Winter

Al Gore was on a Norwegian/Swedish talk show last night and was asked how he thought about climate change when he was met in Oslo with -4 degrees(F) now in March. "It's winter" was his response, and it feels like he is right.

It is an early Saturday morning, there is some talking and music on the radio somewhere in the background (in the kitchen), the sun is about to rise brightly to the east. Skies are blue. I have some good coffee in my mug, have picked up the paper (it is 7 degrees outside and still very cold in other words) so I have it ready when Ingunn wakes up. Tia and Philip have a sleep over at Ingunn's sister's place. Peace and quiet in other words.

We have (finally) at least come to the time of year when the difference in temperature between day and night is high. That is something. It creeps above freezing in the day time. This type of so low temperatures in March is very rare. But it turns milder over the weekend and they forecast daytime high in the upper thirties next week. That is something. I met with some parents in Philip's class the other day for a coffee and we reflected over the fact that there has not been one single day since Christmas where the tempretaure has been above freezing, enabling the kids to make snow balls and have a snow ball fight.

So why this concern with winter and freezing temperatures? I am not a winter guy, and I am definitely not a guy for extremely low temperatures. And we have had it like this since Christmas Eve.

Since we acquired the cabin on the coast just an hour's drive from Oslo we have always spent Easter vacation there. It is about 3 minutes' walk downhill from the cabin to the sea and the "beach"; - the thing is there is so much snow now we will have huge problems reaching the cabin with all our stuff in the first place. One thing is food and other supplies for a long week, the other thing is all the stuff that has been taken home for winter and needs to be put back for the new season. With the snow so deep we wont get it up there.

All hope is not gone though, the snow can melt pretty fast if only the temperature rises. Some rain, some fog and wind and sun will only accelerate the process.

Today's project is to shovel snow from our veranda. Then we can sit outside with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and feel the warmth from the sun. THAT is spring in Norway, and the first snow bells (I think that is what they are called) and crocuses popping up from underneath the snow. That is spring as well.

Make it a great week-end.

A magpie was flying by with a piece of a branch from a treein its beak. Is that a spring sign?