'Red'

Well, there was only one red thing I could think of: my new home! I am thinking of calling it 'the little red house' (but in Norwegian of course: Det lille røde huset). It is not my home yet, I will have to wait until May. However, the first visitors to my new home are already 'booked'. My parents. I hope there will be a lot more! Although not at the same time. Unless they bring tents: plenty of space to put them up!

This is my 43rd entry for Photo Theme for Thursday. Why not join?

Forgotten

If there was one thing I absolutely loathed about housework (apart from the cleaning) it was doing the dishes.  And since I had so many plates (about 20) and mugs (nearly 100), I didn't need to do the dishes that often. Of course, when I had run out of plates and mugs, it would take me over two hours to do the dishes!! Then I got rid of most of my plates and mugs, but I still didn't like doing the dishes. 

When they redid my kitchen a few years ago, I got myself a dishwasher. Whoever invented that, should get a medal! It was brilliant. I loved it. And then I moved again. This time to Norway. To a small apartment. With a cooker and a fridge, a micro wave and a washing machine. But no dishwasher. There was talk about it being installed in January, but it's now nearly March and I still have no dishwasher. And I still don't like doing the dishes by hand either.

But today I had to do them. There were plates all over and they were all dirty. It took me nearly an hour, but everything is clean again. I think I will have to do some serious saving to get myself a dishwasher in the new house... 

A walk

The last of the sunset

One of the things that gets organised on a regular basis at work is a walk. Usually around 6 or 7pm and somewhere around town. The walks aren't that long, only about an hour. Yesterday I was finally able to join, which I had wanted to do for some time now. I was still in uniform, since the walk was only a quarter of an hour after I finished my shift, but I had good shoes on and that was the most important. 

In the end there were five of us walking. Of course the sun set a little before we got started, but we got the last of the sunset while walking. It wasn't fast, it wasn't professional, it was just a nice one hour walk along a coastal path. I took some photos, but since it was darkish/dark they didn't come out all too well. 

Haraldshaugen is a national monument

It was nice to get out after sitting all day long at work though. Stretch the legs, get some gentle excercise in and then get a colleague to drive me home! I will definitely walk there again. When it's light and probably crawling with people! It was still quite busy when we were there.

Wow

How not to get sick? Sit in front!

Reading yesterday's post again I just realised how completely boring it all sounds! Get on bus, get on ferry, get on bus, walk, get to meeting, walk, get on bus, get on ferry, get on bus, home. It would have been only one line! And yet...

Tunnels and bridges are very important in Norway!

The busride certainly wasn't boring. I had never been to Bergen by bus before, having flown in in August last year. So, it was a treat for me just to sit on the bus and look at the surroundings. Me getting a bit queasy before we had even properly left Haugesund was only due to the oldness of the bus (smell) and the road, which was full of curves and ups and downs and the occasional bad road surface. 

The view of Bergen from the bus was a bit blocked on the way back

(I must admit though, I prefer the stretch from Haugesund to Stavanger (south) to the stretch from Haugesund to Bergen (north). Mainly because the route south is a lot more open. But it was still interesting to drive north.) 

You never know what you're going to see when walking around

On arriving in Bergen we had to walk through town and it was nice. I recognised buildings and stuff and quite enjoyed it. I knew where I had gotten off the bus on my test drive. I recognised the park in which I sat while calling my Mum to tell her the news that the interview had gone well. 

Frank Aarebrot

The meeting itself was really interesting as well. Frank Aarebrot has quite strong views and he knows his stuff. Even if he looked a bit scruffy! Probably the professor in him!! It was really interesting to hear him talk about politics, because even though I will not be allowed to vote in Norway's upcoming general election, the stuff he talked about fit very well in the Netherlands too!

When we were waiting for the ferry in the morning, this is
what I saw: a lorry from near to where I used to live!!

Whenever I have been to any type of meeting in the Netherlands and there had been a break, you could get coffee or tea and a small wrapped cookie or a piece of simple vanilla cake. Here, it was a completely different story: sandwiches, fruit, fruitsalad, chocolate cake, strawberry mousse, waffly pancakes, several other types of cake, crisps and a lot more! Amazing! Of course I had left my camera in the meeting room and needed fresh air, so no photo of that. Next time though...

Sunset over the fjord

The return journey later that day was a lot of fun as well. I had one of the front seats this time and did not feel queasy at all. Well, not due to the road or the bus anyway (I had a few glasses of wine though). Arriving at the ferry we had to wait a bit and in the mean time the sun was slowly setting. When it arrived we got on and as it left the port again I took a photo of the last bit of sun! Beautiful. Although the photo doesn't do it justice in any way, shape or form. 

And that was my Saturday. A bit less boring like this wouldn't you say?

Another meeting

Waiting for the ferry

I went to another union meeting yesterday. Another annual one, but this time it was the meeting for the whole region and not just our little part. It was over three hours away in Bergen, so we took a bus. Along the way we picked up some more people, drove through a 8 km tunnel which was at its deepest about 240 meters below sealevel! 

The ferry itself

After another bit of driving we arrived at a ferry. We all got on, parked the coach and went upstairs. We were nearing the end of our ferry journey when we were told to get on the regular coastal coach, because our coach wasn't working anymore. So the sixteen of us trooped on the other coach and we drove on to Bergen. Where we had to walk all over town to get to our meeting. Fortunately it was nice weather. 

The union chairman Roger Moun

The meeting started off with professor Frank Aarenbrot. He is apparently quite well known around the world and gave us a talk. Since this year there will be elections here in Norway, his talk dealt with political parties and the like. He was interesting to listen to, if a bit long at times. After his talk there was a short break with plenty of yummy things to eat and then it was back to the meeting where they would have a debate about what the prof had been talking about, which I missed. 

Walking to the meeting

Later on the meeting dealt with voting for one thing or another. It was fast, it was furious and on occasion it was over before I realised what was going on! Funny though... The meeting was over just after 4pm and then we had to go back to Haugesund. But first we needed a bus again. It took some time to get one (the driver had to go to the bus lot to get one), but we finally got on a new bus and made our way back home. We had fun on the bus, but I was glad to be back home again. 

You've got mail

The one on the bottom right is 'mine'.

When I first moved to Norway I got a lot of mail. Mail forwarded from the Netherlands and mail directly from Norway. The forwarded mail contained a lot of junk mail, which went straight to the paper bin. Other mail I would look at, read and it then went into the paper bin. The Norwegian mail was mostly official stuff about my move to Norway and what forms and stuff I needed to fill out etc. 

I also got some nice packages, for which I was very grateful. It's always nice to have to wait a whole day until you can get to the post office to pick up your package! It's even nicer (!) to read on the package what's in it! Stupid customs rules!!

Lately however, the mail box has been empty. Although I say empty, it was actually chock a block, but not with anything addressed to me. Everything was for the owners of the house! And then this week, I received a  thick letter. Large as well. From a Dutch newspaper! I don't subscribe to a Dutch newspaper, so I did wonder who gave me a subscription. 

Of course, it turns out, nobody did. Which is good, since the people who know me, would also know that I don't read that newspaper. For a start it hardly has any pictures in it. Just a loooot of small letters. And secondly, it's full of Dutch news. Which is nice, don't get me wrong, but writing about carnaval or earthquakes in villages even I have never heard of, is not something I want in my newspaper. 

Anyway, the Dutch newspaper apparently got my address somehow and sent me the international weekly version. Filled as I say with news I don't want to know or that is already old. I could subscribe and get the newspaper sent to my mailbox every week. But I skimmed over the one they sent along, only reading the bit about the crown princes and crown princess of Europe, before consigning it to the paper bin. 

I think it is safe to say I won't be subscribing to it. Even if it does come with a cookbook and considering how much I want mail in my mail box (which is a hint by the way!!)...

'Photography'

Years ago, when my sister and I were on holiday in Belgium together, we took photos of each other while taking photos of each other. Simple as that! This is my sister taking a photo of me. I guess she will have the one where I take a photo of her!

This is my 42nd entry for Photo Theme for Thursday. Why not join?

The house part 2

No, this is not my friend. It's me!

I have a friend. She is wise and kind (and sometimes has a funny mean streak). She stepped in when I needed a home for my cats. She gave me the key to her house and her car so I could go and see them before my move. She will be visiting in May. Together with her son. And they will fly to Stavanger just in case I would have a new home. So they could bring the monsters along as well. Which they won't. Since I won't have a new home in time. 

Not by much though. Because... (drumroll please)...

I got the house!!!

Yes, tonight I got a phone call. Apparently I stood out more than any of the other applicants and if I was still interested, she would like to offer me the house. I was whooping on the bus I can tell (I was at work!).

I have to give three months notice at my current address and won't be able to move into the house until May, so it will be one month double rent. But I can live with that. 

Until then however, I will need to do a lot. Mainly a car. It might be situated next to a busstop, but there aren't that many buses coming past. Especially not at 5am in the morning! I will also need some furniture. I mainly have cupboards and wardrobes and some folding chairs. Oh, and my comfy chair of course. But I will need some more, like a kitchen table and possibly even some white goods. 

For now though, I am just very excited. 

Weighty Matters

In Italy, before my season
in France

I think the last time I was thin is half my life ago. I lived in France and was on skis nearly every day. It kept me fit and it kept me thin. Despite the 'pains-au-chocolat' which I ate a lot. When I moved to England my life changed drastically. Instead of walking, running and skiing every day, I was now sitting down every day. Doing absolutely nothing. Plus I ate. So, when I saw my gp for the second time he warned me about my weight. Which at that time was only a few pounds over.

Fast forward a few years and my dress size had gone up so much that the only stores in which to find nice clothes are the ones for the bigger woman. There is a great one in the Netherlands called Ulla Popken (it hails from Germany originally), but still you want to be able to go to any ordinary store and find a nice pair of trousers. That fit. 

In England, where my job involved a lot of sitting

When I came to Norway I had plenty of clothes to wear. Trousers and jeans, shirts and sweaters/jumpers. And now, after only 3 months in this country I have to go clothes shopping. Because I have lost so much weight even my jeans don't fit nicely anymore. Already one pair of trousers is so big I can take it off without undoing the zip and the buttons! Great news of course. Well, unless your trousers fall down your ankles while walking down the high street that is (and no, this didn't happen).

I was wondering about this weight loss. I don't seem to be doing so much more here than I did in the Netherlands. Yes, I walk down and uphill every day, but I cycled 8 km every day in the Netherlands. Yes, I play badminton once a week, but that is hardly going to get me to loose that much! Yes, the food here is different, but what with the cakes and the other nice things here, I don't think that is the reason. 

A beer I had at my sister's last year

And then it hit me. Alcohol. I hardly drink it anymore. First of all, it's no fun drinking on your own. Even becoming quite sad after only a short while. Second, it's so expensive! The price easily is four times the amount I pay in the Netherlands! So, where I had been having a few beers after work about three times a week back in the Netherlands, here I have had beer/wine four times! The first few with my sister, the third on the Union meeting and the fourth on the Welfare meeting. 

New clothes it is. In my new favourite store. And I already have a shopping buddy!! Yeah...

The Time of my Life

It has been a long time since I last read a book. Of course that isn't entirely true: I have read plenty of books, but most books I read were re-reads of books I had already read and which I like so much I read them again (and will again at some future date)! But when I found this book in a bookshop here in Norway, I had to buy it, since it is by one of my favourite authors: Cecelia Ahern.

The blurb: Are you taking your life for granted? Lucy Silchester is. She's busied herself with other things: friends' lives, work issues, her deteriorating car, that kind of thing. But she's stuck in a rut - and deluding everyone. Only Lucy knows the real truth.

Time for a wake-up call - a meeting with life. And life turns out to be a kindly, rather run-down man in an old suit, who is determined to change things - and won't let Lucy off the hook.

Sometimes we all need to make time for our life...

My verdict: I started reading this at work. In the five minutes I was waiting at a bus stop I would pull this out and read a further two/three pages. And yet it took me less than 2 weeks to read the whole book. Because it is well written and I wanted to know what happened in the end and finished it in bed. Of course I already knew that (it is a romantic novel after all), but there were some spanners in the works. At times I did feel I wanted to give the heroin a good kick up her backside, but then again: Life was there to do that for me!

Cecilia Ahern has a certain way of writing. One of her books made it to film (PS I love you) and it sort of encapsulates the way she writes: ordinary stuff with ordinary people and then something extraordinary comes along. In the form of letters from a loved one after he has passed away, or your own life turning up at the door and not being happy about you! 

It may not be literature, it may not be something that sticks in your mind for a long time to come. But it is a good read for a lazy afternoon. Thumbs up!!

Cats

Photo taken by Pepperfly at the back of her
house

Living without cats has a few pros and a lot of cons. Let me start with the pros.

*No cathairs. And if you have to wear a dark blue uniform, no cathairs is a definite plus.

*No costs. They can be really expensive what with vaccinations, treatments, food, litterbox stuff etc.

*No cathairs. Yes, I know I mentioned it already, but they do get everywhere. Even after three months without my cats I still find them!

So, what about the cons?

*A home is not a home without a cat. Every home needs one! It is just empty here now. Nobody to greet you when you get home. 

*The friendship you get from a cat. I know they say dogs are friends and not cats. Now, this is almost always said by a dog owner/lover. Any cat slave will know it to be different!

*The warmth. You don't need a hot water bottle when you have a cat. Just let them lie at your feet. They radiate enough heat, being little furballs!

Of course there are plenty of people who think differently. It doesn't matter. Wuppie agrees. Although not so much about the cathairs and the costs. He thinks those are fine and managable. At least that's what I read in his eyes in the photo above! And the unspoken question:

When are you going to get us a new home with you in Norway? HURRY!!!

The house

A lot of people want this place

On Thursday I had several trips past the house and every time I saw it, I fell a little bit more in love with it. It is situated next to a road, but it is such a quiet road that I think I can safely say there is less traffic on that road then there was on the road outside my home in the Netherlands. There was however a little problem with getting there for the viewing. How to get there?

In the end I resorted to my friend Facebook and asked the question if anybody could help me out. And within hours one of my colleagues had offered to drive me there! So, this afternoon we went to see the house. 

The back of the house. The small window at the top is
from the single bedroom, the door at the bottom leads to a
full height cellar.

Now, from the outside it looks really nice and new. From the inside it's a bit older. But it was a charming place nonetheless. Although I did say to my colleague I hoped they would take all the animal heads and skulls out! Not really my decorating choice. There was a living area and a dining area. A kitchen and the bathroom from that kitchen. A hallway with the stairs going down to the cellar (which is HUGE) and up to the first floor. On the first floor there were two bedrooms: one double and one single. I could house my bed in the double room, although it might get a little cramped for my wardrobe. There is however a space under the eaves that would be perfect for that. My clothes that is, not the wardrobe. 

The single room is very small, but would house a low single bed. In the hallway there were a few smaller cupboards and closets. Outside there is quite an area: I think probably three to four times the amount of space then the space I had in the Netherlands. 

View over the road and towards the sea from the
double bedroom

So, will I get it? A big question and I think the answer most probably is no. I won't. Because there were dozens of people milling about viewing the place. Actually when we arrived there were so many cars we had to park on the busstop, 20 meters from the house! But I do like the place. It might be a bit old in places, but I fell even more in love with it than I already was. 

I don't know when I will hear, I hope soon. Because it would be perfect for me (and for my family and friends: a place to drink wine in...) and for the cats! So much space to run around in outside they would never get back in! 

Fingers and everything else crossed!!!

House call

The owner's big fat and fluffy cat: Sofie

Norwegians love pets. I see so many cats running around. Big, fat and fluffy cats. Used to the outdoors, but nearly all wearing a collar, so they do have homes. I also see a lot of dogs being walked. Small dogs with coats and big dogs with coats. Oh, and lights. Because it gets a bit cold over here (hence the coats) and it gets dark early (hence the lights and/or reflective gear). 

Norway is a big country. Lots of space. Not so many people. Compared to the Netherlands of course. Where it was small and a lot of people. But, where I lived in a three bedroomed house in the Netherlands, I now live in a basement flat with one bedroom and hardly enough room to swing a cat! Which I can't have here, so it doesn't matter that I can't swing one! I do want my cats though, because I miss them. They are still young (well, 11 and 15) and I think they might do quite well over here. 

Lots of room, albeit with a lot of rock

So, since I don't want to live in a small one bedroomed basement flat for the rest of my life, I had to start looking for a different place. One with at least 2 bedrooms. Which was quite easy. There are plenty of those around. Although some of them don't have room to swing a flea in them, they are that small. However, one stipulation I get over and over and over is: ikke røyk, ikke dyr. No smoking, no animals. 

And then I saw a place advertised and I knew it would be perfect. For starters it is in a really quiet area. And when I say quiet, I mean out of town quiet. Middle of the fields quiet. Close to the sea quiet! It has two bedrooms. Which I want. And the rent isn't extortionately high. I don't know whether they will allow animals, but they do want a long term renter, so I have my hopes up. 

It will be a tad smaller than Buckingham Palace.
I hope!

Tomorrow I will get the help of one of my colleagues so I can get over there (the bus is too early going in and way too late going back). I won't be the only one viewing the property, but I am sure as helter-skelter going to try and get it. Because I sort of fell in love with it!

Exciting!!!

'Round'

It's been a while since I last joined Photo Theme for Thursday. Of course that had a lot to do with me not only moving house, but country as well. But, I am back in and keen to find out what it has in store for us this year!

When I was in Bergen, Norway last year, I saw these manhole covers a lot. So, what do you do as a tourist? You take a photo! Which I did. And which I can now show you, since it fits perfectly in the 'round' prompt for this week! The manhole cover actually shows a bit of Bergen as well. The houses along the quay and a tall ship used during the Hanseatic period.

This is my 41st entry for Photo Theme for Thursday. Why not join?

Probation

When I first got my contract several months ago, I was a bit shocked to see I would have a six month probation period. Six months!! That was a lot. In the Netherlands I had only had a month and I nearly didn't make it through that month! But, I felt that moaning about the probation period might just diminish my chances of actually getting the job, so I signed and moved to Norway.

Now, during my six month probation I will have two evalution chats. The first one was today with the personel manager. She is new, thought my last name was my first name (?) and we talked for about half an hour. I think. She asked me how I was doing and whether I was enjoying myself. Whether I had any troubles with the routes or the general driving. And how long I was thinking of staying. I told her about France, my cats and yes, I had knitted my hat myself. 

In another few months I will have another chat. Then it will be with my team leader. And in May, if things go well, my probation period will be over and I get to stay until I decide I don't want to stay any longer. Or until I retire. Which can be anytime after 67, which is the official age, but I have several colleagues who are over 70 now.

Anyway. I get to stay. For now. And I trust myself enough I will be able to stay come May. 

Eleven

Warning: very long post!!!

Everybody who moves to another country will know: life isn't as picturesque as it shows you in the folders. Read the blogs of previous emigrants/immigrants and you can read some true horror stories. Especially by those who fell for the brochure and didn't look any further. 

I started thinking about emigrating from the Netherlands about 8 years ago I think. I told my family, I told my friends, I told my colleagues. I wanted to move to Canada. Visiting a emigration fair in the Netherlands, I soon realised moving to Canada didn't just have hooks and eyes (Dutch expression), it had a whole pack sloth of bears walking in the road. Firstly of course that debt I was carrying. So, I got rid of the debt. Visited more emigration fairs. Started reading blogs of other wannabes and have-dones. And probably put my life on hold a bit in the Netherlands. 

Along the road in Canada's Badlands

I visited Canada. Found it to be a great and welcoming country. Loved the Badlands, didn't care so much for the Rocky Mountains, tried to find work. It was impossible. The job I wanted as a busdriver was a no-go from the start, so I had to change my career. Hotel receptionist. Which I had done for a few months a lifetime ago. Again it proved to be impossible. The only places where they would hire me, were places where the ratio men to women was about 95 to 5. Odds even I found too much. 

I changed my view from Canada to Norway. Realised I needed to learn the language and got myself an English-Norwegian course. Realised I needed to learn the language properly and took a 4 day intensive class. Visited Norway. Got a job offer, which I turned down. Continued learning Norwegian with another 4 day intensive class. Went to Norway again and had a job interview. Three months later and here I am: living the life in Norway. 

I miss him!

I live a mundane life. I drive a bus for a living, live in a tiny apartment facing North, don't have the love of my life around me (he is living the life of a God in the Pepperfly household) and basically my life isn't that much different from my life in the Netherlands. So, why did I do it?

I had that question a lot. Before moving especially, but even now the question is quite often: why? Why did I pack up everything, leave family and friends behind and move to another country. Where it's cold. And dark. And this doesn't just refer to the weather. According to some the people are cold and dark as well!

Well.... I wanted a change. Simple as that. A change. And yes, I know I could have had a change in the Netherlands. But I wanted something more than just a simple move in the Netherlands. A challenge perhaps. Something that would test my abilities. And moving here has certainly proved to be a change, a challenge and even a test to my abilities!

On my way to a new life

From day one I have refused to speak English. Norwegian only. Even if the Norwegian they speak here is completely different from the Norwegian I learnt in class! If I get invited to anything, I will go. I have become sort of a yes-person. With some exceptions, but I will do most. I have joined a club. Granted, not much talking goes on apart from the score calling during a game, but between games we get to chat a little. 

So, was it what I had expected it to be? Honestly? I don't know. I didn't really know what to expect when I first arrived. Well, some hunky sort of person picking me up from the airport telling me that I was the love of his life would have been nice, but even I know that was more wishful thinking than anything else. And I guess that if it would have happened, I would have run a mil (10 km/6 miles)! Me being quite a chicken at times!! 

The (first) union meeting

There were a few things I did know beforehand. I knew it was going to be hard to meet people. As a nation they are quite known for their coldness towards others. Turns out: complete nonsense. They are no colder than any other nation. As a matter of fact, they have been nothing but friendly and kind towards me. Asking me out, explaining stuff to me and all that. Yes of course there are Norwegians that are 'cold' towards me. There are hordes of Dutch who are 'cold' towards me! No difference there!!

I also knew Norway was expensive. Which it is. Viewed from a Dutch point anyway. Food is about double what I would pay in the Netherlands and there isn't always the choice I would like. Then again, my wages are a lot higher here as well and in the end I fork out about the same percentage as the Dutch on food. And I knew Norway was going to be cold and Haugesund was going to be wet. Well, apart from the week when my sister was here, the weather has been quite good: some snow, but mainly just cold. And bright and sunny. It might change of course and it probably will. But I didn't move to Norway because I wanted temperatures over 25 degrees for the rest of my life. I should have moved to Africa in that case...

Where to go?

Will I stay long? I don't know. Right now I am only eleven weeks into my new adventure. It's way too early to tell whether I will be here by the time I retire or whether I will move on again in a few years time. I like it here. I think I could have a great life here. It depends a lot on the job, my personal life and a lot of other little things that make up a life. But, I will keep you posted!

The Irish

Photo taken a few weeks ago

When driving a bus, you get to meet so many people. People who seem to have trouble to answer the simple 'hi' I greet everybody with (she managed on my third try). People who say they are children and so clearly aren't (the one person I checked today: was a child). People who just put money on the pay table and expect me to read their minds (I failed that class at witch school). People who chat and expect me to answer. 

Today I had a man on the bus. He seemed to be nice. He carried some bags and sat in the front of the bus. And he chatted to me. About how Kristiansand (in the South of the country) was very racist. How Haugesund is very friendly and family-like. He asked me if I was from Haugesund. Which I am not. The minute I told him I was from the Netherlands he started raving about Ajax. About it being the best team in the world. How they were going to beat Manchester United. Or Juventus. 

He went on about ice-skating. How the Dutch are the best. Like Sven Kramer, who always seems to win. And then he went on to say that Irish food was so much like Dutch food. Well, either he has never been to Ireland, or he thinks we eat the way the Irish eat (he had been to Schiphol: he was raving about the cheap souvenirs). Cauliflower, broccoli and carrots with nearly every meal. After I told him that the Dutch don't eat the same type of food in general, he told me our tastes in music were the same!

Anyway, he got off, wished me a good night and I realised there isn't that much difference between the Dutch and the Norwegians. Both nations have some people who are a bullet short of a fully loaded biathlon gun. Just so you know!

Forty-eight

My maternal grandmother

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes, I am named after my maternal grandmother. At least our full names are the same. Mara I picked out all by myself!
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Really, honestly cried and not about a film or a book? That was in November last year when my friend Pepperfly picked up Wuppie and Linette. I was heartbroken.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes, I like my handwritings (plural, I can write in different ways).
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Katenspek, which they only sell in the Netherlands and not in Norway. It's some sort of bacon, but it's not.

My goddaughter. She is going to be 18 this year!

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
I have a goddaughter! And a nephew, two nieces, a sugardaughter and a sugarson. Oh, and two monsters. But no children of my own.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Well, what a stupid question: of course! Who wouldn't want to be friends with me???
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Ehm, see question 6
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Yes, but I would need a lot of nerve. Oh, and some weight loss!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Honey puffs or similar. Even though I don't like honey on its own!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Of course I do! I don't want to ruin my shoes. They were expensive enough.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Yes

No cinnamon here. And NO, I didn't eat all four!

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Cinnamon
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
How they look. Anybody saying anything different is blind.
15. RED OR PINK?
Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
What is this? A job interview? But, I can be quite a snob. But only because other people are so often inferior!

How can you not miss this?

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Wuppie and Linette. My family and friends. My former colleagues.
18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?
How to knit socks. It annoys me that I can knit a clown and a toothbrush, but cannot knit a sock!
19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
I am wearing grey woollen slipper things. So warm and cosy
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Vanilla cream, which I hoped would be like custard. It wasn't! On with the search...

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
NRK P1, a Norwegian radio station which according to the interview taught me Norwegian. It didn't, but it certainly helped a great deal. They have some really great music on right now.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Why would I want to be a crayon? But, orange would be nice.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Hot apple pie with vanilla sauce. Although there are some men around that I will sniff at because they smell so nice!
24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU?
Very, even if I hardly ever express them out loud.
25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Beach house!!! There is no view in the mountains.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Biathlon. And hurling.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Blonde
28. EYE COLOR?
Blue. Although I have been told I have grey eyes.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
My birthday food was always fried potatoes, cauliflower with sauce (the proper one with cornflour) and a sausage.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
The Help. I was a bit worried about how it would be, since I had read the book, but it was a wonderful adaptation which stayed very close to the book.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
White

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Well, I moved to Norway, so winter?
35. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Pavlova
36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
Hahahahaha. You're joking right??
37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
Both
38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Diaries of Roald Amundsen (the bloke who got to the South Pole first). In Norwegian/Danish
39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Haven't got a mouse pad
40. FAVORITE SOUND?
Children in a fit of laughter and purring cats
41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC?
I don't really have a favourite genre. I like John Grant, Dolly Parton, Moby, eighties music, sixties music, American songbook. Oh, and Christmas music of course.

Canadian bar

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Canada
43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Well, I do have a knack for finding trees that happen to cross the road right as I drive past! Norwegian trees are very well behaved though.
44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
At home (as opposed to the hospital) in the Netherlands
45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
Norway
46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?
Not my house, but it is white

This was never my car, unfortunately!

47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?
I don't have a car either, but I drive a bus for a living and they are all green
48. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS?
Hated it! Never again! Unless there are good questions of course!!