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.
fredag 2. mars 2018
March 2nd
Dear Heidi,
It is snow, snow everywhere especially in England where nearly everything has closed and it truly has snowed by now. It is utter chaos right across the country, and here in Norway we can only shake our heads in disbelief!
But you, my darling, are in much warmer climes, exploring the streets and stores of Havana; I wish I could be there too! Perhaps one day....
Here at home, the cold winds continue and the birds are ever busy at the feeders. Mr Squirrel has a friend, and they have been popping in and out of the bird box on the birch tree. Perhaps we will have our own squirrel family this spring. I try to keep the cats indoors all day, which as it is so cold and snowy doesn’t seem to be a bad idea, they can go out after dark, and come in quite quickly then.
We are getting everything together now and will be off on our own journey very soon.
Have a wonderful few days exploring Cuba,
Love Mamma.
It is snow, snow everywhere especially in England where nearly everything has closed and it truly has snowed by now. It is utter chaos right across the country, and here in Norway we can only shake our heads in disbelief!
But you, my darling, are in much warmer climes, exploring the streets and stores of Havana; I wish I could be there too! Perhaps one day....
Here at home, the cold winds continue and the birds are ever busy at the feeders. Mr Squirrel has a friend, and they have been popping in and out of the bird box on the birch tree. Perhaps we will have our own squirrel family this spring. I try to keep the cats indoors all day, which as it is so cold and snowy doesn’t seem to be a bad idea, they can go out after dark, and come in quite quickly then.
We are getting everything together now and will be off on our own journey very soon.
Have a wonderful few days exploring Cuba,
Love Mamma.
lørdag 24. februar 2018
February 24 th
Dear Heidi,
We have had lots to talk about now you are in Mexico, and I am so pleased you have replaced your jogging shoes. You will be glad of them climbing up to the Aztec temple. I loved the photo you sent from Cancun!
As you know, we have been up to the mountains. We had just the best weather, so the boys were very lucky with three days of perfect skiing. All went well, and Pappa and I even got a short trip to Lillehammer town center in! I bought a new cardigan there, which was much admired when I went into Gaiastova, by two women who wanted to know the name of the pattern, and luckily I knew! ( it’s called a Nancy kofte) sadly, it would take me an awfully long time to knit for myself though.
Back at the ranch....L and W were not much help to the older boys clearing the snow off the roof of the cabin, they were too busy jumping off the highest point of the gable. Luckily no one was hurt, even though L did a couple of very elegant back flips!! We did eventually get most of the snow cleared, and Pappa made a lovely snow bench and table on the balcony, where we sat in the sunshine and enjoyed a glass of wine.
Saturday dawned cold, foggy and sleety, so we had a large brunch, a use it up lunch, and cleaned, packed and left before the evening crowds...or at least we tried to, but miss Bella did not want to leave just yet, so she slipped her collar between house and car and raced off full speed for a couple of kilometres, with D, very much out of his former sprinter shape, running after her! Of course miss B is hardly in her own former shape, being nearly 11 now, so I suspect she was glad to see Pappa with the car shortly afterwards...and so was D! Nevertheless we got home before darkness, and were met by two happy cats, glad to be fed indoors again and to join us on the sofa.
You will be glad to know that Norway 🇳🇴 now has 38 medals, and must surely be the Olympic Games winners overall now. But you can also be proud of the 5 medals won by the UK 🇬🇧 , where as one winner said, we don’t even have snow!
Tomorrow is laundry and packing again, as W is back off to school on Monday. Pappa is taking him and dashing home again on Tuesday. Thinking of which, he needs to order a car, so I will pop off and remind him now.
Looking forwards to hearing about your trip inland;
Love from us all, especially me! Mamma.
We have had lots to talk about now you are in Mexico, and I am so pleased you have replaced your jogging shoes. You will be glad of them climbing up to the Aztec temple. I loved the photo you sent from Cancun!
As you know, we have been up to the mountains. We had just the best weather, so the boys were very lucky with three days of perfect skiing. All went well, and Pappa and I even got a short trip to Lillehammer town center in! I bought a new cardigan there, which was much admired when I went into Gaiastova, by two women who wanted to know the name of the pattern, and luckily I knew! ( it’s called a Nancy kofte) sadly, it would take me an awfully long time to knit for myself though.
Back at the ranch....L and W were not much help to the older boys clearing the snow off the roof of the cabin, they were too busy jumping off the highest point of the gable. Luckily no one was hurt, even though L did a couple of very elegant back flips!! We did eventually get most of the snow cleared, and Pappa made a lovely snow bench and table on the balcony, where we sat in the sunshine and enjoyed a glass of wine.
Saturday dawned cold, foggy and sleety, so we had a large brunch, a use it up lunch, and cleaned, packed and left before the evening crowds...or at least we tried to, but miss Bella did not want to leave just yet, so she slipped her collar between house and car and raced off full speed for a couple of kilometres, with D, very much out of his former sprinter shape, running after her! Of course miss B is hardly in her own former shape, being nearly 11 now, so I suspect she was glad to see Pappa with the car shortly afterwards...and so was D! Nevertheless we got home before darkness, and were met by two happy cats, glad to be fed indoors again and to join us on the sofa.
You will be glad to know that Norway 🇳🇴 now has 38 medals, and must surely be the Olympic Games winners overall now. But you can also be proud of the 5 medals won by the UK 🇬🇧 , where as one winner said, we don’t even have snow!
Tomorrow is laundry and packing again, as W is back off to school on Monday. Pappa is taking him and dashing home again on Tuesday. Thinking of which, he needs to order a car, so I will pop off and remind him now.
Looking forwards to hearing about your trip inland;
Love from us all, especially me! Mamma.
mandag 19. februar 2018
19th February
Dear Heidi,
Goodness how the days have flown by!
I have been over to England to fetch W, visited with Grandad and Aunty S, and also seen Uncle C
(we all had Sunday lunch at Grandads, and he did a wonderful roast leg of lamb!) S and I had a lovely day together walking on a snowdrop walk, in the English rain, and had tea and cake in the cafe afterwards. W was delivered to us by another boys parents, so for once I did not need to spend two days on the train!
Since we have been home again, well, it is still snowing!! You may have caught on that it is the Winter Olympics at the moment, and so far, Norway is winning! D has been learning all about driving in the snow, making it an Olympic sport I think. He has been practising spinning his car and bouncing it off the walls of the tunnel.... which would explain why I haven’t got a car this week as he needs to get to Drammen everyday for his job. I sincerely hope that he has learned his lesson, and that I can have my car back soon! ( He wasn’t hurt, just rather shaken I think, but his car needs fixing up a bit, again!)
Talking of accidents my dear friend E slipped and fell on the ice last weekend. She had a really bad bang on her head, and is on bed rest for a month! She is feeling very sorry for herself indeed, because she isn’t allowed to read ( or watch tv or use the computer) and life without a book is pretty awful for a librarian. Luckily it is winter holiday this week, so L is home to look after her.
We are off to Hafjell tomorrow evening, after D gets home from work. We go with Pappas friend A and his eldest son E, and W’s friend L, so will be 7 plus dog. The weather there is a bit colder than here, of course, about minus 10, but with some sunshine the boys will have fine skiing! I am taking my needlework. I am trying to get some of my unfinished projects completed this year....😉
Well, you are about to head into Mexico, and I hope you will find some reasonable shoes to replace the ones that were lost at sea...
Lots of love, Mamma.
Goodness how the days have flown by!
I have been over to England to fetch W, visited with Grandad and Aunty S, and also seen Uncle C
(we all had Sunday lunch at Grandads, and he did a wonderful roast leg of lamb!) S and I had a lovely day together walking on a snowdrop walk, in the English rain, and had tea and cake in the cafe afterwards. W was delivered to us by another boys parents, so for once I did not need to spend two days on the train!
Since we have been home again, well, it is still snowing!! You may have caught on that it is the Winter Olympics at the moment, and so far, Norway is winning! D has been learning all about driving in the snow, making it an Olympic sport I think. He has been practising spinning his car and bouncing it off the walls of the tunnel.... which would explain why I haven’t got a car this week as he needs to get to Drammen everyday for his job. I sincerely hope that he has learned his lesson, and that I can have my car back soon! ( He wasn’t hurt, just rather shaken I think, but his car needs fixing up a bit, again!)
Talking of accidents my dear friend E slipped and fell on the ice last weekend. She had a really bad bang on her head, and is on bed rest for a month! She is feeling very sorry for herself indeed, because she isn’t allowed to read ( or watch tv or use the computer) and life without a book is pretty awful for a librarian. Luckily it is winter holiday this week, so L is home to look after her.
We are off to Hafjell tomorrow evening, after D gets home from work. We go with Pappas friend A and his eldest son E, and W’s friend L, so will be 7 plus dog. The weather there is a bit colder than here, of course, about minus 10, but with some sunshine the boys will have fine skiing! I am taking my needlework. I am trying to get some of my unfinished projects completed this year....😉
Well, you are about to head into Mexico, and I hope you will find some reasonable shoes to replace the ones that were lost at sea...
Lots of love, Mamma.
tirsdag 6. februar 2018
February 6th
Dear Heidi,
How eager I am to hear how you are getting on and what has been happening in the San Blas islands!
It makes a strong contrast to our winter weather! We have now about a meter of snow, it is still snowing and apparently this is more snow than we have had since 1967!
Now, Pappa is away for two weeks, getting himself a jolly good medical E U test! I am off to fetch young W on Thursday, and will be back after the weekend. So we might not be easy to get hold of. Just so you know. D will be here, but working ( still, in all this weather!). Nothing much else is happening, because of the snow and ice. We are at that stage where I drive to get the mail from the bottom of the lane, because the ice is so bad. Even then the car slides down, and I have to turn around at the bottom and come back up to get to the mail box. Sometimes D can’t actually get his car up the lane at all.
I am reading lots of books and doing a little needlework, and keeping the fire in day and night. Infact on Sunday, when it was sunshiny ( and minus 13’C) we all three turned out the garage, tidied and swept and sorted through all the junk of empty sacks, bottles to be recycled, and things just pushed in quickly, you know how it gets in there! Then Pappa brought over three new cages of logs for the fire.
So that was a job worth doing, and it was lovely to be out in the sunshine, but I must admit to being super glad we don’t have the hens this winter!! Thinking of which, we often see the squirrel now, and he is frequently at the bird table or feeders, whilst the birds seem to enjoy the nuts I have put out for him in a squirrel feeder. Hmm. Typical!
Well darling girl, that is it for now. Sleep tight and lots of love from
Your own mamma.
How eager I am to hear how you are getting on and what has been happening in the San Blas islands!
It makes a strong contrast to our winter weather! We have now about a meter of snow, it is still snowing and apparently this is more snow than we have had since 1967!
Now, Pappa is away for two weeks, getting himself a jolly good medical E U test! I am off to fetch young W on Thursday, and will be back after the weekend. So we might not be easy to get hold of. Just so you know. D will be here, but working ( still, in all this weather!). Nothing much else is happening, because of the snow and ice. We are at that stage where I drive to get the mail from the bottom of the lane, because the ice is so bad. Even then the car slides down, and I have to turn around at the bottom and come back up to get to the mail box. Sometimes D can’t actually get his car up the lane at all.
I am reading lots of books and doing a little needlework, and keeping the fire in day and night. Infact on Sunday, when it was sunshiny ( and minus 13’C) we all three turned out the garage, tidied and swept and sorted through all the junk of empty sacks, bottles to be recycled, and things just pushed in quickly, you know how it gets in there! Then Pappa brought over three new cages of logs for the fire.
So that was a job worth doing, and it was lovely to be out in the sunshine, but I must admit to being super glad we don’t have the hens this winter!! Thinking of which, we often see the squirrel now, and he is frequently at the bird table or feeders, whilst the birds seem to enjoy the nuts I have put out for him in a squirrel feeder. Hmm. Typical!
Well darling girl, that is it for now. Sleep tight and lots of love from
Your own mamma.
onsdag 24. januar 2018
24th January
Dear Heidi,
Woo hoo! A postcard from Barbados 😊
So you want me to bring Harry P and the philosopher’s stone ( book 1) and the joke one... is that the one called Barry Trotter ( or whatever) that one? Not a book full of jokes about HP 🙄
I’ll do my best...keep reminding me.
Well here at home, the rain has come in. It is still windy, whistling down the chimney, but teaming with rain too, and the snow is getting really wet, heavy and horrid to walk or drive in. Oh well, we have had snow now pretty much since November, I think, and I suspect it will come again soon, but the next time with a slick layer of ice beneath it.
Pappa is off to spend two weeks at the hospital getting his EU kontrol 😉in February. W has his half term holiday too, and I will probably go off to get him, but maybe, maybe Pappa will come too. It all depends on things at the hospital.
That’s all darling, love you,
Mamma
Woo hoo! A postcard from Barbados 😊
So you want me to bring Harry P and the philosopher’s stone ( book 1) and the joke one... is that the one called Barry Trotter ( or whatever) that one? Not a book full of jokes about HP 🙄
I’ll do my best...keep reminding me.
Well here at home, the rain has come in. It is still windy, whistling down the chimney, but teaming with rain too, and the snow is getting really wet, heavy and horrid to walk or drive in. Oh well, we have had snow now pretty much since November, I think, and I suspect it will come again soon, but the next time with a slick layer of ice beneath it.
Pappa is off to spend two weeks at the hospital getting his EU kontrol 😉in February. W has his half term holiday too, and I will probably go off to get him, but maybe, maybe Pappa will come too. It all depends on things at the hospital.
That’s all darling, love you,
Mamma
søndag 21. januar 2018
21 January
Dear Heidi,
You are so loved. I am so looking forwards to seeing you in Miami, and I think we will have a lot of fun there. But in the mean time, you are off to Columbia! We had a good talk to Tim on Skype and he said he is going to try to get to Columbia too. He is so aware of everything that has been going on and I think that you will find that things are going to change. But sometimes change means really looking deep into things and it can be difficult. Growing up is hard. These later teen years are the years when instead of no longer being a child ( like when you were 13-16) you are becoming an adult, and so many things are happening and your own perspectives and points of view alter and grow too. When you feel ready, talk to Tim. He is really nice and he said that he is always there for all the students to Skype or text or whatever. You don’t need permission😉
I wonder what you will be up to in Columbia? Coffee centre of the world!! And Panama! Pappa says his hat size is 61. No pressure there then! Probably the same for D! And you too, of course😉
Here at home, as you can see in my photos elsewhere, it keeps on snowing. The banks to the front yard gate are about a yard high, certainly deeper that miss B! The cats are not amused 🌨🙀 but they are fine indoors, and the birds and squirrel are happier without them.
This evening we were up at Tien. P and S are now grandparents to a little girl. S and G are the proud parents, who haven’t slept for three weeks now as little Siri keeps them up all day and night. Can’t you just imagine at school, everyone will be saying Siri find....Siri open a new document Siri....Siri...
I think they must have Samsung phones!!!😂
Well,that made me laugh anyway.
More news when I have it,
Love from Mamma.
You are so loved. I am so looking forwards to seeing you in Miami, and I think we will have a lot of fun there. But in the mean time, you are off to Columbia! We had a good talk to Tim on Skype and he said he is going to try to get to Columbia too. He is so aware of everything that has been going on and I think that you will find that things are going to change. But sometimes change means really looking deep into things and it can be difficult. Growing up is hard. These later teen years are the years when instead of no longer being a child ( like when you were 13-16) you are becoming an adult, and so many things are happening and your own perspectives and points of view alter and grow too. When you feel ready, talk to Tim. He is really nice and he said that he is always there for all the students to Skype or text or whatever. You don’t need permission😉
I wonder what you will be up to in Columbia? Coffee centre of the world!! And Panama! Pappa says his hat size is 61. No pressure there then! Probably the same for D! And you too, of course😉
Here at home, as you can see in my photos elsewhere, it keeps on snowing. The banks to the front yard gate are about a yard high, certainly deeper that miss B! The cats are not amused 🌨🙀 but they are fine indoors, and the birds and squirrel are happier without them.
This evening we were up at Tien. P and S are now grandparents to a little girl. S and G are the proud parents, who haven’t slept for three weeks now as little Siri keeps them up all day and night. Can’t you just imagine at school, everyone will be saying Siri find....Siri open a new document Siri....Siri...
I think they must have Samsung phones!!!😂
Well,that made me laugh anyway.
More news when I have it,
Love from Mamma.
søndag 14. januar 2018
January 14 th 2018
Dear Heidi,
Everyday I check the map, but you are still anchored offshore! I cannot believe how frustrating that must be for you all. Staring at the beautiful beach just across the water, in 30’ heat, and still being on board. I asked if you all were going to go ashore and was told that the school work needed to be done first... that was a few days ago now!
I hope that your new teacher has settled in and not been as seasick as everyone else was when they were new. That he has begun to get you all back on course and making strident progress! We read Maria’s blog post on crossing the ocean, and that watch wars have begun. So who “killed a bird” and why would they get points for that?? I suggested that maybe it was a chicken from the market for dinner?
D and Pappa are working over at the Farm felling and trimming back some of the dead and dying trees. We still have good deep snow, with temperatures around minus 5. It has been a proper winter so far, which I don’t mind, generally. It’s not too cold, and not icy. But it was hard to leave England with its flowers, lambs and sunshine.
Uncle G is still hanging on. He has a hospital bed at home, placed by the window so he can see out and feel the sunshine.
W is back at school, he is off to see the new Star Wars movie today. His friend A has been off sick since the beginning of term. I hope he will be back soon, as W must miss him.
We have had so many birds in the garden this winter. Huge flocks of finches especially, sometimes a hundred or more! Even Tante was impressed! The main problem is keeping Dickon inside. He is obsessed with the birds! Miss Smudge enjoys watching through the windows, but only goes out when absolutely necessary, but master D has earned himself the not very polite nickname “Tjukken”. The only way to trick him inside is with ever more cat food.
Well, I hope that you do get to visit Barbados. Sitting offshore for nearly a week is just too bad!
Lots of love from your own little Mamma.
Everyday I check the map, but you are still anchored offshore! I cannot believe how frustrating that must be for you all. Staring at the beautiful beach just across the water, in 30’ heat, and still being on board. I asked if you all were going to go ashore and was told that the school work needed to be done first... that was a few days ago now!
I hope that your new teacher has settled in and not been as seasick as everyone else was when they were new. That he has begun to get you all back on course and making strident progress! We read Maria’s blog post on crossing the ocean, and that watch wars have begun. So who “killed a bird” and why would they get points for that?? I suggested that maybe it was a chicken from the market for dinner?
D and Pappa are working over at the Farm felling and trimming back some of the dead and dying trees. We still have good deep snow, with temperatures around minus 5. It has been a proper winter so far, which I don’t mind, generally. It’s not too cold, and not icy. But it was hard to leave England with its flowers, lambs and sunshine.
Uncle G is still hanging on. He has a hospital bed at home, placed by the window so he can see out and feel the sunshine.
W is back at school, he is off to see the new Star Wars movie today. His friend A has been off sick since the beginning of term. I hope he will be back soon, as W must miss him.
We have had so many birds in the garden this winter. Huge flocks of finches especially, sometimes a hundred or more! Even Tante was impressed! The main problem is keeping Dickon inside. He is obsessed with the birds! Miss Smudge enjoys watching through the windows, but only goes out when absolutely necessary, but master D has earned himself the not very polite nickname “Tjukken”. The only way to trick him inside is with ever more cat food.
Well, I hope that you do get to visit Barbados. Sitting offshore for nearly a week is just too bad!
Lots of love from your own little Mamma.
tirsdag 9. januar 2018
January 9th 2018
Dear Heidi,
Whoo hoo! You made it to Barbados! I wish we were there too 😉
I really hope that you have a lovely shore leave and study trip there. Don’t forget your sun cream.
Pappa and I are at Grandads tonight, having dropped W off at school yesterday. We left Norway with 25 cm snow, and minus 8, arriving in Somerset to mild dampness and plus 4.
We have a nippy little blue BMW this time, which Pappa is enjoying driving.
We have booked our trip to Miami and will be staying in a town called Stuart, on Florida’s Treasure Coast. I am really looking forwards to it, and of course to seeing you there too!! ( I have already looked up where Staples is😉)
Spring is half way here in England. The hazel catkins are all fully out and the gorse is in full bloom. I even saw a sheep with two lambs out in the fields today.
D is home alone, looking after the animals and house, and working too. Poor chap!
Tomorrow we are going to call in on uncles C and G in Brighton. G is very near the end of his life now, he is at home with a nurse helping out each day, and Aunty S is there too. Everyday he is weaker and is mostly asleep (23 hours a day). So it won’t be long.
Then we have a lunchtime flight home. Perhaps we will have spoken to you by then!
Lots of love, Mamma.
Whoo hoo! You made it to Barbados! I wish we were there too 😉
I really hope that you have a lovely shore leave and study trip there. Don’t forget your sun cream.
Pappa and I are at Grandads tonight, having dropped W off at school yesterday. We left Norway with 25 cm snow, and minus 8, arriving in Somerset to mild dampness and plus 4.
We have a nippy little blue BMW this time, which Pappa is enjoying driving.
We have booked our trip to Miami and will be staying in a town called Stuart, on Florida’s Treasure Coast. I am really looking forwards to it, and of course to seeing you there too!! ( I have already looked up where Staples is😉)
Spring is half way here in England. The hazel catkins are all fully out and the gorse is in full bloom. I even saw a sheep with two lambs out in the fields today.
D is home alone, looking after the animals and house, and working too. Poor chap!
Tomorrow we are going to call in on uncles C and G in Brighton. G is very near the end of his life now, he is at home with a nurse helping out each day, and Aunty S is there too. Everyday he is weaker and is mostly asleep (23 hours a day). So it won’t be long.
Then we have a lunchtime flight home. Perhaps we will have spoken to you by then!
Lots of love, Mamma.
tirsdag 2. januar 2018
January 2nd 2018
Dear Heidi,
First of all, a very Happy New Year, which I am sure is going to be a thrilling one!
I am sure that you had no fireworks on board, what with all the rigging, sails and such, but perhaps there was another sort of celebration?
We want to the Opera, to see the Barber of Seville. It was done in a modern style, and to my mind was a little unsettling, but the music was lovely and we all enjoyed the experience. Afterwards we came home to a Scottish themed dinner, of mince, tatties and neeps with carrots and cranachan...but I norwegian-used it, using moose instead of lamb and rice and strawberries instead of raspberries and oats. Then we went out into the foggy snowy night ( we had about 25 cm snow that day) to let off our fireworks along with next door, and went in to them for cake, coffee and champagne. It was a lovely evening actually.
On New Year’s Day we had roast pork at the farm, with tinned fruit salad.
Today it is foggy again, although the weather forecast is for sunshine and there are clear signs of sunshine above the thick fog....but not at ground level. The birds are busy at the feeders in flocks, and I have just been out to refill them. I saw a photo online that you had a bird visitor... what was it? I wondered if it was a booby?
We are waiting for Pappa to come home, he had been out much longer than I expected, and now it is nearly lunchtime. The whole morning gone again. We were hoping to go to Sweden, as the boys would like to shop. Today is the last of D’s holiday. He is back to work at 7 am tomorrow.
Next week we take W back to school. We are just doing a quick in and out, away only two nights.
We are trying to organise all our winter travels, as everything is getting crowded in again suddenly!
Before we know it it will be springtime and the Farm will once more take over our life.
But before then, much to do and see, for you as well as us.
Lots of love dearest girl,
Mamma
First of all, a very Happy New Year, which I am sure is going to be a thrilling one!
I am sure that you had no fireworks on board, what with all the rigging, sails and such, but perhaps there was another sort of celebration?
We want to the Opera, to see the Barber of Seville. It was done in a modern style, and to my mind was a little unsettling, but the music was lovely and we all enjoyed the experience. Afterwards we came home to a Scottish themed dinner, of mince, tatties and neeps with carrots and cranachan...but I norwegian-used it, using moose instead of lamb and rice and strawberries instead of raspberries and oats. Then we went out into the foggy snowy night ( we had about 25 cm snow that day) to let off our fireworks along with next door, and went in to them for cake, coffee and champagne. It was a lovely evening actually.
On New Year’s Day we had roast pork at the farm, with tinned fruit salad.
Today it is foggy again, although the weather forecast is for sunshine and there are clear signs of sunshine above the thick fog....but not at ground level. The birds are busy at the feeders in flocks, and I have just been out to refill them. I saw a photo online that you had a bird visitor... what was it? I wondered if it was a booby?
We are waiting for Pappa to come home, he had been out much longer than I expected, and now it is nearly lunchtime. The whole morning gone again. We were hoping to go to Sweden, as the boys would like to shop. Today is the last of D’s holiday. He is back to work at 7 am tomorrow.
Next week we take W back to school. We are just doing a quick in and out, away only two nights.
We are trying to organise all our winter travels, as everything is getting crowded in again suddenly!
Before we know it it will be springtime and the Farm will once more take over our life.
But before then, much to do and see, for you as well as us.
Lots of love dearest girl,
Mamma
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