The Scruffman in Europe
Dec 5th, 2009, 02:20 PM
#81
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<b>Brief Scruffman Update
Dateline: Leiden, the Netherlands</b>
OMG, he is living with (apparently legal!) squatters in Leiden, the Netherlands, and they dumpster-dive for their food!!! From supermarkets, apparently. His hosts have told him he can stay as long as he likes, and since it's free, he's planning on staying through Christmas.
He has offered to buy me a Christmas present somewhere. I have of course reminded him that I collect bookmarks, but given his interests I don't really think he'll be coming across any of those. In the meantime, I can't think of anything of modest cost both to purchase and ship from the Netherlands or Italy. I'm open to ideas!
Dateline: Leiden, the Netherlands</b>
OMG, he is living with (apparently legal!) squatters in Leiden, the Netherlands, and they dumpster-dive for their food!!! From supermarkets, apparently. His hosts have told him he can stay as long as he likes, and since it's free, he's planning on staying through Christmas.
He has offered to buy me a Christmas present somewhere. I have of course reminded him that I collect bookmarks, but given his interests I don't really think he'll be coming across any of those. In the meantime, I can't think of anything of modest cost both to purchase and ship from the Netherlands or Italy. I'm open to ideas!
Dec 5th, 2009, 04:47 PM
#84
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nukesafe, other than the dumpster I imagine he's spending his time in bars, cafes (<i>those</i> cafes) and young folks' hangouts. Probably won't be in a bookstore, or a museum gift shop (where I often find the best ones). Ah, well. Maybe I should just ask him to send me the best looking morsel out of the dumpster? 
Dec 5th, 2009, 05:10 PM
#85
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I remember a Dutch morsel --- Oh, you meant food --
Seriously, I envy him being in Amsterdam. I can think of few cities I'd rather be in, particularly when monetarily challenged. Many years ago (35) I was stranded in Amsterdam, on my boat, almost completely out of money. Within days I had made fast friends, some of whom are still in my life. Later, I took the boat to England to try to sell her there, and left after a month without making a single friend. I fled back to the warmth of Holland.
I spent parts of two winters there, before going back to the States. I'm certain that Greg will find at least a temporary refuge there among fine folks.
Seriously, I envy him being in Amsterdam. I can think of few cities I'd rather be in, particularly when monetarily challenged. Many years ago (35) I was stranded in Amsterdam, on my boat, almost completely out of money. Within days I had made fast friends, some of whom are still in my life. Later, I took the boat to England to try to sell her there, and left after a month without making a single friend. I fled back to the warmth of Holland.
I spent parts of two winters there, before going back to the States. I'm certain that Greg will find at least a temporary refuge there among fine folks.
Dec 5th, 2009, 06:14 PM
#86
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anl, have him collect some fun paper coasters from a local bar... easy to ship, and since he's so good at connecting with people, if he asked for them to send, he'd get an armful : ) I just was cleaning out something and stumbled across a bunch I had from a trip somewhere and they made me smile. Not necessarily high decor item, but fun and would make you think of him...
loving the scruffy adventures. If only a scruffdog. or a flat scruffstanley~!
loving the scruffy adventures. If only a scruffdog. or a flat scruffstanley~!
Dec 7th, 2009, 01:00 PM
#87
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Here's to a Merry Scruffmas adventure for both Greg and Mom!Dumpster diving in Amsterdam should yield some interesting tid-bits this time of year especially outside 'those' cafes.
We will be thinking of you both and I am going to share the Scruffman thread with my little post-Scruffwoman who is busily building gluten-free gingerbread houses with the youngest of her homeless charges this afternoon.
We will be thinking of you both and I am going to share the Scruffman thread with my little post-Scruffwoman who is busily building gluten-free gingerbread houses with the youngest of her homeless charges this afternoon.
Dec 21st, 2009, 06:47 PM
#89
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kkukura, I have had nothing but monosyllabic (well, virtually monosyllabic) e-mails from the Scruffman since I posted last. I am holding out hope for a Christmas phone call!
It would be a real upper to hear from him. I'm having a rough patch of life right now and facing my first solo Christmas, and he's always a ray of sunshine.
It would be a real upper to hear from him. I'm having a rough patch of life right now and facing my first solo Christmas, and he's always a ray of sunshine.
Dec 21st, 2009, 06:59 PM
#90
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Sending you a big hug, artsnletters, as I sure understand how you need to have a good conversation with your son. I so hope he calls you for Christmas.
Come on over to the Lounge and post and you will find lots of good thoughts and understanding with your situation as there are so many caring and loving people that post in the Lounge Forum. Best regards.
Come on over to the Lounge and post and you will find lots of good thoughts and understanding with your situation as there are so many caring and loving people that post in the Lounge Forum. Best regards.
Dec 22nd, 2009, 09:51 AM
#91
hi arts -
I sympathise with your plight - a friend of mine's DD is in Oz at the moment on her "gap year" [she's only 18], and another friend has her DD out in Saudi; she's 29 but still, it's a worry.
hopefully he'll phone, but remember - no news is good news.
best wishes for christmas,
regards, ann
PS - not sure of loveitaly posted that last post tongue in cheek!
I sympathise with your plight - a friend of mine's DD is in Oz at the moment on her "gap year" [she's only 18], and another friend has her DD out in Saudi; she's 29 but still, it's a worry.
hopefully he'll phone, but remember - no news is good news.
best wishes for christmas,
regards, ann
PS - not sure of loveitaly posted that last post tongue in cheek!
Dec 22nd, 2009, 10:09 AM
#92
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Thank you LI for your support. Ann, I do spend some time in the Lounge, and people can be pretty brutal when it's political, but when someone are in difficulty, the outpouring of sympathy is very touching.
Dec 22nd, 2009, 10:25 AM
#93
Maybe he'll show up at your door on Christmas eve, clean shaven with short hair and wearing a business suit. Of course, that wouldn't make for a very nice Christmas since you would drop dead from shock.
Dec 22nd, 2009, 10:41 AM
#94
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Ha ha, kerouac. He wouldn't seem like himself! I believe the only time he's worn a suit in his entire life was when he was 5 and served as the ring-bearer in a friend's wedding.
I'd love to see the dreadlocks gone, but his normal curly hair at some length above the shoulders would be just fine. (Oh how mortified he was when he hit puberty and his formerly straight-as-a-ruler hair turned into ringlets!)
And ya know, I miss him, but I want him to stay on his trip and continue his adventure.
I'd love to see the dreadlocks gone, but his normal curly hair at some length above the shoulders would be just fine. (Oh how mortified he was when he hit puberty and his formerly straight-as-a-ruler hair turned into ringlets!)
And ya know, I miss him, but I want him to stay on his trip and continue his adventure.
Dec 27th, 2009, 08:03 PM
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Hi from Australia artsnletters! I've had one 21 yo son drive around Australia (where his post-puberty curly hair turned into dreadlocks) in '06. It took about 6 months and they (4 friends) took any jobs along the way (digging ditches/painting/furniture removals/ fruit picking) as well as the odd phone call "Hey Mum we've just arrived in Melbourne/Riverina/Maclarenvale/Kunnunurra and I need some money for the first night's stay in a hostel". The Kombi they bought was 1973 version that they had to push-start a lot! It died in the middle of the road in Melbourne, but they all piled into the one reliable van that took them the rest of the way (about 2/3 of Australia). (There were 3 in one van and 2 in the better one)
His dreadlocks were the longest hair at his graduation as a software engineer last week, and he got distinctions ever since returning to uni!
I think his trip was the best thing ever, as I know you also feel about Greg!
Another son (I have 3) spent 6 months going around the world last year (without a mobile phone) and I know how you feel when they don't contact you for ages! Cuba for 2 weeks with no contact was a bit nerve-wracking, but the best place on his sojourn after Burning Man!!
Keep up the news - we love to live vicariously through our brave young who are doing the things we perhaps were never game to do!
His dreadlocks were the longest hair at his graduation as a software engineer last week, and he got distinctions ever since returning to uni!
I think his trip was the best thing ever, as I know you also feel about Greg!
Another son (I have 3) spent 6 months going around the world last year (without a mobile phone) and I know how you feel when they don't contact you for ages! Cuba for 2 weeks with no contact was a bit nerve-wracking, but the best place on his sojourn after Burning Man!!
Keep up the news - we love to live vicariously through our brave young who are doing the things we perhaps were never game to do!
Dec 28th, 2009, 11:47 AM
#96
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I'm still waiting along with the rest of you, but I had a brief Christmas e-mail from the Scruffman sending his love and promising a phone call "in the next few days," whatever that means in his circumstances!
While I know he's been staying in Leiden after a couple nights in Amsterdam, his log-ons to the couchsurfing site have indicated he's getting around a fair amount - I've seen Utrecht, Rotterdam, Flevoland, and this morning Apeldoorn.
I'm really looking forward to hearing a bit about all this! When I hear from him again (with some detail), I'll post another update.
While I know he's been staying in Leiden after a couple nights in Amsterdam, his log-ons to the couchsurfing site have indicated he's getting around a fair amount - I've seen Utrecht, Rotterdam, Flevoland, and this morning Apeldoorn.
I'm really looking forward to hearing a bit about all this! When I hear from him again (with some detail), I'll post another update.
Dec 28th, 2009, 01:09 PM
#97
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I saw another post of yours, artsnletters, and wondered how our "Fodor's boy" was doing. Maybe you will get a phone call for New Years, I sure hope so! I hope Greg has been able to keep warm, gads it seems Europe is so cold this winter! Sending a hug and understanding how you feel.
Dec 28th, 2009, 03:14 PM
#98
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Thinking of you, Artsn...greetings of the season and hang in there knowing there are others waiting with you for the reports from Scruffland. Hey, sounds like you`d better get planning your own next trip!
