Short Evening Report from Downtown Oslo, Feb 24 - 2011

In spite of what happens of dramas around the World right now, people in Oslo and Norway are focused on something very special:
The  FIS Nordic World Ski Championship. Sweden and Norway won Gold on the first Day of Events: Ski Sprint.

Downtown it is several Ice and Snow sculptures, made by different national and internation artists, inspired by Edvard Munch. I took some Photos with my iPhone. The quality is not the best, but it gives you at least an idea….

The podium for the medal ceremonies is in front of the old University.
 
The Sculptures are in the Karl Johan Street, Oslo’s parade street.
 
Ice Blocks

The Kids were allowed to play

Here is the Ice Rink next to the Karl Johan street.

More to come…..

Read more from the arenas and the events at RennyBa’s Terella

A short report from Oslo in February 2011

Hello dear readers,
this is a short report from Oslo, Norway.

The Pine outside my Home Office

It’s still Winter with Snow and even more of the white crystals is expected in the Days to come. Not much, but fresh and white.
 
Hvervenbukta, Oslo – February 12-2011

After some shopping last Saturday, I went down to the Beach. Some people tried to walk on the Ice. Most went walking in the Sunny and wind-free weather.

View of inner part of Oslofjord towards western hills 

This part of Oslofiord (Bunnefjorden) was frozen. But I would not take the risk go walk out on the Ice. Bunnefjorden is a bi-fjord to the main Oslofjord. It goes about 40 km (25 miles) south-east from Oslo.

Fishing on Sea Ice

Some did – and they were fishing. They use manual Ice-drills and drill a hole in the Ice and then start Fishing. Several good (White) Fishes for eating in the fjord. Besides a wonderful day out in the nature and Sunshine. It's pleasant if you wear the right clothes;-)

Cruiseliner heading South

In the background I could see the Cruiseliner heading south from Oslo to Kiel in Germany. A most excotic cruise this time of year. On board you have all the fascilities you expect on a cruise ship. Besides it is the largest car-ferry on this planet. In Norway, of all places;-)

Snow on Bench

I would have liked to sit down, but you see why I’ll wait for that until Summer. You see we have mostly wind from North during the Winter. How can you see that? Shadows, time of year and lattitude. And of course: The Snow.

Lillis controls everything everywhere

I went home to a pleasant Winter Home. To Anna and the 3 Cats.

PS. Our Car was delivered for 120.000 km service to day. Due to the impact of road salting during winter, all the brake systems needed to be replaced (rust). The price: For me and Anna: 4 flight tickets Norway – USA – Norway; in peak season. Grrrr.

Have a great rest of the week. I might report more often in the future, so keep looking for more excotic news from the Nordics here on my blog.

What's up in Oslo the Weeks to come, except some hundreds live concerts?
The World Championship in Nordic Skiing


PS. Lillis still lives with us. And she will

Oslo in Februay – Sunset and Cats and daily life

It’s have been a busy week. We are planning ahead for our Vacation. Lot’s of logistics. Flights, cars, hotels, lunches, lodging, ferries, dinners: It’s like a puzzel. But we are narrow to close our trip. Some of my readers to have some clues. We will meet;-)

I’ll publish as soon as all is confirmed.
I promise: A journey out of the box.
Family and blog friends are this years focus.
This is the view from the Sunset, as seen from our Winter Home on February 11-2011.
Not the best quality. Only iPhone Photos.
And of course some Cats… Lillis and her Aunt Rosa to the left.
Rosa is very clever to play with Lillis when Felicia, her Mother, is fatigue.

Our days here are filled with work, feeding the Cats and ourselfs, planning next days at work and our vacation for 2011. All in all, everyday life. We have had some transportation challenges due to snowfalls, but here in Oslo, Norway, we are used to it…

We had time to view TV this afternoon. Ski Flying from Vikersund not far from Oslo.
New World Record: 246 meters or 807 feet – jumping with skis only.
Impressing.
I’m too old to such a competion. LOL
.
Have a great weekend. See you around – at least in blogosphere.

My Skywatch is here

Papa brushed his Teeth and got wet on his Feet

What was going on?

Well Papa did brush his teeth, in front of the Mirror, above the washstand and suddenly get wet on his feet.
To be honest. papa did not understand why (admit after thinking: It happened in India 14 years ago).
 
Papa bowed down his still young (66) body and what did he observe?
 
A rusty screw.
 
So what? That screw did keep the rest of the plumbing at place. 
 
This is what it looked like under the Wash stand. See the missing link?
 
Result? Alle wet, in the closet under the washstand. And papa with wet feet. Sorry, papa’s wet feet are not available for views;-)

This happenend Friday late evening.
No Plumbers available until Monday.

Papa will fix.  Monday to come first in the morning.
Luckely we have another Restroom....

All my trusted blog friends - have a great and problemfree rest of this weekend,

Skywatch-friday-season-4-episode-30

I think this is fabulous. The Cloud Gate at Millennium Park in Chicago. 

Some Facts:
Cloud Gate is British artist Anish Kapoor's first public outdoor work installed in the United States.
The 110-ton elliptical sculpture is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect Chicago’s famous skyline and the clouds above. A 12-foot-high arch provides a "gate" to the concave chamber beneath the sculpture, inviting visitors to touch its mirror-like surface and see their image reflected back from a variety of perspectives.


More Sky Watch posts from all over the World here

You can see more of  Cloude Gate on my Scandinavian Sky Watch - Himmelsk

Cats on Tuesdays – Lillis World

 
Lillis is 3 Months on Wedenday, February 3.
She still, from time to time, have Milk from her Mother.
You can click on each Photo to enlarge – if you really want to see…

 

But she is not a baby kitten anymore. She is all over and exceptionally quick. Luckely she does not very often attacks us. When she do, she hide her clows (they are really sharp).

Can you see Lillis is a Manx? Why?

And as most Kittens, she have to discover absolutly everything.
Here she is inspecting our Kitchen Work Top and Cooker.

She is not there when the Cooker plates are still hot
 

And rest for a while.
 
She does not like her aunties Rosa's) fur, like her two-legs…
 
When she plays, she is simply too fast for Papas Camera shutter. Well, Papa wan’t use the Flash….

.

More Tuesday Cats at Gattinas Cat Blog