On a wet and windy day this August I went for a stroll along the beach outside La Couarde-sur-mer. The beauty of the sea is especially evident on days like these. The sky and the sea become one. Even though most of my previous sejours spent at Ile de Ré have been dominated by sunny skies and high temperatures, I really like the rainy days there as well. And if winds in the year ahead are on my side, I´ll be returning to Ré next summer. It is a very special place. A bientôt!
I came back Friday from Ile de Ré after travelling by car (Melissa & Davy), train (TGV), bus (Autobus), plane (SAS Braathens), train (NSB) and car (Hans Ole, courtesy of Kari Anne). In between these sessions of transportation I certainly did some walking (albeit no running!!), so after getting up at 06H00 in the morning at the French island in the Bay of Biscay it was nice enjoying a beer and two glasses of wine on the terrasse at #18 after coming home around 18H30. This holiday has brought me to Switzerland for five days and France for seven, so I am tres content with my summer-break. Spending time with Ina is always great. Enjoying french cuisine (fruits de la mer, des fromages, gateaus), wine, enjoyable company - and as said hanging around with my daughter - is a pleasing way to spend a holiday. And although I am not the biggest fan of sandy beaches (way too much sand that gets stuck everywhere...), I really do love swimming in the sea, searching the beach for beautiful shells and simply admiring the vast ocean. Now, returned to the Norwegian summer (which is still very much here), I went for a swim in Norway's largest lake (again) yesterday - regarding the temperature in the water; we must be talking records. Very comfortable - and thoroughly refreshing in the warm weather we're still blessed with. Summer is certainly not over yet, but we all know it can quickly change...
Just back from Thalwil/Zürich. Went to pick up my daughter, and we had some nice days in a very, very warm Switzerland. Followed her to school the two last days before her summer vacation started.
Today I went for a swim in the river - for the first time this summer. The weather has been very nice this last period here in Norway, so the temperature in the water was close to 20C. It was very refreshing - so too for Frida, my friend´s Golden Retriever. Summer is a good thing, a very very good thing. I wish it could be more of it... Next week I go to see my daughter in Thalwil (Switzerland), before we travel back to Norway for a nice vacation. I am happy as a dog in the river on a very hot day!
View from my window, February 2006. Winter has been winter this season. You can´t ask more. The remarkable effects of the changing of seasons is the best feature of this country, and I would think it is like this in other countries at similar latitudes around our planet. Right now I am looking forward to going to Lemonsjøen tomorrow. Departure will be at 08H55, 2 April 2006. I will be awake, I will have had my breakfast: 1/3 juice of a grapefruit and 2/3 orange, two pieces of toasted bread with St. Agur and a large mug of tea.
Do not underestimate Massive Attack, Madrugada, Josh Rouse and the mighty Tom Waits. Respect and understanding. Good night and good morning!
Born 250 years ago today. Vielen dank!
Gratulerer med 7-års dagen Ina!
Concerning my previous post (december 2005) I have now had time to (sort of) catch up on my miserable "cinema-life". Not that I have been able to update so many of the holes from "myfilmfailures..2005" - but at least I have been to the cinema twice over the holidays. I saw "King Kong" and "The Legend of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" within a period of 24 hours as a much needed break in this rather "festive" season. In addition to cinema-activity i have also watched "The Aviator", "Ghost Dog: The Way of The Samurai", "Kung Fu Hustle", "Hitch" (well, of course it counts - Eva Mendes is in it) on DVD... so I feel a little bit better about it now - still have to keep on updating though...
Last night I put my Orhan Pamuk "Mitt Navn Er Karmosin" (original title: "Benim adim Kirmizi") on hold, to read my new-bought book by Jo Nesbø "Frelseren". It was (as usual with Nesbø) extremely captivating as a crime-novel - no, actually; as a Book, and I managed to read it through from 19H00 to 05H00 in the morning (yes, I admit that I am still on some sort of vacation after the holidays - read: working on my projects when I am not sleeping or seeing friends). So culturally it has been a good start to my 2006 - I believe it continues. Now I have to get some more sketches done for a new project - in addition to finishing some of my files/projects that follows me from last year - so I´ll stop now...
The house on the photo is december at one of my neighbour´s house, seen from my window. Winter in the inland lake-districts of Norway. Cold but beautiful.
"Sweet Jane" (Lou Reed) with the Cowboy Junkies playing in my ears (mind and heart), Sufjan Stevens "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" is a fantastic piece of work - and what a songtitle! "Ghost of a Shark" by Tom McRae is dark, yet utterly uplifting, and I think life is going to be marvellous - not all of it, of course - but good things do come at intervals. "Somebody Got Murdered" by Matthew Ryan is a fantastic cover of The Clash, and now I have to stop.
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.
