Oslo February 27 - 2009

I did start working from my Home Office this Friday.
Looked out of the Window - Sun from a more or less clear Sky.

I thought, that you my dear reader should, for once, experience some of the views I do have between Home and Office.

Today, it was mild, blue Sky but still Ice in th Container Harbour

It is years ago since we had that much Ice in the Oslo Harbour.

Here it's how it did look like in Autumn/Fall of 2008.
And here is something very different from our Planet Earth (Mrs Lifecruiser)

PhotoHunt -Feb 7 - 2009 - Bridge(s)

Hello all PH friends, I did avoid playing Bridge this weekend. My stock of Cards remains in the Summerhouse. LOL.
In fact, I spent my time to find some Bridges from here and there in my different files on my computer storages (yes. I have several) . Alle the photos in this post are taken by me or Anna.

(Yeah, we have crossed this famous bridge - photo taken by Anna)

Bridge for me means building/creating connection. From end to end.
I ended up with physical connections. Some very old.
Please take your time, even this is a Photo Hunt. You can learn something that most of your friends and neighbours did not know. By clicking on the Links given. You have the whole Weekend. To enjoy. Your comment will be of less value than your curiousty to learn more.

The first one is very old, build by the Romans. Le Pont du Gard. In Southern France. Orginally it was a Water Bridge, but also for people and horses to cross over the River Gard. Yeah. The Water canal is on the top. Suplying stabel fresh water to the crops year around.
Anna is there. How come?

And here too, Anna.
This is the Bridge to the Bath in one of the most renowned fiords in the World: Geiranger Fiord. During the very short Summer season, more than a hundred Cruise ships do visit each year.

This Stone Bridge is not that far away from the Photo above. With other words, it's from Norway. All the Stones are locally picked and shaped. Several hundred years ago.
I'm amazed by the effort and planning and will to build a Bridge like this, you can see the local stones at the Riverside. They, who build the Bridge had to, and did find the right stones. Impressing.

Can you see Anna? Click to see the spectacular Mountains in the background. There is a peak, that are next to unclimbable.

From Mountains in Norway to New Holland, Dutch Village, in Michigan, USA. Here you see a fishing enthusiast fishing from a tiny Bridge.

Well, going into the Nature is not allways easy for People who are dependent on Wheel Chairs. This is from the Music and Instrument Museum at Ringve in Norway. A Bridge to the Museum.
OMG. It seems like Anna has been there as well. Can you please join my next Bridge, which is on the intellectual side:
And interview with Mrs Lifecruiser .
Then Mrs lifecruisers's blog about the interview .
We have created bridges across borders.

More Bridges here at Photo Hunters.

Wordless Wednesday - October 8 - 2008

UPdate - Flash - Important positive News - Oct 9-2008

Ingelin is 11/20 on October 9 - 2008 -
Happy BD - say it here on her FB
BD grats: ingelin@hotmail.com - and celebrate my darling daughter.
Here she is in Buenos Aires, December 2007. She came down from Miami to join our Silver Wedding. Just now, she is in Hong Kong. The World is small for Ingelin.

Wellcome to a Wordless view of Filtvet Light House in the Oslofjord in Norway.

It was a Sunny Monday - Sept 22-2008. And you might see our beloved bloggerfriend on the Picture. My regular readers might have a clue. But click on the link and be surprised.

This is inside the Light House

Use your translation software to learn more about this Light House and the Penninsula where we live during the short, but magnificiant Nordic Summer

More Wordless bloggers (can bloggers be Wordless) here

Wordless Wednesday with some TdF comments etc

I've been a fan of Tour de France since 1967. When I did work in Paris.
This year it's two Norwegians among the 189 that did start. They work for two different Teams.
To win a stage (it's 21) is considered to be a world class sport prestanda.

The two Norwegians have now won a stage each during this years Tour. That's a sensation. Be aware: Le Tour de France is the most challenging Sport Event in the World .

To day it was Kurt Asle Arvesen that got the Victory. With less than an inch after about 190 km ( 110 miles about) and nearly 5 hours at the Bike. The finnish was - well I got "goose skin".

The other Norwegian is Thor Hushovd. He came in as #13 today and are #3 in the Maillot Verte (most points total) classification.

I do think they are great.

By the way, did you know that the Tour de France is the sport event that do have most spectators?
Around the route: It's millions out there cheering up their heros from countries all around the Globe. It's a fiesta everywhere around the piste and route. From the flat land to the highest roads in Europe.

Even Stompa did have a great dinner to celebrate the Victory. Outside of course.

And here:

Solvi and Anna at the Platform this evening. My first and second Wife. What do you think?

And the Sky and Clouds. This evening. Taken from our Summerhouse Platform this Wednesday Evening. At 60 degrees North. Looks promising for TORsday. Have a great time.

Wordless? OK - Press here

I have a visitor

Believe it or not.
You know we are busy people.
But this afternoon and evening:
We met: RennyBA and me.
Where?
Our Summerhouse of course.
When our ladies were at work or vacation.

A Hot Saturday in Oslo - Norway

We have had two weeks now with warm weather here at 60 degrees North - around the Oslofjord.
Air: 30 C plus and Sea: 20-22 C

We could go swimming. Both Anna and Solvi. (Anna in Blue Bikini)


Her I'm propelling in the Big Blue. Ha-ha - still like a kid in the Water.

Then after, preparing a meal at the Summerhouse Platform: (A meal dedicated the Light, Summer and Climate)

Starting with Avocados - with Wolf Fish caviar and Mayonaise in the bottom

Then our main dish. Ready to be served, with olive and grain bread.

But, what are the ingredients?

A cold Salad. Let's go back in time. What's here? Every ingredients but the dressing.

Enlarge to have a clue. OK?

And even before: Crispy lettuce. Hard boiled eggs. Tomatoes. Fresh Garlic.

Some boiled ham (mild) plus boiled potetoes and a Camera and a tiny Chair.

A dressing based on Natural Yughurt and French Dijon Mustard. And some Pine Nuts.


Served----
What could be better during a Warm Summer Evening?

What to drink? Fresh Water or White Wine or the both. We did have both. The White Wine was a crispy Sauvignon Blanc.


A Fantastic evening, sitting on the platform watching over the fjord and all the Boats. It was really crowded out there. But that's another story.

Sunday afternoon it was Sebastian's 7th BD. Like X-Mas for him.
(that's another Story as well)

btw: My regular readers: We are on track to recover from our loss. May be I'll soon visit your wonderful site soon again. Miss you all.

We have moved -and connected

Hello,
yeah, we did move to day. Not the best, nor the worst weather.

Here we are in our Summer Home. The view is the view. May 2 - 2008

Not Summer. Haha. Not at all. It's a late Spring this year.
But, we must come here to prepare the Garden. Right? And the Cats -they are needed. (Mice - say no more).

Here is Rosa running down that Stairs. Too busy to be the Star she used to be in the Winterhome. -Mieuww - It's my land, my freedom. Great?

Felicia? What did she do? Inspecting. Is everything as it used to be or not?

I had to take two drives - You see it's like changing home (and our Car did not have room for all our first needed "stuff"). With all then to consider and bring with you. Foods, clothes (for work, not only leisure), radio, and well, you are moving and need all your normal household as well - see?)
Luckely our Summer Home is only 30 minutes away. That's so practical. And so different. We are lucky to live in a country, Norway, where nature and climate can be very different only some "minutes" away.
Have an excellent weekend.

PS. We will have a visitor this weekend. I do think my kids will like that. It's their Mother.
We are all family.

TT - Thursday - TORsday 13 - April 17 2008

Excuse me for not beeing mathematical correct this week,

when talking about 13.
I do miss 13 by some minutes. In fact by 2 minutes. The Sun here in Oslo to day is 13 hrs and 2 minutes from Sunrise to Sundown.

Rosa, first time outdoor this year, enjoying the light. As a symbol of Lucky 13.

A Weekend in Fredrikstad

VISITING FRIENDS IN A FRIENDLY AND VIVID TOWN IN SOUTH EAST NORWAY, EUROPE

From the Cathedral Park. Green Grass in January. Where is the Polar Bears? Not here.

Anna's best woman lives in the Town of Fredrikstad with her husband. It's about one hours drive from were we live in Oslo South. While there, we also grab the opportunity to visit Sweden, to buy some goods that's cheaper than in Norway (Some Food and Wine a.o.).

Compared to the total area of Fredrikstad Community, in the Town Center everything is within walking distance. Total population was by Jan 1, 2007: 71 267. Facts.

Glass painting over an entrence door in Fredrikstad, describing the nature around. And dreams.

Besides the Archipelago south west of the town, Hvaler - as Summer Paradise for everybody that loves the sea and boating life - the Old Town is the main tourist attraction - it's fully fortified and claimed to be the best preserved as such in the Nordics. And functions today like a small, ordinary town, very vivid as well with all facilities needed. The car traffic is almost non existing, so it's also a safe place for kids. The Military left the Town several years ago. But of course you can see they have been here. The Fort did have 200 Canons/Guns.

HISTORY

It all began in 1567 when the king of Denmark-Norway decreed that the town of Sarpsborg, burned to the ground by that times arch enemy, Sweden, should be rebuilt. The king listened to a popular appeal to have the town rebuild at a place easier to defend and with better living conditions than upstreams Norways longest River, Glomma.
The east bank of the Glomma estuary was considered the obvious choice, and for the first time in Norway a king let a town take a Kings name; and Fredrikstad would prove itself a town worth it. But the King did never visit the Town. Lack of Comfort? I've never had the chance to ask him.

When in downtown Fredrikstad, the easiest way to visit the Old Town is by the Ferry that crosses the River. It takes a minute or so.

Else you have to go by Car, and that's a long detour over the River Bridge.

I strolled down fra our Friends and did pass several old, interesting houses on my way to the Ferry. Here is a Wooden Church.

Backery - hm, I did not enter. But I could smell it from a good distance. How could I resist? Strong will or lack of Money? .... or Time? Haha - my secret.

Here is the Ferry. Red and white - like the Famous Soccer Team in Town

Entrence to the Old Town from the Ferry

Some history facts:
Military aesthetics
The defensive walls were built to a Dutch design, unsurprisingly, and were a so effective deterrent that the town was never invaded. Coucheron must share the honour for the Fortress Town´s distinctive geometric construction with another foreign officer, Johan Casper de Cicignon, an aristrocrat from Luxembourg.

In Old Town

Vinmonopolet - The State controlled Wine and Liquer Chain of Shops - it's self service, so don't worry about language - they do have the most from all over the world - and splendid service.

From the Square. The King Fredrik himself. It's a Flee Market here, except during the Winter.

Back towards the Riverside. This Saturday Morning it was very few visitors, and the Locals? Asleep? I did not check it out. Next time perhaps I'll ring the Bells.

More interesting houses closer to downtown. This one is now owned by the Local Government and very well preserved. Look at the different architect styles (Click to enlarge). That was common among the very Rich in Norway to import different styles to impress - to show they "knew" the World.

Public Restroom - You might need it after this cyber walk - LOL.

..... or a short visit to a Riverside Cafe. It's January, but Vikings love the outdoor life. Here my friend, a retired Teacher, after a refreshment, needed after Saturdays shopping. Don't forget, it's a weekend trip - a journey so to speak.

When back, no sign of the ladies. They were out walking in the Mid January Sunshine.

Who was there but their very good, since very long, friend Per Ulrik Fritzner. Here he is with one of his paintings behind him. Yeah, he is a great Artist. Anna came back and acted like a Camera hog. What a shame her age. *giggles*

Wish you all a wonderful week