You will be remembered, Jack.

Jack moved on into the next world on October 16 2007. I have only got to know him over the last year at Moontribe, but his presence made me smile, laugh and dance. My thoughts are with his family in this time of grief, especially Koren.

He was passionated about cars, especially VW vans, and man, I have never seen a VW van that had more love put into it! He was also working on the development of a zero emission electric car and was interviewed for a film about electric cars (if I remember correctly - it's going to be a part 2 of the documentary "who killed the electric car?"). Click on the picture below to enter his website.

You will be remembered, Jack.

Almond Milk

I treated myself to a blender and am now enjoying almond milk several times a week. This is Dela's recipe:

• Soak 2 handful of raw almonds over night or at least for 8 hours
• Put them in the blender with a little bit of water. There should be more almonds than water in the blender.
• Blend.
• Add water. I fill up the whole blender. That's a good amount for two people.
• Add a little bit of maple syrup.
• Strain it through a strainer or cheese cloth - the remainder can be used for skin care, baking or just compost it.
  

Today I also added some vanilla, and I have tried carob powder or berries before too. A hint of maple syrup is a must. Delicious!

Great frothy snack - that's also good for your health, because it's alkaline forming.


That's what it looks like when you first blend it. Leave it at this stage for a while, before adding the rest of the water.

1st Annual Bridgeland Party

"Come on in!" Brit the event-organiser welcomes guests at the 1st annual bridgeland party with Catherine's Louis Sipp Sparkling Wine from Alsace.

Bisque de tomate. Tres bien!

The bluriness of the picture suggests that the photographer who took my picture must have sipped to much Louis Sipp ;-)

the boccia tournament

Yessss!!!

aaahhh!

yeeeehh...

uuuuhhh...

Calgary Fall

I am taking in the last few colourful autumn days of the year. Calgary is beautiful in the fall, covered in yellow and red. I am taking it in as much as I can before the brown/white season starts.

San Francisco

Another successful business trip to San Francisco. I love it! A couple of weeks ago I went to a green conference and I found some time (not enough) to explore the long beaches, serene lagoons and idyllic towns in the area. I like cities that have lots of green space around them, just like Vienna and the Wienerwald. Here in San Francisco, you can escape the busy-ness of the city by heading North - crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. September is a good time to visit San Francisco: the fog that hangs over the city in the summer has lifted. "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco" Mark Twain allegedly said (others claim it to be of unknown origin). Whoever it was, Mark Twain or Anon, he definitely has not visited Canada or Scandinavia in the winter.

swiftly melting

Pragmatic Dreamer

"Maned Cloud"

One of my highlights of my recent trip to Michigan was to see a presentation by Jean Marie Massaud, a French designer, whose work is influenced by natural, organic forms. Like his whale shaped air cruise ship "Maned Cloud": Our desire to explore untouched natural places, often destroys exactly the places that we want to experience (think Cancun). Traveling by Massaud's air cruise ship avoids the need for hotels in such places and adds another dimension to the vacation. Not sure, if I will be able to afford to travel on the luxury cruiser, if it ever gets built, but maybe I will see the whale float by one day. Even that would be a surreal experience.

Truffle
Chairs inspired by the sought-after mushroom