KW-35 Early Autumn vibes

Pirates doing what pirates do

September is one of the loveliest months at the Barracks. Not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket,¹ but it is also surprisingly and suddenly autumnal. I don’t even feel like I’ve started with this year yet, and we’re almost into wood burning mode.

Als das Kind Kind war, ging es mit hängenden Armen, wollte der Back sei ein Fluss, der Fluss sei ein Strom, und diese Pfütze das Meer

That said, September is also one of the more brutally hard working months. If you’re as behind on the wood chopping as I am. This may count as a strong foreshadowing of the job list for the week, but I am definitely going to be oiling my axe today.

Otherwise, I spend a long weekend up in Berlin. I had a very capable pig sitter sitting the pigs, and they seem properly happy with life, so I guess that went very well. And I got to spend some time with the granddaughter. A little nugget of perfection in human form, so she is. Daughter and baby daddy both seem to be doing very well and it’s always a pleasure to be with them as well.

But Berlin. My dudes who live there - how? People often seem to think that after a few years on the island in the forest I am strangely unable to deal with the urgencies of big city living, and I will admit that these days I much prefer the wind in the trees to the cry of the costermonter, the silence of the forest over the bustle of the streets, but Berlin - why do you have to be so constantly angry at everything? You have to go a long way to see a smile on the streets of Berlin, but you can be shouted at, pestered and pissed on on just about any corner of the capital. I don’t mind going, of course, the descendants are all there, and also book shops, cafes and Dolores the burrito shop², it’s a vibrant and interesting place. But it is angry about something.

This is a mouse which was found being all mousey in the kitchen. It scampered inside a roll of alluminium foil where it is hiding. It is dark in there, and safe, and the mouse is happy that no-one can see it

And now, back at the Barracks, and we have the pleasure of the other daughter. I’m half way between where she was and where she is going, so she and the entourage have called in for a couple of nights. It’s been a good month so far.

In the jobs this week we have:

• If the weather stays dry, finish the roof

• More sauces, jams, pickles

• Hopefully some mushrooms too

• Chopping wood. In 50% tempo. I shall work up to it and next week hit it hard, I think

And so, until then, I shall sign off for now and wish you all wonderful starts to this, the last Autumn of human society, please consider what it means to be profoundly excellent to each other, and with much love

Your Pirate Ben

xoxo

Currently reading Pirate Enlightenment by David Graeber. It’s good, but in all humility, I think I said it better.

Happy Birthday to Daughter #1. You’re amazing and I love you so very much!

1. I know, this is actually April 25th, but it works at the other end of the year as well! (In the real world, a good 20% of everything I say is film quotes / references. I’m just keeping it real)

2. I have probably eaten at Dolores over 200 times. In a city which now has over 300 vegan restaurants, cafes and cupcake shops, Dolores was the only place with an actual vegan item on the menu when I moved to Berlin in 2009. And now, they have stopped doing wholegrain wraps. I am deeply conflicted.