Long time No see!

It's Saturday evening, there is peace in the house. Philip has a sleepover and they are fast asleep. Tia is away on a sleepover with a friend of her.

The boxes are packed out. Or not really packed out, more repacked and stored away, as we have the basement full of boxes. At least we have got them out of the way, so this evening we have hung up pictures on the walls. We're getting organized, it looks like a home. Tomorrow is advent so we're going to do some decorating in that respect. We do not let the Christmas in until it really is Christmas, such as decorating the Christmas tree in this house is done December 23rd. After the kids have gone to bed. More about that later.

But tomorrow is the first Sunday in the time of advent. Advent lasts four weeks, and there are four Sundays, so we light a candle for each of them, and on the fourth Sunday there are four candles burning. This is a time when we are waiting for Christmas. we do all the preparations.

Ingunn just assembled the IQ lamp. ..in 5 minutes. Off you go and buy one, see if you can beat her.

The weather's been dull since we arrived home. Very mild, but also very wet. Rainy, rainy , rainy. It's typical weather for the west coast, but not for Oslo. I don't mind the temperature, but the rain...So unless there is a shift for the cooler, there won't be any snow for Christmas. Which of course is a huge disappointment, both for old and young. But it is almost a month away, so much can happen by then.

In the meantime we're adopting to a life without a car. I am commuting for an hour in the morning and the same in the afternoon. 5 minutes' walk from our home to the bus stop. One bus, then change to an other, and finally 10 minutes walk to the "office". Then there is grocery shopping on foot. Pretty uncommon in the US, very common in Norway.
We'll of course get a car, but we have to get our priorities right first.

We've got a beautiful view of Oslo and the fjord from our house. It gives peace of mind.

This was a short message to tell we're here, alive, happy, but missing good friends and the climate we got so used to in the US.

Still Birthday Time!

Well, today is my real birthday. Actually 3.05pm CET. Just as you know. Born at home. My sister waiting eagerly for a little sister, and so disappointed when I popped out. Initially decided to be called Preben, but changed to Peter, Jan Peter. The "Jan" probably as a response to the trend at the time. I am fine with Jan Peter.

I am fine with being half way through life as well. 110 is a suitable lifespan in my opinion. Wonder what the world will look like then.

From a Norwegian perspective I was born before TV was introduced. Before restrictions on buying a car was lifted (a post war thing), milk came in bulk to the grocery, and probably a lot of other weird things as well. But I was only 11 when I was flying for the first time - and after that I have never stopped.

Birthday Time

I am the last guy out. In our family Tia starts in August, then Philip September, Ingunn a month later and finally in November it is my turn.

So I was celebrated yesterday, got cake and coffee in bed, presents as well.

Unfortunately Jenny has come up with or gone down with what we anticipate is swine flu so there is close to marshall law in the house.

It is highly contagious, but you really have to be within on meter or so to become contaminated. And all viruses are dead after 2 hours. So staying away and good hygiene are the key words here. She had a temperature of 105 yesterday, so that is pretty hot.

This coming Saturday we get our new "house". As you might know our furniture has been stored here is Oslo for two years, but the thing is they have no time to bring it out until Friday 20th, so we have to live there for a week without anything. we have to borrow a few mattresses, something to cook with, no TV (will we survive?), pretty much no nothing. My kitchen knives are in place, they are holy, as holy as they can get, they are knives, after all. Well, and internet. We know that is in place, so we will survive, keep in touch with the world, make an impact.

But Friday 20th will be cool.

Anyway, we have been taken very well care of here. Three and a half weeks we've been here when we leave. It has worked out very well. There is a saying that fish and guests stink after three days. It has not turned out that way. And we are very grateful.


That is just in time for some Thanks giving celebration. Turkey is OK, pumpkin pie never became a hit. It is acceptable, but not much more. Sorry. There are other ways of using the pumpkin, though. Much more preferable. Likable. Enjoyable.

Have to think out some celebration. Does it have to be turkey? Can it be duck? One of my favorites is Confit de Canard. It is simple canned food, but it is good. Good is good old European understatement. If you have not tried it; do. As with all canned food it is simple to prepare. Just heat it.

Christmas is coming up as well, I'll write more later about what the wild men up north eat for Christmas.

The First Snow

All by a sudden it started to snow today. It was very rainy tis morning, an about mid-day it seems like the temperature dropped a bit. It is not very uncommon in November, and it is all gone now, but it is very grey and wet outside. One of these days when you curl up in front of the fire place with a glass of good red wine. Waiting for the spring.