Saturday 30 April 2016

A GIVEAWAY.




















My ex-college and friend invited me on a trip to the valley OLTEDAL, less than an hours drive from Stavanger.
Do you see the "HOLLYWOOD sign" up in the mountains she asked, and pointed out of the car window.... And yes, there was a feeling of being in America when I saw the sign with the name Oltedal up there :)

We went to LAFTHUSET , a cosy place where they are selling all you need for hand knitting, and also machine knitted garments, from the local factory.

http://www.viking-garn.no

Lafthuset is on fb.


Friendly and helpful people working there.

It is also a place where you can have something to eat, and I noticed that they had quite a lot of things that would have been perfect as gifts, including some very good bargains up on the first floor.

They have some guided group tours coming in , tourists from cruise ships etc. But mainly customers from the nearby area, and if you live in Norway they send off things you can order.

France, Sweden and Denmark have agents who work for them too.

My friend told me that she had been there on knitting events in the evenings, and lots of people had  turned up from much further away than Stavanger.

It is OPEN every day!

Here you see HEGE and MARIANNE holding a jumper with a Setesdal design.
It is produced in Oltedal and has a typical Norwegian style.

This is A GIVEAWAY that you can win!
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The only thing you have to do is to leave at least one comment over the next 7 days, and finish with (Y) -(so I can see YES, then I know that you want to take part in the draw next Saturday.)

The "Giveaway" is the beautiful, nice and warm wool sweater shown in the picture. (The size is Large.)

You will find FREE KNITTING PATTERNS in English, Swedish and Danish (up to pattern number 1504), on their web page.
If you go for instance to number 1404, you can download and find the same pattern that is on the sweater.

Friday 29 April 2016

A sad day today.




















Around lunch time today, a helicopter from one of the oil platforms, on it's way back to the mainland suddenly exploded, and 13 people were missing.
One British, one Italian, the 11 others were all Norwegians. It happened just outside Bergen.
People living nearby heard and witnessed what was going on. Rescue teams arrived quickly, they have found 11 bodies so far.

It is many years since there has been an accident like this involving a helicopter here in Norway.
Most of us who live in Norway know someone working offshore.....

I passed the company building tonight, and they were flying the Norwegian flag at half mast after this tragic incident.

Thursday 28 April 2016

The beaches.

















As some of you might know, the beaches along the coast here at the Stavanger area is what I love the most.

Wednesday 27 April 2016

The Horse Lady.















It is Wednesday, and the day when Marianne is not going to her ordinary work.
Once a week she works as a horse instructor.
She is a lucky woman, who have her own horse(s) out on the fields just outside her home.
Marianne is also participating in competitions.
Lucky woman!

Tuesday 26 April 2016

Flats.



















Fairly modern and spacious flats at Eiganes

Monday 25 April 2016

Windows.


















Windows.


Sunday 24 April 2016

Surf Casting.
















It was -2C early this morning, quite cold, but sunny and perfect for a walk on the beach a bit later (when it was warmer).
I met this Polish man who was out doing Beach Fishing / Surf Casting straight into the North Sea.
He told me it is very common in Poland, but I have never seen it before here on the beaches, only around deep waters. 

Saturday 23 April 2016

Happy weekend!















Still a bit cold here in the Stavanger area. Sunny with some rain.
It is also the time to start taking allergy medicine. I guess I am not the only person doing that.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Friday 22 April 2016

The front page today.




















The pop icon, PRINCE, has died.
This is VG, a national newspaper, and the way they marked the sad news on the front page.
Even our PM, Erna Solberg, was quickly out on twitter last night, and said as so many others all over the world; "Incredibly sad! Thankful for the soundtrack to my best moments in life. R.I.P."

Thursday 21 April 2016

The English queen is 90 years old today.

















Queen Elizabeth 2. is celebrating her 90th. birthday in London today.
I just heard on the radio that she is the Queen of 16 countries .

A little bit private this, but down in our little wine cellar we have a notice board where I have put up some postcards. So, today I thought it was the day to show you two pictures of Queen Elizabeth, looking after our bottles.

Anyway, she is still working at the age of 90, and I find that quite amazing!


I will tell you two Norwegian secrets.

1) 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.aftenposten.no%2Fbolig_old%2FDerfor-henger-kongefamilien-pa-utedassen-7154261.html&edit-text=

2) Our Queen Sonja, actually worked in "The Eagle" pub in Cambridge, as a young student.

Perhaps we should add her to the wall of famous wine keepers too?

I might take a little drink and say "Cheers" to the Queen a bit later.


Wednesday 20 April 2016

Spring has sprung.



















Spring has sprung at the Botanical Garden at Ullandhaug.


Tuesday 19 April 2016

There is a new girl on the beach.





















There is a new girl on the beach... I remember her from Tou Scene.
Stencil-artist Therese Refvik from Stavanger is the artist, who also is the one who did the art, shown in yesterdays posting.
More info. on tref.no


Monday 18 April 2016

Art on the beach.

















New art seen at the beach at Sola.
(Perhaps NUART ?)

Sunday 17 April 2016

Flowers.















I was lucky to receive some flowers from a friend this week. 
This one keeps fascinating me with it's beauty and the way it is opening up. 

Happy Sunday!
The SUN is already up, and it is time for my first cup of coffee...


 

Saturday 16 April 2016

DUGNAD



















In 2004 the Norwegian word DUGNAD became our national word.
I don't know if it is typical Norwegian, but it means that people come together to tidy up and fix things in their neighbourhood, sports club, etc.
Now is the time of year when this happens many places.

"Many hands make light work" is kind of the English word for it.
In many cases it is voluntary, some places it is "required", but you can pay your way out, if you can't make it.

Some even have a barbecue or a party after the work is done.
No rain today, so it was perfect for DUGNAD.

Friday 15 April 2016

The Heliport.















This is the place where there are people going to or from work at the offshore oil rigs.
A busy place, and sometimes people are stuck here for hours because of bad weather and no helicopters are up in the air.
Some families have their beloved ones out for weeks at a time, but then again they are back for weeks  too, so I guess it is a very special work situation, but most people get used to it.

Thursday 14 April 2016

Lunch at Bølgen & Moi.





















It was lunch time, and my friend and I both wanted to go for the same dish,
fish & chips at Bølgen & Moi.

The food was very good, apart from too much salt on the chips for our liking.

The waiter SIDNEY, who is half English and half Norwegian did a very good job, and also told us that he wanted to go to England, and hoped to get a job at one of Gordon Ramsey 's restaurants to learn even more about food and wine.

We hope you will get the chance, SIDNEY!!

Anyway, if you ever see a furry "fox" in Stavanger, it might be Sidney who is involved in "Fairy Fandom".... He showed us the picture of him as a fox, and when I came back home I had to google fairyfandom..... so now I know, and I have learned something new.

Never to old to learn:)



Wednesday 13 April 2016

One of the Vikings.





















Most people know about the Vikings.
Here is one, but don't try to look at it when you are driving through the roundabout at Kannik.

Tuesday 12 April 2016

Is Grandma in town?





















Is Grandma in town??
I LOVE these cute Italian cars, and when I saw this one with "Nonna" (Italian for Grandma) written on it, I just had to share the beauty with you.
Good parking in a tight space.

Monday 11 April 2016

Sandnes, not far from Stavanger....
















SANDNES is our nearest town, just 15 minutes south by train from Stavanger.
They are good at decorating their city, and to put out some new and different stuff here and there.
This time I noticed some huge cheerful & colourful chairs/benches put out in the pedestrian street.

Sunday 10 April 2016

Helping hands...














It is good to see that there are people who do care when a fellow human being needs help, who rings for help, and who stays there to make sure all goes well.



Saturday 9 April 2016

The front door.





















What a fantastic front door this is.

Friday 8 April 2016

Flats.

















More flats from the Eiganes area. 

Thursday 7 April 2016

The White House.
















Wow, I just had to stop and LOOK when I saw this amazing old villa.
Look at the detail.
Isn't that a fantastic place?
Lucky owners!

Wednesday 6 April 2016

New flats.

















Some fairly new flats. (Holmegenes)
Do you like the style?
It is a short walk into the city centre from here.

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Diamanten.




















This building has been some sort of a landmark for years.
I am not sure what it is used for today, but a friend who worked there ten years ago, said it was a place where they repaired watches and jewellery, and a place were companies could buy gifts for their employees and associates with company logos on.

Monday 4 April 2016

Monday morning.

















A mural seen at the St.Olav area.
Have a nice new week!

Sunday 3 April 2016

A trip to Hå ?















If you are in the area and are thinking of a Sunday trip, why not head south to Hå Gamle Prestegård.
The artist Ingrid Aarset has an amazing exhibition with laser cut art. It is fascinating and beautiful.
I bought the little book/leaflet where she has an interesting article "About the power of enthusiasm." and about developing patterns and ornamentation....
Well worth reading, and yes, I look for patterns in most things after my visit there:)

Saturday 2 April 2016

Stavanger is nothing like this today!

















STAVANGER is nothing like this today.
We have plenty of clouds and rain.
I guess the shopping malls will be busy, and it will be a quiet day in town.
(Opposite to when the sun is out.)

Anyway:
Have a nice weekend wherever you are!

Friday 1 April 2016

On the wall.




















Seen on one of the walls at the "old hospital".
It is a cold frosty morning, but SUNNY here on the west coast of Norway.
Happy New Day !