Dear Heidi,
Well, now you are almost done!
It seems a lifetime and yet no time at all since we waved you off in Kristiansand...
And how much you have grown up and learned over this year travelling around the Old World and the New. I am so looking forwards to having you home again and to hearing all the things that you have to tell us, little by little, to share in some of the times you have had.
We are all so very proud of you. You have faced so many challenges in these months, many at the same time, and you have pushed on, straightened your backbone and continued, overcome and won success. You have shown true grit, and that is something worth having. Something worth more than all the certificates and exams, that I know you have worked really hard to achieve.
I hope that you will take a little time to reflect on the days and nights, weeks and months, and, in due course, discard the bad times and sad times and let them run back into the sea, sifting out the good times and cherish these memories as you return to a more mundane and ordinary life on land! Take the best of what has been, and move on in a positive and hopeful way.
Here at home, we are slowly roasting, as the temperatures reach into the upper 20s and low 30s...it feels more like the dog days of July than Maytime! Everyone is just a little on edge with overheating and the garden and fields are desperate for rain. Pappa and D spent this evening tramping the woods around P’s Farm helping to hunt for an escaped bull calf! It had been frightened by all the general excitement of the cows as they were finally released into the field from the barn and charged straight through the electric fence into the forest! They were lucky there wasn’t a stampede for freedom! Luckily it has been found and returned to its rather grumpy mamma.
E and I had a good fossick through the loppis today. I found some drinking glasses to match our china, some few books and a little fabric. Not much really, but we enjoyed ourselves and had a nice cup of coffee and then lunch at home. Pappa is still trying to finish seeding the fields in places were the flooding has finally gone down. W is now on his half term holiday at A’s in Cornwall. It was strange not to go down to watch sports day at school.
Now it is just five days until we leave for Kristiansand and you can be sure that we will be standing waiting on the dockside to wave you all home again. Hopefully we won’t have to wait 8 hours like we did in Florida, for you all to clear customs! There seems to be a two hour window for us to get you all unloaded and changed into your graduation outfit before the ceremony begins. I’m sure it will end up being a bit of a rush, so I hope you will all be packed up ready!
Looking forwards to a wonderful reunion and graduation day!
With so much love,
Your own mamma.
lørdag 26. mai 2018
fredag 18. mai 2018
18th May
Dear Heidi,
Well, we did hope to be able to talk to you yesterday and wish you “Gratulerer med dagen!” but it seems phones were not issued. From the post the Ship put out, it seems that the weather must have been quite rough. There certainly was a strong breeze here, and I felt for you, heading into it. Soon, as you get to Germany, it will be calmer. At least I hope so!
Pappa is still busy all day, everyday, drilling the fields. The “great flood” is slowly going down, so he will soon be able to finish the fields down by the river. D is in Baerum today, working, and I hope he will have the two holidays next week for Whitsun, off. That would be a great help to Pappa , just to get these final fields done with. D has applied and been accepted into a college in Sognfjord from the autumn, studying arboriculture at a higher level. It means he will have to drive across the mountains once a month, boarding at the college for a week, but returning home and to his job for the other three weeks. It will be a lot of driving, especially in the winter months...
W is not coming home for this summer half term holiday, it is just too much travelling, and he wants to go to A in Cornwall anyway. The two boys are preparing A’s hens for exhibition at the Royal Cornwall Show!
Here at home, the spring flowers are really good this year, and everything is growing madly. I have so much weeding to get done, and I will certainly appreciate some help with that soon!!😉
Meanwhile all is well with us and we wish you so much luck with all your exams and of course a safe and successful trip back to Holland for the English AP exam.
So much love to you sweetheart,
Your mamma.
Well, we did hope to be able to talk to you yesterday and wish you “Gratulerer med dagen!” but it seems phones were not issued. From the post the Ship put out, it seems that the weather must have been quite rough. There certainly was a strong breeze here, and I felt for you, heading into it. Soon, as you get to Germany, it will be calmer. At least I hope so!
Pappa is still busy all day, everyday, drilling the fields. The “great flood” is slowly going down, so he will soon be able to finish the fields down by the river. D is in Baerum today, working, and I hope he will have the two holidays next week for Whitsun, off. That would be a great help to Pappa , just to get these final fields done with. D has applied and been accepted into a college in Sognfjord from the autumn, studying arboriculture at a higher level. It means he will have to drive across the mountains once a month, boarding at the college for a week, but returning home and to his job for the other three weeks. It will be a lot of driving, especially in the winter months...
W is not coming home for this summer half term holiday, it is just too much travelling, and he wants to go to A in Cornwall anyway. The two boys are preparing A’s hens for exhibition at the Royal Cornwall Show!
Here at home, the spring flowers are really good this year, and everything is growing madly. I have so much weeding to get done, and I will certainly appreciate some help with that soon!!😉
Meanwhile all is well with us and we wish you so much luck with all your exams and of course a safe and successful trip back to Holland for the English AP exam.
So much love to you sweetheart,
Your mamma.
søndag 6. mai 2018
May the 7th
Dear Heidi,
I have been watching the ships progress through the channel and listening to the shipping forecast on the BBC radio. You have made great time and progress and now you are so close to land, just off The Hague! I expect we will be able to talk tomorrow!! I can’t believe how close you are now, nearer than William!
So now there are just a few more days of lessons and exams and then it is plain sailing for the rest of the month. I wonder if you are going to travel through the Kiel canal to get to Copenhagen?
Here at home it had been the HH loppis :) Miss E and I had a lovely day together there yesterday, but didn’t actually buy much, and of course I went down again this morning. It was nice to chat to a few people that I knew, and to see if there were any treasures, and to be out in the sunshine! Yea! The sun is finally beginning to warm up! Pappa was out all weekend camping with his friend A, in his caravan, down in the forest in Ostfold somewhere, whilst A was judging a motorbike trials competition.
Our new hens are finally beginning to lay...there were 6 eggs this morning. The bees are busy, the weeds are growing and Pappa is finally going to begin in the fields tomorrow... My daffodils are fully out and the tulips are coming slowly. I wonder if you are going to be in Holland for 17th May? This year the parents of HH school have decided that it is too far for their children to walk to the church, and so they are leaving the parade at the bridge and coming back to school up the main road, whilst the rest of the children from the other two schools and the band continue on! It has certainly created a bit of talk, and even the student council voted against it! But the parents get their way. It must be sad for the seventh class, I think.
I am looking forwards to talking to you very soon my darling, and to seeing you again in just a few weeks more.
Love from your Mamma.
I have been watching the ships progress through the channel and listening to the shipping forecast on the BBC radio. You have made great time and progress and now you are so close to land, just off The Hague! I expect we will be able to talk tomorrow!! I can’t believe how close you are now, nearer than William!
So now there are just a few more days of lessons and exams and then it is plain sailing for the rest of the month. I wonder if you are going to travel through the Kiel canal to get to Copenhagen?
Here at home it had been the HH loppis :) Miss E and I had a lovely day together there yesterday, but didn’t actually buy much, and of course I went down again this morning. It was nice to chat to a few people that I knew, and to see if there were any treasures, and to be out in the sunshine! Yea! The sun is finally beginning to warm up! Pappa was out all weekend camping with his friend A, in his caravan, down in the forest in Ostfold somewhere, whilst A was judging a motorbike trials competition.
Our new hens are finally beginning to lay...there were 6 eggs this morning. The bees are busy, the weeds are growing and Pappa is finally going to begin in the fields tomorrow... My daffodils are fully out and the tulips are coming slowly. I wonder if you are going to be in Holland for 17th May? This year the parents of HH school have decided that it is too far for their children to walk to the church, and so they are leaving the parade at the bridge and coming back to school up the main road, whilst the rest of the children from the other two schools and the band continue on! It has certainly created a bit of talk, and even the student council voted against it! But the parents get their way. It must be sad for the seventh class, I think.
I am looking forwards to talking to you very soon my darling, and to seeing you again in just a few weeks more.
Love from your Mamma.
onsdag 2. mai 2018
May 2nd
Dear Heidi,
Well by now I hope that you have heard that there are no History or Geography exams for you this year....whether or not you choose to continue with the AP next year is for you to consider after you have sat the English one. We will support you whatever you decide.
Here at home, Pappa is still not working on the fields, it is still too cold and wet. D, meanwhile is working day and night at the moment as everyone wants to have their thuja hedges trimmed or cut down! He is still working in Karl Johannesgate in Oslo, and in Fredrikstadt every now and again.
W has been doing well in racewalking!!! He was taking part in the county championships at Millfield school. I have just sent him a nice piece of woollen tweed to cover the cushion of a stool he has made in woodwork. I’m not sure how we will get that home on the plane!
I have started decorating the house for 17th May 🇳🇴 We have quite a collection of china for the dresser now! I don’t suppose I will put out much else, but it is the school loppemarked this weekend, so you never know! Miss E is coming to be my loppis-buddy, we shall treasure hunt together.
Well, that’s all for now, I hope that the weather is kind and the seas are calm as you approach the English Channel....it can’t be worse than when you set off last September into the teeth of a near hurricane! My darling girl, I can’t wait to have you home now. Only a few short (busy) weeks to go!
Study hard and enjoy these last two port stops before you finally sail home.
Love Mamma.
Well by now I hope that you have heard that there are no History or Geography exams for you this year....whether or not you choose to continue with the AP next year is for you to consider after you have sat the English one. We will support you whatever you decide.
Here at home, Pappa is still not working on the fields, it is still too cold and wet. D, meanwhile is working day and night at the moment as everyone wants to have their thuja hedges trimmed or cut down! He is still working in Karl Johannesgate in Oslo, and in Fredrikstadt every now and again.
W has been doing well in racewalking!!! He was taking part in the county championships at Millfield school. I have just sent him a nice piece of woollen tweed to cover the cushion of a stool he has made in woodwork. I’m not sure how we will get that home on the plane!
I have started decorating the house for 17th May 🇳🇴 We have quite a collection of china for the dresser now! I don’t suppose I will put out much else, but it is the school loppemarked this weekend, so you never know! Miss E is coming to be my loppis-buddy, we shall treasure hunt together.
Well, that’s all for now, I hope that the weather is kind and the seas are calm as you approach the English Channel....it can’t be worse than when you set off last September into the teeth of a near hurricane! My darling girl, I can’t wait to have you home now. Only a few short (busy) weeks to go!
Study hard and enjoy these last two port stops before you finally sail home.
Love Mamma.
onsdag 25. april 2018
April 25th
Dear Heidi,
We have finally got Spring! The first daffodil is out in the garden, I have hung my laundry out on the line! Today Pappa and I have spent the day working in the garden, tidying and cleaning up in the greenhouse. Yes, it took all day! Pappa found a gigantic frog in the far depth of the back corner, which he popped into the pond. The bees are humming and the birds are busy in their nest boxes. Next doors cat Phillipa is expecting kittens again soon.
In the henhouse, the eight new white hens are finally getting the confidence to spend more time outside, but so far only one seems to be laying. I sincerely hope we haven’t been given 7 roosters!
Nevertheless, one newlylaid egg is very welcome every day.
D is working in Oslo, trimming the trees in Spikkersuppe, in Karl Johannesgate, where the ice skating rink is. His trip to Bergen is put off. He is a little disappointed, but I am glad to have him home still. One good thing about it, for him, is that he has met some other newly qualified Arborists that have also applied to do the course at the school in Hardangerfjord in the autumn.
Well, tomorrow I am meeting A in Bjørkelangen, to have coffee and visit the greenhouse at the VGS, to buy geraniums. I must also start some seeds off, now that the greenhouse is ready! The usual selection: runner beans, courgettes, sweet corn, kale and chard, salad stuffs, carrots and parsnips....
And quite a few other things too.
So another busy day ahead. I sincerely hope that you are getting ahead with all your revision, and that now you have Miss Kendall to teach history and geography you are enjoying those lessons again! I have still not heard anything about those exams, but keep studying. It will all come in somehow!
I send you all our love, in great anticipation of seeing you in just a few weeks now!
Your own Mamma.
We have finally got Spring! The first daffodil is out in the garden, I have hung my laundry out on the line! Today Pappa and I have spent the day working in the garden, tidying and cleaning up in the greenhouse. Yes, it took all day! Pappa found a gigantic frog in the far depth of the back corner, which he popped into the pond. The bees are humming and the birds are busy in their nest boxes. Next doors cat Phillipa is expecting kittens again soon.
In the henhouse, the eight new white hens are finally getting the confidence to spend more time outside, but so far only one seems to be laying. I sincerely hope we haven’t been given 7 roosters!
Nevertheless, one newlylaid egg is very welcome every day.
D is working in Oslo, trimming the trees in Spikkersuppe, in Karl Johannesgate, where the ice skating rink is. His trip to Bergen is put off. He is a little disappointed, but I am glad to have him home still. One good thing about it, for him, is that he has met some other newly qualified Arborists that have also applied to do the course at the school in Hardangerfjord in the autumn.
Well, tomorrow I am meeting A in Bjørkelangen, to have coffee and visit the greenhouse at the VGS, to buy geraniums. I must also start some seeds off, now that the greenhouse is ready! The usual selection: runner beans, courgettes, sweet corn, kale and chard, salad stuffs, carrots and parsnips....
And quite a few other things too.
So another busy day ahead. I sincerely hope that you are getting ahead with all your revision, and that now you have Miss Kendall to teach history and geography you are enjoying those lessons again! I have still not heard anything about those exams, but keep studying. It will all come in somehow!
I send you all our love, in great anticipation of seeing you in just a few weeks now!
Your own Mamma.
fredag 6. april 2018
6th April
Dear Heidi,
At last the sun is shining here again, and yesterday’s snow has blown into what I can only describe as snow mushrooms! Many of the fields look like the angels have been playing snowballs as the whole field of snow are completely smooth except they are totally covered in tennis ball sized balls of snow! Quite extraordinary!
It looks like you are having a great time in Bermuda! Your bike riding trip sounded fun, but how could you get sunburnt now? Bad luck! I am looking forwards to hearing more about it all soon.
Back home we have finally got a few coltsfoot flowers out at long last. Pappa and D had their birthdays although we have not had a party yet. Perhaps next Friday, which is of course YOUR 18th birthday! You will be somewhere out in the Atlantic and we will not be able to talk then. We wish you the best year ever to come, and send so much love there isn’t room on the iCloud to send it all!
I hear that you are awaiting yet another history teacher. Hmmn!
Work hard, you just have three weeks left of school days before your exams start,
We know you will do your best🙂
Love you, Mamma.
At last the sun is shining here again, and yesterday’s snow has blown into what I can only describe as snow mushrooms! Many of the fields look like the angels have been playing snowballs as the whole field of snow are completely smooth except they are totally covered in tennis ball sized balls of snow! Quite extraordinary!
It looks like you are having a great time in Bermuda! Your bike riding trip sounded fun, but how could you get sunburnt now? Bad luck! I am looking forwards to hearing more about it all soon.
Back home we have finally got a few coltsfoot flowers out at long last. Pappa and D had their birthdays although we have not had a party yet. Perhaps next Friday, which is of course YOUR 18th birthday! You will be somewhere out in the Atlantic and we will not be able to talk then. We wish you the best year ever to come, and send so much love there isn’t room on the iCloud to send it all!
I hear that you are awaiting yet another history teacher. Hmmn!
Work hard, you just have three weeks left of school days before your exams start,
We know you will do your best🙂
Love you, Mamma.
mandag 2. april 2018
April 2nd
My dear Heidi,
Already April and you may be home to Norway in May!! So soon, it seems, a school year has gone by. We are still under a whole heap of snow and the boys have been having a lot of fun with a tractor inner tube down the other side of the big field! So now we have had snow cover since October and I for one am ready for spring!
There isn’t even a whisper of coltsfoot or any other spring signs yet, and I can’t recall that we haven’t had flowers for Ds birthday ever! Neither have I hung out the washing, and you know how much I love to do that. However, we do have lovely sunshine every day at the moment...although Pappa would rather have rain to wash the snow away....
I wonder what you did for Easter? Was there extra chocolate?? I see that you are nearly at Bermuda and I am looking forwards to talking to you again. Florida seems a long time ago now. We had a lovely time in England, and in Wales where we stayed with B and S. Tante seems to have enjoyed looking after our garden birds, and tolerated the rest of our animals! W has grown again, and is getting to be strong and grown up. You will really see a difference in him at least!
Now we are just beginning to settle down into everyday life, just for two weeks before we are back to the Uk with W for his teacher conference time. Then Pappa hopes the fields will be ready to start all the spring work. He had already nearly finished this time last year!
All for now, my darling,
Love always, Mamma.
Already April and you may be home to Norway in May!! So soon, it seems, a school year has gone by. We are still under a whole heap of snow and the boys have been having a lot of fun with a tractor inner tube down the other side of the big field! So now we have had snow cover since October and I for one am ready for spring!
There isn’t even a whisper of coltsfoot or any other spring signs yet, and I can’t recall that we haven’t had flowers for Ds birthday ever! Neither have I hung out the washing, and you know how much I love to do that. However, we do have lovely sunshine every day at the moment...although Pappa would rather have rain to wash the snow away....
I wonder what you did for Easter? Was there extra chocolate?? I see that you are nearly at Bermuda and I am looking forwards to talking to you again. Florida seems a long time ago now. We had a lovely time in England, and in Wales where we stayed with B and S. Tante seems to have enjoyed looking after our garden birds, and tolerated the rest of our animals! W has grown again, and is getting to be strong and grown up. You will really see a difference in him at least!
Now we are just beginning to settle down into everyday life, just for two weeks before we are back to the Uk with W for his teacher conference time. Then Pappa hopes the fields will be ready to start all the spring work. He had already nearly finished this time last year!
All for now, my darling,
Love always, Mamma.
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