6 Aug 2012 – with Ai Weiwei

A weekend of goodbyes to friends while M&B and Olai (his first train ride/6+hrs) are away in Oppdal. Sat with Ingrid & HansK grilling and enjoying the outdoor fireplace. There was a huge fire earlier with an apartment block in town and we could see the smoke from the garden. Appreciations to the Hustads for this lovely day and evening.

Sun: drove by Utøya to pay respect to the victims of the shootings a year ago. It is difficult to imagine that such tragedy took place on this idyllic island.

App 45mins drive north-west of OSL is Kistefos Museet, situated in beautiful surroundings by the river Randselva. This might be the only time it is tempting to be between 4-8yrs again as that is the age limit for the playgrounds 🙂

The former wood pulp mill is today an industrial museum and the only remaining wood pulp mill in Scandinavia. The museum offers annual art exhibitions and the sculpture park i lush and green and perfect for picnics thanks the efforts of investor and art lover Christen Sveaas. 

Thanks to Mette & Sturla for this wonderful day. Hadeland Galssverk will be included in the next posting. What a nice way to say farewell for now.

The featured exhibition here today is Ai Weiwei the communicator – the documenting, analyzing, interweaving artist who communicates via many channels. Weiwei already used photography in his New York years, but especially since his return to Beijing, he has documented the everyday urban and social realities in China.

Ai Weiwei was detained on April 3rd 2011 by the Chinese authorities because of his political activities, and released on bail June 22nd 2011. But Ai Weiwei is still today, banned from leaving the country.


All of Nature Flows Through Us – Marc Quinn/2011

3 Aug 2012 – Movie Buff

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19078948

Vertigo (1958)*****starring James Stewart and Kim Novak is named ‘greatest film of all time’ and also my favourite Alfred Hitchcock’s movies. Seen it in the early 60s and then in the 80s and still remember parts of it. Got hold of a copy to view again and yes, it is still good!

Have been borrowing tons of movies from the library. Recently even joined Video Nova (no membership fees required but it cost to rent) to catch up on newer movies that have been missed since May. Wonder how many of the movies watch over the past 4 decades will still be in the memory after 2020, ie if still kicking…

The Help***Southern-style racial equality in 1960s Mississippi. Having fond memories of Ann Gerken who was from Savannah and recalling her stories from that era. Good acting and a touching movie. Tried to read the book (thanks to Aileen) last summer but found it difficult to read the written lingo of the afro-american slang. As it is, need to even concentrate to understand their verbal communication! 

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel***7 travelers who are financially distressed of retirement age lured by promises to make those final years truly golden — and for a fraction of the price at home at the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in Jaipur/India.

Upon arrival, they discover a place that is far from the luxurious retreat that its advertising claims. encouraging and interesting to see how they handled the situation. An entertaining movie for this stage of life!

W.E.*** is story of 2 women – Wally Winthrop/WW and Wallis Simpson/WS, separated by more than 6 decades where WW, obsessed with what she perceives as the ultimate love story. About King Edward VIII’s abdication of the British throne for the woman he loved, American divorcée WS and WW’s research reveals that the couple’s life together was not as perfect as she thought… not a Madonna fan but well worth watching it!

Coincidently the link below just posted on FB for the group of International students to add to their adventures after their semester in SIN/SMU. Sometimes do wonder if vertigo is one of the issues but having been with the group to the Forest Adventure in SIN, the issue is probably imaginary!

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/25/travel/worlds-coolest-zip-lines/index.html?hpt=hp_bn8

I tried so hard with movies like Vertigo and Middle of the Night and others. I felt those would show me that it’s only a matter of time before I’d find the right one to reach out and touch people – Kim Novak

1 Aug 2012 – Is the Earth Overpopulated??

The environment has always been on in the mind and keeping updated with issues like the recent weather changes is important in this life’s journey. Food is not the main problem…while it may be true that we could feed a couple of billion more people, it is also true that people around the world are starving right now – and not from a shortage in global food supply, but because of wars, or crops already hit by climate change, or being too poor to afford food.
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120725-population-overload

Thank you Martin Williams for hosting the 7 May 2009 AT Thru-Hike Talk for the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in Hong Kong.
http://www.rgshk.org.hk/public/general.php?pageId=87 

Thanks again to Martin for this well written article. Agreeing with him fully, the weather changes do need to be addressed and taken seriously. We all play a role and are culprits contributing to the pollution on this lovely planet. The question is how to limit our needs, comfort zones, wants, greed, etc????
http://www.hkoutdoors.com/hk-island/hong-kong-weather-outlook-warmer-wetter-wilder

The wildlife bridge in the Netherlands provides a crossing for wildlife amidst the danger of highways.
http://www.businessinsider.com/wildlife-bridges-pictures-2012-7

This is just one of the ways we do our part to help with the environment but to be realistic are we really aware that we are destroying our planet and ourselves day by day?? For those who have lived a longer life, we must not forget to take consideration for the future generations!

Not the whole of Planet Earth is overpopulated, but many cities and some areas are certainly so. Would you like to be at this beach in China??? Pix credits to various sites.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Overpopulation.aspx

Aug Special Dates:

5 Aug – Happy Bday LAM ChengEn

8 Aug – Keith & Marianne

9 Aug – Happy 47th Bday SIN

18 Aug – Ingrid & Hans K

23 Aug – Guri & Hans Olav

The human overpopulation issue is the topic I see as the most vital to solve if our children and grandchildren are to have a good quality of life – Alexandra Paul