The shop was still a very sound business, we sold bicycles, mopeds and sewing-machines. We had approx. 30 mopeds, 100 bicycles and 20-25 sewing-machines on stock. Both of us serviced the shop, Karl also repaired machines in the workshop and I kept the books. We had school boys that helped us in the workshop after school, and they wanted to earn some pocket money.
IMG: The shop as seen from North
During spring and summer we sold the two-wheelers, but in the fall and winther it was mostly sewing-machines.
Back then, the ladies very seldom have drivers license. Instead we drove to them with the sewing-machine and trained them in using one. That was done closing hour, but it was fun to visit people.
Also, it was quite interesting to see how people lived. Often, it took all evening, because we were offered coffee and a little chat. Sewing-machines with zig-zag was the new thing and later overlock. Later most of the training was done in the shop.
In 1970 we bougth ourselves a caravan. We had it permanent located at Børsmose campsite in several years. We went there every single weekend from Easter to September where the campsite closed down for winter. In 1971 Karl was appointed fireman commander and was sent on firefighter training. All that firefighting and meetings took much of Karls time; hence, I often had to take care of the shop myself. The firefighting had some benefits, e.g. free tickets for the local theater.
Back then, theater in Rødding was a main attraction. After the performance, we had open sandwich and dance until 2pm. Due to the firefighter watch duty, we were granted free tickets for the hole season. One year that included massive 12 performances.
Those years we often went to parties in the fire proctection, the local trade association and in the dealer association.
In 1975, Karl and I travelled by chartered plane for the first time in our life together with friends to Mallorca in Spain. That was the beginning of an active life of travels.
IMG: The shop with new signboard
Our longest travel took place in 1991 where were took the opportunity to visit Karls familiy in Canada and shutted down the shop for three weeks.
In the family we always had pets. A cat that often had kitten and a cocker-spaniel, Pjevs, which was an extraordinaire male dog. Pjevs allways used the pedestrian crossing even when walking by itselves. Helle had fish and Marianne pet birds for a time. In return we very often had fleas. The house was very lively those years when the children lived home. Always friends and classmates on visit. It was great fun.
Over time as the children moved away from home it became very quiet, but as our everyday was very busy we did not detect it that much. We were also engaged with helping the children moving from place to place, painting their new flat or room. Later on, we were grandparents and kept busy babysitting the grandchilds.
Karls back started hurting him badly in 1993 and he was unable to work any longer; hence, we decided to shut down the business and retire. We closed the shop for good October 25, 1993 excatly 37 years after opening it. Karl was 63 years old and after some treatments his back recovered fairly well.
Being retired was new to us and we had to figure out how to live without going to work. It was actually much easier than expected. Karl started to play the violin again, a thing he could not find time for previously. He played in Sønderjylland Amateur Symphony Orchestra and at present time in Haderslev City Orchestra.
I began studing on adult education center in Gram, which have been great for me. I brushed up on my english language and much more. I have also been on several outings with the school and learned a lot of new friends, a real pleasure. Both Karl and I attends gynmnastics, on seperate teams.
We bought a new caravan in 1998 and enjoys camping again when the weather is pleasant and rides the bicycle often. We still travel a lot both international or domestic when we are visiting our children. All of them live long way from home.
IMG: Our son Claus and Pjevs
- Bente is married with Jens Chr. Larsen in Ålbæk near Skagen and have a daughter, Marianne and son Joakim.
- Helle is married with Svend Nielsen in Broager. She has two sons, Rasmus and Mikkel and two daughters, Marie and Sofie all of them from previous marriages.
- Marianne was married with Palle Weiss in Horsens and has two sons, Kenneth and Thomas.
- Tragically, we lost Palle in 2001 due to brain cancer.
- Claus lives together with Ane Hansen on Frederiksberg near Copenhagen
May 24, 2003
Christa Jepsen