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#1 ·
LJ meeting in Luxemburg parc, Paris - Copenhagen.

LJ meeting in Luxemburg parc, Paris - Copenhagen.
The great Sodabowski meets MaFe the vintage architect

Yes it sounds like a funny movie, but at the end of the day, it was a warm meeting amongst two fellow Lumber Jocks.

I travel to Paris app. once a month to spend time with my fiancée Caroline, and it showed out Sodabowski lives just around the corner from Caroline there…
So after Sodabowski and I have had some conversations on Lj, we agree that it would be fine to meet and say hello the next time I would be here, and this was the time.

The day came.
We agreed to meet in front of the Luxemburg parc, and I explained that I would come on my black bicycle wearing my six piece hat, and a shoulder bag - Sodabowski would be in dark jacket and jeans, and with his camera, almost like a rendezvous now. Smiles.
And so we did; we said hallo and I think I felt a warm person here in the cold but mild Paris. We went for the main gate, and I saw my favorite woman was there, an old French woman that sells warm chestnuts there in the winter and ice in the summer. As I said to Sodabowski I always wish to give her a big kiss, but I feel sure she would plant a strong hand in my face if I did, so I just bought some chest nuts, and we walked in the park, eating warm chestnuts.


(Bee houses in the park).
As we walked we talked about LJ, what we see, and our common passion for photography, we even had the same cameras, but also politics and more sensitive subjects was with us on this walk, always with interest and understanding.
Yes Sodabowski is a warm and knowing guy no doubt.


(Pavilion for the rain and a place for the parks people).
We spoke of architecture, about what a shame it is, that no one will spend this little extra any more, to make something 'grand', something with a heart and soul, like the little pavilions in the park.


(Detail of water outlet).
That sometimes it's needed with big leaders to do some big things, but that we did not feel impressed by the present French leader that makes 'grand' plans but do nothing, except to use it for politics.
Sodabowski told me of a wonderful place in Paris where they cut veneer and that they have such wonderful things, so we agree to do that next time I will be in Paris.

(Sculpture or dance; we were not the only once to have a talk here).
We both share this passion for photography, so when we saw these guys we both needed to take a picture, this was more than two gardeners having a deserved brake.


(Caught in the hack't).
And they were surprised for our interest and smiled after been held for ever in the cameras pixels.


(Sodabowski meets MaFe / Canon meets Canon).
Yes here he is the big Sodabowski, taking a picture of he knows what.


(This one is on you Sodabowski).
No comments…


(Thoughts in the woods).
And like this we float around the park, and after to a brasserie for a beer, we decided to try some from Corsica, and this might have been a bad idea, since we both got a terrible headache from this one beer (I had two, but the other was not from there).
So for now we said goodbye with a big strong hug and a smile on the lips, and agreed that if my neck is ok to meet Monday for an espresso in the center of Paris, where I have some errands to do for a friend.


(Look what I got!).
On the walk I got not only one, but two presents, I did not expect that at all.
I got a little piece of wood from a tree in the family city of Sodabowski (I don't remember what city or wood help me!).
And a little hand cut pipe from boxwood, that he had cut himself when he was very young, and he had thought that I was the one person who should have it! Do I need to say I was deeply touched? Thank you so much.


(A grateful smile).
And here me at the end of the day home again, thinking of the day with a big smile as you can see.

THANK YOU Sodabowski!!!


(The box).
While we are in Paris, I want to show you one of my latest tools.
The reason to show it here is that it's French.
The box in itself is for me a beauty, with handmade hinges, and years of patina.


(The tools).
That it, when I saw this set I fell in love, I can just imagine the man in high hat and elegant dress walking the street in Paris on his way with this box under his arm, probably towards a production place or God knows where.
Imagine how important and proud he must have looked, when he opened this box, and tested the quality, looked with approving gestures to the makers, and then closed the box, and left the room with his pipe smoke after him.


(The maker; E. Buleux).
Yes I can't help it, I'm a dreamer, but just the feeling in the tools, the precision used, the hours spend, to make this set, and the jobs it have probably done, it give a feeling of being able to touch history.
Will I use it a lot for wood working - perhaps not - time will show, but it sure makes me smile, and this is after all what it is all about by the end of the day.

Just like Sodabowski and I did when we said goodbye.
Best thoughts from my heart, and a big thank you to you Thomas Sodabowski for this fine time,
Mads
 
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#2 ·
A wonderful and warm moment of sharing between foreigners, focusing on wonderful things that unite us and not on those things that separate. These days, as the world's cultures seem to be tearing themselves at their seams it is so nice that we have the opportunity to see and applaud those that have no problems reaching across borders in sharing their love of life, humanity, culture, and my favorites also, classical architecture, art and those items that bind us to our past, like the wonderful measuring tools.

And thanks for another wonderful and warm moment of sharing between you, Mads, and the rest of us LJerks that couldn't be there (but wished we could have). This site is another of those things that can unite us in our humanity, even though from differing cultures, rather than separate us. 'Vive le Lumberjocks!'
 
#7 ·
thank´sfor sharing a wonderfull moment with us mads
what a nice gesture of Sodabowski :)
I´m glad you got such a beautyfull case and messuringtools
but as the freak I´m on tools myself I also envy you for it and your luck
to find fine tools…..lol
have some great days down there my freind

Dennis
 
#9 ·
Fantastic story.
Fantastic photography.
Fantastic setting !

Wonderful gift !
Wonderful machinist's tools !

Many people are "warned" that …. Venice and Paris "can never live up to their hype."

In about 2006, my wife and I traveled to Paris, so that I could be evaluated at the Hospital Quinze-Vingts. In total, we spent over three weeks in your city-mostly staying very close to the Tuileries. The doctors needed to see me several times, do numerous tests, and-after the results-other tests.

And … like so many millions before me, and after me, fell in love with Paris.

On our last night there, we took a blanket, a bottle of wine, some bread, and some cheese, headed down to Bir-Hakeim, and … naturally … went to Champs de Mars for the sunset on the grass, beneath the Eiffel Tower.

The memories …. are so vivid, to this day.

Thanks for the pictures. Thanks for the stories. Thanks for the memories.
 
#10 ·
how wonderful
the story of the pipe does indeed warm my heart and bring a tear to my eye!! How very special.

As always, your words, your story-telling makes this an experience even more special. Thank you for sharing it
 
#11 ·
What a great story of LumberJocks getting together.

I think this story has to be my favorite.

I love the caliper set. I can only imagine the number and caliber of projects it must have measured over the years.
 
#12 ·
Great story Mads. It seems that LJ has brought you a lot of new friends everywhere you go. wonderful! The gifts you got will be an appropriate reminder of the day. The micrometer set is also very nice. Thanks for sharing this warm experience with us. I hope Caroline doesn't find out that you are in love with the chestnut lady!
 
#13 ·
Hi their Mads, Very cool post and a wonderful day at the park I am sure! It was Funny and surprising to see the photos of the very park that My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting while in Paris on our recent honeymoon in October ! It's a same we couldn't have met here on LJ's before my trip to Paris and we could have met up as well ! As it turns out, I have discovered a fellow L J who is right around the corner from me hear in the States and we are trying to get together soon. I hope our meeting is as wonderful as Yours and Thomas's experience, although I am sure our back drop want be as spectacular !! Anyway, great story and I wish I had come across that beautiful tool set when walking through the streets of Gay Paris !

Thanks for sharing Mads and wish You well, ROB
 
#15 ·
Mads and Thomas, Your story and another I received today has lifted a very low spirit. I can't tell you enough how good it was for me. I think this was a fantastic meeting and a wonderful experience, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall, as they say, to see it all. There is something that binds those of us that love making things and appreciate with passion well made and clever things. Great story. Thomas is an interesting young man. Mads is way over the top but we love you. I'm thinking about munching on those chestnuts. Ummmmmm
 
#16 ·
That's a great story almost made me feel I was reading the story line of a film glad you guys had a great day Lumberjocks is definitely more than the sum of it's parts
Best regards
Trevor
 
#21 ·
MADS, WHAT A GREAT STORY. AFTER ATTENDING SEVERAL LJ GET TOGETHERS I UNDERSTAND THAT CLOSENESS THAT DRAW LIKE MINDED PEOPLE TOGETHER. I'LL NEVER FORGET OUR FIRST MEETING HERE IN LANSING MICHIGAN. THERE WERE MAYBE 8 OR SO OF US THAT SHOWED UP. ALL STRANGERS YET WE SHOOK HANDS AND GABBED LIKE OLD FRIENDS. THANKFULLY OUR WIVES, MOST ANYWAY, SOME DIDN'T BRING THEIRS FOR WHATEVER REASON, PUT ON A WONDERFUL SPREAD FOR US, AND WE ATE LIKE PIGS, THEN BACK TO GABBING SHOWING THE THINGS WE BROUGHT, COMPLEMENTS FLOWED AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. IN FACT, WE ALL DECIDED WE COULDN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN. WE HAVE ALL REMAINED CLOSE AND GOOD FRIENDS AND HAVE MET UP SINCE TO VISIT A LUMBERMILL NEAR HERE, TO GET MORE OF THE GREAT WOOD THAT WE WENT TO VISIT THAT DAY OF THE GATHERING. WE ALL WILL BE GOOD FRIENDS I'M SURE FOR LIFE. CONGRATS TO YOU TWO MEETING UP FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND HAVING A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THESE GET TOGETHERS ARE SO GREAT AND YOU WILL MAKE A FRIEND OR MORE THAT LETS YOU KNOW THAT THIS FAMILY OF JOCKERS IS AS NICE IN PERSON AS THEY ARE ON LINE. GOD BLESS, MIKE
 
#22 ·
Wonderful story. Thank you for sharing a great day with all of us.
We are all richer. Very Very cool.
 
#25 ·
Brit (Andy) meets MaFe (Mads) in Copenhagen

Brit (Andy) meets MaFe (Mads) in Copenhagen
a LJ meeting in Copenhagen…

Last night at the local station a little black Fiat Punto with plenty of recycle wood on the roof top came into the local station, the driver looked out the window in search of a man he had never meet. Out there in the street was a middle aged guy standing with his backpack and a smile. No doubt this was Andy, so I waved at him and in the car he went, hello, and as they say in England 'nice to see you'.

Food Ingredient Recipe Cuisine Dish


And yes it was nice to see Andy, we came to my house and had dinner with my daughter, I had made us a Ragout of beef fillet, we got some wine with it, and some fresh baked bread.
(Never finished that story I think; I used to teach drawing and watercolor classes, and I went to Paha Czech with each class for a tour with my students where we draw, sketch and eat plenty of Ragout that came down with beer, and it was this memory that had made me give the Ragout a try - hope you enjoyed).
Andy told me his work story and we found out we had plenty of common points in our life's, drawing, watercolor, work and I have once been working with guys from his company (Oracle), so yes one word took the other and time was on wings.

Smile Muscle Gesture Engineering T-shirt


Here I try to come back while the timer runs on the camera, only to discover that Andy has stolen my pipe!

Forehead Glasses Smile Shoulder Vision care


So of course Little MSDebbie has to make the punishment, no one can steal MaFe's pipes.

Very fast I had the feeling of being with a old friend thank you Andy, so time was flying, and after the coffee we went to my little workshop (I think Andy called it a museum once), and looked and touched tools for some time, yes there are so many stories to be told when it's old tools, history of the tools, Nationalities and just materials they are made from and so.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Paint


Andy and I have both been buying some old saws that we are planning to restore and to learn how to sharpen and he had made a blog about his in this blog I commented about the rust remover, and to surprise me he had taken all the way from England with him not one but two of these buckets. Need I say I was touched by the thought!
So now I have no excuse, I need to make those saws shine, and after we can compare and discuss results on the sharpening process (this will be fun).

In fact so much time that I was in a hurry at the end to get him to the station again so he would not miss the last train at midnight.

Dear Andy I enjoyed my evening so much, thank you, I hope one day I can come and visit your shop in UK.

Best of my thoughts,
Mads
 

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#26 ·
Brit (Andy) meets MaFe (Mads) in Copenhagen

Brit (Andy) meets MaFe (Mads) in Copenhagen
a LJ meeting in Copenhagen…

Last night at the local station a little black Fiat Punto with plenty of recycle wood on the roof top came into the local station, the driver looked out the window in search of a man he had never meet. Out there in the street was a middle aged guy standing with his backpack and a smile. No doubt this was Andy, so I waved at him and in the car he went, hello, and as they say in England 'nice to see you'.

Food Ingredient Recipe Cuisine Dish


And yes it was nice to see Andy, we came to my house and had dinner with my daughter, I had made us a Ragout of beef fillet, we got some wine with it, and some fresh baked bread.
(Never finished that story I think; I used to teach drawing and watercolor classes, and I went to Paha Czech with each class for a tour with my students where we draw, sketch and eat plenty of Ragout that came down with beer, and it was this memory that had made me give the Ragout a try - hope you enjoyed).
Andy told me his work story and we found out we had plenty of common points in our life's, drawing, watercolor, work and I have once been working with guys from his company (Oracle), so yes one word took the other and time was on wings.

Smile Muscle Gesture Engineering T-shirt


Here I try to come back while the timer runs on the camera, only to discover that Andy has stolen my pipe!

Forehead Glasses Smile Shoulder Vision care


So of course Little MSDebbie has to make the punishment, no one can steal MaFe's pipes.

Very fast I had the feeling of being with a old friend thank you Andy, so time was flying, and after the coffee we went to my little workshop (I think Andy called it a museum once), and looked and touched tools for some time, yes there are so many stories to be told when it's old tools, history of the tools, Nationalities and just materials they are made from and so.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Paint


Andy and I have both been buying some old saws that we are planning to restore and to learn how to sharpen and he had made a blog about his in this blog I commented about the rust remover, and to surprise me he had taken all the way from England with him not one but two of these buckets. Need I say I was touched by the thought!
So now I have no excuse, I need to make those saws shine, and after we can compare and discuss results on the sharpening process (this will be fun).

In fact so much time that I was in a hurry at the end to get him to the station again so he would not miss the last train at midnight.

Dear Andy I enjoyed my evening so much, thank you, I hope one day I can come and visit your shop in UK.

Best of my thoughts,
Mads
great story. What two woodworkers could not find hours to talk about their favourite topic?
 

Attachments

#53 ·
Andys fifty years birthday Praha goulash dish by MaFe. (From the Andy meets MaFe in Copenhagen blog)

Andys fifty years birthday Praha goulash dish by MaFe
From the Andy meets MaFe in Copenhagen blog

Why:
At the visit I had here in Copenhagen from our friend Andy, I made a Praha inspired goulash, and I could hear there were a wish for a recipe, since I made the goulash from my head and feelings, I can't give you a copy of the recipe, but I have tried to write you a recipe from the memory.
(If you think did he not write ragout in the last blog you are correct, and I was wrong, in Praha they call it goulash).

Food Ingredient Recipe Cuisine Dish

This picture was not taken by me!

MaFe's Praha goulash.
Beef meat 500 - 1000 gram (I used filet, but any piece will do as long as you cook it long enough).
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
3 carrots
1 can of tomatos
1 little can of concentrated tomato
Salt
Pepper
2 tea spoon of sugar
Smoked paprika powder 3-4 table spoons
1 table spoon tandoori masala spice mix (If you do not have this just leave it out).
1-2 cups of water
(You can add other roots like parsnip, fresh fennel, or spices, the basic version is all you need).

Cut onions, carrots and garlic in your favorite size of chunks, not too fine this is a real man dish!
Put oil in a hot pot (that means you have turned on the fire fully up), throw in the onion, garlic and carrots and stir while cooking at high heat, then add salt pepper and three table spoon of good smoked paprika, don't let the onions turn brow, just blanch, and turn down the heat a little.
Put app 1/3 of the veggies in a cup and save for later, or just leave them all and get a real mushy ragout.
Cut the meat into chunks of different sizes, add oil on a pan and throw in the meat with another table spoon of paprika salt and pepper, now stir until brown and add a little water, then stir and poor it in the pot. (Now it's time to clean the pan, don't just leave it in the sink, this is a good advice only).
Now add a can of tomatoes, a little can of concentrated tomato and two tea spoon of sugar into the pot.
(If you like hot stuff add some chili).
I left it on low heat cooking for one and a half hour, then the meat is wonderful tender and all the tastes has sucked into the meat then add the last 1/3 of veggies and leave it cooking for another half hour (this will give some bite to the food).

Mashed potatoes.
1 kilo of potatoes.
Two tablespoon butter
1-2 cups of milk
Salt
Pepper
Nutmeg just a touch (if you don't have this use a little paprika)

Peal and boil the potatoes until they are gently over cooked.
Mush them with the ingredients, add first one cup of milk and then add more so the consistency becomes after you own taste.

Advice:
Serve with some good bread bake one if you have the time, in Praha you drink plenty of cold beer, but a bottle of wine is also at its place here.

Smile Muscle Gesture Engineering T-shirt

This blog and dish is for you Andy!

Hope this can inspire for some LJ cooking,

Best thoughts,
Mads
 

Attachments

#54 ·
Andys fifty years birthday Praha goulash dish by MaFe. (From the Andy meets MaFe in Copenhagen blog)

Andys fifty years birthday Praha goulash dish by MaFe
From the Andy meets MaFe in Copenhagen blog

Why:
At the visit I had here in Copenhagen from our friend Andy, I made a Praha inspired goulash, and I could hear there were a wish for a recipe, since I made the goulash from my head and feelings, I can't give you a copy of the recipe, but I have tried to write you a recipe from the memory.
(If you think did he not write ragout in the last blog you are correct, and I was wrong, in Praha they call it goulash).


This picture was not taken by me!

MaFe's Praha goulash.
Beef meat 500 - 1000 gram (I used filet, but any piece will do as long as you cook it long enough).
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
3 carrots
1 can of tomatos
1 little can of concentrated tomato
Salt
Pepper
2 tea spoon of sugar
Smoked paprika powder 3-4 table spoons
1 table spoon tandoori masala spice mix (If you do not have this just leave it out).
1-2 cups of water
(You can add other roots like parsnip, fresh fennel, or spices, the basic version is all you need).

Cut onions, carrots and garlic in your favorite size of chunks, not too fine this is a real man dish!
Put oil in a hot pot (that means you have turned on the fire fully up), throw in the onion, garlic and carrots and stir while cooking at high heat, then add salt pepper and three table spoon of good smoked paprika, don't let the onions turn brow, just blanch, and turn down the heat a little.
Put app 1/3 of the veggies in a cup and save for later, or just leave them all and get a real mushy ragout.
Cut the meat into chunks of different sizes, add oil on a pan and throw in the meat with another table spoon of paprika salt and pepper, now stir until brown and add a little water, then stir and poor it in the pot. (Now it's time to clean the pan, don't just leave it in the sink, this is a good advice only).
Now add a can of tomatoes, a little can of concentrated tomato and two tea spoon of sugar into the pot.
(If you like hot stuff add some chili).
I left it on low heat cooking for one and a half hour, then the meat is wonderful tender and all the tastes has sucked into the meat then add the last 1/3 of veggies and leave it cooking for another half hour (this will give some bite to the food).

Mashed potatoes.
1 kilo of potatoes.
Two tablespoon butter
1-2 cups of milk
Salt
Pepper
Nutmeg just a touch (if you don't have this use a little paprika)

Peal and boil the potatoes until they are gently over cooked.
Mush them with the ingredients, add first one cup of milk and then add more so the consistency becomes after you own taste.

Advice:
Serve with some good bread bake one if you have the time, in Praha you drink plenty of cold beer, but a bottle of wine is also at its place here.


This blog and dish is for you Andy!

Hope this can inspire for some LJ cooking,

Best thoughts,
Mads
Now you are spoiling me Mads. You already gave me a wonderful French axe head, now I have a dish named after me :). I was telling my wife and daughter about how lovely the goulash was and now I can actually make it for them. I think it will be a big hit.
 

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