12 Oct 2015 – OSL Port Authority

Fri: after delivering O, walked to Aker Brygge and towards Akerhus Fortress. An unusual public restroom which states Pissoar on one side and WC on the other side, so ladies remember to go into the correct side! A new diver statue welcoming visitors and swans contemplating their hibernation location!

Colourful wall murals

Checking out the new developments around the area at the bottom of Akershus Fortress. It  certainly has changed for the better and nice to see sea-faring tourist heading into town in this direction.

Glad that the horse-back security are there. Some years ago, would not have wandered in this area.

Oslo Havn KF=The OSL Port Authority first established 1735 and one of Norway’s oldest organizations still in existence.

Passing by electric cars refilling station (the red one is my favourite where parallel parking is not necessary), not sure what this piece of artwork is about, kids learning to throw the rope and a nice contrast the old and new floating vessels!

By passing the Opera House to check out newer buildings on Dronning Eufemias gate which are built to fit with the design of the Opera House.

The Barcode Project is a section of the Bjørvika portion of the Fjord City redevelopment on former dock and industrial land in central OSL. It consists of a row of new multi-purpose high-rise buildings and this is what they look like facing the sea.

The other side facing the central railway station must be rather noisy. considering that all the trains stop at this station. Enough of sight-seeing and pix taking for today. Rest of the day was also on my feet for early Christmas shopping at IKEA.

It has been a long time since my feet had to be moving upright all day and feeling my limits!

Sat: thought it would be a quiet weekend but how can I say no to food??? Farmers Market down the road with tasting, oh! I am in food paradise 🙂

The aromas of all the food variety is just intoxicating! Sooo true as to what George Bernard Shaw said  that there is no love sincerer than the love of food.

Could not resist buying the apple, black currant, elder berry juice and krasekaker. NOK600 S$100+poorer but happy 🙂 🙂 Christmas shopping done for M&B.

Sun: those who know me probably also know why this over-active energy over the weekend – a way to escape the thought of not seeing O until 2016. Have been thoroughly enjoying listening to his voice and watching him develop the past 7+weeks. Will count my blessings and start packing…

Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you
Tomorrow I’ll miss you
Remember I’ll always be true
And then while I’m away
I’ll write home every day
And I’ll send all my loving to you – ‎Lennon–McCartney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QljI1Uotwc

9 Oct 2015 – At Høvikodden And Majorstuen

Wed: walking to catch the free bus from Frogner Parken to Høvikodden.

Tkx to Kirsten for a lovely afternoon with Hilma af Klint at Henie-Onstad Art Centre, one of my favourtie locations for an art gallery. Was first there with my father in 1967 when it was just opened. See posting below…

https://amylamsg.com/2008/10/11/henie-onstad/

Not at all familiar with Hilma af Klint‘s works, so this is new and am not sure as to how I feel about her works??? Will need to read more about her to find out.

Had to walk out of Bølgen & Moi at Henie-Onstad Art Centre!!! Remembering the size of the salad at Bølgen & Moi***Sandvika Storsenter when I was there with M & O, decided to share a shrimp salad with Kris and it was the perfect size and tasted good. The service and the menu selection in this branch is better than that at Henie-Onstad Art Centre.

Another unpleasant incident after getting grocery at Kolsås center tells me that this is NOT the Norway I knew many moons ago when I first moved here 🙁 Good to see Geir too and nice idea with all Kris pix books. Appreciations for sharing and for their sopp-soya.  Glad that Kolsås subway station is finally reopened.

Thu: day with O without day-care. Started the day at Colosseum which is the first time for O with a movie – Karsten og Petra på safari***a lion cub which has lost its mummy, grandpa being caught in a lion trap, and chasing a lion thief – just watching O’s expressions made my day. A child-size popcorn and a small box of juice made his day 🙂

A Happy Meal at McD and a walk in the area to see the sunflowers and the pigeons where he wanted to know the name of the statue! What a blessing and privilege to be a grandmother – highly recommended, especially when parents do a good job!

Expecting a quiet weekend as May&family will be away and I need some time to get my thoughts together before flying off.

A mother becomes a true grandmother the day she stops noticing the terrible things her children do because she is so enchanted with the wonderful things her grandchildren do – Lois Wyse

7 Oct 2015 – Haze In SIN

Sun: thoughts and prayers to family and friends with floods in SC/USA and haze in SIN. Those affected please take good care and stay safe.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34436669?SThisFB

Linn&family and SC friends are thank goodness safe in their homes. Pix from her showed that the level of Lake Murray has risen by quite bit. The uploaded pix of her favourite bridge in CAE shows that the river walk looks like it is completely flooded. Many have lost everything and some lost their life. My heart will not be able to handle another disaster after their house fire 2yrs ago…

The haze and PSI readings in SIN are way unhealthy – am not looking forward to breathing that air. Haze pix downloaded and here is the irony of it…

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/05/asia/singapore-smartest-kids/index.html

And how smart can they be breathing in this unhealthy haze for a prolonged period of time???

http://gemmacalvert.com/haze-impact/

Mon: more walks to get my mind into another mode but the flag at the US Embassy is a reminder of the gun issues with 10killed and 9injured in a shooting at the Umpqua CC in OR/USA on Thu.

Nok av det=enough of that – will keep my focus on some of my favourite scenes and subjects here in OSL besides O 🙂

Pascal****

Ibsen, like his plays and have read all of them in both Norwegian and English.

Slottet, Universitet Aula, Karl Johan gt with new sculpture.

St Olavs Plass centrally located in OSL where St Olavs, Munchs, Langes and Universitet gt all start here. Named in 1864 after St Olav (995-1030).

Pilestredet Park legesenter where my Norwegian doctor Eivind is located. Many fond memories together from our DUB student days. He is now a father to 2grown-ups, a grandfather to 2grandchildren and still the perfect gentleman I used to know. Thank you Eivind for being and for taking the time to take care of me and my medications.

Congratulations May for her Norwegian driver’s license.

Tue: the biggest and tallest sunflower seen, about the height of one storey high and some blooms bigger than my face. Flight booked to depart for SIN tonight but rescheduled to help with O. M&B will be busy with meetings and conferences the next few days.

When autumn darkness falls, what we will remember are the small acts of kindness – a cake, a hug, an invitation to talk and every single rose. These are all expressions of a nation coming together and caring about its people – Jens Stoltenberg

4 Oct 2015 – With Family & Friends

Fri: what beautiful morning – flawless blue without a single cloud, but with the moon after the red sky last night. O made a creative drawing which was hanging outside the daycare.

Today’s walk along a short stretch of Drammenveien passing the US Embassy, crossing to Parkveien behind the palace…

continuing to Hegdehaugsveien at the NorthFace store and a Norwegian brand Brynje of the super mesh merino wool base-layers that I have been searching for. Had a set from HellyHansen (cotton but not mesh), which lasted many years. Now is the time to get new set –  NOK1,088 S$186. Hopefully will not have to buy another set again in-spite of the colour, the only colour in stock there that is not on the top of my wish list!

Bogstadveien – no glass slipper but must be the one of the biggest shoes in my fairy-tale land! Thanks Mette for stopping by for lunch and helping me to eat up left-overs!

Sat: have not been to a puppet show since Linn was little. O enjoyed Den Magiske Kiste=The Magic Chest and I cherished every moment with him.  Billy and Killy, named by O and created by us. The playgrounds located by the puppet show is also another a hit. A popsicle at Café Vigeland was another success. What an enjoyably afternoon with the youngest grandchild.

A bouquet and a joyful jump to welcome autumn. The fragrant freesia always bring back sweet memory of innocent young love…

Young love, first love
Filled with deep devotion
Young love, our love
We share with deep emotion – Sonny James 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9vXQX4vP9Q

Pleasant drive to look at houses on this cool evening. This red MG reminded me of the dating days of a member of the family, except that the owner with what looked like his young grandson got into this car and drove off…

Stepped into Mad Fork, no ratings for just a drink – a cocktail+a beer NOK200+ S$35+ is reasonable where one probably pays more in SIN.  It is literally located across the road with interesting interior but certainly NOT greener on the other side of the road 🙂

Sun: M&B have plans to drive to Moss to get B parents’ boat on land before the winter and if O does not wish to be in the car-ride, I am here for him…

2 Oct 2015 – The Wave

Tue: Bølgen***The Wave – even though awaited, no-one is really ready when the mountain pass of Åkneset above the scenic narrow Norwegian fjord Geiranger falls out and creates a 85 meter high violent tsunami. A geologist is one of those caught in the middle of it…

An epic tale based on the 1934 tsunami which killed 40 people in Norway’s Tafjord. The disaster was triggered when a mountainside collapsed, causing huge damage and casualties in a number of villages along Norway’s fjords. Geologists believe Norway may be overdue for another such natural catastrophe!!!!

Wanted to watch this movie here at Colosseum – 5mins walk from May’s where there will be no doubt that it is not dubbed or cut. But NOK90 S$15 is on the expensive range and even more in the evenings NOK150 S$26. Unable to remember the last movie watched in Norway???

Wed: last day of Sep with the blue sky and beautiful autumn colours. Random pix from my daily walks which I will miss when I return to hazy SIN 🙁

Some filming was happening after delivering Olai to his daycare. Random sculptures on the way to the town center.

Saw this wooden zebra at GlasMagasinet (the history of this place dates back to 1899) and it is the exact same zebra L&M played with when they were kids. It belonged to their dad when he was a kid. Now it is in Olai’s toy collection and believe it or not, the price tag on it is nearly NOK700 S$117, considering that it has been played with by 3generations, then it has been well worth it. Wonder how much it was when new then???

Tkx Leng for taking time to catch up in the midst of her busy schedule. The pix of us is from 2014 but could have been 2015 as we were both in the same outfits – for real! (I can already hear KK ‘what a monotonous wardrobe!’). How time has gone by since we first met for the Ft Canning project in SIN before she had kids. Her boys Marcus and Victor are now 8 & 2.

Thu: one more cuppa with Ingrid until we meet again in 2016. The sunset tonight is just spectacular with the clouds and the colours changing every second.

Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning’ first appeared in the bible in the Gospel of Matthew. It is an old weather saying often used at sunrise and sunset to signify the changing sky and originally known to help the shepherds prepare for the next day’s weather. Despite there being global variations in this saying such as ‘Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sailors warning’, the scientific understanding behind such occurrences remain the same.

Oct’s Special Dates

3 Happy Bday CHONG Siong Yin

4 Happy Bday Berit Lisbet EGGEN

6 Happy Bday David WONG

7 Happy Bday Leslie LAM

8 Happy Bdays Larry LAM, Audrey WONG and KONG Heng Sun

12 Happy Bday Karen SCAF-BENHAM

13 Happy Bday David YUNG

16 Happy Bday Patricia LAM

21 Happy Bdays Steve LAM & Dee HALL

27 Happy Bday Ellen HALD sr

29 Happy Bdays LAM Kwok Lock & Kiera CHUA

31 Happy Bdays Adeline LEE, Mark BOROWSKY and Happy Halloween

28 Sep 2015 – Trondheim & Nerskogen

Thu: visiting Anne&Roar by train from OSL, heading N and changing train in Hamar via Røros (the scenic route) to Trondheim. Dep OSL at 1034 Arr 1802hrs. Round trip tickets costing NOK448 S$75 and these are at promotional rates.

Pleasant train journey with nearly 20+stops but only enough time to pick up and let more passengers

Trøndelag is a geographical region in the central part of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. The region is, together with Møre og Romsdal, part of a larger administrative division called Central Norway.

Slightly over 200,000 of the county’s population (or around 55%) lives in Trondheim and its suburbs. Sør-Trøndelag consists of 25 municipalities and has a total area of 18,848 km². Trondheim is the largest city and the county’s administrative center.

Got off the train at the station just before Trondheim, near to where A&R live at Heimdal. The clouds were amazing on the drive to their house – looked like a UFO in my eyes but then my eyes are getting older too 🙂

Fri: view from their living room never fail to disappoint me.

Food shopping at Coop Obs Hypermarked (like a Super Walmart) for 13people – 3dinners, 2breakfsat and lunches.

Headed to Nerskogen app 1+hr drive from Trondheim where A&R have this lovely cabin built in 2007, 680m above sea-level at Varghaugkyølen – a sub-division with 40cabins along Granasjøen. Was last here 5yrs ago after Guri&Hans Olav’s wedding.

Sat: woke up to this delicate layer of new snow the mountains top which faded as the sun appeared.

The guys were busy chopping down trees for wood to burn in the winter. A win win situation for everyone here as a neighbour wanted the trees to be thinned out for the view and A&R needed wood for the winter.

Took a couple of hours walk at the area below the cabin to explore.

Nice to meet up with my god-daughter Guri with her 3kids – Peder, Elina & Even. Ola, Kristin, Sondra, Elisa & Jacob were also there. The only way 6kids ages 1-6yrs would pose for me is when they get their Sat goodies 🙂 🙂

Took a couple hours to hike savouring every detail around the area below the cabin. Some driftwood are amazing. The beauty of nature has no recognition of death…

The red sticks are for marking the road so that the snow-sloughs know where to clear the snow when it is their time.

Sun: some hours of hiking on Minnill Trail around the area above the cabin. The weather was perfect and could have walked on for days along this bubbling Minnill River.

Fabulous well-marked terrain, wild blueberries, gentle waterfalls, autumn colours…

Crossing the river on this wooden hanging bridge built in 2013 – Norhengbrua leading to the Trollheimen (home of the trolls) Mountain Range. Had to turn back for dinner as the stones will turn to trolls in the dark…

The guys and the 2 older kids did a good job with the wood and will be returning next week to finish piling them.

Early dinner to celebrate Ola’s 39Bday (still remember changing his diapers!!). Cleaned out the cabin and back to Trondheim by 2100hrs. Appreciations to A&R for a wonderful weekend. Thank you for including me with the family.

Mon: dark and early to catch the train back to OSL. Autumn colours in the sun. Røros, a charming UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the stops. Updated pix in the blog and enjoying the views seemed to make the ride a shorter return journey!

Can’t wait to see Olai again…

Sandra’s seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I’ve had to make myself – Shel Silverstein

24 Sep 2015 – Mutton In Cabbage

Mon: after seeing Olai to daycare, it was time for laundry and the day just flew by.

Tue: at Norway Designs, one of my favourite Norwegian designer  houses.

Appreciations to Clarie for a wonderful afternoon and a common meeting place here in OSL, the fountain by Nationaltheatret. We got together since last year when she is here for meetings and conferences. My wonderful student and baby-sitter from Tromsø days in the 1970s, now a mother of 2 teenagers and a professor in fishery at the world’s northernmost university – UiT.

Kunstnernes Hus – Tesserakt by Tine Aamodt autumn 2015 winner. Like Noen fine dager=some fine days made completely of pine by Erlend Leirdal.

Amazing staircase with 100% marble railing. Not sure what those candy-stripe men were doing??

Tanum’s readings and book signing from Erlend Loe and Arne Hjeltnes new publications. Wish I had more space in my bookshelf 🙂

Fårikål=mutton in cabbage and such a generous portion in one of the oldest building, Stortorvets Gjæstgiveri***from the 1700s.

Time to go separate paths at the train station, she to catch her train to the airport for her flight back to Tromsø. And me for the metro to Majorstuen. Until then safe travels to us all…

Wed: on the way back after delivering Olai to the daycare, decided to walk thru’ Frognerparken and the first for this trip. Going to be another happening weekend as I am preparing to take a 7hrs train ride to visit Anne&Roar in Trondheim. Return train tickets NOK448 S$78.

22 Sep 2015 – What A Happening Weekend!

Thu: more rains. A wet trip to Nationaltheatret ticket station to collect the train tickets for Tønsberg and Trondheim. Also decided to pick up grocery for today and tomorrow’s dinner, not thinking that I have to carry all that back to the walk-up flat!

Fri: planning day at day-care, had Olai with me for the morning. May had the day off to do errands. We drove to the architectural school to buy 3copies (NOK250 S$43 percopy) Modernism and National Romanticism In The Work Of Architect Magnus Poulsson (L&M paternal great-grandfather) by MarkR Mansfield.

Sandvika Storsenter did not exist when I was living in the area – opened in 1993. Olai enjoyed the rides and he was lucky to get some free rides, thanks to the maintenance guy!

Lunched at Bølgen & Moi***Had the chicken salad with a tasty balsamic vinegar dressing and the portion was more than the stomach could handle.

Like this Danish design place – Bolia

Sat: OSL at its best, early morning with clear blue sky and hardly anyone in front of Frognerparken’s front gate waiting for the free bus to Sandvika Storsenter

0910hrs and arrived 0945hrs with hardly any traffic on the roads. Decide to take a walk to  Nesøya (where I lived from 1974-76) in glorious weather, a walk that would normally take app 45mins if no stopping.

Sandvika-Slependen, app 20mins. This white house used to be a truck-stop where Jenny and family had their cafe before I moved away from Norway in 1985.

Slependen-Nesøya Bridge taking the underpass and by-passing IKEA with Kolsås toppen in the background, another area where I lived from 1982-85.

Finally a flip side with humour 🙂 This road sign is found on Nesøya Sundveien that says ‘Play with care – adults driving’. A stretch of 2mins walk on Øverbergveien, there are 3 signs that say ‘Drive with care – children playing’. With 6 grandchildren, I can understand 1sign, but 3 within 2mins!!!

On the RHside of this road, used to be just woods. Thank goodness the big pine tree and the house still stand. A lovely light lunch with Ellen who will be 91 next month – still as sharp as ever but a little hard on the hearing.

A good night sleep out on the balcony with the clear starry sky.

Sun: up bright and early to make some food for May, Bjørn and his father before catching the 1+hr train to Tønsberg. Return train tickets NOK232-S$40.

The viking ship Oseberg was excavated here in 1904. The ship’s interment into its burial mound dates from 834 AD. Today, a beautiful working copy of this ship can be found here.

Oseberg is widely celebrated and has been called one of the finest finds to have survived the Viking Age. The ship and some of its contents are displayed at the Viking Ship Museum at Bygdøy in OSL… http://home.online.no/~joeolavl/viking/osebergskipet.htm

Appreciations to Stein and Ida for a lovely Sunday and a delicious moose steak dinner.

Random pix from Tønsberg

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

17 Sep 2015 – From Solli to Majorstuen

Mon & Tue: it has been raining since yesterday and the forecast predicts more rain for the rest of the week. But Mother Nature does not always go by forecast!

Better rain than haze and nice for snoozing. Have been informed that the haze is bad in SIN.

Wed: surprising no rain in the morning. Took Olai for a hot chocolate and cookies at Starbucks. We did not have time to sit for him to finish his hot chocolate there but he got to finish it just before reaching to this daycare. After delivering him, decided to follow the tram route for a walk.

Pleasant temperatures, cloudy and cool. Fun to have the time lingering to see what is around from stops to stops.

Solli stop on Drammensveien where there is an unusual vertical cactus garden and also the stop to the US Embassy...

Estimated about 20mins fast walk from Solli to Majorstuen if no stopping. With stopping, pix taking and grocery shopping 2hrs.

Niels Juelsgt on Frognerveien – with the sculpture of ‘The Passenger’ of the famous actress and singer, the late ‘Kari Diesen’. Some people commented that she looks like a bitter old maid and over the years she has forgotten why she is sitting there…

 Lille Frogner allé on Frognerveien

Elisenberg on Frognerveien

Frogner plass on Frognerveien.

Vigelandspaken on Kirkeveien where the falling leaf is a sign that autumn is in the air.

Frogner stadion and Majorstuen stops are located on Kirkeveien.

Between Frogner stadion and Majorstuen stops, side-track along Majorstuen Elementary School, the fountain and the Colosseum to do some grocery.

Made beef fillet Mignon for dinner and Olai finished his portion before us!

14 Sep 2015 – Autumn Sales

Sat: This morning 0830hrs, the fashionable Bogstadvei became a pedestrian-road for the bi-annual sales.

Even I could not resist shopping, especially at ‘Moods of Norway’.

Their bags are one of a kind, plain white with a golden logo on the outside and a beautiful Norwegian scenery on the inside.

This pair of black rubber boots NOK400/S$70 has elastic on both sides to make it easier to get on.

T-shirt is made of soft and light 100% cotton which feels very comfortable against the skin and probably needs to be hand-washed –  NOK200/S$34 and those are 50% off the original price tags!

Baker Hansen was full-force out with 3 branches on this road and is my favourtie bakery here.

A pair of cotton tights from Marinmekko NOK141/S$25, a pair of pants from Peak Performance NOK600/S$104, toys from Sprell NOK158/S$28, honey NOK150/S$26 and an umbrella NOK50/S$8, snacks and balloon NOK70/S$12.

After 3hrs, the road was packed and it was time to head back to the flat which was conveniently around the corner.

Why is it that these cute interesting cars are usually found in Europe???

Usually am not a shopper but I needed these items which were at least 50% discounted. About NOK1,800/S$312 poorer but contented and satisfied with all the purchases.

Sun: woke up to a pleasant surprise! Appreciations to HO Ai Li/SPH in SIN for a write-up in today’s Sunday Times. I thought she was using it for a future article. This is the 2nd time within 2014-15 that I have been seen on the Sunday Times – the press must like me… lol 🙂

Strangely enough, I accompanied Olai this morning to Risenga Svømmehall in Asker and was glad to see him enjoying and feeling safe in the water.

But no mee siam there 🙂 🙂

And here is another niece to be proud of – way to go Dika.

http://therumpus.net/2015/09/the-sunday-rumpus-essay-im-chinese-and-sherman-alexie-chose-me/

Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it ― Lou Holtz