Thursday, November 5

Cup Final 2009 - Sunnmøre / Aalesund (AaFK) against some others

Click on the link and see the You Tube Video when listening to Aalesund Allstars performing the Hymn: Sunn Møring when preparing for the first ever Norwegian Championship to Aalesund´s Football Club (AaFK).
At You Tube you will also find additional videos and slideshows of this most beautiful city in Norway and the surrounding district Sunnmøre ; (a Petty Kingdom before 872 AC) with its Fjords and Alps

On the run again

Then it is due once more. Winter is running.
The very first snow autumn 2009 has landed in the streets outside my windows.
This year it is only smal quantities, and it is only on parked cars we can find proof of the coming winter. The ground is still too warm to let it stay. Normally the first snow creates caos.
The first snowfall last year (October 27.) looked like this.
However, with a temperatur just above zero C, the breeze around 7 m/s, and the swine flu all over, it is time to put on some clothing that keeps you warm, or stay in bed with toddies.

Monday, November 2

Flag nr. 150 - Cap Verde

Today I can present my first visitor located in the island country Cape Verde located off the western coast of Africa, opposite Mauritania and Senegal.
The largest island at Cape Verde is Santiago. The island was discovered by António da Noli in around 1460 who built a garrison in Cidade Velha which was then known as Ribeira Grande. Transcontinental slavery made Cidade Velha the second richest city in the Portuguese realm. Portugal was unable to protect its colonies because the English, Dutch, French and Spanish took over the slave trade and the island was later raided by pirates. Sir Francis Drake distroyed Ribeira Grande in 1585.
The 10 stars on the Flag of Cape Verde represent the main islands of the nation. The blue represents the ocean and the sky. The band of white and red represents the road toward the construction of the nation, and the colours stand for peace (white) and effort (red). The yellow colour, circular formation of the stars, and dark blue field show similarity to the flag of the European Union.
In 2006 I painted a football player with the Vålerenga letters on the jersey, and used the player Freddy dos Santos as model. Cape Verde is the country of origin of Freddy´s father.

Saturday, October 31

Almost unbelievably but must be seen

It is not a Bench of the week post!

If you are up to see something really spectacular, click on the link below and take a look at this video from You Tube:

Kseniya Simonova's Amazing Sand Drawing

Your stay at the beach will never be the same.

Autumn by a Norwegian lake

Just for fun I had to copy the Title RuneE posted this morning. Not the same lake, but one of the many silent water mirrors we can find in our beautiful Norwegian nature these days.The ice has begun to cover the water surface.
The sky is completely without clouds and the low sun makes colors different from earlier.
The photos from our tour around Lake Sogn close to the geographical center of Oslo. See previous posts to get more of this lovely recreation area.

James at Newtown Area Photo has started a meme called Weekend Reflections. Post a reflection during the week-end, log on at his site - and you're on.

Friday, October 30

Ladies here, there and everywhere

In the corner of my eye when sitting here writing this post I see my Indonesian Queen inspiring me with her graceful attitude and colorful clothing.
The Norwegian painter Kai Fjell is probably the one who most has expressed women in his artworks. The natural feminine power that cares for creation and prolonging life has been as I see it, a central force in his production.
Another artist is Olav Mosebekk who always has expressed women in his drawings and graphic works. In his last productive years he dared to call him self a painter, and went longer than before in showing the beauty of women i.e. in his book O.M. - og bakom synger Eros

I am nothing compared to these two Norwegian artists, but am very intrigued by the female body, and try often to express the beauty of women in different ways and colors. My last paintings is shown here:
More of my nude art can be found in My Gallery

Thursday, October 29

Thursday Walk - Sognsvann around twice

Sometimes we move our daily exercise from the urban cobblestone streets down town to the gravel tracks around the beautiful lake "Sognsvann" where people from all part of Oslo find possibilities for recreation and exercise. Walking and jogging, in addition to bathing during summertimes, are preferred activities.
The bathing jetty is empty today and the hoarfrost shows that only dogs have left their footprints.
A glimpse of light comes through the forrest but no shortcuts are preferred because a real training session is our target.
My heading photo is also from the tour of today.

Wednesday, October 28

O is for Ocher at Oscar Street in Oslo in October

The color is Ocher.
The street is "Oscarsgate"
behind the Royal Castle in Oslo.

The Letter on this October Wednesday ABC = O
Other O expressions is found HERE

Tuesday, October 27

Swine flu and Seasonal flu jab received

Seasonal flu immunisation, or the Flu jab, is the injection of a vaccine against flu. It gives good protection from flu that lasts for one year. The flu vaccines currently available give 70-80% protection against infection, with flu virus strains closely matching those in the vaccine.
The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you from Swine flu. Some people will be at high risk from both types of flu. They will need both jabs.

I have taken the Seasonal flu jab for some years and got my annual doses earlier today.
I also got my Swine flu vaccination as one of the priority groups.

The vaccination programme has now begun in many countries, and in Norway the Administration has opened a dedicated website Pandemi.no describing important information about the Swine Flu challenges.