living wall" (or levande vägg in Swedish).

This summer I happened to drive past his house, recognized it from the stories I'd heard, and just had to stop and take a look around ...

He is no longer with us, but Lennart Svärd's accomplishments will hopefully allow more home owners to go off the grid (as he did!), or at least take greywater purification into their own hands.

Memorable quote via here: "The best way to purify water is to not contaminate it"

So don't mix blackwater with greywater and purify the latter!

Sounds so easy, doesn't it?

Yet it's still more the exception than the rule ...

Sweet Medieval Times

Here's a couple of highlights from last week ...

sampling caramelized apples (medieval candy?) and deciding that the cinnamon ones were the best,

wandering around the market stalls for hours on end trying to resist temptation (worked only partly),

a very hot show by Trix

and last but not least, marveling at the magnificent horses at the jousting tournament ...

all wonderful moments, but even more so because they were all shared with my dear friend Fien, who made my summer all the more extraordinary!

Come back soon!! ;)

Medeltidsveckan

Gotland's most magical event, Medieval week, has come to an end.

A week full of knights, ladies, commoners and minstrels, all kinds of performances and tournaments, a fantastic market and loads of photo opportunities ...
It was like being stuck in a play!
Good times!

Smöjen

Every day I get a little more impressed with Gotland.

I was completely blown away by this abandoned & water filled limestone quarry - not to mention the graffiti covered building we couldn't resist to explore!
(what a great dive site this must be!)

Isn't it wonderful how an old industrial site like this can be reclaimed and repurposed as the most amazing day-trip destination?

No Rush @ Krusmyntagården

My 25th Birthday spent with fantastic people, friends from Belgium over for a visit, no work, time for sightseeing and loads of picnics, perfect weather ... I couldn't ask for more.

Yet, I have a real hard time to slow down and stop stressing about stuff, which is why this little sign at Krusmyntagården deserved a picture.

"Don't rush - sitt down my friend, you won't get back forgotten rest" 

(liberal translation, I promise you it sounds so much better in Swedish)

A nice reminder. Stress is so unnecessary. I need to take the time to stop and smell the roses, not just take pictures of them :)