New York, NY

Last week I made a trip over to the USA for a Workshop at the Environmental Protection Agency in Cincinnati. I was lucky enough to get to stop over Saturday night in New York... and what a town!

24 hours was not even close to long enough. I walked past many things - the Natural History Museum and numerous Jazz bars - that I could probably spend a month taking in. Now I just can't wait to go back.

Click on the image below for some pictures:

Tour to USA, July 2007

Refreshingly English!

We have been to the UK numerous times now but Braden had to find local guide (Braden's girlfriend, Katherine) before we dared to head into the wilds of the English countryside... We spent the weekend in Gloustershire, over on the west coast near Wales.

Click on the image below for the pictures:

Gloucestershire June 2007

Thanks for a great Weekend Katherine and B!

Love
A&R

Carl Emil visits Aunty and Uncle

Our nephew, Carl Emil, was up to holiday with us last summer and this has become a tradition. This year the weather was not in our favour so we went to the Underwater World.



Rikke and CE get personal with the wildlife.



CE plays it cool... "I'm not afraid of them!"



As soon as there was a break in the clouds we had the footy boots on... Carl Emil tried out his new Danish Football Team jersey... It must have been a good luck charm because I lost...



See how he uses his body to tackle me... He is going to be tough to beat. 'Atta boy!

Carl Emil Visits June 2007

The Destruction and the Rebirth...

I know, I know. This blog reads like a home improvement reality show, but I promise you my faithful readers that the journey is almost over. I will soon return to my previous life where I had something to talk about other than the price of floor tiling or the trials and tribulations of the home handy man.

But alas you are not getting off that easily...

I want to show you all how far we have some with the place and I will start up stairs.



The old upstairs had a large lounge and then a bedroom and a kitchen. That's it! now that we have renovated the basement it was time to make some space in the upper level by removing the bedroom.



¨The kitchen was in a bad way. When we removed the old units we found newspaper from 1968... and the rendering came off like peeling an orange. What had we done!



Those unsightly bricks were rendered again...



I gave the floor a sand...



Than it was off to Ikea...



Me doing the "cabinet making" duties.



Erling and I knocked up a quick plasterboard ceiling...



Rikke gave the roller a run over the walls and then next thing you know...



The carpenters came and we have a kitchen!




We now have a house that, although small has a nice feeling of space and heaps of light coming from both sides!



Coming soon... the final installment of the basement story. Then I promise that I will get a life!

Love
A

Liz and Lauren in Denmark

Liz, has been in England for a couple of weeks slaying with Lauren, checking out the Blackpool Ballroom dancing competition, Chelsea Flower Show, Kew Gardens... and she needed a change of pace...

Welcome to Aarhus...


We went up to the Royal residence in town and had a look at the gardens.


As usual when we have Lauren visiting the weather was glorious.


Jump in the car and an hour later we are in Kolding, visiting Anna and Erling. As usual, Anna put on a culinary display par none. Of course the Danish specialty: Pork on the fork!


"This was me in the 80's", explains Rikke.


Carl Emil was fascinated by Lauren but a bit weirded out that she persisted in speaking gibberish (ie. English).


This shot really embodies the spirit of Liz's stay. Here Lauren and Liz relax in the garden.



Thank you both for a lovely weekend! Please bring the sunshine again soon...

Love,
Rikke and Aaron

Those so inclined can click on this image for more photos:

Liz and Lauren in DK

Anaconda!

A great pic from our time at the rainforest with the kids!

Instant Family!

We spent a week recently looking after Doris and Andy's four kids (r to l): Anne (9), Johannes (5), Miriam (7), and Benjamen (3).



The lunchboxes... This was the sight that greeted us each morning. Does Anne like her carrot peeled or unpeeled?? Does Johannes like sultanas? Important questions... and I have never been a morning person!




We made a trip up to the Randers Indoor Rainforest on the Sunday, which was great. The highlights were petting the 3 metre python (pic to follow!) and eating ice-cream in the indoor summer warmth (although nothing to match my exploits on Fanø last year!).

















Andy and Doris were on Galapagos. She went down to meet Andy, who has been on a research vessel making studies in the Pacific Ocean off the Chilean coast. Here the children try to figure out where the parents are (and presumably why they were left here with such inexperienced minders!).


I kept getting attacked!

It was a good experience but we were tired when we came home...

Thanks kids!

See more by clicking on the following picture:

Instant family in Mårslet

Snowstorm comes the Aarhus

That the link below to our photo gallery.

Winter in Aarhus

Below are some short video clips. You will need a fast (broadband) internet to watch these...

This clip was taken as I came home, as the snowstorm began...



Coming out the next morning...





You can see the local weather conditions in Aarhus by clicking on the link in the sidebar...

Regards from Aarhus,

A

London Calling...

We have just spent the weekend in London together with Lauren and Braden.

You can see some photos on our photo-sharing site by clicking on the link below.

From London Tour

New Year 2007

This year we were down in Odense where Peter and Kirsten hosted a New Year's party.


The host with the most (Peter) with Jorun and Henrik.


Aaron, Kirsten and Jesper.


The night always begins with the Queen's New Year's speech. This year she remarked clearly about the crisis with the Muhammed Cartoons and gave instructions to us immigrants that although it is difficult we should try hard to be integrated. Good advice... thanks Queenie!



In Danmark, we look to the clock on the town hall in Copenhagen to mark midnight.


Then the firework go crazy. There are so many fireworks and it is everywhere!

I also have a little video here.



Hey, that's our car!!!


Peter and I clouded in smoke.


Skål and happy new year!