Pinnekjøtt, Christmas dish no 1

We have at home already tasted Rakfisk and Lutefisk (several times) this season. Today we are opening the Christmas Table season by having Pinnekjøtt at our favorite restaurant Cafe Christiania.

Café Christiania opened its doors on 1 November 2005.The restaurant is divided into several sections and has space for around 280 guests in total.

Closest to the Parliament Street is the café section, called Buen (the Bow), which overlooks Eidsvolls plass and Karl Johans gate. Farther inside is Landhandleriet (the Country Store), the main room of the restaurant, which has its own Chambre Separée with space for private parties of up to 80 guests.

The restaurant´s Wine Cellar is strategically positioned inside the restaurant itself. Thus you have the opportunity to bring guests in to view the wines at first hand.

Øl-bordet (the Beer Table) closest to the kitchen and a fireplace is a special attraction, serving 3, 5 and 7-course menus based around beer – and where guests can pour their own beer from taps hanging down from the ceiling.

During spring and summer, outdoor service are provided on the roof terrace – called Folketinget (Parliament) – which can seat 110 people. Mashed rutabagas or Swede (picture above / not people) are mandatory together with pinnekjøtt, and if you feel for preparing your own Christmas food based upon Norwegian traditions, please follow this link.

Paris here we come again

Some years ago, and well documented through my post form August 30th we celebrated my birthday in Paris. Later this week we will revisit the Capital of France, and will have a nice stay with sightseeing, shopping, cafe visits and great dinners.Last time in Paris we, as a lot of others, visited Louvre and Mona Lisa. May be, but only may be, we will visit Louvre again to see the Picasso – Delacroix exhibition.
La Giaconda / Mona Lisa is here shown in two versions. On top "a copy"???? from Prado, Madrid, and "the original" ???? at Louvre.
I think I prefer the Prado version by Velazquez.

Vålerenga, Norwegian Champions 2008

Congratulations to Vålerenga winner of the Norwegian Cup in Football 2008.
In addition Aalesund Football Club has a good opportunity to stay in the top division by beating Sogndal on Wednesday after 4 - 1 yesterday.

Graphics and Car fire

Playing with size and colors is one possibility we have through our Preview on the desktop with Mac OS X Leopard
This graphic expression of an ordinary photo takes away almost everything except light and shadows.

Just outside my studio window another take-away happened a few days ago.
I don´t know anything of the circumstances, what happened or why, but after the firemen had done their job the result was clear.
An out-burnt car.Wonder what will be the result of today urban strolling.
Bringing my camera is mandatory as it was in my living room documenting Tulips on the fireplace shelf.

An amazing little girl

Yes you are.
Due to her premature birth, Helene has some challenges with seeing. However, she is already (without seeing!) in the top set in class for her reading. She got her first glasses this week and looks lovely. Do we see another Dr. Berry coming?
Well here is at least another Berry.

The Grand Master and his Commander

Wednesday we celebrated that it was 25 years since Team-83 at Rikshospitalet performed the first Heart Transplantation in Norway. At the end of the very interesting program, one of the most important persons in organ transplantation then and today, Prof.Dr.med Odd Geiran was awarded Commander of St. Olav Orden.
On the photo Dr Geiran is seen with his badge on necklet under the painting of the Order´s Grand Master, H.M. King Harald 5 at the City Hall.The Mayor of Oslo, Fabian Stang, was one of us giving our best congratulations to Odd; the sledgehammer as I called him after his response when my new heart stopped due to total AV 10 tears ago.
Some of his colleges and members of Team 83 also attended the ceremony:
And of course the most important person was Bente who has lived with the heart of the 37 years old male donor for 25 years. A real Gift for Life. A gift that works!On the photo Bente is preparing for a hug by now retired Dr.Svein Simonsen, "the Father" of us heart transplanted in all these years.
After the reception at the City Hall, many of us had a nice dinner at Aker Brygge, and of course was Anne-Kristi and Klaus participating.

P for Prices on Art

The Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's painting "Vampire" was sold for a record NOK 258 million (USD 38,162,500) at a Sotheby's auction in New York Monday. This was one of four original versions made by Munch between 1893 and 1894.
I am not the buyer!

However, when anemone was posting (Her post is later changed) about me making a painting (different motive I presume), and she got rid of a Dane called the Vampire, I just had to make my version of the famous man-eater.
It is Wednesday, and although we are today celebrating the 25 years since the first TX-Cor in Norway (previous post), many other ABC Wednesday = P can be found here.

25 years since Norway´s first Heart Transplant

Wednesday 5th it is 25 years since Bente (a 22 years young woman in 1983) from Trondheim was the first heart transplant in Norway.On this 5 years old photo Bente is no. 2 from the right. In addition you see other number 1 transplants (TX). From left Troels Mathiesen, Combined Heart, Lung and Liver transplant, Nina Volden Combined Heart and Lungs transplant and me (far right) Combined Heart and Kidney transplant. In the middle Dr. Svein Simonsen who has played the most important role in the selection and follow up of TX patients, and thus making TX-Cor a success story in Norway.

The successful transplantation 25 years ago will be celebrated in "Gamle Logen" Oslo Wednesday, November 5th, with presentations of

What happened these important days and hours in 1983,
The experiences of this high competence medicine during 25 years (50% lives after 12 years),
Immunological Challenges, and
The way forward through tomorrow´s challenges and possibilities.
In addition:
The so-called Spanish Model - The recipe for success, and
How to achieve 30 pmi Organ Donation in Norway

The Mayor of Oslo will after this celebration give a reception at the City Hall.

About 50 transplanted persons and family will end the day with a common dinner at one of Oslo´s Restaurants at Aker Brygge.

Since this is a Wednesday I add the ABC-meme logo and say

P is for Prolongation of Life through Organ Transplantation
and:
P is for President to be; Barack Obama of USA

Tuesday facts - Grandparents once more

Rikke and Tor Marius will be parents in May next year.
Congratulation and we look forward to be grandparents for the third time.

Bridges Between me and Art

This month I have chosen bridges that for me all relates to Art.

The bridges are either art in itself or leading us to a place where art can be found.

First a painting by Magne Rygh showing the junction with roundabouts in different levels close to the new Opera House in Oslo.The next is connecting Aker Brygge to Tjuvholmen in Oslo where architecture art is expressed through modern buildings.The next bridge is over the (presently dry) duck pond in the Royal Garden, Oslo leading direct to the Artist´s House, where art for 771.000 nok was sold this year through "Høstutstillingen" seen by 32236 visitors.A bridge seen by most Oslo visitors, are the bridge crossing the Frogner river in the Vigeland sculpture park. This bridge is leading from the Main Entrance to the Monolith Hill. On this bridge the famous Sinnataggen (Little angry Boy) is located.In Stokholm, Sweden the next bridge is leading to Skeppsholmen where the Museum of Modern Art is located. On the other side the Nationalmuseum Sweden is located.Then we return to pure art and see the Da Vinci Bridge reconstructed (240m) by the Norwegian Painter and artist Vebjørn Sand. The bridge serves as a pedestrian crossing over European route E18 in Ås, Norway.More Bridge Builders can be found by visiting RuneE´s Visual Norway

Sunday exploration - Sjølyst

Two weeks ago we explored Drammen on our Sunday strolling.
Today before preparing for "Får-i-Kål" we took a short tour to one of Oslo´s new areas - Sjølyst and Karenslyst Alle.At Sjølyst Square between Scandic hotel and Norsk Moteforum this modern sculpture rises its arms towards the sky.
And just around the corner, I saw that friends of the Trønder-girls had opened a shop for dry wood. The epidemic is widespread, but I could not find any rusty "things" in this new area, built last decade.

Saturday Urban Life

The Egertorget square in Oslo is a place of many different activities. This Saturday the street musicians were a strange girl band which we did not know if they had a break from Psychiatric imprisonment or participated in a Hen party. At the City Hall Square we found an object dedicated to RuneE although the street light is swapped with a sculpture. Seagulls everywhere, also in Oslo.
Today luncheon took place at Cafe Sorgenfri where the Buffet (at nok 195) can be recommended by the Chef Anne and the editor.
When leaving Aker Brygge the sun is setting and the light fron the fjord is making us remember that on Monday the Bridges Between for November have to be posted. Go photo hunting this weekend and give all of us your contribution to the meme on Monday 3rd.

Click on photos to get large pictures.

End October - Waiting for the Cold.

As you see from the photo (made with my iPhone) the snow we had some days ago has gone for this time. But my car has got winter tires and the fireplaces in my apartment are more frequently giving heat from sparkling wood. The red wine will be served to the beef tenderloin, and an Irish Coffee will be perfect for a Friday night. On my way to the Fitness Center (Elixia) I am passing the "old" Frogner Stadion and the statue of Oscar Mathisen.

Oscar Mathisen was National Champion in 1907 at the age of 18, and became World Champion the following year (four years after his brother Sigurd Mathisen), despite falling on the 500 m. During his career, he set 14 world records, with his 1,500 m record from 1914 standing unrivalled for 23 years. The day before he set that 1,500 m record, he had broken Jaap Eden's world record on the 5,000 m and thereby had become the world record holder on all distances. He became World Allround Champion five times (a record later equalled by only one other person, Clas Thunberg) and European Allround Champion three times.

Not being a skater myself and not hunger for the winter and Ice to come, I should may be not post this photo, but the beauty of the sculpture and the speed expressed, is meant as a symbol of the last day of October and the entrance to the dark, foggy and cold November month. It is here tomorrow.

The first snow day in Oslo this season

Same procedure as last year?

Same procedure as every year, citizens of Oslo.

I don´t want to blog about all the challenges or problems in the traffic yesterday in and around the Capital of Norway. That is the same every year. But in the snowfall yesterday gave me an opportunity to take some snow-photos which can be presented under the Photo Safari meme.

First a photo from my neighborhood. The tiny snow carpet is covering the earth, but we expect it to disappear during the day.The tree outside my office window has not yet got rid of the yellow leaves, but the time is now coming nearer, and may be it should hurry to let them go.When opening the window, someone was begging to come in from the cold weather.MY day in addition to physical exercise in the Fitness centre, also included a visit to Ullevål University Hospital where I got the message that another operation of my eyelid had to take place to reduce the upcoming cancer problems. The plan is now to do it in January next year.

At the hospital area I always use some time to study one of the most beautiful sculptures I know. Per Ung´s the Embracement. You may also find another photo of the sculpture at Norsk NettFoto

Old Oak, Observing Occurrences and Obscure Object

My intention for the ABCW meme this week was to present my last three acrylic on canvas paintings. I always take a creative break after moving back from my cottage, but last week I just had to do something out of the Autumn colors.
But on one of the last clear autumn days (we expected snow any time) I used a photo from the Frogner Park in ABCW. Now it is time for paintings.
"Old Oak":"Observing Occurrences":and "Obscure Object".And if you wonder what obscure object I observed when I woke up this morning, the first snowflakes for the season are here. This post came just in time.

ABC Wednesday - O is for Obelisk

One of Oslo´s most visited landmarks are the Frogner Park with the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the Monolith.
O is for Obelisk (interpreted from Monolitten)

The name Monolith is derives from the Latin word monolithus, from the Greek word μονόλιϑος (monolithos), derived from μόνος ("one" or "single") and λίϑος ("stone") implying the totem to be fabricated from one (mono) solid piece of stone (lith).
The Monolith towers 14.12 meters (46.32 ft.) high and is comprised of 121 human figures rising toward heaven. This is meant to represent man’s desire to become closer with the spiritual and divine. It portrays a feeling of togetherness as the human figures embrace one another as they are carried toward salvation.

For more O proposals, link on to the ABC Wednesday fellowship

If I was a rich man

This morning the newspaper from Ålesund, Sunmørsposten had a picture from Borgundveien where I was born a few years / decades ago.
The first snowfall of the year

Even though the weather in Oslo outside my windows still shows blue sky and sunshine, the temperature is only a few degrades above zero C, and any rainfall will probably give a white cover on the earth here too.

The possibility for snow and also that I am a Scorpion, reminds me of today date, and that within two months I will have found out what my wife had decided to give me for my birthday or christmas. This ad in a magazine may help her in planning.
However. The Youtube video Fiddler on the roof may be a better way to look at it. Dreams vs Reality.
But If I was a rich man, the rules for death duty will be changed next year, so it is best to stay alive throughout the cold season. At least for my children and grandchildren. (text in Norwegian for Norwegian citizens)