Some of my female blog-friends have more than once described their frustration of their male partner´s passion - Football -.
He stayed the night hunting for some of the hundreds of Thrush birds ready to leave Norway for the season, made his visit to the cottage with a "mjau", took some dry food and left quickly again.
We saw Emil a few seconds early this morning when we had breakfast at our stay-over after a Card Night together with Bitte and Terje at their cottage "Toppen".
Although I was ready to take the last round in the game, I ended last with this hand.
The requirements for each round of play are as follows:
* First - 2 sets (6 cards)
* Second - 1 set & 1 run (7 cards)
* Third - 2 runs (8 cards)
* Fourth - 3 sets (9 cards)
* Fifth - 2 sets & 1 run with no remaining cards in hand, no final discard
Today Maja, Tor Marius and Rikke has left Tullarbo and moved home to their apartment. More than three months have gone since they left Sagene and moved up for staying at the cottage this summer. They have acted like real "farmers" and have taken good care of the area with quality attitude. More than satisfactory.
making the raspberry beds free of weeds, cutting lawn grass and remove downfallen apples.
and before mid May next year.
you have to prepare for next summer season.
Changing of the Royal guards (every day at 1.30 pm.) in front of the Royal Castle, is some Fridays´s most interesting events in our Capital. The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces is leading the procession up Karl Johan Street.
The young armed soliders are ready for their 24 hours watch guarding the Royal Castle, the King and Queen (if present).
If you have followed the High News Dagsrevyen at NRK1 this evening, you may have noticed the story about "Oslo Høyre" and their fight against the EU Data Retention Directive. The report was taped outside Oslo City Hall when we passed by on our way to Hannibal´s Hybel at Aker Brygge. The Data Retention Directive has sparked serious concerns from physicians, journalists, privacy and human right groups, unions, IT security firms and legal experts. My full support to saying NO to the directive.
But, before we could relax with a small drink, we had to go around some of RuneE´s friends. Young Seagulls begging for food in the streets. I cannot understand why Rune not has published a Gull since February. 21st, but better late than always. RUNE - Expect you to bring your camera to the fjords and ?????.
Yesterday morning and this afternoon our neighborhood was visited by customs personnel with their screwdrivers and metal cutting tools.
You are hereby warned!
The Flag of Mali ("One people, one goal, one faith") is a tricolor with three equal vertical stripes. The flag is identical to the Flag of Guinea with the exception that the colors are in reverse order.
The Flag of Guam was adopted on February 9, 1948. The territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all sides (border was a later addition). In the center of the flag is the coat of arms; an almond shaped emblem, which depicts a proa sailing in Agana Bay.
With a regular public transportation ticket we could easily get on and off any of the ferries travelling between Vippetangen, Hovedøya, Lindøya, Nakholmen, Bleikøya, Gressholmen and Langøyene.
Leaving Vippetangen we could have a spectacular view of Bjørvika and the almost new Oslo Opera House from the ferry
First stop was Bleikøya 1.5 km from Vippetangen. 
In the Middle Ages Bleikøya was a monastic estate under Hovedøya monastery. After the king took over ownership in 1537, Bleikøya was unused until beginning of the 1700s.
From Bleikøya the ferry brings you to Gressholmen.
After Gressholmen the ferry brings you to Lindøya East. In 1920, Lindøya was the Oslo base for the pioneer Norwegian airline, Det Norske Luftfartrederi, and its seaplanes. The operation only lasted until the autumn of 1920. When regular seaplane routes were again established in 1927, the operation was moved to neighboring Gressholmen.
In 2006, Aftenposten reported that a cabin at 27 square meter at Nakholmen was sold for 2.8 million NOK, and in 2010 one cabin (36 sqm) was sold far over the estimated market prize of 4.150.000 nok.
On the way back to the town, we took a short stopover at Hovedøen where a cup of coffee, waffle and ice-cream was on the menue.
The Cistercian monastery, Hovedøya Abbey, was built on Hovedøen, and opened on 18 May 1147. During the Medieval period, the monastery was a leading economical force in the Oslo region. It was however closed down before the Reformation after the abbot came into conflict with King Christian II.
Then it is only to enter the ferry for the last voyage this Sunday, and head for Vippetangen and Oslo coastal side with Aker Brygge and the City Hall. A nice and recommended tour. Next time we also include Langøyene on the jumping activity.
Tullen, Bente and Per Arne on the Opera roof.
Bente and Per Arne at a restaurant in the sunny afternoon
and the Oslo Jazz Festival street parade for the last time this year. See you next year ladies.
Oslo Jazz Festival has its last day this Saturday. The ladies in yesterday street parade had a nice time at noon and what happened during the day and night we have no reports yet.
New Norwegian research documents that a glass of wine a day makes you smarter, more aware and more concentrated. Women are most likely to benefit from drinking wine, according to the survey.
It´s Friday and the possibility for us to be smarter by taking a glass of wine is pertinent for many of us. A nice stay at a restaurant or bar after work is not to run away for.
Previous research suggests that moderate consumption of wine is good for the heart. Arntzen believes there may be a connection between this and the effect of wine on the brain.
The survey shows that there were particularly large declines for women. Abstinent women did much worse on the tests than women who drank moderate amounts of wine.
We are prepared for the future challenges of aging here.
Just finished reading Stieg Larsson´s Millennium Trilogy about Lisbeth Salander and "Kalle Jævla Blomkvist". Highly recommended by me too, and although the books are written almost 5 years ago, I have not been reading them until now. Better late than never.
Commanding Officer and her crew reports from Tullarbo that everything is according to schedule. 
However, when walking down to Aker Brygge and Hannibals Hybel before returning to fru Burum´s after a drink or two the streets were full of rainwater. High heals and no boots made the passing difficult.
But when the evening arrived and we gathered in front the 48 inches, no clouds could be seen on the sky. Weather variations within a few hours is typical for this unstable climate.
You have probably heard about the two most famous caves at the islands north of Ålesund:Skjonghelleren is situated on Valderøy in Giske municipality, and is an exciting cave 57 metres up in the mountain side.
The cave has got a 100 metres deep tunnel, and you can walk while standing up straight until you reach the final 30 metres. There has been found traces of settlement dating back to the Stone Age here, when the neighbour island Giske barely had risen from the ocean after the last Ice Age. There has also been found traces of wildlife dating over 30.000 years back in Skjonghelleren, and you can hear more about it at Godøy Coastal Museum.
I have to wait till another trip to the islands before I can show you photos from these caves, but if visiting The world´s best destination on the web, you can read more.
Dollsteinshola is one of the largest and most intriguing caves in Norway, and has has been mentioned in historic documents for centuries. The cave is situated at the west side of the island Sandsøy in Sande municipality
The cave is 180 metres long, and has got 5 rooms that are separated by long and narrow passages. You need to be dressed appropriately and bring the necessary equipment to explore the cave, since the trip inside includes climbing over walls of 3-4 metres, crawling, and holding on to a rope down a 50 metres long hill. Dollsteinhola is a protected area.The cave has got a lot of legends and myths connected to it, and it is said that the English King Arthur buried a lot of treasures in the cave during the 6th century, including The Holy Grail. None of these treasures have been discovered so far, but an exploration of the area is a fun and exciting activity!
This is the living room with an opening above for the smoke from the fireplace.
This is what I was told to be the sleeping room. The innermost part and dry even when the rain was heavy outside.
Outside the opening of the cave as seen on the first photo, the ground was deeply covered with
Take a journey to the North Islands of Sunnmøre, and if the ferries are in order, you may bring your cars with you all the way. If not, Cycling is a possibility
Walking around in Norwegian nature gives both challenges and experiences. Many times we look up and see all the beautiful mountains and peaks we have around us. This photo is taken from Fausadalen (see previous post) towards Regndalstindene i Velledalen.
When climbing down to the fjord vegetation swaps between forests to deep ravines. Great stones are left after avalanches or rock and mud-slides. Maybe some of these stones are leftovers from the ice ages.
Trees and plants are clinging firmly to the steep hillside, and the path is close to the precipitous cliffs.
Some cliffs are many hundreds meter high (or deep) and only made for mountaineers, but some are only a challenge to walk around.
If not ending as a waterfall the rivers and brooks are slowing down when the fjord or cost line is approaching.
It is time for a break, and the nature has made an original shelter with a bench for oldies like me.