Hei fra Norge!
Posted: Monday, 28 July 2008 |
Well I've been here nearly three weeks now, since the Saturday after school shut.
At least, I should say for the most part of the three weeks, as Arne n me went a quick trip to Oslo the day after I arrived. It wasn't just a sightseeing tour, we had a purpose - we had tickets to see The Boss! (That's Bruce Springsteen for those o you not oot o nappies.) The concert was great, really good to see the man himself in action, and I liked Oslo too. (Though obviously not as much as I like Bergen. Have to say that, stayin where I'm stayin, you understand....)
On the way there we had to drive through a really really long tunnel. I think maybe the longest one in, well, maybe Northern Europe? It was about 40km long, and had these blue thingys in the middle, which were supposed to make you feel less claustrophobic. (My spell checker says thats a correct spelling but I'm having doubts..)
We stayed at a very very high hotel. Can't use the name of it on a 91热爆 site I think, but well, it was high. (I could nearly see Unst from our room!)
Ok, you can't really see Unst, but that furthest away white blob on the left is the ski jump that they used for the Olympics or somethin many moons ago. We had a closer look on our last day there.
We also visited the Kon Tiki museum, and those of you who are a little older than myself may remember a crazy norski man sailing rather too far for comfort in a raft-like thingy. His name was Thor Heyerdahl, and he did it to prove the connections between the continents. He did at least four trips on such craft, each of them remarkable achievements in their own way
Last weekend we had to go a quick hop across to Storbritania (that's the UK to us Brits) for the purpose of going to my eldest daughter's new school's orientation weekend. (I'm lookin at my apostrophies here and wonderin...) I think I mentioned her school before, but in case you missed it, she's been accepted into a United World Colleges school to do her last year or two of school. The one she has been allocated is in India, and she is extremely excited about it. We met the other Brit who has got a place at the same school, a boy from London. It was nice to meet him and his parents, they're really nice folk.
Anyhoo, the englandshire trip was great too, and we were very grateful to Helga for coming with us. She knew exactly where to go, and amazingly could tell us where to turn even before we reached a junction! A huge bonus for me, a girl who lives on an island with a population of 500, and for Arne, a man that naturally drives on the wrong side o the road.
Helga is, of course, GPS, or SatNav as it's sometimes known.
This is a pic of Helga taking us a very welcome detour of that car park otherwise known as the M6. Her other talent was in predicing speed cameras with great accuracy. Arne reckons Helga saved us a fortune.
We stayed in a lovely peedie Inn in Bewdley, right on the riverbank, and it had the whole low beam thing goin on, Arne had to duck a lot. I think next time we go to england we take a crash helmet with us.
This is the view from one of the windows in our room. A bit different from the Oslo view!
This next shot is Bewdley.
On way back to the airport we took a scenic route through Stratford, Warwick, and Cambridge. I think there was a lot more besides, but you know, Helga was in charge and I was just doing as I was told. She did let us stop for a while in Cambridge though.
This was some peedie chapel thing that one o those English kings built a while ago. A bit before Bruce Springsteen and Kon Tiki even.
Arne liked it though, it was high enough that he didn't have to duck to get in the door.
This Saturday my four kids arrive, and we're going sailing. They come straight from the airport to the boat, and won't see dry land for, uh, at least, ok I wanted to shock you there and say something crazy like 5 months, but no, we're just going to meet up with some friends a bit further sooth. These would be the same friends from my previous blog, who sailed together with us on the Shetland Race, on the famous and beautiful Fortito. (Ok, Arne told me to write that, he's pouring over my shoulder here.)
Got to go, I have some stovsuging to do.
(PS, there was a problem publishing this post, so it's been delayed, and my kids have been here for a few days now. We're havin a ball, swimming, boating, fishing, all the stuff you do in the sea, and in great weather too. Update soon!)
At least, I should say for the most part of the three weeks, as Arne n me went a quick trip to Oslo the day after I arrived. It wasn't just a sightseeing tour, we had a purpose - we had tickets to see The Boss! (That's Bruce Springsteen for those o you not oot o nappies.) The concert was great, really good to see the man himself in action, and I liked Oslo too. (Though obviously not as much as I like Bergen. Have to say that, stayin where I'm stayin, you understand....)
On the way there we had to drive through a really really long tunnel. I think maybe the longest one in, well, maybe Northern Europe? It was about 40km long, and had these blue thingys in the middle, which were supposed to make you feel less claustrophobic. (My spell checker says thats a correct spelling but I'm having doubts..)
We stayed at a very very high hotel. Can't use the name of it on a 91热爆 site I think, but well, it was high. (I could nearly see Unst from our room!)
Ok, you can't really see Unst, but that furthest away white blob on the left is the ski jump that they used for the Olympics or somethin many moons ago. We had a closer look on our last day there.
We also visited the Kon Tiki museum, and those of you who are a little older than myself may remember a crazy norski man sailing rather too far for comfort in a raft-like thingy. His name was Thor Heyerdahl, and he did it to prove the connections between the continents. He did at least four trips on such craft, each of them remarkable achievements in their own way
Last weekend we had to go a quick hop across to Storbritania (that's the UK to us Brits) for the purpose of going to my eldest daughter's new school's orientation weekend. (I'm lookin at my apostrophies here and wonderin...) I think I mentioned her school before, but in case you missed it, she's been accepted into a United World Colleges school to do her last year or two of school. The one she has been allocated is in India, and she is extremely excited about it. We met the other Brit who has got a place at the same school, a boy from London. It was nice to meet him and his parents, they're really nice folk.
Anyhoo, the englandshire trip was great too, and we were very grateful to Helga for coming with us. She knew exactly where to go, and amazingly could tell us where to turn even before we reached a junction! A huge bonus for me, a girl who lives on an island with a population of 500, and for Arne, a man that naturally drives on the wrong side o the road.
Helga is, of course, GPS, or SatNav as it's sometimes known.
This is a pic of Helga taking us a very welcome detour of that car park otherwise known as the M6. Her other talent was in predicing speed cameras with great accuracy. Arne reckons Helga saved us a fortune.
We stayed in a lovely peedie Inn in Bewdley, right on the riverbank, and it had the whole low beam thing goin on, Arne had to duck a lot. I think next time we go to england we take a crash helmet with us.
This is the view from one of the windows in our room. A bit different from the Oslo view!
This next shot is Bewdley.
On way back to the airport we took a scenic route through Stratford, Warwick, and Cambridge. I think there was a lot more besides, but you know, Helga was in charge and I was just doing as I was told. She did let us stop for a while in Cambridge though.
This was some peedie chapel thing that one o those English kings built a while ago. A bit before Bruce Springsteen and Kon Tiki even.
Arne liked it though, it was high enough that he didn't have to duck to get in the door.
This Saturday my four kids arrive, and we're going sailing. They come straight from the airport to the boat, and won't see dry land for, uh, at least, ok I wanted to shock you there and say something crazy like 5 months, but no, we're just going to meet up with some friends a bit further sooth. These would be the same friends from my previous blog, who sailed together with us on the Shetland Race, on the famous and beautiful Fortito. (Ok, Arne told me to write that, he's pouring over my shoulder here.)
Got to go, I have some stovsuging to do.
(PS, there was a problem publishing this post, so it's been delayed, and my kids have been here for a few days now. We're havin a ball, swimming, boating, fishing, all the stuff you do in the sea, and in great weather too. Update soon!)
Comments
Good to know you are having a wonderful summer. So, the European GPS devices locate speed cameras, eh? and radar detection?
mjc from IN, USA
I agree with you that Bergen is much nicer than Oslo. I even like Stavanger, but my favorites are the small cities in Storbritania. I read that you are sailing south , perhaps I have to look after you in H酶gsfjorden. Have a good sailing and let's hope this nice weather continue.
Dag from Norway
We're off to Copenhagen next week, backs permitting, wallets bulging, and are (foolishly) (or bravely) going to hire a car. Hope we have a Helga too. I loved Bergen, but was slightly disappointed with Oslo, not for any real reason - just that it seemed to lack character. did you visit the Polar Expedition museum - everything you ever wanted to know about Amundsen? Have good holiday R love to all the kids, especially the Birthday one. And I'm not even going to mention the concert. not once. not at all.
scallowawife from in the sun, at last a hot sunny week
Apostrophes correct - all possessive. Have got new phone & subsequently lost your number from Sim card. Please text it to me. In Fetlar School we refer to Helga as Sat Naff!
Muness from Fetlar
The spooky blue tunnel looks very Moulder and Scully-ish... I liked Oslo. You can (or could) wander right up to the dustbins outside the royal residence. And there's a statue of Queen Maude, donated by our prolific Queen Vicky... And a grand swimming pool with heated outside bit and flumes...And street entertainers...Although its hard to compete with the Leprosy Museum in Bergen on a wet day...
Flying Cat from Viva Norge!
"subsequently" Muness?
mjc from IN, USA
Hope your daughter has a great time at the India United College. What an achievement to qualify! Congrats. Norway is grand but I think even more fantatically expensive now than when I lived there in the eighties (anyone remember them times?) All the best, Barney
Barney from Islay not Swithiod
The tunnel is very X-Files.
Carol from IBHQ
nice to hear of all your travels and good times, continue to enjoy, I'm off to to a search on United World Colleges school as I've not heard of them and it sounds great,
island threads from lewis
Hey there!!! Sounds like you're havin' a great time. Catch up when you get back....... not long now.....
Hazel from The usual place
Islay Barney? We here at Anorak Towers do hope you popped in to Mr I G Laurie's fine emporium in Port Ellen...
Flying Cat from General Store
Hey Ruthie, great to hear your news, sounds like you're having a great time in Norge, have you managed a peerie trip in to see diamondbigdodette yet? Ardnort had been to see "the Boss" in Wales and apparently he announced on stage how much he was looking forward to seeing you in Oslo. Enjoy the rest of your time in Norge and look forward to seeing you when you're back. Got to go -need to pick up some skyitter cloots on the way home.
diamondbigdod from back at work
That must be the best metaphor for nappies I've ever seen!
Flying Cat from not skyitterin' aboot
Ah FC, so glad there others out there with the same mind set. The reference however is to an acquintance who came back from Norway so pleased that she'd learned to say toilet paper in Norwegian and simply wouldn't have it be that she'd been duped.Well, it made me laugh ha ha
diamondbigdod from tickled pink
Even better dbd! How about the Scot in a Lowestoft pub on Hogmanay who, when asked for a 'gallic' toast, schooled the whole pub to say "Attinakeech!"
Flying Cat from Cheshire Grin
Inhabitants of Anorak Towers, I did indeed visit Mr. Laurie in his imposing emporium. There I paid up my harbour dues (get that Squidgy?) and had a pleasant conversation with the incumbent about bicycles (for hire) and gas (Continental coupling). Unfortunately and suprisingly, the said emporium was unable to provide satisfaction on either request. However I got a UK coupling for only 拢40 at a rival establishment - very good value and quick service, too, by the lady behind the counter!
Barney from Swithiod late again
What transparent set up, Barney. I shall sit out this one, at least initially.
mjc from IN, USA
Mjc, thy middle name was ever .. or should have been .. Prudence.
Barney from Swithiod giving the game away
A rival establishment???
Flying Cat from Horrified!
Barney admits he made a typo with "incumbent": he meant to write "recumbent." Now all is made even clearer.
mjc from IN, USA
Oops there goes another couple of comments. Never mind I shall try a different brand of luncheon meat in future.
Hyper-Borean from The spam filter
Blogs fae a thirty-something mum of 4 born in Fife, brought up in Orkney, and living in Unst.
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