20 Sep 2010 – Hvar & Korčula

Sat: ferry from Split to Hvar took app 1.30hrs with a wedding group making merry and drinking when the ferry took off at 1130hrs. Hvar is app 68km/42.25mi long, known for its exports of lavender and rosemary production for the French perfume industry. An afternoon is not much time but then, there was not much to see! Left Hvar 1815hrs, arrived into Korčula town 1930hrs.

It was dark by the time the ferry docked and we were met by our taxi driver who drove us app 15mins away from the town center to Lumbarda. According to legend, the island was founded by Trojan hero Antenor in the 12th century BC who is also famed as the founder of the city of Padua.

Sun: walked around Lumbarda and its surroundings with the lighthouse being the most southern end of the island (over 10km app 5hrs including a lunch and swim stop). The are plenty of vineyards in this area and the most important settlement dated 3rd century BC/ruins by the church. It was indeed a refreshing 1hr swim (clear salty water of the Adriatic Sea) across and back in the tiny bay where our accommodations are located/app 10mins walk from the center of Lumbarda.

Mon: a day in Korčula old city was delightfully charming and seems like Peggy, Kenson & I are the only Asians here! The old city with it’s Renaissance & Gothic architecture is surrounded by walls. The streets are arranged in a herringbone pattern allowing free circulation of air but protecting against strong winds. Korcula is tightly built on a promontory that guards the narrow sound between the island and the mainland. Building outside the walls was forbidden until the 18th century and the wooden drawbridge was only replaced in 1863. All of Korčula’s narrow streets are stepped with the notable exception of the street running alongside the southeastern wall. The street is called the Street of Thoughts as one did not have to worry about the steps!

The tomatoes here must be the best I have ever tasted and the seafood has so far been deliciously fresh. We have also been blessed with perfect weather… hopefully this will continue!

The Mediterranean as it once was – tag-line for Croatia

18 Sep 2010 – From Antiquity to Present Day

• Ancient Greek: Aσπάλαθος Aspálathos/app 200BC…
• Latin: Spalatum/app 300AD…
• Medieval Dalmatian: Spalatro=little palace/10 century…
• Today Split.

After the end of World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the province of Dalmatia, along with Split, became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes which in 1929 changed its name to Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Croatia declared its independence again in 1991.

Split is one of the oldest cities in the area and is traditionally considered just over 1,700yrs, while archaeological research relating to the ancient Greek colony of Aspálathos/6th century BC, thus establishes the city as being several hundred years older. In the years following 2000, Split finally gained a momentum and started to develop again. The focus mostly came on tourism. From being just a transition center, Split is now a major Croatian tourist destination, home of Diocletian’s Palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many new hotels are being built, as well as new apartment and office buildings. Large development projects are revived and new infrastructure is being built.

Founded in 1820, the Archaeological Museum is the oldest museum in Croatia. It has a large stock of archaeological objects from prehistoric times, from the period of the Greek colonization of the Adriatic and from the Roman, Early Christian and early Medieval ages. The impressive collections of coins, glass etc makes the visit a most interesting and educational one.

With perfect weather in this antiquity & medieval ambiance, life is like a fairy-tale in the delightful company of my childhood friends Kenson, Peggy & her husband Ian 🙂

Plato, who may have understood better what forms the mind of man than do some of our contemporaries who want their children exposed only to REAL people and everyday events—knew what intellectual experience made for true humanity. He suggested that the future citizens of his ideal republic begin their literary education with the telling of myths, rather than with mere facts or so-called rational teachings – Bruno Bettelheim

15 Sep 2010 – Another Piece of Paradise

Hemingford Abbots:  located in Huntingdonshire, now part of Cambridgeshire. It is a village near Hemingford Grey south-west of St Ives. There has been a settlement on the present site since at least Roman times. In Anglo-Saxon times the neighbouring villages of Hemingford Grey and Hemingford Abbots were a single estate. In the 9th century they split and in 974 the manor fell under the ownership of Ramsey Abbey, where it remained until the dissolution in 1539.

In 1250 the village was listed as having 96 holdings, but numbers fell following the Black Death. The population grew from 306 in 1801 to 564 in 1841, but dropped as many moved to towns and cities. It grew rapidly after the Second World War, reaching a peak of 628 in 1961. Its 2001 population was 584. Today there are 244 dwellings in the village and nearly 600 people. There are very tempting foot and cycle paths. The thatched roofs are absolutely beautiful and my favourite of all favourites is the boat house by the river… my dream summer-house 🙂

St Ives: formerly known as Slepe, in the old county of Huntingdonshire, this ancient riverside market town St Ives is now named after the Persian Bishop, St. Ivo. St. Ives, now within the county of  Cambridgeshire stands on the River Great Ouse and is world-famous for the Chapel on the Bridge

Kimbolten: a large village in Cambridgeshire. It is app 24m/39km west of Cambridge. The centrepiece of the village is Kimbolton Castle which forms the main building of Kimbolton School (now an independent day and boarding school), but its predecessor on the same site was once home and prison to Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. Katherine died at Kimbolton Castle in 1536 and was transported from there to Peterborough Cathedral to be buried.

The bells of St Andrew’s Church rang to welcome us. Somehow, church bells have been ringing during our visits the past few days! Thanks to Christine and KV for their kind & generous hospitality & company, for driving & sharing their piece of paradise. Enjoy your retirement… Christine with her beautiful quilling cards and KV with his music. KV is my first non-family visitor in 1965, first week in boarding school/Dublin and at long last I had the chance to remind him and to let him know how touched I was for his visit then.

He who sings scares away his woes – Cervantes

12 Sep 2010 – Huntingdon & Bury St Edmunds

Huntingdon: a market town in the county of Cambridgeshire in East Anglia.  The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is known as the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell/1599-1658.  The town has a well-preserved medieval bridge/Old Bridge that used to serve as the main route of over the river. The bridge only ceased to be the sole crossing point to Godmanchester in 1975, with the advent of what is now the A14 bypass.

All Saints Church and Cromwell Museum, where one of the most famous names in British history is located. He became the Lord Protector, the head of a British Republic.

Old Bridge Hotel, High Street and St Mary’s Church

Bury St Edmunds: a historic market town in the county of Suffolk, the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the cathedral and the ruined abbey. Sigebert, king of the East Angles, founded a monastery here about 633, which in 903 became the burial-place of King Edmund, who was slain by the Danes in 869.

In the centre of Bury St Edmunds lie the remains of an abbey, surrounded by the Abbey Gardens. The abbey is a shrine to St Edmund, the Saxon King of the East Angles where it was sacked by the townspeople in the 14th century and then largely destroyed during the 16th century with the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Bury remained prosperous throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, falling into relative decline with the Industrial Revolution.

Knowledge of other people’s beliefs and ways of thinking must be used to build bridges, not to create conflicts – Kjell Bondevik

1o Sep 2010 – University

The city of Cambridge  is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire. It lies in East Anglia app 50m/80km north-by-east of London. Settlements have existed around the Cambridge area since before the Roman Empire. The earliest clear evidence of occupation is the remains of a 3,500yr old farmstead. In 1209, students escaping from hostile townspeople in Oxford fled to Cambridge and formed a university there. One of the most well-known buildings in Cambridge, King’s College Chapel, was begun in 1446 by King Henry VI. The project was completed in 1515 during the reign of King Henry VIII.

St Benet’s Church is one of the oldest building in Cambridge dating back to 1025.

Cambridge is now one of East Anglia’s major settlements, along with Norwich, Colchester, Ipswich and Peterborough. Many of the buildings in the centre are colleges affiliated to the University of Cambridge. Cambridge City Council plans to renew the area around the Corn Exchange concert hall and plans for a permanent ice-skating rink are being considered after the success of a temporary one that has been on Parker’s Piece every year for the past few years. New housing and developments have continued through the 21st century.

Appreciations to Christine & KV, Caroline & John for a very delightful quint day.

Today Cambridge was named the best QS world university rankings and it is the first time in 7yrs that Harvard /USA has been beaten into second place – London Evening Standard 8 Sep 2010.

9 Sep 2010 – Auntie Betty

Arrived into STN/London Thu late evening. Must be blessed to have god in front of manchester in addition with a hot-air balloon to welcome me 🙂 Thank you Christine & KV LEE. Godmanchester is located one mile South of Huntingdon, app 1.30hrs drive from London/80miles. It is a small town and civil parish civil  within the Huntingdonshire district of Cambridgeshire: lies on the south bank of the River Great Ouse. One of the town’s best-known features is its Chinese Bridge which connects Godmanchester with a water meadow. Local legend has it that the Chinese Bridge was built without the use of nails or any other fixings!

The old Town Hall is now a Senior Citizen Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Godmanchester (1561) was one of the schools founded in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, reflecting a flourishing of educational establishments at this time.

Wed:  Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England. Delicious fish & chips and the first time I have seen pigeons resting on a steep slanted roof! The contrast between the Queensgate Shopping Centre and the cathedral is interesting. Human settlement in the area dates back to before the Bronze Age, as can be seen at the Flag Fen archaeological site to the east of the current city centre. This site also shows evidence of Roman occupation. The Anglo-Saxon period saw the establishment of a monastery, then known as Medeshamstede, which later became Peterborough Cathedral.

Thu: Farriess Court Care Home/Alvaston, Derby is a home where auntie Betty TSENG is now staying. She is the remarkable lady who married my mother’s 8th brother Eddie TSENG. It is good to see her and to see that she is in good hands. She will be 93 in Nov. She told us of how uncle Eddie proposed to her where she fell and was covered with mud and he thought she was the one for him there and then!

A wise man adapts himself to circumstances as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it – Chinese Proverb

7 Sep 2010 – Farvel og takk for meg

Drawings by L&M’s great-grandfather, the famous architect Magnus POULSSON (1881-1958) who designed both the Oslo City Hall and Sandvika City Hall. These two drawings are of his own homes; one in Nesøya and the other in Hardangervidda@Møsvann. Thanks to Ellen HALD/L&M’s grandmother for allowing me to take the pictures.

Sun: catching up with Mette & Sturla OLSEN, my neighbours at Piggsoppgrenda@Kolsås. It is never easy returning to a place where there were sad memories but with delightful company and perfect weather, there were no difficulties!

Mon: packed and did some laundry but my mind was in a neutral mode after paying respect to L&M’s grandfather, John Kløve HALD (1924-2008). The last time I was at Vestre Gravlund (opened in 1902) was 1981 at Emma HALD (1898-1981), L&M’s great-grandmother’s funeral. With 243 acres, it is the largest cemetery in Norway.

Tue: after nearly a month with the trolls and vikings, it is time to take leave before they all turn into rocks 🙂 Waiting for my train in a less maddening crowd at Oslo S/Oslo central station, which will track me to Moss/45mins south of Oslo to catch my flight to the maddening crowds of London…

To May & my Norwegian friends, hjertelig tusen takk for meg.

The only real equality is in the cemetery – German Proverb

Captured this sunset picture from May‘s 4th floor apartment here in Oslo. She is away to have a quiet weekend in this beautiful weather. Thanks to May &  Bjørn for letting me use their place for some download time before heading to London next week…

Sep Special Dates:

4 Sep – Happy Bdays May HALD & Vincent LAM

6 Sep – Happy Labor Day/USA

10 Sep – Hari Raya Pussa/SIN

11 Sep – Happy Bdays Steven LAM & May YUNG-LAM

16 Sep – HappyBdays Ivy YAP-LAM & Edith LAM

20 Sep – Happy Bday Amy RASHAP

21 Sep – Happy Bday Greg TRIBBE

23 Sep – Happy Bday Klaus LAM

24 Sep – Happy Bday Joyce AMEEN-LAM & LAM Kah Yun

25 Sep – HappyBday Kat LAM-TRIBBE

30 Sep Happy Bday Mabel ONG-LAM & Daisy LAM

A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman’s birthday but never remember her age – Robert Frost

3 Sep 2010 – Kari & Bjørn

Arrived at Gardermoen/Oslo’s airport  late Tue night. Kari HEGGELUND met me at the airport which is about 10mins drive from her house in Jessheim, a large village in the Ullensaker municipality in Akershus. Located 35km from Oslo and 8km from the airport with a pop of 20,000, Jessheim is the center for commerce and regional service functions around the airport and a shopping centre with rather unusual lamps…

Kari crossed my path in Dublin after she married Bjørn who was in medical school then. Our first child, Linn born 18 Mar and Thomas 19 Mar 1974 are both born in Dublin. Today Kari & Bjørn have 3 children, 3 grandchildren and 2 more on their way + 1 town-house in Jessheim, 1 beach-house at Filtvet, 1 mountain-house at Trysil and 1 Arctic-house in Rypefjørd… but there was only time to visit Jessheim & Filtvet/app 1hr 30mins drive south of Oslo!

Congratulations and appreciations for their warm hospitality. Hope that they will make the trip to SIN Nov 2011. Enjoyable company, delicious food and good wines, what more can anyone ask for 🙂

One’s friends are that part of the human race with which one can be human – George Santayana

31 Aug 2010 – Tromsø Palma

The Tromsø palma is beautiful but deadly. Standing strong and high, it dominates roadsides, gullies, creek banks and backyards. The plant’s sap is poisonous to the touch. This weed bothered Morten enough for him to chop it down, thanks for letting me snapped a picture of it! .

It was introduced here as a garden plant in the 1860s. The plant became a must-have by all the socialites for their summer homes. However, it wasn’t long before the plant took over the whole neighbourhood. Every year there are attempts to eradicate the Tromsø Palm but it is very robust.  As yet, there are no proven ways to get rid of the plant other than digging up the roots and churning the soil. So Morten, chopping it down might not help!

When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.  If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant – Author Unknown

Tromsø was first settled at the end of the ice age. In the 19th century, it was known as the ‘Paris of the North’ with a pop 63,596. The city is home to the world’s most northerly brewery, botanical garden and planetarium. It is also May‘s birthtown!

OL Aune was the butcher where I used to shop in the 1970s. It is now a trendy cafe and restaurant. Thank you to Ellen BROX for a lovely night in town.

Built in 1861, the Tromsø Cathedral is Norway’s only wooden cathedral located in the middle of the city and so is the Catholic church Vår Frue. The main street is now a walking street and the library is where one should not be throwing stones 🙂

The old city hall/Rådstua with dog on the roof, a gazebo in the courtyard is absolutely charming and reminds me of the old music school & conservatory where I used to teach. Not sure if I like the contrast of the new city hall/Rådhus.

Random pictures: bank, high school and in front where the statues are now-was where the Tromsø Music School & Conservatory used to be but was sadly burnt down in 1979; cultural house, a shop house, another beautiful manhole with Tromsø’s coat of arm-the reindeer; and the view across the bridge with the famous landmark-the Arctic Church in the background.

Amazing underground parking, seems like the whole town is on top of the cars. Sure am glad that there are no earthquakes here… are there???

Tue: welcome to a new member of the HALD family. Erin (L&M’s cousin) gave birth to a baby girl Astrid, 13 Aug. Congratulations to grandparents Ellisiv&Magnus HALD. To Laila&Morten, my sincere gratitude for their heart-warming hospitality.

Babies control and bring up their families as much as they are controlled by them; in fact the family brings up baby by being brought up by him – Erik Erikson