Never underestimate a supermarket queue

Our house came with a boat. And so, ever since moving here, we’ve been dreaming of long summerdays on the fjord, fishing from it.

However, with a boat that hadn’t been used for decades, we were not sure if that dream could become reality.

That changed when we met Robert.

Bernardo bumped into him at the supermarket. Robert had seen the boat in Berardo’s video, and was convinced it was worth restoring. Right there, while waiting in line to pay, he said: “I might have an engine for you!”

A few days later, Robert and his girlfriend Pia came by to see if the engine would fit. It did. And just like that, they started mapping out a restoring plan.

Even though Bernardo and I know nothing about boats, their enthusiasm made us realise we might actually own something special. A boat that’s been neglected for twenty years, but still deserves a second life.

As it turns out, Robert is a professional chef. To get to know each other beyond the boat, he invited us over for his pizza. The dough had been fermenting for days, and the toppings were inspired by our backgrounds: Portuguese chorizo and a beetroot aioli, coloured like Dutch tulips.

As if that wasn’t enough, he later prepared a reindeer stew to share with us and his family by the fjord. We spent the evening sharing stories and learning about fishing, slowly experiencing the life we’ve been dreaming of.

We brought an old fishing rod to the fjord, imagining what it would be like to fish there from our own boat. Robert took a look and said it only needed a new reel to come back to life. The next morning, he arrived at our doorstep with a brand-new one.

One thing is becoming very clear: the people we meet here are deeply involved. They don’t just introduce themselves, but they show up, engage and make themselves available for what we are trying to build.

Like Robert and Pia, who are genuinely helping us, using their life experience to refine our ideas. Their input and the exchange of thoughts make our dreams feel realistic.

Meanwhile, Bernardo and Robert managed to move the boat from its resting place in the garden. It now has a new spot close to our house, with all the tools we need to bring this little gem back to life.

Let’s see if we make it to the fjord by boat this summer…

We hope you’ll follow along!

Thank you for reading :)

Jule Noah