Friday was a really good day, I had Frederick for the whole day and Sophia as well in the afternoon. Sophia and Julia went to a indoor play ground/gym here in Stavanger at one of the malls because it was raining and the wind was blowing so hard that it was literally blowing me over, seriously strong, Mary Poppins would have had a serious problem in that wind. So we kept ourselves all warm and snuggled up inside and played here. Sophia is really affectionate it so sweet, all I have to say to her s snuggle time and she come running to me for the biggest snuggle and she always wants more, she has started asking for snuggles:) so precious!
Saturday was the mid summer celebration in Norway and everyone here in Stavanger was having braai's/barbeque's with family and friends. The sun doesn't set at the moment here in Stavanger it gets to a dim dusk stage and then the sun rises again. We had a lovely time at the grandparents house with the entire family coming along. There was salmon and prawns on the braai with burgers, Vienna sausages, steak and vegetables. It was an amazing feast. I drank wine made daisy chains with Sophia and ate fish and burgers and Pavlova for pudding which is my one of my favourite pudding. It was such a beautiful day as well, the wind was a little chillie (understatement it felt like it came straight off a glaciers and considering we are in Norway and there is still snow on the mountains in the middle of summer it probably did come straight off the glacier!)
Anyway like London did, Norway has completely changed my perspective on what is warm. It is amazing at how quickly the body changes to become accustom to the climate in a new place. The temperature here on average during the day is anything between 8- 16 maybe 19 Degrees but as soon as it hits 14 Degrees I am honestly feeling warm like everybody else here and walking around in shorts and a T-shirt. Madness I tell you as before I left South Africa, anything below 24 was Arctic weather!!!! haha how quickly I have changed!
Sunday the day of rest :) Well I am really missing church it is unbelievable, and there aren't any here that I can become a part of! so Sundays can be a little hard but today I went for another run and have finally (and hopefully) got over my competitive side that has to do amazingly in this half Marathon and has realise that completing is going to be amazing and the fact that I am doing it means that I am winning (I know it sounds lame but I have such a competitive streak that I was expecting to much from myself and comparing myself with others) once I got over that it made my run today a lot easier and much more enjoyable.
I really enjoy looking out for the pink and orange jellyfish that are in the Fjord water while I run they are really beautiful and graceful in the water, I could honestly stop and watch them all day if I wanted to. They are moving up my list of favourite animals who would have thought! I have also sent my day reading my books and watching "the Mentalist" so pretty awesome day if you ask me.
Stay tunes for more adventures
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Day 15 & 16
Well nothing to exciting happened yesterday. I took Sophia down to Vaulen beach for the morning where she charmed some old ladies having a walk. I have been taking both Children in the afternoons for this week so that Julia and try and finish organising the house etc. So while Frederick was entertained by his baby gym, Sophia and I baked cup cakes. She has a very healthy respect for the oven and while it was on she was o scared to come anywhere near it. Not even to look at the cup cakes baking, she kept saying No, hot- hot-hot, poor sausage!
Today we went to the animal farm in Stavanger. There were the normal pigs, goats, cows chickens, ducks, rabbits and horses oh yes and some sheep. It was so cute I showed Sophia how to feed the goat the grass stalks, she was a bit nervous at first but then was giggling ever time the goat took the grass from her hand, it was so sweet.
This afternoon after seeing all the animals, singing old Mac Donald for 30min straight (no lies, if i hear it one more time I think I will flip!!!! OR turn into old Mac Donald!) and Sophia favourite book at the moment is "what the lady bird heard" it is really sweet but I read it 6 times just today! The Lord has granted me patients and for that I am soooooo grateful otherwise I might have pulled a Sylvia Plath by now! We painted chickens using her hand print as the chicken, as she is not 2 yet I got her to hold the crayon while I drew with her to add on the eyes feet and beak, they are really sweet!
This evening I finally got myself together and went for a run, it is only the second time since I have been here and September 26 is only getting sooner, I have sooooooo much work to do!
Anyway Stay tuned for more adventures
Today we went to the animal farm in Stavanger. There were the normal pigs, goats, cows chickens, ducks, rabbits and horses oh yes and some sheep. It was so cute I showed Sophia how to feed the goat the grass stalks, she was a bit nervous at first but then was giggling ever time the goat took the grass from her hand, it was so sweet.
This afternoon after seeing all the animals, singing old Mac Donald for 30min straight (no lies, if i hear it one more time I think I will flip!!!! OR turn into old Mac Donald!) and Sophia favourite book at the moment is "what the lady bird heard" it is really sweet but I read it 6 times just today! The Lord has granted me patients and for that I am soooooo grateful otherwise I might have pulled a Sylvia Plath by now! We painted chickens using her hand print as the chicken, as she is not 2 yet I got her to hold the crayon while I drew with her to add on the eyes feet and beak, they are really sweet!
This evening I finally got myself together and went for a run, it is only the second time since I have been here and September 26 is only getting sooner, I have sooooooo much work to do!
Anyway Stay tuned for more adventures
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Day 14 - Train to Stavanger
The old watch tower of Stavanger
Sophia wanted to take a picture of me :)
The old watch tower of Stavanger
More from the city of Stavanger, looking towards the pond in the city centre
The Cathedral from the side
The Cathedral from the front
The houses with grass on their room, told you they look like hobbit holes :)Tuesday and what a beautiful sunny day although when the wind was blowing it was a little chilly, but laughing over all my family and friends at home moaning about the cold, when we are at similar temperatures and I am in jeans and a sleeveless top :) haha
This morning Sophia and I took the train into Stavanger to spend the morning. We went to the old Cathedral which was build in 1135 and is one of the oldest cathedrals in the world and is still being used today, it was beautiful. We also walked around the harbour as Sophia liked to look at the big boats (which was all the ferry's to other island/ parts or Norway around the Fjords. We walked, er well I walked and pushed Sophia in her push chair (buggy/ pram, depending where you are in the world) so she had it easy, wow cobble stoned roads and hill that are steeper than Everest I really got a good work out pushing her, which was rewarded with an Ice cream afterwards (mmmmm.... strawberry ice-cream nothing better.) We took the train back and arrived home at about 12:30 when it was lunch and then bed time for her afternoon nap.
This afternoon was more play dough and making birthday card for her grandmother, then she went out with her mom and Frederick and I spent the afternoon together. I have finally found someone who appreciates my singing :) Frederick was crying this afternoon, so I put on my itunes on my computer and preceded to sing "Don't stop believing" from the Glee sound track and Queen Bohemian rapacity. The tears soon disappeared and she was all toothless smiles and giggles, he got upset when ever I stopped singing, it was brilliant. I love to sing and really wish I could (because I can't, when I start singing the dogs start howling and people start running towards their closest exit even if it is just a window)
This evening has been pretty chilled, reading my books but at that point I get to in every book I read of not wanting to stop reading because I am loving it so much, and wanting to put the book in the freezer so that the story will never end! I hate it i never want the books to end, I love escaping into my other world of make believe and adventures sometimes it is more exciting than every day life. Oh well that is the beauty of it being in books, I can return at any time.
Anyway enough of my rambling
Stay tuned for more adventures :)
Day 13
Today is Monday so Julia and Sophia went to their mom's and tots group this morning and Frederick and I were left at the house. So I did the laundry and tied Sophia room and played with Frederick till his lunch time nap.
Then Sophia, Frederick and I played together in the afternoon. Sophia and I are playing with play dough and cutters.
What I didn't tell you yesterday because I was a bit Knackered after our little hike was about our trip back. We took a different route home from the hike then on the way there. We took a shorter Ferry only about 10min to the other side of the Fjord and then drove around it and back to the house. The way we took back was through the farmlands (but still on the sides of the Fjords, there are Fjords every where so when I say Fjord is often a different one to the one I have been speaking about) The farmlands hand the most beautiful farms with their paddocks with sheep and cows that went right up to the waters edge it was amazing!
Stat tuned for more adventures
Then Sophia, Frederick and I played together in the afternoon. Sophia and I are playing with play dough and cutters.
What I didn't tell you yesterday because I was a bit Knackered after our little hike was about our trip back. We took a different route home from the hike then on the way there. We took a shorter Ferry only about 10min to the other side of the Fjord and then drove around it and back to the house. The way we took back was through the farmlands (but still on the sides of the Fjords, there are Fjords every where so when I say Fjord is often a different one to the one I have been speaking about) The farmlands hand the most beautiful farms with their paddocks with sheep and cows that went right up to the waters edge it was amazing!
Stat tuned for more adventures
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Day 11 and 12- The weekend baby... Pulpit Rock :)
Me on the top of Pulpit rock
The View from Pulpit rock
Me at the top
Another look at the Fjord below Pulpit Rock
On top of the world
Looking down on creation....
Halfway up at a small lake on the mountain top
What a view
Looking back at Stavanger in the distance
Before I tell you about my weekend here in Stavager I thought I would give you some more insight in to Norway
1. It is incredibly rude to wear your shoes inside the house here, anybodies house and at any time, shoes stay at the door.
2. you will often come across houses that have grass growing on the roof, yes they do look a bit like hobbit holes but it helps with the insulation.
Well the weekends I have off and I am free to do with them what I like, so on Saturday I slept till noon :) it was amazing (the weather was shocking so when I did wake up a 9 and saw it I rolled over and went back to sleep.) The rest of the day was spent reading my books, watching South Africa thrash France at rugby (I watched it live, streaming through my computer) and then watch the England vs USA football game at night with the family.
Then today, Sunday we all got up bright and early to climb to the top of Pulpit Rock, which is a famous hiking trail here in Stavanger. It was truly amazing, the rugged nature here is out of this world and the photo's I have taken really don't do it any Justice (and it's me so you know there will be loads of photos) I have realised that I am really good and quick at going up mountains. It is the coming down part that, is where I have a problem :) I never realised till today how much my dad has helped me in the past when hiking. He was always there to help me down or catch me when I fell. Well today that job was giving to what ever random stranger was in the closest proximity to me :) haha!!!! I really have to thank all those people who helped me today, from the stout German woman who I landed on that made a very comfortable cushion, to the orange man, who wore way to much self-tan and matched his Orange high-viz jacket! There are many more that helped but those two where the most helpful and memorable!
I have added in some photo's on the hike and from the top of pulpit rock, there are many more (come on it's me) on facebook :)
Stay tuned for more of my adventures
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Day 10 The World Cup Starts
Well today I woke up with great excitement as it was finally the start of the world cup!
I had Fredric for most of the morning cause Julia and Sophia were out together. Nothing to funny can happen with Fredric as he is only 4months old so was a pretty eventless morning.
After the children had their mid day sleeps, I woke them up and brought them down stairs to my flat and watched the opening ceremony with them, all the time trying to explain to Sophia that, that is where I come from that is my home South Africa! Which she look at me blankly as she is only two and home is a house to here not a place.
While the ceremony was on Fredric was quite happy in his bouncy chair and I had set up Sophia's crafts table with play dough to keep her entertained so I could watch the opening! It was amazing I sat on the couch with Fredric and cried it was so amazing to see SA and all the positivity that is flowing through there at the moment I loved it, only wish I could be there because with my lung capacity I can really blow that Vuvuzela LOUD!!! I would have been such an asset!
After the opening ceremony I played on the easel with Sophia and played with the play dough and then sat down and watched the first full game of football I have ever watched (I know that is terrible but I have never been interested before, sorry) anyway Sophia went out with her Dad so that just left Fredric and I together. When SA scored there goal I got so excited and scream that I gave poor Fredric such a fright that I spent the next 15min shushing him and calming him down. Then when Mexico scored he started laughing so I told him he was supporting the wrong team!
That was my day :)
Stay tuned for the next episode!!!
I had Fredric for most of the morning cause Julia and Sophia were out together. Nothing to funny can happen with Fredric as he is only 4months old so was a pretty eventless morning.
After the children had their mid day sleeps, I woke them up and brought them down stairs to my flat and watched the opening ceremony with them, all the time trying to explain to Sophia that, that is where I come from that is my home South Africa! Which she look at me blankly as she is only two and home is a house to here not a place.
While the ceremony was on Fredric was quite happy in his bouncy chair and I had set up Sophia's crafts table with play dough to keep her entertained so I could watch the opening! It was amazing I sat on the couch with Fredric and cried it was so amazing to see SA and all the positivity that is flowing through there at the moment I loved it, only wish I could be there because with my lung capacity I can really blow that Vuvuzela LOUD!!! I would have been such an asset!
After the opening ceremony I played on the easel with Sophia and played with the play dough and then sat down and watched the first full game of football I have ever watched (I know that is terrible but I have never been interested before, sorry) anyway Sophia went out with her Dad so that just left Fredric and I together. When SA scored there goal I got so excited and scream that I gave poor Fredric such a fright that I spent the next 15min shushing him and calming him down. Then when Mexico scored he started laughing so I told him he was supporting the wrong team!
That was my day :)
Stay tuned for the next episode!!!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Day 9 - home sick!!!
Today I was incredibly home sick, I think it was due to a number of factors
1. I have been away from home and haven't seen my family for 5 and a half almost 6 months!
2. I have left my London friends behind
3. The world cup fever at home is apparently insane!
Today it threatened that it was going to rain (which it didn't) so Sophia and I went for a long 2 hour walk along the Fjord this morning, seeing trains, ships, sail boats and ducks (her favourite, well as well as the trains) it was lovely. My arms and back are getting a tan again which is amazing yay, but the rest of me is still lilly white, it is embarrassing!!!!!
This afternoon after been thrown up on again by Fredric (luckily non on my clothes this time) Sophia and I had a tea party with all the Characters from "in the night Garden" so Iggle Piggle, Upsie Downsie, they were all there.
We drew pictures with chalk and felt types all afternoon and played in side because it did look like it was going to rain and here you don't wait for it to start to rain because within 2 seconds you are drenched, so there was no chance taking!
Nothing to funny happened,
stay tuned for more.
1. I have been away from home and haven't seen my family for 5 and a half almost 6 months!
2. I have left my London friends behind
3. The world cup fever at home is apparently insane!
Today it threatened that it was going to rain (which it didn't) so Sophia and I went for a long 2 hour walk along the Fjord this morning, seeing trains, ships, sail boats and ducks (her favourite, well as well as the trains) it was lovely. My arms and back are getting a tan again which is amazing yay, but the rest of me is still lilly white, it is embarrassing!!!!!
This afternoon after been thrown up on again by Fredric (luckily non on my clothes this time) Sophia and I had a tea party with all the Characters from "in the night Garden" so Iggle Piggle, Upsie Downsie, they were all there.
We drew pictures with chalk and felt types all afternoon and played in side because it did look like it was going to rain and here you don't wait for it to start to rain because within 2 seconds you are drenched, so there was no chance taking!
Nothing to funny happened,
stay tuned for more.
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