Spring by the sea is great

Lately we've had fabulous spring weather, warm and quite lovely all through the day. It does not get dark at night anymore, so it's possible to be out and about 24/7 if one wants to. When I walk the dog in the morning before going to work (around 5.30 a.m.) it's sunny even when I wake up. I love it, and I love how I can walk outside at that hour wearing just trainers, a t-shirt and tights. Very, very easy! I have stopped counting the hours I've spent in the outdoors the past two weeks...

Both these images show my dog earlier today. I took him walking down to the seaside, where there's an area where he can run freely about. His best friend Mia (dog!) is in heat, so they're off playdates for a little while. He enjoyed chasing birds instead!

My mother visited yesterday, and she brought with her something that pleased me immensely. My aunt (her sister) is moving, and in the process she is ridding herself of some things from her flat. So I get to 'inherit' a set of porcelain plates, serving trays etc in various sizes from a set of porcelain that my grandparents got for their wedding day in 1948! When they died my mum and her sister split the china among them; now I have my aunt's part and will soon get my mother's part too. So I will end up having a full set of oooold china. I am so excited.

Have a great weekend - I plan to, too :-)

Post-Easter blues

Easter is over and life has returned to normal again. During Easter my Swedish friend Suzanna was visiting, and we had rented a car in order to be able to drive around and see as much as possible. We spent a few days with my parents at the cabin (further north), but also took time out for one-day expeditions in my neighbourhood. It was fabulous, and fortunately the weather was nice most of the time, so we could spend hours and hours in the outdoors. Oh joy.

Suzanna and my dog Emre resting at a beach rock about 30 mins south of where I live. We spent the day outside and at the hiking club's cabin, which is situated literally on the shore. Suzanna enjoyed the place so much that virtually one of the first things she did was to find a nice spot on a rock and curl up to nap a little... And Emre decided to keep watch :) Later on we explored the shores and made dinner at the cabin, together with two other friends and their dog. Some times life is so good that there's nothing more to say. This was one of those days, I think.

Suzanna at a beach in Lødingen, near our cabin. This beach is next to the road, however, there were hardly any people and so we could let the dogs run freely around for a while. (My friend Annelin and her dog Mia were there too, they're just not on the photo.) There were three reindeer on the one side of the beach when we got there, but fortunately they ran off before the dogs could detect them. Emre had chased one reindeer just a few days earlier, with both himself and the reindeer falling through the fjord ice, so I was nervous to let him loose. But it worked out relly well, thank God! And Suzanna had a great time watching the two furry ones chase each other around, both on the beach and in the sea!

On Easter Sunday I just had to try the water. Did not have a swimsuit with me so could not swim properly, but wading along the shore was just fine. The water wasn't ... well, let's say this: it was a very refreshing experience! But I didn't catch a cold or anything afterwards, not as much as a caugh or a sneeze. Though it would totally have been worth it if I did.

Spring on the shore

Yup. It's definitely spring here now, and has been for just over a week. One day I took the dog down to the shore of the sea, to an area where there are no houses and hardly ever any people. There I can let him roam freely about, and he loves it. We often go there if we are with someone else so that the dogs can play together in a large area. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon when coming home from work, as you see above!

This is Emre, 10.5 months old. He is a relatively calm, confident and very happy puppy who is about to turn into a youngster rather than a 'puppy'. I enjoy his company a lot, obviously, and I don't think he minds mine either... His great-grandfather won the Iditarod a couple of years ago, together with the rest of the dog team and a guy behind on a sled, and Emre loves running too. He is slowly about to learn the art of pulling too. What a joy!

Emre looking out for birds after having inspected the shore. He loves chasing birds, especially when they sit by the sea and he can run towards them just to scare them off. He does not need to bark in order to do that, so he doesn't. Most of the time, anyway. And just like when he was a little puppy still living at his (home/original) kennel, he continues to enjoy taking a break to stop and get an overview over what goes on in the surroundings. Just in case, I guess.

Smells like spring spirit

It started looking like spring around the 20th of March. But then another snowfall came, and it was equal to the most we've had this winter. One of the days the weather was lovely and I was not at work, so I took the dog with me out and made the most of the day. It was almost like traditional Easter holidays: snow, sun, chocolate and hours spent in the outdoors.

Usually summer here lasts from mid/late December to about late March, a total of 3-3.5 months. Last year the ground was coverend in white from 14 October onwards, and it's still white. Which means we've had winter for nearly half a year now – that's a lot, and it feels like way too much.

So therefore I am glad that spring has arrived for real this time. It started just a few days ago. Snow is melting faster by the day, the temperatures are warm and I can once again wear trainers instead of winter shoes. Soon every little forest path will once again be available for exploring without wearing skis. The walks with the dog will not have to be along streets but can be anywhere, anytime. In a month it won't get properly dark at night either.

Yesterday evening while out walking there were northern lights. There's been quite a lot of that this winter, and I've enjoyed it every single time. Yesterday's sighting might be the last one for the season. Although I'll miss it I'm not sad. It's moving towards summer time, and sunshine 24/7. Bring it on - I am totally ready for it!

Wade in the water

Today I tested the ocean water for the first time this year! In just two days we've gone from late winter to early summer; the days of spring seem to be gone and with them the cool temperatures and remaining patches of snow. Now the trees are green, the air holds 20 degrees C and it does not get dark at night anymore.

And then there's the beach. Today I went to Bodøsjøen beach, just outside the city centre, together with a group of other people. We talked for a while about this and that, and the ocean water looked more and more temping to me. In the end I could not help it anymore; I left the group, took off my shoes and socks and started wading in the water! Not very far, that's true, and not for too long. But I was out until half my legs were covered with water, and it was crystal clear. Temperature...? Fresh, let's leave it at that. Not enough to get a heart attack;-)

And above you can see the proof. I've officially started the wading season. Bathing soon to follow, though not sure if I'll be able or willin to picture that. Watch this space, and come visit if you want to. Summer is on and it's here to stay!

Days of playing on the beach

Last weekend I spent looking after some friends' three little boys. Meet Tobias (5 yrs), Oliver (3.5 yrs) and Luckas (2 yrs), sons of Annette and Tommy! Here they are at Breivika beach, near the city centre. We went there Saturday afternoon and had a wonderful time. The kids played with water and sand, the sun was shining and it was simply awesome, even though the temperature wasn't summery. Yet. I had the kids from Friday mid-day to late Sunday evening while the parents were away for the weekend, having some time to themselves and just enjoying the rest from not having three wild ones around most of the day. The kids know me well, so we had a great time together.

Otherwise I should have had a million exciting things to blog about, but the truth is that life's been a lot about work lately. Not much travelling after Trondheim, but I hope for a trip some time late May, however brief it might be. Now that it's spring the snow is melting fast and it will not be long before I'll be able to roam around in the nature again when I have time off. That should provide a lot more bloggable photos :-)

Meanwhile, I am getting a puppy this summer and the litter is due around the 25th of May. Less than a month to go! I am very, very excited about that.

England revisited

After the Femund Race was over I took a few days out to go back to England to visit, for the first time since I left last September. It was with very mixed feelings I went, but for the most part the days turned out really great. I met with dear friends and got to catch up in person rather than via fb or skype, which was great. Also, I really enjoyed being back in London again! I also took a Sunday to go to Canterbury and visit my church and see some friends for lunch afterwards; absolutely worth the while!

Having tea with a friend somewhere in Central London. While I had just left 20 sub-zero degrees and heaps of snow, it was nearly spring in London when I got there. Quite a change. Also the contrast between the Norwegian wilderness and the global urban metropolis was quite large, though I must say I love both.

Not quite the selection to chose from in the town where I now live, but seeing it all again in London was lovely. This is from a place where I and my friend S had a long-lasting lunch together; both 'proper food' and cake dessert and then another cup of tea were enjoyed before we split again... It was one of those days you just want to last forever; both the company and the surroundings were excellent! We saw lots of people looking in through the shop windows and dream of what to have; we prided ourselves in actually going in to enjoy it, for a change! Last year we used to meet in the area every week and often walked past here, so it was time to do something about that longing ;-)

S and I also went to see a van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts. Getting in was a strenuous experience! However, the design of the exhibition was ... well, not to my liking, so I left it quickly and sought shelter in the RAA cafe instead, after telling S where I was going. She joined me after a while and completely shared my experience of the exhibition. We agreed it's probably better to see most of it at the van Gogh museum in Amsterdam anyways. That said; the cafe and its food selection was amazing and surprisingly good, so we enjoyed spending time here too! Not a complete waste of money, in other words, although in hindsight I'd have rather not bougth the ticket in the first place.

Having a break in St. James' Park. Yup, definitely spring coming. It was nice, but I was happy to know that when I returned to Norway it'd probably be winter for another while yet.

While in Canterbury I had abot two hours to spare between two dates, so I took the bus to Whitstable and stayed at the beach for a while. When living in the UK this was a source of comfort for me once in a while; now it was still pretty but all I could think was "I'm SO glad that I live by the coast now, and an even prettier seaside than this!" Guess that means that I'm happy to be back in the Arctic again, which wasn't really a surprise. That said; the hours spent in Whitstable were great, tranquil and beautiful. Too bad I had to leave so soon, really.

Eventually I went all the way home to Norway, in fact.

Take me to the sea

Okay, I admit it: You don't have to take me to the sea. I know how to get there myself. In fact, earlier this week my work took me to the seaside along with a small group of people. The weather was excellent if only a bit cold, and we had a great time there before returning to the city. The picture above shows the view towards east, and a bit south. You can see the Sulis mountains - behind those mountains lies the border with Sweden, and three of the most fabulous national parks in Sweden. If you're good you also spot a glacier in the mountains to the left. That's the Blåmannsisen glacier, Norway's 3rd larges glacier. The water is the Salten Fjord, which is a fjord that cuts into the coastline by Bodø in an east-west direction.

This is the Børvasstindan mountain range, just south of Bodø. Many of the peaks here reach more than 1,000 metres a.s.l. The mountains are on the mainland, but the dark flat piece of land you see in front of them is an island, Straumøya island. I hiked these mountains a few years back and plan to do so next summer, but I will not go there - skiing or otherwise - between now and then. It's too slippery and parts of the passage will be too wet and dangerous. I'll just enjoy the sight for a few more months!

View towards the west. Small holes have been eroded into the rocks on the shore, and when the tide falls or when it has rained these holes are filled with water. All the land you see on the left is various islands, and just outside the right-hand edge of this picture (and a bit in the distance) lies Bodø airport. From this spot you'll frequently see and hear various kinds of planes and helicopters come by. The city has an F16 base, so there's a lot of military air traffic as well.

I don't know who created this random pice of natural art on the beach, but I nevertheless enjoyed seeing it. It had lasted a day or two when we arrived (I'd seen it there the day before too), but I'm not sure it will last for long. This is a place where the storms hit hard when the wind comes from a western direction, and seaweed will probably soon cover it. But it looks great while it lasts. I think.

Traditional small boat house from this district. I asked the couple on the bench for their permission to take this photograph and include them in it, and during our conversation I learned that it was in fact a relative of the man here who back in the day sold this boat house (and other houses nearby) to the outdoor museum that it belongs to. This boat house was built during the 1930s and was one of the very, very few buildings in this city that survived German bombardment during WWII. The whole city was destroyed then.

The area we went to, Bodøsjøen, has been mildly modified to suit a large number of visitors. You'll find a few tables and benches, as well as a few grills constructed in stone, that serve guests year round. A few bridge -like constructions make access to the waterfront an easier and drier experience, and there's even a little wall one place to shield people from the wind if/when they want to sit down there. To the right of this picture lies a beach, where the circular stone art thing lies. For now.

One of my most faithful friends through many years ;-) I don't drink coffee, so normally I'll bring hot water in my thermos and then make use of chocolate powder to make a drink. Other people can get water from me and use instant coffee. Very flexible. Very warming too, on a cold day. If you come here and walk with me somewhere I'll make sure I bring enough for you too. Promise.

Everyday afternoon life

Last Wednesday I left work around 4.30pm. It had been a day of grey weather, but I happened to see that there was a clear spot below the clouds to the west. I realised that there might be a lovely sunset coming up, so I decided to wait it out. I headed down to the seafront in the city centre with my camera, found a seat and just waited.

While waiting for the sun to come far enough down and below the clouds I looked to the south. And there I could enjoy the view of this; the Børvasstindan mountain range. I walked these mountains the summer of 2002 and will do so again next summer - this year I arrived here too late, and the snow came way too early for that. The peaks reach more than 1,000 m.a.s.l. There is a marked trail in the valley between the two ranges, and there are beautiful little lakes, and rare herbs growing too.

Looking back at the sea, and facing west, I notice a traditional fishing boat coming in from the field. This one was not followed by a flock of seagulls, which means that either they did not have fish on board or they had prepared and put away it all before getting this far. To the right of the fishing boat you can also see the sail of a sailing boat that left the harbour around the time when I arrived. I can understand why someone would want to set sail towards the sunset in weather like this...

The local marina and some of the buildings in the city centre. The sun painted everything golden, and it was just like someone had turned on an orange light underneath a cover of grey and filled the entire space between the clouds and the earth with golden air. I wish I could show you how it really was.

The sun has set below the horizon and light reflects upwards and colours the clouds and the sky alike. The islets you can spot on the horizon line are a group of islands called Bliksvær, and people live there year round. They used to be popular landing spots for fishing boats coming in from the fish-rich fields out at sea, and I think some fishermen still live there. However, there is little industry.

The sun has set, the darkness is conquering more space and soon I left my spot by the sea and walked home. A beautiful end to a day that was less ordinary than expected!

Welcome to my (new) world!

When I lived in England I kept this blog so that 'my people' back home would know what was going on and what I was up to. Now I've moved, and I realise that there are friends and people I love who would like to know what life is like now, and to see some of the beauty my country has to offer. Well, I give you: the blog, in English this time… I will not update too frequently, but if you pop by every once in a while you'll see some of what goes on in my life. And if the pictures tempt you to come here and see for yourself: You're welcome, be my guest :-)

I'm back in Norway. In the north, in a town called Bodø. It has about 50,000 inhabitants and lies a bit north of the Arctic Circle. This is not where I come from, but my home town lies on an island in the sea just 30 minutes' flying time from here. The university here is where I got my undergraduate degree. Bodø is beautifully situated; it has the Atlantic Ocean to one side and an abundance of mountains on the other. There are a lot of islands and islets around here, and the area is excellent for absolutely all kinds of winter sports – and quite a few summery ones too. The local football team is in the Norwegian equivalent of Premier League – at least for now :-)

This is Bodø as seen from a very nearby mountain just about two weeks ago. I live in one of the block of flats near the front of the photo. The city centre is in the background and a bit to the right, and if you think you can see a straight line of asphalt to the left you are perfectly right – that's the airport. It takes me about 30-40 minutes to walk down to the city centre, but just a few minutes if you drive. The city centre is also where my two jobs are located.

Bodø city centre as seen from west towards east. There is a beautiful marina here with lots of sailing boats, traditional fishing boats and other boats. At the far end of this seaside promenade is a place where boats dock when they sell fresh fish or fresh shrimps during summer. I love the atmosphere down here and regardless of what the weather is like you'll always find people out for a stroll here. People simply enjoy the outdoors a lot, even in rough weather, and just dress appropriately whatever the conditions are. I love that about them.

I took this photo from one of the nearby mountains on the last Sunday in September, when I went for a long cross-mountain walk together with a group of five other people. In six hours of walking we had hail storm, winds so strong they blew us off the path, rain that soaked us in 7 seconds – and beautiful warm sunshine as we were having lunch in the open… Quite amazing, but not a rare experience here in autumn. If you look closely you can see parts of the city in the background. There are also tall, beautiful mountains hiding behind the clouds – I'll show them later. My 'real' camera is in need of some repair, so this photo was made with my mobile camera. You can still see traces of the beautiful autumn colours in the nature though…

Some people from my group, and some random wanderers. Here we are on top of the Løpsfjellet mountain, about 90 minutes walk from where I live. The wind blew so strong that it was impossible to stay on track – once you lifted a foot you were blown away, whether you were a petite size 8 woman or a muscular 6ft-something man. But we had fun, and fortunately we were nowhere near any edge so we could run off course without fear or danger. We crossed this mountain and returned a different way.

One of the first weekends after I got back I spent by the sea, together with a group from the local hiking association. The boat house you see here has a room in the back that has been converted into a two-bed accommodation space, with a kitchen and a fireplace. There is no electricity or water; candles are used for light and water is fetched from a hose near another house on the estate, a little higher up. But this is my new favourite place – you literally hear the waves crash onto the shore without even opening the windows. I'll post more pictures from here later.

This beach is more or less next to the cabin from the previous photo; just behind the building. It is beautiful in summer and both kids and adults can swim comfortably here, or play on the shore or grass field nearby. It's also possible to arrive here by boat, obviously, and as a member of the hiking association I can even borrow boats from the (above) boat house for free. The view here is towards south-west. The wind blew strong and I loved it; my face tasted of salt when I got back in. Definitely a place to return to.

Sunset across the Atlantic Ocean, as seen from Bodø harbour. The mountains you can see to the left in the picture are both islands. These days the sun sets at about 18:15/6.15pm.

And with that I wish you goodbye for now. Will update again before too long!