The reindeer Rudolf

Rudolf and his owner, Santa Claus (Julenissen), arrived from up north to become our new neighbours, this summer. Rudolf, lacking female company, is only interested in eating. And he smells a loaf of bread in my pocket long before I catch up with him. If I do not bring food, he keeps a respectful distance. If I bring food, he eats from my hand!

His fur is a bit spotted. Even the cool Norwegian summer is way to hot for a fully furred reindeer. But when the snow and the cold winter come, his fur will be perfect again.

Clear, green water

This is the crystal clear water in the fountain with Ole Bull and Fossegrimen, his music teacher, in the city square named after him in Bergen, Norway.

Batman is giving a helping hand at the breakfast table

Batman (Erik Garitaonandia Bergo) is giving grandmother a helping hand, serving breakfast. Batman is always helping people in need, according to Erik (4).

Christian Michelsen and Erik (4)

Christian Michelsen is the greatest Bergen hero of all, leading the negociations with Sweden, when Norway broke away from the forced royal union and gained independence. Before Sweden, Norway was a colony under Denmark for 400 years, but was given to Sweden as a war prize after Waterloo in 1813, but without the Norwegian islands Greenland, Faroe islands and Iceland. The British objected, if Sweden got those, they would be too powerful!

The people of Bergen (and the rest of Norway) thought so highly of Christian Michelsens leadership in the difficult times before and after we broke out of the union with Sweden, that his statue in the hearth of town is towering so high, it is mostle used by birds. But his name and the year 1905 is carved in stone, and accessible even for the kids.

Erik and I by Lillelungeren in Bergen

Erik Garitaonandia Bergo (4) and I (62) contemplating by the little lake Lillelungeren in the hearth of Bergen on Norway's constitution day, 17th May 2009. We have been looking at the two processions, admiring the climbers in the Maistang, street musicians and eating pizza at our favorite restaurant Stragiotti. This is the big icecream day for children, so we had a few of those too!

Eva with a rose

Eva with a happy face, just finishing lunch in a sidewalk restaurant in Lagunen, Bergen, Norway.

Returning to my blog

After 25 years of discussion, my wife Eva and I decided to kill the recession with a complete overhaul of our kitchen! This is Eva, with a small army of carpenters, electricians, plumbers etc just out of the door, and the bills coming in! Still a lot of unfinished details! But it is almost like a new house!

We really changed everything: New floors (oak), walls (with oriental wallpaper), ceiling, lights (only partly in order), heating (in the floor (but still not working), new dishwasher, new fridge and freezer, 3 new stoves, one with steam.

Next step will be to find a new, posh kitchen table, to go with the stylish new kitchen.