Thursday, June 4 - Thisted

Gathering up the team for the day's activities is quite an excercise as apart from where he is stationed Louis has to make another two stops to pick everyone up.

Today's programme is happening all around the town of Thisted. Kristian Kaptain has arrived by train from Aalborg to join us for the day.

First up is the visit to the pig slaughter house near the harbour where we get an interesting presentation, telling the history of Tican. Before we are taken through the factory, the slideshow ends with a picture of a cute little piggie that looks like Babe. Such a cute darling.

We have to dress up in overalls, shoe protectors and head covers for the guided tour through the works. In a brave attempt to jump my own shadow I dress up and start going along. But when Babe's face seems to look at me from every lump of meat I get very upset. Trying hard not to cry, I end up hyperventilating and have to hang on to a pile of cartons. Our resident doctor, Paul Moran, is quick to pick up on my distress and asks that I be escorted back to the conference room. To my surprise, I find Max Post in there who has not even attempted to visit the works. We later hear that some others did not quite see the full distance either.

Ah well, the world needs some softies too. That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking with it.

After a surprise lunch there, we move on to the nearby hearing aid factory - where pre-arranged lunch is awaiting us! The name escapes me at the moment and my notes are in a safe place. If anyone can help me out, please do so.

Hearing aids are of particular interest to those who are actually wearing them and to Nola and Ken Tyson whose son has been battling with them all his life.

It is absolutely fascinating to learn how many different models can be built to suit everyones needs. Watching the ladies doing the very fiddly job of putting bits together, all the while looking through a microscope makes us very glad we don't have to do the job.

It is wonderful to think that so many more people nowadays can hear thanks to the great invention of hearing aids.

For the rest of the afternoon we are guided around the town, starting with a local museum and another very old church. It is amazing how bright and airy these churches are despite their age.

Then we walk through a lovely city park, through the oldest part of town and passed some well kept garden plots. This system of having a plot when living in the city has been very popular in Denmark for a long time. Although there is no electricity, some people build very cosy little huts and use them as weekenders.