Before I Die 3

This is the third iteration of Before I Die. The first one was published on 2009-06-14. The second one appeared 3070 days later on 2017-11-09. They are both found in the same post. Now, a third was published yet another 3070 days later on 2026-02-06. It occupies a different post. The span of time, 6140 days, between the first and the third is not quite seventeen years. The fourth version should appear 2034-07-04.

Being 77, I may only have between 5 and 20 years to achieve lifetime goals. I have already begun to get frail and forgetful. Thus my first goal is the same as it was in 2009, to remain content with what I have, and not to seek novelty for its own sake.

Back in 2009 I said I could live with the car I had, then yearned to be unfaithful to her.  At this moment in time I no longer own a car, but am content to use Trish’s Buzz. Later this year I will have to undertake an eye test to see if I am still fit to drive. A more comprehensive medical comes when I turn 80.

Literature

My favourite authors remain, in order: Arthur Ransome (1884 – 1967); Peter Dawlish = James Lennox Kerr (1899 – 1963); Archie Binns (1899 – 1971). All produced books for children. Perhaps I should add, in alphabetical order, other contenders, that wrote books for adults: Donald Barthelme (1931–1989); Victor Canning (1911 – 1986); Erskine Childers (1870 – 1922); Douglas Copeland (1961 – ); Ivan Doig (1939 – 2015); Lawrence Durell (1912 – 1990); Stanley Evans (1931 -); Tony Hillerman (1925 – 2008); Colin Macinnis (1914 – 1976); Haruki Murikami (1949 – ); Annie Proulx (1935 – ); Jean Rhys (1890 – 1979); John Steinbeck (1902 – 1968); Jules Verne (1828 – 1905) and David Young (1958 – ). Not all of these are writers that I have read recently, but they are all found in our library. Previously, I also mentioned scientific writers: William Beebe (1877 – 1962); Rachel Carson (1907 – 1964); Ralph Buchsbaum (1907 – 2002). Here again, I should add some broadly non-fiction authors: Derek Hayes (1947 – ) with his historical atlases and books about British Columbia, Obi Kaufmann (1973 – ) with environmental books about California; Terje Tvedt (1951 – ), with books about water, including the Nile.

Later, in 2026, I am looking forward to acquiring Derek Hayes’ Coastal Connections: A History of British Columbia Ferries and Passenger Ships.

I also mentioned authors of religious books, but will not repeat those here.

Music & Video

Most of the music I listen to these days has its origins with YouTube. Some of it is ancient, such as Hawkwind, a space rock and proto-punk band with its Silver Machine (1972) with dancer Stacia Blake (c1952 – ) making a lasting contribution, along with Lemmy Kilminster (1945 – 2015), notably arrested in 1975-05 at the Canadian border in Windsor, Ontario, on drug possession charges. Then there is Jan Hammer (1948 – ), the Czech-American musician and composer, with his Miami Vice Theme (1984), popular in the Americas, or Crockett’s Theme (1984), more popular in Europe. At one time, the musical group I listened most to, was from Iasi, Romania = Iron Cross band with hard rock and heavy metal covers. Band Members consisted of Andrei Cerbu, Andreea Munteanu, Matei Gasner and George Pintilii.

Tony M2 has had a number of channels on YouTube. It seems that these channels get banned from time to time, and he has to start something new. The latest is called Planet ASA. Of course, I also appreciate Tony Basil (1943 – ) and Hey, Mickey. It originated with a song first recorded in 1979 by the English pop group Racey, titled Kitty.

While I have mentioned it in other posts, I still fondly remember Approaching Nirvana, and the first track I listened to: 2nd Flight (2011). I also appreciate music by Savfk = who creates royalty free music, including Instructions for Living a Life (2021). For additional information about my musical preferences see this post.

If I have to choose a modern musical genre, it is EDM = electronic dance music, and other variants of synthesizer music. Here, I often listen to the music of Stephen McLeod, from Glasgow.

Plants

Currently, I am attempting to restrict my gardening to Lego Botanicals. A Japanese Maple Tree has been purchased for me.

In addition I am attempting to acquire a hornbeam = Carpinus betulus. The most northerly native example of it is approximately 50 km south of us in Levanger. However, there may be cultivated examples further north. Hornbeams yield a very hard timber, giving rise to the name ironwood. The wood can be used to make products where a very tough, hard wood is required.

Travel

No, I will never be as well travelled as my mother, Jennie.

Some of my travel goals involve the Baltic. I would like to visit: Latvia and Lithuania at some point, and Königsberg (also known as Kaliningrad) if it is ever free from Russia. There are two islands in the Baltic I want to visit: Öland (belonging to Sweden) and Rügen (belonging to Germany).

In terms of the Mediterranean, my priorities are Sardinia (already booked at the end of February 2026). In addition I would like to visit the wilderness areas of Albania.

In the summer I would also like to visit more of Ireland (especially County Donegal and the area around Strangford Lough) Scotland (many places) and Canada (Quebec is still on my list, along with Churchill, Manitoba and some other places).

If I was not boycotting the United States, there are many fine areas to visit, including:  Grand Canyon, the Everglades, Florida Keys, Carlsbad Caverns, Yellowstone Park, Four-corners, Maui. I also have biological origins in Schenectady, in upstate New York.

In terms of Ukraine, once the war ends, I would like to visit Odesa = Одеса, which is a sister city with Vancouver. Further east, I would like to visit Kharkiv = Харків to meet members of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment = 225 Окремий штурмовий полк. In addition there is the longest trolleybus route in the world, the Crimean Trolleybus Line, which stretches 86 kilometers from Simferopol = Сімферополь to Yalta = Ялта. This route, built in 1959, offers scenic views as it travels through the Crimean mountains and along the Black Sea coast.

Languages

I have decided that I do not need to learn major languages. I am fluent in English and Norwegian. I can read Danish and can understand Swedish. When it comes to Duolingo, I use it for Scottish Gaelic – mostly. This is the language spoken in the Highlands and the Hebrides. With a trip to Milan and Sardinia planned for the end of February, I am currently using Duolingo to learn some Italian.

In addition, I am learning another Scottish language Norn, or more accurately Nynorn = New Norn, a modern variant. Norn was previously used on the Shetlands and on the Orkneys, as well as mainland Scottish locations near Caithness. It is a Norwegian variant.

In terms of my ethnicity, other languages that I should consider learning include Sardinian and Mohawk. Other languages that hold appeal are Finnish and Ukrainian.

Workshop

My workshop is in the process of being transformed into a playshop. My priority is to improve my mechatronic skills: computer aided design, basic metalworking, programming, microelectronics. As I wrote previously, “my secret goal is to combine craftsmanship, video, embedded electronics and 3D production to create an educational environment that promotes a better understanding of sustainability.” I have the same goal today, but with more time and money to achieve it.