Thanksgiving - Southern Spain - Christmas - New Year's

Thanksgiving - not in Norway, but you can buy turkey...

a "marinert kalkun bryst" & what is it marinated in?

Didn't know & so cooked it as "if" there would be a taste to it...

there was "not" any taste to it - so next one will know to "really"

marinate it in anything that resembles a taste?! Plus--

Cranberries, pumpkin, stuffing, etc. to be found in the stores as well...

Skip - 2 Week holiday to Southern Spain, following Thanksgiving...

Stavanger - Malaga - Alora (side trip to Antequera, El Chorro, El Torcal...)

- Marbella - Ronda - San Luis Sabinillas - Malaga - Stavanger

via Norwegian Air...Note: see pics posted on Facebook

Christmas - Yes, they do that in Norway...

only you rarely see colored lights, just lots of white lights in the trees, bushes,

windows, porches - plus arched candle holders in the windows with or without real

candles in them, the without have pretend candle lights...

or lighted paper stars in the windows, kind of like the moravian star shapes...

Check out these links to see how they may celebrate/what they eat, etc...

www.goscandinavia.about.com/od/norway/qt/xmasnorway.htm

www.terella.no/2008/12/24/christmas-tree-and-food-traditions-in-norway/

Note: here there are photos of plates of Christmas foods from the different parts of Norway...

though this blog guy only did North, East, West? hmmm...was wondering where the South went?! (which is where we are in Stavanger...)

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jul_(Norway)

And this link includes New Year's Eve & New Year's...

Called Julebukk, Nyttarsbukk, Drammebukk...

The kids dress up as I'm told like small Santa's to sing Christmas songs & ask at the door for candy or Clementines (oranges) or nuts...while the adults come back out later to ask for drinks?! (I'm told anything with alcohol in it that is, which can include Glogg - aka mulled winde...)

www.wikihow.com/Make-Gl%C3%B6gg

Here is how to make Glogg...which I will be trying tomorrow, we have a concentrate - that looks
oddly like an old fashion brown whisky flask, only it's plastic & has a picture of Santa on the front?! hmmm...(though you can make a non-alcoholic version of Glogg)

www.drunkenblog.com/drunkenblog-archives/000737.html

And oddly enough from someone who's named his blog--drunkenblog--comes a rather interesting Glogg recipes...try it instead, you may like it?! As he says he's spreading the "werd of Glogg?!" Cheers!

And our Christmas tradition--

it's not Christmas until Chevy Chase falls off the roof?!

Ho, Ho, Ho! Jingle, Jingle, Jingle...

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

God Jul og Godt Nytt Ar!

Street Art

Street art - Graffiti art (Yes, they said "art")

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Check out all these links for more...

www.ark.museum.no/nyheter_4.html

The Stavanger Archeology Museum link -

not what you'd expect on such a link, nor on such a building either

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www.herakut.de/

Herakut - The Street/Graffiti artist link: this 'wall art lady' is on the Stavanger Archeology Museum Bldg & I think it is their (herakut's) creation...sorry I still don't read Norwegian?!

And I've been to the local museum & took a photo too, much like the one between the houses from the street looking back to the wall - but it's still in the digital camera so I borrowed a photo or two from the musuem link for now above...

Must go back to read what's in English alongside her too, it starts out

"My Third Grade Teacher told me..."
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www.nuart.no/nuart/
NuArt - A Celebration of Contemporary Urban Art & Street Culture

Included are 2 - You Tube Video's

Also, listed under the first photo I noted, 'Graffiti Research Lab - USA'

(There's a research lab? but first I'll discover Stavanger street art...)

Lurs

Lurs

Description from National Museum in Denmark:

The sonorous mystical tone of the bronze lur would ring out at religious ceremonies where the instruments were played in pairs as the priests and priestesses led ritual processions, some of the priests wearing horned helmets.

Depictions of such ceremonies can be found on rock carvings.

Lurs were cast in separate plates, and some have 'jingling plates' to create a magical sound. Thirty five lurs have survived in Denmark as have a further 24 in Sweden, Norway, North Germany and Estonia.

Link: www.nationalmuseet.dk/sw33830.asp

(Note - on other webpages these numbers differ)

============

Description from Wikipedia:

Bronze lurs

The bronze instrument now known as the lur is most probably unrelated to the wooden lur, and has been named by 19th century archaeologists, after the 13th century wooden lurs mentioned by Saxo Grammaticus.
Bronze lurs date back to the Nordic Bronze Age, probably to the first half of the 1st millennium BC.

They are roughly S-shaped conical tubes, without finger holes.

They are end blown, like brass instruments, and they sound rather like a trombone.

The opposite end to the blown one is slightly flared, like the bell on a modern brass instrument but not to the same degree.

A typical bronze lur is around two metres long.

Link: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lur

==============

To listen to a sound bite of actual playing of the Lurs, in pairs, go to this link:

These 2 selections are the best, they are what the recording at the Stavanger Archeology Museum sounded like to me...haunting, ethereal, as said above--mystical (and I wonder further would the ancient Sirens songs have sounded like them? to lur-e the sailors...)

aa

"Forntida klanger"
Intrada

Förfäderna talar

==

Lat & Lur

Musikproduktion

Anne-Marie Sundburg

(Note: I think she's from Sweden)

Her Link: www.lurspel.nu/

Note: once again, many of these webpages are in Norwegian -but you can translate them with Google

Borre style

A Borre style example

Description from The Vikings in the Museum of Archeology Stavanger brochure:

"...a gold clasp from Nedrebo on Bokn (island)...originates from the 900's, round gold plate wtih decor in the style of the Nordic animal ornamentation, the so-called Borre style...4 sections, main one cross motif...riveted to a round silver sheet plate, 2 thin, entwined gold threads are laid around this...thought cut from an Irish hanging bowl, a holy water vessel which was used in the Roman Catholic church service..."

Note: No photo of it is on their webpage - but I saw the particular clasp it describes to find it was very well preserved, surprisenly mixed among other Bronze Age items on display on a shelf in a large case - I would of had it stand alone I think & you could not view the bottom side of it either, but then I am not an archeologist nor part of the museum to have a say - the detail was intricate & curious, I stood a long while to try to figure out the faces of either people or animals in it's design...so I returned home to read more about this style of jewelry making from the Bronze Age & found a lot of photos/links...see below...

Stavanger Archeology Museum

Link: www.ark.museum.no/Solensreise/solen

Description from Wikipedia:

The Borre style is a Scandinavian animal style which is named after a boat grave in Borre, Norway.

The Borre style succeeded the Oseberg style and was partly contemporaneous with the Jelling style.

The Borre style evolved at the latest c. 850 and was still used in the late 10th century.

Its most characteristic motif is the so-called "ring braid" which consists of a symmetrical braiding with two bands, held together by rings that are surrounded by square figures.
The animal ornamentation of the Viking Age is usually categorized into Oseberg style, Borre style, Jelling style, Mammen style, Ringerike style and Urnes style.

Link: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borre_style

Other Links to View photos/read more...

Silver jewelry replicas of Borre style:
www.urweg.com/list/broaches.html

More descriptions, photos of samples:

www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/b/borre_style.aspx

www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/norse_art.htm

Preview from book:

http://www.books.google.com/

Metalworkers of the Borre Style, pg 140-141 - preview from book

The Viking World by James Graham-Campbell, David M. Wilson

Here Comes the Sun

Current Exhibition:

Andeformete bronsekar fra Slovakia og Ungarn. Andeformete bronsekar from Slovakia and Hungary. Foto: The Hungarian National Museum, Budapest, Ungarn. Photo: The Hungarian National Museum, Budapest, Hungary. Copyright. Copyright. Duck shaped bronze vessels from Slovakia and Hungary. Duck shaped bronze vessels from Slovakia and Hungary.

Bronselurene from Revheim, Sola. Foto: Terje Tveit, AmS. Photo: Terje Tveit, AMS. Copyright. Copyright. The bronze lurs from Revheim, Sola. The bronze lurs from Revheim, Sola.

The Sun Chariot - photo from the Danish Pre-history Museum

Link to see & read about the original: www.nationalmuseet.dk/sw59869.asp
(Note: a copy in the Stavanger Arkeologisk Museum...from catalog, it's an unnumbered copy)

The sun's journey

Rogaland in the European Bronze Age

The 25 September 2008 open the museum in Stavanger doors for a unique Bronze Age exhibition.

The exhibition theme is the contexts of Europe at that time, both in idéverden and in the form-related expression.

This period is a period where the archaeological material has a very expressive common over much of Europe - from Maharashtra to Crete, and from Ireland to the Caspian Sea.

We will collect the Bronze Age material from their own collections, and objects from Maharashtra found in other museums in Norway.

These objects, we view the relationship they once were part of, through innlån from various European museums.

Including to the European community, and diversity be expressed in the Bronze Age material form and decoration.

This will thus be the core of the exhibition, richly supplemented with gold.

Link: www.ark.museum.no/Solensreise/solen

(Note: the intro translation above is from this link, the webpage is in Norwegian, you can then copy&paste the address into Google Search, hit Search, find it on the list - or it might just be on it's own - & click on "Translate This," which it will go to in English, or mostly English...)

The Old Ha Vicarage

Olavsrosa.no - your guide to cultural heritage adventures...

Hå gamle prestegard (The Old Hå Vicarage)

Description:

The Vicarage at Hå, built in 1637 at the very edge of the sea, is today a centre for art and culture.

The gallery hosts temporary exhibitions of art and cultural history.

The archaeological finds of an 8,200-year-old settlement in the area are displayed in the basement of the characteristic Jæren-style house.

The beach along the shoreline is the site of a large burial ground dating back to the time of the Great Migration.

The Vicarage includes a café and the artwork is for sale.

Opening hours
Open all year

May 15-Sept 1: Tue-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat & Sun 12am-5pm.

The remainder of the year: Sat & Sun 12am-5pm.

Address:
Hå. Follow Route 44 westward from Vigre. Parking Lot for Kongevegen Trail

(The King's Road).

Map page: 01-3Show in map

Homepage: http://www.ha.kommune.no/

Link to find this listing: http://wwwolavsrosa.no/en/objektinfo.aspx?id=27088

Note: Artist showing at gallery above, starting 29th November...

Virtual Woodscapes (Videos) & 3-D Wood Art (stills & Videos) & Wood Block Art (prior works)

by Artist - Yngve Zakarias

Artist Link: www.virtualwoodscape.com/index.html

Outsider Art

Rogaland Kunstmuseum (Art Museum)

02.11.08-11.01.09

Classic works form Hans Prinzhorn collection.

Link: http://www.rkm.no/ (click on English at the top)

See Map & Directions & Information & Cafe & Shop...

......

The Prinzhorn Collection

Overview

This "other" view of life appears to be quite hermetic, yet we for our part are generally unaware of the relativity of our own thinking, as laid down and shared by the society we live in.

These works enable us to experience an underlying dimension of humanity that is potentially present in us all.

Above partial description from this Link: http://prinzhorn.uni-hd.de/im_ueberblick_eng.shtml

Examples from this link - photos following from The Prinzhorn Collection webpage, they are not on Rogaland's Kunstmuseum's webpage (but there is a catalog at the museum here for the collection that's translated into English...)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

The Broken Column Sculpture Project

Permanent Collections

Permanent sculpture project

In February of 2003, Rogaland Museum of Fine Arts officially inaugurated Antony Gormely’s sculpture project Broken Column.

With cast-iron sculptures modelled from the form of the artist’s own body, the project spans the difference in height between Rogaland Museum of Fine Arts and the city harbour.

Simultaneously, each site-specific placement marks the wealth of activities and life that the city encompasses by being placed within different contexts found in society.

Their exterior and their form, their height over sea level, and the direction that they face, connect the 23 sculptures.

As such the sculptures create an imaginary column that is spread throughout the city, but simultaneously, they would unite the city if it were possible to see them together at once.

The sculptures are identical, cast in iron from the same form, and have during their maturing process become covered with a fine layer of rust.

The direction which the sculptures face was established by the first sculpture that completely breaks the sea level, found today at the Millennium Square at the centre of the Stavanger inner harbour area. Following its line of sight, the beholder’s view stretches out towards the sea.

Note: description above on the Rogaland Kunstmuseum webpage, under Permanent Collections

m My personal mission, should I decide to take it - & while I'm living here, will be to find all 23 statues in Stavanger - going from the museum to the harbor...

Oh, there is a catalog of them & where they are too, by the way, in the Rogaland Museum - so that I don't have to wander around aimlessly in hopes of finding them like while I'm still alive...

White, white, yellow, white white...

...curious about the color of our house...it really stands out, being yellow and not white...

So why is there a yellow house in Old Stavanger?...

Most who wonder are surprised when I tell them that our yellow house is one of the few remaining that still have their original color.

The houses in old Old Stavanger simply weren't white!

Back in the 18th and 19th centuries paint was made from natural ingredients -

mainly boiled linseed oil - and colored by natural pigments.

Price for these pigments varied widely, with red being the cheapest and white the most expensive. Farmers thus tended to use red paint for their utility buildings - barns, sheds and so on - and reserve the expensive white paint for their own house...

The inhabitants of Old Stavanger, on the other hand, were only rarely sailors.

Mostly they worked in the canning industry that was the major source of income in Stavanger. For instance, the original owner of the house I live in was a cooper.

These weren't rich people, and they had no source of cheap white paint.

So they painted their properties in whatever color was available and that they could afford... They were green, ocher, blue, red and surely, in some cases, white...

Through elderly relatives we've been told that it was the same color back in 1907 when my wife's great grandfather bought the house.

So what happened?

When the city voted to preserve Old Stavanger back in the '60ies,

the old quarter was a bit of a slum... At the same time,

most of Old Stavanger was privately owned by people without much money.

To help these, the city voted to give out free paint to all owners.

And for some reason somebody...decided that the paint should be white, and that Old Stavanger would be more picturesque with all the houses the same color.

A very few of the property owners protested.

My father in law, who owned our house at that time, met with the city architect...and obtained his permission to exchange the free white paint for ocher. So a few houses in Old Stavanger remain in their original colors, ours even "by permission".

Every couple of years I can be found in a ladder repainting our house...

Almost every time I get to explain the mystery of the yellow house in Old Stavanger to passersby...over the past few years I've started to hear the same story told by the tour guides...

If you ever happen to pass a yellow house in Old Stavanger and notice a guy on top of a ladder, feel free to say "hi!"...

(Orig) Posted...Monday, April 02, 2007

Note: Excerpts above borrowed from The Old Stavanger Blog, you can read more there...

(few posts in English & a link to more in Norwegian & other links of interest about

Old Stavanger there too...)

Link: http://www.oldstavanger.blogspot.com/

Included was this link to a little travel report & photos - cleverly called The King, the Can and the Oil... www.globosapiens.net/travel-information/Stavanger-2083.htm

(mentions a lake I've hiked already around here in Stavanger too--Stokkavannet)

Old Stavanger is also called "Gamle" Stavanger if you go off Googling on your own...

Ice Music Fest Norway--got ice? make music!

What is the IceMusic Festival

a
The IceMusic Festival is a unique, artistic and musical project which is arranged every new year at the first full moon. This festival is an ovation to the nature, and to one of the most important recourses in the world - water. Frozen water.
a
The IceMusic Festival, Geilo – aesthetics, music and nature together. The festival focuses on creativity. Conserts outside and inside an igloo. All the instruments are made of ice from the local area.

a

The IceMusic Festival is a unique, artistic and musical project which is arranged every new year at the first full moon. This festival is an ovation to the nature, and to one of the most important recourses in the world - water. Frozen water.

a

The festival is arranged at Kikuttoppen in Geilo. All premises are made by the nature, and Hallingskarvet with its 1930 meter is fantastic scenery.The weather is central. The quality of the ice depends on the winter conditions. The sounds vary as the temperature differs. Every consert (concert) is a unique experience. The festival is in the mercy of the nature. The moon decides the time and the weather decides the music.
a

The IceMusic Festival gathers different artistic expressions which all have a connection to ice. Jewels, photographs, architecture, dance, art, photo, design, sculptures and music. Different expressions are melting together.

a

The IceMusic Festival is supposed to be a scene for highly recommended artists to experiment and develop. A scene to obtain inspiration. The artist, the organizer and the audience may take a risk, and have to relay on the nature. We are all together. Expect the unexpected. The moment is now!
a

Welcome to Geilo – remember warm clothes.....

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How to get to Geilo?

The Bergen Railway is the most beautiful train journey in the world, reports the well-known travel guide Lonely Planet according to the press agency, NPK, and the national newspaper, Aftenposten

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Food & beverage

The IceMusic Festival will serve a selection of traditional dishes prepared and served in new ways! During this years festival you can try exciting dishes in the igloo, and tasty courses in Kikutkroa.

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Welcome to Geilo - 100 years of tradtion!

Geilo has a central location in South Norway, 800 metres above sea level, half way between Oslo and Bergen.

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Tickets to the conserts (concerts)

The tickets are available from the 1st of November 2008

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News: To all our guests who buy the IceFestivalPass, we offer you a free rental of a ”kick-sled”. It will take you easily and elegant trough the center of Geilo. (see pic below--cute huh?)
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At the top of the world!

Here you can see pictures and get more information about the area around IceMusic Festival.
http://www.geilofjellandsby.no/

g

Geilo Skiheiser - a skiing eldorado!

Have a look at Geilo! Several web cameras.
http://www.skigeilo.no/

g

The new label!

This company will only release recordings performed on instruments made from ice. http://www.all-ice.no/
g
Festival program is ready.

We are proud to present the 2009 Ice Music Festival. This years program is filled with spectacular artists from Europe and Norway and we can promise you a unforgetable show.

8

For artists/info see "Program 2009" 9-11 January
8

Bill Covitz
Bill Covitz is coming all the way from USA to help us building the arena for the Ice Music Festival. He has a very central position building the instruments used during the festival. Together with Eric Mutel, he will also hold a workshop.
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Bill Covitz has been our guest all our festivals, and we are happy to annonce that he is coming back again in 2009. Since his first year he has made several unique ice-instruments; ice-marimba, ice-guitar, ice-horn and other special installations. Bill will help Eric Mutel building the festival-area at Kikut, and we are sure it will be spectacular!For more information - http://www.icematters.com/
8
All Blurbs borrowed above are from their Link: http://www.icefestival.no/

Go here, read more, check out the previous years photos & come on over next year to visit me to go yourself right?! Just say--Yah! Who says there's nothing to do in the winter, in the dark, in Norway?! hmmm...they don't know Norway vewy well do they?! (think tweety bird with a Norwegian accent & you'll get that last line?! Hah!)

Note: Found above link & teaser photo on: http://www.norwaypost.no/
Another paper, thank goodness, I find in English?! Yeah! If nothing else check out all the links all over it--love this pic I found there too, need to found out just how to See Norway in a day! "Yah!"And so, I now have a back-up for when the Aftenposten News in English goes down sometime this month I've read & have not heard otherwise...

Fiskepinner for dinner?

Here following...are the simple instructions & contents of the label of just one item I've tried to cook for dinner while here in Norway--see how well you can identify any ingredients or how to cook it...


I thought the 185 C part meant I could "bake" it in the oven, like I've often done with my frozen selection back home (Yes, I know I'm not in Kansas anymore Dorothy--but I thought I could at least guess...)


It seems though (after a few dictionary/translation inquiries later) I was to fry them in oil--so I waited a really/Really long time past the 3 to 5 minutes & then some (after awhile I gave up & cranked the ole C oven up to like 450 degrees - if I converted correctly there too - for our entree to finally look eatable enough for dinner...)


Then there were the mashed potatoes in a package to cook next--
but don't ask...& I'm not telling...


* * * * * * * * *


Fiskemannen Fiskepinner har lyst, fint fiskekjott og spro panering - en vinner blant barn. Forstekt i vegetablisk olje. Lott a tilberede og rask a servere.

Tilberedning: Fiskpinner tiliberedes 1 dypfryst tilstand.

I stekepanne: Varm opp olje eller smor og legg fiskepinnene i pannen. Stek ved middels sterk varme i ca 5-6 minutter til de har faat en gyldenbrun farge. Snu flere ganger.

I frityrgryte: Friter fiskepinnene ca 3-5 minutter ved 185 C. Vaer forsiktig med den varme oljen.


Serveringforslag: Fiskepinner kan serveres sammen med kokte poteter, pommes frites, pasta eller ris. Med gronnsaker og smeltet smor ved siden av far du en enkel og god middag.


Fiskepinner Ingredienser: hvitfiskfarse (65%) (Alaska Pollock, Hake, Hoki), kavring (35%) (hvetemel, vann, maisstivelse), salt, stabilisator (E410), gjaer, pepper, paprikaekstrakt og gurkemeie. Forstekt i solsikkeolje, Fanget i Sor-og Vest-Atlanteren.


Naeringsinnhold per 100 g:


Energi...720 kj (172 kcal) Protein...12 g Karbohydrat...14 g Fett... 7,5

* * * * * * * * * *
Photo below (compliments of Wikipedia) of an actual "Fiskepinner" -
did not take any photos of my dinner baking (not frying) attempt?!
Live & learn...

Just when I found the news in English--it's gone?!

Before the bad news, something cute--
Well, the mushrooms on the left are cute...
(not so much the one on the right?!)


Note: above Cartoon copied (I hope they don't mind?! Yikes!) from their webpage, not the "In English" one mind you - don't know what this all says in Norwegian, I just like the little mushroom drawings & if I can translate it (lots later) will let you know...when I click on one of the little mushrooms though it goes off to an ad page--so I'm thinking they're trying to sell newspapers somewhere along the line?! hmmm...

And now the bad news...for some of us...

Aftenposten to shut down English news service


...faced with a need to dramatically cut costs, has decided to shut down its 9 yr old English-language news service, "News in English."

Aftenposten announced last month that it needs to cut...costs over the next two years.

Advertising sales have declined in recent months, and Aftenposten editors determined that prospects for the commercial viability...were unfavourable.

An exact shut-down date for "News in English" remained unclear...but was expected at the end of October.

The editorial staff of Aftenposten's "News in English" wishes to thank their thousands of loyal readers around the world for their continued interest in news from Norway over the years.

Aftenposten English Web Desk...





Read the whole sad day in Norway (for us English speakers that is?!) article here at this link:
www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2712652.ece

Or you can just go to www.aftenposten.no & check out the newspaper in Norwegian--be my guest, have a go--see what you can figure out for fun, it's a challenge?!

Note: I've resigned myself to trying to read the really local newspaper I get in my mailbox, from Tasta I think (that's the area I live in btw) - no luck on English in there either, must learn more Norwegian...found out I can read the pictures & figure out most of the sale ads for the grocery stores, so am doing good after what--a month, maybe?! Give me a break?! Thanks...

What I 'could' be doing for Oct & Nov...

STAVANGER RESOURCES
WHAT'S HAPPENING

Oct & Nov local events posted to date...


OCTOBER local events:



3rd Oct 20:00 - Fri night socials at The Irishman, 2nd floor
2nd Oct - BATS stage productions/pantomimes
(usually puts on amateur theater in January every year) Note: they're loads of fun, you get to participate usually at panto's & yell back at the actors on the stage?! In PLC they put on Cinderfella--you can guess...also I think I've heard from at least one Brit that there's some role reversal going on as well--this one for sure, he wore the gown & she the pantalones?!
?? Yoga/Pilates with Zigi Houston (Note: it's a name, nothing to do with Texas & by the way, there are lots of Yoga/Pilates classes going on in Stavanger)
14th Oct, 9:30 AM - Health care system Norway morning seminar
16th Oct 18 - 21:00 & 22nd Oct 18 - 21:00 & 28th Oct 18 - 21:00
Driving on Slippery surfaces roadtrack seminar
(course is held outside of town) Note: but am wondering more about driving on snowy sufaces or ones at an incline that you have to shift by holding onto the emergency brake at the same time?! now there's a scary feeling...
19th Oct, meet 11:00 - Utstein Monastery & Lighthouse
Note: missed it, but was interested - see more about it on earlier posting
21st Oct - Greenhouse Randaberg, locally grown herbs morning seminar
25th Oct - Ceilidh@Bethe Lokkeveien 59 6 - 9:00 PM
(music by the Jurassic Ceilidh band, calling by Christine Kemp)
Note: I've read this is basically a square dance & you pronounce it
as a "Cay lee" - so much for my Scottish Celtic roots?!
28th Oct 9:30 - Tine, largest dairy producer, morning seminar
Note: I've just recently found out the word for cream "flote" & there's one for "kaffe" so I was all set?! Then there's the word for milk & butter & so on & on this viscious language circle goes...
31st Oct 20:00 - Halloween party
Note: will be curious who comes to the door, do the dress up really out on the streets at the clubs & will I hear Trick-or-Treat or something else at the door...


31st Oct/1st Nov - First Friday & Saturday in November -
PWC Arts & Crafts Show
(It's a HUGE deal--see their webpage: http://www.pwc-stavanger.no/ )

Note: what was I thinking, have signed up to bake a cake (hear, thankfully, I can buy one) & help serve at the coffee/cake booth--one must have a break from shopping right?! I think so...
=


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



NOVEMBER local events:


1st Nov - Bonfire night (British Int'l School) at Vaulen Beach (Brit celebration of - Guy Fawkes Night? - commemoration of the downfall of the famous Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to blow-up the Houses of Parlaiment & they've burned Guy Fawkes stand-in's every since I've been told by at least one Brit...
or it's an excuse to have a bonfire and shoot off some fireworks to boot at the beach--YeeHah!)
4th Nov 19:00, Evening Seminar - Education in Stavanger & Sandnes (3 speakers - maybe I could go back for more classes, why not, just if they're in English or not is my question? hmmm...)
7th Nov 20:00 - Fri night social, The Irishman, 2nd floor
Note: I think the Google group & the Yahoo group get together here too - as in the Living in Stavanger & the Expats in Stavanger...I'm not a pub person, but did think I could meet up with at least one person in the group eh?! Hah!
20th Nov 19:00 - evening, invitation to winter sports Norway
(ski trails, traditional winter sports)
Note: there's places called 'hytte' or houses/ cabins/cottages in the mountains of Norway to rent or own--now that's what I want to find out about...me, by the fireside, looking out the window is more like it?!
25th Nov 9:30 - Visit to the library, presentation by Mgr of Stavanger Library
(Note: found bookshop basement full of English books, this month on sale, so may not 'have' to go visit the library--but who knows in the winter months...)


See Link for more info: www.stavanger-resources.no/stavanger-events.htm
Also See Link: www.stavanger-chamber.no
for "What's On" in Oct & Nov...
info & referrals of the same events on both links

Utstein Monastery

The Utstein Monastery

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is the only well-preserved medieval monastery in all of Norway, dating back to1265

located on the island of Mostersøy

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landscape around the monastery is protected by law making it a very popular destination to have a relaxed walking tour of the island (I just missed the one by Stavanger-Chamber.no)

Link for more pics & info about the Monastery:

www.utstein-kloster.no/index.cfm

Note: pics above borrowed from the webpage...

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And even though the webpage is in Norwegian you can still check out the 360 degree photo album (see the panorama views on the island, etc...) - you can access them by clicking on the "Trykk her"

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It will read as follows on the webpage, it's in the center of the page above the photo of the monastery...

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Se 360º-foto av kirken, refektoriet, biblioteket, klostergården, hagen, vinkjelleren, munkekjelleren, Garmann-stuene eller den fantastiske utsikten fra Kneberfjellet vest for klosteret. Trykk her

The red wonder--back in 1898

Interesting Stories that have been shared with us.


Translations by Sigmund Ronneberg
Norsk text by Harald Tønnesen, translated by Sigmund Rønneberg



In 1996 we celebrate the 100 year jubilee of the first car to arrive in Norway, a Benz Phantom that was used in the area of Gjøvik in the summer of 1896.


The second car to arrive in Norway, came in 1898. "This one also from the Benz factory in Germany. It was the first car in Stavanger, and the first car that rolled on the streets of the capitol.


In the "Stavanger Avis" (Stavanger's newspaper) of Oct. 6, 1898 you could read the following:


"One can now happen to see a motor vehicle in Stavanger. Factory owner Mr. T. Rønneberg has ordered one that is on its way from Germany to Stavanger. It runs on benzene, and can be managed and steered easier than any horse team...


This afternoon the wagon was taken on its first trip. It was excellent. The three of us jumped in and went for a ride in it, several times up and down Jernbaneveien (Railroad street), taking the turns with no effort whatsoever. It felt a little heavy going up the hill from Jernbaneveien to Ladegårdsveien (Ladegård road), but it made it easily passed the theater. With a little practice it should be easier to turn around than any horse. On a flat road, it takes off for real."


In the newspaper "Morgenbladet" of Nov. 15th, the following was written: "We have now, on several occasions, mentioned the motor vehicle imported by Mr. Rønneberg of Stavanger which is now seen in our city.""We met Rønneberg down at Festningsplassen (the plaza of the fort), and were immediately invited for a ride. The wagon achieved a frightening speed. One is tempted to believe there is witchcraft involved in steering and speed regulation, but it all proved to be quite simple."


The Stavanger writer, Theodor Dahl, also writes about "the red car" in his book "The town and its people". They went south to Jæren to visit and had a great new thing to show - a motorboat.



The red wonder stayed in Stavanger a couple of years, but then the engine was taken out and fitted in a boat, and the body was sold to a farmer.


See Link to read more about the Pioneers - all excerpts & the b/w photo above were borrowed from this link... although from that last line it looks like we won't be seeing any red wonder at any local museum here, they were very practical back in the day & probably still are I'm guessing...I love the line about the "frightening speed"--Ooo, faster than a horse full out right?!

www.ronneberg.org/Stories/pioneers.html

Snow?

Around 10 centimeters of snow fell at Ustaoset
Photo: Inger-Brit Vindegg

Where have I moved to?! I live in Southern Norway now--And I read it's the First Snow? Already? It's not even Halloween yet?! Good Grief?! Well, I knew those clouds looked liked snow yesterday--and here in Stavanger we just get rain (or so far?!)

Local Newspaper Article:


First snow of the season

It's still only autumn, but temperatures fell in the mountains of southern Norway during the night and a low pressure system moved in. That left vast areas white.

Snow dusted the high mountains around Hemsedal as well.
(Note: See this photo described on the Newspaper page, see link below...)

Thousands of Norwegians are in the mountains this week, with many schools closed for the annual autumn holiday. Most plan traditional hikes or hunting in the autumn foliage, but they woke up to winter-like conditions on Wednesday.

Around 10 centimeters fell at Ustaoset, near the Hardanger Plateau just west of Geilo. Surprised motorists had some challenges on the suddenly slippery highway between Geilo and Bergen.

Snowplows were pressed into early action to clear state highway 40 over Dagalifjellet.
Some snow also fell in the high mountains surrounding Hemsedal.

"We have had a few nights with frost and ice-scraping in the morning," said Hilde Hagen of the Hemsedal ski resort. She said temperatures were at the freezing point Wednesday morning, and that it was snowing in the valley.

Hemsedal is due to open for the winter skiing season on November 14, but if conditions allow, it will open earlier.

Strandafjellet and Gaustablikk also got some snow this week, with more due in the days to come.
Aftenposten English Web Desk Nina Berglund

Webpage link: www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2686581.ece

Note: Borrowed article & photo from the Aftenposten, local newspaper, in English on-line

Golden Shears

Golden Shears World Championship 2008

in Norwegian: VM i Saueklypping

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29 countries (1 competitor from the USA even?)

held first time in non-English country

outside of Stavanger about 45 min's in Bjerkreim Wed - Sun

plus Concerts Fri & Sat

Fri bands - Åsmund Åmli band & Irsk Stuvning

Sat bands - Postgirobygget & support band Tomm and Tigerene

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About Bjerkreimsmarken

Bjerkreimsmarken is a company that is run by 15 different organisations, from sportsteams through to farmer's associations. It's objective is to organise a country fair each year that promotes the importance of agriculture. This country fair is called Bjerkreimsmarken and will be held in conjunction with the Golden Shears World Championship 2008.

Bjerkreimsmarken has been an annual event in the community of Bjerkreim, Norway, since 1986. It always takes place the first weekend of October when the sheep have been brought down from their "summer holidays" up in the mountains.

It has become an important event for everyone involved; both socially, culturally and economically.

The population of Bjerkreim is 2500 and during the weekend when the country fair takes place, more than 350 voluntaires are involved in various duties, from serving traditional food to ticketing and parking.

Each year, around 110 commercial exhibitors take part in the event.

Tractors, art, cars, workwear, toys - you name it, it is all for sale during the fair.

Activities during the event includes sheepshearing, woodcraft, go-carting, concerts, food and wine festival and much, much more.

It normally runs from Friday through till Sunday but because Bjerkreimsmarken is hosting the World Championship 2008 the Fair will be extended with one day and go from Thursday through till Sunday.

See Webpage: www.vm2008.no/newsread/news.asp?N=5109

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Note: Click on the UK flag up in the righthand corner for English

(unless you want to practice your Norwegian)

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And another Note - did also borrow the above text & photos from the above webpage...Do they know how to advertise or what?!

(I thought the Stiletto Heels Race poster was something else, now here's their Sheep Shearing poster?! Impressive--hmmm...)

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As well, today, an added feature on the webpage--mention of the World Champion Bar (& there's a World Champion Restaurant elsewhere,) but the bar is where?--in the Circus Tent?! Hah! Makes you want to be a sheep shearer eh?! Yeah right?! but I would watch, as long as no sheep were harmed in the process...

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Too bad I'm not driving yet, what with it being 45 min's out of town & I don't even know town yet or my neighborhood either - will have to just live out this event vicariously I think thru the internet or the TV news or the local newspaper that we can get in English too on the internet at least?! Check out: www.Aftenposten.no/English/ (I like that--in English! Yeah!)

Where am I

Where am I...

where by sight could fit in with blonde hair,

or blue eyes,

tho' never with my use of language...
not my natural tongue...

Vaer sa god

takk



Note: Images borrowed from Wikipedia, blue eyeball...
Blonde goddesses from Norse Mythology - Sif & Freyja...

Also, this & all the days above were reflections from house hunting trip
Stavanger, Norway - Aug 2nd to 7th
Now to return to move there after 22nd of Sept for 2 yrs or more...
So, more images/photos/words/notes to come...
(e-mail me if I've forgotten to fwd you the Facebook photo album)

Northern Lights

Northern Lights...

Yet to be encountered, but will be in the land of the midnight sun...

which I had thought was just Alaska or the North Pole, but find out Norway too!

Does make sense that the "northern" lights would show up in "North-way"?!

I'm going to fantasyland--& we're not talking Disney either!!

Note: See http://www.fjordtravel.no/

Read more at their webpage...

Northern Lights - see the Northern Lights in Norway
The Northern Lights - nature's own light show - are solar winds that meet the atmosphere in a zone around the magnetic North Pole, forming arches, waves and curls of light moving across the sky, with sudden rays of light shooting down from space.The Northern Lights are visible between November and March when the sky is clear, depending on the Northern Lights activity.
The best place to see the Northern Lights is in the Northern parts of Norway, and the area around the Arctic city of Tromso offers a maximum of Northern Lights activity.

Read more about the Northern Lights

Magic

Magic...

Old magic I think lives here...

and I've just begun to discover...

it by charmed spell - of gnome, or fairy, or giant...

or I may perchance upon a water sprite too...

Note: borrowed the art from - Ernst Josephson: Strömkarlen

entitled: The water sprite, 1884...And I'll bet you were thinking,

water sprites were just females - which you can find a lot more

images of of course?!

And while looking for images found another new artist, photographer -

if you're interested in more interesting faery photos, then check him out too...

See images on Flickr.com under Neville Colmore - what he calls "Fatagravure"

They are marvelously mysterious, now will await my chance at catching even the faintest glimpse when I'm there in the water...