Elderberry Flowers

Every year starting with the end of May the Elderberries carry their flowers. It smells already very special and gives us the option to make a great jelly! Because not only the berries taste good - the flowers have a very strong flavour as well.

How to do it:

Take a basket or bag and collect about one pound of flowers. Collect them in a clean area not next to the street! If you like to wash them, only drop them carefully in a bowl with water - do not rinse them under running water!

What you need:

2 pounds of preserving sugar

2 big preserving jars

2 natural untreated lemons
clean glasses

Take two preserving jars and fill them with elderberry flowers and slices of lemon. Mix both ingredients nicely. Fill with water all the way. Let the jars sit in the windowsill for about 3 days. Sieve the content and collect the juice in a pot. Than weigh 2 pounds of juice and boil it with 2 pounds of sugar for about 4 minutes. You can stick a spoon in the jelly and check if it hardens out after a while.

Fill in clean glasses (rinse with 54% alcohol; rum) up to the edge and close immediately.

Sailing the Netherlands

Since 1993 the Netherlands and some little sailboats called 'Valken' have been an important part of my life. I've been 13 years old, puberty kicked in and boys became more attractive than they should or really were ... Once a year a big sailing camp took place in Sneek, a small city close to a water canal system that runs through the northern part of the Netherlands. And the next two weeks have always been the most important time of the year...
To celebrate youth, our sailing roots and dutch beer we have a traditional holiday trip each year. We go out to still rent the same little sailboats that have been the location for first kisses, overboard maneuvers and heartbreak.
The location is just perfect - we start in Sneek but we sail several hours each day and wherever you end up, it is allowed to tie your boat to the next pontoon, light up a fire and enjoy a barbecue. People are friendly and helpful and make it a perfect trip to the past...

Time to leave...

The last days of surfing have been great!! I enjoyed 'pops', 'three's' and 'first break' - even though the last week the waves have been a little smaller - but maybe we have just been spoiled this summer!
I decided to sell my surfboard. It is an 'Ole' - Bob Ole is one of the best! He makes fantastic Longboards and is famous in Hawaii. He lives on Maui and has a little, tiny shop there, where he shapes custom boards. My 9'6 custom 'Ole' has been a wonderful companion and sometimes I got the impression that it's not me improving - it's just the board making up for my mistakes ..
So many people asked about it and than one morning this guy comes along - Chris. He loves 'Ole'-boards and was interested in mine straight away .. I did not really wanted to sell it, but to let it sit for so long hurts as well. Like giving away a loved pet - it always is most important to find a good home - and I did! Take care of my pet and have fun! Thanks Chris!
I wanna capture every moment on my last day, inhale the vibrant morning breeze, remember the picture of the rising sun behind Diamond Head...

"Things turn out best
for the people who
make the best
of the way things
turn out."
(John Wooden)

Surf Experience

Enjoying the walk in the morning,
carrying your board to the beach.
The first strokes through the water,
awaiting the rush.

Every surfer knows

Resting in the lineup around friends,
waiting for the waves,
to finally catch the one,
that carried your name
all along.

Every surfer knows

It's the one love...

Every surfer knows

Dawn Patrol

It is a lifestyle, a passion and the one love we all share - SURFING!!!
And there are some special people that I got to meet over the last 4 years who shared some precious moments with me, a lot of fun, accidents, rainbows, turtles, dings, waves and I miss them dearly!!
The early morning surfers are a very special crowd and have become something like family. Every morning one after one comes along the beach walk and meets behind the police station ... drinking coffee, watching the waves and than finally with the first signs of sunrise boards get unpacked, waxed and ready to go ... Catching the first waves out there with the sun slowly rising above the hotels is like magic and everyone who experienced it will feel with me.
I hope I'll surf more waves with you and I am happy and thankful for everything you guys and girls showed me. I am proud that I became brave enough to paddle out to Pops by myself :)
ALOHA

The Hitachi Tree

Companies are always hunting for the one logo, the one icon representing them and bringing good luck on the way to profit... and so it happens that in the year 1973 the japanese electronics giant 'Hitachi Ltd.' stumbled across Moanalua Gardens, a privately owned park, that is open to the public not far from Honolulu and houses the most beautiful Monkeypod tree in Hawaii.
Now 'Hitachi Ltd.' pays the park owner $400.000 a year for using the tree as their icon. The contract lasts for 10 years and brings the owner $4Mio. !
Isn't that the most valuable tree in the world??
But the amazing thing about the tree is ... the masses of japanese tourists that come by every day to take pictures!!
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