Merry Christmas – felice Navidad – God jul – Bon Nöel

Here in Norway, Dec 23 is “The day before the Day”, as we by tradition has our Family get to gether Dinner and sharing of presents in the Evening of December 24 – X-Mas Eve.
And Dec 23 is the evening the X-mas tree is decorated and put inside our Living Rooms etc etc. The Day before the Day - hectic, but a tradtion..


Our X-Mas Tree this year. See the Star? It's genuine;D

Details – X-Mas Tree
 
Yes, the original small folks are here: Nisse - click to read the history.
And the Kitten of course (5 weeks young)

The Kitten in the Kitchen Chair. She needs space. LOL.
 
And at top of the Chaisselongue

More to Wrap in…
 
Some Gifts are even wrapped in…

We wish you all a Great and Peaceful Season.

More to come….

Merry Christmas

I wish all my readers a Merry Christmas with Peace on Earth

Wordless Wednesday - 2009-01-07

Christmas Report - 2

My Grandson in action with Christmas Gifts. No comments needed.
Click to enlarge and enjoy a very engaged young boy.
(All photos taken without Flash in order not to disturb him)












More WW here

PS. Importante - More about Norwegian X-Mas Traditions here
Then you'll visit a Europe top 10 blogger (Do you do that every day?)

Christmas Eve - Part 1

After the Family Graveyard, where we lit the Candle lights for our beloved late ones, we went to Church, Uranienborg, where we used to live near by for 14 years, in down down Oslo.

Then we went to Niklas and Maria and Sebastian.

My Mother was there. And as written: Sebastian with my Mother with her Grand Grand Son. I think that was a very special and memorable moment for both of them.

Here Sebastian asks my Mother what is in her purse. Hahaha. Kids are kids.

Here you see Anna wishing my Mother Merry Christmas, and my Brother to the Right

From left: My Mother, Brother, Ingelin, Sebastian (Click to see him) and Solvi

Modern decorated X-Mas Dinner Table. I like the colours and Style;))

Well, we had to attack the Dinner - right?
I'm not known for eating too much. I prefere to taste even though a X-Mas dinner might be very tempting (not to mention all the memories just after WW 2). At least, you here see what for the past 150 years or so, has been very common in SE Norway for Christmas Dinner.

We had to - by free will - sit down and enjoy the Meal.
(Let me tell you: Niklas and Maria did the Traditional X-Mas dinner Top Class).
Can you see how Ingelin and Sebastian enjoys it, while Niklas is still busy?

After Dinner, what happened next? Santa, of course.

We all had been very kind, at least everybody said so, and Santa was ---- what was he? Generous or not?

Haha - that's another story.
Stay tuned.
If you are eager: Just click here - Surprise - surprise

From the Family Grave

This Christmas eve we went in the afternoon to the Family Grave.
I tell you, honestly - it's an unbelievable difference to see the name of your own Son in contrast to your Father and Grand Parents engraved forver on the Family Grave.
(Click on the Photos to see the situations better)

Here you see Ingelin.
In National Norwegian Costume. Blessing her beloved brother. And Family.
She was 11 1/2 when my Father died. At the very same day when her Brother, Niklas, was 20.

Here you see more from the Graveyard. I found it beautiful. With all the Candles.
I must admit, I left with Tears....

PS. I'm coming back with more positive thinking and comment on you blog

Miewee Mistmas

Mie have not been on the miurld miieewwd miet for a gaaasp. It's mienter and dark.
Felicia captured mieee Rosa. In front of miexmas tree
We will play miet the tree, miale our miumans maiaway -- purr puur.

Miahapi miixmas.

Rosa and Felicia

This is a tribute to both Cats on Tuesdays and Wordless Wednessday lovers from our Cats. I read all the comments for them. They sit listening and asking: Please show us on the Map where all these kind people are living. We have only, so far met, in person, a very few of them. Can you teach us to communicate the way you do papa? That would have been a gift out of this world.

Mieeaw for Meace:-))

PS. Links to the WW and COT from the Logo's on top.

Santa in the Window - What is your wishes contest

Yeah,

it's a simple fact: Santa is here. In our Window. A bit disguised;))
And we did mutually asking for advice.

See how eager he is in the Window. I was not able to convience him to stay without moving for only a couple of seconds (or is it a she, who knows?)

What did he want from us? Why did Santa suddenly appear here?

Santa asked: Do you know some kind bloggers around this small Planet?

I answered: Yeah Santa, I know many kind people that you can visit

Santa replayed: Ask them to send you at least their e-mail adresses.

I asked: Why?

Santa said: I'll send them a Post Card

I said: But that will be too late for Christmas

Santa replied: If they believe in me, they will receive a Post Card from where I live all seasons. But they have to give me 3 wishes.

I was a bit confused, but at last I asked: Where should all people that do believe in you send their wishes?

Santa said: You are my secretary on this Planet, so they must send it to you. Then you have to sort out the different wishes and communicate their dreams to me?

Papa then said: Are there any limits? I mean people can dream about everything.

Santa answered very clearly: Any wish or Dream that can benefit Peace and Respect will be validated and taken into account.
Selfishness will not only be blocked but also registrated.

I asked: What do you mean with: Registrated?

Santa: They will from then on never receive a hug, a X-Mas gift or any form of credits. At least from me.

Papa finished the coversation: Thank you Santa, I think I understand

Do you, my dear blogger friend take the Santa challenge?

pls excuse my rare english dialect with Santa, his after all from ancient Turkey

X-Mas - just before and simple thoughts about Religions and Vikings

Have you ever thougt about how people born with Christian traditions these Days, in spite of so called Finacial Experts failure, still stress to create a link back in history and traditions that are more or less Dreams. And shop things instead of warm relationship?
Santa Claus. Coming.

In other Religions. Id, Ramadan, Lent and so on. Gifts - to whom and why?
. Follow the Religous leaders rules and traditions.
People have to obey.
If not?
In some few countries they are free to speak out, in others they will be punished to Death.
Is that Religion and Gods Will or is it something else?
If you have the will and ability to have a free mind, think about it.
But you may live under circumstances that will give you real trouble for you and your family if you think otherwise than what is accepted by your society rulers now in power.

I don't know.
However, the folowing 2 photos is take just now, in our Kitchen.

Here is our Kitchen Window decorations this Season. Both Photos
- each of them - can be enlarged by clicking.

Very traditional. Yes. But Why?
When you have Sunrise after 9 am and Sunset before 3 pm you might have something that can lighten up your mind and courage?

And of course a cultural heritage. Since centuries.

Here in the Nordics they had a single word for it: Jul.
That word has been adopted in several languages.
In French: Joli.
Everybody speaking French understand it's a compliment to say:
Tu es joli.
In fact - that's from the Vikings.
They were not at all as brutal as most of you have been told.
In the contrary.
They invented Jol. (the Viking Exibition in Paris and Berlin in the early 1990'ies clearfied)
When the Rich shared their wealth with the Poor.
That's the origin of the Scandivian Social Model.
i.e a more than a 1000 years of culture.

Blog for Peace

Christmas market and Crystal Party in Oslo - Favorite

My dear reader,
you might know I was enjoying at luxury dinner last Wednesday evening with good IT-friends
here in Oslo.

As you can see, we were all bright and Crystal clear.

This Friday, I was student again. Joined a course in a course for making excellent Internet based surveys, market analyzis and event feedback.

On my way back from the course, I went through the Christmas Market in front of the Oslo Town Hall, very close to the Harbour.

I was there at a time of the early afternoon when there are very few visitors, but Stars ( 1pm).

During the Winter, this is what you need to cover your feets. Slippers made from 100% Wool.

Here is the Sami Market - from outside. Click to enlarge and you'll see the top of some old Sail Ships.

Then I had to rush to meet Anna downtown (Christmas Shopping).

This is in short from a favorite Season.
More Favorites here

Sebastian - Friday Dec 28 - 2007

December 29 - 2007

We were this evening at the mother of my kids home - to give Seb another Christmas Eve - new presants under the X-Mas Tree.

This is a short post - it's late - and the climate (the weather) is not the best for papa...

Sebastian with "drums" we bought in Uruguay some weeks ago.

Here you see Niklas (my Son) and Seb (Grandson) with X-Mas gift - Who is most fascinated by this gift? hahhaha

Seb could not wait for the berries from our Summer House

Something else:

Papa discovered this dress in Argentina and said: That's you, my dear -- What do you think? She agreed - this Anna. Right?

PS: Anna's secret dress for New Years Party (from Buenos Aires) shhhs - don't tell

Dear blogger friends - this is in fact a short message to Ingelin - but you can read it as well.

I'm going to bed -

oh, Felicia just jumped upon me - puurrr puurr

omg - I have written without any spellchecking---

More to come

Christmas Gifts and Cards

A SHORT MESSAGE

(the rapid changing weather here knocked my body off - sorry for my "Christmas silence".
So, this is my first sign of contact with the blogger world again:
It's about time to express "Thank You":

The Unique Calender we got from Naomi (made by her self)

Everyone that have learned to know her unique photo's from her Garden and her effort to bring these beautiful photos to the World - yeah - we are really grateful. It's an unique gift. And I could not resist to call her to say thanks - (that's me ---)

And a surprise from Maribeth:

Not the Beautiful Card alone - but combined with the letter therin - we are utterly blushing for this surprise. (ps - my scanner is not fair to this wonderful card)
BIG HUGS.

And a postcard from Ingelin (She was robbed after returing to SoBe from our great adventure together in Argentina - that, my dear readers was a challenging message to receive just before Christmas - she was pushed down an outdooor stair, then robbed - everything but Money and Credir Cards were found close to her appartment - but: a Christmas without money? - To day, you have solutions for such circumstances - easely money transfers -



As a true Viking, she went blue, green, red and yellow to Costa Rica. She is amazing;)
And here is some more X-Mas Cards - only 10% of what we received. Some are very Traditional Norwegian ( God Jul _ Merry Christmas, Joyeux Nöel, Feliz Navid etc) - others are more modern.





This is the Ultimate Christmas Eve Post Card - in Norway. From two of our real friends. We wish K and KM the very best for the year to come and hope they both soon will recover from a long (too long) time of illness.








Danish: "Glaedelig Jul" - "Gledelig Jul" - considered a bit old fashioned in Norway - we say "God Jul" these days---










PS. Hope my health will recover (from very cold to Rain and heavy wind in 10 hours - that seems to have a bad impact on my body - sleep - sleep - even the Cats, have staying in the bed - but that's encouraring in a way - I then think: How a like we are...)

Have so much I should have done/written/comment - I'm embarrassed. Pls keep over with me.

More to come (have not even started Argentina, not finnished with SoBe etc - I think I have to go away to a silent place - LOL )

From 8:30 AM to 4:14 PM - Thursday 13

TORSDAY 13

Inspired by my good friend and blogfella, RennyBA's article "From dust to Dawn in December in Oslo" - I descided to take a sidestep from Argentina Adventures. The reason is obvious, I believe you will agree, my dear reader, when you see the pictures taken from outside my office. Christmas Cards - and they are real. Not arranged.

Grassing Horses in the Morning
From when I did arrived this morning around 8:30 am and left around 4:14 pm (It's early leaving due to the Fact we picked up our Cats after 3 weeks at Solvi and Stompa - her Cat), I shot some pictures - 4 U, my dear reader, to imagine how it's here in Oslo right now.

First some Facts. Oslo is situated in the bottom of Oslofjord - 100 km - 63 miles long. The City is sourounded by Hills, and the Downtown City is formed like a Hollow - with a Valley to the East, North and North West. To the South it is a Plateau, falling steep down to the fjord and a Valley and more hills to the South East. There are several Islands and a Pennisula (Bygdoy - where I'm born). Anna and I live in Southern Oslo during the Winters.

In the morning - The Horses - Neighbours to my Office's Parking House - see- no shadows yet.

Same Horses. They do find grass under the Frost.

Before noon I had to drive to Down Town Oslo - Do you see the Fog that has caused all this beauty. And I hope you can Imagine how low the Sun are above the Horizon these days - looooong Shadows. When driving Southwards - these Days when Blue Sky - Take care.

Had to walk out of the Parking House to

remember the scenery above ... Sun is up.

Do you ever have had a scenery like this just outside your Office Parking? Enlarge and you'll disciver oth the farm and Horses.

Noon - same Horses, same Farm. Remark the looong Shadows. And enlarge by clicking on the Photo. Then you will be there without feeling the Cold.

Afternoon - Birches - at 1 AM.

South East view in the very early afternoon

Blushing Trees. If you have taken your time to scroll down as far as this, I'm blushing of Gratitude as well...

Leaving with Flash - result: Not what I saw. Then:

Leaving at 4:14 pm. Another shot - without Flash and Tripod - 3,5 seconds. Am I steady? LOL.

Find more cruisers here. And do not miss Lime's Citizen of the World

(OK - I'll post mine during the weekend - that might be a surprise?)

PS. It's lots more to come from South America, Art Deco in So Be and - just return to read and Z.