Living on a farm in southern Norway

August 1st to September 11th (Part 2):

In the next few days, things will get a little hectic. Tom and I have to leave the island for two days because a lot of guests are expected. We are preparing everything for it. We mow the lawn in front of our cottage, do a thorough house cleaning, and make the beds. Since our accommodation is now taken, I am offered to stay overnight under the open sky on the peninsula on the rocky plateau. I can't miss this experience! Wonderful... from up high, I look over the water. I lay in my sleeping bag on the air mattress and gaze at the clear starry sky late at night. Simply fantastic 😇.

The next day, the guests already leave, and once again we have to move... we bring the guests' luggage to the farm on the mainland with our small motorboat. Then we help the guest family move back to their house. They had moved out for a few days to accommodate guests in their house. Tom is now moving into the apartment above the 'Shell Factory', and I can go back to my beloved island.

In mid-August, my dear friend Lothar is coming. He is driving from Germany with his car. There is a rooftop tent mounted on the car. Our plan is to travel together later. Lothar's arrival is around midnight. I ask my hosts if someone can take us to the island. I have already driven a few times with the motorboat... it hasn't been easy for me to maneuver it gently at the dock 😂. I am amazed when my host explains to me that I should drive the boat tonight. Well, maybe it will still be a little light... then I can handle it. It gets later and the stars are already in the sky. It is pitch black. I must not think about the challenging boat trip that lies ahead. Tom lends me his professional headlamp for the night trip because there is no lighting on the boat. Well, this could be fun! Finally, Lothar arrives here on the premises. I ask him to pack a few essential things for the night. His enthusiasm is close to zero as I ask him to get in the boat. I better not tell him that I haven't driven much yet... we will arrive somehow. My trust in God is once again great 😇. So it is pitch black, the islands on the water can vaguely be seen. Then we set off 🙉 Hopefully, I will find the way 🤭. I scan the water and can recognize the rocks protruding from the water with the help of my 'spotlight'. Just go straight... then we will arrive at a red buoy. The dock where we have to dock is located there. Yes... we made it, we have arrived. What a feeling of happiness 😇

After a relaxed sunny day on the island, the 'work week' starts again. Lothar is right in the middle of the action and enjoys helping.

A new project is emerging. We are supposed to build a small wooden hut without a roof for a toilet and a shower on the meadow in front of the 'Shell Factory'. Tom takes on this task with his constructive ideas and craftsmanship. In three days, he has almost finished the little house. For the drain pipe, our host digs a trench with the help of a large excavator. He takes a break and looks at me. His question: 'Do you want to try too?' I cannot say yes fast enough. He lets me get in and explains how I can start the machine. How it works... I can try it out myself. Oh my goodness 🙈 five levers with up to four functions each. This is once again a real challenge. My goal is to move a shovel of earth from one side of the trench to the other. It takes a while, but in the end I did it. How happy I am with the result 😇. I now have great respect for the people who operate this machine.

Autumn is slowly approaching. I still go to our dock every morning and swim a little round. I want to start my day like this for as long as possible. The warm shower afterwards is always a relief 😇

Sometimes the wind blows very strongly over the water now. The currents here in the fjord should not be underestimated when we are out and about with our small motorboat. One Sunday, we want to return to the island again... but that proves to be difficult. The dock, which floats on the water and is attached to the rock, has come loose due to the strong winds and waves. It is now standing across and blocking our way on the water. Without help, we see no way to get the dock back in its position. But here comes Alex, one of the employees here, and fixes it. So one thing is clear, life here is always good for surprises 😂😂😂