87 degrees

I am melting away. I must be, as I am constantly having to use a towel to dry my face, neck and the rest. The reason for that is the heatwave currently battering the country. And several others, but as I am not living in several others...

The summer so far had been good. Nice temperatures in which it was easy to work and play. But then the heat arrived. One day it was about 22 (72 F) degrees, the next day it had shot up to 32 (93 F)! 

That in itself isn't so bad of course. As long as the airconditioning on the bus works and you can cool down once you're home, you are laughing. However, the first is meh at the moment due to having to open the doors all the time and it just being a bit much for the whole thing. The second is even worse: our inside temperature at the moment is over 30 degrees (87 F). 

During the fire and water show back in 1991.
And yes, that's me!

I sleep in the attic. Fortunately with a fan, as without I would probably melt away in my mattress. I don't even want to know how hot it is up there. But even doing the simplest things downstairs in the house results in perspiration just streaming down. 

From the weekend onwards rain and cooler weather is due to arrive. Yes please!!

More snow

When I woke up this morning, it was snowing heavily and it didn't stop for several hours I think. Which meant that roads were nearly impossible to clear and conditions in some places could get tricky. I was okay though: the bus and I took it easy and we got everywhere we needed to without too much delay.

I finished at midday and my first stop (during another bout of heavy snowing) was the physio. After that it was home. Now, to get to the house, I have to drive UP ↑ the hill. Which I did. Until I didn't. The car started spinning, the direction changed and I stopped. I put it in reverse (right into the grass), back in forward gear, but nothing. No movement. *Sigh*

Definitely not its regular place.

Since there was enough room for the other cars of the household to drive past, I felt I might as well leave the car until the snow is gone again. I won't need the car for a few days anyway. I made my way to the house and as I tried to enter, my landlord's brother came out. He had had difficulties as well, although not to the same degree) and was now going to shovel snow. 

After about an hour I thought: even though he is shoveling snow, it might freeze over later and then there could be trouble. Because if somebody tries to get past my car, gets into trouble and then hits my car... So, I decided to get the car out. One way or another. 

On with the heavy duty snow clothes and shoes and out I went. Brother had just finished shoveling and drove off (past my car, no problem) and I started the car. Within seconds the car started beeping. Seat belt! That sorted, I drove forwards. Well, I say drove, more like tried, because it wouldn't budge. Reverse was a bit easier, but still not enough movement. 

I got out, removed snow, removed some more snow and got back in. Beep beep. Oh *&^%$&^&*!! In the end the car was at right angles in the drive. In other words: no car was getting past me! And then it hit me (figuratively speaking): don't try to go up ↑ the drive, go down ↓ it! Which I managed in about three seconds flat. And because the drive had been shoveled, it was easy backing up ↑ the drive again to park the car in its regular spot. 

Excitement!

Snow

In my footsteps

When my family and friends were here over the Christmas holidays, most of the time the weather was dreary: rain, rain and rain. Then on the one day we did have snow, it was more sleety and it wasn't that nice either. Since they have left however we've had nice weather, sunshine and today...

Snow!

Relatively snow free under the bush

It already started yesterday, but today it continued off and on. My last trip of the day was a school run and it snowed. Up the mountain, down the mountain, around the hairpin bend, around another hairpin bend. Snow, snow, snow! I took it slow and made it up and down without trouble. It did take me nearly half an hour to get home though. For those of you who haven't been here: a straight road, just over a mile and a half. It is supposed to take about 5 minutes. Tops. 

Our tracks

On getting home though, it was off with the work shoes and on with the snow boots. Find a camera, find Miss O and go outside. She wasn't amused. Snow is not nice on kitty's feet apparently and she tried to get under stools, bushes and wherever there was no snow. Or she would follow (literally) in my footsteps. 

We got in again after about 10 minutes. Much better! More snow is expected though this week, so perhaps I can even make a lovely snowman. I love making snowmen...

Depressing

After the day where they said we had only two proper days of summer (about 2 weeks ago now), we did have a few really lovely days. Not that it did me much good, since I had to work long shifts on those days. Last Friday however, that all changed. 

For a start I didn't have to work and instead went to town with my friend and Mouse. We saw the swords, we went shopping, we had a great time. By the end of the day though, the clouds had rolled in and the first drops started to fall. 

They haven't stopped since!

Heavy rain, some sunshine and more heavy rain. This morning I was caught in a rain/hail shower as I was getting from the bus to the canteen. Running did not help much, nor did the temperature. I was cold when I got back on the bus an hour later and actually had to turn the heating up. 

Since I haven't got much inspiration to make this a better post than is, I thought I would take some random photos to go with the non-story. Both photos are taken from my living room. The first shows the lights of the stadium (the big light is reflection of one of my lamps). Our local football club may be out of any international league (lost to some Polish club), but a nearby football club is doing just fine thank you very much. And tonight they are playing Barcelona! Not too shabby. See, women do tend to do better (it's the ladies from Avaldsnes against the ladies of Barcelona in the Champions League)!!

The second photo is of something I have shown before. It's the oil platform and I said at the time I could see it from my living room. Here's the proof!

Summer

Summer on Sicily, 1991
A proper summer with temperatures soaring up to the low 40's. 

I was listening to the radio as I was driving home today and I got a bit depressed. They listed the amount of summer days this summer (ie days with temperatures of 20 degrees and over). 

In June: there was 1 (ONE!) summer day. The same went for July: just the one. In August, a bit of a change: 0. As in NONE! Not a single one! Fortunately I had a holiday in the Netherlands where the temperature was very summery!

Summer in Norway, 2014
A proper summer with temperatures well over 20 degrees

It is about to change though they said: from Saturday onwards, they are expecting lovely weather with summer temperatures. But, as I checked the weather forecast, the only thing different is that the rain is due to stop for a few days and the temperatures will go up to (wait for it) the high teens! Nothing summer about that...

*Sigh*

Three

Views like this were few and far between this summer

Yesterday was another day with the H and once again I tried the new pill. Again, no luck though. But I did notice that my shoulders felt awful and so did my neck. Whenever I shrugged it really hurt. So, once I got home I got hold of the heat pads, stuck one on my left shoulder and the other one across my neck and by 7pm, the H was gone! 

Today I woke up to a clear head. Don't worry though: as a bonus for being a good girl, it was absolutely tipping down outside! When I got in the car to drive to work, they even said on the radio that a main road had been closed due to flooding! As well as fallen down trees, flooded basements and other nasties! Fortunately half way through the day the rain cleared somewhat, but more is expected. As if our summer here in Norway hasn't been bad enough so far... Then again, it all makes for cheap electricity apparently. Not that that is much of a concern for me, since it's included in my rent!

Other than that, not much happened.  Three weeks to my holiday...

Snow

Two colleagues battling the elements

As you know I love snow. And I live in a part of Norway where snow is... let's say... rare. Usually everything around here is drab green and grey during the winter. Today however, it was not. Because today, we got snow!

Not only did we get snow, I had to drive a route through that snow. A route I had only ever driven in a car on a clean clear day. The road was narrow. Bendy. Up-and-downy. With snow? It was an adventure!

The single track road

First however, I had to get to the school. Which was an adventure in itself. Because not only did it snow, there was a lot of wind as well. Blizzard like conditions to make it difficult to see the road. Add to that windscreen wipers that get covered in snow and leaving streaks on the window. I had to stop several times to get rid of the snow and make sure my vision was good again. 

I got there in the end though and picked up a lot of children. Everyone fastened their seat belts and off we went. At a snail's pace! But snail's pace was fine with me on that small and narrow road. I had a small passenger who told me where to go and where to stop and he occasionally got off himself to bang the wipers clear of snow! Brilliant!

I got all the children home in the end and continued to my next school and next trip. And even though the snow made everything look like picture postcards, it also made it quite difficult to drive in. I did get home safely though. With sore shoulders from the strange position, but safe. 

And I still love snow!

Let it snow!

That's what I asked Saint Nick for. Snow. A white Christmas. It didn't have to be a lot. A centimeter would have done, just so everything would look pretty. Instead...

Saint Nick went with another line in the song. A not so nice line. A line that says: don't go outside, stay indoors, fasten your seat belts, in fact, fasten everything that is loose in the garden as well. Which one you want to know?

♫The weather outside is frightful♫. I mean, as a Christmas present it's not the best now is it. And we didn't even have a fire to be delightful. Well, apart from on the television, but that is just boring!

Ah well, we didn't have to be anywhere and even though there was a full-blown storm (called 'Urd') raging around the house, the television did not conk out at any time, the walls did NOT move and I didn't have to put the heating up to stay warm. 

Next time though: let it snow!!!

Day 20: Will it be white?

A White Christmas in 2014

Christmas that is. A white Christmas like in the songs. Charlie from Down Under thought that it would be. Since it was Norway and all and isn't Norway a cold place to be? Well...

Yes. Norway is a cold country. Part of it is above the polar circle, which means it is very cold. But, when I moved to Norway, I moved to a part of the country where snow is rare. Rain is much more common. Don't get me wrong, there has been snow each winter I have been here (4 so far), but more often the temperatures are in the plus and we get rain. 

It was a White Christmas last year. In between the browns and such...

So, what about a white Christmas then? The first Christmas I spent in Norway (with my sister, who came over to support me and/or be nosy about the new place), it actually snowed on Christmas Eve. I kid you not! But by the time my sister arrived, the snow started melting. That night temperatures dropped and all that melting snow turned into ice. We were careful, otherwise we would have had a very different white Christmas (although I would have picked an orange or pink cast if possible). 

My second year was probably brown/grey/green and wet. But the last two Christmases were actually white. I had to look it up, but I wrote that there had been snow and even had some photos to prove it! This year? Not very likely. The forecast is for rain and temperatures close to double figures (in Celsius). 

So, Charlie was partly right. Unfortunately though, this year is not going to be white. 

Absomungohuge

Now, Mr Crikey's Mum already has the picture in her head. The one where I got absolutely, totally and completely covered by water. And I wasn't swimming either (I'm not allowed, remember). No, I was cycling. In full rain gear, except for my shoes, which turned into private swimming pools for my feet.

You may be wondering what I am talking about. Well, as part of my training for this triathlon, I need to cycle a bit on occasion. And after I met a colleague on Saturday, we felt it might be a good idea if we were to go cycling on Sunday. After all, the weather was supposed to be okay(ish). 

On waking up, I realised it wasn't okay. Not even ish! It was awful. It was bucketing it down. And for a short minute I thought about cancelling. And then thought: no, I am not going to do that. I will cycle! So, after M had arrived, we both got on our bikes and started cycling. 

The road we were cycling along, is a road where, whenever it rains, big puddles form. And I have actually doused someone who was walking on the pavement once. Didn't see him/her in time and just drove. 

I think we were visible. I also think the car that drove through that absomungohuge puddle, didn't see us in time. And as I was cycling closest to him, I got absolutely covered! Since I was wearing rain gear, I thought it was quite funny and didn't mind that much. 

After I got home and got everything off, I realised I had gotten a bit wet, but then again, I had just cycled for 13 kilometers in the pouring rain. Whether the puddle splasher was to blame? Not sure.

...and that's the answer 5

Lottery numbers? Seriously???

Frankie Furter and Ernie were a bit cheeky and requested to know the lottery numbers. Which I could give them of course, but they would only work if they had a time machine! Which I don't. Unless you count that weird thing in the basement, but I have yet to figure out how to work it...

They did have a second and more serious question though: the average temperature in Norway! Now, there is a question for me. And virtually unanswerable. It's like asking the average temperature of the United States. Alaska brings the temperature down, Hawaii takes it up. It's the same with Norway. 

The country is so long and thin that there are so many differences. The northernmost part of the country is within the polar circle. The southern part is just above Aberdeen in Scotland. Then it depends whether it is east or west, especially down south, where the country is at its widest. I live in the west. It rains. Winters are usually brown/green with a lot of water and low, but not freezing temperatures. In the east, winters are usually white with below zero temperatures. The far north white and below zero again. 

Summers in the west are green and wet. In the east green and a little less wet. Temperatures are okay, although in 2014 it was a perfect summer with a lot of warmth and very little rain. 

Of course, even where I live snow and cold can come. As long as the wind is from the east (Russia/Siberia), we get below and snow. But as soon as the wind comes from the west, which it does mostly, it means above and rain. 

But, I haven't mentioned a single number yet! Well, after some serious digging, I found out that the average temperature in the north was about +2 degrees Celsius (35 F), the average where I live about 10 C (50F). Winters are -10C (14F) in the north, 2C (35F) where I live. Summers are 13C (55F) up north, 15C (59F) where I live. However, the temperatures are on the rise here in Norway as well. 

I hope this more or less answers your question?

I got it!

The back of the house

As you may have gathered from reading my blog, I do actually quite like winter and I especially like snow. I just love how everything becomes pretty and nice and even. There has been quite a bit of snow in my part of the world, although where I live most of it had melted. 

The front of the house

There were however several places close by that had lots of snow and I knew there would be several great photo opportunities to be had. Since I had only a short shift yesterday, I decided to go to one of my favourite look-out spots and take photos from there. 

Nope, not liking that white stuff

But then... the snow started. And stopped. And started again. And it just kept snowing. Knowing that I would have to drive uphill on a road that was most likely not the cleanest of roads, I decided against driving there and instead go home. Since it was snowing anyway...

Just to please Mara!

Miss Oswin took one look outside and decided that was not for her. Although when I opened the door again she shot out and was probably quite surprised by the snow. I did manage to take some really nice photos before she wanted to go in again (about two minutes). Showing off her Norwegian Forest Cat heritage in all its glory!

The terrible snowman. It felt like it anyway

I had by then bundled up warm and put on my sturdiest walking shoes. I was going for my lap. It wasn't so much hard going, but it wasn't easy either. I hadn't wanted to take my usual camera (either of them) with me, since it would only get wet. Unless I hid it in my coat, which would mean opening up my coat every time! I did however take my iPod with me and that has a photo option as well. 

Look closely, there is a church in this photo!

My walk was nice and I was quite chuffed with myself for venturing out. And by the time I got back, all the tracks I had made in the garden while taking photos of Miss Oswin were covered already! Mad I tell you! The snow isn't to last though. Apparently from the weekend onwards we are expecting temperatures to go into the plus again. 

My favourite photo from my walk

Miss Oswin in the snow

Miaow

I don't know what that woman thinks, but honestly, why would a cat like snow? Do I look like a Snow Leopard? Or a Siberian Tiger? Yes, of course I have some Norwegian Forest Cat in me somewhere, but that is mostly my tail! Mind you, I did go out on my own, so I have to give her that.

That snow however is awful. It's cold, it sticks to my feet and tummy and fur, it get's in my eyes and sits on my tail and even worse: this snow was wet snow. It would turn to water immediately, making me wet. Did I ever tell you that cats don't like water?? And don't you start telling me about Ocelots and Fish Cats and Sumatran Tigers and such. They are freaks of nature!

Mara decided though that five minutes out in that wet snow was enough for her and I completely agreed! Sometimes it's better to be inside and watch what happens outside!

PS: update 1: The headache hadn't lessened and I am now on my second sick leave day. Knowing the pattern of headaches from the past, I should be well enough again by tomorrow.

Photo taken in Kopervik by Paul André Sommerfeldt for Karmøy Nytt

Update 2: I managed to get off that roundabout last Sunday without any damages. A colleague today was not so lucky. Six of his passengers were hurt when the main road he drove on (so, not where I had my trouble) turned out to be very slippery and he hit a concrete wall. The driver himself was trapped for a while before they managed to get him out. None of them were badly hurt though, but still: don't play with the weather!

Careful of the icy patch

Icy selfie

I had to work yesterday. Which was okay in one sense, since it would be my last Sunday shift. We are getting new rotas and there are no Sunday shifts on mine. However, I was quite sad to have to work, because yesterday we had snow and I quite like snow! 

I went to work though, enjoying the snow that was lying everywhere, seeing the snowmen going up, seeing children with sleds and a lot of people out to enjoy the weather. The temperatures were not as low as earlier in the week, so unfortunately quite a bit of the snow melted, especially where I live: when I got home, there was hardly any left!

The high temperatures combined with frozen undergrounds left a big problem for areas that had not been salted and/or gritted though. Ice rinks. And I encountered one. And not just a simple flat ice rink either, oh no, it was uphill! Not that much of a problem if you are a person trying to get from A to B. If however you drive a bus, like I did, it gets a bit trickier. 

A nice fresh bath anyone?

There is a small roundabout  on the side of the road to allow buses to change direction that is at quite a steep angle and that had frozen over. I hadn't noticed though, since the rest of the road was absolutely fine. There was a car parked in a stupid place, but even so I felt I could avoid that and do my tour around the roundabout. I was wrong!

I wasn't even half way up, when I felt my wheels slipping and my bus going backwards. I hit the brakes with all my might, but that low wall behind the bus was coming ominously close. Fortunately I stopped in time. I was however by then better situated and tried again. This time it was even scarier and the wall came even closer! I then decided that car needed to move. Turned out, the minute she would take off the brakes, she would ram into me: she had the exact same problem! 

Help was at hand though, her son got grit from the grit box outside the school and put it in front of her wheels. In a moment she was off. He then went back for more grit for my front wheels and I managed to get out of that situation, by backing out and driving away in the opposite direction. 

Perhaps I won't wish for snow so much next time...

PS: the title of the post today comes from a line in a short Muppet movie: A Muppet Family Christmas. Everybody entering the house of Fozzie's mother is told to be 'careful of the icy patch!'

Below

Even the signpost was cold!

Freezing that is. Below freezing. As in it's cold. Fortunately no wind today, but some is expected for the coming days. As is snow, but that won't come until next week apparently. Other than that, the freezing temperatures are to stay for a while yet. Which for the part of Norway I am living in, is quite unusual. The weather during the winter is normally rain and plus temperatures. 

I don't mind so much about the cold. I like the cold. You can dress up for the cold. Put on a pair of longjohns or an extra shirt under your uniform. A pair of lovely pink mittens when out walking. A bright orange hat. 

My bed looks has more blankets on it than usual as well. And today I bought something I thought I would never buy: an electric blanket. Whether I will be using it on my own bed, or whether it will be for the guest bed, is still up for debate in my head. Then again, having to strip the bed in these temperatures is no fun either. 

Anyway. It's cold here. Just thought you would like to know!

Shiver

And no, I didn´t make my bed this morning!

It has been a stormy night around here. Coming in from the North, which is where my bedroom is located. Great. The temperature in my room was a balmy 6 degrees above zero, so I decided it might be a good idea to put an extra (cotton) blanket on my bed. On top of the (cotton) one that is already there and on top of the winter duvet.

I went to bed, but after only a few minutes I realised: I was shivering. So, I got up again, found another (woollen this time) blanket and put it on. That was the ticket. 

Until I realised my feet weren´t getting warm at all. So, up it was again and this time I went in search of socks. I put them on shiveringly and then went to bed again. Toasty warm by now I fell asleep. 

Only to be dreaming of a house where the snow came in through the roof! Which despite the many faults this house has, it doesn´t have this one.

Snow

The tires in their bags. Good thing I have a small car with small tires!

In Norway it is usually a good idea to change your tires from summer to winter and back. The thing was though: it had been quite warm up until last week and I kept on forgetting about those round things at the bottom of my car. But on Saturday I decided I would get it done, because cold weather was forecast. 

So, after hauling all the tires from my basement to my car, I made my way to the tire-center. I had to wait about half an hour, but then it was my turn. He was finished putting the tires on in less than 10 minutes, so I was happy. And the cost was great as well. 

The best thing about it though? I had my spiked tires on right before the snow started. Don´t go thinking it was a 10 centimeter load, it wasn´t anything of the sort. But it was white and came from the sky and it was snow. Because it is quite cold at the moment, the snow is still visible and yes, that was the amount we got!

As to the spiked tires. I don´t really need spiked tires where I live. It mostly rains during the winter and I only go as far as work and back with my car. But they came with the car when I bought it and they were still good for at least two winters (this being the second). 

By the way, did you manage to have a look at my give-away? And what about Brom´s give-away? Why not head on over and enter your comment at either or both of those posts and have a chance of winning one of the desk-top calendars!

Cold

Last year's June was fantastic. Lots of sunshine, lots of warm weather. July was even better and people who had booked a trip to the South (Spain, Turkey) were quite miffed: they were paying for something that came for free here in Norway!!

This June? Not quite the same. As in not at all the same. It has been cold, it has been dreary. Rain, wind. Yesterday however, the first day of the summer holidays, was fantastic. Sunshine, only a little breeze and nice temperatures. Today? We're back to normal. Cloudy but dry, windy and fairly cold. 

Which is probably why I now have a cold. Sniffling just now, but I know that that can soon turn into sneezing, red nose, watery eyes, headache. It's a good thing I stocked up on tissues!!

Photos taken at 1.30am June 23rd, 2015

Photo on Sunday 2015-11

It's spring. Or at least it ought to be. And the weather here in Norway over the last week has shown that it can be quite springy. Blue skies, flowers everywhere, well, trying to anyway. And then one day I woke up and found this! 

It was gone in about an hour again, but still. It's spring, it should be warming up. No more white stuff and double digits would be nice again. Hopefully soon...

Nina

They had warned us about her for two days already. She was due on Thursday, then Friday and in the end she showed up on Saturday. And what a showing it was! Hurricane force winds that would give the West coast of Norway its worst storm in 20 years. We noticed!

Oh boy, did we notice. The wind was howling, the rain was driving, things flew through the air and people were told to please stay indoors. Which I did! I didn't get out of the door again until this morning. Checking the damages!

Well, I had seen the rooftiles on the ground already yesterday, one unbroken in the grass and one broken on the gravel. Where I used to park my car before. Fortunately I don't anymore and my car was fine. Yesterday morning I found another tile broken on the gravel. On the kitchen side two more were down. 

The remainder of the fence that was still standing got so damaged I will have to take it out. Branches everywhere in the garden. I had to gather up my wheelie bins, since they had gone AWOL. Well, two of them anyway. But in general I think the house and garden survived quite well. 

And where I usually have severe problems watching British television when there is a force two wind blowing, I was able to watch all night without any interruption whatsoever! Well, apart from when the power went out for about ten minutes that is! And I was lucky: others had their power cut for hours!