If I had a hammer

If you could learn a trade — say carpentry, electrical work, roofing, landscaping, plumbing, flooring, drywall — you name it — what skill(s) would you love to have in your back pocket?

The last time I did this prompt, which was just over a year ago, I decided being an undertaker would be a nice quiet stressless life and so I am today again confronted with the same blog. Now they are really scraping the bottom of the barrel for something new, invigorating and dynamic. Do they think I might change my mind in the meanwhile? Well I did not, because I thought it a silly prompt a year ago and today I do not find it more sensible.

I took a walk through the cemetery a couple of days ago and again realised what a quiet life undertakers have. There were no funerals in progress, but the gardeners were busy freshening up the graves. Whether the occupants treasure this work I do not know, but my camera did. The gardeners had let their imaginations run amok. They had no customers mixing themselves into their creative work. I don’t know how it is in other countries, but on the normal graves on our local cemetery, be it earth or fire burial, you can either do it all yourself, or commission a gardening company to do the work. After a funeral you already receive the invitation to register with a private gardener who will decorate your grave twice a year usually: Spring and Summer. It is a financial offer.

At the moment it is the spring decoration. Most people went for the daffodil pansy ornaments which are really quite colourful - see photo. Some might have a small shrub on the grave which is also quite good, as it does not have to be renewed. It was interesting to see the gardeners with crates full of daffodils and tulips fitting them all into the spaces in front of the gravestones. We also now commission a gardener to do the work on mum-in-law’s grave, which he had been planted with tulips. I don’t even do my own garden these days as my golden oldie joints are no longer as keen on bending as they used to be. 

We also took a walk along the river afterwards, making the most of the warmer weather. There was not a lot of action there, the swans were probably swanning along somewhere and there was one male mallard duck searching for a mate. My camera was bored with all those duck photos, but then I spotted some interesting stone formations on the edge of the river.

I realised that I had lost Mr. Swiss as qualified photographers like myself need time to focus on a suitable subject. Suddenly he appeared. He had taken the path back to civilisation and also to a comfortable bench, so I joined him.

As I mentioned a couple of days ago I had fears that a drainage spirit had formed a curse on our drainage in the kitchen. There were mysterious glugging noises heard as water seeped downwards. After applying hot water, we managed to completely block everything. This morning whilst Mr. Swiss was in town I poured at least four litres of boiling water into the sink. A voice screamed “help I am burning” and suddenly the water travelled downwards at its normal speed. I took a careful look, but the water remained clear and there were no signs of fresh blood. However, wanting to be safer then sure, we invited the professional drainage man to take a look. I expected him to arrive with exorcist instruments: black candles and old leather bound books with cobwebs,  but what he brought was a mixture of machinery and tubes. We decided he should have a look at everything, which he did. The kitchen sink was more or less now in good order after applying my exorcist incantations in the morning, but there was a shower and a bath which also required his attention.  After two hours of noise and smell the work was done accompanied with a seasoned invoice. However, the man did a good job and he told us of his experiences in other places. Yes, the life of a drain cleaner can be spiced with all flavours: recycling take on another meaning in his job. We assume that our drainage will now form part of the experiences he tells people in other households.

Ripped from the headlines - and a walk

Click over to whatever website you visit most frequently to get news. Find the third headline on the page. Make sure that headline is in your post.

All followers that are interested in reading about a family that are about to be evicted from their house in Obergerlafingen because they own 14 husky dogs hold up their hands. I see no hands, I am not surprised, but it was in the news. They can stay in their house if they keep only four of the huskies. Anyone want to adopt a husky? They have decided to move after living in their house the last fourteen years. Now that is doggy love. I have two felines and would keep my home if threatened with such steps. On the other hand my home is not my home, the felines took over when they moved in, claimed ownership sealed with a paw print. And now to continue to something more interesting. It did not arrive in the local newspaper, or in the internal headlines, but it was big in my headlines.

Mrs. Angloswiss and Mr. Swiss pulled on their walking shoes again. It was just a small step for the Angloswiss family Golden Oldies but it was a large step for their boots that were made for walking. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. Unfortunately there was a strong cold wind blowing, a local thing know as the Bise, but casting all cares into the shadows of walking feet, they continued undaunted on their merry way.

Dressed in a wind protective jacket with the long blue jeans and with a camera around her neck Mrs. Angloswiss asked “Why do I do these things to my joints” or was it the joints that were asking “do we have to do this”. Nevertheless it was a short rewarding walk. It was the first walk that we could actually see the alps from our path. Mr. Swiss said “look the alps” and so I unzipped my protective jacket, withdrew the camera suspended around my neck and took a few prize-winning shots. Unfortunately this was the only successful shot. The high mountain on the right is the Eiger, famous for its North Wall which is an overhanging upright climb and the death of many mountaineers. One disappeared into a dangerous crevice known as The Spider, and many years later he decided to reappear after a storm in the North Wall. He was still standing upright in a frozen state. Another reason why I do not do mountain climbing. We spent many holidays in Grindelwald and these mountains were an hour’s hike from our holiday apartment. Mr. Swiss and I engrossed ourselves in books about the local mountains and their successful climbs. We also visited the local cemetery where the more unsuccessful climbers were buried after a failed attempt.

The master walker, Mr. Swiss, decided on a route passing the stables to the cemetery. All the horses came out to greet us.

“We were waiting every day, but you didn’t appear. Do you perhaps have an apple or carrot for us to munch on?”

Mr. Swiss, with his Swiss animal experiences, said “Do not feed them with anything. It might be they also take a few fingers with the first bite to enrich their fruity meal with something meaty.”

This was new, up to now they were happy with a photo, but I think it was climbing to their horsy heads.I noticed the horses had spruced themselves up realising that they were now famous through the blogging world. See my prize winning close-up photo of a horse head, complete with sexy eyelashes.

And so we waved goodbye to the horses and continued on our merry way to …..yes, the cemetery. There were few visitors today so the cemetery population were left to their own thing. We walked the normal path and we noticed that the graves had been spruced up with spring flowers. The gardeners that are paid to care for the graves had been hard at work. 

We arrived home, tired but happy, and found how refreshing it is to again be out in the fresh air. I noticed during the evening that my throat became sore and I was sneezing a little more than usual. However, I slept well and am now ready for the next walk. Will it be today? 

Places - where I go

Beach, mountain, forest, or somewhere else entirely?

A good question I suppose. Living in Switzerland we have no beaches, at least not combined with an ocean. We only have lakes, and where I live just rivers. Mountains are very good in Switzerland. Unfortunately the are very high, with rocky anti golden oldie paths which can be very steep. I mentioned to Mr. Swiss about an excursion to our local mountain, the Weissenstein, as they now have a new railway to the top with gondolas. I had visions of photos from the peak looking towards the valleys and perhaps some mountain wild life. He said yes, we could do that. I am still waiting for the signal to go, but we will wait until the weather is warmer. For the time being we will stay in the lowlands.

Last week we began a new keep fit programme, at least I did. Mr. Swiss is already fit. We have a new conversation topic at lunch time. “Where shall we go today”, although the choice is not wide. Today Mr. Swiss decided a short walk to the cemetery again. He always wants to visit the cemetery. My photographic experience with the cemetery is almost exhausted. I think it is because of the useful benches placed on the corners where he/we can take a rest when it gets too much for us.

To arrive at the cemetery we again had to pass the horses and chickens. The rooster seems to be in a good mood: of course he was with about 50 wives to look after his needs.  Nothing much had changed at the cemetery. All the graves were in the same place, no movements anywhere and so I busied myself taking a few photos for my cemetery album. Today the weather was cool, but bearable. I do not know why these gravestones were put in a row. Probably the unlucky ones that had been dug up with only the stones left. I believe the relations can have the gravestones for their garden or whatever afterwards, although I have never seen gardens full of such stones in my village.

We again took a rest on our bench, at least Mr. Swiss did. I was too busy looking for details my camera had not yet captured. If you look close enough at those graves, you find all sorts of little ornaments worthy of a photo. 

We arrived home safe and sound. Today we had a garden problem. On my lawn the gardeners had prepared everything by clearing out the dead and dying stalks of grass and feeding the remains with fertiliser. To finish the job new grass seeds were scattered with an order from the gardener that I should give the freshly laid lawn water daily, preferably in the morning. This was because in the morning the temperature is cool. If the sun is on the newly planted lawn during the day and I give it to drink,  there is a danger that the grass roots will burn, which would mean no new lawn and do it all again. Thus we see Mrs. Angloswiss regularly with a long kaftan over her nightdress pouring water on the lawn at 8 a.m. in the morning. I would add that temperatures are then about 5°C which is not so warm. Now and again we have bird visits as grass seeds are an invitation to breakfast, dinner and tea for them. As a counter measure I hung various seed parcels on the apple tree branches to deter them from the lawn. I also threw handfuls of bird food on the neighbouring field. I will soon get the name of St. Angloswiss of Feldbrunnen, the bird feeder.

Today the birds were not happy with these extras and invaded my newly planted lawn, mostly sparrows, at least 20-30 of them. It was a mass attack. Mr. Swiss went into action and found some brightly colours plastic tape I organised the last time I planted  a lawn. Our lawn now resembles a boxing ring bordered with a colourful tape edge and yes, the birds now remain in the apple tree or on the field. It was an invasion of the third kind, Alfred Hitchcock would have been delighted by producing a new film “The sparrows”.

And now for a finishing touch to my exciting day of a cemetery visit and sparrow battle, I give you my latest addition to my front garden (by special wish), the Meercat in person. He is very happy to join us and has many admirers. I think I will have to charge an entrance fee to see him eventually.

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Walking is healthy, so they tell me

Think of a time you let something slide, only for it to eat away at you later. Tell us how you’d fix it today.

Over the past couple of years I let my walking abilities slide to the extent that my legs decided it was time to do something about it, otherwise we would have problems.

“Hey Angloswiss brain, we are getting rusty, out of order. Our joints hurt, we get tired too quickly, so do something about it. Ask Mr. Swiss to take you with him on his afternoon jogging sprees.”

“I’ll think about it legs, but he doesn’t jog, he walks at a steady tempo.”

“Better than sitting at a computer writing daily prompts which were daily two years ago. Out in the fresh air, do something.”

“Can I take my camera with me?”

“No problem. I asked the arms and they said they would hold the camera for you, so let’s go.”

After that conversation with a couple of my limbs I decided the time was ripe. Spring is here, almost, the sun is shining, it is t-shirt time and the crocus are flowering. There was one small problem. Mr. Swiss was delighted to have a companion on his keep fit walks, but there was a slight misunderstanding. He does it without the camera and I do it with, meaning a quick stop in between to take a prize winning photo. 

Two days ago, we did our first walk, which was more or less a success, although I did feel a little tired afterwards.

“Angloswiss, we were on our last muscles when we arrived home, but it can only get better.”

“Shhh legs, don’t tell them such things, I am practicing, it will take a time but we will soon be bionic.”

By the way the photo is from an ancient tree in the local cemetery. I think they planted the tree before they buried the first victims. Anyhow to continue, I completed my second walk yesterday with Mr. Swiss. He was a happy walker for a certain reason. I took my camera with me, but changed the battery before I left to be sure that it had enough power to continue taking photos. On my first walk I took forty photos. This time the route was set for along the river and I had dreams of duck and swan photos, with some cows and sheep on the side pastures. Unfortunately the second battery I inserted into the camera was not charged, it was dead and so my Pulitzer photography prize dreams were killed as soon as I saw the first duck. Mr. Swiss did not seem to mind for some strange reason. Anyhow we continued our walking marathon along the river without photos. We got to a point where we could make a right turn back to civilisation, or continue. He decided for civilisation and I was not sad. My legs were beginning to lose their attachment to their feet, but I ignored my problems. It was then Mr. Swiss decided to cross the road which again led to the cemetery. By this time I did have a sort of death wish, but I managed to hold on somehow.

Cemeteries are quite useful for walks. They have benches placed in strategic places to sit and do some gravestone watching and so we sat. It was then I realised that the body shaped benches had been replaced by something more modern which had no support for the back. I leaned back and found that there was a stone wall behind the bench, but too far away to rest on. I made a few negative comments about these new expensive modern benches and Mr. Swiss said there is one of the older benches five graves to the right. I managed to creep to this body friendly bench and spent some relaxing moments there.

We then departed for home. I was not sad as I was feeling a little exhausted (half dead), but we arrived safe and sound. Mr. Swiss found that it “does you good” to go walking regularly, but perhaps not so far and so long each time. I agreed whole heartedly with this suggestion. 

Today was a day of rest. The plumber arrived to do a few small corrective jobs on the toilet and the sink. I decided instead of a brisk fresh walk in the country, I would clear some Autumn leaves from the garden. It seemed that the Autumn leaves had reproduced themselves on the ground, but after my walking training this was no problem. Our garden container is now filled to the brim with the dead remains of last year’s trees and my back aches. Mr. Swiss helped to sweep them together. Unfortunately there was a fresh Spring wind blowing, so our neat piles of leaves were often demolished which caused a few profanities to be uttered.

Eventually we were finished, the plumber left us and the telephone rang. It was our gardener who informed that tomorrow morning he would arrive with his merry men at 7.30 in the morning to prepare our garden. I somehow had a strange thought that we could have spared the Autumn leaf removal, but we now have a neat and tidy garden. I even saw a few fire bugs walking around, so we are now ready. And now one last photo taken on my walk at the cemetery when I had a fully operational camera.

I saw this ornament on a grave and decided it was worth a photo.

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The Walk

Yes, today I went for a walk with Mr. Swiss as support in case anything happened. I know, it is not a big deal, we all go for walks, but for me it was something completely different. It was not a supermarket walk or even a walk to the car, I did it all by foot. Mr. Swiss goes for walks every day whilst I sit at home daily prompting. I have decided that daily prompting can also be done at another time, so after he recovered from the shock that I would come with him, we departed.

It was warm enough in a t-shirt with my three quarter trousers and so armed with a camera around my neck we departed. I even found a super pair of shoes that fit and did not hurt. Yes I was ready to go and Mr. Swiss asked which way. I told him it makes no difference, just go and I will follow. I was surprised to find that I had no problem to make it to the path to the castle, but we turned off and walked on. I saw chickens and horses at the local stables, there were spring flowers and we passed by the castle. This was of course food for my camera. Unfortunately we had the first small disagreement. Mr. Swiss likes to walk in a steady pace, but I was stop and go, after all I had to take some photos.

After I caught up with him he told me to “look, there is a wonderful view of the snow covered alps”. I mean it was his fault that I stopped again to take a photo. He walked on and told me that the view was better where he was standing, so I moved on and took more photos. It was definitely his fault that I was stopping and going.

Eventually we arrived at the main cemetery. I have often been to the cemetery, it is one of the most worthwhile places for taking photos. It was then that Mr. Swiss said he would sit on a bench in the sun whilst I could take my photos. Somehow I had  feeling he was uncomfortable being seen with me hopping around in the cemetery with a camera. The above photo is of the stream that runs through the cemetery. I noticed a gardener with an electric bulldozer digging around in the cemetery and leaving large patches of earth behind him. Mr. Swiss informed me that once there were graves, but they had been removed to make room for the next customer. “But where are the remains” I asked. “Probably already disposed of” was the answer. I asked no further questions, as I did not really want to know the answers.

After the cemetery visit we took the path home. I was surprised that I was still moving with no aches and pains, yes it was an invigorating walk. As we reached the home stretch I must admit that I was not sorry. I think my lungs were not used to the high intake of fresh oxygen in the air and I felt quite light headed. We were approaching our home when we were greeted by the lady who used to live next door to us who had also been walking. It seems that everyone goes walking when the sun shines, must be some sort of psychological reaction. We discussed our various walks, and then our aches and pains as we were all in the golden oldie age.

Mr. Swiss was surprised to notice how well I was walking, and so was I. I will definitely go again, perhaps tomorrow. And  here is the boss chicken, I think it is called a cockerel.

Woodgrange Park Cemetery

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Last week I spent some time in London, mainly to see my dad who celebrates his 94th birthday in a month's time, but I also made a few excursions into the past. One of them was a visit to a cemetery where my mother had her family grave.

Note I said "had" as it is very uncertain that it is still there. I took a few photos which can be seen here. These are the remains of something that was once a very large cemetery. It was originally opened in 1889 and I remember visiting the cemetery with my mother. The way to our family grave was even then crowded with other graves on the way. I remember stepping over graves and stones flat in the ground to arrive at our family grave. Although the path was complicated we always found the way.

Today part of the cemetery has made way for an apartment estate. There was no consideration taken for the graves when it was being built and and ground was strewn with human remains at the time. Now the apartment blocks are finished and it seems there are a few complaints from inhabitants that their homes are haunted. True or not true, but if my grandfather had to make way for a building estate, I am sure he would complain.

Half of the remaining cemetery has now made room for muslim graves. According to a conversation I had with the gate keeper of the cemetery, it seems the muslim graves were superimposed over the remains of some of the christian graves. Not that I suppose it matters, but a strange situation.

A walk around the cemetery was interesting although disappointing. I took photos of the graves that were still there. I do not know how they chose what to leave and what to destroy, but according to the inscriptions on the stones, it was a bit of this and a bit of that. Some from the 1930's and even a couple of newer graves from today. It seems that the graveyard is still being used and there is a plan to renovate everything.

So did I find my grave - no, that was impossible. Some of the ground was so overgrown you needed a machete to cut your way through. After returning home I called a telephone no. that the gatekeeper gave me to see what happened to our family grave (it did have six occupants, the last being my grandfather in 1960). The graveyard is now owned by a Limited Company. They bought the land and intend to do the developments. I still wonder what they want to develop. Anyhow I was informed that, yes, they could search for my family grave and whether I had the grave number. I did not have the number, but have contacted my cousin who might have it. Nevertheless, the search will cost me twenty-five english pounds whether I have the number or not, even if the grave no longer exists.

Somehow I do feel a bit cheated. The ground was bought by our family and everything paid for by ourselves. The photo on this blog is of one of the last remaining angels in the graveyard. I remember it being a treasure trove for statues and ornaments. I think I will have a pyramid made for myself when I go. At least they cannot remove that so easily.

I went for a Walk

Sometimes life can be a bit boring. Working fifty percent means I am at work in the morning, on my way home from work do some shopping and when I get home cook lunch for me and Mr. Swiss. My son has now departed and returned to Brussels where he returns to work next Monday, so we are alone again. Mr. Swiss was busy this afternoon so I decided to take a walk with my camera, naturally.

Mr. Swiss made the suggestion to walk along the river, but basically I wanted to visit the cemetery. He said turn right along the river, go up the path to the catholic priests teaching college (we have one here) and then walk on to the cemetery. Although that seemed to me to be a bit of a distance, I decided to take the chance. Just me and my camera acting on doctor's orders about getting more exercise.

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It was beautiful weather, sunny and hot, but enough shade to walk along. The River Aare showed itself from its best side. The river starts somewhere in the Bernese Overland and meanders into the Lake of Biel/Neuchâtel eventually. It is quite wide in Solothurn.

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Eventually I left the river to go on a long path in the direction of the cemetery. I noticed that the corn was quite high and would soon be ready for cutting. This is not the sweet corn meant for human consumption, but the larger raw variety for feeding to cattle and other animals.

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I then arrived at the cemetery. A quiet place although there were some workmen around preparing a field for some more residents. In Switzerland you can buy your ground for a family grave which is very expensive and something that usually only the wealthy can afford. Otherwise you may stay for forty years and afterwards the families are informed that the ground will be made free again. The relations can then decide if they want to keep the grave stone or not. In the olden days there were so-called "bone houses" in Switzerland where the bones were kept, but that is no longer the practice.

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This photo shows one of the older parts of the cemetery where the family graves are from the old families of Solothurn.

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And this is the communal grave where people with no family or money are cremated and buried. I find it very well kept and it is the grave where there are always fresh flowers.

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I always know when I am nearly home as I pass the stables and riding school near bye. This grey horse invited me to take his photo. I eventually arrived home tired and more or less happy. Mr. Swiss greet me with "where is your camera" and then invited me into the garden where a strange insect was smiling and waiting for me to take his photo sitting on the outside table. I just could not resist, so this is the last photo for today. Unknown insect on table.

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