Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Standing on Burning Coal

Standing on Burning Coal

My winter promenade in Västerhaninge was interrupted by Jonas. He works at Leif Wretmans Åkeri, (his dad's business). On this cold day (- 6C), they were heating up the soil on the closed-off road at Hörnvägen using burning coal. Jonas is standing on the hot sheet metal. Someone is building a new house nearby and the coal will burn for 24 hours before the digger can get to work. Jonas lives at Högsta and told me that the roof on the abandoned house at Högsta had collapsed because of all of the snow this winter (possible photo-op). I will often try to connect the people I have photographed, and this one was easy as Jonas lives next door to farmer Rolf Norlin. On his free time Jonas enjoys riding his motorcycle, and he is also a keen folkrace driver. Not very surprising as he lives only a short walk from the racing circuit.

11 comments:

Lowell said...

I wonder how deeply frozen is that soil?

What a job! Not for me, thanks. I'd probably race motorcycles, too, if that was me.

Don and Krise said...

Let me see if I understand this correctly. They put a layer of hot coal on the road, then put the sheet metal over the top to hold the heat down?
I also have to say it's a real shame that the roof is collapsing on that old house.

Olivier said...

belle composition, il est dans la continuité de sa grue

VP said...

I have read of this practice in Northern Italy, but for our winters some open fire was enough. With -6C standing burning coal doesn't seem a bad idea...

Stefan Jansson said...

No, I'm sure it warmed Jonas up a bit. It was on my suggestion he stood there, I figured it would make the portrait better. A woman came by as we stood there, a bit upset about having to walk another way, as the road was blocked, she started a long tirade about exercise...

Irredento Urbanita said...

It seems to be a hard work. I would die there.

Regards

Valery

Kate said...

Looks like Jonas is dressed for the job. What an interesting technique to thaw the soil, but I don't think I'd qualify or want the job.

Leif Hagen said...

Jonas' dad's business must be a great business based on the name of it!!

Lois said...

Fascinating to me that they actually have to warm up the ground before they can dig! Nice portrait.

Carlos Lorenzo said...

It is interesting to know about this social research of yours. There is a journalist in you somewhere. Learning about procedures before digging is some curious stuff. Thanks.

Louis la Vache said...

It had never occurred to «Louis» that construction in your cold winter climate could go on in the winter in this way. Very interesting for this California-aclamated vache to read!