Stan and Damae are moving have moved to Norway

Plummeting temperatures Norwegian style

2012-01-25T08:37:00.000+01:00

In the UK the weathermen talk about temperaures "plummeting to -5'c". Last night temperatures "plummeted" here in Gol, it was -24'c on our kitchen thermometer when I got up. There was ice on the inside of the kitchen and living room windows. Outside it is deliciously, invigoratingly cold. No, I mean COLD!

Hva jobber du med?

2012-01-17T08:39:00.000+01:00

I've been keeping this quiet since last Friday when the job offer dropped into our post box. Yesterday I signed the contract and today I start work at IKT-Hallingdal. This is the organisation that provides IT services to the six councils in the valley. My job title, translated into English is "IT- consultent" and I'm actually employed by Gol council, as Damae is. Exactly what I will end up

Ask

2012-01-12T19:37:00.002+01:00

Please,just ask.Don't dress it upstack up obstaclessuggest you have no controlinsist that there are no optionsmake it out to be what it isn'tbe blind to possibilitiespreempt my reactionPlease,just ask.

Supercool

2012-01-10T23:23:00.000+01:00

We've just driven back from Ål in the rain. Nothing amazing you might think, given the strange weather we've had this year. However, the strange thing is that it is -10'c out there and yet it is raining. This doesn't make the roads slippery as you might think, as the rain freezes instantly when it hits the ground. The big problem is that it also freezes instantly when it hits your windscreen.

The view

2012-01-10T11:03:00.000+01:00

Full moon, fifteen degrees below zero and new snow. The "Snow Mama" is still there in the garden. Well sort of.

Northern Lights

2011-12-27T18:23:00.000+01:00

This is the Northern Lights playing with a lone cloud hanging above Gol. I looked up when I should have been concentrating on something else. A reward for being easily distracted.

Balance With Me

2011-12-26T17:26:00.013+01:00

Meaningis more thanthe sum ofmy words.Meaningis greater thanthe sum ofmy inflections.Meaningis not equal tothe sum ofmy gestures.Meaningis the balanceof you and me.

Seem

2011-12-18T11:22:00.004+01:00

people are seldom all they seemyour expectations and assumptionstheir projections and desiresblock and blur perceptionyou are not all you seemyour presumptions and ambitionstheir inclinations and fearsobscure and mask the illusionI am not all I seemsomeday I hope I will be.

Fix it!

2011-12-08T19:47:00.002+01:00

The funny thingabout fixingis that each fixis paralleled by an unfixthus the more you fixthe more you unfixparadoxically,tryingnot to fixis also a fixto be paralleledby an unfix.

Grumpy Tired

2011-12-08T13:17:00.006+01:00

sometimes I amboth at the same time-but- I don't tell,keep it secret,embarrassed,- as if -being dissatisfiedis somehow-my-shortcoming

Wisdom

2011-12-08T13:04:00.004+01:00

When I can truly followgood adviceandespeciallymy owngood advice,thenone step closer I shall be.

Snow after rain

2011-11-25T16:34:00.000+01:00

Last winter was cold, and a bit short on snow. But at least it stayed cold, crisp and white for a long time. It was predictable. Walking and driving on a layer snow is quite easy when you get used to it. But this autumn has been quite different. After a wet summer and an unusually dry October, the weather has been all over the place recently. We've had temperatures between +5'c and -5'c with fog

Goodbye sun, see you in February

2011-11-15T15:50:00.000+01:00

In the week or so since my mother arrived, the sun has finally given up the struggle to stay above the hills on the other side of the valley. The sun will skulk behind those hills for a couple of months until the beginning of February. As of now, the frost on the grass and the trees below us will stay frozen all day. It looks like a giant baker has just dusted the valley with icing sugar. The

Vowels and homonyms

2011-11-09T10:14:00.002+01:00

There are many groups of words in the Norwegian language, that can be difficult to tell apart or more importantly difficult to pronounce accurately for non-native speakers. I came up with this sentence last night during our Norwegian class, which illustrates this problem. Er det lov å lyve om løven i låven? ( Is it permitted to lie about the lion in the barn?) lov the o as in "of" lyve the y is

House fire - Tronderudvegen, Gol

2011-11-07T11:55:00.000+01:00

I woke at five this morning and heard distant popping noises. Something wasn't right, and my first reaction was that maybe something had gone wrong with the Webasto petrol heater I'd just finished installing in the Dyane. When I looked out of the bedroom window I saw a glow in the sky above us, so it wasn't the Dyane. My next thought was that it was a car on fire on the other side of the flats

Hungry Birds not Angry Birds

2011-11-07T11:07:00.000+01:00

I decided we should get a bird feeder. You know something you can put unsalted peanuts into and watch tits and sparrows hang off it at all angles whilst getting a bite to eat. We had a look in a few shops including the local pet shop and couldn't find one. In the end we found a feeder in Euro Pris that took golf sized balls of bird feed. "That'll do" we said and put it in our shopping basket. I

Wood

2011-11-07T10:10:00.000+01:00

I read an short article in the Hallingdølen a while ago. The last two exceptionally cold winters have changed the firewood buying patterns in Hallingdal. People are buying firewood earlier and in larger quantities that they used to. Once again we seem to be fitting in well with cultural traditions. We bought most of our wood a month ago. Rather than having someone deliver it we hitched up the

Prepare

2011-11-04T18:39:00.005+01:00

prepare for a visitin your own way bycleaning the housetidying the garagebracing yourselfpacking your bagchanging the oilchecking your ticketsweeping the stepshiding your secretsmaking a bedfeeling excited.

Markets dive.....

2011-11-01T13:48:00.000+01:00

Nice one, Mr P It looks like the Greek referendum on the Eurozone rescue package won't take place until the 15th of January, which means more than two months of uncertainty. I guess we have to take a very, very, very long term view with regard to our old home in the Menninckkwartier in Utrecht. Hopefully, at some point in the future, we can sell the house in Holland, and

Easy for who?

2011-11-01T11:12:00.003+01:00

When you do what you dobecause its easy for you,that doesn't mean it's easy for me too.And each time you do what you do,precisely because it is so easy for you,I take a step away from you..

Look

2011-10-31T11:53:00.003+01:00

Can you tell from a distance?Can you truly see at first glance?Personality in posture,attitude in actions,strength in a stride,bias in clothing,predisposition in the curve of a lip, humor in the corner of an eye.Can you tell? Can you see?Are you looking?

First snowfall in Gol

2011-10-09T11:17:00.000+02:00

Now that the autumn colours have disappeared from the valley, the first snow flurries make it feel like winter has arrived. Each season brings something new and exciting with it. Winter is no exception. We're looking forward to deep, soft, fresh snow, cold, crisp air and that searingly bright winter light. The joy of walking around town after dark, above us a canopy of stars in the clear

Winning

2011-10-07T22:59:00.003+02:00

winningforwinningat costto othersiswinningforlosers

Golden October Part 2

2011-10-07T21:43:00.000+02:00

Last chance to do those odd jobs, before brass monkeys put their thermal underwear on.

Golden October Part 1

2011-10-07T21:34:00.000+02:00

The view..... ....go on, fill in the blanks yourself.

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

2011-10-07T21:14:00.000+02:00

A childhood treat: (sour) apple, (buttery) crumble with a generous 'sloosh' of evaporated milk.

Logic

2011-10-07T19:17:00.002+02:00

Logic is notobvious,universal,infallibleor comprehensible.Yours, that is.Mine,however,is.

Morning

2011-10-01T09:40:00.000+02:00

The view, as we say is always different and always the same.

Autumn winter is on the way

2011-09-23T14:11:00.000+02:00

A week or so ago I saw this obvious sign that autumn was on its way. When the sun shone on the valley the trees were so obvious against the green all around them, so difficult to miss. They were not the first sign of the changing of the seasons though. That prize goes to the large silver birch at the end of the house. It has some sort of fungal infection and it lost its leaves very quickly

Words

2011-09-22T22:03:00.008+02:00

the more you say themthe less they meanthe less you say themthe more they meanhundreds say nothinga few say everythingone never meaning a single thingused to get our way, say our pieceto lose our way, find our peace.use them with thought

can't

2011-09-20T11:57:00.002+02:00

When someone says no I can't what does it mean?can't do it now?can't understand?can't take the time to consider another?can't see the bigger picture?can't bring up the courage to try?can't bother?

First frost

2011-09-17T21:45:00.000+02:00

Yesterday morning I awoke rather bleary-eyed and, while Damae "hopped through the shower" I wandered off into the kitchen, put the toast on and started making coffee. "It's a bit nippy this morning" I thought and then looked out of the kitchen window to see frost on the Syncro's windscreen. I then looked at the pumpkin plants at the end of the garden. Their wilting leaves were frosted as well.

Never turn down an offer of free wood

2011-09-17T18:16:00.001+02:00

Yes, I scored a pile of free wood last week. It took me about half an hour (with the aid of a borrowed wheelbarrow) to move the wood from outside No. 11 C to our back garden. The wood is a bit wet, which means that it probably won't be much use until the autumn of 2012. So for the time being it is stacked up neatly outside the kitchen window, slowly drying out. We might be able to get some

Going native: Part 6, ekstralys

2011-09-17T17:52:00.001+02:00

Looking at many cars here in Gol it seems that you can never have too many extra lights on the front of your car. In keeping with local cultural traditions, I've just added a pair of impressive large driving lights to the front bumper of Damae's Syncro. These complement the equally large fog lamps that the van came with (which, as yet we've never had cause to use). It would appear that we are

Sopping wet

2011-09-06T14:37:00.002+02:00

It has been wet here in Gol in the past month. Well actually all summer, we just missed most of it by spending two weeks in mainland Europe before cycling up from Gol to the Lofoten Islands. Last week the Hallingdølen published a story about the weather and the impact on the local economy of Hallingdal and Hemsedal. Gol had twice the average rainfall in June, July and August and in August,

One more thing off the list

2011-09-06T13:42:00.000+02:00

We brought the Dyane back from Holland at the beginning of July, only to discover that the Vegvesen were on holiday and hence unable to register the car. We were then on holiday for much of August so it was only last week when I was able to take it to Gol trafikkstasjon for its godkjenning. Much to my relief, the car passed the test without problems and I have been enjoying it since then.

22.7.11

2011-08-21T23:05:00.001+02:00

We were fighting our way downhill on the E6 towards Oppdal in the rain against a gale force headwind when the bomb went off in Oslo. Damae became extremely cold at that very moment. Half an hour later we stopped in a lay-by and I made her drink three cups of tea to try to warm her up. We arrived, cold and wet at the campsite near Oppdal, not long after Anders Behring Breivik had started his

Back again. Fantastic!

2011-08-21T21:26:00.000+02:00

We arrived home a week ago yesterday from our long summer cycle tour. The tour had been our first one since the summer of 2009 and took us from Gol all the way up to Bodø and then to the Lofoten Islands. A trip of new experiences and remembering old ones. After a slightly fraught train journey back (engineering works meant we had to take two buses and almost missed our connection in Oslo) we

Pumpkins and tomatoes

2011-07-18T17:37:00.001+02:00

At Easter we bought some tomato and pumpkin seeds at the amazing Co-op in Vik. After a while I got round to planting them in pots, and it seemed that only a couple of seeds from each packet had germinated. In the end all the seeds we planted germinated, albeit most of them took a month. While we were back in the flatlands the pots stood outside and the plants grew bigger. Last week we were both

Addressing the issue

2011-07-10T10:33:00.001+02:00

On our return to Gol we were greeted by a demand for payment from Utrecht Council. Apparently we've not been paying our gemeentebelasting. "Hmmm" we thought "we don't remember getting the initial bill from the council." However, we immediately noticed a problem that might have caused this. The address on the demand letter is: S Williams Brikevegen Lia Gol Noorwegen Now, those of you

It is really, really good to be back

2011-07-10T09:59:00.000+02:00

We were only away for two weeks and now we are back home. We were surprised to feel a growing sense of joy as we entered Hallingdal and got closer Gol. Gol cossets us with its beauty and serenity whilst we are here and calls us back when we are away. Gol is a place that both of us want to stay in and both of us want come back to. I guess we have finally found a place that we can call home. It

Peals of laughter

2011-06-30T09:56:00.000+02:00

I remembered the last time we parted, Peals of laughter, that cheeky glint in your eye, that impish grin, as you made one more joke at his expense. Peals of laughter that you used to paper over the cracks in our lives, and make things better for a moment. Peals of laughter.

Jonsokkvelden

2011-06-24T10:14:00.001+02:00

We went to the St Hans day celebration in Gordarike Familiepark in Gol with Jo-Inge yesterday. We visited the copy of Gol Stavkirke (the original was bought by the then king and transported to Oslo) which was quite interesting. I didn't quite get the point of building a replica especially as the forefathers of the current inhabitants would happily have burnt the old church if it were not for the

Blue skies at night

2011-06-22T00:36:00.001+02:00

It is half past midnight and here, in Gol, you can still read the paper outside. The sky has a strange pale blue hue, and only the brightest stars and planets are to be seen in the night sky. Well it is strange for us, yet perfectly normal. Blue skies at night.

Hurtigruten

2011-06-18T22:39:00.002+02:00

Following on from the popular film of a complete train journey over the Bergensbanen from Bergen to Oslo Sentrum, filmed from the engine driver seat, NRK have gone one better. They are televising the complete Hurtigruten journey from Bergen to Kirkenes. This will take one hundred and thirty-four hours instead of the mere seven hours of the Bergensbanen film. I think you can watch the Hurtigruten

A year ago last week.....

2011-06-18T22:24:00.000+02:00

...we visited Gol for the first time. We saw a green valley in the summer sun. We woke often at night as the sky stayed so light. We sorted out so many things and yet so few. A year ago last week.

Autopilot

2011-06-16T23:24:00.005+02:00

Why is itwhen out I canturn off my worriesto focus on youwhile at homemy tirednessand selfsurface?Where do theygo when I am out?Where do theyhide in myhome?

it hurts

2011-06-14T17:09:00.008+02:00

i can hide itignore itimagine it's not so badbe quite unaware evencongratulate myselffor being so strongfunction normallyand carry onuntilyouask

Honestly Interested

2011-06-13T21:51:00.004+02:00

do keep those wholisten to understandlook in order to seetouch so as to feelremember to forgiveaccept and challengerespond in kindso that you dokeep those who do

Message Unspoken

2011-06-11T22:57:00.009+02:00

I hear what you do not sayneither to yourself nor to mewordlessly it seeps into my bodyand slowly rises into my mindyears pass before I can formulatethe thoughts and words to expressthat which you never utteredyet always saidconfirming myfeelings of uneasebe honestwith yourselfso that you canbe honestwith me

define

2011-06-11T22:38:00.003+02:00

(these are)(my thoughts)(not yours)(the ( )'s make ik obvious)(hear my thoughts)(in your head)(hear me think)(this is)(telepathy)(isn't it?)

Eeh-up mum, it's a bit wet out there

2011-06-10T14:34:00.005+02:00

Even by Norwegian standards we've had a lot of rain recently. The yr website has had mudslide and flood warnings for a few days now and, not suprisingly, there has been some damage to road and rail infrastructure. Most of the serious damage is to be found in the middle of Norway between Gol and Trondheim although flooding is a problem over a larger area. The NRK website has some pictures of

Context

2011-06-02T20:51:00.006+02:00

three countries have been homeeach their own children's songsmoulded by their historycreated by their own peopleembracing their own wisdomwords translate, dates corresponda superficial connectionthey do not equalthey do not contain the samethree countries have been homeand I have been touchedby many more contexts

You and Me

2011-06-02T20:43:00.004+02:00

I write me in mineYou read you in mineI read me in yoursYou can imagineYou know meI imagine the same

A big sigh of relief

2011-05-30T19:15:00.000+02:00

I discovered today that our vans don't need to have an EU-kontroll (MOT/APK) until June 2012 (Damae's Syncro) and September 2013 (Slon). I thought both were due this year, Damae's in June and mine in September. All of this is good news, as the alternator in the Syncro started playing up on our trip to Drammen on Saturday (now fixed thanks to the parts department at Glitre bil) and I discovered

Life

2011-05-29T19:53:00.002+02:00

with good intentionexpansion of empathyincrease in awarenessillusion of understandingbroadening of mindfulnesscombines internal ascensionwith cellular decay

Praise

2011-05-28T21:35:00.002+02:00

rewards in giving,warms those gatheringgreases the hinges of a smilelets you rest a whilepicks you up off the groundand makes the world go round

Breaking

2011-05-28T21:07:00.007+02:00

everything does starts crumbling car, van, bus or bike from the moment it's made disintegrating, decaying existence is but delay

It's lucky we don't live in Denmark - UPDATED

2011-05-25T09:12:00.003+02:00

Marmite, that vitamin B rich British institution, either loved or reviled is now illegal banned from sale in Denmark. What next? Banning the sale of "Are You Being Served" or "Dad's Army" videos? A gagging order stopping British ex-pats in Copenhagen talking about the weather back home in Scunthorpe? All Austin Mini's in the country must be scrapped immediately? Joking aside, this raises a

It is gone eleven at night,

2011-05-24T23:09:00.000+02:00

and the sky is still light.

time

2011-05-23T18:36:00.004+02:00

drifts weightlesslyformless like fogfeel it flattenfeel it amplifylines linger from bothencounters and memoriesit can giveand be givenit can takeand it takeshelps you workand then work thoughit standsstillit neverstopsour constantfamiliar

Look! We have children, our nation is strong.

2011-05-19T10:02:00.000+02:00

Most organised displays of nationalism revolve around militarist principles. A large parade, a show of strength, machines designed to kill and maim, polished to perfection pass by at walking pace. Regiments of well drilled soldiers and veterans march past, beneath squadrons of jet fighters and deadly attack helicopters. The message that governments try to send is "Look! We have guns, our nation

A Tale of Two Elk

2011-05-16T09:55:00.001+02:00

This picture was published in our local paper, Hallingdølen early in 2010 (before we moved here) and received a commendation in the yearly Newspaper and Magazine Awards. The story behind the picture is that of an elk that managed to jump in through the sitting room window of an elderly lady, living in Ål in sheltered accomodation. The elk became extremely stressed as it could not find the way

Rain + sunshine = rainbows

2011-05-14T22:07:00.000+02:00

The view is always different and always the same. Yesterday evening, a double rainbow amid the showers.

Are You?

2011-05-13T21:47:00.005+02:00

MmhmYepIndeedey-oIt Is for realQuite soNo doubtI am sureI know.

Spring-summer

2011-05-10T12:57:00.000+02:00

Although it is spring still, and it has been known to snow at this time of year, yesterday it was summer. It was fantastic. The fresh greens of spring are still here, albeit darkening with time. The sun was so warm and bright. I took a walk and was assaulted by smells reminiscent of the pine woods on the Croatian island of Losinj. If yesterday had been a meal it would have been: Starters: The

Admin, admin, admin.

2011-05-10T12:33:00.001+02:00

Yesterday was an admin day for me. By ten in the morning I had conversed in English, Dutch and Norwegian, and found out some useful information. We've been doing our taxes and getting in a right muddle with the Norwegian forms. So yesterday we went into the Skattekontoret in the centre of town and ended up in an interview room chatting to the local tax expert. Halfway through the conversation

Påskeferie

2011-05-02T17:12:00.001+02:00

Damae's sister Britta, came to visit for a couple of weeks. While she was here we went out to Sognefjord and Bergen, and returned via the Rv 7 over the Hardangervidda, to show her a bit more of Norway. The gallery of her stay and our Easter trip is here .

Spring, cleaning.

2011-04-28T17:30:00.000+02:00

Spring is definitely here. The birch trees in the garden are covered in fresh, green, spring leaves, and the sun shines most of the day in the blue skies. The bare patches in the pine forests have now been replaced by bright green patches showing clearly where the birch trees are. In the winter the council grits the pavements and roads in town. They don't use grit salt as the

Autumn returns

2011-04-24T14:38:00.000+02:00

We thought we'd finished with autumn when the first snow fell. Actually, all that the snow did was pause autumn until the thaw. Once spring came and the snow melted, the leaves that had fallen from the trees were free to start blowing around the garden again. The leaves blew into the carport and collected there. They blew into the house each time we opened the doors. We also picked up leaves on

A postcard

2011-04-14T16:25:00.002+02:00

It is always nice to get a postcard in your 'postkassa', especially when the Royal Mail have done their best to make sure it gets delivered. Even more so, when they make sure they let you know that they have done their best. The postcard was posted on the 4th of March 2011, and came all the way from Chester in the UK. I could have cycled from Gol to Chester and back, in the

Envy

2011-04-06T22:35:00.002+02:00

I wantwhatshe haswhatI wantwhathe hasand he wantswhatshe hasand she wantswhatI have.

The first (real) day of spring

2011-04-03T13:36:00.000+02:00

Yes, it feels like spring today, even early summer when you are in the sunshine. It must be warm as Damae is sitting outside without a fleece and a hat and scarf. The grass on the lawn is already turning green. That's after a day of being free of snow and half a day of sunshine. They sky is that brilliant shade of blue that greeted us when we moved here last August. Yes, it is the

Drammen

2011-04-03T13:22:00.000+02:00

Yesterday we went to Drammen. Damae had a jazz workshop and I was on the look out for some seat belts for Damae's Syncro and some cheap diesel. After I'd been to two shopping centres on the North side of the river I came back and ended up looking round Gulskogen shopping centre. Once again, Gulskogen was full and terribly busy. We thought it was the pre-Christmas rush last time we visited but it

What a difference a day makes

2011-03-31T18:09:00.003+02:00

We had sunshine and blue skies all day yesterday and it really felt like spring. By the afternoon, most of the snow in our garden had melted and the hills around us looked green rather than white. Our friend Marielle popped in for a visit and brought with her some sunshine. After tea, we took Marielle for a walk up to Gol Kyrka. The sun was still shining although there was a distinct chill in the

Snø igjen

2011-03-31T17:47:00.000+02:00

The view is always different and always the same.

Spring thaw

2011-03-21T13:39:00.000+01:00

First day of spring

2011-03-21T09:01:00.001+01:00

Yes the first day of spring has arrived, and among other things it signifies the first day that Gol has more daylight than Chester (the town I grew up in). If the weather forecast is anything to go by, then it will be a lovely, sunny and warm spring day. There is no frost today, just the foot of old snow to be seen in the garden and on the hills. The clouds, above the valley are skudding by

Full moon

2011-03-18T22:06:00.001+01:00

The full moon is shining brightly, the light reflecting off the fresh snow that fell last night. There is so much light that it is possible to read a book outside. I know because I just checked. Damae asked if the moon had ever been so bright in Holland but neither of us could remember a moon like the one that shines over Gol. The Netherlands glows orange at night, the street lights reflecting

A Mirror

2011-03-17T21:15:00.005+01:00

isolatedassaulted by peoplebroadcastingone program relieving the nextalonehemmed in by peoplelooking at looking glassesseeing themselves, inspecting themselvesdesertedby dreams once cherishedsalvaged by awarenessthere is one whosees, touches and listens

Yesterday's view

2011-03-10T10:05:00.001+01:00

The view is always different and always the same. Yesterday morning it was fresh snow, mist and brilliant sunshine, with cloud ships making their way along the valley.

A permanent cure for slippery surfaces

2011-03-10T09:59:00.000+01:00

A temporary cure for slippery surfaces

2011-03-09T11:19:00.002+01:00

Yesterday's slippery problem has been solved today, at least temporarily, by a blanket of new snow. This has stuck to the slippery bits and covered all the dirty old snow and ice with a layer of large, white, grippy snowflakes that 'crump' satisfyingly underfoot. As a general rule, if the surface under your feet 'crumps', then you have at least some grip. It is when your foot makes no sound, on

Slip sliding away

2011-03-08T22:34:00.000+01:00

To say it is a bit slippery underfoot is a like saying there is minor interest in the up coming royal wedding in the UK or the paths up Everest are a little steep or there was a slight dip in the world economy after the credit crunch. The thaw has created randomly distributed patches on roads and pavements so slippery that they make the ijzel that covers Dutch roads during winter look like a

Thaw

2011-03-04T13:51:00.005+01:00

The thaw has started. Not in the sense of water gushing in torrents down small mountain rivers, accompanied by the mellifluous tones of David Attenborough explaining the curious spring mating rituals of the flightless Garzantian Duple Floober. No, not like that. As soon as the sun has risen far enough above the valley wall to shine for most of the day, snow starts melting. The snow on our roof,

Since When?

2011-03-02T18:29:00.005+01:00

Since when did I become an adult?. _.I didn't notice.._. _. I am not so sure.._ ._. Is it a hoax?._. I wonder if. _ perhaps ._I'm still . me?

The written word: Part 2

2011-02-24T15:32:00.003+01:00

Last week a familiar blue envelope appeared in our post box. It was a set of tax return forms for tax year 2010 for me to fill in. As we have emigrated from the Netherlands we can no longer do our tax returns on our computers using that handy program that the Belastingdienst creates each year. Oh no, that would be too simple. This year we will have to do it on paper, and two sets of paper, one

The written word: Part 1

2011-02-24T15:10:00.002+01:00

Some types of information, such as facts, global concepts, neat ideas, I can pick up out of texts in English, Norwegian, Dutch or German with ease. However, texts that contain not just concepts, but also lots of detailed rules such as the mathematical basis underpinning the theory of tri-axial stresses in solid engineering materials, leave me confused. I don't know what to do with the information

How to make quick cook polenta in a thermos flask

2011-02-24T10:00:00.010+01:00

Subject: Polenta in thermos From: Ninki Williams On 23 February 2011 23:30, Ninki Williams wrote: Hello Stan, Can I please have instructions and quantities of how to make it this way...? Ninki xxxxxxxxxxxxx Instructions, see below. Disclaimer: No warranty is given or implied, nor should it be inferred and no responsibility is accepted by the author for any

Fashion Accesories

2011-02-20T20:42:00.000+01:00

I love my daughter's mobileIt makes her happyI love my daughter's coiffeurIt gives her delightI love my daughter's handbagIt makes her gladI love my daughter's husbandIt makes her happy

t,q,f,h,l,j,p,k,d,b and g

2011-02-19T23:21:00.004+01:00

Once I was a girl.I consciously cultivatedneatly slanted handwritingwith loops on every letterthat would have one.Today I noticedthe regular flourisheshad mostly disappearedexcept for a few.I still am a girl,even without the curl.

First sun day

2011-02-12T18:09:00.001+01:00

On the 23rd of January we got the first hint of sun in the house. We noticed the faintest of shadows on the wall in the living room for the first time since late November. Up to this point the house had been bright enough, but lit with a light so diffuse that there were no shadows cast through the window. So this was a cause to celebrate, and Damae clearly enjoyed the moment. This shadow

Languages

2011-02-08T21:37:00.002+01:00

SometimesI don't noticethat I har droppedin a wordvan anotherspråk.I can onlytell when folklook på mequizzically.For,You see,it all makesgodt senseto me.

Let Go

2011-02-05T20:52:00.005+01:00

it bubbles uprises and makesme restlessindecisive and frustratedreminds meof all my failingsthe things I would liketo do, to be able to doboth big and smallfar, wide and endelssa knot in my stomachea tightness in my chestmoistness in my eyeit bubbles

My Mother

2011-02-01T18:03:00.002+01:00

My Mother doesn't listenshe talks, announces and proclaimsshe lets me questionher to the answershe hadn't seen beforeMy Mother doesn't listenwhen I speak her thoughts persevereher eyes glaze over and drift awayshe smiles vaguelyand plans her dayMy Mother doesn't listenthat is okaybecauseI do.

My Daughter

2011-02-01T17:35:00.004+01:00

My Daughter never listensshe questions all I saychallenges my truthsand reasons all the wayMy Daughter never listenswon't follow what I sayshe asks me who, where, why and whatfor my story a delayMy Daughter never listensand that is okayI love her anywayand I call her every day.

Summer 2008

2011-01-30T15:50:00.006+01:00

thick down matssturdy mountain tourershumming rolhof hubsthe armadillo tentwaterproof bagsa routeusrelaxedwith a future heretogether

Sunset

2011-01-23T18:32:00.000+01:00

The view........

Full moon

2011-01-19T20:23:00.000+01:00

The view is always different, and always the same.

Water in places it shouldn't be

2011-01-17T08:55:00.000+01:00

We're quite lucky in that our bathroom actually has a bath in it. However, it drains into a hole in the floor that, with an air trap in it, that, every couple of months or so, needs to be removed and have gunk taken out of it. If we don't do this then the bath will eventually stop draining properly and water will spill out onto the floor. Unfortunately, the only way to get the to the air trap is