Cold?

It's not that it is cold, it is just this time of year. It feels so cold now, and it adds to the pain, of course, coming right from Florida with temperatures well into the 90s the week we stayed there. Warmest October they know of.

Kids in school, we got a hearty welcome, they were well prepared, had talked about it, and both Philip and Tia had been included on all lists etc. Tomorrow we're going on a Sunday trip with Tia's class. We feel welcome.

Philip's visiting his best friend today. From where we stay right now that's almost half an hour's drive, but from where we move in mid next month it will only be a 10 minutes walk. So then we walk. This is Norway.

We are looking forward to the move. There is a childish joy about getting our old stuff unpacked and installed in the new flat or apartment or what you call it. I am looking forward to getting my pots and pans out and getting the kitchen equipped. Ingunn's looking forward to decorating, lighting candles etc. Burning wood in the fireplace, some wine in the glass. Think of the sound, think of the smell. There is nothing more harmonious than this.

Is it good to be back? Yes it is good to be back. Do we regret we moved? No we don't. Would we have done it all over again, even if we knew the outcome? Yes we would.

...and nothing has changed. Not even the Friday night line up on the TV channels. Quite frankly we had hoped something would be different when we returned. Well a major roundabout at an intersection at the outskirts of Oslo was changed so we ended up with a detour. Some new houses here and there have been erected.

And the pan placed in the window sill at some friends' house, in desperate need for cleaning, was still there, just as dirty as when we left. Not much happening in 18 months. NO this was just a joke of course! But it illustrates than when going away for a while, coming back thinking the world has moved on, it generally has not.

Have a nice weekend.