16 Sep 2019 – And County Donegal

Sat: 0730hrs heading off towards the north on this lovely morning. Taking a detour (will now call it that whenever I am lost!) at this upside down boots closed-down pub somewhere near Slane. Breakfast at the only place opened and nice stroll around Slane with the gable mural of Francis Ledwidge (1887-1917) – tkx to Geoffrey Keating for knowing his Irish poet.

And I was wondering in my mind
How many would remember me – Francis Ledwidge

Somewhere between Monaghan-Dungannon-Cookstown (now in UK), more detours to discover some delightful building&garden next to the church of St Michael’s Castlecaulfield & St Patrick’s just outside Dungannon town . If on route as planned, would have driven straight thru’ and missing out these. Gas@PortRush GBP32 S$55

Edited 6May2020: blue-sky&map pix downloaded – strange how places can strike the memory-chord. Jane, and I wish I could remember her last name, was my room-mate in boarding school and the only N Irish I knew then. Was driving into PortRush, N Ireland last year and suddenly recalled that she told me then that she was from PortRush. In 1965-67 she was far advanced in her ways, took me to some Dublin basement gigs where she was seeing this guy, Peter who introduced Mike Jagger to me. Of course had no idea who he was then, and had little interest in that kind of music then or now.

Night1: 12 High Rd@Portstewart – clean&well-run B&B including breakfast GBP41 S$70.

Sun: 0700hrs headed down the coastal road to The Giant’s Causeway – nature is just sooo amazing that words will not do justice until you have step on these rocks – not tempting fate to walk out by the edge of the ocean today. Today’s waves look too intimidating&treacherous. Had wanted to make this trip since student days in Dublin and now finally walking on the giant’s footsteps before turning 70.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/intelligent-travel/2015/04/01/my-favorite-place-in-ireland-giants-causeway/

Was intentionally there early to avoid crowds in the weekend and being one of maybe 2-3 other ppl around. Nothing was opened but was happy to have step foot with the Giants. On the way back on the coastal road passing by Bushmills Distillery, would have visited as it is one of the whisky I like.

Dunluce Castle, White Rocks and back to the B&B for breakfast before checking out.

Mussenden Temple (1785) Game of Thrones filming location is on the surroundings of Downhill Demesne near Castlerock perched dramatically on a 120ft cliff top, high above the Atlantic Ocean. 

Sat23Jul2022: tkx to Mario&Annette for this share – https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/a-temple-built-on-scandal-mussenden-temple

Once you’ve accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you― George Martin

Back to the Republic and to the county of Donegal. Did have my passport if needed, but there have been so far been no boarders, signs or anything, except for the different flag and when you have to buy something in cash that would make you think that you are travelling in 2different countries

Stroove Lighthouse, not open to public

Malin Head – Ireland’s most Northern point and if you stare&look long enough out to the Atlantic Ocean, you can image the Eastern US coast!

Night2: SeaviewTavan, Ballygorman, MalinHead – Ireland’s most Northerly Seafood Restaurant&LoungeBar. A room with the ocean view+dinner (yummy Donegal mussels)+a drink&Bfast EUR88 S$133.

13 Sep 2019 – TGIF, Happy Mid-Autumn&Safe Fri13th To All

Tue: safe&sound in DUB after a 1hr delay to take off from OSL but caught up with time in the air. Had the best service@Europcar rental by a X-student, Shuana from Balbriggen Convent when she discovered that I used to teach there. After getting lost a few times, did find my way to Ann&Mick in Kilcloon who made a yummy baked-ham dinner. Showed them a pix where I got lost, and was told that it is a road with many pot-holes! and it must have been where I was lost. Thank goodness had no problems driving to their house and it was not until the next day that we discovered the flat. Tkx to Mick for getting the spare-wheel put in.

Wed: woke up to this lovely view from the bedroom. The view from the kitchen with a productive garden in the background where these chocolate tomatoes grown. These are the first I have seen, and no they taste like tomatoes and not chocolate.

In memory of 2,996 (2,977 victims + 19 hijackers) who lost their lives on 9.11.2001 in NYC. Pix downloaded.

Cliff at Lyons Hotel – a collection of charming historic village houses, a barrack, forge&mill situated by the Grand Canal.

Lunch@Trellis café where I had a gin-tonic with a Caesar salad

Would certainly not mind staying here for some days during weekdays when no weddings are on-going!

Formally Lyons Estate in 1797 with interesting history of  adultery, duel&treason after Nicolas Lawless, 1st Baron Cloncurry purchased the Lyons estate from the heirs of the Aylmer family. It has since been thru’ other hands including UCD and Tony Ryan, co-founder of Ryanair.

A Lam in the Lyons’ den – Geoffrey Keating/one of SIN Irish Ambassadors

Thu:  short walk down memory lane on&off Grafton St – St Teresa’s Church/Clarendon St where I used to donate in return for candles to the Christmas tree when we used real candles then!

Grafton St: my favourtie cherry sticky bun place, but then it was just call Bewley’s then, looking down Anne St S to St Ann’s Church, on the corner of Wicklow St where BrownThomas&Weir&Sons are still located, new ice-cream joint.

Corner of Earlsford’s Terrace where ACD day&boarding school was located in 1965, University Church/first life-concert for Handel Messiah Concert/1965,  Shelbourne Hotel/first Ball 1965.

Tkx to Ann&Mick for yummy comfort food – Shepard’s Pie@Doheny & Nesbitt/Baggot St, a pub with a lot personality and a cozy little private booth.

Fri: roast-lamb pub lunched with Margaret@Caffrey’s – was here for breakfast and like this pub then and still like it now.

May the roof above us never fall in, and the friends gathered below never fall out.

Tkx to Kitty who is visiting Ciara&family for a fun ABBA evening@Carton House on this Fri the 13th full moon night.

10 Sep 2019 – Kittelsen Museum

Sat: May did such an excellent job with these baked goods – more rains and the house will be packed with ppl. Time for a trip to IKEA to get a few things before I take off. Spotted this fine looking guy in a beautiful bunad – traditional Norwegian clothes from various rural regions. Bunad, by the Norsebunadr which originally means equipment, is a new word that has been used since the 20th century on several types of clothes in Norway, primarily about modern, historical party costumes constructed in the first half of the 20th century inspired by regional costume traditions of the peasant population in the18th centuries. May is getting one made from the Telemark region (her connection there, the mountains she goes to since a baby) and I can’t wait to see the finished product, its going to be absolutely stunning.

#6 has more than enough stuffed animals to fill this and have been wanting to get him one since sometime ago. The new toy is very tempting for this grandmother! but maybe the grandkids are all growing out of these!! Like the cafe in Slependen IKEA where there are all kinds of comfortable sitting arrangements to chill and get your shopping list together+a bite. Today’s choice was a shrimp open-face sandwich with a side of beets which went well for me, blueberry cake was so-so, will not get it again, but wanted to just try it once.

Sun: Kolboltgruvene/Cobalt mines, former mining area in Skuterudåsen (app 1+hr drive from OSL).

#6&Jens had fun for Barnas Stein og Trolldag/Children’s stone&troll day today where they could dig for their own gold&other stones while I enjoyed a nice stroll around the area. All the stones were hand-picked in the sand by #6, bought the gold-leaf flakes NOK60 S$9.50.

Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914) – like his inspiration from the Norwegian nature and his imagination with the trolls that caught my attention many moons ago.

Excited&thrilled to discover that this museum with a view is located here@Skuterudhøyden over Modum, Tyrifjorden&Ringerike. Checking if the imagination will let the trolls in, but being daylight, they have all turned into stones!

Nice front room with a view, ?? Soria Moria (1911).

På vei til gilde i trollslottet (1904), Smålltroll fra Jondalen, Skogtroll/Forest Troll (1906), Du Slette Tid. 

Edited 10Sep2020: unable to locate my pix for this location, 3above pix downloaded.

Mon: packed. Dinner for the family@ArtePazza – good salad&pizza NOK700 S$108. http://www.artepazza.no/

Go you must.
No guest shall stay
in one place for ever.
Love will be lost
if you sit too long
at a friend’s fire – The Havamal or Book of Viking Wisdom

6 Sep 2019 – Hello To Many Birthdays

Mon: day to clean, clear, pack and to track Hurricane Dorian which recently left a trail of destruction on Abaco Islands and now hovering around the coast of East FL, bringing back memories from the FL hurricane days of this life’s journey.

Tue: tkx to Stein for getting me to the airport in good time so the I could take these pix. Quite a change to be in an airport where I can see from one end to the other for DEP Gates 21-25. The other end down some stairs are DEP Gates 16-20. But where are the DEP Gates for 1-15??

Quite a contrast of aerial view from after TOS take-off to landing in OSL. Safe&sound in OSL after an uneventful ahead of schedule 1hr45min NorwegianAir flight. There are no complains when the welcome back is a hug from #6.

Wed: today St Elisabeth in TOS is a hotel, but in 1978 it was a hospital with a maternity ward then. Exactly 41yrs ago today, I was there and as quoted on the wall – With screams and tears the greatest joy is born – pix downloaded. Happy Bday to my 2nd-born!

The rains were non-stop and heavy at times today – good that the Bday girl decided to drive and run errands at the mall where I could pick up cakes&wines+gifts for another Bday tomorrow! Would have been a challenge to carry all the shopping by public transport, but what a perfect day to nap.

So far, FL has been spared from Dorian. Thoughts&prayers now out to those in GA and hope that it not make anymore landfalls but head out back to the Atlantic Ocean or weaken if it has to hit…

https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/storm-tracker/

Thu: after all the animations, toys, etc managed to find&download this pix for #6 8thBday today! Can anyone tell me if this pix is photo-shopped or do tortoise really carry their babies on their back?? Just learnt that in Norwegian word skilpadde means both tortoise&turtle. Started the day with 3different sorts of cakes – Carrot, Napoleon&Marzipan which the BdayBoy had a bite of all 3 and Marzipan is what he liked best, but this adorable boy is even sweeter than all the cakes put together in the world.

Fri: TGIF and a sigh of relief that Dorian has passed by SC. Appreciations to Torill for taking the time to have lunch@Ville Paradiso. She is now a grandmother of 2.

Quite nostalgic to be just across the road from 17JacobAalls gate – could see the windows where M&B+#6 used to live. Good salad&pizza+Mimosa  NOK590 S$91

A man is no island, his own whole; still a bit of a continent, part of the mainland (Donne, 2010: 113). This is how Thomas Ugelvik opens one of the sections in the introductory chapter to Social control by quoting the work of the English poet John Donne from 1624 (Ugelvik, 2019:12). Thomas is Torill’s first-born who were our next door neighbour@Kolsås in the 1980s.

1 Sep 2019 –  Nattevandring i Tromsø – Night Walk In Tromsø

Fri: TGIF – getting laundry, etc done before going out to play for the last weekend of my stay here.

Sat: waking up to cloudy&wet weathers, still uncertain about tonight’s night-walk but preparing to go if the weather clears. Morning walk into town at the farmers market to discover that my umbrella broke and my raincoat is getting to be not so effective. This used book-store was a good place to be while waiting for the rains to give way. Decided to take the bus back and here is the most appropriate time to apply this saying –  There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing…

The weather cleared for me to walk into town again, mainly downhill, explains the problems with knees! App 15mins to walk into town, but at least 30mins to walk back up the hills (10mins on the bus). From this rainbow, you will certainly find the pot of gold as it ended in the bank or you can look at it at another angle that it started at the bank but did not quite reach the church – but got to the start up of this event with the band just setting up.

1600hrs and this events starts at 1900hrs. Besides the band set-up, there was no one else in the square with Tromsdalstinden’s top (1,328m), still covered with clouds when I started.

Having the weather on my side, decided to walk these 1,000+stairs as I have been wanting to do so since I knew about this Sherpatrappa/staircase – built in 2016 by the Nepalese mountain road workers from Khunde Village/Nepal. Met&talked to 2 of them 2days ago when they were repairing these stairs and can understand why they would be the best ppl to built this after being on a hike in Nepal. Started way before dark to avoid the crowds, but bumping into this young fit brave chap who carried his bicycle up to cycle down the path, not on the steps as he so told me when I asked!

1830hrs: enjoying a salmon dinner with blueberry pie for dessert NOR313 S$48 while watching the first few ppl to cross the bridge, now closed to cars (1900-2200hrs), etc except for emergency vehicles – pix zoomed in to the max, thus not clear.

Probably this will be one of the most beautiful sunset I will experience from here and yes we all need to do something about this climate change, otherwise there will not be sunsets like these.

Got lucky with the weather. So good to see ppl gathering to support this good cause and also ppl with their tents to stay for the concert starting at 2300hrs. Might have lingered if I had my ear-plugs+my hiking gears, but not meant to be.

2100hrs time for me to head down on the cable-car, without head-lights it would be suicidal for me to attempt the steps in the dark. Getting pass the lines for F&B while trying to get to the cable-car was intimidating for me. Those who know me will also know that there is no way I can handle a crowd of 7,000ppl without getting a heart-attack!!

Walking to the bridge and the last 10mins on the bridge (reopened to cars at 2200hrs) without cars and cheering on the last walker. Reaching back to see from the kitchen window that there were ppl still heading up these steps at midnight when I finally finished with a shower and headed to bed.

Thank you to Norad  https://norad.no/en/front/

Some fantastic pix downloaded from Norad link by David González (3above), Ole-Martin Sandness and Marius Douglas Oterhals (below).

Grateful to MotherNature for co-operating, appreciations to the organizers (Norad) and the participants to make this happened. Blessed to have had the experience.

Sun: even this mountain is smiling at&with 🙂 me to another beautiful day in life. Goodbye Aug and welcome Sep. Again zoomed to the max! Thank you to Laila&Morten for yummy fish-soup dinner and raspberry dessert, all fresh produce from their own garden, good to catch up with Marit (Laila’s sis). Time to bid farewell to family Hald for this time round.

4 Sep – Happy Bdays MayH (41) & Vince (57)

5 Sep – Happy Bday Olai (8)

8 Sep – Happy Alfred

11 Sep – Happy Bdays Steven & MayY

15 Sep – Happy Bday Ting Ting

16 Sep – Happy Bdays Ivy & Edith

20 Sep – Happy Bday AmyR

21 Sep – Happy Bday Greg

23 Sep – Happy Bdays Joyce & Klaus

24 Sep – Happy Bday Yun

25 Sep – HappyBday Kat

30 Sep Happy Bday Mabel, DaisyL & Valerie

29 Aug 2019 – A Walk In The Mountains

Mon: tkx to Stein for driving me around looking for Napoleonskaker, no luck but instead got GrønnGenser/Green Sweater (Marzipan cake filled with apricot, walnuts and cream) which is also delicious and which Ellen also like besides Napoleonskaker. Did not find any in Pedersen, but got it at the baked goods section from the grocery. Lunched with Ellen&Cathrine and good to see that she has improved from a year ago when she decided to move up here – she will be 95 this Oct with a memory better than some of the ppl from my generation!

The rains stopped by the time I started walking and it was a shorter walk than expected, appreciations to Cathrine for lunch and for directions to the short-cut paths. Passing by Elverhøy kirke (1803) – remembered this church by the old hospital and did not know that it moved here!

Tue: was thinking of the cable-car but too hazy to see out from there, also weather forecast rains later. Checked out some of these older buildings – unlike Hammerfest, where everything was burnt down during the war, TOS was spared and if only these buildings can show us some lights to the yesteryears in Verdensteatret Kino (1915), the world’s oldest cinema in use, a place for ArtHouse movies. Railway station that never was and do not know if there ever will be. Stortorget – Rakettkiosken (the round kiosk) and Our Lady Catholic Church.

Marit Bockelie’s Night&Day, the contrast of old&new etc, are all a part of life’s journey and how blessed we are to be able to experience&feel these contrast of life.

Used to go down this jetty (wooden planks in the 1970s) early in the mornings to wait for the fishing boats to get in for their fresh catch of the day, but that was many moons ago. You can still buy seafood (not sure how fresh?) across the road from the jetty in this mobile fish shop – wonder if this little vehicle is the same one that crossed my path last week? How is it that Fangstmonument/ArcticHunter has a gull on his head whenever my camera is ready??

Wed: the daily horn signals from Hurtigruten (the local coaster steamer) at 1445hrs announcing her arrival from the South and then again at 1830hrs when she sails North-bound – like&finding them comforting&soothing to my ears, those are the only ships that I am willing to cruise on.  Nice to catch up with EllenB who now has 4grandchildren.

Thu: up at 0448hrs to see the colours of sunrise. Got on the cable-car by 1000hrs RT NOK210 S$32 to make full use of the day as rains are in the forecast.

Exploring the surrounding area by the station to discover that the Nepalese are here fixing the Sherpatrappa/Sherpa-Steps getting them ready for the Sat night event. Still thinking of attending, but looking at the steps+the thoughts of crowds (make me feel claustrophobic); will also be dark+rains in the forecast, might pass and just be somewhere safe watching. Had early home-made sandwiches lunch outdoors, waiting for the clouds to clear – treated myself to a coffee&dessert NOK87 S$14 in the restaurant with a view.

Interesting huge bird (in my eyes) cloud formation, thank goodness it flew away so that I could follow the red-blaze leading up towards Bønntuva.

Clouds in the sky very much resembles the thoughts in our minds! Both changes perpetually from one second to another – Mehmet Murat ildan

It must have been 40yrs ago since so near Tromsdalstinden that I could see other mts in the background.

TOS seems far away from here. Could not help but felt sad for the young family who recently lost their mother when she was stuck dead by lightning – her funeral is today. On mt terrains when one is so exposed like these, one would not stand much of a chance if lightning strikes…

Did not linger after reaching the top as the clouds did not look too inviting. Took nearly 2hrs to get up nearly 3km and less than an hour to get down – still one small patch of snow and looks like I have not lost the skill for downhill paths! Better not talk too soon, who knows how I will feel tomorrow??

The mountains called and I went, unlike last year as the cable car was closed then!

https://amylamsg.com/2018/09/14/tromso-kvaloya-2018/

25 Aug 2019 – Well Wishes, Thoughts&Prayers To All

Sat: walk to town from Claire’s passing by a variety of old&new designs for houses. When I was here last year, this house of the Porsche car dealer kind of intrigued me and now I kinda like it, especially the glass-door garage which shows the car – what you see is what he is. The older yellow house with the craved balcony is a contrast and absolutely beautiful.

Our philosophy is about reaching back to move forward. We have something different to say with a sensibility that is both old and new – John Varvatos

WOW – Walls of Women.

Tollboden 1789 – oldest building in the city when the pop was then 70! The first public building, a toll booth in the old town Skansen then. It has been a resident, school, senior-home, museum since then, and now 2019 a protected heritage site with the cannons still pointing to the water towards the mainland, the pop of TOS in 2018 is app 75,638.

Passing by this new development under constructions by the waters where Stein would like to get an apt (so would I) and my size of a vehicle&house. Wall-mural vs a patch of graffiti on the small opening.

Polarmuseet-Polar Museum is about Arctic-hunting and Polar-explorers – preserves and conveys stories related to this aspect of TOS history&the Arctic. NOK70 S$11Adult NOK35 S$5Senior, well worth the visit. Had our home-made sandwiches down by the low-tide seaweed-beach.

Wonder what Caesar will think of this nose?? Amundsen who in 1911 was the first to the South Pole  – poor Scott! Would be pretty hair-raising to have a polar-bear just above you. Good painting of the reindeer hunter that got me thinking of my Norwegian family who recently returned from the mountains from their hunt.

TOS Coat of Arms/Crest being the reindeer, had to get this glow in the dark Aurora T-shirt (always wanted a glow in the dark shirt, and this so far has been the only one liked)+these 2small lovely wooden hand-carved animals NOK405 S$63.

Also have been recently told that Finmark&Troms are merging together – Hammerfest/Finmark has the polar-bear for their Coat of Arms/Crest.

Walking thru’ Kysten-Hus enjoying the CodHumour&admiring the paper-fishy artwork.

Have not noticed this men’s hair salon until now? Maybe this one of Marit Bockelie’s mosaics will be my favourite, but no, I like them all. Down memory land with these 2corners that are not forgotten and look more or less the same as I remember.

Tkx to Claire, time for a coffee and to share a mini Pavlova. This used to be Pedersen bakery (now moved to  Ringveien) where I used to get the yummy Grønn Genser&napoleonskaker

The former police station (fond memories of Henrik&Marit – may they RIP), now the Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum/art museum. NOK80 S$12Adults NOK60 S$9Seniors. 

Harriet Backer’s (1845-1932) Chez Moi/Home and the piano in the foyer talked most to me about Yesterday!

Kristian Kvakland (1927-2011) Protest or Vegar Moen (1967) HKG reminding me about the present situation in HKG now! Betzy  Akersloot- Berg (1850-1922) painting on a whale shoulder,  Rose-Marie Huuva (1943) Sami Stories.

https://www.nnkm.no/nb/exhibitions/betzy

Magic Ice Bar, now this is quite an novelty! At first sight, thought they were broken glass, but on further examination, discovered that they were frozen ice shaped like wine glasses – sure got my attention! NOK250 S$40, decided to pass for this round, perhaps next week.

Continuing towards the south along the seafront&jetty watching the paragliding from the cable-car station.

Passing by Polaris to Hålogaland Teater and back into Storgate to meet Stein for dinner.

Huken BRYGG, good food with excellent service (Nathan from CA/USA) – shared the Montaditos, PortobelloBurger for Claire, SquidBurger for Stein, had to try the SpringChicken, the irony to compensate for not being one – hahaha! NOK1,041 S$162.

Shared a bottle of Mack WIT Isbjørn and even though not a beer drinker, enjoyed the taste of this. A thousand thanks to Claire&Stein as she will be off to Dublin tomorrow – safe journeys to her until we meet again.

Different angle with different lights – a beautiful sunset from yesterday evening, but this evening the body goes to sleep with a heavy heart in the cloudy sky as life defies all logic and laws. Should be tired after walking all day, alas could not quiet the mind.

Sun: well wishes, thoughts and prayers are all out hoping for the best on this wet, grey misty day. Tonight I will have a goodnight sleep knowing that things will be better and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

For every minute, the future is becoming the past – Thor Heyerdah

23 Aug 2019 – Now Kongeparken

Wed-cont: started out walking down town on a glorious mid-morning passing by the schools that were&still are – Gylleborg elementary (the wall mosaic-mural was added on after my days), Kongsbakken videregående skole high-school and and the Maritime School. In front of the high-school (now a small park with a sculpture of the king) was  the former Old Latin-School and later Nordnorsk Musikkonservatorium where I worked, but sadly it burnt down in 1979 and the irony of it that it burnt the night after sprinklers were just installed but were not turned on yet!

https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordnorsk_Musikkonservatorium

Excited to find this useful site with old pix of the school which brought back fond memories running down F Langesgate towards town and just before Grønngate or Storegata? on the left-side, there was a wooden building where delicious fresh fish-cakes were made daily and you could buy them from the window – the smell&taste still lingers on…

https://lokalhistoriewiki.no/index.php/Parkgata_18_(Troms%C3%B8)

Marit Bockelie, one of my favourite artists (especially her mosaics), in this area was a neighbour when we lived in Nesøya in the 1970s, I think she still lives there part-time. Her first mosaic in Tromsø is hung@the Department of Meteorological Institute and she titled it Tor With The Hammer Over Tromsø. Her heaviest work is The Gyllenborg-Hanen (Hen) weighs 2+tonnes and is almost 80sqM.

http://blogg.nordlys.no/yngve/kunst-i-1000-biter

There is more time on this trip to research for the above topics – or perhaps being here now for the moment inspires me to want to find out more.

The new port terminal Prostneset Terminal, a hub for land&sea travelers is also where the Tourist Info is now located. Odyssey for the Future is also docked here for now – lucky me to see this unusual floating vessel, have not heard about it until now.

http://www.energy-observer.org/actu/en/energy-observer-the-odyssey-for-the-future-north-objective/

Slow walk towards Stortorget to KystensMathus for lunch – first time being served with this tomato-based fishsoup, quite good but personal preference is still the cream-base NOK139 S$22. Grey clouds were stating to gather and took the lazy way back by taking the bus NOK19 S$3 up the hill and just as I opened the main door to the apt block, torrential downpours fell from the sky. A good nap in this perfect weather.

Tkx to Claire&Stein for this scrupulous kveita/halibut (caught by Stein) dinner and multe/cloudberry dessert (picked by Claire). What a treat.

Thu: no worries about any weather with all these books around and the sweet fragrance of these roses from Claire’s garden. Managed to book tickets from the USA-OSL flying from Charleston-JFK US$90 S$125 JFK–OSL NOK1,590 S$245, total S$370

Fri: TGIF and a good weekend to all from this breath-taking view this morning – had to wake myself fully to see that it is for real and not a dream!

Strolling around Prestvannet taking in all the blue sky when it is there, especially with the mountain profile of a nose named Store Blåmann or Blåmannen 1,044m 3,425ft. Was introduced to this mountain as Karl Johans Nesa (Nose) when I first stepped foot in TOS in 1968 and since then, my relationship with this nose is similar to how Caesar was to Cleopatra’ s nose! Every time when I am back here, can never get enough of it.

If Cleopatra’s nose had been shorter, the whole face of the earth would have changed – Blaise Pascal

The paths taken@any Y-junctions have been and hopefully still be an adventure, especially when you meet a polar-bear who can forecast the weather!

Thank you to Laila&Morten for their graciousness for showing Claire&Stein how they have converted a small farm Småslett. to a country house, one of the most charming&idyllic summer places I have been.

21 Aug 2019 – Not All Roads Lead to Rome

There’s roads, and there’s roads,
And they call. Can’t you hear it?
Roads of the earth
And roads of the spirit

Mon: And the road to the 1st day of school into 3rdGrade for #6 starts today

Could not find the Telenor@Majorstuen – took a slow refreshing walk, watching life goes by from Majorstuen to the castle-grounds and the castle.

Unlike SIN, I can walk a whole day here in this kind of weather.

Bought this phone@the Telenor Shop, OsloByporten NOK2400 S$370 and this is the first phone I am paying for! All the others have either been free with a subscription plan or inherited when the younger ppl get new models.

Had the Nordic Fish Soup+my favourite BundabergGingerBeer@PinkFish, OsloCityShopping NOK192 S$30. The only other PinkFish I know of is@Jewel/SIN but the lines were too long at the opening to try then.

Tue: some extra time at the airport to get things sorted@Norwegian–CustomerServiceDesk. The Blackbirds here are new, but could not find any title or artist name? FlyBar has been here since the beginning.

Would have lingered longer outside on this lovely day if not for all the smokers, took this on the link-bridge where smoking was not allowed but could still smell them. #6 makes these paper-planes and we have fun trying to fly them from the upstairs into the garden in his home.

Nice grand-piano (played on it with my signature Yesterday!) and life around gate A15 area after checking in. Also a book for signing, but I did not leave any footprints! – found this impressive drawing. Playful time for the kids before strapping them down! Flexible moves from this dancing guy – strange sounds came from the funny looking large street-light when you walk under it.

It was a month shy of 1yr since I was last in Tromsø/TOS.

https://amylamsg.com/2018/09/14/tromso-kvaloya-2018/

On time and uneventful nearly 2hrs flight to TOS. Tkx to Claire for meeting me and for delicious lunch with these yummy stone-crab legs fresh from Stein’s catch.

The view from the living room&the kitchen where I will be staying until 3Sep, so what is the complain??? And I will overflow my posting with these kind of views not knowing when&if I will have another chance to stay in Hazel&Richard’s apt located on the highest point of the island in additional to being the top floor in this apt block.

Wed: what a treat to wake up to this kitchen view towards the mainland which was also the living room view from when&where I lived in the 1970s-80s.

A fuller view from the living room towards the airport and the outer islands –

not forgetting that the main drag is located on this tiny island but unlike any other tiny islands, this is a uncrowded island surrounded by clean air, spectacular mountains where I can so understand&relate to life. Only now can I finally&honestly admit that this must be the favourite place where I have so far lived, but… we can get to those buts another day&time. For now I only want to enjoy and cherish every moment here.

Most grateful to Hazel&Richard for the use of their apt, thus being able to appreciate my time here longer, and to Claire&Stein for everything they are doing for me, am sooo truly blessed.

18 Aug 2019 – Hadeland Glassverk (1762)

Thu: visit here/HG in 2008 with Kari and then 2012 with Mette&Sturla – 7yrs ago since the last visit. Have always enjoyed this place and today was there for another reason than just to see&shop for glass.

https://amylamsg.com/2008/10/03/hadeland-glassverk/

https://amylamsg.com/2012/08/08/glassfactory/

Situated in Jevnaker, Oppland 40km N of OSL, at the southern tip of lake Randsfjorden. Usually here to shop for their sales items, but today was for the exhibition, and even that did not stop me from buying a few small sale gift items! Shrimp-salad NOK170 S$26 for lunch, May had a smoked-salmon open-face sandwich and #6 had hotdogs.

The last few days for the Van Gogh exhibition showing 3000 inspirational images using the state-of-the-art Sensory4 technology – for the very first time in the Nordic countries! Quite stunning effects.

Nice view of the lake from the playground&restaurant. Charming white building with the bell-tower which serves as a bakery today. HG is the oldest industrial company in Norway that can claim continuous operation since its foundation A/S Hadeland Glassverk is currently a co within the CG Holding Co, which includes business activities within industry, commodity trading, property and investment. 2012 KingHarald marked HG 250th anniversary,

Pleasant country-drive passing by JevnakerChurch, and again like many churches here, it has with the best views of the Randsfjorden lake&the town centre. Previously the site of a stone church, possibly built by King OlavKyrre, towards the end of the 11th century. Tkx to May for driving, had a good snooze on Riksvei4 back to OSL.

I don’t know anything with certainty, but seeing the stars makes me dream ― Vincent Van Gogh

Fri: TGIF and a good weekend to all. Lunched with Kris – NishiSushi@Majorstua where #6 managed to impress the server by using chopsticks when he had his favourite 6salmon-sushi pieces. Kris had the TartarTrio – spicy tuna; salmon with sesame seeds&mango; scallops with lime&cilantro and salmon sashimi for me, total: NOK411 S$63.

Tkx to Kris for this lovely piece of weave made by her. Toy shopping&banking and appreciations to Kris for her help@DnB. Seems like I need a Norwegian mobile number to make certain changes.

Sat: nearly 3weeks and few food pix. The children’s father once told me that many ‘Norwegians eat to live, while we live to eat and my father told me that When in Rome, do as the Romans do, so enjoying&savouring the fresh-bakes&seafood here to the fullest. Made a plate of roast beef salad at home for a fraction of the price compared to this small bowl of chicken ramen NOK139 S$22 eaten outside; bouquet of sunflowers NOK205 S$32. Food culture here is completely different from SIN, and we do not often eat out here.

I am on a seafood diet, I see food and I eat it –

Sun: after relentless rains yesterday and a nice night #6-sitting while parents are out, the sky cleared with a glorious sunrise today. Sunset pix with Holemnkollen SkiJump in the background was taken on a beautiful evening when it was not raining. Getting things sorted out to travel with just a bag-pack (ie no checked-in luggage) heading north next week. OSL-TOS-OSL NOK1,328-S$205.

Reminder note: when I can remember, will share the cost of living when in Norway as I have been often asked about how much things cost here. Thus prices quoted are NOT complains or comparisons, but to answer&share.