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A service-man’s life
People working in this branch are former sportsmen, lovers of snow, and skiing.
Did you know? Norwegians: The foolhardy of the winter games
Legend has it that Norwegians are born with skis on their feet. One mustn’t take this literally, but having a look at the Olympic sports practiced by this nation for the first time, we tend to…
Sleepless in Volda – a winter love story
I had no idea who Marit Bjørgen, Tora Berger and Peter Northug were before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, apart from a commercial where Northug was running around in a shopping mall. Other than…
The Truffles of the Great Southwest
My chef friends worship French food. They like Italian and Spanish food, as well as Asian food and others. Some of them can tolerate Mexican food or Greek food, but the only thing that really gets…
Can Norway have its cake and eat it?
Government officials and other Norwegians see Norway as a small but influential country that acts ethically and does good in the world. But how real is this benign image and how ethical is Norway’s…
The Christmas I ate Rudolf
Togetherness was the theme of our small Christmas dinner; all of the non-Norwegians that spent their first Christmas in the land of Odin.
A builder of dreams
“It isn’t possible to know how is to live on the street if you haven’t been there."
How cheese slicers will save Norway when the oil runs out
Norwegians have a bit of a reputation for being pioneers, having invented the paperclip, slalom skiing, and the cheese slicer.
It’s All White For Me
Christmas lights? Not carbon friendly, but I do love them. They cheer my dark, early morning and dark, late evening dog walks and my heart sinks when the last display vanishes in January.
Sleeping for the enemy
Recent criticism by Aftenposten of environmental groups receiving sponsorship funding is simplistic. These disapproving comments give the false impression that conservation organisations are prepared…
A reputation ready to be stolen
People, companies, or countries use a lot of time and effort to build up and maintain that thing that we call a reputation. Somehow, some of us don’t manage to have a good reflection in the eyes…
Published on 29th October, 2009 at 00:00.
Last Updated on 29th October 2009 at 09:54.
Veka, the week of good music and good moods
The small council district of Volda (Møre og Romsdal) celebrates Veka this year from 23 to 31 October. The usual silence of the mountains and the fjords is shaken by rock bands and cheerful students…
Published on 27th October, 2009 at 00:00.
Last Updated on 27th October 2009 at 15:26.
A Nobel comment?
I have loathed the Nobel Peace Prize ever since it was awarded to that mad-dog killer Kissinger. That was long before I lived in Norway or knew anything about the place, of course, not to mention the…
Published on 19th October, 2009 at 09:21.
Last Updated on 19th October 2009 at 14:38.
Would you buy a grandmother from this man?
From out of the blue some unsuspecting grandmother’s phone rings, and two minutes later, her pension has gone. How unscrupulous salesmen can be when it comes to pedalling their wares knows no…
Are we anywhere now?
Stavanger’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008 has come and gone. Has last year’s cultural event made a difference, or is it “business as usual”? A newly released report by the…
Begging for acceptance
Romania has been struggling to keep a decent image in the eyes of the international community for the last few years. Somehow, things haven’t been that great. As if it weren’t enough with their…
The sixth parliamentary seat
26 year-old Hadia Tajik has just been elected to parliament as one of the Norwegian Labour Party’s MPs for Oslo for the next governmental term. She is the only parliamentary MP with an immigrant…
Published on 18th September, 2009 at 09:58.
Last Updated on 18th September 2009 at 11:52.
NAV Discriminates against the Arts
A recent article in Bergens Tidende reported that nearly 50% of those presently unemployed in Norway are under age 25. This demographic has been encouraged to return to school and get more knowledge…
How happy are the cheerless?
What is it about certain people? No matter how cheerful you try to be, no matter how good the joke was, they almost always reply with some gloomy comment becoming of a character from an Ingmar…
Norwegian-Swedish renewables scheme back from the grave
A landmark of sorts was reached and passed on Monday when Norway and Sweden agreed to resurrect a moribund plan for a joint green certificate system aimed at supporting renewable energy development.
Published on 7th September, 2009 at 20:13.
Last Updated on 8th September 2009 at 10:08.
Swine Flu, a Sticky Point
Influenza A (H1N1) has arrived in Norway. Six out of ten Norwegians don’t wish to be vaccinated against it, but The Institute of Public Health is calling upon people to take social responsibility.…
Published on 12th August, 2009 at 21:12.
Last Updated on 13th August 2009 at 19:32.
Ten ways to drive like a Norwegian
The holidays are drawing to an end and the normal suspect driving has started reappearing on our roads. Nostalgic for the days of easy driving? You’ll probably have to wait until next summer to…
Published on 31st July, 2009 at 17:13.
Last Updated on 31st July 2009 at 20:39.
Go north, young man
My wife and I had reason to go to Molde a weekend or two ago. I thought I would share some of it with you as, during my few years in Norway, I have managed to visit it on a number of occasions,…
Take the high road
My attention was drawn to a recent article in Aftenblad just the other day concerning the cause of car accidents in Rogaland.
Published on 1st July, 2009 at 19:03.
Last Updated on 31st July 2009 at 20:47.
Wonderful Copenhagen?
If you are forced by your airline to spend the night in a hotel at their expense because their delay has cost you your connection you’d better bring your best replies, a fan, and some food. Meet…
More Articles in Columns…
- When technology doesn’t play ball (17/06/2009)
- Bun king for a moment (10/06/2009)
- Whit Monday and the gargling bulls (03/06/2009)
- The little lawnmower (26/05/2009)
- The armchair anything (20/05/2009)
- The tale of the title (14/05/2009)
- It’s not always easy (06/05/2009)
- Bargains galore? (29/04/2009)
- The optimist (21/04/2009)
- Trying to connect you, please hold the line (15/04/2009)
- The week’s spam emails (06/04/2009)
- Laughing all the way to the bank (31/03/2009)
- Take your time, why don’t you? (25/03/2009)
- Please leave your brain at the door (18/03/2009)
- Just one of the lads (10/03/2009)
- Wheel zeal (04/03/2009)
- Mind the Norwegian elbows (24/02/2009)
