Farewell to an old friend

I`m this kind of guy who hate to throw away things. Thypical men, I guess.
Almost all my furniture I got for free. Given from friends who have moved away or needed som new stuff.

Like this sofa. Who has served me faithfully for many years. But lately it became broken here and there.

-Why don`t you throw it away and buy a new one, a girl asked me.
But I declared solemn that I would never, NEVER pay 10 to 15 thousand Norwegian Kroner for a new sofa. Nope.

Later I explained my Congolesian friend that Norwegian women always want to throw away old stuff and buy new.
-Yeah, the Congolesian guy replied.
-That`s how it is in Congo as well.

Once I saw this fine sofa at the local antique shop. The prize was only 3000,-
But I was too late.
But then I got help. Someone wanted to give away their sofa again.
And the faith wanted it to be excactly the same sofa as the one at the antique shop.
So then I saved 3000!

Now the old sofa is carried out.
It lies out in the rain with it`s stomach up and understands nothing.

The world comes to Varanger

The painting is made by Hannah Bråten.

A new organisation is born in Vadsø; "Verden i Varanger", "The World in Varanger".
The aim is to make people from different cultures to cooperate in common concerts.

The first concert will be during the crab-festival Polar Spectacle Thursdag 13. of October in Vadsø.
Traditional accordion players (playing old Russian, Finnish and Norwegian music) will join with a Liberian Gospel-refugee-group and the folk-rock group Daap. Also with professional help from percussionist Nasra Ali Omar from Tromsø and the folk-musician Unni Løvlid.
How this extreme, different music will sound like when we mix it together? You`ll know if you come and listen.

Moonlit

The nights are moonlit. Lot`s of things can happen then. And it happens...

Arctic potato farmers

I`ve got this passion about potatoes. Not the most exciting thing to become passioned about, I guess.
But it`s a fantastic vegetable.
A long time ago it was exported from America to Europe, helping poor people from starvation.
And it`s so easy. I just get some free, old potatoes from the grocery shop. Put them into the soil. And in the autumn I have these many, lovely, fresh potatoes.

At the same time I become a bit stressed.
Because when I walk along the street I see my neighbours potato fields. And they are always better than mine. With high potato grass.
My neighbours are old guys, who for centuries have followed the best way to cultivate potatoes in the Arctic.
And I keep doing mistakes.
But in the end it`s okay. Finally I get my potatoes. Some of them are very small. But so good...

Carrot drink from Gandalf

I joined a birthday party with "Gandalf" this weekend.
This guy celebrates in the way of the hobbits; He, who has birthday give presents to the guests.
He also looks excactly like Gandalf. In all perspectives.

However, he revealed that he wish other people to do like him. I must admit I haven`t thought about that.

"Gandalf" is a very generous man. He served all kinds of food and drinks. Lots of it was from his own garden.
And among it all a welcome-drink with a carrot. From his garden.
I just love these kind of presents. And it`s not even my birthday...

Autumn is here

There`s not so much more to say about it.
The autumn is here. With it`s sentimental colours and air that tasts like menthol.

Peace in the kitchen

I was at a party this weekend. A couple of guys are going out in the big, big world for a year. And then having a goodbye-party before leaving.
Among the guests were some youths from Afghanistan.
One of them were sitting on the kitchen, playing the guitar. I noticed his guitar had only two strings. Making av special kind of sound.
Me, I always start singing Nordic hymns at parties. And suddenly I found myself with my hymns accompanied with the Afghan guitar-sound.
And that`s about it. So easy.
Making peace for one night.

Redwine and candlelight in the garden

The peace of the weekend has come.
The temperature is still quite nice.
We celebrated it with redwine and a candlelight out in the garden.
Have a nice weekend.