It is that time of year again. Running around the shops with my list on potentially fitting presents for everyone that expects (and perhaps deserves) one. So I have a system; a system that in my opinion should be considered. I only buy presents I would like to receive myself. However, easy as it seems - a budget [and I do have a budget] still limits the options. And it should! Most of us are spending too much, and before christmas everyone is pushing it a little bit further. I know that I shouldn´t generalise, but it does seem that way. Shopping is a ambivalent experience. As member of our certain species (Humanus Collector) I am a natural collector. I want a lot of items on offer - but can I live without most of it? Luckily, yes. Go smell the fresh air, or sit down at your favourite spot. Take it easy!
Why is it so difficult for me to get myself over to the cinema?The brilliant people at Uncut (take 104, January 2006) provide their list of best films of the year 2005, and I am immediately informed that I have missed out completely. I have been sleeping. Real hard! Well, this isn't exactly a "I have not seen any of them" statement, but it's so close...Uncut-best-film-of-the-year-2005 is "A History of Violence"... and nope, haven't seen it..., #2; "Downfall"! ...nope, failed again... however, all the way down at #20; "Wedding Crashers"; so 1 point (and even though I liked this film, the fact that I have seen it doesn't give me comfort seeing the rest of the list after having read reviews throughout the year but still failed at going to the movies to see them), #24; "Maria Full of Grace"; 2 points (this probably should score more than a single point, but I restrain myself from being too generous). And at #29; "The Aviator" - at least this one is "on hold" in my bookshelves, before finally finding its place in my DVD-collection. (1/2 a point then - and 2 1/2 in total). Weak! Weak!So I have a job to do in the coming period. First of all, I should put a lot more emphasis on actually getting myself over to the local cinemas more often, and secondly; I will have to spend huge amounts of money on buying DVDs in 2006.Thanks Uncut (not!!!) - for giving me this sense of failure at popular culture. But a million thanks for always keeping me updated on what I miss out on in the world of cinema, DVDs, books and music every month. I wouldn't be the same without your perpetual quest to inform! It is not my lack of interest, it is really a lack of time. And aren't we bored with always saying that we don't have time. Everything has to be so convenient - convenient is never easy.Priority in the coming period:1. A History of Violence / 2. Downfall / 5. Sideways / 10. Sin City / 12. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou / 18. 2046 / 19. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang / 25. Hotel Rwanda
I just had to add this photo to my blog. This beautiful lamp can be found somewhere in Lillehammer, Norway. Have a look around town - and tell me about it when you find it!
This photo - of "gåsunger" - as a contrast to this season. Spring will arrive come april here in Norway.
So - where is winter? I wouldn't mind a crisp, clear, cold november-day that slowly turns itself into a misty, snow-filled afternoon. I don't mind mild weather, but now - now it is time to skate ( Motorpsycho said that ) and now it is about time us looking out the windows seeing a snow-covered, white and pure landscape ( I said that ). As mentioned - I don't mind mild weather, but the dark surrounding us at this time of the year is in need of a contrasting white ground. Anyway, nobody can do anything about the weather - at least so we say - however, we have probably already done too much about it. Then again, maybe it is not too late doing some more (read: less) - at least something better and with a little bit of care for the times ahead? We could spend less, re-cycle more efficiently, re-use and take better care of our belongings - and be critical about what we purchase. Every time! Every single time. Does everything have to be new? Does everything have to be bigger, better, more expensive... enough about that, here are some...sights and sounds that helped me through last week: Sounds first; Elbow / Bob Dylan / Madrugada / Bill Evans / Stevie Wonder / deLillos / The Afghan Whigs / David Bowie / 10.000 Maniacs / Abba / Cowboy Junkies / Kanye West / Monica Zetterlund / Ryan Adams / Drive-by-Truckers ...then still- and moving images; "Finding Neverland" / "The Wizard of Oz" / "Lawrence of Arabia" / + various family-photos (bien sûr)
Ina on the trampoline, july 2005.
Ina´s new sandals.
La Rochelle, july 2005, next to the town hall in this beautiful French city. We were waiting for Opa to finish his business at the cashpoint at La Poste, and Ina and her cousin Alexandre both ran around the square in the summerheat in Charente Maritime that evening. Michel, Maryvonne, Cécile and me (Trond) relaxed next to the statue on the square.
I fell for the adverts (again) - well, I am not the one who is able to turn down offers of "free" books! Bokklubben had some interesting books to offer, both for myself (and my daughter I think). She really likes books, so I am not afraid of going wrong by ordering "Teskjekjerringa ordner opp", "Knerten" (Alf Prøysen) and "Mio, min Mio" (Astrid Lindgren) for her. Of course I should have gone modern, but those works of art are classics, so she NEEDS them in her library too... For myself I accepted their offer on "En tid for alt" by Knausgård (I know, I should have had time to buy it by now...), "Hamsun - erobreren" by Ingar Sletten Kolloen and "Ut og stjæle hester", Per Petterson (and of course, these two are way overdue as well... but finally I'll be able to read them too). In addition to the mentioned books I am also looking forward to receiving "Kina" - Torbjørn Færøvik, "Kulturhistoriske årstall" - Jakob Brønnum and "Latin" - Tore Janson. So I am ready then! The summer can fade - and resurface as autumn. Colder evenings are welcome, the cooler air can force us indoors. I don't mind sitting down next to the fireplace, with books at hand. Mentioning the fireplace... that reminded me that I still haven't purchased one! I will have to discuss this with Summer. Maybe it can hold on for another month or so - until I have sorted out this fireplace-issue?
Early morning, Honne - Biri, june 2005.
Returning to the reception-area after picking up the newspapers at 05H00.
Ina on her way to visit Omomo, April 2005.
Music right now:MOTORPSYCHO - "Wearing yr smell" | NINA SIMONE - "Mr. Bojangles" | RADIOHEAD - "Lurgee" | PIXIES - "Hey" | BRIGHT EYES - "Land Locked Blues" | BJÖRK - "Desired Constellation" | NICK DRAKE - "Fly" | EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL - "Flipside"
Book right now:KARL OVE KNAUSGÅRD - "Ute Av Verden"
In my head right now:Music, Ina (always), Ile de Re, Biri, this moment, letters on a screen, my view towards morning (early morning), enveloping mist, no wind, daylight, fading shadows, light (creating shadows), tomorrow, the coming July, this June as well, music (I know; again), these next few words, guitars, a little bit of piano, angry beautiful voices, green, more light (and more shadows), fading guitars and fading angry (but) still very beautiful voices, silence... (poorly illustrated by three dots)
Blog most recently visited: http://soulfulspell.blogspot.com (thoroughly enjoyable reading)
Karl Ove Knausgård:
”Ute Av Verden”, Karl Ove Knausgård (1998, Tiden Norsk Forlag, Oslo)
Because the world is old - in Norwegian:
”Og vi? Vi hever blikket og ser på stjernene. Vi lar oss bevege av dette lyset som har brukt flere hundre år på å komme hit, dette forhistoriske lyset som har blitt kjøligere og kjøligere på sin reise gjennom verdensrommet og som når oss dødt og kaldt. Som alt som når oss fra fortiden er dødt og kaldt. For verden er gammel. Men livet er ungt og tiden et barn bøyd over sine brikker. Leende sitter han der og leker, barnekongen. Uten en eneste bekymring flytter han på brikkene sine, av og til går han lei og dunker dem irritert mot brettet, kanskje feier han alt bort for å begynne på nytt og igjen la seg oppsluke. Han husker ikke hva som hendte i går og bryr seg ikke om hva som vil hende i morgen. Han leker, han pludrer, han er fornøyd. Det er vi som er bekymret". s. 175, ”Ute Av Verden”, Karl Ove Knausgård (1998, Tiden Norsk Forlag, Oslo)---
For verden er gammel - på Engelsk:
”And what about us? Raising our eyes, looking at the stars. We inhale this light that has travelled hundred of years to arrive, here, this pre-historic light that has cooled and lessened on its journey through space - and reaches us dead and cold. Just like everything that reaches us from the past is dead and cold. Because the world is old. But life itself is young and time a child hunched over its pieces. Joyfully it sits and plays - the Kid-king. Without hesitation and worry on his mind, he moves his pieces around, occasionally he gets bored and slam them towards the board, or wipe them fretfully away - for then to start all over again in a new, deep concentration. He doesn’t remember what happened yesterday, and he doesn’t care about tomorrow. He plays, he concentrates - he is content. We are the ones who are worried.
(This was my effort to translate this piece of text from Knausgård´s novel. (p 175, Ute Av Verden, 1998, Tiden Norsk Forlag, Oslo). The author, Knausgård himself, has not been involved in this effort, and I take full responsibility for all errors that might have been caused by my endeavours.)
---
MY THOUGHTS ON THE TEXT:
The sentence(s) that I find so beautiful is the following: “For verden er gammel. Men livet er ungt og tiden et barn bøyd over sine brikker”. Furthermore I have tried to translate this piece from K.O. Knausgård, Ute av verden, like this; “Because the world is old. But life itself is young and time a child hunched over its pieces”. This sequence in his novel (I have yet to finish reading the whole book) moved me. It is hard to explain how this passage, these few words, these mere letters - that were put together in exactly this way affected me in such a way. However, I will try; firstly it is so illustrative. And it is simple, yet inclusive and all-embracing. The words and their meaning put us in place, puts me in a state, in time within time. Sometimes when reading, I lose out on (some of) the words. I haste past them, without really letting them in, and without allowing them their deserved attention. And even if the first third of Knausgård’s story about Henrik Vankel so far has been truely captivating, somewhat unconsciously I had fallen out half way down page 175. My thoughts were elsewhere until this sentence brought me back - actually there are two sentences in question, but if two sentences can belong to each other, these two exemplifies this fact; “Because the world is old” – something we all know this is true, even if we can’t imagine 4,4 billion years, ever! The five words are not even particularly distinguished (read:noteworthy); not until “But life itself is young and time a child hunched over its pieces” revitalises the preceding sentence. And suddenly I feel somewhat - mapped. I am touched by this – and it makes me feel (perhaps unintentionally) included in history, our history. This, my increasingly feeble effort to explain the way these words affected me, is becoming too sentimental, but I can’t recall a sequence that have overwhelmed me like this. However, saying that I somehow think about Knut Hamsun and/or Gabriel Garcia Marquez. And yet, even if there might have been parts in their writing that created moments like this, I can’t bring any of these back to the surface right now. Those passages have most likely settled back into the story they belong to. Knausgård’s two sentences on page 175 may eventually also blend back into my closing experience of his book, but somehow I doubt it. I am genuinely affected.
Summer is here - when you look at the calendar that is - because temperatures stay low, rain is a much too frequent visitor and evenings still require coats. But June it is, and as one normally should start planning for the beach-season, barbeques (outdoors) and chilled rosé or white wine on the terraces, we still prefer staying inside watching Jack Bauer, Gabrielle, Susan & Co. on the box.
I am moving house - or Ina and I are moving house. Our flat is (probably) 90% ready by now, and the actual date for moving-in is 6th July 2005. My budget is going to be tighter than it has been the last period, but I am so looking forward to getting the final arrangements in place. Kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living-room, loft will be the subjects of my attention in the coming period. So I am in transit, about to become slave of bills, mortgage-payments, rent and such... and still I am looking forward to it.
Summer it is then, new flat, Ina is coming to Norway on vacation - we are going to Ile de Ré together as summers before. French food, the company of Cécile and Hok, the beach at La Couarde-sûr-Mer, bicycling along the paths of the island: French vacation with family, what better way to have a summer holiday...?
Anyway, first another month working, then moving in to new flat, meeting Ina at the airport... I do think this summer will be mighty fine, despite the hesitating temperature-rise in the Norwegian summer.
A listed contribution on the subject "underestimated":
¬ Pockets
¬ The letter y
¬ Comfortable shoes
¬ Empty cups
¬ Pencils
¬ A blank sheet of paper
¬ Not having to wait
¬ The original intentions of public transportation
¬ Being served food
¬ The people who keep Parc Diderot free for trash
¬ An open window
¬ Wood
¬ Lime
¬ A perfect view
Bookshops worth visiting:
Zwemmer, 80 Charing Cross Road, LONDON WC2H 0BE, UK [Tube station: Leicester Square]
WH Smith, 248 rue de Rivoli, 75001 PARIS, France [Metro station: Concorde]
Omnibooks, 175 High St Poole, POOLE BH15 1BN, UK
Music-shops worth checking out:
Second-hand shop just off..Charing Cross Road/Leicester Square, London, UK
Second-hand shop next to..Boscombe bus-station, Bournemouth, UK
FNAC, La Défense, Paris, France
Platekompaniet, Oslo, Grønlands Torg, T-banen
Destinations worth going (back) to:
Islington/London, UK Ile de Ré, France Paris, France Antwerpen, Belgium Poole, UK Copenhagen, Denmark Marseille, France Verden, Germany Maastricht, Holland Espedalen, Norway
Directions worth paying attention to:
Bauhaus De Stijl Constructivism
Artists that made/makes a difference:
Constantin Brancusi / Walter Gropius / El Lizzitsky / Wassily Kandinsky / Paul Klee / Kazimir Malevich / Henri Matisse / Jan Tschichold / Jan Tschichold (2)
Music worth listening to right now:
Desolation Row, Bob Dylan / Lilac Wine, Jeff Buckley / Rented Rooms, Tindersticks / The entire album: (Come On Feel) The Lemonheads / Canadee-I-O, Nic Jones / Empty Cans, The Streets / I'd Rather Dance With You, K.o.C. / Ft. Worth Blues, Steve Earle / Happy Happy Happy, Poor Rich Ones / Rainy Transylvanian Day, Ugress / Pancho & Lefty, Townes van Zandt / I May Know The Word, Natalie Merchant / Anything by The Pixies / Breathless, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds / Across The Universe, The Beatles / Monkey Heart & The Horses' Legs, Preston School of Industry / Mr. Bojangles, Nina Simone / Heat Miser, Massive Attack / Flight Attendant, Josh Rouse / Latin Note, St. Germain / Born On A Train, The Magnetic Fields / Mirroball, Everything But The Girl / What Did You Think, Kelly Willis / Essence, Lucinda Williams / Sulk, Radiohead
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:::end_part 1_control+D [Favourites]:::
