CELEBRATE & HAVE FUN TONIGHT!

Celebrate - have fun tonight on New Years Eve!!

Flats with a view...

Flats with a view over the fjord....

Today is a day to keep indoors, if you don't have to go to work.
It is blowing like mad outside.

Just the way it is....

Just the way it is:
Grey, windy and wet.

Nina's place?

If this is Nina's bike outside her place, I hope she will be careful using it. Many roads are icy.
Some of us are going back to work today.... but it is quieter now, unless you work at a place with one of the big SALES starting today. It is also the day to change that "not so perfect Christmas present".
Have a nice day wherever you are.

Out on the fjord.

I am pleased I do not have to use a ferry or any other type of boat.
We had stormy weather last night and early this morning.
A bit of snow earlier, but rain again this afternoon/evening.

Good to be inside!

Still waiting for a white Christmas....

Out walking south of Stavanger today, was just fresh, with a bit of frost, but no wind and rain.
We have snow up in the mountains, but so far not here out on the coast.
The weather forecast is saying "full storm overnight"....
Anyway, hope you are having a good Christmas time wherever you are.

Quiet in Kirkegaten

Quiet in Kirkegaten.

Merry Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Flying home for Christmas......

They looked so cute and ready for their Christmas holiday.
I met them at the airport an hour ago, waiting for the plane to Oslo.
Then they will fly to Frankfurt and continue home to Bucharest / Romania.

From the left, the two sisters, Elisa and Alexandra, cousin Olivia and her boyfriend Victor.
I wish you all a HAPPY HOLIDAY!

We have rain, hail and a bit of lightning.
I am still dreaming about a white x-mas.

Congratulations to SANDNES

This year I seriously think SANDNES (the first town south of Stavanger, and in many ways our neighbour) have managed to create a fantastic and real Christmasy feel. Well done!
I think Sandnes did better than Stavanger. (In some ways I am sorry to admit it.)

Sandnes is only 20-30 minutes drive from the city centre of Stavanger.

Stavanger Railway Station.

It is Christmas soon and The Railway Station building has been decorated.
Lots of people have already booked their trips, so they can visit friends & family.
There are 30 stops on the 8 hours journey from Stavanger to Oslo.

Father Christmas .......

Father Christmas has arrived at the airport.
He is going to be busy the next few days.
"I hope his luggage with all the presents has not got lost".

At the florists.

At the florists at Sølvberget Blomster.

Dumping place.

Dumping place in town.
Electrical shops have a responsibility to accept old technology for recycling.
Some people just dump old things outside the shops instead of putting them in the right containers.

Brand new art at the airport.

If you are travelling abroad soon, you might see this brand new art, by Hama Woods.
She is a stencil artist based in Oslo.
Very nice work, and you will find it close to the new business lounge at the airport.

Fairy Christmas Castle.

A wonderful Fairy Christmas Castle, seen at the gingerbread town exhibition in town. Made by Kine and Karina.

Star Wars Film.

The NEW Star Wars Film, The Force Awakens, get´s it's premier in Stavanger tomorrow.

The film has been promoted also out in the streets, - like here just outside the Culture House.

Early morning.

Early morning at the area named St. Olav.

Cosy house made of gingerbread.

Looks cosy, and a well known place at Fargegaten.

Coffee or tea?

It is nice to have some small independent shops in town, and this place at Østervaag is a good place for buying coffee, tea etc.

Decorations.

Decorated streets in the centre of Stavanger.

Gingerbread buildings.

Just like yesterdays posting, our biggest newspaper also have an annual exhibition with gingerbread houses. This year it is at the Culture House.

So much creative work have been put in to it. As you see,
some international landmarks have also been included.

It is well worth visiting!

The annual exhibition.

The annual exhibition of Children´s Christmas drawings / paintings, can be seen at Stavanger Aftenblad. ( Our biggest newspaper.)

It is so colourful and nice. This is just one out of many, and one I really liked.

The artist is Emilie Marie Trædal, who must be 9 or 10 years old, according to the info. that was written next to the artistic work.

Look at all the details.

Rain rain rain ......

Rain rain rain ......

More clouds...

I saw some art with lots of clouds yesterday.
It was made in 3D. quite unique.
It was very appropriate after the weekends weather.
The artist is Lise Simonnæs, and I saw this at Hå Gamle Prestegård, south of Stavanger.

Finally a glimpse of sunshine.

We have had so much rain / wind / storm / flooding in the area over the weekend, so today it felt like a relief to suddenly see a short glimpse of sunshine.

Streetlife in Fargegaten.

Streetlife in Øvre Holmegate today.

Looking out.

This weekend we will have some "extreme weather" with lots of rain, but anyway, I guess there will still be plenty of people out shopping.

I will have a relaxed weekend.

If it is not too bad tomorrow morning..... I might head off to a Christmas market.

Do you have plans for the weekend?

Happy weekend!

Early morning.

Early morning at the golf club area, near the airport and the beach.

Only India is cheaper...

Not many things are cheap in Norway.
Most tourists realise that fairly quickly.

Anyway, the diapers are subsidised by the state, but again and again, the diapers are very often sold out to foreigners who buy here and re-sell them back home.
If cars filled up with diapers are stopped by customs the fine is huge.
You can only buy for  N. kr. 5000

Only India is cheaper than Norway when it comes to diapers.

Take a look at this : https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=no&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ba.no%2Fnyheter%2Futlendinger-hamstrer-billige-bleier%2Fs%2F1-41-7542515&edit-text=&act=url

SHOP WINDOW.

If you visit or see this Beauty Lounge in Stavanger, you will notice that they do California Nails as well as other treatments.
PINK is the main colour.

You can find other "theme day" photos here
http://cdpbthemeday.blogspot.no/2015/11/december-2015-gallery-shop-window.html

Curtains in front of me.

Driving behind this car was spooky ....
Not a common car to see here in the area, on a Sunday afternoon... or any afternoon.

Waiting.

Waiting for someone special.
Taken in the arrivals area at Stavanger airport.

Christmas displays.

It has been a rainy day, with a glimpse of sunshine from time to time.

This is an image taken near Kirkegaten / Arnageren. Most windows are decorated for Christmas shopping now. 

A modern Christmas tree.

A modern Christmas tree,
seen outside the shopping mall Kvadrat.

No snow - more rain.

Happy "Black Friday" and Happy Weekend!

Frost this morning.

Frost this morning.
I am still waiting for the snow...

Time for Christmas decorations.

Christmas decorations are now up in most streets.

Wine corks.

Wine corks seen outside a restaurant.
There are actually many interesting and useful things that can be made out of old corks....
Have you made anything using old corks?

New in town.

I suddenly found myself sitting next to a talented young Greek woman, who spoke excellent English and had been studying in London.

She had a book filled with drawings and ideas, and had been living in Norway for a month with her Norwegian boyfriend.

I 'm sure she will continue to do very well with the fashion and design business she has started.

Find inspiring people and a workplace where you can use your many talents.

The best of luck, CHRYSA!!

ART.

Art by VILDE FURDAL NYMOEN,
seen at Sola Kulturhus today.

Party time.

Time for Christmas parties now.
Remember to leave the car at home.
COLD here and a bit of snow earlier today.

Have a nice weekend!

Flats

Flats.... with a great view.

My thoughts.

My thoughts...

Rainy day.

Rainy day.
A view over Breiavatnet, the little lake in the city park.

Out walking.

Not that long before we will also
have snow I guess.

Cardinal.

Entrance to a popular pub.

A portrait as a mural.

A mural seen on one of the walls at Fargegaten / Øvre Holmegate.

Lace dresses this year.

The Duchess of Camebridge nailed this trend last month....and Norwegian women look like they copy the plum-hued lace dress.
They are shown in most fashion shops (like here in Breigaten).
Yesterday evening it looked like this is "THE" dress for X-mas parties in 2015.
I went to a hotel and seriously, I have never ever seen so many lace dresses in my life.

Perhaps the style and colour is common in many other countries?

Sola Strand Hotel.

This is the fireplace at the reception area at Sola Strand Hotel, an old hotel, dating back to 1914. Renovated and decorated, and also today a popular place for weddings, business meetings, Sunday lunches as well as a place to meet friends for just a coffee or a drink. It is close to the airport and only 15 min. by car from the centre of Stavanger.
They have a popular spa area, and the best location with the beaches just on the doorstep.

We have strong wind, perhaps even storm this weekend (?)

Well, wherever you are: HAPPY WEEKEND!

Morning sky.

It is cold and we have plenty of rain, but from time to time there are wonders happening like this beautiful morning sky.