With a little help from some friends

I`m not a technical expert.
So when I in a moment of insanity buys a new car-stereo, I get into problems. In how to install a modern car-stereo in an old car, for example.

But when the tough get`s going, the buddies are close by.
One of them first helped me to fix the electrical connections. He quickly dressed himself in winther clothes, fetched some wires and contacts, and suddenly it was light in the player. I could never do that myself.

Later on, another friend helped me to install the loudspeakers.

So now the music flows around in my old, small Mazda.
Maybe I should get a new car, as well...

Life is good

Life is good, now.
I was at the sea yesterday with a two years old boy and his mother. Having a camp-fire, eating sausages.
Later at night I was invited for dinner to a family, being served leg-of-lamb. Hm.

Today I went back to the seaside, alone.
Made a fire again, ate dried reindeer-meat. Red the book "The Prophet", by Kahlil Gibran.
Was sitting on a reindeerskin that kept me warm.
Meanwhile, the flow-tide came up towards me. The fire got smaller and smaller.
I warmed my hands on what was left of the fire. But had to pack my stuff before the sea came at my feets.
And I discovered that it was late afternoon.

Yeah. Life is good.

The jewelry of death has been cut off

This picture might look a bit scary. But it`s simply a jewelry. I got it as a present in Greece, many years ago. It illustrates some bones. I liked it then.
Later, it got stuck in a knot. So it stayed put around my neck for a long, long time. Worned us both out.

But yesterday I took the major step. Put up a pair of scissors. And with anxiousness...I cut off the jewelry.
It felt like cutting off a piece of my body. But right after I felt a relief. A small reborn.

So, now it hangs in the window, like a dead trofè. With dead bones, like dead bones are supposed to be.
And I can take a trip out in the sun.

La Luna emerged

I ate my supper tonight, and suddenly my night-friend was outside my window.
She showed herself in all her glory.
It`s supposed to be a lot that might happen during a full moon...

Spring in the air

I woke up to the sound of running water, small birds singing and seagulls screaming at the distance.
This could only mean one thing: It`s springtime!

Normally I would be very happy. But this is too soon! My plan today was to go to the ski-cabin about one mile into the mountain. This cabin is open for all skiers, serving coffee and cakes.

But melting snow also meant difficulties in skiing.

I did one attempt, but gave up after one kilometer. My skis went in all directions on the slippery snow.
Meanwhile it`s 5 degrees Celcius. The snow continous to melt. I get anxious. For fifteen years I`ve been skiing to this hut. Will I not reach the ski-cabin this year?

The record is dead

There is only one record shop in this town. Soon there will be none.
Two youths have given up to run their independent music store.

I remember the magic of the record shop from when I was a kid. How I was hypnotized into another world when I opened the LP-cover. Made me spend all my savings on it.

When the "mp3-virus" hit the record companies, I thought they got what they deserved. Since most of the kids savings and loyalty was spent on champagne, expensive drugs and by throwing televisions out of hotel windows.

Now, when my computer also has quite a lot of mp3 music loaded, I feel guilty.
Cause I don`t like it when two hard working youths have to give up. Also knowing that their records will be difficult to find elsewhere.

I bought five records from their shop today. They were extra cheap.
They guy from the shop wished me a happy Easter.

Going to the cabin

"Everyone" in this town, Vadsø has a cabin. Except me. Therefore it feels so nice when I get invited to one.
Was picked up by their snowscooter yesterday. Drove several miles into the mountain plateau.

In the cabin the kids of the family waited with excitement to see the new visitor.

The people of this town puts a lot of pride in their cabins. They might be quite simple and spartanious.
But there is a lot of feeling in each and one of them. Many of them are quite old. Being used by generations.
And many use them as soon as they got some sparetime. To go hunting. To use the sauna. To invite other people. To Relax. Enjoying the wild nature around them.
And in the Easter, the city is almost empty because of the peoples "cabin-life".

The moon was shining this day. Surrounded by a bright, blue sky. The cold wind from the north swept over the landscape. But still kids and adults managed to go skiing in the wind.

Skiing in the Easter

This is what we do, mostly in Norway. Go skiing. Especially in the Easter.
But unlike the south of Norway, we dont have to drive several miles to find snow here up north, in the Arctic.
We just go out the front door, and suddenly, we are at the mountain.

We were to guys who went for a short trip today. Passed some horses at a farm. Went onward, found the open landscape.
Then turned back home, to the short border between wilderness and sivilisation.

Easterparty

It`s holiday! Easter holiday.
It feels so nice. And it has started so well.
Some friends came back from shopping in Finland. It`s cheaper there. They brought with them whiskey, beer and meat. And they invited me for dinner.
-Yeah, sure!

Today we went to the local cafè and met some other friends. They invited us to eat porridge. That`s what we eat every Saturday here in Norway. With lots of other stuff.
And this is what just happens in the Arctic. You go out, meet some friends, and get invited for dinner.
I brought with me some dried reindeer meat, to the porridge. It has been hanging out the whole winther, and now it`s ready to be eaten.

The small guy, four months old Ailo were just looking calmly at the adults behaviour from his place at the end of the table.
I feel this Easter holiday will turn out very well...

Happy birthday, all of you!

This is the day. 8. of march. Womens Day.
This day has been celebrated quite nice in my Arctic hometown, Vadsø.
For many years I`ve been singing in a choir for all these women. It felt nice.

But it is always these few hard working people who make the celebration of the day come through.
Despite all arguing in Norwegian media; "Is it necessary to do anything this day. Isn`t it all equal enough now," and so on.

So keep on, all of you who make the day stay alive.

The world out there

Far out, at the east, we can see their ligths. Big ships carrying oil.
Most of us don`t think so much about it. They are so far away out there.

But their numbers has increased drasticly, going back and forth between Murmansk in Russia and Rotterdam in Holland with their dangerous load.

Lot`s of the oil comes from far south in Russia, even from Eastern Europe. But in stead of transporting it directly westward, it goes up north, and then along the coastline of Norway.
It puzzles me, this world economy of our. That we have to transport everything for so long distances.

The catastrophy of Exxon Valdes in Alaska destroyed a coastline at the size of most of Northern Norway.

And all we can do is to hope that this never happens to us.

Matrix with a guitar

Then suddenly I woke up.
Just like Matrix.
I looked around. Was (mentally) naked. With a guitar around my arms. Lots of fresh, snow around me.
Slightly i rembered. I`ve been sick. And in my fever, I went to the internet-shops and bought anything. Including a guitar. And I cannot even play this guitar!
I went inside my house, still confused. Found my flat tidy and clean. What a surprise!
And I found my blog, in a new adress, both in Norwegian and English. My old blog had just turned into a historical archive.
Suddenly I understood.
A new life. And new opportunities...