7 Oct 2019 – Goodbye Summer, Welcome Autumn

Fri: TGIF and a fabulous weekend to all. This year, Got Talent made its way to China in an adaptation known in Chinese as Dian Feng Zhi Lu=World’s Got Talent. While it’s a worldwide competition, one exceptionally stunning duo caught my complete attention and it must be the most amazing dance performance I have seen even when I am not a ballet fan!

https://www.inspiremore.com/china-got-talent-ballet-couple/

Drove #1&2 to school to catch their rides to Jacksonville, FL New World Fall Spectacular hosted by BishopSnyder HS. Keeping my fingers&toes crossed for them – such a good experience&privilege for these girls to do an out-of -state XC-Meet. Shopped for hours to stock up grocery, etc while I had the car. Needed to also pick up some fall decorations, following the weather forecast and hoping that Fall will be here tomorrow.

#3-5+friend entertained us with #3 (12yrs) playing the cello – Grieg’s PeerGynt-MorningMood. Dinner from Chick-fil-A, my favourite fast food place for their Chicken-Strips, but unfortunately the coleslaw is taken off the menu.

Sat: bright&early to get chicken curry started. #5 kinda believed that the Fall decorations help to start this cool weathers! Just like his sister some years ago when I asked #4 to sing to the EasterCactus before she went to bed and the blooms will open the next day!! Absolutely lovely morning, paying them to pick up various cones outside – US$5 S$7perbag, making me US$70 S$97 poorer but worth it. Lunch was served@the Tree-House.

I saw old Autumn in the misty morn stand shadowless like silence, listening to silence – Thomas Hood

Oktoberfest in Newberry, a charming city app 32m 52km W of Irmo. Jeff worked there for 4yrs when they first moved here to SC.

#5 enjoyed being in that giant bowling ball knocking all the pins down. #4 (10yrs) surprised me by climbing to the top of this stonewall. Have been informed by #3 that the Pelican’s snow-cones are the best, had a taste of his and it is pretty good.

Old Newberry County Court House (1852) built during the period of cotton-bred wealth, the Greek Revival structure was a testament to the success of the town’s merchants and planters.

http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/newberry/S10817736002/index.htm

Originally built in 1882 and recently renovated and reopened as of 1998, The Newberry Opera House is one of N America’s premier historical theaters and performing arts venues – it is supposed to be haunted!

https://www.newberryoperahouse.com/about-us/history.html

Enjoyed the crafts and bought the pineapple-beer-caps art as a gift for a beer-drinker friend where the pineapple represents Southern-Hospitality, in Asia, it is wealth.

https://www.saico.co.th/home/index.php/news-event/saico-news/214-did-you-know-about-what-is-pineapple.html

Need to make a collage of these interesting hair-dos. First time eating this yummy Funnel-Cake, scrumptious when it is pipping-hot&fresh, could feel the pounds adding on even just by looking at it – shared it with #3-5&Jeff who all also thought it delicious. After all these snacks, there will be no need for cooking dinner.

Buildings with personalities

Sun: creative chalk art-work on the driveway and movie day. Both #5&I have seen Aladdin but not #3&4 and we did not mind seeing it again US$3 S$4+pp which is even cheaper than the SIN senior-ticket. Tkx to Jeff – tasty Sunday roast for lunch.

Linn+#1&2 are home safe&sound and pleased with their 4th-place for the IrmoHigh XC Varsity Girls Team. Way to go ladies, proud&happy for them, she works so hard to get this team where it is today. #1 placed 6th out of nearly 200girls.

Mon: Happy Birthday to my dear bro Leslie in SIN.

3 Oct 2019 – LAM Without The B

It’s a myth that generally Asians are mostly vegetarians. The Japanese are the kings of red meat, but it’s expensive. The Chinese and Vietnamese love their pork. Many Indians, especially the Muslims, can’t live without their lamb – Wolfgang Puck

Mon: without a car and no public transportation here, time to read&chill. Enjoying the Colombia Metropolitan Magazine, getting good Southern ideas for the Fall. Today’s menu – veggie fried-rice with meat o f the side from Sunday’s left-overs wild-rice.

30 Sep 2019 – Irmo High School

Fri: TGIF and a good weekend to all. The trees have grown and so have #1-5. Nothing stirred except the mistress of the house&Zuno the dog who welcomed me with his wagging tail yesterday morning before 0500hrs. Blessed&happy to reunite with the family.

Tkx to Linn, was able to stay in the AC-cafeteria and had more than a few bites provided for the faculty. It was way too hot&humid outside before the sunset and both my head&heart were not happy with me.

Would think that I could gather my flock for a family pix@Irmo HighSchool with #1 representing the XC-Girls in the Homecoming-Court! Somehow #2 seemed to be camera-shy for this round!!

Am told that there will be other Kodak-Moments, but interesting hair-dos caught the attention. Being awake since 0400hrs this morning, needed to take leave with Jeff (who is on-call this weekend)&#3-5 just after half-time. And just as well as the score was 7Home and 40Guest!

Sat: last Homecoming game (last night) & dance (tonight) for #1 – she will graduate high-school this summer. Nice to see #1&2+their dates all dressed up and blessed to have such beautiful grandchildren inside-out+all angles and with a sense of humour – here they are showing their running shorts in case they have to run away! Somehow out of 6, #5&6 are the ones with darker hair and am still convinced about the recessive genes on the maternal-side of the family, but probably way far back.

Sun: while the flock is at church, took the opportunity to prepare a salmon lunch. Sun is the only day of the week that we can gather together for an more elaborate meal, other days will be just simple home-cooked dinners. Love cooking for them as they like my cooking and always eat up nearly everything I make for them.

At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, a parent – Barbara Bush

Mon: goodbye to Sep 2019, Oct is going to pass by quickly in a household where activities for 5grandchildren are quite a handful. Thank goodness #1 drives and she can help getting those younger ones around. The grocery, cooking&cleaning up after me is all I can handle nowadays!

Bought this tree at some thrift store a couple of years ago and Linn commented that it would be perfect with a dog too. Took another year looking around for a black dog, but found only a brown one, so a black marker came in handy – now if only I could get pix slotted into the frames.

26 Sep 2019 – Hello Orlando/MCO, FL/USA

Mon:  May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again. Appreciations to Mick who drove his car ahead to lead me to the airport and to Ann who sat beside me while the rental car found its way back to EuropCar. EUR425 S$645 full insurance coverage (considering the flat+looking at the hub-cap, am sure glad I took full coverage!) inclusive tax, etc for 2weeks of app 1,600km drive using app EUR105 S$165 in gas. Arr in good time to get things sorted out (invoice reimbursed for the flat tyre), breakfast&shopping at the airport.

Been a while since in this airport watching that my checked-in bag being loaded during a slight delay before take-off. Uneventful DUB (catching up on flight-time) – CPH (1+hr on transit, just enough time to catch the other flight and arr on schedule) – MCO on NorwegianAir NOK2,956 S$460. Tkx to Jim for meeting me at the airport, the only airport I have worked in, but memories are getting blurred here.

Pix credits to Francisco for this areal pix of  Lake Howell HS. WhatsApp was invented by a LHHS-grad. Bet he was the guy who made the anonymous donation to make LHHS what I see in this pix! There is nothing there I can recognize from L&M (HSdays 8yrs total) where I practically lived then!

Tue: appreciations to Jim&Lisa for putting me up in their beautiful home – this screened porch is a reminder that I am back to places with bugs&mozzy!  Where my SIN HDB – pubic housing one-third of the size of this house and there I paid the same as what this house cost! Just goes to show the difference of the value of property!!

Life@The Springs, a gated community in the luxury of Wekiwa Springs – SpainishMoss always amaze me even though it is an invasive parasite and eventually kill the trees they grow on.

With the wild inhabitants in this surroundings, life is peaceful not getting caught up in the rat-race, but one still has to be aware&cautious with the bears (have been told that they are in this neighbourhood).

Lunched@Zoës Kitchen and Italian-Ice@Jeremiah’s which is new to me, CaffeLatte+Chocolate a good choice for flavours in this hot weather.

Irish Smoked Salmon (bought in DUB-airport), grilled scallops+mixed veg dinner, tkx to Jim&Lisa in good co of their friend&neighbour Norm.

Wed: tkx to Jan&her aunt Lily for lunch co@Another Broken Egg Cafe – delicious Brie&lobster omelette+fried green tomatoes.

Dinner@Café Tu Tu Tango

Artist paints as you eat at this funky tapas joint.

Tasty food but on the salty-side and the heart was not happy…

The only moon tonight is this profile-moon to Lisa&Jim for their kind hospitality and such fun being driven down I-Drive&I-4 in her convertible MiniCooper. I-Drive is now a total tourist street with the world’s largest McD – Peabody Hotel&MingCourt are no longer.

Saw the sign The Holy Land Experience and was told that it is a biblical museum. Looks like some major spaghetti-junction constructions on I-4, doubtful that I will see the completions and no, do not want to be the driver driving there, have always dreaded having to drive this interstate.

The life’s work of Walt Disney and Ray Kroc had come full-circle, uniting in perfect synergy. McDonald’s began to sell its hamburgers and french fries at Disney’s theme parks. The ethos of McDonaldland and of Disneyland, never far apart, have finally become one. Now you can buy a Happy Meal at the Happiest Place on Earth – Eric Schlosser

Thu: tkx for Mexican dinner to Terry&Dee. Catching the Amtrak from my favourite train station, WinterPark/FL.

And no, did not stand on any of the tracks to take these pix…

22 Sep 2019 – First Rugby Match

Thu:  long drive from Ballyshannon along LoughErne on a misty Thu morning, clearing up to a beautiful day to Portrane.

Appreciations to catch up with Stephen (cousin to cousins Lock, Yun&Chai – once removed cousin to me!!)&family, but missing Trish who had to work when I got in. Chinese dinner and a fun pub-quiz (first time for me) with Stephen&Mario. Tkx to Stephen&Trish for putting me up, the only hotel@Portrane being fully booked.

https://amylamsg.com/2012/07/04/26961/

Fri: TGIF – day catching up with Stephen and a daylight pix of last night’s pub. Waited to say hi to Trish as she was working until 1500hrs before heading back to Kilcloon. The last fam pix of them was in 2012, 7yrs ago when StephenJr was 5, but did not get to see him this time round as he was not well.

Was soo totally lost around the airport on the way back – counted at least 8planes landing during a bumper-bumper traffic! Back safe&sound@Ann&Mick’s before dark and a yummy fillet-steak dinner@Caffrey’s.

Sat: located app 12k W of DUB and about 20mins drive from Kilcloon is this charming&delightful village – Lucan.

Tkx to JohnK for lunch&the introduction to Carrolls Gastro Pub, good pub food. The pie was more a stew with a lid, but was tasty. Good to catch up with JohnM&Pauline who have just moved back to DUB after being stationed around SE-Asia& the MiddleEast.

Interesting to know that Pauline’s grandmother once lived in this clock building (opp the park) where she used to visit in her childhood days – do wonder what this tree trunk used to look like then?? Found my way back to Kilcloon without a single wrong turn with the GPS.

Sun: the rains were visiting when I was in dreamland last night and it is still ongoing when I woke. Started with an Irish Coffee followed by Irish Smoked Salmon breakfast with Mimosa@Caffrey’s watching my first rugby match in an Irish pub with Ireland/27 beating Scotland/3 for the 2019 Rugby World Cup held in Japan. Way to go Ireland for making my last day of this visit a great one.

Perfect rainy day for packing&snoozing in the afternoon – the sky cleared in time to head to Maynooth for dinner@StoneHaven. The steak Mick had cooking on a hot stone was yummy, but was not hungry enough for a steak after having meat for dinner the past 2nights – Ann&I had fish.

Rugby is a game for barbarians played by gentlemen. Football is a game for gentlemen played by barbarians – Oscar Wilde

18 Sep 2019 – Sea&Mountain Views

Mon:  early Bfast and got chatting with Alan&Andrew who told me about accommodations in some lighthouses and the 2 in this area were all booked up this whole week. Just as well, EUR500+ S$750+ is not within my budget, but was willing to try just one time – another bucket list item! A short refreshing stroll on the pebble-beach reminded me that the more simple things in life are free – found a couple pieces of beautiful rocks.

Heading to Buncrana, still on the Inishowen Peninular hoping to catch the car ferry across to Rathmullen, but alas no ferry on the weekends as summer is considered over. Drove on to Inch Island and had a break there with all the lovely red hedges and the only other ppl there were fixing a new pier.

Nice drive

With no one behind or in front, A Lam has the time to watch her dinner taking time to cross the road while enjoying the nature around.

Fanad Lighthouse, one of those with accommodation.

Gas EUR35 S$53 before HarryBlaney Bridge (2009) connecting the Fanad peninsula to Carrigart Village, saves some time when driving on WAW. Too many detours trying to chase the sunset@Bloody Foreland. Had to call it the day before it got dark – driving&hiking in the dark for me is to ask for trouble. B&B@Teac Jack, Carrick, Derrybeg EUR50 S$76 – night3.

Tue: heading on the WAW direction, but could not find the way out of Dungloe due to roadworks, so decided to turn around and head for the mountains and am sure glad that I listen to my instinct.

The weather is on my side with this drive around the Derryveagh Mt Range – Mt Errigal 751m is the tallest here.

It is seldom that I see a church with this kind of round tower – Church of the Sacred Heart (1876-77), Dunlewey.

The ghostly old church@Dunlewey can be seen (pix zoomed in to max) and the history behind these 2churches is very interesting. In the graveyard lies a single gravestone … a man who was in a mixed marriage (he was Church of Ireland, she was Catholic). He died first and was buried here but she, being a Catholic, didn’t want to be buried here. She’s buried in the Catholic church across the valley. However, even in death she wanted to remember her husband and her grave in the Catholic graveyard faces across the valley to her husband’s resting place (the other gravestones in the Catholic church point a different way to hers).

Blue Stack Mts and it was such a luxury&privilege to practically have the roads and the mts to myself&a zoomed-in horsey.

View to the ancient Valley of Glencolmcille.

Fintragh Bay – did not linger as the sun was setting fast and got into Killybegs just in time before it got dark. BayView Hotel Killybegs, Ireland largest fishing town EUR65 S$100 – night4

Wed: fishing boats are right in front of the hotel and had Bfast with a view. A morning walk to watch the fishermen at work with their nets.

The church is just around the corner of the hotel.

St John’s Point and most of the roads on this narrow peninsula are so narrow that one has to stop and find some space when meeting on-coming traffic. St John’s Lighthouse (another lighthouse with accommodation), took a short hike around the surroundings as I do not know when I can be so near the Atlantic Ocean again. Must ask Morten what those yellow colour growth are in the rocks.

Edited 27Sep: Lichen is the term for the yellow things – tkx to Morten  for the Wikipedia link – in archaeology, palaeontology, and geomorphology, lichenometry is a geomorphic method of geochronologic dating that uses lichen growth to determine the age of exposed rock, based on a presumed specific rate of increase in radial size over time.

Got off the road early today. The sunset from the bedroom window. Heron’sCove, Creevy just a few mins from Ballyshannon EUR55 S$84 – night5

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.