Just thought I'd start on a preliminary wish-list for Christmas if anybody is interested...
* A new clockradio (my old one is starting to fall apart, it's close to 15 years old).
* Scottish Single Malt Whisky (preferably Islay, special bottlings)
* A pair of thistle cuff links (thistle as in the Scottish sort)
* Accessories to 'Kystdrakten', i.e. hat, silver (type: Gokstad) and knife (with a pewter and/or black leather sheath).
- more to come at a later date.
I won't do the Friday Five since it's all about halloween, and we don't really have that holiday in Norway, although the business community are trying, with some luck, to introduce it to us.
I'll rather write up something that's been on my mind ever since the daring heist on the postal services money office a few days ago. It was a spokesperson for the police who said: 'We suspect this is not the work of a group of accidental passers-by.'
Now where do they go and get that idea? The fact that they group was armed, that they wore masks or that they had get-away vehicles standing by? And they wonder why people loose confidence in the police.
As a note, the heist was muddled by the fact that a postaltransport carrying around 120 million kroners (£10 mill) was delayed. Fancy that, postal delays came in handy for once.
Seems like Robin has been taking a few personality tests, so I can't be much worse either, so here goes:
Seer
The ULTIMATE personality test
brought to you by Quizilla
That's done then. The tickets for Christmas are booked, payed for and hopefully on theire way to my adress as I write this.
1222 Norwegian kroner for the tickets, about twice the cheapest fair possible, but seats are disappearing rapidly, and only two planes has, as of now, seats free for Christmas Eve.
Yes. I'm travelling on Christmas Eve, with a return on the following Sunday. I need to be in the shop as long as possible on that day, so I'll probably be cutting it a bit too close as to when I'm going to the airport.
It seems I will be doing a bit of this in the weeks and months to come, since everybody seems to be releasing things I want:
I've already ordered the new DVD of 'Animal House' from Canada. And will be ordering series 3 of 'Red Dwarf' shortly, and Series 4 is scheduled for February/March next year. M*A*S*H Series 2 is also out now, but then Robin has already bought it, so I can delay that a bit.
Stephen King seems to have gotten his pen working, with the 7-book series 'The Dark Tower', and the fifth book is beeing released in November, with books 6 and 7 scheduled for release in February and May next year.
We've (meaning me and Robin) also have been trying to get a hold of some bottles og Steinvikholm Aqua Vitae, a Norwegian dram that was extremely good. In addition I've discovered a whiskyshop that sells one of the best whiskies available today for a very reasonable price.
That reminds me I also need ot go online to order planetickets home for Christmas. Only two months to go...
Cranial intruder: Tom Jones & Cerys Mathews - 'Baby, it's cold outside'
Seems like this weeks Friday Five is an old one from 2001.
1. Name five things in your refrigerator.
Sparkling water, milk, assorted jams, salami and champagne.
2. Name five things in your freezer.
Haven't got one. But I've got some fish cakes and fish pudding in a freezer at a friends.
3. Name five things under your kitchen sink.
Old printer, dustbin, plastic bag full of cables, assorted detergents and sponges.
4. Name five things around your computer.
Business cards, assorted floppies and CDs, bills, notes and a case of beers.
5. Name five things in your medicine cabinet.
Another easy one, since I haven't got one of those either. Don't have any medicines to speak of either, just some painkillers and vitamin C-tablets.
Not quite yet, but a sure sign has popped up: The first collisions due to icy roads.
As of this morning around 50 cars ran into each other just north of Oslo making a complete chaos for commuters and people trying to get to the airport. So carowners get out your studded tires and put them on your cars,or you'll be next.
This just in: At least 30 cars, three buses and two ambulances (without patients) were involved. 16 people were rushed to hospital whereof two had serious injuries.
Just something that's been laying around for some time now. Can't really remember where I got the link...
Still seems to be Thursday, so here goes with a Thursday Three.
1. What was the first concert you went to?
That's ages ago. I suspect it was a small 'concert'-thing at kindergarden. Other than that I think it might have been a Knudsen & Ludvigsen concert when I was five or six.
2. What was the last concert you went to?
That's alot easier, since it was last Sunday. Bob Dylan in Karlstad, Sweden together with Robin.
3. What was your favourite concert you've been to?
The best concert rated purely by the artist and show is a DumDum Boys-concert at Studentersamfundet in 1996.
People have been pointing out that I haven't updated this page much lately, so here's a short one.
It's been a busy few weeks. Last weekend me and Robin went to on a combined cabin & concert trip. We went off to stay at Robin's parent's cabin in the deep Norwegian forests. This was then combined with a visit to Karlstad on Sunday to attend the Bob Dylan concert there - absolutely smashing.
This weekend we're going to Trondheim. Where I'm going to hold a few cigar-courses for the students at the UKA-festival.
Btw. I've been trying to keep posting on the forum for the Malt Whisky Society, please go there - post - read - registrer - argue - chew the rag - or whatever.
Cranial intruder: Sheena Easton - "Morning Train"
A sporty edition of the Friday Five this week.
1. Do you watch sports? If so, which ones?
I don't watch much sports, apart from the occational football-(soccer for you yanks) game.
2. What/who are your favorite sports teams and/or favorite athletes?
My favourite team is Kolstad Fotball (the local football-team from where I grew up).
3. Are there any sports you hate?
Don't hate any sports, but there are several I don't understand why there are anybody who bothers to participate.
4. Have you ever been to a sports event?
Several footballgames, athletic events, cross-country skiing, ski-jumping, icehockey and basketballgames.
5. Do/did you play any sports (in school or other)? How long did you play?
In my youth I played football quite a lot. And also dabbered in athletics and frequentet the local shooting range.
Arista Records/BMG has started using a new anti-copying software to thwart unlicensed copying. Only on disc has been issued with this new system (Comin' From Where I'm From by Anthony Hamilton), and it doesn't seem to be a raving success.
Why?
Well... Since it's computers that are used to copy discs, the system works by automaticly installing a piece of software on the computers that try to play the disc for the first time. But if you disable the auto-play function in Windows, or press
Here you'll find a report on the system.
With this kind of set-up I might even start enjoying going to the shopping centre...
Once again California has manged to elect a more-or-less able actor to be govenor. This time it Arnie 'I'll be back' who's the winner. I know it's been hard for Californians to decide between 135 candidates, but honestly there had to be more sensible people among those running for office.
On the other hand Norway's still only one of two countries in thw world with a priest as the highest elected leader (Iran being the other)...
Now where was I? Oh yes, Sunday...
Part 1 is in the archives
Sunday
It's great waking up together with someone you love, especially if you've been away from them for a week. As I wrote before the owner of the B&B we stayed at kept on singing 'Take my breath away' the whole time while cooking us breakfast. Then off to Prestwick to pick up my sleepingbag and the rental car. Driving the scenic route from Ayr took us along the coast and at about every single intersection there was a sign pointing to Ayr. It seemed like all roads may have led to Rome, but they started in Ayr. Arraving late afternoon in Wigtown we spent an evening there consiting of books, haggis and pints. An attempt to have a nightcap before turning in failed and the glasses was left standing half-empty by the time we drifted off. The B&B we stayed at was run by a german lady, who, upon being told we where Norwegian, told us that she was German, something we both had figured out from the moment we first spoke to her. She had one of the more distinct German accents I've come across in Scotland. But apart for the rather large black spider in the bathroom, she ran a nice B&B.
Monday
Hitting the stores as they opened we secured ourselves a good selection off books to haul home. And then off in the general direction of Edinburgh. A quick stop On our way we stopped in the village Moffat, which at first glance seemed like a small, rural village. But thanks to a large shopping complex in containging whiskyshop, a wollen mill and other large scale shopping experiences, it's packed with coaches filled with the elderly. But the town wasn't completely whitout charm, like the talkative Singing Potter. But we hadn't time to experience the whole town, so after a quick lunch we were off again, arraving in Edinburgh in the early afternoon. A quick drive up and down the main B&B-street resultet in a nice one with a parking place included. After dragging some of our bags upstairs we set off downtown. A brisk walk later we found ourselves on the Royal Mile, and even quicker found the Royal Mile Whisky shop, where the madwoman I'm involved with bought a £100 bottle of whisky! (Ardbeg 1974, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail). Afterwards we met up with a friend of Robin's for dinner at Howie's, delightful.
Tuesday
Early to rise and early off in a northerly direction we went. After a while we came in to whisky-country and took a detour to the ominously named 'Dewar's world of whisky' at Aberfeldy Distillery. A big visitor center and tour for a blend! But luckily enough there was a tour of the actual distillery included, and a nip of the proper whisky. They even had some bottles of Aberfeldy Flor&Fauna Cask Strength in stock for a mere £40 - we bought two. Upon arriving in Pitlochry we immediately drove up to Edradour Distillery, the smallest distillery in Scotland. There we just barely missed being included in a tour consisting of German couch-tourists, but got instead a more intimate tour together with a scottish couple. A quick drive down to Pitlochry again let us join the last tour of the day at Blair Athol Distillery. An enchaning old lady was the tourguide, and if it hadn't been for the approaching closing time at 5pm, we would propably have stood there talking to her and drinking whisky for hours. On our way back in to town we found a B&B run by a old lady who was extatic when she heard that we both wanted mushrooms with our breakfast. A walk into the center revealed that this was a tourist-town deluxe. When we stopped by the map of the city a car stopped behind us and a gentleman got out and gave us a copy of the map. Eventually we foudn a small pub that served food and even had, we quickly found out, a large selection of single malts, including several Cask Strengths from the Flora&Fauna series - we had found our haven for the night.
Wednesday
We had to start early, since the car was supposed to be returned at Aberdeen Airport, Dyce before noon, we were in a bit of a hurry. We didn't make it, but it doesn't seem like the rental-comapny have been grabbing extra money from my account yet, so it seems I'm safe. We found ourselves a nice little B&B in Bon Accord Street, and went about purchasing necessities like a new bag for Robin, highland dancing shoes and boxes to put our excess luggage in. We then walked to the beachfront. It's not the usual type of beach, since it has the Northsea hammering in and the next stop straight ahead is Norway. But for us it's the best kind, with salty air, waves, wind. It even had a cheesy amuseent park-thingy, with a roller coaster (which was closed, much to Robin's big disapointment). We walked back along the quays and returned to a pub for some pints and food, followed by some more pints.
Thursday
Our last day alone. This was the day when the rest (totalling two) of the NMWL-participants to the Speyside Whisky Festival were to arrive from Norway. Not much happened this day, since we met up with the Society's president quite early and went off for a drive around town and beyond, before returning to Dyce to pick up the last man. We then proceded to drive up to Dufftown.
And so ends part 2 of the trilogy...
I know, I know. Posting has been way down since I returned from Scotland. But I really haven't had the time for it.
Tonight there's a meeting at the Norwegian MaltWhisky Society again, so there goes the morrow. And on Friday it's off again, since Robin and me are going to the Bob Dylan concert in Karlstad, Sweden on Sunday. Something that will result in us returning home after the concert sometime during the night.
I'll try to find time to write the remaining two parts of the vacation-trilogy, but the people at work seem to think I should pay some attention to what I'm payed for, so I'm a bit pressed for time at the moment.
It's been a few weeks since I last participated. But this week I'm back.
1. What vehicle do you drive?
Well the only one I can drive on a semi-regular basis is the company-car. A Volkswagen Caddy.
2. How long have you had it?
Well it's not mine so...
3. What is the coolest feature on your vehicle?
The luggage space is a definite plus.
4. What is the most annoying thing about your vehicle?
The seats. Both the lack of comfort and legspace.
5. If money were no object, what vehicle would you be driving right now?
It would actually be great fun having one of the original Troll-cars. But as Robin points out, a MG sports car would be too bad either.
You are hereby warned that this is a bloody long text. It containd a brief summary of events during my recent 17 day stay in the promised lands (read: Scotland).
Well here goes...
It all started out on Saturday the 13th of September. Rolf (Ship's Captain) picked me and Robin up outside my flat at 10-ish. The trip went down to town center where we dropped off Robin (after about five minutes of saying goodbye) and picked up Emmanuel and then the trip continued on to Torp to catch the RyanAir-plane to Prestwick. Upon arrival I remembered that you're suppossed to turn off your mobile on the plane, and having gotten a new pin-code recently (which I hadn't memorized yet), I spotted a bit of a problem - namely how to keep in touch with Robin without a mobile phone... But to late to do anything about it at that time.
Upon arrival we where shocked to discover that RyanAir only had managed to loose one single pice of our luggage (my sleepingbag, well not mine as such, I've only borrowed it from my brother). So off to the luggage tracing office and report it. They said they where going to call me if and when they found it, and then send it to me by overnight express delivery.
We got into our cab and sat down for a three our drive out to Crinnan (where the boat we where hiring was moored. Took over the boat and went off for dinner and a little start of sailing party (yes, we got drunk the lot of us).
Sunday
A light drizzle, but otherwise OK. At way to early in the morning we set off through the canal. A total of 16 locks (I think) whereof only three where hydrolicly powered, the rest we had to get out and open and close ourselves.
RyanAir called to say they had found my sleepingbag, and wanted to know where to send it. I gave them our sailing schedule and they promised to call back when they had the detail ready.
But we got through the canal safe and wet, and started off on the proper trip, which ended on this day in Tarbert where we went for dinner and drams (Clyenlish Flora & Fauna-series, Cask Strength), before ending up with lager and drams on board.
Monday
A early breakfast and a quicks hower before hedding off to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran, and a visit to the Arran Distillery. A nice little place, when we eventually got the enginge on the dingy to work properly. Although the tourguide said that they where in the silent season at the time, since most distilleries only operated 8-10 months of the year, a calendar on the wall stated that the last distilling done there had been on the 4th of April... After drams in the bar and a quick shoppingspree in the giftshop (selfbottled whisky and nosing glassed for me) there was time for a quick lunch before setting off again to Campeltown.
RyanAir called twice today, once to agree upon detail on where to send the sleepingbag, and then to say that DHL couldn't possibly deliver the bag to Islay in three days. So it was decided to leave the bag at Prestwick until I returned there on Sunday.
Getting there well before dark we set of on the search of beer, and in a small back-street we settled in for a few pints before heading out to dinner. For anyone reading, do not - I repeat - do not have the roastbeef and yorkshire pudding at the White Heart Hotel in Campeltown, it's not very good. After that we went on the search of more beer befor turning in.
Tuesday
We entered the portals of Springbank Distillery early that morning. After being greeted by our tourguide for the day, Distillery Manager Frank McHardy, we set of through the plant. They weren't distilling here either at the time, so no samples to receive at all, but a nice little trip around a distillery that has aboslutely no facilities for visitors. A quick trip into the warehouse and botteling plant later, we where off to the company shop a few hundred yards down the road to pick up our complementary miniature bottle of 'Visitors Bottling' (which I have a suspicion is ordinary 10 year old Springbank).
A easterly breeze promised good sailing weather went we set out from Campeltown, and before we reached the Mull of Kintyre sails where set and we where off with a good speed. Unfortunately the experience was somewhat lessened by the fact that we ran in to some very heavy fog, that didn't lift until we reached Ballycastle in Northern Ireland. It was actually so dense at times that the Captain on several occations was on the brink of breaking out the life-jackets. But we arrived safe and sound and went off on the search for Guinness.
Wednesday
Off to Bushmill's Distillery to see what the point is with Irish whiskey. Can't say I got any answers there but we had some fun when the tourguide claimed there was an alcohol content of 85% in the air in the stillroom, and the stills weren't even running! A quick sample and browse through the giftshop later we where off again, this time with a course straight to the Holy Isle (read: Isle of Islay).
Due to bad wind conditions we couldn't raise the sails, but had to start the engine. And with the wind blowing the exhaust straight into the cockpit, it's wasn't the most pleasurable journey. It was also made worse by the waves that couldn't seem to make up their minds about which direction they were going. But we arrived at Port Ellen with only a mild case of exhaust poisoning and when off to locate some medicine (read: peaty whisky). After several dosages we declared ourselves cured and went to bed.
Thursday
With morning came a return of the exhaust poisoning, so we had to search out some more medicine. We started off at Ardbeg Distillery where we discovered that a group of 18 Danes were expected. So we turned tail and ran off, but not before Mrs. Jackie Thompson gave us a quick dram (Ardbeg Commitee Reserve, cask strength). Then off to Lagavulin to look in on some good friends of the Norwegian MaltWhisky Society, they weren't there at the time but we made an appointment and went off to Laphroaig. Here wo got the normal tour and the Friends of Laphroaig collected their rent for the year.
Back on Ardbeg we got to go around the distillery and even got to taste the wash (the strong beer that's distilled to make whisky). And upon arriving in the warehouse and finding two opened casks (distilled 1975 and 1990), we sampked them before heading in to have lunch. A few hundred pounds later (very nice gift shop), we were off to Lagavuling again. Meeting up with Majorie, we went through the distillery before ending up with some more drams. By the time we where finnished, Iain had returned and took us into the warehouse where we sampled a couple of casks before heading back in for a final dram befor returning to the boat. The evening went fluidly.
Friday
Friday was spent on visiting Caol Ila Distillery and Isle of Jura Distillery before heading off to the days main event - Bruichladdich Distillery. We were shown around the place by the Bottling Manager. He managed to reel off quite a bit of rubbish during the tour, but all in all it was quite fun. After that we got to visit the five casks the Malt Whisky Society owns guided by Destillery Manager Duncan McGillivray. But since none of the casks are over a year old we couldn't get any samples of them, but I managed to secure myself a small sample of the Octomore spirit. Great fun.
Saturday
A bit too early for me we were off from Islay en route back to Crinnan, to hand back the boat. Then off for another three hour drive back to Prestwick with a quick pit stop at Loch Fyne Whiskies. Arriving at the B&Bs in a small place outside Prestwick (Irvine) the highlight of the week came - Robin's arrival. Damn I didn't realize just how much I'd missed her before I saw her coming down the street.
Then off to the pub for grub and pints, before saying our goodbyes to the rest of the gang.
Sunday
Rising up to a great breakfast cooked by the B&B owner who was singing 'Take my breath away' the whole time. Then down to Prestwick to pick up the reantal car and my sleepingbag. Then off south to Wigtown and Bladnoch. Getting there just in time to visit at least a few bookshops before going to bed.
- end of part 1 -
Just a breif rant on the subject.
It's quite funny actually that you get more and more tired the closer to home you get, even if all you do is sit around on planes and airports. A minor wake-up call came when our 'travel guide' was called back while going through customs, but more on that later.
I must admit that I didn't feel on top of the world wen I saw the cab with Robin in it pull away after dropping me and my bags off outside my building. It strange for me, since I've never been in such a relationship before. I used to love spending time alone, specially after been around other people for a pariod of time. But now the first thing that pops to mind after coming home to my flat is that it's miserable to be alone, and that I miss her. That is the main reason it wasn't so good to get home, as it usually is. Away I'm toghether with her almost 24/7, but at home it's just a few hours a day. Being away from her for a whole week (while out sailing) was hell, but with good friends around you and much to do, time goes a lot faster - although there were times when time stood still (mainly when Robin's name was mentioned).
My flat is a minor hell-hole right now, with half emptied bags all over the place, dirty clothes galore and a whole lot of glasses and bottles. I really need to get this out of the way.
Finally back after 17 days in Scotland.
Full report will come in the next few days. Don't have much time now either, since I'm going to Bergen with Robin on Friday.