Dear Friends,

I can report that after a double party afternoon and evening I am ready for Beethoven's String Quartets from The Budapest Quartet today. No after effects at all.

Splendid Bison Grass Vodka [which I don't normally enjoy compared to the normal non-grass type] fresh from Poland the previous day, and apple juice with a great and then daft conversation! Then I had to pull myself together and enjoy a nice pint of the best of English tradition with some real Ale in the Talbot at Knightwick. A friend of mine and I have made this weekly visit to the Talbot a pleasurable routine for most weeks in the last ten years, but he now has a job and house in Scotland, and the smoking ban will transform the experience from this week on, so there was something rather valedictory about this particular time. Of course we can still sit in the beer garden on occasion, which is pleasant in the summer, with the River Teme flowing gently by, fifty feet away, but winters evenings will never be the same there. This old style Coaching Inn [on the old London to Aberystwith Road] was the place where I last saw my very first girl friend, and I also where I had the pleasure to share a lovely Sunday lunch with Geoff P. The place is full of memories for me! mostly good ones!!

I am a dinosaur, and wish I was forty years older. I would have seen much that was not good, in this earlier time, but at least the "nanny state" would have been less intrusive!

Next opperation: Fetch the car which is safely parked several miles away, as there was no way I was going to drive home from the number one party! As usual the best fun is unplanned!

Kindest regards from Fredrik.

Here is a nice picture I found on the Fram Museum site from Oslo:



Though this ship was the base for Nansen's attempt the lock a ship in the Northern Polar Icecap and traverse the Northpole "in the ice" actually in the ship, and was also the base for Amundsen's successful bid to reach the South Pole, it was actually built in Scotland. It required very special construction and design, as the notion was that the ship should actually ride the Icecap, frozen in for over a year. As the pressure built up on the hull the ship was forced upwards rather than being crushed by the forces. This part of the Theory worked perfectly, but the actual drift of the Polar Icecap more or less guaranteed that the ship did not get very near to the Pole itself!

Note the "barrel-shaped" construction even visible above the water line, which allowed for the ship to be squeesed up out of the ice rather than crushed. It rolled about like a cork, but on the journey south with Amundsen, it proved very safe against high seas, if suprememly unconfortable, as it rolled like mad, and lurched back very quickly. Everything had to be lashed down, such was the characteristic handling of the vessel! It was one of the first ships equpped with a Marine Deisel Engine in preference to steam. Ths was to allow for very quick maneouvering among the drift ice, which could have crushed the ship in minutes under the wrong conditions...

The Fram Museum is a fascinating place, and well worth a visit for anyone in Oslo. The ship itself is now housed, "dry" in its own building next to the sea shore. Adjacent is the Kon Tiki Museum, and not far away are the Viking Ships and Folk Museum where the famous Stave Churches are preserved. The King's Palace is passed on the way the these Museums, though this is a semi-rural residence and not the Main Palace which is right in the centre of Oslo in open parkland...

ATB from Fredrik

Hi Fredrik,

Russiona Vodka called kremlin which is distilled in Kaliningrad is excellent - but not for breakfats. Back to Poland tomorrow and Spain on Tuesday,

Best regards

Frank

Not for breakfast, my foot! One of the best parties I have been to was still going on at [Saturday] breakfast time, even with some Wyborowa still flowing! That day I walked home in time to pick the paper up, with some milk and cornflakes, ready to carry on a full day ahead. That day went quite well! It was a birthday party, and later that Saturday evening I returned and it was still going and carried on for another whole night, though I went to sleep in the chair at about 11 pm! The Sunday was fairly slow after that!!! Stiff neck from the chair, you know!!!

Catch you tomorrow! ATB from Fredrik

Frank i hope there is no water in the Vodka when you get back to Spain.
Regards Munch.

Fredrik i hope the water has not come near your front door,
Regards Munch.

Dear Stu,

The street I live in has a one in eight gradient! I live two thirds of the way up! If the water comes in here then the whole of The centre of Worcester will be under water to roof level!

The Cricket gound is under about six foot of water though. It will be a real mess when the water goes down.

ATB from Fredrik

Hi Munch and Fredrik,

Back in Spain and the vodka is fine. My birthday yesterday and so we stayed in Granada and saw the town this time rather that the Alhambra (bored of that now).

It is a good birth date to have in Spain as the seventh of the seventh is San Fermin - the start of the Feria in Pamplona when they run with the bulls. Next year is a big birthday and I might even try it!!! (running with the bulls that is). Must get fit and have a rear view mirror fitted.

Best regards

Frank

Frank,

Don't do it! Run with the bulls, that is!

Glad to see elsewhere that at least you now know that your newer Nat 01 is healthy. There must be a solution to getting a suitable antenna going, though I not an expert.

Belated happy birthday! Fredrik

Hi Frank I hope you had a good one.Two friends of mine did that bull run four years ago on there 40th birthday's and had a great time.They have some very good photo's.If you do it make sure your wife gets some good pic's of you.
Regards Munch

Hi Munch,

Looks like I must start training now. There appears to be quite few more injuries this year.

Every morning the Spanish TV shows the run for that day and they give all sorts of statistics, the time taken, number of injuries, the quality of the run etc. I also found out at the weekend that another town called Gora near Granada also have the bull run in August!! The 7th of 7th is special though,

best regards

Frank

Frank there is a post in What are you listening to right now by Parmenides,a Polish band go see what you think.If i cant get a copy off the net would you see if you can get a copy for me please when you get back.Fredrik has my phone number.
Regards Munch

Best, most ridiculous Polish Party at least since New year. Typing very well, considering! Immennsely challenging phlisophical ponderings of why the world is the way it is were on the menu, as well as the craziest humour...

ATB from Fredrik

PS: All the best does are unplanned: This was...

Hi Munch,

Jazz - nice!! No problems, I will be going back in August and will pick up a copy if you can't get one. If you want it quickly then maybe Fredriks' Polish flatmates are going back soon.

Did you listen to the Warsaw Village Band, folk music with modern extras?? If you can't use my link http://www.warsawvillageband.net
just search on Google for that name - the web site is in English and there is a link to a broadcast for a US Radio Station KEXP that has their live broadcast.

Best regards

Frank

quote:

Originally posted by Frank F:
Hi Munch,

Jazz - nice!! No problems, I will be going back in August and will pick up a copy if you can't get one. If you want it quickly then maybe Fredriks' Polish flatmates are going back soon.

Did you listen to the Warsaw Village Band, folk music with modern extras?? If you can't use my link http://www.warsawvillageband.net
just search on Google for that name - the web site is in English and there is a link to a broadcast for a US Radio Station KEXP that has their live broadcast.

Best regards

Frank

Thank's Frank. I sent a mail to the Trio and they are sending me a copy.I will give the W V Band another listen.
Regards Munch

Hi Fredrik,

Enjoy the Gorali wedding but watch out for the women. There is a lot of etiquette at play and if you kiss one and she is not married than you are assumed to be engaged!!

Best regards

Frank

Dear Frank,

I have already been cautioned about the kissing thing! Sounds quite an idea!

ATB from Fredrik

That could be fun after a few .

Hi fredrik,

It is an excuse to keep a glass in your hand and keep on drinking!!

Frank

Fredrick, You could come back with a wife an a Linn This journey of yours will make a very good read when you get back.
Regards Munch