h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I love the use of this verb 'forging on' .

A forge of course is a very hot furnace. Found in the sweaty, steamy confines of the blacksmith's shop.

If you've ever found yourself exherting the effort to skate any distance when somewhat overdressed and out of shape, the heat and sweat of the 'forge' is entirely appropriate.

~jwf~

I am véry passionate about skating on Ice (in Holland) with skates for long distances.
I can be very lyrical about it, but I also realise, that an attitude like yours is always the best one; at ány time you don't enjoy it, admit you don't and don't deny your own experience because of cliché's around you.
Your story sounds refreshing to me.
And I'll keep skating in this frozen poëtry.
Keep going,

Greatings from Amsterdam,

In this week in december 2002 Holland has slowly become a froozen country.

As soon as possible I took my car and went to the North.

Holland is a very small country, but even here there are structural differences in the weather and so in our North it freezes a bit harder than elsewhere.
We cannot skate that often on natural ice. Not more than a few days in a winter. Sometimes just óne day in a whole winter.

When it freezes I can feel the exitement in myself.
I can't wait to experience it; to skate (mostly on my own) longer distances in a half dark landscape, which is extremely silent and wide open.
Only the Geeze from Siberia tell me stories of their birthplaces while they fly over.
The world has become a frozen poëtry, which is serene, calm and friendly and joyfull (when the sun participates) and when the weather makes me suffer, I enjoy that challenge.

You can skate from village to village and arrive on froozen water in communities that show you hospitality. Carpets are on the streets so you can visit a baker and a pub for a warm drink.(but néver drink any alcohol while you still have plans to skate, for you won't make it further than two or three miles; it sucks all your energy).

This time my skating wasn't such a succes, but I'm glad "I was there";
a fairy tale like landscape where humans with skates "get wings" and remember the same magic from their own childhood.

It's like fire on ice.
But this passion will néver melt down.

Greatings from Amsterdam