04:30 | The sun has risen for some time on this early summer morning. Ivan woke up and started a new working day. |
05:00 | Rushed out and waited for the bus to work. (While Ivan had a car, which can be acquired cheaply in Takasia, the highway tolls are simply unaffordable.) He, as always, seized the one-hour-fifteen-minute ride for extra nap. Neither was this day any different. |
06:15 | The bus finally arrived at the factory. This gloomy factory has never been the most attractive place in the suburb. He and other workers were just like walking zombies. He had to get to his position in 15 minutes. He needed the full-attendance bouns of 200 marks for the month. |
06:30 | The day of boring work started. He was never enthusiatic about his job. But just like any other unskilled workers in Takasia, life is not easy. |
12:30 | Finally the 15-minute luch break. The six-mark-fifty goulash is downed at light speed. |
12:35 | Browsed "The Sun" a bit. Needed some news for gossips. Some canal opened. Big deal. |
12:45 | Working started again. Time flies with gossips. |
18:30 | Knocked off from work! Another one bus ride back to the tavern in town. |
19:30 | Ordered some vodka, the most fovourite drink in Mustcover, and an otter haggis, a popular Takasian dish. Waiting for the football match between Mustcover United and Bayern Munching. |
20:00 | Match started. Lady luck spared no blessing to the away team from Mustcover. |
20:45 | Half time. Mustcover lost three nil. Lots of cursing. Ordered another rounds of vodka. (Must have taken a litre by now) |
21:45 | Full time. 4-0. Nothing could be worse. Leaving tavern. |
21:55 | Still quite a distance from home. Took a pee at the street corner. |
22:00 | Harassed by some teenagers. Common scene, nothing serious. |
22:20 | Arrived home exhuasted. Took a shower and headed to the pillow. |
06:30 | Woke up and prepared breakfast for his wife and daughter. |
07:30 | Drove his daughter to school, then his wife to her downtown office, where she worked as an tax accountant. |
08:50 | Intended to go home, but decided to see his neighbour, Tim instead. They enjoyed some 'good time' in the backyard with the milkman. Exhausted. |
10:00 | Had a shower at home, and headed to work. |
10:30 | Arrived at the restaurant, working with today's menu, which his apprentices have prepared this morning. |
14:00 | Lunch session over. Took some light meal, and lost 75 marks in the card games. |
17:00 | Shagged the waitress before the dinner session. |
20:00 | Panic - Shark's fins out of stock. Busy convincing every customer to have the otter dishes insted. |
22:30 | The last customer left. Shagged the waitress once more. |
23:15 | Drove home at 100mph. Traffic was light during this hour. |
23:45 | Reached home, seeing only his daughter - his wife gotta be working overnight again. Keep question the little girl about schoolwork as usual, just like any Asian parent. |
00:15 | Made sure the girl was sleeping, and sneaked into Tim's place... |
To: Takasia
From: The Holy Theocracy of Stellaris.
We request that you allow us to dispatch the Archbishop of Rabul, the third most senior figure in Stellaris, to perform a state visit to your nation. Such an action would improve relations between and increase tolerance and understanding of the church in your nation.
skycrapper
The Johanssons were some of the earlierst inhabitants of northwest Takasia, where winters are harsh and summers are mild. It is their family tradition to fish for a living. It is an early summer morning. The sky never turns dark any more these days. Out at the open sea between Tagirstan and Takasia, cruises can be seen at a distance off the Takasian coast. This is the tourist season of Takasia - many people come over, take the cruises, and admire the beauty of the fjords along the coast, and the midnight sun further up north. These tourists are one of the factors have raised the standard of living in the north significantly. The sea is actually quite busy in summer. Not only are fishermen like the Johanssons busy catching the year's incomes, merchants and container ships are using the Channel and the polar shipping routes to cut costs. This is a stark different with the quiet, gloomy and frozen winter days. They have to hurry back to the port before 6pm today. Another curise ferry is scheduled to arrive at 6.30pm and they have to get their stall ready for the tourists. They always love the fresh catch from the local fishermen, and have nearby restaurants to prepare some of the best seafood dishes in Taijitu. And of course, almost every tourist will take some famous Takasian Caviar home. Life as fishermen in Takasia, though not the most exciting, is stable and good. But is such life going to last? | (http://photo.takwing.com/2002/Scandinavia/Norway/Bergen/Bergen010.JPG) (http://photo.takwing.com/2002/Scandinavia/Norway/Bergen/Bergen022.JPG) |