Yuletide season- part 2

After the first Christmas dinner, it felt like Christmas season came too soon. What is there to look forward to if we have already opened our presents? But, no, it seems that there are more to come, this time from the father.

The second dinner was to be at his house. We are joined by sisters, the same brother in the first dinner, and his girlfriend. This time, dinner included, kalkun (turkey), rosenkål (brussel sprouts), sauerkraut, and potatoes. At the end of the dinner, we were served risgrøt (rice porridge). It is a tradition in Norway that an almond is hidden inside the porridge and one that gets it will get a marzipan pig as a prize. This year, I got the almond and got a box of chocolates from brussels instead of the pig because the father forgot to buy one!

Then, the opening of presents, where one is expected to do so infront of the others so they can see whether it is appreciated. Looked like everyone was happy this year.

Then the wine and the conversations flowed until...a) one is too tired to lift one's eyelashes...b)the stomach refuses to take in more alcohol..c) the hosts had to kick you out as they got work the next day..(remember official christmas days are still several days away..)

Two down, another dinner to go..uff...christmas is a very long season indeed!

Yuletide season -part 1

I have always wondered about the word Yuletide and how it can be remotely associated with Christmas. Then, one day, after a few years trying to learn Norwegian, it struck me that it is similar to the norwegian words, "Jul" and "tid" which literally means "Christmas" and "time." So maybe, the Yuletide word has scandinavian origins like ombudsman, smorgasbord and sky.

Ever wonder about how Norwegians celebrate Christmas? My family usually gathers for a christmas dinner and since we are one big extended family complicated by marriages, divorces and romantic relationships, we have more than one dinner to go to. This year, the first was with a mother who lives outside of Oslo. It was held at our house so I prepared the "julemat" or christmas food which included ribbe (grilled pork ribs), medisterkaker (flattened meatballs), julepølse (christmas sausages, and riskrem (rice cream). Usually, while waiting for dinner, one is invited to drink glogg (a christmas drink of red wine, nuts and a unique dark brew of water, sugar and spices).



The dinner is followed by the opening of gifts taken from under the christmas tree. Then the long updates about each other while drinking wine, beer or some spirits of choice, cognac is a favorite or even irish coffee.

One leaves when one is either a) drunk; b) angry; or c)called to get the cab home.

Merry Christmas to all! (God jul!)

My beautiful angel

To this day, I have yet to meet my beautiful angel. She is called Bea and is my sister's youngest daughter. She was born long after I left Australia to join my husband in his country. But we keep in touch and I always beg for pictures of her from my sister, the technophobic who thinks downloading pictures from the digital camera is rocket science.

The other day, I got a call from my sister and she said that my angel wants to sing to me. Unfortunately, I was not able to take that call and when they called me again, I heard my beautiful angel's voice at the other end of the line saying" Auntie Nene, I am sick." So angels, do get sick. And how my heart fluttered!

Since we are many continents apart, I cannot just pack my bags and comfort my angel when she is sick. She, who in best health, urges her mother to call me up so she can sing to me. And she has not even seen me!

Stone age Oslo

No matter how long one lives in a city, one always find something interesting to discover about it. After hearing about the rock carvings in an Oslo suburb, we set out to find it. From the city center, we took the tram to Ekeberg. Just a few steps from the tram stop, we found the rock carvings that showed figures of animals and humans. It is believed that they have been carved on the rock by dwellers of the place around 6000 BC! By the proportion and number, one can tell that the world then was less about human and more about the herd.

It is believed that Ekeberg was the place early people of Oslo settled in the stone age era. Later, settlers moved to the plains and further inland where the city stands now. The old site of the city then called Christiana (now Gamlebyen..meaning old city) is visible from the Ekeberg hill including the ruins of the Mariakirken (Maria Church) where old Christian Viking kings worship.

Walking along the heritage path, believed to be a path taken by the early settlers, gives one a feeling of how it must be for those who chose the place to be their home. At the other end of the path, one finds a camping place where modern people (and tourists) can choose to live a more simple life like the early settlers did.

Lovely summer in Oslo

What i like about the summer is that it makes going to the beach a real treat! Oslo turns into such a beautiful city in the summer that we just can't have enough of it, especially the beaches. Huk, at Bygdøy is a favorite but they tend to be crowded on a sunny day.

The other alternatives to city dwellers like us would be to go to the islands (on a nice day, the ferries tend to be crowded so be prepared to disregard the timetable..and the not-so-smiling crew). One of my favorite is Gressholmen, fondly called rabbit island because of its inhabitants.

So one day, off we went to Gressholmen and chose a spot to soak up the sun and have a grillfest. Choosing a spot as close to the water as possible, we set down our engangsgrill (disposable barbecue set), and wait for the marinated steak to turn yummy. Once done, the steak goes very well with potetsalat (ready made potato salad).

Since it is early in the summer, going into the water is out. So it is just about enjoying the sun, the view of sailing boats on the fjord and picking berries. Gressholmen is a protected area so the only thing you are allowed to pick are berries. Nothing delights me more than spotting a red tiny markjordbær (wild strawberry) hiding behind the leaves. Though much smaller than the usual strawberry, it tastes so sweet. Other berries such as bringebær (raspberries), blåbær (blueberries) and even kirsebær (cherries) can also be found here. These berries make very good toppings for vanilla ice cream if they don't get eaten along the way.

Being in the island takes one away from bustle of the city for a while and is lovely way to enjoy the summer sun.

I am against religious intolerance...

Recent conversations with family made me understand more some people's sentiments about the Mohammed cartoon controversy. Remarks such as "I am insulted that Muslims dare say that my god and their god are the same" or "my god is more powerful than your god" simply make me sick. I wonder what the gods have to say of the "fight" we are starting on earth in their names! A Muslim friend once told me that God is like the mountain, there may be different paths to the mountain but they will all lead to the same mountain. Something to ponder on...
Another remark that i think is so enlightening in the light of the cartoon controversy is a statement of a Muslim on Arab TV trying to explain why the West dared do such a thing..."Freedom of speech is their religion so they will defend it as much as we defend our religion. It will be some time before they will understand that religion is as important to us as freedom of speech is to them."

getting out of the stone age into the blog city

just now, a friend is leading me to blog city...it is quite amusing to leave my stone cave behind and venture out...although...my seclusion have been somewhat an idyll..for a while.

musings of an amusing woman