tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148969412024-03-08T01:28:47.982+01:00Life, or something like it.... although you know that one day you will die, you live as if you wont.krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.comBlogger916125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-8880816293052967292024-02-29T23:29:00.004+01:002024-03-01T16:39:48.131+01:00Is this too early to be wishing for spring?<p style="text-align: justify;">Not that I want to wish any of this year away. Despite the extra day, February felt brutally short :/. Although, while my abiding feeling about it, a bit like with January, is that it was incredibly busy with not a moment to catch my breath, that's probably, mostly, proximity bias :). I mean, this last week's been a bit crazy, but there've definitely been some quieter bits.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZvEk4RoY5B9DOTO1V4m_nAwniXl_rGGVkg9RyVzGwJXg8u8MV0YFYbfrBQY7M9FU-ba6qYgCiHXSpWupGitxhQ-uElPI9iYEv7UjsNOcN0RV9FHHTLlRD8ryHY6FxpxEy2_G5crXmJztCLXUjZ5-jvP5PToVpruvOkgfH0puPL2a16NdtC8jww/s4032/20240205_082738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZvEk4RoY5B9DOTO1V4m_nAwniXl_rGGVkg9RyVzGwJXg8u8MV0YFYbfrBQY7M9FU-ba6qYgCiHXSpWupGitxhQ-uElPI9iYEv7UjsNOcN0RV9FHHTLlRD8ryHY6FxpxEy2_G5crXmJztCLXUjZ5-jvP5PToVpruvOkgfH0puPL2a16NdtC8jww/w400-h225/20240205_082738.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">For instance, there was that Saturday evening when I went cross country skiing with my brother-in-law. It was snowing somewhat softly to start with. The woods were slowly darkening with dusk and it felt like we had the whole world to ourselves. Of course, that was in the midst of a weekend when I went skiing four times, and by the time we were getting back to the car the snow was practically driving horizontally into our eyes :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjOdyILHZty68xvjs-PUvrWNIhwJEqDyiReIe4CFUWECAUcOn2rZh8HvflxbAOCIkUBNEf5bZY7QpwItEzjEF4-EqMVTJWq0S5xI4WY7ny8v8k9Ucn9_j39h26goToOEDN_UFjOrniWeeXJGYsmeURh5ii5Go8Mnar4erhCMydS3ulU_btrl_2Q/s4032/20240208_170312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjOdyILHZty68xvjs-PUvrWNIhwJEqDyiReIe4CFUWECAUcOn2rZh8HvflxbAOCIkUBNEf5bZY7QpwItEzjEF4-EqMVTJWq0S5xI4WY7ny8v8k9Ucn9_j39h26goToOEDN_UFjOrniWeeXJGYsmeURh5ii5Go8Mnar4erhCMydS3ulU_btrl_2Q/w400-h225/20240208_170312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So, we've had our first visitors in the new place! Always best with family, particularly family you get along well with, to try out new things, like how easily can six adults and a nine month old fit in the apartment you moved into a couple of weeks earlier :D. The answer is, very happily, I'm glad to report!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh973Xbh4WVeLsfR2F8swbJLDfYr8-pDfkFxY3nwrtCwlbsvFhHrC8yTseGFJP12M49_99gpyyOS-VT-4vUQf0i1z8zxEVVOmRYSlCZd3kknEwQ4mKJpB0ka5slLzFQeqUnTpo_D2SebFFUU7Icd4b3rjscqCb5FahxmkJ_nxRmq6ohLKxsGDujDw/s4032/20240211_111603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh973Xbh4WVeLsfR2F8swbJLDfYr8-pDfkFxY3nwrtCwlbsvFhHrC8yTseGFJP12M49_99gpyyOS-VT-4vUQf0i1z8zxEVVOmRYSlCZd3kknEwQ4mKJpB0ka5slLzFQeqUnTpo_D2SebFFUU7Icd4b3rjscqCb5FahxmkJ_nxRmq6ohLKxsGDujDw/w400-h225/20240211_111603.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">And yes, we went skiing, sometimes all together, sometimes in smaller groups. It was a good thing too, the snow was nice and fresh, and it was nice to have an excuse to really make good use of it. Since then, there's neither been the time, nor the weather really. It's been above 0°C most of the month, and raining :(. Well, such is life.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OguzIi13FRAGWx-WPNM6Lzrt9p4NabonCkWLT4iYXbcYycnxIObT1YAQcRjvbt5XNOwMw6bKL-EBJJ0fwLwmtJRhdKHPcM3bIdp6FaRm4Oapb-qZqnnOzgPnoJXEDrELT_7AGM61IDsL0U1AJAbaqXYmkFG-hzSRL1g1tudV7l4PzBTjeAJP2Q/s4032/20240212_165146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OguzIi13FRAGWx-WPNM6Lzrt9p4NabonCkWLT4iYXbcYycnxIObT1YAQcRjvbt5XNOwMw6bKL-EBJJ0fwLwmtJRhdKHPcM3bIdp6FaRm4Oapb-qZqnnOzgPnoJXEDrELT_7AGM61IDsL0U1AJAbaqXYmkFG-hzSRL1g1tudV7l4PzBTjeAJP2Q/w400-h225/20240212_165146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I did get back to reading a bit more. In fact, I'm really chuffed that I managed to read a whole book in Norwegian! The book club book for the month was <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1517366.At_Risk" target="_blank">At Risk</a></i>. But it wasn't available in English from the library. Or rather, someone had already borrowed the English copy. I noticed, however, that there was one available in Norwegian, and more or less as an experiment, decided to get it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQFET2yyBPEIOGhHvJXXtJFDwuz1QYmC8gIOze2DP2rLJUDQdBPLQbYzcV9N54LroxyX-jem5S-fcUGfR5Nmok6LHzLdZcfuAZpz0GosXroyj969JRY0r75GBGxc1xtKqgn_rwFVGr4vchFvBZZ2zf9sKo4LWso8wabCl8eeF7pySkbAiaj6k4A/s4032/20240212_165328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQFET2yyBPEIOGhHvJXXtJFDwuz1QYmC8gIOze2DP2rLJUDQdBPLQbYzcV9N54LroxyX-jem5S-fcUGfR5Nmok6LHzLdZcfuAZpz0GosXroyj969JRY0r75GBGxc1xtKqgn_rwFVGr4vchFvBZZ2zf9sKo4LWso8wabCl8eeF7pySkbAiaj6k4A/w400-h225/20240212_165328.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So, it happens to be the debut novel of former MI5 spymaster Stella Rimington, who I'd never heard of before, to be honest. And it's a spy novel :). The first of a whole series apparently. As far as debut novels go, I guess it was fine. I mean, this was no <i>Slow Horses</i>, but neither was it a difficult read, or annoying in any particular way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSLy9OoCVqcjQI6YESmstIdaxYl48MYa0myPDgUVoZCI002WxCV3D7DXcUdFe0uYF2MMEBykGd8ylYXKjsd3lab7P51MUnXxTyIB8pgi5JFlyy8exgtp_5pCOmcWKoXM24ZON37pjCuHHLHkqDSOzTZE3JtG_4pj2Ke6soZ-Q-xzNvm9C_AfkFw/s4032/20240212_170826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSLy9OoCVqcjQI6YESmstIdaxYl48MYa0myPDgUVoZCI002WxCV3D7DXcUdFe0uYF2MMEBykGd8ylYXKjsd3lab7P51MUnXxTyIB8pgi5JFlyy8exgtp_5pCOmcWKoXM24ZON37pjCuHHLHkqDSOzTZE3JtG_4pj2Ke6soZ-Q-xzNvm9C_AfkFw/w225-h400/20240212_170826.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">That doesn't really sound like a roaring review does it? I suppose the main thing I found was that reading fiction in Norwegian, and fiction translated from English at that, reminded me of reading books borrowed from the library at school, nearly thirty-odd years ago :). There was a sense that I was probably missing some details, but at the same time, I was definitely getting the gist of the story and plot just fine :). Or some version of it at least!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzqSn30tjy3dgARSfvvdomrxvEc7dqEoDhvc7fMgnMvqx3m99QPp0xnhYzgoIGidq_6HgWMMd8_OyfT8zhg8yfIhYf6xhiNm-r4rUs_I3MWe4QGb1UBtOucbB5UTQlt86FylG6Se3hLKYnNsyEAj1pLDUs_9mPhQGOTvCjAcxJ6TI_xVTWV3JeQ/s4032/20240216_120356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzqSn30tjy3dgARSfvvdomrxvEc7dqEoDhvc7fMgnMvqx3m99QPp0xnhYzgoIGidq_6HgWMMd8_OyfT8zhg8yfIhYf6xhiNm-r4rUs_I3MWe4QGb1UBtOucbB5UTQlt86FylG6Se3hLKYnNsyEAj1pLDUs_9mPhQGOTvCjAcxJ6TI_xVTWV3JeQ/w400-h225/20240216_120356.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Since then I've moved on to <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62226126-the-last-devil-to-die" target="_blank">The Last Devil to Die</a></i>, the fourth instalment of the<i> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/299267-thursday-murder-club" target="_blank">Thursday Murder Club</a></i> series. So far, I feel it's taking me a little bit more effort to get into. Possibly because of the significant gap since I read books one to three back to back :). Still good fun though!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaFp_4oABhqicYqZZPLJ5ptsHmRJX3uGKlTTmraKZbHY5-S4tZ-IZDHrJe8zGCU9rapsHFr4_mksO_iwYt3ZzYGNkriKSitNCkd3KyaUEd3YTyPL9oBbZquDwjmBWNXK0Ay6iPkUC30sFa1cx2RY0QvM0wbqP-vvShokM4PfcJ36GRHLSfQHKbg/s4032/20240221_090911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaFp_4oABhqicYqZZPLJ5ptsHmRJX3uGKlTTmraKZbHY5-S4tZ-IZDHrJe8zGCU9rapsHFr4_mksO_iwYt3ZzYGNkriKSitNCkd3KyaUEd3YTyPL9oBbZquDwjmBWNXK0Ay6iPkUC30sFa1cx2RY0QvM0wbqP-vvShokM4PfcJ36GRHLSfQHKbg/w400-h225/20240221_090911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Right, now if only the remaining stuff around the apartment would just fix itself, some new snow just show up so we can go skiing some more, and I could feel just a little bit less run off my feet, everything would be just perfect :D.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">PS: Those new cross country skiing boots are just <i>amaaaaaazing</i>!!! :)</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-71663764288941097742024-01-31T23:39:00.065+01:002024-02-01T00:24:39.230+01:00Changes! Changes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1h00gLuxIKOadNZoBKNkyyNZAlK7C3CK0jozhwgIJpm_o8jTZKC6W_0yDM9i5HvobJGqwBi4ey_KMcC_4S60lVgpLt346iXWndgDEyuu59gSReTmrXExj-a2CHPWzbyIOaVQvenOMBNx8vePdI7cHZSsQCx2gvREzYRe_6Of8LBS44xM3e70hMg/s4032/20240112_155615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1h00gLuxIKOadNZoBKNkyyNZAlK7C3CK0jozhwgIJpm_o8jTZKC6W_0yDM9i5HvobJGqwBi4ey_KMcC_4S60lVgpLt346iXWndgDEyuu59gSReTmrXExj-a2CHPWzbyIOaVQvenOMBNx8vePdI7cHZSsQCx2gvREzYRe_6Of8LBS44xM3e70hMg/w400-h225/20240112_155615.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Man! 2024 feels like it's been going for absolutely <i>ages</i>! By the end of the first week I was already feeling like we were at least two or three weeks in, and I know for a fact that I've not been alone in thinking this :). It's been good though!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vcHG5BqMLuuI7GtYfBlVHToLR0oNOUesicssAo1MrwSgFOMAoIlOKVzJXApM-EVATyWkYJ5o8TUUoORIs3RULEB7uDmTXddhiZX2uHOZ6dqlhCANouHYCC0rZk6bvCN30_XY4b6_VG3vpzFNHtDzguHYmAKB7LvlpRr_k0HmA3vjPRHflbkMRg/s4032/20240101_224318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vcHG5BqMLuuI7GtYfBlVHToLR0oNOUesicssAo1MrwSgFOMAoIlOKVzJXApM-EVATyWkYJ5o8TUUoORIs3RULEB7uDmTXddhiZX2uHOZ6dqlhCANouHYCC0rZk6bvCN30_XY4b6_VG3vpzFNHtDzguHYmAKB7LvlpRr_k0HmA3vjPRHflbkMRg/w225-h400/20240101_224318.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Coming back from the UK on the evening of New Year's Day, we faced record amounts of snow! Like literally amounts of snow on the ground around our neighbourhood I've never seen before! Luckily some friendly neighbour(s) had cleared enough of a way for us to wade home without much trouble!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17Iz4p3JkPSwtlHP9rnoCX1w3rItvLlk4JXO-QJWUlYwJmxS9UPEQ6YLpu0yvDTTd6GE8s9_nb3eQ9QCd5Xo6UwAu4jjCR7kKKzZhpspsOhPt2uXMBIYmXTQh9KjxElk0Bydi-eiAtEseuAKY9oD3xKPnVflic_uL_aj1lZdf9XRN4K29VuEs9g/s4032/20240102_203655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17Iz4p3JkPSwtlHP9rnoCX1w3rItvLlk4JXO-QJWUlYwJmxS9UPEQ6YLpu0yvDTTd6GE8s9_nb3eQ9QCd5Xo6UwAu4jjCR7kKKzZhpspsOhPt2uXMBIYmXTQh9KjxElk0Bydi-eiAtEseuAKY9oD3xKPnVflic_uL_aj1lZdf9XRN4K29VuEs9g/w400-h225/20240102_203655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Perfect skiing conditions right?! Indeed! And we did manage to go out once the first week. Since then, not even once.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6tEynSwweNZYnZ2XyMyp9p8e5sOgtL8CSH83V-zZwl_pav3t-bd8geH1dn0RkYi8vlM4SfP__E2ytPXMFmdEfWtJHP0hdMopGr-lE97gFhl_d6xw2u271H2YWVptnBZttaBguNHbCV69nqwgMcOB_iaIyQLxQbRiaH_DqpxBlJcTTKRmzox9vg/s4032/20240103_203233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6tEynSwweNZYnZ2XyMyp9p8e5sOgtL8CSH83V-zZwl_pav3t-bd8geH1dn0RkYi8vlM4SfP__E2ytPXMFmdEfWtJHP0hdMopGr-lE97gFhl_d6xw2u271H2YWVptnBZttaBguNHbCV69nqwgMcOB_iaIyQLxQbRiaH_DqpxBlJcTTKRmzox9vg/w400-h225/20240103_203233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">With the move looming, and much to do - cleaning up the floors, walls and ceiling, plastering, painting, getting skirting boards fitted, not to mention packing... the list of tasks felt endless, the time short. Yet somehow, with a lot of help from friends, we managed to move in to the new apartment a week and a half ago!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LBEHZo54xcUUK9ZM73uF9iUT09Ya9pAjOXnP4A7XoDDEEu4y1XtS7WM2_dvxOb1pgEH8Ye4xRAv-zI2RYOnk6FEIwigFf3SBx9Vvi0iJsvCznsj_R_KgHckmsEimGNE9HncQ2LJiPkL0ku4yfkqrA-CeSgRQIlFwnXhDw5bVDZL1wG1n4pj6AA/s4032/20240119_235253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LBEHZo54xcUUK9ZM73uF9iUT09Ya9pAjOXnP4A7XoDDEEu4y1XtS7WM2_dvxOb1pgEH8Ye4xRAv-zI2RYOnk6FEIwigFf3SBx9Vvi0iJsvCznsj_R_KgHckmsEimGNE9HncQ2LJiPkL0ku4yfkqrA-CeSgRQIlFwnXhDw5bVDZL1wG1n4pj6AA/w400-h225/20240119_235253.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4JPVvgLvMHdcsr_eEZcoBwWrvJFhxFfNwCVvwlS0mxsc0-dCgNbnLkFCb7kNwvsL0sd4oLcuoTl6XXo88KREj5vLSFZwPiDzRBXUwTWEZaYD-JKMA_VjvWfDjMS0WbJlsd-upIVF3I7HO_B0UVR1QoMLSXkdSKFQ_d3XtFc-wwK2FolnJDx8og/s4032/20240120_144634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4JPVvgLvMHdcsr_eEZcoBwWrvJFhxFfNwCVvwlS0mxsc0-dCgNbnLkFCb7kNwvsL0sd4oLcuoTl6XXo88KREj5vLSFZwPiDzRBXUwTWEZaYD-JKMA_VjvWfDjMS0WbJlsd-upIVF3I7HO_B0UVR1QoMLSXkdSKFQ_d3XtFc-wwK2FolnJDx8og/w400-h225/20240120_144634.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Still feels crazy, but I have to say I'm really getting used to the new place already :D. Good sign right? I certainly think so! I mean, there's loads and loads to get sorted. Plus we kinda have to wait till the spring before the garden stuff can even begin to get excavated from under the absolutely monumental amounts of snow that we've seen this January!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5gUfk8gc7LQhgjtO6D8qia-EnvsHLRWEYQqnlpcm1IooeeSu3bkn4Tl6m3PwLg_OHfaaQ6cf7Nd0kPQnQdjIxadnhA_tVqW8SkiudLpfFPlDPcvEeey3YhsZWV6KuYmUeNJojBIFYtNDIDcBNDifWgbNcBnl7fh895JAHKpPuD0heNjzaHDA-w/s4032/20240117_150447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5gUfk8gc7LQhgjtO6D8qia-EnvsHLRWEYQqnlpcm1IooeeSu3bkn4Tl6m3PwLg_OHfaaQ6cf7Nd0kPQnQdjIxadnhA_tVqW8SkiudLpfFPlDPcvEeey3YhsZWV6KuYmUeNJojBIFYtNDIDcBNDifWgbNcBnl7fh895JAHKpPuD0heNjzaHDA-w/w400-h225/20240117_150447.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately the weather's turned quite unpredictable and generally warmer and wetter since the move, so the temptation to rush off on our skis hasn't been pressing :). (Or fortunately, if you account for the fact that it only changed after we'd moved!) </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMTodOzvJ2MBl5iOyI31EeNHvrpV43NKKAhNIa6VxFqXGmHuiIi7R76ForVQQTbtRZTvrkBLTCp6gD80frdI91cEXim8BKzranzSwpQI2hmqqtL8zdkFj1mNEvDIbgvpncI5eMpxDrcCBsev2Wc4LsFvz9JTcewSCit4tg1BaS-mdjG0ui1xfmg/s4032/20240106_155224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMTodOzvJ2MBl5iOyI31EeNHvrpV43NKKAhNIa6VxFqXGmHuiIi7R76ForVQQTbtRZTvrkBLTCp6gD80frdI91cEXim8BKzranzSwpQI2hmqqtL8zdkFj1mNEvDIbgvpncI5eMpxDrcCBsev2Wc4LsFvz9JTcewSCit4tg1BaS-mdjG0ui1xfmg/w400-h225/20240106_155224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hopefully things will cool down a bit before long though, and we'll get to make some more use of the snow. I mean, I did decide I'd had enough of my feet freezing, and bought a brand new pair of x-country boots, so, really hope to be able to use them this season :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WX5vsXmMNGmylKZHmE7eE5v_VfgZSkLcaf97LpZkbjIsw3rKnhO16xzDC0rHSh3Opf-SexbookK-QZC2CCuJtZWv99iPG_zBnRfwdAMsJutJ8q2EYOVTlc9YuczssYV_ZsB-stnzV6l4jRCSx8ETWkC9QkzXGV9TIxgHrywG2kTHA9OjMVr57g/s4032/20240106_213922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WX5vsXmMNGmylKZHmE7eE5v_VfgZSkLcaf97LpZkbjIsw3rKnhO16xzDC0rHSh3Opf-SexbookK-QZC2CCuJtZWv99iPG_zBnRfwdAMsJutJ8q2EYOVTlc9YuczssYV_ZsB-stnzV6l4jRCSx8ETWkC9QkzXGV9TIxgHrywG2kTHA9OjMVr57g/w400-h225/20240106_213922.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I suppose one thing with moving not many people focus on is the place one is leaving behind. Somehow, that part hasn't quite sunk in. As I said, there's a bunch of stuff left, mostly garden/summer things, the bikes, the summer wheels... things that we couldn't finish sorting through. Going back to pick up or drop off things, or water the plants, brings back the sense of "we're back"...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNpjmG2XdtUjsLgYnBjLwp_mnOuV_KS8rYddU4jMGqaHOjCAYsA_PolpxAE-EIwtmaZa9HWoF5afL_NA2OL7fqCl8sA1iy_2KNf4gCCKqD13iFusjD72-b8l7cbJJeykYkTv0VrPeL2Jspk8OgfrGDuGuTKPMccyKPPTgClG37KwyQHSSj-uDMA/s4032/20240111_085256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNpjmG2XdtUjsLgYnBjLwp_mnOuV_KS8rYddU4jMGqaHOjCAYsA_PolpxAE-EIwtmaZa9HWoF5afL_NA2OL7fqCl8sA1iy_2KNf4gCCKqD13iFusjD72-b8l7cbJJeykYkTv0VrPeL2Jspk8OgfrGDuGuTKPMccyKPPTgClG37KwyQHSSj-uDMA/w400-h225/20240111_085256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I guess I've been thinking a lot recently about the nature of things. Things begin, then grow, dwindle and end. We seem to automatically assume that the first two are good and the last two are not. Which is not necessarily the truth, life consists of all these things. Finding a way to embrace them is probably important. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEClbJVpeTh500-hZraHUnrAnafLGoJfJnOdn_J00jZdJ2F930aaktrLWF7Hs54T51KWpahuCoWD7f9_ougvvkkq6GOLZdelVsDtmNuSt665nF9IzlUoAymjQBLl_nGciRbuGr6ybOj9E2NIVyOESQmvmie1iP_B5BceZaHjQ5kIsFjyo3f5fW3A/s4032/20240107_142341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEClbJVpeTh500-hZraHUnrAnafLGoJfJnOdn_J00jZdJ2F930aaktrLWF7Hs54T51KWpahuCoWD7f9_ougvvkkq6GOLZdelVsDtmNuSt665nF9IzlUoAymjQBLl_nGciRbuGr6ybOj9E2NIVyOESQmvmie1iP_B5BceZaHjQ5kIsFjyo3f5fW3A/w225-h400/20240107_142341.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Things change, change for the better doesn't necessarily make everything that came before bad :). All to say that I've really appreciated the nearly eleven years spent in the old flat, and looking forward to the new :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUzKJrPXbNE2e4QwRvhsCH-qtDSGYbbmE1uyqgNoRqvV2ybylYo_sTD1KKFzszEfQw_zG512sZRURP-8A8sNe72KkTzQUIiCyFXSeBKMuHj-hhOq7MeIna0bDPwBAQCLbI2qUShgFesiPA2iQCw2hxRfqtq7DCchbRUIqGfQgCo7LpRFVKF0xcA/s4032/20240112_155647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUzKJrPXbNE2e4QwRvhsCH-qtDSGYbbmE1uyqgNoRqvV2ybylYo_sTD1KKFzszEfQw_zG512sZRURP-8A8sNe72KkTzQUIiCyFXSeBKMuHj-hhOq7MeIna0bDPwBAQCLbI2qUShgFesiPA2iQCw2hxRfqtq7DCchbRUIqGfQgCo7LpRFVKF0xcA/w400-h225/20240112_155647.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-2976937695463398912023-12-30T22:32:00.042+01:002023-12-30T22:48:24.756+01:00In between yesterday and tomorrow<p style="text-align: justify;">So for the first time in a few years, it's time for a post from the phone :-). Mainly because it's the end of the year and we're not actually going to be home till the new year! So here I am, sitting by a stunningly crackling log fire and a prettily lit Christmas tree, typing into my phone :-D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='321' height='267' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dznKS0DcyYhrHOAppc-k_Qyua7yj2418nEuPWCg_syPnIEsQoX-LAqeMLesJFLkPbSVhN-baG8oc90' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We're back in the UK for the Christmas holidays. Which still feels like a bit of a special treat even a couple of years on from Covid. Although, by the sounds of it the no longer so novel coronavirus doesn't seem to be ready to head off quietly just yet. Luckily, barring the cold at the end of November, we've managed to avoid further respiratory drama.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKB6yQ69QP0Su6N0DPSg240CnB43V6tXINlXgIKWmYrYxlQfJVk6gt4gG713SmhfHtUfL67v1_I9E89cBXdzBd9lgBgxIxgFTZCc9bhzSq4CHO1h6SPFBGv4QOImCh8mDrKzbezACqazW32oqJNmjVYKkOSsPc6SJJjCDM361bmMLrcNBYyHN-A/s4032/20231226_113358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKB6yQ69QP0Su6N0DPSg240CnB43V6tXINlXgIKWmYrYxlQfJVk6gt4gG713SmhfHtUfL67v1_I9E89cBXdzBd9lgBgxIxgFTZCc9bhzSq4CHO1h6SPFBGv4QOImCh8mDrKzbezACqazW32oqJNmjVYKkOSsPc6SJJjCDM361bmMLrcNBYyHN-A/w400-h225/20231226_113358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's been a relatively quiet holiday time this year. Which I've rather appreciated. It's true of most years, but feels particularly the case this time around, this feeling that the year has just rushed past. Spring feels at once hardly any time ago and at the same time so far away that I can hardly remember the details from our long awaited India trip.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoa2eYfnTx_1lGiveM17DpQxhsxET-hSFMSCEsUIzPTB7D7R8F7m91KubAFiaj0MW4tWGSxB3WMrgUBmBMxJDd_6UyWGZw4He3pMCTGvcynv4RmkfFi0ovvaVK7ARM0TQMwRDhSCGJbqak3x1K5OPwuUP1I_ZykEAoG1WkIL24bHI3ew_P6PWAg/s4032/20231205_075811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoa2eYfnTx_1lGiveM17DpQxhsxET-hSFMSCEsUIzPTB7D7R8F7m91KubAFiaj0MW4tWGSxB3WMrgUBmBMxJDd_6UyWGZw4He3pMCTGvcynv4RmkfFi0ovvaVK7ARM0TQMwRDhSCGJbqak3x1K5OPwuUP1I_ZykEAoG1WkIL24bHI3ew_P6PWAg/w400-h225/20231205_075811.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The cross-country skiing was really good this year though! With some longer trips as the daylight hours got longer helping me feel like I was getting back to really stretching myself on the skiis rather than just trundling along :-). Which came in quite handy once we started cycling! The first downhill skiing weekend in many years also feels like a highlight worth mentioning. Maybe it'll be nice to do some more of that this time around.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47C6iqDTfJA1FMmzs4YXf2LcqwlaQAB2c0er6PWz-tUPFXNKTZlFhmPG_J6plfF_z8bwxd_QsJVxhvqkX5PJEdgkkt4Dle1t61x-Mr1GKqGS89FXPAmaOwkCyGff74ysiXXT4fp9-R6YSahqsdPDO3aa9uYXIfHFbuzZoZBfNBtVUDf2z_Vmr3Q/s4032/20231207_205616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47C6iqDTfJA1FMmzs4YXf2LcqwlaQAB2c0er6PWz-tUPFXNKTZlFhmPG_J6plfF_z8bwxd_QsJVxhvqkX5PJEdgkkt4Dle1t61x-Mr1GKqGS89FXPAmaOwkCyGff74ysiXXT4fp9-R6YSahqsdPDO3aa9uYXIfHFbuzZoZBfNBtVUDf2z_Vmr3Q/w400-h225/20231207_205616.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I think in many ways one of the highlights of the year was the cycling! We managed to more or less consistently cycle throughout the snow-less months, all the way from April to October!! And out of the various cycling adventures, the most utterly crazy one was obviously the 400km North Sea cycle in May :-). A bit like the Hallingdal and Numedal cycle in 2020, it continues to feel a bit surreal that we actually managed to do it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qI2vq2yU4f9VBEbvk3Ej4YCiSowKSBo14oj4tvZjJb3PPULFRGVDg9r4R1rhi25HCkuBA2EBI2BV_SQ8MC9aCszLPSE2cBPQ7GJczMrhPWbSx-5k16jJorEEZCuhRUzm7Pe0Va50DcjBaCD5Y4PHMrzYHYrp7jj0iSiFDJWkk79PGWJaGyFoCA/s4032/20231212_013152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qI2vq2yU4f9VBEbvk3Ej4YCiSowKSBo14oj4tvZjJb3PPULFRGVDg9r4R1rhi25HCkuBA2EBI2BV_SQ8MC9aCszLPSE2cBPQ7GJczMrhPWbSx-5k16jJorEEZCuhRUzm7Pe0Va50DcjBaCD5Y4PHMrzYHYrp7jj0iSiFDJWkk79PGWJaGyFoCA/w400-h225/20231212_013152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">But the fact that we ended up cycling three times as much as we drove in the summer was less down to that one trip and more down to the fact that afterwards, we kept going out on the bikes almost every week, not least all the trips to and from work :-). Hopefully that's something I'll keep doing next year! It's a good feeling, the distance getting easier, finding a level of fitness I'd missed...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5NB4owDGwLgWhhQSiHrxWcJ5KjSNkehdY3vVOWibz0PqwTRWSpNyQHsUxEgCfPBr5I-1oX302jASKSMYLAUCm85hQBXnNxHNnpfoBHXzP4dvGNa_vQW5xYBJv41yTcLGL8gxVshPV779KMfI1BsB-FKO6tonNCEJMrjQOtw50vCXdOa62Ux9iA/s4032/20231210_121028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5NB4owDGwLgWhhQSiHrxWcJ5KjSNkehdY3vVOWibz0PqwTRWSpNyQHsUxEgCfPBr5I-1oX302jASKSMYLAUCm85hQBXnNxHNnpfoBHXzP4dvGNa_vQW5xYBJv41yTcLGL8gxVshPV779KMfI1BsB-FKO6tonNCEJMrjQOtw50vCXdOa62Ux9iA/w400-h225/20231210_121028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On the travel front it was a bit of a mixed bag, the most I've travelled for work in years, but also a fair bit to visit family and friends! India was a highlight, as were the weeks in Bath in the autumn and of course the trip to Jordan more recently.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I99uvA6Zzhysb0mx01gFwBkIlKBLGJmJcXWn-8R4-mUbLKhqY-78la4RjBCynTD93zEYGyU7owl5WMoTUM3fPQWujQ2H7PB3nMVv3i5KtA9NbPyBM86IoA33BykOnk5K6sUdzb2GPdxZragSobPq_V7rkezQJIksDl4mZOxrJCc-xsCgUNQZDg/s4032/20231212_003717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I99uvA6Zzhysb0mx01gFwBkIlKBLGJmJcXWn-8R4-mUbLKhqY-78la4RjBCynTD93zEYGyU7owl5WMoTUM3fPQWujQ2H7PB3nMVv3i5KtA9NbPyBM86IoA33BykOnk5K6sUdzb2GPdxZragSobPq_V7rkezQJIksDl4mZOxrJCc-xsCgUNQZDg/w400-h225/20231212_003717.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">No post these days is really complete without a little bit about the books :-). The <i>Culture</i> series, of course was a highlight, although most of that I read last year except for the last book. What followed, now that I look back, seems to have been a heady mix of book club books, graphic novels and Middle Earth! And genuinely, it's been really fantastic!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMgJ0VNpVzrPZdYB_z_fsPFeHkNHs32YoibEC3o20wxws1VaoIZJdfbvwZ9mJjZzDkBreT3aFmNbQjfn76_g9QVBwSvGdNLynOogqiCjwxpQcJr5phfDNV6CimmhMKNl6vqOxIz3iKpZ5KofS46iUeN-pp_yVvN13rLbLS3GwGfPifWDN8mAvzg/s4032/20231219_160615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMgJ0VNpVzrPZdYB_z_fsPFeHkNHs32YoibEC3o20wxws1VaoIZJdfbvwZ9mJjZzDkBreT3aFmNbQjfn76_g9QVBwSvGdNLynOogqiCjwxpQcJr5phfDNV6CimmhMKNl6vqOxIz3iKpZ5KofS46iUeN-pp_yVvN13rLbLS3GwGfPifWDN8mAvzg/w400-h225/20231219_160615.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">All the Brian K Vaughan stuff was slightly weird, but gripping, <i>Monstress</i> was definitely eye opening and fresh. And then Gaiman was, well, Gaiman :-). But the most fun I had immersing myself into books this year was reading Tolkien! Sometimes the old stuff is the best stuff!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGb0Byo2OzowbEd6XJ5MGXfWs8T3uoKKMvGxG14nidpMpd_ux6a7L4Biwil_zCohcmvrDF48gUmyVn69Ce85cqmjUyIWkRlwNIQPDKsxCpcz5oNtBJq6W8Jnw0Goq0LT4Y2X_3OkGvgXvnVYb5l4kE4IKf0ms7S9RJUifV4sSl7KIJOJjok8cCQ/s4032/20231215_211423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGb0Byo2OzowbEd6XJ5MGXfWs8T3uoKKMvGxG14nidpMpd_ux6a7L4Biwil_zCohcmvrDF48gUmyVn69Ce85cqmjUyIWkRlwNIQPDKsxCpcz5oNtBJq6W8Jnw0Goq0LT4Y2X_3OkGvgXvnVYb5l4kE4IKf0ms7S9RJUifV4sSl7KIJOJjok8cCQ/w225-h400/20231215_211423.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On a more immediate note, I have actually started reading again. The book club book for this month, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50996319-the-girl-with-the-louding-voice" target="_blank"><i>The Girl with the Louding Voice</i></a>, was an interesting one. I had very little idea as to what to expect and I have to say, found it generally engaging. The writing is quite nice, particularly the evolving English as the story progresses. It will be interesting to see how the different members of the club made of the overall story.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsXjZEUNoGMc-kk8f24CK4DyuB1HxgxN4bWSISJksK0je308wy1c2eMLj0adh1Toh4utO9Gb-bUaJnznuM_opI3pSFWqq3hoQjcrRElFbwvOfph25SFuUkh9RJJQhL2_2CjfX_ANkJRnlr-JhoasfLsqL8UwqQ_whyphenhyphen3Hho7JpgVMJ2Cj8BNO9_Q/s4032/20231226_113453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsXjZEUNoGMc-kk8f24CK4DyuB1HxgxN4bWSISJksK0je308wy1c2eMLj0adh1Toh4utO9Gb-bUaJnznuM_opI3pSFWqq3hoQjcrRElFbwvOfph25SFuUkh9RJJQhL2_2CjfX_ANkJRnlr-JhoasfLsqL8UwqQ_whyphenhyphen3Hho7JpgVMJ2Cj8BNO9_Q/w400-h225/20231226_113453.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I then decided to start on next month's book, one <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62329955-none-of-this-is-true" target="_blank"><i>None of this is True</i></a>, which is rather a different kettle of fish. I don't like thriller types that are trying to be oh so clever :-|. They annoy me. And I find myself trying to get through this one as quickly as I can so that I can return it to the library before the return date. Turns out someone else actually wants it, 'cos I can't actually extend the date any more...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHjbaNCvMuazYV6NuWoaCBzu10eVAP1a3ysD3CMzuGOaK_bOWLLpZ3HQmkEh_6ln7VEQRIrKDhHQs2q_TblTsYCmuWlrFRJhKXSQG7trZMvmW1zCKARo2JL64aEuwTRg37VEVUBMBffxzzKhIHs1HRs81B96ZpxM62muYpHxrbquIVvNvVuy68A/s4032/20231228_122741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHjbaNCvMuazYV6NuWoaCBzu10eVAP1a3ysD3CMzuGOaK_bOWLLpZ3HQmkEh_6ln7VEQRIrKDhHQs2q_TblTsYCmuWlrFRJhKXSQG7trZMvmW1zCKARo2JL64aEuwTRg37VEVUBMBffxzzKhIHs1HRs81B96ZpxM62muYpHxrbquIVvNvVuy68A/w400-h225/20231228_122741.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The biggest deal of course was the new apartment! And it's properly official, now that we've got the keys and everything :-). Hopefully the moving will be as painless as everything else has been up to this point :-). I guess that one is definitely the beginning of a hopefully long journey.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOqiyGrHGgVomg3qACdD8AhIcCieVnalJA9pDXIzISUGABkvNxXNUOLUCj6UXspxpZrGqqEZ8g9Wm0YjgBu00D6sEiXGtsfanp33oF7ZjO1GODEHlUJAOUQBRmC24QR3GpRdj2u_kNgxxnbqNwVncUZDUcGitN1haLzD1G759p1XV0jt4C91vZA/s4032/20231212_210026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOOqiyGrHGgVomg3qACdD8AhIcCieVnalJA9pDXIzISUGABkvNxXNUOLUCj6UXspxpZrGqqEZ8g9Wm0YjgBu00D6sEiXGtsfanp33oF7ZjO1GODEHlUJAOUQBRmC24QR3GpRdj2u_kNgxxnbqNwVncUZDUcGitN1haLzD1G759p1XV0jt4C91vZA/w400-h225/20231212_210026.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So, as I often do in such situations, I went hunting for my <a href="https://lightswillguideyouhome.blogspot.com/2013/06/of-biking-trails-and-modular-furniture.html" target="_blank">post</a> from when I got the keys for our old apartment (which is only old as a contrast to the new one at the moment, seeing how we haven't actually moved yet). I genuinely think, if someone had told me at that point that I'd live there for ten and a half years, I'd not have believed them! I mean, up until that point in my life, I'd <i>never</i> lived anywhere for that long at a stretch :-). Just goes to show, one really doesn't know what's around the next corner in life.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qhN9slCtX3eHfjKdFyXyjxfUCSHTTGWtUIcWSoniWxlDY41YkSbJDqDQg5CUx9cti7GHChmzDJ659wLKMz3qP4IVsuMt2U3UdW_WNPlb-3ckxF2WDwtBeV1EIHS9PT4Mx1rkkBVL-a1zAjkl4oLLPO9RjkZLSnJQRWGA3uWtBYr72vkOx1UAXw/s4032/20231222_095418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qhN9slCtX3eHfjKdFyXyjxfUCSHTTGWtUIcWSoniWxlDY41YkSbJDqDQg5CUx9cti7GHChmzDJ659wLKMz3qP4IVsuMt2U3UdW_WNPlb-3ckxF2WDwtBeV1EIHS9PT4Mx1rkkBVL-a1zAjkl4oLLPO9RjkZLSnJQRWGA3uWtBYr72vkOx1UAXw/w225-h400/20231222_095418.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I guess that's as good a place as any to call it a day/month/year. Looking back and appreciating much of what has been, looking forward in hope for the things to come :-).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">PS. This one also has a bright red door :-D.</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Harwell, UK51.601327 -1.28894829.529282619795119 -36.445198000000012 73.673371380204884 33.867302000000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-63506988362510924652023-11-30T20:39:00.002+01:002023-11-30T20:42:42.071+01:00Interlude<p style="text-align: justify;">I should really post those photos that go with last month's post :D. I keep thinking about it, but for once, the sheer number of them seems to defeat me, and I keep putting it off... Oh well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGqqMr0AljnAwZCFCv19SfwJv_3_n0oxZF-Fy6oaEJGCH-RA_5kfPyPsTyMIyzEFnPupUskcE7MrvHRVUYxMS4VP_RsimGAgwHaKLKBaUfD8F50vk2t_wkP1gCXIUz6DrBIw3ZR-2PK_cfQggKHAc_nyCDqg98A8WDC4W5SaNWF7oUrFbxlJ9KA/s4032/20231114_075859.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGqqMr0AljnAwZCFCv19SfwJv_3_n0oxZF-Fy6oaEJGCH-RA_5kfPyPsTyMIyzEFnPupUskcE7MrvHRVUYxMS4VP_RsimGAgwHaKLKBaUfD8F50vk2t_wkP1gCXIUz6DrBIw3ZR-2PK_cfQggKHAc_nyCDqg98A8WDC4W5SaNWF7oUrFbxlJ9KA/w225-h400/20231114_075859.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In the mean time, it's snowed some more! The snow from October did disappear after about a week, but since then the temperature's been below -10°C and now the snow seems to be back! Not quite enough to get into cross-country season though. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgCH9xKadbHlZUiADk98BhD8NdnMJFeDTW6UxaOtz9V_pDWFbJPwNlTgyXhFhN4VMnqwGS62AFvqCXSl-EXh1dyUkWygC1QQ4B5t4EHeaq12vB_5NC-nNWx24bzTM_J4e7XogCchMD8gIe6lHz8jLxeJLwRWrzgHs_gsLKyZONeU1lnSRqp9q1w/s4032/20231114_172431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgCH9xKadbHlZUiADk98BhD8NdnMJFeDTW6UxaOtz9V_pDWFbJPwNlTgyXhFhN4VMnqwGS62AFvqCXSl-EXh1dyUkWygC1QQ4B5t4EHeaq12vB_5NC-nNWx24bzTM_J4e7XogCchMD8gIe6lHz8jLxeJLwRWrzgHs_gsLKyZONeU1lnSRqp9q1w/w400-h225/20231114_172431.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Or, maybe it's just been a bit too hectic for that. It is that part of the year, where being active and lively takes that much more effort, everything feels dreary and somewhat miserable. Yup, not my favourite time of year in Norway. However, it's less than a month now till the days start getting longer!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6ON8XWztf-HQfEgyn6Wa0g1cLZ51PntV6mGXmY_z4F6PGu9hTpva1y4s62pJkuSH5mX_xZSKH91hAuKif0fk9u4s6Roqf6hZvJfV_z1mUCE3zTqJCvM8YHgeflXpi7YkJTaRNebUO_t5rN23L1kICLLvczSb1sbwr0g_lDC1EsmgaUr4uWXLng/s4032/20231117_202258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6ON8XWztf-HQfEgyn6Wa0g1cLZ51PntV6mGXmY_z4F6PGu9hTpva1y4s62pJkuSH5mX_xZSKH91hAuKif0fk9u4s6Roqf6hZvJfV_z1mUCE3zTqJCvM8YHgeflXpi7YkJTaRNebUO_t5rN23L1kICLLvczSb1sbwr0g_lDC1EsmgaUr4uWXLng/w400-h225/20231117_202258.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It was nice to get away for a long weekend to the UK actually! Nicer weather, more autumn than the depressing part of winter :). Met family, ate amazing food. The usual :). Well, almost followed India losing the CWC finals... Can't have everything I suppose.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifNaBR8lPIByAgCANPutu2McP9NvvpMvx5EndizFHN_zvOtE_3dccHN_tfudR4y2CQDC9W_Lv1dGuRO3Q194iquIGuZ5iSDLPQYcQgSB49GBKLqJx16jNMDEyehOQlJVwElzNTGaNQ__GYOWaeLSOOEhyphenhyphenTEqGsRq1cq_bznOJHVGpnrFBL0uTig/s4032/20231118_143754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifNaBR8lPIByAgCANPutu2McP9NvvpMvx5EndizFHN_zvOtE_3dccHN_tfudR4y2CQDC9W_Lv1dGuRO3Q194iquIGuZ5iSDLPQYcQgSB49GBKLqJx16jNMDEyehOQlJVwElzNTGaNQ__GYOWaeLSOOEhyphenhyphenTEqGsRq1cq_bznOJHVGpnrFBL0uTig/w400-h225/20231118_143754.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">And then at the beginning of this week travelled to the Netherlands for a work trip and the colds and what not that seem to have been felling people all around us finally caught up with me :(. Amersfoort was nice though, what little of it I got to see in one short evening stroll. At least it wasn't raining then :|. So yeah, this week's kinda been miserable. But working from home does have it's perks, extra sleep, let stress, less talking. I guess I'm also in my not too happy to socialize phase just at this moment. Hmm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrWh9JqWBoXlirYHgjYojCqAlPe7tBMJbOvT1yIO6mJscasotYCN8XAdZTZW3zTifo5D2mVcNw1A2o8QUFvhrm5q4HHZcUCTKQXQr6PtCVM2bbFQR8GjtP9pEpsW-KxHSQBrm9baKCkLp5PYE7Q8fV8dMD1LZYGFZb1Hxvrc8N99cTMBZNEUEfA/s4032/20231126_195519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrWh9JqWBoXlirYHgjYojCqAlPe7tBMJbOvT1yIO6mJscasotYCN8XAdZTZW3zTifo5D2mVcNw1A2o8QUFvhrm5q4HHZcUCTKQXQr6PtCVM2bbFQR8GjtP9pEpsW-KxHSQBrm9baKCkLp5PYE7Q8fV8dMD1LZYGFZb1Hxvrc8N99cTMBZNEUEfA/w225-h400/20231126_195519.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I guess there's also the fact that I've basically not been reading at all for most of this month. And I partly blame <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18778262-votan-and-other-novels" target="_blank">Votan</a></i>. It's one of those books I bought because Neil Gaiman wrote an amazing intro for it that I read. While it's not been 100% the case, but I'm beginning to get the feeling that while I absolutely love his own writing, and I do appreciate from time to time where he gets some of his ideas from, his actual taste and mine probably differ quite a bit :|.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGD5-pIEoKC2s71Z4nl5rlbJ4PLWgBjd2ypnWyQzZOpwb3gzZZ3i16Zl00-56tYEw4ku0TYKDPjWfARxiVTitCIJSCO2sxbKPX-TGBPw_CInrHeblv-x-MbmK2kNZxXkCWJWvbeb3PJZYYfOQdYx97-3rLwIkuEEWbDt9gk80eeWNxC2N4oGE9A/s4032/20231118_141512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGD5-pIEoKC2s71Z4nl5rlbJ4PLWgBjd2ypnWyQzZOpwb3gzZZ3i16Zl00-56tYEw4ku0TYKDPjWfARxiVTitCIJSCO2sxbKPX-TGBPw_CInrHeblv-x-MbmK2kNZxXkCWJWvbeb3PJZYYfOQdYx97-3rLwIkuEEWbDt9gk80eeWNxC2N4oGE9A/w400-h225/20231118_141512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So yes, <i>Votan</i>. Cheeky, annoying, and quite mean mostly. But also one of those characters that seems to be around at least partly to hold a mirror up to everyone and everything around them. Well written, no doubt. I guess just not a great read for the darkening miserable winter :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Pmtdq0aapYga8ufgW2qDmZPR8w4CD95M0yftGRTBD2jCwKMK2kxRrI5L-6fyYQUCqhXG0l-ICwAgkxI_4KjWeiuxGi943mKxF8oWLXslNYhGRgMsh_xR5nEPBzr9uksnTi_ht81eT_5E7LRAubLAWa4LPcFphcTwBz1sItCcheisDp8wCROBA/s4032/20231118_145525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_Pmtdq0aapYga8ufgW2qDmZPR8w4CD95M0yftGRTBD2jCwKMK2kxRrI5L-6fyYQUCqhXG0l-ICwAgkxI_4KjWeiuxGi943mKxF8oWLXslNYhGRgMsh_xR5nEPBzr9uksnTi_ht81eT_5E7LRAubLAWa4LPcFphcTwBz1sItCcheisDp8wCROBA/w400-h225/20231118_145525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Instead, I've been spending a bunch of the time I'd otherwise be reading, playing NFS No Limits! And loving it! It's been absolutely aaages since I've played anything Need for Speed :D. It also turns out I'm eight years late to the party, but who cares?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9SftDoCjDc5z2g6G4qnQS6nOAyDGdvafZJxm1ef_pVMQOOIov3OALHi61uMHncqNleZ6u7c_nJ9eFJs-RM1ohPWyX-k-ROZJEEihXhbWuk5rTDLNmL3-_HTjoljcA_x4xfMo-uuuBwqquKPkEOPj1dXnjK7J69DyPVyufvSMsxh_w3TSpZRiHg/s4032/20231118_192902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9SftDoCjDc5z2g6G4qnQS6nOAyDGdvafZJxm1ef_pVMQOOIov3OALHi61uMHncqNleZ6u7c_nJ9eFJs-RM1ohPWyX-k-ROZJEEihXhbWuk5rTDLNmL3-_HTjoljcA_x4xfMo-uuuBwqquKPkEOPj1dXnjK7J69DyPVyufvSMsxh_w3TSpZRiHg/w400-h225/20231118_192902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's really fun to get into something that does, by and large, let you get on at your own pace. Unless you get bored accumulating XPs (or whatever they're called in this one) to get to the next level in the campaign that is. But I'm just happy racing with as little drama as possible. Yes, swiping and tapping on the phone is not nearly as fun as mashing the arrow keys and slapping the spacebar, but hey, still a lot of fun :). I suppose I will get bored at some point, but not yet :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs9l5FGzpl2IE7A2Ge02ejScsDO04h_2Eq276ub5aVY8OD0NeWVFJD2vjr0fq8jU6ocsDLuOnL5OoQmaWd691u1JtWGrjRv-JM6Vuuo7MIoJE2OPb6qEiHSVx1n-U3YcMdgvM7pUJu7OX99zNcfCmkVSr0ZmPtIcrZaOgu29ejklVfgVHG9hwOw/s4032/20231121_142527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs9l5FGzpl2IE7A2Ge02ejScsDO04h_2Eq276ub5aVY8OD0NeWVFJD2vjr0fq8jU6ocsDLuOnL5OoQmaWd691u1JtWGrjRv-JM6Vuuo7MIoJE2OPb6qEiHSVx1n-U3YcMdgvM7pUJu7OX99zNcfCmkVSr0ZmPtIcrZaOgu29ejklVfgVHG9hwOw/w400-h225/20231121_142527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Right, that's enough screen time for now.</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-30798686564899759532023-10-31T23:28:00.003+01:002023-11-01T13:33:14.647+01:00Of Petra, dreams and fading<p style="text-align: justify;">Wow! So October's come and gone, and while it feels like it's barely been any time since we got back from Amman, it also simultaneously feels weirdly faraway. I've definitely had things I've desperately wanted to put down. Sat in front of one or the other laptop but never typed a word. Why is that? Not sure. Maybe I just needed a little bit of space to let things settle.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Either way, here we are, and I've a bunch of stuff to share! So we went to Jordan for a week, on holiday! Also to see some friends who'd moved there and we hadn't seen in years. We were flying through Istanbul, and despite the rather hair-raising aborted landing attempt, arriving in Amman was like stepping back into summer. In a good way :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Having arrived very early in the morning and not had any sleep for most of the night, I accepted the offer of a bed extremely gratefully and woke up to find mangoes :). It wasn't magic, exactly, involved walking around the corner to the fruit and veg shop, but they were Egyptian mangoes and extremely yummy :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In between catching up, spending time together with our friends and getting fed amazing food, we managed to explore some little bits of the city. I'd never known that Amman is spread out over a bunch of hills. The number is supposedly seven, but feels like there must be a lot more than that :). The visit to the Citadel gave us a pretty spectacular view of this! Exploring the ruins was also immensely fun, especially with three 3-7 year olds :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We also got to explore the busy heart of the city with its colourful, bustling streets, noisy shops and myriad of heady smells. At some point found ourselves in a rather excellent restaurant off Rainbow Street sampling rather excessive amounts of amazing food :). We even had the full experience of being a tourist in a taxi with an enthusiastic and opportunistic driver :|. But that was on the way to the <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293986-d1980258-Reviews-Royal_Automobile_Museum-Amman_Amman_Governorate.html" target="_blank">Royal Automobile Museum</a>, so all was well in the end :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For someone that loves cars, and motorized vehicles in general, it is quite the experience! For one thing, the sheer number and spread of vehicles on display is frankly amazing! There's an old Rolls Royce converted to a desert military vehicle from the '50s, there's a Star Wars hover bike from one of the newer films, there's a Ferrari F40, an Aston Martin DB2... And accompanying each car, bike or odd bubble submarine there is a story of the particular royal that vehicle had held the fancy of. In the end we had to rush to get through it all!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We had to rush because we were picking up the rental car. Not from one of the usual multi-national agencies where you book stuff online, but a genuinely authentic experience with a "friend" of our friend. First time I've ever paid cash for a rental car :D. It did serve us well though, for the next three days. Our friend did have to spend a whole day afterwards trying to figure out the peculiar mechanics of how to return the car :P.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The key part of our plan for this road-trip was basically to spend a couple of days at Petra. And hopefully get a good look at the Dead Sea. We started off for Mount Nebo and spent quite a fun hour or two in the memorial church of Moses and looking out over the Jordan valley. I'd not really clocked how sharply the landscape rises up on the west side from the Dead Sea!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We decided to drive down the meandering thread of tarmac to the sea and then drove along practically the whole length of it. The Dead Sea is disappearing. Year by year the level of water drops as more evaporates while less comes in down the river. The serrated edges that make up parts of the coastline told a story of the marching progress of time...</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the midst of the spectacular but altogether rather desolate surroundings we came across some green fields and a restaurant serving lunch. The food was entirely sourced from the surrounding fields, and you got served what was available that day. It was quite liberating actually. No menus, no making tricky choices. Just show up, sit down, and lunch will be served. With some black tea with mint, of course :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The plan for that first day had originally been to drive all the way down to Aqaba, have a look at the dagger's tip :). But we had to get to our hotel just south of Wadi Musa before it got too late, so we ditched the plan and looked for other interesting, but shorter, routes to At-Tabyeh. The one we picked was <a href="https://www.touristjordan.com/the-kings-highway/" target="_blank">the King's Highway</a>, a rather narrow thread of a road, winding its way through the mountains that march down between the valley to the west and the desert to the east.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And what a spectacular trip it was! It's not like I've travelled a crazy amount, but I have clocked a fair number of Earth miles across a few different continents, and honestly the landscape was nothing like I've ever seen! The folds of land morphing from valley to gorge to mountain and then unfolding into plains, then up again into sheer cliffs. No wonder whenever people want to film scenes on Mars, or alien planets, they come to Jordan!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A particular highlight on the way was Kerak and its <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerak_Castle" target="_blank">castle</a>! Thought to be the site of the ancient capital of the Biblical kingdom of Moab, this town is also spread across a few different hill tops. The crown of the central hill is adorned with a castle draped down one side. As far as places to explore go, this was amazing!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As a site built, rebuilt and expanded by successive powers over a thousand years, it's a sprawling complex. And most excitingly, a lot of it has been excavated and made accessible to your average tourist. It's helpful if you've acquired the Jordan Pass in advance of course, because that means entry is free :). I think we spent the best part of the afternoon exploring a variety of levels and eventually decided there was just not enough time to see everything after a few hours :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was pretty much dark by the time we got to our hotel, perched on the edge of a hill overlooking what looked like a moonscape in the moonlight :). We were pretty knackered after a long day so took the offer of dinner gratefully. Turned out the place was family run and the guy at reception called his mother to ask how long before dinner would be ready :). It wasn't long before we were demolishing a massive plate of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansaf" target="_blank">mansaf</a>. Or trying to at least :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next morning we woke up early to see the sunrise slowly play across the spectacular landscape outside our window! Breakfast was another fun experience, but the excitement was building for our visit to Petra! To be honest, I hadn't known all that much about the history of the site, so a little bit of brushing up on my Nabatean history was useful. By the time we'd made our way past the horses and to the entrance of the Siq however, I didn't really have that much headspace for anything beyond the spectacular views!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Walking through the Siq itself is one of my favourite memories now. We did it four times over two days (ignoring many who insisted that we made our way to Little Petra and then onwards on the back way to the Monastery to save ourselves some time), at various different times of day. Each time, the colours were different, glowing pinks, blazing golds, swirling yellows, reds, dark browns... As we walked along the ever changing surfaces alongside and above, it was as if the very curves of the rock faces were dancing around us. Now closing in to embrace one another, now moving apart.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I did know what to expect at the Treasury to some extent, and still it was almost overwhelming! The squeeze of the canyon just before the walls open out to reveal the fantastic, gigantic, surreal and altogether mesmerizing facade, accompanied by a wave of noise! You could argue that the crowd of tourists detracts from the splendour of the site, but honestly, the bustling, lively, almost festive experience transported us to an imagined past in the midst of a funeral feast perhaps, or an annual communal gathering.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the things that fascinates me is how little people actually know about Petra. Yes, it was a central site for the Nabateans for hundreds of years. Yes, most of the structures and facades one finds are tombs or otherwise of a funereal persuasion. But did people actually live there? How? Where? Why? No one can say for certain. For me, the questions just add to the beauty of it all.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We decided the best thing to do at the start would be to walk through all they way to the Monastery somewhat briskly. In doing so, we soon left the crowds behind and had more space to enjoy our surroundings. I have to say, so far as the facades were concerned, my favourite is the Monastery! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It may be that the suddenness with which one comes upon it (You climb a long way up with barely any indication of what it is you are heading towards, and then you turn a corner and there it is! In all its majestic glory, silhouetted against a brilliantly blue sky!) just added a thrill that's hard to beat. Or it could be the fact that being high up near the top of the hill, the more open surroundings give it a grander feel.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Either way, I was totally on a high as we made our way more slowly back down to the basin. Lunch was excellent, and we proceeded to spend a much more leisurely afternoon exploring the ruins of temples, churches and some smaller tombs all the way back to the Street of Facades :). By this time the area in front of the Treasury had transformed into a more relaxed, almost sleepy state. We took our time walking back to the visitor center.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We were pretty beat by the time we got back to our hotel, in time to watch the sun go down. A different but equally beautiful experience as the sunrise which felt like an eon ago.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The second day we'd decided, would be a day of tombs! We managed to explore most of the larger tombs rather thoroughly, particularly the four Royal Tombs. But the previous days' exertions were catching up with us and by the time we'd returned from the Sextius Florentinus tomb, it was more or less a case of ambling down to the basin for some lunch and then slowly making our way back. I think after a day and a half of such an intense assault on my senses, my mind could genuinely take no more :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We did make a detour to drive the back way on our way out, with spectacular views over the basin. It felt appropriate to drive back to Amman via the desert highway as we marveled at a rather different sort of landscape as the wide open vistas gradually turned to city lights and traffic...</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The remainder of the trip was somewhat affected by digestive anomalies, but it was good to relax with our friends for a couple of days before heading back to the real world of nine-to-fives.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since then of course that part of the world has descended into something approaching hell. I wonder how many of the friendly faces we met have been personally affected, one way or another. There is a very large Palestinian population in Jordan. As they say, in war everyone loses.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">--</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It feels remiss to not mention the books. I did take my massive copy of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> to Jordan, even read some of it, but it was after we came back that I finished it. And was left with a distinct feeling of awe. It felt different from the end of <i>The Silmarillion</i>, or <i>Unfinished Tales</i>. It felt a lot more present and immediate. Yet it had a sense of detached grandeur, unlike shall we say the familiarity of <i>The Hobbit</i>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Unlike the Jordan trip, which I feel has crystallized in my mind with the passage of time, my feelings and thoughts at the end of <i>The Return of the King</i> feel elusive and ephemeral. I do remember that the Appendices felt like a welcome soft landing. A slow careful descent from heady heights.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was after this that I picked up a book I'd been looking forward to for months! It's not often you read a book written by <a href="http://myrosettastone.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">someone</a> you've personally known! At least I don't :). So it was with great excitement that I plunged into <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113324323-minor-disturbances-at-grand-life-apartments" target="_blank">Minor Disturbances at Grand Life Apartments</a></i>. And what a treat it was!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Again, I feel like I've left it for too long before trying to put my thoughts down. What can I say, life happens, and some moments do not suffer themselves to be looked at too closely in the immediate aftermath.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm left with memories of sunshine filtering through curtains and a guava tree. The feeling of a deep sense of longing, sometimes for ungettable things, sometimes finding happiness, sometimes just a sense of regaining one's balance amidst uncertainty. Often finding peace. It was a happy read for me :). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I realize that you have to probably have a certain view of the world and maybe a particular set of experiences for this story to speak to you personally. Yet, it captures such a wide slice of life. And yes, all the threads aren't tied neatly in a bow, but isn't that what life's like?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">While waiting for the next book club book to arrive at the library, I decided to revisit <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17251098-marvel-1602" target="_blank">Marvel 1602</a></i> and was comforted by the familiar genius of Gaiman :). As always, there were previously unseen depths, more layers, more food for thought.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And then when I did get my hands on <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11790541-midaq-alley-modern-arabic-literature" target="_blank">Midaq Alley</a></i>, I wasn't sure what to think. Discussion's next week. Am I looking forward to it? Not sure. It's been a long while since I've had such a negative impression of a supposedly amazing book.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">--</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hmm. Anyway. Cycling season, methinks, has finally come to an end. Ended up cycling over three times further this summer than I drove my car :D. I find that that makes me ridiculously happy :). But yes, this last week the temperature's been flirting with zero and finally yesterday we woke up to a white world!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There's actually over a foot of snow in the garden right now, and it's supposed to snow more tomorrow. Unfortunately, this is probably too early for it to stick around. I mean, it's still October! November will supposedly bring with it rain. But who knows, the weather at the moment is anybody's guess really. Either way, given that the switch to winter tires has happened already, I'm hoping for more of the good stuff :D.</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-61643391651037352012023-09-20T22:03:00.005+02:002023-09-20T22:11:20.084+02:00Be still and know...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieGlg7D0I0k3cQq0hXN0bFkdZID1FTCNn3zdShKYDPGQbJyRKwFhDSL32lYMc6yRstZuQi4vi7S9AC1GP5tUdcYBqRLb84yxAewD4K8Ze2c6voWaJHPBk6sVJRMDTfvJ72Pvn7fD57w3ukw1tE4IyfQ8vbZkKWvaBFhoEiuwzOAjIRCObw6PbSQ/s4032/20230901_131112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieGlg7D0I0k3cQq0hXN0bFkdZID1FTCNn3zdShKYDPGQbJyRKwFhDSL32lYMc6yRstZuQi4vi7S9AC1GP5tUdcYBqRLb84yxAewD4K8Ze2c6voWaJHPBk6sVJRMDTfvJ72Pvn7fD57w3ukw1tE4IyfQ8vbZkKWvaBFhoEiuwzOAjIRCObw6PbSQ/w225-h400/20230901_131112.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There was indeed cake! And traffic-light jelly :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dU8BmSh3ujXzmYgOkkPXlxNBMpw2nR-vEfgYNGkuyEcOL3M7-Fs2B-i94YaNh83p5ql1xZZQHE5kwBlYuHrcyVLQ4q9cvensoUc-dT_JyRYKGpFNnLt8dRPwbI6eHrPMylVxlICceHFZi-7tcmAW5WOYpqlKH7x_Ew_imQbGWwZQ5cSf0sV2EQ/s4032/20230905_072311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dU8BmSh3ujXzmYgOkkPXlxNBMpw2nR-vEfgYNGkuyEcOL3M7-Fs2B-i94YaNh83p5ql1xZZQHE5kwBlYuHrcyVLQ4q9cvensoUc-dT_JyRYKGpFNnLt8dRPwbI6eHrPMylVxlICceHFZi-7tcmAW5WOYpqlKH7x_Ew_imQbGWwZQ5cSf0sV2EQ/w400-h225/20230905_072311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFNbLC7c-nVfyWSI1VBN_yYKN5-SpGGl-EhFpRtANROHUFn2aUdulqpsNpvLazbXakTVBDhjLzQOQfb3CtRmOuwbCkAMOEnl50vVkytVEZDOj2j_hPMvdrPIZPKc0NdjPomSBxZ_TS3t9svzwGPgEFWPX1fqoEk0Vs1tS5TXLIQwbMvNXQ4Gz0w/s4032/20230908_211914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFNbLC7c-nVfyWSI1VBN_yYKN5-SpGGl-EhFpRtANROHUFn2aUdulqpsNpvLazbXakTVBDhjLzQOQfb3CtRmOuwbCkAMOEnl50vVkytVEZDOj2j_hPMvdrPIZPKc0NdjPomSBxZ_TS3t9svzwGPgEFWPX1fqoEk0Vs1tS5TXLIQwbMvNXQ4Gz0w/w225-h400/20230908_211914.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">But that was ages ago now, or so it feels. Much has happened since, particularly in the last week. In fact, the happenings of the last week seems to have more or less blown everything else before clean out of my head. Almost :). But let's try to do things in order.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuAV1x6vTOHt0M3U0JDtSeFZbIvWcf5hzYImf4z0znJir9d_lhBqeg3p56PwG-D61SaDT4-A8I7czUl92CM5kqST1-cSNQHx5AnxXQ9kzcpsq7BBpfa0aamvIFm75_2FMCIh6y3-kiZwIo0cZbyR8gHlEO2Af0skpuRY0nxP5hk0vzY2wICmBsg/s4032/20230915_162629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuAV1x6vTOHt0M3U0JDtSeFZbIvWcf5hzYImf4z0znJir9d_lhBqeg3p56PwG-D61SaDT4-A8I7czUl92CM5kqST1-cSNQHx5AnxXQ9kzcpsq7BBpfa0aamvIFm75_2FMCIh6y3-kiZwIo0cZbyR8gHlEO2Af0skpuRY0nxP5hk0vzY2wICmBsg/w400-h225/20230915_162629.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFF3bspJ9830vn0MgBvrdZTNWIjSVjLpuBBDxQmVMnAkxh2A06q4UWpwfif_dJQRkNialEuysdmPgHtr3UkAgn-veSvjjpZvHy04NyOONA_lbC-z3PxOhIVj0jzoOGLC5GIyTLsv4rQ_DeAFpR4OQuCalbc_48WwBPwrecvxgPaiOWBJOjM7GJA/s4032/20230915_201240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFF3bspJ9830vn0MgBvrdZTNWIjSVjLpuBBDxQmVMnAkxh2A06q4UWpwfif_dJQRkNialEuysdmPgHtr3UkAgn-veSvjjpZvHy04NyOONA_lbC-z3PxOhIVj0jzoOGLC5GIyTLsv4rQ_DeAFpR4OQuCalbc_48WwBPwrecvxgPaiOWBJOjM7GJA/w225-h400/20230915_201240.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">First of all there was the remainder of the England trip, which included a long awaited visit to Stonehenge! Which was very cool! And no, I was not at all underwhelmed! Even though we didn't get to clamber over and under the stones :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30Df601OUKlwmKA6HYRmsylQ9HW4oT1JTaXYHOX48uJ9pYeqoBObCGA5c2gydOZz1vZbX6HdFEIVo1Ga40XzL3IqPK21Adk0P5f_SXg0p5rUy0fOxgNBtZ0A7nY-OBYDvzIH7hiMLgGxWtnQwefquPAl8oW7nAbQOhnsVBibwXTzk_CngT0zmGg/s4032/20230901_162521.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30Df601OUKlwmKA6HYRmsylQ9HW4oT1JTaXYHOX48uJ9pYeqoBObCGA5c2gydOZz1vZbX6HdFEIVo1Ga40XzL3IqPK21Adk0P5f_SXg0p5rUy0fOxgNBtZ0A7nY-OBYDvzIH7hiMLgGxWtnQwefquPAl8oW7nAbQOhnsVBibwXTzk_CngT0zmGg/w400-h225/20230901_162521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGN2a46O1zTwkrCshjAD_1SSxtT5TrqaBI0-7jNjwLqH40xSO47aNrurSIMpzhjU-h3McWqI1BpXbjIEvZzh03pqYFyBzHkBmgSuiTAYb-Qnl-cF6Ko9KEePPKYODJCVICkf3w-7KnTAnyCyvMgy9SKRaJA1Woq99ho0eajuc_lXC5nglbFtR8w/s4032/20230901_170223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGN2a46O1zTwkrCshjAD_1SSxtT5TrqaBI0-7jNjwLqH40xSO47aNrurSIMpzhjU-h3McWqI1BpXbjIEvZzh03pqYFyBzHkBmgSuiTAYb-Qnl-cF6Ko9KEePPKYODJCVICkf3w-7KnTAnyCyvMgy9SKRaJA1Woq99ho0eajuc_lXC5nglbFtR8w/w400-h225/20230901_170223.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We did get to spend a leisurely afternoon walking all around it, with some appropriately moody clouds, and then walk back to the visitor centre while passing by some of the even older barrows and such. I have to say, I hadn't actually realized that the stones are themselves relatively new compared to some of the other archaeological finds in the area!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MIpf-hjU3IJMtPxF0Fg3vWSHrbnVD-L13gMZ2qRgXWVhwZMdkiqVvbD8fDULKVoTrha8HCIywACeJEKfxeOmT2IymSLivqk_QapMlzTk83_BEI1sylO505V_PFfUgynW8-u7YDqqH2uKhYgEpZjylC9C9Rvo3QgthNLsuC74sTlJyUGC5b-XZg/s4032/20230915_203114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MIpf-hjU3IJMtPxF0Fg3vWSHrbnVD-L13gMZ2qRgXWVhwZMdkiqVvbD8fDULKVoTrha8HCIywACeJEKfxeOmT2IymSLivqk_QapMlzTk83_BEI1sylO505V_PFfUgynW8-u7YDqqH2uKhYgEpZjylC9C9Rvo3QgthNLsuC74sTlJyUGC5b-XZg/w225-h400/20230915_203114.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuswmGUDao7vztesURYOZDZsZ99W9XbJa2OlfR345OWUhZ5nWoNSPSWqZEHhNEBcd_Md-YDWLEphoywB6bL_hCXpOG5hBHdYSYkRYKd5WpQqGkKz6kgIPXPjEuX6FfO73Ur_oIA3nuyF8kAWNQMXMv46pKwC1AHXtWlPXXPN9J-VGgSu1SM3RfMw/s4032/20230915_220148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuswmGUDao7vztesURYOZDZsZ99W9XbJa2OlfR345OWUhZ5nWoNSPSWqZEHhNEBcd_Md-YDWLEphoywB6bL_hCXpOG5hBHdYSYkRYKd5WpQqGkKz6kgIPXPjEuX6FfO73Ur_oIA3nuyF8kAWNQMXMv46pKwC1AHXtWlPXXPN9J-VGgSu1SM3RfMw/w400-h225/20230915_220148.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It also rather fitted in with my headspace which was strongly influenced by <i>LoTR</i> :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHm_2KDLCJeG_gOGBirv8imXCh9Mry87UXLXJiNSPdFad-bOH5SbDYIWkGlfAVO4ol3Ca7XEv206DAuLQNmnJPOHZSb1xldbroMal6qqXSXzk4AMzOQRqyW1VBp3a0S8WiJdKe_CNxOk8b2s9LGWrzmAjrv-Pg4DGhDE3z0eXiinzxkmz8Sqr8g/s4032/20230909_132339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHm_2KDLCJeG_gOGBirv8imXCh9Mry87UXLXJiNSPdFad-bOH5SbDYIWkGlfAVO4ol3Ca7XEv206DAuLQNmnJPOHZSb1xldbroMal6qqXSXzk4AMzOQRqyW1VBp3a0S8WiJdKe_CNxOk8b2s9LGWrzmAjrv-Pg4DGhDE3z0eXiinzxkmz8Sqr8g/w400-h225/20230909_132339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH92ZUoyWfdrbjsoMHCparPojOJWmJQy7wn94RbhkG23-w4095MQ2ZTghJVrnpmJ-62X81DZA2uKymhStzL2sgj8224SWD1U-Tu3HHn-el-b5lgvrcf3UYzFE87lQ1TfmPWFjgoQ5AiljBT8_YZ2CHwCOfjdTW8E4FvgSOnYe2jfE4crZJTmxoXw/s4032/20230909_142914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH92ZUoyWfdrbjsoMHCparPojOJWmJQy7wn94RbhkG23-w4095MQ2ZTghJVrnpmJ-62X81DZA2uKymhStzL2sgj8224SWD1U-Tu3HHn-el-b5lgvrcf3UYzFE87lQ1TfmPWFjgoQ5AiljBT8_YZ2CHwCOfjdTW8E4FvgSOnYe2jfE4crZJTmxoXw/w400-h225/20230909_142914.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The weather in Norway was surprisingly still almost summery when we got back in the beginning of September, despite the 1st of this month officially heralding the beginning of autumn :). So we kept on cycling! In doing so I finally managed to surpass my personal record of cycling done in a given year (since I've been keeping track that is, which was 2013 :D)! The previous record btw, <i>was</i> from 2013! So it's taken a while :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS5slmnGc4bXIEOj3TQUbJvxFqd1PfeB-CKcrpC3WotKjKiQ1ROZOf9UqxBZlZTRCmvN-X0inUEStudLQ3Nj-bDht5X28DHFlF6RfXiijdal0sqH4_cCLXehHqrWaaz5_gAisSluVTcRoV3uCVidTShfIhtVueQBoTFBx6VKyl-7WtiBEOMiNGw/s4032/20230905_180749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS5slmnGc4bXIEOj3TQUbJvxFqd1PfeB-CKcrpC3WotKjKiQ1ROZOf9UqxBZlZTRCmvN-X0inUEStudLQ3Nj-bDht5X28DHFlF6RfXiijdal0sqH4_cCLXehHqrWaaz5_gAisSluVTcRoV3uCVidTShfIhtVueQBoTFBx6VKyl-7WtiBEOMiNGw/w400-h225/20230905_180749.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkUyqmR1_zaZiknvFhSmrkeehRU4Zbl2HV78BDdFVIDqK6bhiIAhXtF2gAHABHVVgQo1wTSEDQQSkiPFekDM_VDx1obOXLZzk3AGjMomR7In0m50wG8-Omd91diuB1qj047cWMbjg3qK6gtcBwod45j74-r7jH82JIGUipTZqzAONLDxN2_P96A/s4032/20230910_124458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkUyqmR1_zaZiknvFhSmrkeehRU4Zbl2HV78BDdFVIDqK6bhiIAhXtF2gAHABHVVgQo1wTSEDQQSkiPFekDM_VDx1obOXLZzk3AGjMomR7In0m50wG8-Omd91diuB1qj047cWMbjg3qK6gtcBwod45j74-r7jH82JIGUipTZqzAONLDxN2_P96A/w400-h225/20230910_124458.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately in the last couple of weeks the weather's definitely turned more autumnal. The maximum temperature barely breaches 15°C and it's been raining most days. Well, the seasons must turn I suppose, and the upside is that the trees have slowly started changing colour.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUTz2-E1b5ESRVNqtqsMnl-u_ws_vRchOChISnQH99KT9LnGfBSkvWDubAT4598GTGQB3VwYR3i2y9HUgP05xG0IESmrjEm5TdOz3a770Wx_aEVE0qx8IO8DVNVsWNLyBxxilgU82DG8pkG_i3GyuxmCyW_Yi5YUIDVmjgQGc_j_nBWOF5jNTPg/s4032/20230910_155141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUTz2-E1b5ESRVNqtqsMnl-u_ws_vRchOChISnQH99KT9LnGfBSkvWDubAT4598GTGQB3VwYR3i2y9HUgP05xG0IESmrjEm5TdOz3a770Wx_aEVE0qx8IO8DVNVsWNLyBxxilgU82DG8pkG_i3GyuxmCyW_Yi5YUIDVmjgQGc_j_nBWOF5jNTPg/w400-h225/20230910_155141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfkuLeTIAlRFNdIrhudf5p00I6ELx1QT3YuqQBhxkzbZEQUIdqrM2LpU-BVSG97dq9GADkMq3qOaH3oQdRsRI8v1PUiuMEb_jxEhoSEB35Wf0FNhQ0x5XX3AgcP1AUPYBe2gaylCQwAUefu-2Y8NPWvPnGle00DLKOcwragCfYCjRoEpssvHg5Q/s4032/20230912_095320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfkuLeTIAlRFNdIrhudf5p00I6ELx1QT3YuqQBhxkzbZEQUIdqrM2LpU-BVSG97dq9GADkMq3qOaH3oQdRsRI8v1PUiuMEb_jxEhoSEB35Wf0FNhQ0x5XX3AgcP1AUPYBe2gaylCQwAUefu-2Y8NPWvPnGle00DLKOcwragCfYCjRoEpssvHg5Q/w400-h225/20230912_095320.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Have I mentioned btw? We've moved office! I don't think I have. Well, it wasn't far, just across the train tracks from where we were before :). It's good to stay close to where you're happy isn't it? More on that later. But in the mean time, I'm rather enjoying the view :). Bigger windows with direct sunshine is a plus. As is control over when the screens come down and how far :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mUXkVPIz57r6uP1BA13QdT4V5yfuKn3BxCBxdb-khh5_Z2PtGlPmyyQqXykj3mPnczrxIXLvRBzRvk0-_SCtF9giuHFRsMaA8gABIX5tI2nzeXLBGw84_NFqHGa4GeWpejVBmBWAKDzEYopvDPatNk_J9xAGpi5nnHpEH4yGwK7keuVBNrmRxg/s4032/20230910_110715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mUXkVPIz57r6uP1BA13QdT4V5yfuKn3BxCBxdb-khh5_Z2PtGlPmyyQqXykj3mPnczrxIXLvRBzRvk0-_SCtF9giuHFRsMaA8gABIX5tI2nzeXLBGw84_NFqHGa4GeWpejVBmBWAKDzEYopvDPatNk_J9xAGpi5nnHpEH4yGwK7keuVBNrmRxg/w400-h225/20230910_110715.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WVeFJUeIgvNIfJCac-8wpado9ynTa6DCKP7yFpSvzpTPlMvVGqZbYlySJdtHFXsxO63GxqHEabPwcymEDDOlZqlohkd4JFNBAjPkaKSJbnhDdfwjT041hF2p5jYMAO_BJC2QCuUOvvpIBI88Ij7ief4aQ1J0lPNSSw-JYAVEKrO3TawjCX7kGQ/s4032/20230915_183402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WVeFJUeIgvNIfJCac-8wpado9ynTa6DCKP7yFpSvzpTPlMvVGqZbYlySJdtHFXsxO63GxqHEabPwcymEDDOlZqlohkd4JFNBAjPkaKSJbnhDdfwjT041hF2p5jYMAO_BJC2QCuUOvvpIBI88Ij7ief4aQ1J0lPNSSw-JYAVEKrO3TawjCX7kGQ/w400-h225/20230915_183402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In the midst of the dismal weather and descending gloom, the powers that be seem to try and cheer people up a bit by organizing things. Like the Oslo culture night :). We decided to take advantage of it this year and had a fun tour of the tower of Oslo Cathedral, which used to be a fire watchtower!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCE1z7FaIBMaw8YSQ0HafzS_JmlqiMGVPGVLmPBhpx4Do5zbeuSeEfMYE6wItFaOIV0id4R-vZGTvHdQEIVmJxFoW34YZF0c_pJndL5eLLWSaau1H6v7r7EGOUlYsS3dmUkJsE3c_OAPe01XPTWtTgZremByzc8KpPZfTFFY9q-imSiRSa1_v6qQ/s4032/20230915_191746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCE1z7FaIBMaw8YSQ0HafzS_JmlqiMGVPGVLmPBhpx4Do5zbeuSeEfMYE6wItFaOIV0id4R-vZGTvHdQEIVmJxFoW34YZF0c_pJndL5eLLWSaau1H6v7r7EGOUlYsS3dmUkJsE3c_OAPe01XPTWtTgZremByzc8KpPZfTFFY9q-imSiRSa1_v6qQ/w400-h225/20230915_191746.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6IF-bXFL_-Rve-HipAv8Pw-1dVcsdovH8F2ybAIARxvrIFkLL6AOPn430komjE0i5rmrYPAVhiWh-BJewWlCG8az0v9OAVn_tenfxqp9XDr3mVQPEVg8IenLKIYPdYlD_7yal6LGnZAKKAVtWtPQb4OkgjsvJlDGJnEfnBYSz9mYitAcby_sZA/s4032/20230915_195541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6IF-bXFL_-Rve-HipAv8Pw-1dVcsdovH8F2ybAIARxvrIFkLL6AOPn430komjE0i5rmrYPAVhiWh-BJewWlCG8az0v9OAVn_tenfxqp9XDr3mVQPEVg8IenLKIYPdYlD_7yal6LGnZAKKAVtWtPQb4OkgjsvJlDGJnEfnBYSz9mYitAcby_sZA/w400-h225/20230915_195541.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We also managed a tour of a fully functioning but somewhat elderly steamship, explored parts of the sprawling new National Museum and finally found our way into the Norwegian parliament! It was all quite dazzling really!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tqKRQKZy4e2mN6CCE82C8GjstEI4AmWUhoJ11lVrfaLd0qLDAR0KZ7z7eiZhIbauOd1-stGfB3RDWRLEF58pY4ZVs9kAqACMyxANRQ5jsTPxd-x-qP3pyWZPuYks4PXuzsWQ4FWraBUg5gf5C7M_fGg0SLa5N7M9VB1n--M_edm5wE9Rj0OwGg/s4032/20230915_202112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tqKRQKZy4e2mN6CCE82C8GjstEI4AmWUhoJ11lVrfaLd0qLDAR0KZ7z7eiZhIbauOd1-stGfB3RDWRLEF58pY4ZVs9kAqACMyxANRQ5jsTPxd-x-qP3pyWZPuYks4PXuzsWQ4FWraBUg5gf5C7M_fGg0SLa5N7M9VB1n--M_edm5wE9Rj0OwGg/w400-h225/20230915_202112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mjrexf9e2xKbSSiPVTuui28nfXi_zhH5qOs1f0H-P03Y1Vamnjzg_d8B43bVcXqU-L9jU6Io49HUmVx2tXxy7PZpezI0fUtcKpPQFaZYoNIxJkX6MC85DRcMbzlNmuANYoNuCm9IqiNLrvF8T-hocr0R1S1-f_WELy41dA-vBmhTpuWguA1Peg/s4032/20230915_214918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mjrexf9e2xKbSSiPVTuui28nfXi_zhH5qOs1f0H-P03Y1Vamnjzg_d8B43bVcXqU-L9jU6Io49HUmVx2tXxy7PZpezI0fUtcKpPQFaZYoNIxJkX6MC85DRcMbzlNmuANYoNuCm9IqiNLrvF8T-hocr0R1S1-f_WELy41dA-vBmhTpuWguA1Peg/w400-h225/20230915_214918.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">But the main event of recent times has been of course the sudden, surprising and awesome appearance of something we've been looking for for years :). In fact we'd been looking for so long that the finding felt almost shocking, surreal even! Keeping the excitement at bay has been a challenge :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6dUYQTSiggGpqMwffwAgkd-I088b4Q0UgsC6hkX8FZ0Do7ynRuOWEuDWn0DjjHcOW0isJsZn1zUKAyh5jZahaRUEUBv9lXYn8b_Ge0VDzAt2XVBhHA3qZeqCRpJx_hys_Qr8iGcSkiggMgB-XvTlTpiRpKqDQ1mjaOUEQyA6UNgyakgVQn-cNA/s4032/20230915_214506.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6dUYQTSiggGpqMwffwAgkd-I088b4Q0UgsC6hkX8FZ0Do7ynRuOWEuDWn0DjjHcOW0isJsZn1zUKAyh5jZahaRUEUBv9lXYn8b_Ge0VDzAt2XVBhHA3qZeqCRpJx_hys_Qr8iGcSkiggMgB-XvTlTpiRpKqDQ1mjaOUEQyA6UNgyakgVQn-cNA/w225-h400/20230915_214506.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I mean, it's not all done, formalities remain, and things wont really get real for nearly another three months. But yes, in the not too distant future, we'll be moving! All of about 150m \:D/ </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3kWJLcy1BGjY9r7dHFwwH5AXbwUT0ST_8cy7igU90a1lKT74QnlkzspYxLFf7a2fN-hdYqOYVcHP5n5fin0jFiJ8y9RmZL8TiX6n7nY9YV4xPTD5YzhcT1nDficibN8OU6LyCtpq9Br9yOfeFtmy3f_yVGEG47JXJu2X_ESTyfye61jCkThhBw/s1600/529_711894574.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3kWJLcy1BGjY9r7dHFwwH5AXbwUT0ST_8cy7igU90a1lKT74QnlkzspYxLFf7a2fN-hdYqOYVcHP5n5fin0jFiJ8y9RmZL8TiX6n7nY9YV4xPTD5YzhcT1nDficibN8OU6LyCtpq9Br9yOfeFtmy3f_yVGEG47JXJu2X_ESTyfye61jCkThhBw/w400-h266/529_711894574.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">PS. Keeps the tag relevant too!!</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-9130254478977346172023-08-30T18:32:00.008+02:002023-08-31T13:57:28.481+02:00Not all those who wander are lost<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UbEPxZQrKYRRpAFa4OGAMNahsLZ_nDrGtnp8DsuSh-k6DEaPDExfIrH6hQu1lBZ5RzgYf2_GFlT7oUDDsQPc5BN9Jun_QBIRVawr4XgNCU4T6bHMv4DqHleuXO_RG4EVeq9kEt37GVR9mxoTtCncnn13iB02d69ZeAuG8jAnHpUZA_vezQfiAA/s4032/20230801_190919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UbEPxZQrKYRRpAFa4OGAMNahsLZ_nDrGtnp8DsuSh-k6DEaPDExfIrH6hQu1lBZ5RzgYf2_GFlT7oUDDsQPc5BN9Jun_QBIRVawr4XgNCU4T6bHMv4DqHleuXO_RG4EVeq9kEt37GVR9mxoTtCncnn13iB02d69ZeAuG8jAnHpUZA_vezQfiAA/w400-h225/20230801_190919.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Right! So the "real" August post then :). Life has taken its usual twists and turns and I find myself in a rather happy state of mind :). A notable contributor I'd say has been the cycling! Yes, the summer keeps on giving when it comes to nice enough weather for cycling and enough opportunities to explore. And not just close to home!</p><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw7idqg2xOwWH3zr-RQp37-8y7wGyHvzJFrrc4jZyVblPofUWkle2VxmccATQf-xceRsIZ2N0Hf2wtHpTjRBS9kNvl_AzTf55ai-pifWAUSc425NYio4Rbw9n6YnyGTktwn39RB7FlEtsN4RHIVAu3vAswjCEmKF0_rA6I39ND0p1ALsyHwWVwQ/s4032/20230802_201821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw7idqg2xOwWH3zr-RQp37-8y7wGyHvzJFrrc4jZyVblPofUWkle2VxmccATQf-xceRsIZ2N0Hf2wtHpTjRBS9kNvl_AzTf55ai-pifWAUSc425NYio4Rbw9n6YnyGTktwn39RB7FlEtsN4RHIVAu3vAswjCEmKF0_rA6I39ND0p1ALsyHwWVwQ/w400-h225/20230802_201821.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">For the last couple of weeks we've been in the UK and it has been amazing! Mostly seeing family and spending more than just a short weekend together. Being able to relax and just enjoy hanging out. I've definitely missed this. I feel like it's probably been as far back as February and the trip to India since I last had this feeling of being at peace.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6Drd_f8L5DStE5ppUPm8iC6S8VzkCtYMowoHbZbdF43qhDyBtV3qfN9qZ00cNAW7XVdzDQ3Mvnry_wMCBcG1NlU5urCYurG2slgvLiNwdHNXmqYhs2XqzHSPZbYBBtpPKkYNj5PVUn5fAWz8Y2zbv-F1qSFdebf2q1_OwnxfSjchChvc3ykqJg/s4032/20230806_123638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6Drd_f8L5DStE5ppUPm8iC6S8VzkCtYMowoHbZbdF43qhDyBtV3qfN9qZ00cNAW7XVdzDQ3Mvnry_wMCBcG1NlU5urCYurG2slgvLiNwdHNXmqYhs2XqzHSPZbYBBtpPKkYNj5PVUn5fAWz8Y2zbv-F1qSFdebf2q1_OwnxfSjchChvc3ykqJg/w400-h225/20230806_123638.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOsgpebA-T2pzUvO6Tppn2D7osYJyPjrvkiCfyXrTzzKgYeZmUKNk4LlaOQm8R_7E73I3z9TLC5V92z94JFddUVte3pJNlvBUz69Vz9oBRlc3S_ODqNfJZ0kmw4PNZzLFBvQifJfMLHKtjiNguoIhFisNumaBjYk0eF5dafY2KZxXum5uQMUM9A/s4032/20230810_180818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOsgpebA-T2pzUvO6Tppn2D7osYJyPjrvkiCfyXrTzzKgYeZmUKNk4LlaOQm8R_7E73I3z9TLC5V92z94JFddUVte3pJNlvBUz69Vz9oBRlc3S_ODqNfJZ0kmw4PNZzLFBvQifJfMLHKtjiNguoIhFisNumaBjYk0eF5dafY2KZxXum5uQMUM9A/w400-h225/20230810_180818.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Which is not to say the intervening months have not had their highlights, but there you have it. I just needed to get away and do not too much :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMzGH8HuVfPL1cROMsZRjOFZS0VjopBsXiwaA3KY5YdfslIUyQ2bgVClni8whXtL1ytR4NOsr1TB21yQEfiTy0AacO-7tl2unv91dP5DTotM_qKlwRJQLnlWlBwARHiNJaMHq-PtOyQLSc0D89mzv3GV54-RXj51eikHIqTAxA6qJJMJwEkk2eg/s4032/20230823_172110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMzGH8HuVfPL1cROMsZRjOFZS0VjopBsXiwaA3KY5YdfslIUyQ2bgVClni8whXtL1ytR4NOsr1TB21yQEfiTy0AacO-7tl2unv91dP5DTotM_qKlwRJQLnlWlBwARHiNJaMHq-PtOyQLSc0D89mzv3GV54-RXj51eikHIqTAxA6qJJMJwEkk2eg/w225-h400/20230823_172110.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1moeWpstpImnAcX2QaEYMQtkswcC37LK2OSXY-OaqcucAyEo52UaGLaw2uV-JMnfgtHKmLx8M0XhFGM6Sqgdz9-WyFL8iVdoOuZbiUBmHjCTDXHyPBs94Vfscef8SwkkJWEN7L2LeDCZUtqc-kj47WbxoPVAwqIedyHhVNkWO2tloBWkmWj0akQ/s4032/20230823_184534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1moeWpstpImnAcX2QaEYMQtkswcC37LK2OSXY-OaqcucAyEo52UaGLaw2uV-JMnfgtHKmLx8M0XhFGM6Sqgdz9-WyFL8iVdoOuZbiUBmHjCTDXHyPBs94Vfscef8SwkkJWEN7L2LeDCZUtqc-kj47WbxoPVAwqIedyHhVNkWO2tloBWkmWj0akQ/w400-h225/20230823_184534.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Bath is a lovely city, I find. From the natural surroundings, with the rolling lush green hills on all sides, to the lovely Avon flowing languidly though, the old stone buildings and general ebb and flow of life. Since my very first visit here back in 2015, there's something about this city that has captivated me :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgpbvo1qgmerXNFEDOz5f0wBqozFUr4ZybYdnyArVKnZDeV4sA5TG7wnp6QdPrYPlMlrdigSCYsnEtJMWuec6bZIp1WX54ajFJL8x4aQiw0_tnINXwPUUiKTTnNyA4gCSBDtS6NCggoptuI--N_fXh5FPE2H7yUUphv4bHAcejnOWhLSKKHFfrw/s4032/20230820_155631.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgpbvo1qgmerXNFEDOz5f0wBqozFUr4ZybYdnyArVKnZDeV4sA5TG7wnp6QdPrYPlMlrdigSCYsnEtJMWuec6bZIp1WX54ajFJL8x4aQiw0_tnINXwPUUiKTTnNyA4gCSBDtS6NCggoptuI--N_fXh5FPE2H7yUUphv4bHAcejnOWhLSKKHFfrw/w225-h400/20230820_155631.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U3yoQu9hOK4yhsUc_0k5DErzM-R4-IvSzaE3YH1WxlCrCG8XFbWUa5ylPjRuUsXHl9ejyCGfdBoBFbJKnFDmKUGBUeQ2SxdbAazs5lOcBBew5qtqNLO1mBUfI17vwSSm1zu5nVAN1IhvOoaoTLA5RukBZmI9Sm8rLLlpaLZw2EN-vsW7Ha2KhQ/s4032/20230820_160236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U3yoQu9hOK4yhsUc_0k5DErzM-R4-IvSzaE3YH1WxlCrCG8XFbWUa5ylPjRuUsXHl9ejyCGfdBoBFbJKnFDmKUGBUeQ2SxdbAazs5lOcBBew5qtqNLO1mBUfI17vwSSm1zu5nVAN1IhvOoaoTLA5RukBZmI9Sm8rLLlpaLZw2EN-vsW7Ha2KhQ/w400-h225/20230820_160236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pdkWPjyNkkuZSudbxk3h3ALYWtl6zgA9GtlEDUzURLiOzHpogrF2Cb2WXOdMt_p-BQdBnrcRhIbZnBOJowJ-VXmJGSq39VrtLB8dS0fMnjNjn8sli0ZnhxS2bUIyZP-UdYxIOoFwiePBxL2oj31-s8ucNlU40U80KMDe4vUluNpuHbdZuo80lg/s4032/20230823_184921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pdkWPjyNkkuZSudbxk3h3ALYWtl6zgA9GtlEDUzURLiOzHpogrF2Cb2WXOdMt_p-BQdBnrcRhIbZnBOJowJ-VXmJGSq39VrtLB8dS0fMnjNjn8sli0ZnhxS2bUIyZP-UdYxIOoFwiePBxL2oj31-s8ucNlU40U80KMDe4vUluNpuHbdZuo80lg/w400-h225/20230823_184921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As a first, this time we managed to get some cycling in here too! Trips to Bristol, Wells and Lacock in the last two weekends meant I'm now quite a lot more familiar with narrow roads, lovely green cycleways and some stretches of rather busy roads :). The weather has been amazing too! Meaning that it's either been beautifully sunny, or has rained just after we've managed to find appropriate shelter ;).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIA-HmFsAFrUX6eeahTER2f5lbd4T4fK4Z6WbmFpi4GjKGeYgdbQEXD_Vze2XrWPZbBbk-ro0z-gPyjsCgerQ43PYgo0soLEuIPOefGPrlBmEKKm2hgp1F_oBXl4I-WK4Gxl-3f6t2V9nBZPWNR3KibXNWD4U82RfPPizYvxOyxefLwgWvJfmlg/s4032/20230823_184439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIA-HmFsAFrUX6eeahTER2f5lbd4T4fK4Z6WbmFpi4GjKGeYgdbQEXD_Vze2XrWPZbBbk-ro0z-gPyjsCgerQ43PYgo0soLEuIPOefGPrlBmEKKm2hgp1F_oBXl4I-WK4Gxl-3f6t2V9nBZPWNR3KibXNWD4U82RfPPizYvxOyxefLwgWvJfmlg/w225-h400/20230823_184439.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OXAg1YfJjByZA41pZ7IVvKXzjS9alA0xQsbEmiKMfEYJZXGAcN8uaI-LBjOf5NqmbLyS8LqEUifXqW9I95TJAmpjXFxM5vjm8tPymR9_vtjWQAzjV-mSLgePjv_DH2zcyLAQYGWeGDHTOB5A9lMRRRZFRBcUctZIUpGhyoCpG6QSoI_uOy-BQQ/s4032/20230826_141219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OXAg1YfJjByZA41pZ7IVvKXzjS9alA0xQsbEmiKMfEYJZXGAcN8uaI-LBjOf5NqmbLyS8LqEUifXqW9I95TJAmpjXFxM5vjm8tPymR9_vtjWQAzjV-mSLgePjv_DH2zcyLAQYGWeGDHTOB5A9lMRRRZFRBcUctZIUpGhyoCpG6QSoI_uOy-BQQ/w400-h225/20230826_141219.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Another highlight has been the tour of Bath Abbey! With its rich layered history and spectacular architecture and detail both inside and outside, it was well worth the time spent. To be fair Wells Cathedral was also pretty cool, as was Lacock Abbey (the birthplace of photography, no less).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2o6_qOz6QIh73-i8-L4eTUXe0J1nBCCxVgih8P4vUH7xCFino3OADKKqQ54TFPfUxi7MZHgx2B4Wn1kCLcnw9sgV2L_1Xnm5mJlNjd-4YKMDQwoT29__Jmp8OPmzKS7OekAX6dDHKb7yWoBYgKiNeGOpaeE28Z_N_navK5uYbIN27E-HrfZFEg/s4032/20230826_142020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2o6_qOz6QIh73-i8-L4eTUXe0J1nBCCxVgih8P4vUH7xCFino3OADKKqQ54TFPfUxi7MZHgx2B4Wn1kCLcnw9sgV2L_1Xnm5mJlNjd-4YKMDQwoT29__Jmp8OPmzKS7OekAX6dDHKb7yWoBYgKiNeGOpaeE28Z_N_navK5uYbIN27E-HrfZFEg/w400-h225/20230826_142020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKctyAzqupNuhTAhoewfcR7OXJCkawMk1MTYswbl7GyKZe7HGhBIgBXTKRC8yJoOK6HibjPezm255AI47STlHXHQiz9UYc9c7Ywppf7mbVc2RsQtQ6cv0_BtiX2ceAnE_FtlxmvmUHMqQ0IqGLdS-c-bKwijfOLBg4tbuTCZuXiCPf88J-1DfUw/s4032/20230826_143616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKctyAzqupNuhTAhoewfcR7OXJCkawMk1MTYswbl7GyKZe7HGhBIgBXTKRC8yJoOK6HibjPezm255AI47STlHXHQiz9UYc9c7Ywppf7mbVc2RsQtQ6cv0_BtiX2ceAnE_FtlxmvmUHMqQ0IqGLdS-c-bKwijfOLBg4tbuTCZuXiCPf88J-1DfUw/w225-h400/20230826_143616.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkvNxqHRToI_J-PIgunY35x6EpgnJKIbebeHwhEOJlimw3oAh5gR_4nmodPoAyZ8-gtPe4UMUhnmIgBgohqUhDAqmmMyE8yREGFiyNc1JHjY5iX_FrpmLiafgYD9Cbojp2MrVcTnlBgLhkiaQhcq66fmPl8dgFZNrO5Lpc4gid8_hJpHCzj3HXA/s4032/20230826_173107.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkvNxqHRToI_J-PIgunY35x6EpgnJKIbebeHwhEOJlimw3oAh5gR_4nmodPoAyZ8-gtPe4UMUhnmIgBgohqUhDAqmmMyE8yREGFiyNc1JHjY5iX_FrpmLiafgYD9Cbojp2MrVcTnlBgLhkiaQhcq66fmPl8dgFZNrO5Lpc4gid8_hJpHCzj3HXA/w400-h225/20230826_173107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In between the trips and walks and amazing food at home and beyond, I've also spent some time submerged in the phenomenon that is <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28678678-the-lord-of-the-rings" target="_blank">The Lord of the Rings</a></i>. Genuinely, in the two decades since I first read it, I've read so much other fantasy, and of such variety, that I think I'd rather forgotten the proper epic nature of Tolkien's masterpiece!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb3AEiNpj00hHGtIlTT0ZxqaswnNFdpRoKwzPDYeD1s95Px9dBIPD7T095gvsW2KtTiYwTdjqo6fxDXiXxvPEHy5RfWHa14htzVgPm1LWWsnfumUmokSFsK9ZLpo6gszWai1R-7lFOLyPqrM7EB8pPop8yvE7fSu0diwx7raoO2uXE4IC_SLnsA/s4032/20230812_145511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb3AEiNpj00hHGtIlTT0ZxqaswnNFdpRoKwzPDYeD1s95Px9dBIPD7T095gvsW2KtTiYwTdjqo6fxDXiXxvPEHy5RfWHa14htzVgPm1LWWsnfumUmokSFsK9ZLpo6gszWai1R-7lFOLyPqrM7EB8pPop8yvE7fSu0diwx7raoO2uXE4IC_SLnsA/w225-h400/20230812_145511.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwX0_XU6gjfXL7jTxjLqVyfpSNYAJBwwrmdTS8_-GUHyTnCSzbgJ4HYJ3DF1YWsRG1aD-4cDQ144wQZwBNX92Cf7nKdCl8fXuGC0MfieQWBclBT42GiU83cRUA5VyvK_Nxo_Q-zMuAd_eyBukdbR4A15ehYe7jkBLcPY396xGrNp2Oet3u7pDAQ/s4032/20230814_073421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwX0_XU6gjfXL7jTxjLqVyfpSNYAJBwwrmdTS8_-GUHyTnCSzbgJ4HYJ3DF1YWsRG1aD-4cDQ144wQZwBNX92Cf7nKdCl8fXuGC0MfieQWBclBT42GiU83cRUA5VyvK_Nxo_Q-zMuAd_eyBukdbR4A15ehYe7jkBLcPY396xGrNp2Oet3u7pDAQ/w400-h225/20230814_073421.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I managed to find a proper classic volume from the library with beautiful illustrations, but also the voluminous extras (forewords, appendices, index, the works). And having prepared myself appropriately by reading <i>The Unfinished Tales</i>, <i>The Silmarillion</i> and <i>The Hobbit </i>recently, I am enjoying myself immensely!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOw0wwc1BBtgcTujrkf3LS-l9FxvbOFpsbXmU1hPi1WUU96rSvk-Cz2u0i9SqibkLz4XdFT0m_tNL2NjOHGELPy2Hj2PQM0U-TrKTfYhRy5z1ISrPhuY9YfBmTwRLRkLy9fhobVfN3JWnuh4px1QFhD387Yd3ijL0q8Z6KuuARCDcsJM_XymFDYg/s4032/20230817_073449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOw0wwc1BBtgcTujrkf3LS-l9FxvbOFpsbXmU1hPi1WUU96rSvk-Cz2u0i9SqibkLz4XdFT0m_tNL2NjOHGELPy2Hj2PQM0U-TrKTfYhRy5z1ISrPhuY9YfBmTwRLRkLy9fhobVfN3JWnuh4px1QFhD387Yd3ijL0q8Z6KuuARCDcsJM_XymFDYg/w400-h225/20230817_073449.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLgElEo9_MegNwyPFJEW8XldSGcSyfhDWTM-LQu_623U--G63jiP_QiMDrBf0j2NEwFOSiRqmIZZM2DL_XgGEToRQgtZspFth7YZrqWdea2e1luWjtwdchRypcb74vjqUsYOPc6fLbVeaFyNXNtHFRzR8JWLSKDKxz3ZcJLBN-1Oy3aZxlS8J3A/s4032/20230819_110615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLgElEo9_MegNwyPFJEW8XldSGcSyfhDWTM-LQu_623U--G63jiP_QiMDrBf0j2NEwFOSiRqmIZZM2DL_XgGEToRQgtZspFth7YZrqWdea2e1luWjtwdchRypcb74vjqUsYOPc6fLbVeaFyNXNtHFRzR8JWLSKDKxz3ZcJLBN-1Oy3aZxlS8J3A/w400-h225/20230819_110615.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The level of depth hinted at is probably lost otherwise! There are so many references to the larger backstory! Such a deep tapestry of myth and legend that forms a constant backdrop. I recall the feeling from my first time reading <i>LoTR</i> that this was a heavy read. There was almost too much detail in each page. Now I see more clearly just how much there really is :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV_whUO2upjcCFOWuQLlC6aBhq8af3O2Q1Nc2YZfjHoDgkAVnPjNww-efcpHvTjScKuzWzSWCYtKFm3BubIiW84unVZxFgrzpeVkP6p_C-d6rD5SVy1ZrhjmWVsOSjOO08G6ZAuOycPKYJhjSfmHtvJmsmj7PeanujTmW9HseeyRorq0MRqpjhQ/s4032/20230826_133053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYV_whUO2upjcCFOWuQLlC6aBhq8af3O2Q1Nc2YZfjHoDgkAVnPjNww-efcpHvTjScKuzWzSWCYtKFm3BubIiW84unVZxFgrzpeVkP6p_C-d6rD5SVy1ZrhjmWVsOSjOO08G6ZAuOycPKYJhjSfmHtvJmsmj7PeanujTmW9HseeyRorq0MRqpjhQ/w225-h400/20230826_133053.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEZT_rmNaOA-kW6rfTbSx6Dd9Bz41gMb5J-FxmvxkSXv3x9z0NHTeDYhVRqND5vpNMKmtE5HnW4yFm3-V2Ui421Qc6F6zC9SMuIK6y7rWzU7eE7TmR0AhyESwF6jHd-C6jWee78k8lANelTDTd8ucmSWoecirlzPL_yTwXPkuqzF6fhG_220A6w/s4032/20230828_112814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEZT_rmNaOA-kW6rfTbSx6Dd9Bz41gMb5J-FxmvxkSXv3x9z0NHTeDYhVRqND5vpNMKmtE5HnW4yFm3-V2Ui421Qc6F6zC9SMuIK6y7rWzU7eE7TmR0AhyESwF6jHd-C6jWee78k8lANelTDTd8ucmSWoecirlzPL_yTwXPkuqzF6fhG_220A6w/w400-h225/20230828_112814.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm closing in on the end of <i>The Fellowship of the Ring</i> and have also enjoyed the slow and almost imperceptible evolution of tone from the beginning of the story, which almost picks up where <i>The Hobbit</i> left off with its lightheartedness, to the altogether more somber timbre now, as the Fellowship leaves Lorien, reminiscent of <i>The Unfinished Tales</i>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC38JvLLBwuX1PstPmAvDrnO8kS4pxPCuH4a0WNfgH17b7giBb0x0ljw8PxCON9NWFesMKqSZZVz5WKTAw5FpT4PC4FQeh9rAh8HoGPjzqlpTc1KIVcqWERCjobBMZ7LduUVj6PCXiAC1hiH3Opkeu56_Prq_QM7LPspsSFJVVkGMJgrpWhxrPg/s4032/20230826_145443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC38JvLLBwuX1PstPmAvDrnO8kS4pxPCuH4a0WNfgH17b7giBb0x0ljw8PxCON9NWFesMKqSZZVz5WKTAw5FpT4PC4FQeh9rAh8HoGPjzqlpTc1KIVcqWERCjobBMZ7LduUVj6PCXiAC1hiH3Opkeu56_Prq_QM7LPspsSFJVVkGMJgrpWhxrPg/w225-h400/20230826_145443.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53ARYm74NMiXhVgzULGvB5fIhcHUJPgCLXqRz5lTmPibuVUUvQTbzbrBSxEu2X-SNK6-O8YxdhJoXu3RqEK9spcu6PZ7sTlC6b5rZNQVpLJGSsaORoryE2fvoQIZyWB7JB8A4nfZ6b-Y-EF1dt9SMVGp6gFCnfy2ywUTx6nE_mLuNHL-ZtWurFQ/s4032/20230828_124224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53ARYm74NMiXhVgzULGvB5fIhcHUJPgCLXqRz5lTmPibuVUUvQTbzbrBSxEu2X-SNK6-O8YxdhJoXu3RqEK9spcu6PZ7sTlC6b5rZNQVpLJGSsaORoryE2fvoQIZyWB7JB8A4nfZ6b-Y-EF1dt9SMVGp6gFCnfy2ywUTx6nE_mLuNHL-ZtWurFQ/w400-h225/20230828_124224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Occasionally I also lose myself in the Appendices and am glad that I more or less remember much of what is shared in <i>The Unfinished Tales</i> and <i>The Silmarillion</i>. The many discreet (and not so discreet) clues implying that this whole story is structured as an account set down by hobbits is a source of constant delight :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAGILPhJUqkVGXP5UFh63RKVxzjoGAhGQz04_yDF-yGTpjUXCSdNU0qzqALRnF922cw2--KYkRkkRIEw8dSuibqVno_xfDSQgMpocICPkpI1EGr-CJJfXXtIZu6_RSc_rMc4umV6g8PvmuTvxEHsFYcKJ_WhWEw8Wy4z7o4l1ac2P3il9MPtOvA/s4032/20230828_134201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAGILPhJUqkVGXP5UFh63RKVxzjoGAhGQz04_yDF-yGTpjUXCSdNU0qzqALRnF922cw2--KYkRkkRIEw8dSuibqVno_xfDSQgMpocICPkpI1EGr-CJJfXXtIZu6_RSc_rMc4umV6g8PvmuTvxEHsFYcKJ_WhWEw8Wy4z7o4l1ac2P3il9MPtOvA/w225-h400/20230828_134201.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFMLFGkBsOvNfrPvaDBf7x5NwsV1Z7A-he2IfXHzhog-WMEEM0ygaBxUh9VbOqNooXhS1ktUGX3vbRBHMQXuTCugu3L8Hxhu2ohHMELPqqVRiB4qJ-hdEZZqltnuXA-5BtoBDR7Dr8N8sBEIZdvSMkHIsOLJfCzaRnWvfA4Vh_iQXTindtmuTQg/s4032/20230828_134308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFMLFGkBsOvNfrPvaDBf7x5NwsV1Z7A-he2IfXHzhog-WMEEM0ygaBxUh9VbOqNooXhS1ktUGX3vbRBHMQXuTCugu3L8Hxhu2ohHMELPqqVRiB4qJ-hdEZZqltnuXA-5BtoBDR7Dr8N8sBEIZdvSMkHIsOLJfCzaRnWvfA4Vh_iQXTindtmuTQg/w400-h225/20230828_134308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There's a long way to go with the book still. There's also still a few days to go before we head home, so I'm definitely going to enjoy this holiday for all that it's worth :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45Gm7ANhfmjUPVh6fwhLtJKrR_7FoKLEcVYKHoGhvJoQdQD7e2tt7x9yb559UEkQ8VvyI7SlL6tctRwxWb0Zc60ohAePliBaHNQV6GZ46e2omTT1lmmf44l5q0EMeUTC-dbw9ItDerd_5ro6PaMnuBlyVo1VDN04GlzYdJeE24A671yIAnu5v0w/s4032/20230828_134625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45Gm7ANhfmjUPVh6fwhLtJKrR_7FoKLEcVYKHoGhvJoQdQD7e2tt7x9yb559UEkQ8VvyI7SlL6tctRwxWb0Zc60ohAePliBaHNQV6GZ46e2omTT1lmmf44l5q0EMeUTC-dbw9ItDerd_5ro6PaMnuBlyVo1VDN04GlzYdJeE24A671yIAnu5v0w/w225-h400/20230828_134625.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO3BVsk5GsskIE4YHAg2ygDLJVDE3WU42Gq2_vvClGfTLdWV0t5Nx2pyAKKTyNSrj796Os0mCmYpW8rgh634iCgRtLqXmhDlldKPNc93t4J2hO0Rq29cYPzJUk38gXD2IJxdT0MVuAWuwAgxwIhFVaZMSFXjDEvtVBZ6-Y5PIyW0P2R5XBm8moQ/s4032/20230828_143128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO3BVsk5GsskIE4YHAg2ygDLJVDE3WU42Gq2_vvClGfTLdWV0t5Nx2pyAKKTyNSrj796Os0mCmYpW8rgh634iCgRtLqXmhDlldKPNc93t4J2hO0Rq29cYPzJUk38gXD2IJxdT0MVuAWuwAgxwIhFVaZMSFXjDEvtVBZ6-Y5PIyW0P2R5XBm8moQ/w225-h400/20230828_143128.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There's also the matter of the round number :). A part of me is quite content that it's just another number. But other parts are not convinced. I'm sure some or other shall be variously let down, relieved, happy, a bit morose... Who knows? But yes, life moves ever onwards and it's best to enjoy what one can of each day. In the mean time, there's (probably) cake :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhiHckZexoKO742_lATCjTHR8l01CcA_oE4JSOTbqSkaMFGBiMallhLwaA1Rhi2SXKwOXa0jnzr760nk8p-SugyziOjgo91SzvOlDtcgt7Y4vzZJwWlkBfi5ndrI9RtUzpQtas4IPAVVOJ7K6p5owrnQDAhcUkrnX8TtCdWh9yOiX0hW-yeAxSQ/s4032/20230828_150218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhiHckZexoKO742_lATCjTHR8l01CcA_oE4JSOTbqSkaMFGBiMallhLwaA1Rhi2SXKwOXa0jnzr760nk8p-SugyziOjgo91SzvOlDtcgt7Y4vzZJwWlkBfi5ndrI9RtUzpQtas4IPAVVOJ7K6p5owrnQDAhcUkrnX8TtCdWh9yOiX0hW-yeAxSQ/w225-h400/20230828_150218.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggRpeoJpQXBA_BQ18IDkSV-kqXJK3hA2E4o1z918zXe9bMviZ3gUndVNUvjIZ9AUDeilqJPAu_7XWsrKcyXHvsv6kLcVsaywJ4I98vnmyBF6uy2xllOiSxbXjgV2xXbSZ_iI1Ds5KvAJfa9ezR_2FSBpkXPcm63LcPK74VP2s47Y6Df97c1nLXQ/s4032/20230828_150954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggRpeoJpQXBA_BQ18IDkSV-kqXJK3hA2E4o1z918zXe9bMviZ3gUndVNUvjIZ9AUDeilqJPAu_7XWsrKcyXHvsv6kLcVsaywJ4I98vnmyBF6uy2xllOiSxbXjgV2xXbSZ_iI1Ds5KvAJfa9ezR_2FSBpkXPcm63LcPK74VP2s47Y6Df97c1nLXQ/w225-h400/20230828_150954.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">PS. <a href="https://www.sungod.co/en-gb/shop/sunglasses/velans?sku=velans-vef_Inavy-veb_Inavy-vele_8silverblue-vei_Bgunmetal-vees_Rnavy" target="_blank">SunGod</a>. Most highly recommended!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLgmO_028i-QksUw2sDbkXOLhBHwy8ZnMuQwedhWM1rgYh2XgNnU2_T0jqI8Hzb2useNMsmWlpL3HuJzWaCfOIMBPE7-c6PYqLEIOmy6ELzL6xX1jeR8R4xerVTnrW5F_819RxdSaQYJbUQrfz7V6nhwI7iZcwk2a5oMMx0X7qaBvwGAkCun4Bw/s6400/20230823_172344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6400" data-original-width="2928" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLgmO_028i-QksUw2sDbkXOLhBHwy8ZnMuQwedhWM1rgYh2XgNnU2_T0jqI8Hzb2useNMsmWlpL3HuJzWaCfOIMBPE7-c6PYqLEIOmy6ELzL6xX1jeR8R4xerVTnrW5F_819RxdSaQYJbUQrfz7V6nhwI7iZcwk2a5oMMx0X7qaBvwGAkCun4Bw/w292-h640/20230823_172344.jpg" width="292" /></a></div></div></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Bath, UK51.3781018 -2.359682723.067867963821158 -37.5159327 79.688335636178849 32.7965673tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-57361115791968163822023-08-13T22:20:00.002+02:002023-08-14T13:43:46.925+02:00Angus, like the cattle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPBKncpWlg7ZYfT8SH2Yu3NkqiYGAPkOiPfxhtvmz0Y6Vugq2cqOi6aKLaSzidEgkn9ymU-1IcklZe9gQaTtzZkRXxgS68xaIyl5kGHL4RHvThbLUKSGGiguVfJ-9RdCetp9IxKKeRqqAugnTGOKvd2aC0og2ffL2OgUm2lZUE6u70C4VOqwdqw/s4032/20230801_184726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPBKncpWlg7ZYfT8SH2Yu3NkqiYGAPkOiPfxhtvmz0Y6Vugq2cqOi6aKLaSzidEgkn9ymU-1IcklZe9gQaTtzZkRXxgS68xaIyl5kGHL4RHvThbLUKSGGiguVfJ-9RdCetp9IxKKeRqqAugnTGOKvd2aC0og2ffL2OgUm2lZUE6u70C4VOqwdqw/w400-h225/20230801_184726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So! <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60384451-demon-copperhead" target="_blank">Demon Copperhead</a></i>, what can one say about it? First of all, for the first time in ages I've decided to deviate from my usual end of month wrap up to roll in my feelings about any books I might have read in the mean time. And mainly that's because of the sort of whirlpool of emotions this book has left me with.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As a suggestion from the book club, I'm more or less used to not knowing what to expect from books these days. Gone are the days of just three or four of us and knowing each others' reading preferences more or less inside out. With membership pushing double digits, surprises are more likely.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The first surprise, when I went looking for the book, was that author Barbara Kingsolver has quite the back catalogue. Yet I'd never even heard of her. I suppose her general choice of material is pretty far out of my usual comfort zone. But what writing! Powerful would be an understatement.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The whole thing with the opioid crisis in the US is obviously something one hears about, in bits and pieces, but this was eye opening! And not just that, but so much that seems to be such a deep undercurrent of life and definitely politics in small town America is presented in a way I'd never really experienced before. With such compassion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The magic of the book for me, was that the whole things is narrated through such a lovable voice! Demon is incredibly believable, even for someone like me that's never gone through more or less anything that he's put through in the story. It's a hard trick that, making such an imperfect protagonist feel so worthy of sympathy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have to say, one of the reasons I felt I had to write this down right away was how much of a struggle the book felt for the last 150 odd pages before the final few chapters. Not just because bad things were happening, but how hard it was to take because of how invested I was in Demon. And the total contrast of that ending!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt0as-kxppthFFC--8HnF4lDhPEMa4flGBl4X4ifal6fQOK8_ynB_w7CuY9s3wY3JnIh0fUCnlTrfTvx4e5TXRlgK433F-gyrygYXuqky6O128zZjW8Cq2n2i4eDFrkgX5D_pRI7m15mtfkFMUB5yu0rXm0W78UkfM7yEfLAUIYqORdPW0uiT3A/s4032/20230801_190159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt0as-kxppthFFC--8HnF4lDhPEMa4flGBl4X4ifal6fQOK8_ynB_w7CuY9s3wY3JnIh0fUCnlTrfTvx4e5TXRlgK433F-gyrygYXuqky6O128zZjW8Cq2n2i4eDFrkgX5D_pRI7m15mtfkFMUB5yu0rXm0W78UkfM7yEfLAUIYqORdPW0uiT3A/w400-h225/20230801_190159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>What can I say? I'm a sucker for happy endings. The proverbial ride off into the sunset. The sense of catharsis, the feeling that there is indeed such a things as redemption... That, and the superheroes :).<p></p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-74309673453888632382023-07-30T22:29:00.015+02:002023-07-30T23:14:52.577+02:00Reflections on two wheels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XRvabKGDuHnv_giyHzAumtWgk2GWX4HXsTl1HISPme4xScNr6qhNvZTHitF2gCCz2EF2P8DpJurxR62qgNFyU4NFSTEb9xtkasNpEGr6HL6R2O_NvkOaYLYMGaEVZTuAZcXbGwjhe1hLfWwSe29ySz0XQ4cUMqVtOCuEYmbMjhd3d9JW5Aww1A/s4032/20230701_133957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XRvabKGDuHnv_giyHzAumtWgk2GWX4HXsTl1HISPme4xScNr6qhNvZTHitF2gCCz2EF2P8DpJurxR62qgNFyU4NFSTEb9xtkasNpEGr6HL6R2O_NvkOaYLYMGaEVZTuAZcXbGwjhe1hLfWwSe29ySz0XQ4cUMqVtOCuEYmbMjhd3d9JW5Aww1A/w400-h225/20230701_133957.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's been a nice July :). For the first time in a while I can look back and say that I've made good use of whatever bits of nice weather we've had. And even when we haven't had nice weather, we've made the most of it :). I think a general sense of peace and quiet has definitely helped!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo409prQproVz7zPmT9REf5efJsaQZiz1eXrrAXf0WJtoNDaERp0SKu2thFdHvx22hvgTm5QiRZ5OEhDn7gZRlE3Mpd8u5w-dDn8-EfaXX622T04_pQ9y44OwCneS4aekUC4_gsCBq4tfyVzr5cLZ2Ul8P85yaHnq3yMXyDHZIYVGDO61HJpWrFw/s4032/20230708_142241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo409prQproVz7zPmT9REf5efJsaQZiz1eXrrAXf0WJtoNDaERp0SKu2thFdHvx22hvgTm5QiRZ5OEhDn7gZRlE3Mpd8u5w-dDn8-EfaXX622T04_pQ9y44OwCneS4aekUC4_gsCBq4tfyVzr5cLZ2Ul8P85yaHnq3yMXyDHZIYVGDO61HJpWrFw/w400-h225/20230708_142241.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">For one thing, we've definitely managed to go cycling a fair bit. Whenever the weather's been a bit clear. And on occasion hoping that the weather would be clear and then being caught out :D. But it's all been good fun!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWmiPVsL6aEseA0V93Vr2V38zqcJ-l-9Bjov8Mv6sxY5BbqfJSW-70VBSb7wa2T_Rbx0J66N7Mq0pijnpX5vPmuCt4U-xZNIjHUhKQI_tea5SOjwd0WHowMP8TBnFc0Yn0llmFBMNsDlmAYI-I3OZ14wMDpBz5P5VxIK4C-07lA7k67rKY9K48g/s4032/20230708_142740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWmiPVsL6aEseA0V93Vr2V38zqcJ-l-9Bjov8Mv6sxY5BbqfJSW-70VBSb7wa2T_Rbx0J66N7Mq0pijnpX5vPmuCt4U-xZNIjHUhKQI_tea5SOjwd0WHowMP8TBnFc0Yn0llmFBMNsDlmAYI-I3OZ14wMDpBz5P5VxIK4C-07lA7k67rKY9K48g/w400-h225/20230708_142740.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I did manage to cycle in to work to Oslo a couple of more times. One of the times it decided to rain on me on the way back, so I caught a train from a very conveniently located station along the way :). The other time it rained, but then decided to clear up for a gloriously sunny evening of leisurely cycling! So yeah, ups and downs, but generally all good :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tIWVAQmg7J_xp3Ipe-NfiM924hFLAwR8TZQl6wPOopiwO1Os4n8nYwfigaL8zvyUHg7vGhE5-uGb6GaoItnJ295pOORA-IEsEEAHmt63vEfB8zCAWi3xv9c5fF1k9dgIGr9Rg7AXv520pF9-IdLnIwT-dGBxKF5rHY5WpVjVeIHWmz-6js-Yag/s4032/20230708_164537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tIWVAQmg7J_xp3Ipe-NfiM924hFLAwR8TZQl6wPOopiwO1Os4n8nYwfigaL8zvyUHg7vGhE5-uGb6GaoItnJ295pOORA-IEsEEAHmt63vEfB8zCAWi3xv9c5fF1k9dgIGr9Rg7AXv520pF9-IdLnIwT-dGBxKF5rHY5WpVjVeIHWmz-6js-Yag/w400-h225/20230708_164537.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">While the southern bits of Europe and larger parts of the world seems stuck with excessively hot and dry weather, this part of the world seems to be stuck with rather more wet and cooler weather. And obviously, I'd much rather have it this way. The flowers in the garden are quite happy about the situation too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFe21LPTEsO3Sf_cfPQy1uKwnDnqht-R45Syx_-aUKbd4M4L62x2cmgsxil0CnXuktHZjsXK8zvlaARZCd1Ttv-TxEJYZplCyMAESWEk62tEf0OJ7QCcspsNoccNioxnCwVZQhDbLtb7FxLu2a4_WmQXoOevWf_MXTRu4n5Lxt_5sP0ZyUTRvHuA/s4032/20230709_145709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFe21LPTEsO3Sf_cfPQy1uKwnDnqht-R45Syx_-aUKbd4M4L62x2cmgsxil0CnXuktHZjsXK8zvlaARZCd1Ttv-TxEJYZplCyMAESWEk62tEf0OJ7QCcspsNoccNioxnCwVZQhDbLtb7FxLu2a4_WmQXoOevWf_MXTRu4n5Lxt_5sP0ZyUTRvHuA/w225-h400/20230709_145709.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Fruit plucking season is also well underway. In fact, it feels like things have come a bit early this year. Usually the strawberries, raspberries, cherries and other such aren't really ripe till schools are back in session which means it's the kids that manage to get everything next to the streets and paths, but this time there's loads to go around while most people are still away on holiday :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtUNtg5j-Y_oL57gHkZjkEZYCYsDg2fCpDCPGcaKITEeXjz5JiU1-oyY1qYnOEZQnrP1e4EsQAVbWh44QYQoc22SZpErIF-TxZSD0EdkuHi6Z44EoAxOvZhR26YlJvLoCwr3Ce8XpDLNSx8WTftTyvEwchU6X57AaslivbUIjE0lA5n0hbVr4g/s4032/20230701_131253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtUNtg5j-Y_oL57gHkZjkEZYCYsDg2fCpDCPGcaKITEeXjz5JiU1-oyY1qYnOEZQnrP1e4EsQAVbWh44QYQoc22SZpErIF-TxZSD0EdkuHi6Z44EoAxOvZhR26YlJvLoCwr3Ce8XpDLNSx8WTftTyvEwchU6X57AaslivbUIjE0lA5n0hbVr4g/w225-h400/20230701_131253.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I guess in more ways than one I've rather enjoyed a slower tempo of life. Work's certainly been busy, not least because so many people being away means whatever surprises come around land up on your desk. But I've still been enjoying having way more headspace. Time to really get into things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRIYYKW-ZbFR-8vFLYEMhWuk6h8IuqznactAXsc0ocHs3PiGG-jtKiT0cvfiwdQcIacwQJD95zhr8kJppWFZjzWMc1bNZuIw3HzV0lNBSliUg7S1RbDoxxdKbcy-5FuxeEx9I_XE4UP8lnNyAad8td_G62ESJ3CfaR8-is8Jb8t5CPAE2oXmtPQ/s4032/20230709_145028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRIYYKW-ZbFR-8vFLYEMhWuk6h8IuqznactAXsc0ocHs3PiGG-jtKiT0cvfiwdQcIacwQJD95zhr8kJppWFZjzWMc1bNZuIw3HzV0lNBSliUg7S1RbDoxxdKbcy-5FuxeEx9I_XE4UP8lnNyAad8td_G62ESJ3CfaR8-is8Jb8t5CPAE2oXmtPQ/w225-h400/20230709_145028.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I was going to then write "get things done", but I've realized I'm not very good at that. Or maybe it's more a question of what does it really mean to get something done. When is anything really fully done anyway? Maybe it's important to appreciate taking just a few steps forward, however few.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiL3QiWRiTp1uhjwR0AQiR44JNjoUPjnqWybO8OIVBvFrGJZ7PNB1BwRWAg6_Mr1dweYCgkpTQiUWksRG_NkyHkSUKUnDdswqye2t908pX2XO3asM7MOGz5RgMZd-KznW0_cGSMYtANJI8VPNKafoaxpLnJ5sjIQJ9Tmqc3dRGORl1IN6-HYQEmw/s4032/20230713_080423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiL3QiWRiTp1uhjwR0AQiR44JNjoUPjnqWybO8OIVBvFrGJZ7PNB1BwRWAg6_Mr1dweYCgkpTQiUWksRG_NkyHkSUKUnDdswqye2t908pX2XO3asM7MOGz5RgMZd-KznW0_cGSMYtANJI8VPNKafoaxpLnJ5sjIQJ9Tmqc3dRGORl1IN6-HYQEmw/w400-h225/20230713_080423.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In a world where so many things feel too big, too crazy, too complicated, too wild, too strange or just plain too much for a single person to be able to deal with, let alone "get it all done", it feels best to try and do the best one can. It's heartening to see that this is not a tone that's altogether alien in the world today. There's probably just not enough of it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ4PFZXxnwm7VMyLBBO1UWfC9XxMd6iRwM_fod0pnfLl6rSLjdxNtiyG4O5Lou1sxvo0tIJW5WuU3D7RGS8uofGnm8Nhcol0QGbWjCsNXHMFCLi8wR1m70mlhz8Y_p2S1MxPBhkLbg0xLRBj6fCS76fdbyG3cRQ6U5YTMpMKR4byYMwHYSZkOKg/s4032/20230714_192043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ4PFZXxnwm7VMyLBBO1UWfC9XxMd6iRwM_fod0pnfLl6rSLjdxNtiyG4O5Lou1sxvo0tIJW5WuU3D7RGS8uofGnm8Nhcol0QGbWjCsNXHMFCLi8wR1m70mlhz8Y_p2S1MxPBhkLbg0xLRBj6fCS76fdbyG3cRQ6U5YTMpMKR4byYMwHYSZkOKg/w225-h400/20230714_192043.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of, came across <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-66256153" target="_blank">an article</a> about Charlie Mackesy recently. The name sounded vaguely familiar. The contents of the article felt even more so. And then I realized, P got given the book earlier this year as a birthday present!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi0qz8haQo_cUuN5Rhd4JlQ67gxy8Lo4cW7s0I5Ta0fnLuXXSqYkk0tI_VstOljmaRtpo3dfC6MaDPZRfaghApJy53Nepvimrw7wDxnxGw2c0z6m5wpz6zJM1V36qaqy_LrjmtOn5y6wRK7rQGoKuKxd9OPgp6GhCR5AKuGNvGOFnmgIYbnAF2w/s4032/20230714_192112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi0qz8haQo_cUuN5Rhd4JlQ67gxy8Lo4cW7s0I5Ta0fnLuXXSqYkk0tI_VstOljmaRtpo3dfC6MaDPZRfaghApJy53Nepvimrw7wDxnxGw2c0z6m5wpz6zJM1V36qaqy_LrjmtOn5y6wRK7rQGoKuKxd9OPgp6GhCR5AKuGNvGOFnmgIYbnAF2w/w225-h400/20230714_192112.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43708884-the-boy-the-mole-the-fox-and-the-horse" target="_blank">The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse</a></i> is an excellent reminder of how much good there is in the world. That kindness matters. That caring for oneself doesn't have to come at the cost of caring for another, or vice-versa. It's the sort of book that feels like a refuge in times of self-doubt, struggling to understand the world around, or just plain feeling down. I mean, it doesn't have to feel like the end of the world before we ask for help right? It's also very funny :). The artwork is something I found myself getting lost in. In the best possible way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADgO6CLK-wADbG2uyjyk8OSPR96wfi-IAAqrPyvIkFaePz96k5NU-peOCh4Z4pYtlYPOWGc01KEL8Ft0-5Tshf2yak-pkbdWmKBde2k8ygP9eXZQtKK-1SpE8Qe7C6HTIIKTQkOTmLloqJtqc0dUOpKp3_h0nIeBjW6GK1N1ibtHpRno1TA7Nxg/s4032/20230718_074352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADgO6CLK-wADbG2uyjyk8OSPR96wfi-IAAqrPyvIkFaePz96k5NU-peOCh4Z4pYtlYPOWGc01KEL8Ft0-5Tshf2yak-pkbdWmKBde2k8ygP9eXZQtKK-1SpE8Qe7C6HTIIKTQkOTmLloqJtqc0dUOpKp3_h0nIeBjW6GK1N1ibtHpRno1TA7Nxg/w400-h225/20230718_074352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I've also never known cake could mean so many things, while still just being cake :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">--</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sgqL9Rmk7znUMUOztYGS2jEuuMSR-IXT4WGSqRwlbGDUVK8lTkvvkHuW3gl07lgZL7JlXsL2zwZ88YqdT6Q7qmqWMSLtrqJm2f3cW0Jr-pY2Utj_mOwFDPMQ8WySm1Alv1OmfWxBNGldnLbnqeQ05_443hX5J6y3hStbwIp-heN9dh6Ryts6MQ/s4032/20230718_194433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sgqL9Rmk7znUMUOztYGS2jEuuMSR-IXT4WGSqRwlbGDUVK8lTkvvkHuW3gl07lgZL7JlXsL2zwZ88YqdT6Q7qmqWMSLtrqJm2f3cW0Jr-pY2Utj_mOwFDPMQ8WySm1Alv1OmfWxBNGldnLbnqeQ05_443hX5J6y3hStbwIp-heN9dh6Ryts6MQ/w400-h225/20230718_194433.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Also read some other books this month :). One of which was the rather thought provoking <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30653832-welcome-to-the-goddamn-ice-cube" target="_blank">Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube</a></i>. The copy I'd ordered did, <i>finally</i>, arrive, and I managed to read it in a day or so to be able to participate in the the rather engaged book club discussion that followed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc3DHI_XzVDmn9pC2g0Q6q5xf_LgsO5GUe1nqLDMK-RzCTtAVio7kXREYihRwBhe8gUSa5LqiIIgPsS0jksA1w9CD1te6pUzMQUwd8M5d0k8WoxQYqRKv3T3f-60J3kwAaKNP5twaWvoR4T2XdKa_vEeuDEytG2HsxzMdBNuuM2JVb_Rd5wCi8Q/s4032/20230723_121323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc3DHI_XzVDmn9pC2g0Q6q5xf_LgsO5GUe1nqLDMK-RzCTtAVio7kXREYihRwBhe8gUSa5LqiIIgPsS0jksA1w9CD1te6pUzMQUwd8M5d0k8WoxQYqRKv3T3f-60J3kwAaKNP5twaWvoR4T2XdKa_vEeuDEytG2HsxzMdBNuuM2JVb_Rd5wCi8Q/w400-h225/20230723_121323.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There's a sense in which it also deals with the sense of self I guess? People are so different right? And even with our many languages, spoken and otherwise, communication is at best scratching at the surface of who you are and how that translates to me. With innumerable yous and constantly evolving mes...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnqE3_1zq3zsU8B_GLCvtIcsmxcXVqXU8zXsuJBmteLcokUGqjHV_3QYJMN_eRiDZJmqseMaTBBQTk-Kr4IPhaDqpzVxVq9YNc0G6NNexp_Mwws6PZjMmogURO8v68QKeln3lCrzjp-0f5quJhAtVNA0IgX-1pLhfSXB0mXV9R-zJVVk4aKNCCg/s4032/20230723_121723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnqE3_1zq3zsU8B_GLCvtIcsmxcXVqXU8zXsuJBmteLcokUGqjHV_3QYJMN_eRiDZJmqseMaTBBQTk-Kr4IPhaDqpzVxVq9YNc0G6NNexp_Mwws6PZjMmogURO8v68QKeln3lCrzjp-0f5quJhAtVNA0IgX-1pLhfSXB0mXV9R-zJVVk4aKNCCg/w400-h225/20230723_121723.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It was also a lot of fun to see how people reacted to the occasional almost literal translations of (northern-) Norwegian expressions into English. Those that knew enough of Norwegian mostly found it awesome, while others were left somewhat bewildered :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJ4eV4fYF1n5QUxCc06uhh7NYcqBc_viuAsRuf6E2JVlvidyfrzRQkW0reTO0rop5iAYlK59UIGMle9yo-inUH2dslH66GbK5p0jVMnzjvWWZbcgujr96vVL7PjOuHuOR1Dy2JhbYKXgNCviEuokn1vorgv_-v6UF659TeTO-VeOyJQTlx0ni4w/s4032/20230723_122031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJ4eV4fYF1n5QUxCc06uhh7NYcqBc_viuAsRuf6E2JVlvidyfrzRQkW0reTO0rop5iAYlK59UIGMle9yo-inUH2dslH66GbK5p0jVMnzjvWWZbcgujr96vVL7PjOuHuOR1Dy2JhbYKXgNCviEuokn1vorgv_-v6UF659TeTO-VeOyJQTlx0ni4w/w400-h225/20230723_122031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then I got to the end of <i>The Hobbit</i>, not too surprised about how many of the details of the story had been badly mangled by the films. The feel of it, obviously, is very different from the other Tolkien I've read recently, but having the broader arc of the story of Middle Earth fresh in my mind made the reading all the more interesting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaq7zaiLkf7dOUANQTvR2JbUeM4MelpuGgHNYO5NSOfRDvKdtMpwAdvldnA-YttCXnTrLveFjnlesjPnbOSzlAGEwNxUHhkxz5xykW8o8nyVIhT2v9v85zvmCIHtWOnCB1OYE8d3eVH2qoqBmWLngc-QE0XIr0eKsjy9GdQMmHvTm1advPUJ0fw/s4032/20230723_140256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaq7zaiLkf7dOUANQTvR2JbUeM4MelpuGgHNYO5NSOfRDvKdtMpwAdvldnA-YttCXnTrLveFjnlesjPnbOSzlAGEwNxUHhkxz5xykW8o8nyVIhT2v9v85zvmCIHtWOnCB1OYE8d3eVH2qoqBmWLngc-QE0XIr0eKsjy9GdQMmHvTm1advPUJ0fw/w400-h225/20230723_140256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I think I'll get into <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> in not too long. Just not looking forward to my 2002 Hollywood tie-in paperback copy, so decided to wait for whoever's got the copy from the library to return it :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTioBPM6TTuMuNF63VfA8AzHJ2mTnlaboF7XLlL9LEuww8a4GJrucSyM_7LxiVXoQ79sJ2TEg7gIT2XCFf7vUdpswooUxsqIPUSYYjkzTCZ_rOwihMvABfiuUDEvSx66_EYzsYIk4sumzmpmR5ZQXuzlOOoKOQY9BZETMIsIsObYdVVRlFJy3_2w/s4032/20230727_183510.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTioBPM6TTuMuNF63VfA8AzHJ2mTnlaboF7XLlL9LEuww8a4GJrucSyM_7LxiVXoQ79sJ2TEg7gIT2XCFf7vUdpswooUxsqIPUSYYjkzTCZ_rOwihMvABfiuUDEvSx66_EYzsYIk4sumzmpmR5ZQXuzlOOoKOQY9BZETMIsIsObYdVVRlFJy3_2w/w400-h225/20230727_183510.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of library books, the <i>Monstress</i> books I'd requested from other libraries arrived, and I read them. Is there a lot more I can say about that? Not sure. I think I'll certainly try and read the rest of the volumes whenever they do get published. I'm still very taken with the visual style, so there's that :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4RWTdL9Dp4nk6lfj49b2pSkN8SkXW-U-PijH8zTMg2l8uv1xBiXO_3RL1intQ4-Kny7LSpg00uMWPEWrdc_0IVcerQt2bICZHf5wDmwZtkf6smnz6m6F49SqCz2xrIxci9I13_NF0uRPJv3zHKWV__O17bMQG7suRWgJ0ulTfZHHOMm_GycjtA/s4032/20230727_193748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4RWTdL9Dp4nk6lfj49b2pSkN8SkXW-U-PijH8zTMg2l8uv1xBiXO_3RL1intQ4-Kny7LSpg00uMWPEWrdc_0IVcerQt2bICZHf5wDmwZtkf6smnz6m6F49SqCz2xrIxci9I13_NF0uRPJv3zHKWV__O17bMQG7suRWgJ0ulTfZHHOMm_GycjtA/w400-h225/20230727_193748.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Next up was this month's book club book! <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60629632-loki" target="_blank">Loki</a></i> was one of my suggestions. A take on Norse myths, and one I was keen to compare and contrast with Neil Gaiman's <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30831912-norse-mythology" target="_blank">Norse Mythology</a></i>. To say there was a contrast would be quite the understatement :). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuudBedd1Yk9EvH9Yp7cgTaIOLKXRhb_5cHLeg7dpukfomlhuxqHCIDvrakb5qD2TWuOwSxGExwNxptHrldMuGjem-rGgoIxAEslafl_GZa-VOHpRRDvgolN9M30nxpQPtSlAjuY_1SOwK38sMxgVWxxonPpGUhs1-YUqaT-hJ0G4rpg8Pg4YoYA/s4032/20230727_195037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuudBedd1Yk9EvH9Yp7cgTaIOLKXRhb_5cHLeg7dpukfomlhuxqHCIDvrakb5qD2TWuOwSxGExwNxptHrldMuGjem-rGgoIxAEslafl_GZa-VOHpRRDvgolN9M30nxpQPtSlAjuY_1SOwK38sMxgVWxxonPpGUhs1-YUqaT-hJ0G4rpg8Pg4YoYA/w400-h225/20230727_195037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I think fundamentally the two books set out to be very different things. Gaiman was writing his version of the known and familiar Norse myths of the Edda. In his particular style, but mainly trying to stay close to the known versions. There didn't seem to be (as far as I can remember from reading it five years ago) any particular point of view or social/political commentary he was trying to get across.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuU7uZJK49djuDRdvCs3cGqKCsXFdf4YgE2aP8W5x45ArcWkpTlBQ0cm2qKNQvjU5LWFfhv_xSCLSKde2bHaPasONjBgyEu3vb_ukCk_EaWRrb6iIL7UiA545bj1NPXB2rWyLZOa56sGZHiX8QgTxVMwtNKxemuYmRlpDKQQ37TDIcAVpzuI9iw/s4032/20230727_203200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuU7uZJK49djuDRdvCs3cGqKCsXFdf4YgE2aP8W5x45ArcWkpTlBQ0cm2qKNQvjU5LWFfhv_xSCLSKde2bHaPasONjBgyEu3vb_ukCk_EaWRrb6iIL7UiA545bj1NPXB2rWyLZOa56sGZHiX8QgTxVMwtNKxemuYmRlpDKQQ37TDIcAVpzuI9iw/w400-h225/20230727_203200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Burgess on the other hand seems to be particularly keen on taking the structure of said myths, twisting hard and building his own narrative presented through the highly entertaining if sometimes strained voice of Loki. Not being particularly familiar with all of the myths themselves, it's impossible for me to tell where Burgess completely deviates from any previously known versions of the stories, where he adds new layers to the known or where he merely sheds light on the not so well known.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeTQ3G05Ddl2NNhaOMy6cTceiEEJDip_2_Wat_t9fbkUFbMCLQK4AJ_z0vL7qMvkFLzjjzR5VDoojO9l8ecLU-nZdBUaM085pZIQ-tU7Jq0EEuJ_Tafor2zsNdoDvL6T35VpxczEJhZlviYJSBd4tirNxUeaKG0b-gTyaoeOerc72NcbFiOm4iA/s4032/20230729_115004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeTQ3G05Ddl2NNhaOMy6cTceiEEJDip_2_Wat_t9fbkUFbMCLQK4AJ_z0vL7qMvkFLzjjzR5VDoojO9l8ecLU-nZdBUaM085pZIQ-tU7Jq0EEuJ_Tafor2zsNdoDvL6T35VpxczEJhZlviYJSBd4tirNxUeaKG0b-gTyaoeOerc72NcbFiOm4iA/w400-h225/20230729_115004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The last section of the book is particularly transparent, I felt, in projecting the author's views on the state of the world today. Which of course is very much his prerogative, rightly so. The mood definitely changes over the course of the book, from the playful and almost carefree to progressively darker and eventually downright horrific. Which of course is well in keeping with the state we find Loki himself in. What can I say? I'm really looking forward to the discussion on this one :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNCsBXQ66LOJlTaSy6w8GlWmF6YSz-DTtGJqYMWVeFtfhaGpxrzd5iZJYPGhW2-DEgvbkO7ocXS19B29USZ2Y4otZxk-FuQ9ONYPOs7PBjWHl1NJd2Pq6i6PPiNxI95QPYhpQSGMHYikWDV6NaI_nD59xNpHpK8i_-pmWZnzO3hYFu98dQiGwgw/s4032/20230729_115912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNCsBXQ66LOJlTaSy6w8GlWmF6YSz-DTtGJqYMWVeFtfhaGpxrzd5iZJYPGhW2-DEgvbkO7ocXS19B29USZ2Y4otZxk-FuQ9ONYPOs7PBjWHl1NJd2Pq6i6PPiNxI95QPYhpQSGMHYikWDV6NaI_nD59xNpHpK8i_-pmWZnzO3hYFu98dQiGwgw/w400-h225/20230729_115912.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then I decided it would be a good time to re-read something I hadn't read in more than a decade. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9544621-turbulence" target="_blank">Turbulence</a></i> by Samit Basu, a Bengali author who I absolutely loved because of his <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/43135-gameworld-trilogy" target="_blank">GameWorld Trilogy</a></i>. Turns out he's written a sequel, and I ended up being presented a copy of said sequel for Christmas. Seeing how I didn't really remember much of the story from the first book, it seemed sensible to brush up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEofwcL7cGbtv0P5zcgm-qBHoFXaDoVrFkZJP4z2KD3T9lDHJRXZDFfqJj2BooqYxS03Ew-xFaNGOHe3YjzksqdKPDendNtK8f1_t4l5Ttgr8psmpptxTFm83KVuRhZRxeIBACchfZ5F0qhfl1N3F1X3JoPiI1H4TTYMCUywnln2P3ZeardFF-GQ/s4032/20230729_131840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEofwcL7cGbtv0P5zcgm-qBHoFXaDoVrFkZJP4z2KD3T9lDHJRXZDFfqJj2BooqYxS03Ew-xFaNGOHe3YjzksqdKPDendNtK8f1_t4l5Ttgr8psmpptxTFm83KVuRhZRxeIBACchfZ5F0qhfl1N3F1X3JoPiI1H4TTYMCUywnln2P3ZeardFF-GQ/w225-h400/20230729_131840.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Not sure what to think of it. I actually had to look up my <a href="https://lightswillguideyouhome.blogspot.com/2011/04/super-mayhem.html" target="_blank">post</a> from when I read it the last time :P. Seems like I did really enjoy the generally utterly crazy, headlong plunge into the author's somewhat chaotic imagination :). Don't think I enjoyed it as much this time around. And the ending still felt just as bizarre as it did back then. I've been sort of avoiding thinking about when I should get to the sequel :P.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKR-KE2A7m7PfvFl_THGRo3zPn_4JcnND0hjJammPe64U1hqvvsEHLL1Cv_YTeKxhPNAmBl_4Yy8MWhTixsK0CbbA6wXMkgk5dmGpw1mEvBNz5eKRRm8pMRtJxZhtMkxnqLAaIoXaXr11ZbHL2JdhngjQ1Di7n25upYKpfufqYL2W7Nj-S9QLTQ/s4032/20230729_142140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKR-KE2A7m7PfvFl_THGRo3zPn_4JcnND0hjJammPe64U1hqvvsEHLL1Cv_YTeKxhPNAmBl_4Yy8MWhTixsK0CbbA6wXMkgk5dmGpw1mEvBNz5eKRRm8pMRtJxZhtMkxnqLAaIoXaXr11ZbHL2JdhngjQ1Di7n25upYKpfufqYL2W7Nj-S9QLTQ/w225-h400/20230729_142140.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">At which point I decided to delve into the enchanting world of <i>The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse</i>, to my great joy :). I now find myself not particularly fussed about picking up another book for the time being. There's a sense of interregnum. Isn't that the word? An in-between. A pause. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEVUUWlPzut6YDVm3-UIK7iB2ROAe3JeLhuGsDfbMSSwI7LKtSB8EhsLJMCDpNiMD5xBDpOYl29pITj2bELRUAYz3hkarOBqtKIlftuLsw2BIXapc7OmT6qMTO4o20A_YMo7fJhjxjDXhciI0MeFp7DtOPQBs84VnHwRnVP-1pm8LXlBIej7UJQ/s4032/20230729_142704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEVUUWlPzut6YDVm3-UIK7iB2ROAe3JeLhuGsDfbMSSwI7LKtSB8EhsLJMCDpNiMD5xBDpOYl29pITj2bELRUAYz3hkarOBqtKIlftuLsw2BIXapc7OmT6qMTO4o20A_YMo7fJhjxjDXhciI0MeFp7DtOPQBs84VnHwRnVP-1pm8LXlBIej7UJQ/w400-h225/20230729_142704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">A bunch of the books I know I'd like to read are waiting on the books themselves to be returned or in other cases perhaps for librarians to return from holidays :). The summer holidays are over and the buzz of life will get louder. I'm not sure I'm ready for this calm to be over and life to turn the volume back up to eleven...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzqXv7JyEsEH4mh8hxEpGWd7JG9ptfWFpY14W8JzfmBpk6JPgjpt5aUWxmydUj_fmICChcMhSWoWr9mK_cy3pl11mmdpmf1Jw9CcRp81Cn25ZDY4cXqVtVJ0fPTKtBY8wk2WBsvvpvGs5M68CGDFOUeZe1TAMwDA8GN0gsMoTZ7iVgvo2OO-x5g/s4032/20230729_143618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzqXv7JyEsEH4mh8hxEpGWd7JG9ptfWFpY14W8JzfmBpk6JPgjpt5aUWxmydUj_fmICChcMhSWoWr9mK_cy3pl11mmdpmf1Jw9CcRp81Cn25ZDY4cXqVtVJ0fPTKtBY8wk2WBsvvpvGs5M68CGDFOUeZe1TAMwDA8GN0gsMoTZ7iVgvo2OO-x5g/w400-h225/20230729_143618.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">When it is and it does, I'll try to hold on to the relative tranquillity of the many shapes and colours of summer clouds reflected on lakes and fjords as I cycled by :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTKFOaeuIc7J_cvRgen2Fjx20APb_rGIO5qaTpaSe3D4pZHIZBqbLqp0wokXCSH4qj7wXbKAJuVhTPXexAbmNr6j_Wppc-opy0Bv8jTYoBCkwUSZ7o11Q90Xuwioh1TO5DO5Rvbr1H8a_wZTJqoB_ixrCqbs0raEGNyKwljNl87ATuzg09qVgBA/s4032/20230729_165610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTKFOaeuIc7J_cvRgen2Fjx20APb_rGIO5qaTpaSe3D4pZHIZBqbLqp0wokXCSH4qj7wXbKAJuVhTPXexAbmNr6j_Wppc-opy0Bv8jTYoBCkwUSZ7o11Q90Xuwioh1TO5DO5Rvbr1H8a_wZTJqoB_ixrCqbs0raEGNyKwljNl87ATuzg09qVgBA/w225-h400/20230729_165610.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-54802295083032710312023-06-30T22:33:00.001+02:002023-06-30T22:33:18.140+02:00Summer vibes<p style="text-align: justify;">I'd never have thought I'd be genuinely happy that it's finally started raining in the summer here in Norway! Usually it just rains anyway, and I spend more time wishing for nice sunny days. It's been a very dry spring and early summer though, so when the rain finally came a week or two ago, it was very welcome. Not least so that the danger of forest fires abated a bit. Crazy how things have evolved just in the last few years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7qPlGfOvcN5n8mYB0aMVghZl4-0mZe8M8HdDQjFAMF1zRMDKBZ-anJWsiQ5nRDuMgKbSkiMjAxTQ2E3O-LR1AyJjtR_ySGTh6xzpWPCKPuDLl_24-osgZY1eNDTGDnPYnkmufa8c1gpE13DSuEFbjZ9pxGS7GgT_BscsAID50V9QXWm6Axb6rg/s4032/20230528_102358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7qPlGfOvcN5n8mYB0aMVghZl4-0mZe8M8HdDQjFAMF1zRMDKBZ-anJWsiQ5nRDuMgKbSkiMjAxTQ2E3O-LR1AyJjtR_ySGTh6xzpWPCKPuDLl_24-osgZY1eNDTGDnPYnkmufa8c1gpE13DSuEFbjZ9pxGS7GgT_BscsAID50V9QXWm6Axb6rg/w400-h225/20230528_102358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In some ways the rain came at a bit of a bad time, just as I was finally recovering fully from the after effects of the North Sea cycle trip :P. In the meantime we'd been rather enjoying the sunny days with walks whenever we could. Since then though, I've even been running a couple of times! It doesn't sound like a big deal, but sure feels like it. Let's see how long I can keep at it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilh-RG43YScEDURnFYoumVazl8R6uV4HeW-Z4eujCGBlpHOvOa-DQP-kKxHSsLN_LBZrIO3ZxzH-3onc1eIZdo2ObhS5zJAIuS_HlZUFew2MtHV_OV8dMfCb_e68ryOs7YbzcLv8DxZ470nVdokl4uAEamTxJT1Cs3eJMplrX_dSX16DxbXCVx3A/s4032/20230609_203048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilh-RG43YScEDURnFYoumVazl8R6uV4HeW-Z4eujCGBlpHOvOa-DQP-kKxHSsLN_LBZrIO3ZxzH-3onc1eIZdo2ObhS5zJAIuS_HlZUFew2MtHV_OV8dMfCb_e68ryOs7YbzcLv8DxZ470nVdokl4uAEamTxJT1Cs3eJMplrX_dSX16DxbXCVx3A/w225-h400/20230609_203048.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Now that we've slowly started cycling again, it feel a bit strange that the coastal trip was only a month and a half ago! Feels like a lifetime away somehow... I suppose there's been a bit of other travel in the meantime. I finally managed to visit Stockholm in nice weather for a change! Even made time to explore a little bit of the city! </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJPBFZpeXp1BpjCautoU9bX6oJRKcnVE1F46ZSTpNuGE-2ooZUFSu-bbD8qelqawdleqbLuQuCh7qAwa9LtSs305m0Rk4M6A7b5guwDs6Ebj5ByZcyqxQnZe1cXzyQoE_-39Me-jMfuEa4ZlmrusengqqCa2wuQpAViXIQbMypQv92vxHdXMCyw/s4032/20230615_190200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJPBFZpeXp1BpjCautoU9bX6oJRKcnVE1F46ZSTpNuGE-2ooZUFSu-bbD8qelqawdleqbLuQuCh7qAwa9LtSs305m0Rk4M6A7b5guwDs6Ebj5ByZcyqxQnZe1cXzyQoE_-39Me-jMfuEa4ZlmrusengqqCa2wuQpAViXIQbMypQv92vxHdXMCyw/w400-h225/20230615_190200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The impression from my previous visits were only further strengthened, that this is by far the biggest of the Nordic capitals, with a very distinct feel from Oslo or Helsinki. (I really should go back to Copenhagen and actually spend some time walking around one of these days.) I was left wondering if I'd have felt the differences as keenly ten years ago before I'd settled into life in Norway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71kOlxt6S3qGHTBUZHx5YizgOI1MwdlMzs7m4gPfiHlMXsCJK_xdBQ0A-FlVMht4RSMxyWKz6P-6pIgSHWdCuzFJwN9Hr9ksYw_g3_kthpmuBrzmLnai4BimtldpXubaJ91Mh9A0iqFigTd_Wsudoi35vwZfGSE5mzf9rP3333OHj2Y0OG8YAWg/s4032/20230615_231218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71kOlxt6S3qGHTBUZHx5YizgOI1MwdlMzs7m4gPfiHlMXsCJK_xdBQ0A-FlVMht4RSMxyWKz6P-6pIgSHWdCuzFJwN9Hr9ksYw_g3_kthpmuBrzmLnai4BimtldpXubaJ91Mh9A0iqFigTd_Wsudoi35vwZfGSE5mzf9rP3333OHj2Y0OG8YAWg/w400-h225/20230615_231218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">There was also the whirlwind weekend trip to the UK to see my then less than month old niece!! Very excited about being an uncle! Less excited about how thoroughly upside down a child turns life for the adults in the immediate vicinity :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQuF5rhipCDCFlhULpDTDmO3iOj1m-ZsVfy5kOj4p6_YSstiHj8kv-NyHMfvnEhD0t7wiOT2qTNE6Lzu0p_V4nBlvdO7711CWtDX6Fp1SHQqrNMWuPCHEag6ivEb95t9Ly_bLipF9wovfnu5qr9GmSvxUt7yKrrFilSxzgJqxaKBoZuDjaMatbg/s4032/20230617_123108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQuF5rhipCDCFlhULpDTDmO3iOj1m-ZsVfy5kOj4p6_YSstiHj8kv-NyHMfvnEhD0t7wiOT2qTNE6Lzu0p_V4nBlvdO7711CWtDX6Fp1SHQqrNMWuPCHEag6ivEb95t9Ly_bLipF9wovfnu5qr9GmSvxUt7yKrrFilSxzgJqxaKBoZuDjaMatbg/w225-h400/20230617_123108.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As for the rest of the time, I've been reading. Quite a lot again actually! I suppose being back to the more direct narrative of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24763330-the-silmarillion" target="_blank">The Silmarillion</a></i> made a difference. But then I delved into a couple of series that rather sucked me in, for very different reasons.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0slu879rIYqE9kTkox5_cLfaV3velDNNL0CpU21uBtcvGyPTHymG2htb8C-O92sw4zWqqZ_efyI7f3rqNGlYoZSBYhHSnB4zGYIEfernVPXPmqyh-WtPj56wNALpxeV0H-C5yNgjFCx1f5_b73SCwuimbltaVaUn4ECu9ndD2QqQaP6lyfWUVA/s4032/20230528_110952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0slu879rIYqE9kTkox5_cLfaV3velDNNL0CpU21uBtcvGyPTHymG2htb8C-O92sw4zWqqZ_efyI7f3rqNGlYoZSBYhHSnB4zGYIEfernVPXPmqyh-WtPj56wNALpxeV0H-C5yNgjFCx1f5_b73SCwuimbltaVaUn4ECu9ndD2QqQaP6lyfWUVA/w400-h225/20230528_110952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">But first some impressions on Tolkien again. It's been a long time since I read <i>The Silmarillion</i> the last time, but it's probably been even longer since I've last read <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. So I found it a bit odd that remembered so much less of the details. I'd gathered a fair bit of background on some of the stretches of the "history" from <i>Unfinished Tales</i>, but there was so much depth that I'd just completely forgotten. Or maybe never really fully got into on previous readings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsD-vloeWPHHy_uV9SRRzZtiBReJJUmxLKG8XkThJW2VZha2ao4DEQHtwtDD7AP5Rc-3Gla7kk_ri3kyM-2_hZFn70D3C_72NjeLiwo_jE2mNu_cTZUzqsy4uW_vWt2HTNAlgdgyX41pFKtWyiaqxFEyEVFNWZQO0UIaS64YwkzQl_GEoSPiJjQ/s4032/20230528_132227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsD-vloeWPHHy_uV9SRRzZtiBReJJUmxLKG8XkThJW2VZha2ao4DEQHtwtDD7AP5Rc-3Gla7kk_ri3kyM-2_hZFn70D3C_72NjeLiwo_jE2mNu_cTZUzqsy4uW_vWt2HTNAlgdgyX41pFKtWyiaqxFEyEVFNWZQO0UIaS64YwkzQl_GEoSPiJjQ/w400-h225/20230528_132227.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Is it an age thing? Or just that I'm a different person in many ways I suppose. Or maybe it's just that over time I've just become more interested in the world behind the story than I perhaps was a couple of decades ago :). I've actually started reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5915.The_Hobbit" target="_blank">The Hobbit</a></i> recently, and am quite enjoying the very different flavour from the previous two books :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2XBnTWqeUK7SrnN8WeEdzXPZAa02FZVYsr2uuZ6RqbNBEAc4o5vCMP2-P_bkXJ3nymgGOMSoGgtzD67mdV1vAO_7N9oy6ch9pY9l6bBfJPejNV3_1i_BA8HbU9fiKhA8hUtlHVTpSWiNB3NX5bX8PIkVqPW4E1Ma9nXeLObKB6etXVjDmCY31g/s4032/20230530_165442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2XBnTWqeUK7SrnN8WeEdzXPZAa02FZVYsr2uuZ6RqbNBEAc4o5vCMP2-P_bkXJ3nymgGOMSoGgtzD67mdV1vAO_7N9oy6ch9pY9l6bBfJPejNV3_1i_BA8HbU9fiKhA8hUtlHVTpSWiNB3NX5bX8PIkVqPW4E1Ma9nXeLObKB6etXVjDmCY31g/w400-h225/20230530_165442.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In between, first there were the first three books of the <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/299267-thursday-murder-club" target="_blank">Thursday Murder Club</a></i> series! The first one was a unanimous choice for the book club, and what a fun read it was! Probably one of the most outright fun and enjoyable reads I've had in ages! I've of course only really seen Richard Osman on Pointless. Which I've generally found pretty pointless most of the time. But what an awesome sense of humour he hides behind that rather restrained factual exterior :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwWA7ZfuLUvAgj1WcPnbWjkHapuEGHXKM9rDzx17sWQk-zdcb5l_7fcrwUvGA-XVFJlsmrsXKI40K-mXOHX6V32yATEtEgDhLfKUWsSwnLVkm2raapN7ezqEpA1oP5dSfO2AzyBp4wqSoslSA2J8gH_bNVg9qGqCrFKQ5l3f_Fy02nesMZfZ0YQ/s4032/20230530_192148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwWA7ZfuLUvAgj1WcPnbWjkHapuEGHXKM9rDzx17sWQk-zdcb5l_7fcrwUvGA-XVFJlsmrsXKI40K-mXOHX6V32yATEtEgDhLfKUWsSwnLVkm2raapN7ezqEpA1oP5dSfO2AzyBp4wqSoslSA2J8gH_bNVg9qGqCrFKQ5l3f_Fy02nesMZfZ0YQ/w225-h400/20230530_192148.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I think one of the things I really enjoyed was that the humour was threaded within a beautifully layered narrative. The characters seemed likeable, mostly. They definitely felt real. And it was very different from your run of the mill spy-murder-mystery-thriller-emotionally-mature-comedy. Well, maybe there's no such thing. It probably helped that I'm now more familiar with the British sense of humour that I was some years ago :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzSw3FRCQrWD-kV1Bg_TxKQ_AflTWRd7hf23K__yen225kkA9FfWQWyxzQd18o5fOwPMnsdrqC6siJoBV3TqQOogm4OC2GTM8N_jzI4sozfruEgB_1n5Akw6jrPvLnukX2aXatSUHLDaH79lEsOnImbqhYDobgfaEbJSFC9vpgWNAZzLVQVLDaA/s4032/20230615_191301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzSw3FRCQrWD-kV1Bg_TxKQ_AflTWRd7hf23K__yen225kkA9FfWQWyxzQd18o5fOwPMnsdrqC6siJoBV3TqQOogm4OC2GTM8N_jzI4sozfruEgB_1n5Akw6jrPvLnukX2aXatSUHLDaH79lEsOnImbqhYDobgfaEbJSFC9vpgWNAZzLVQVLDaA/w225-h400/20230615_191301.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, naturally, I had to read the next two instalments :). They were generally fun, but didn't feel nearly as fun as the first one, sadly. But I suppose that may well be because the first one had the novelty of being the first one :). Tautological, I know, but I hope you know what I mean...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwNsSrUn3CfWTksU9H6I4CJ-QACG6LGOatiETlUewLRHz9nCAK_oFhqtGQ9volYqoZEFIUY-YsgqxLICYmq7sjULmAgEmRCl5PTRpEaVnZXPvNuP7FD3OIkfEQ-clVP4qk3iRh5WlI_nMGJIG8GnfO7GkLVA7mlF2EWq3pZKjMw3gAXyVnfr43g/s4032/20230615_191945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwNsSrUn3CfWTksU9H6I4CJ-QACG6LGOatiETlUewLRHz9nCAK_oFhqtGQ9volYqoZEFIUY-YsgqxLICYmq7sjULmAgEmRCl5PTRpEaVnZXPvNuP7FD3OIkfEQ-clVP4qk3iRh5WlI_nMGJIG8GnfO7GkLVA7mlF2EWq3pZKjMw3gAXyVnfr43g/w400-h225/20230615_191945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then at some point in the last month, on one of the now regular trips to the library, I decided to pick up and read the first volume of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/178016-monstress" target="_blank">Monstress</a></i>. As with these things, I decided not to go all in at once. But I had been rather struck by the distinctive style of the art and the story-telling. Part gothic horror, part steampunk, very feminist, and I mean that in the most positive way, there was a wild beauty to the whole thing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprynMUW4GbBV7BPyNyGQ8NQ9_pCXEmDM1UJ_5q-NBTkU0OTuyd85TtsQUwxlo7Mr4qxLRF2YasIjrjXJQc1qZ786tlN0bOBt7_j6DXlr9zR7eELGk8T0QMDjMItvllv2YjvZOwROSEzsHA-85Xr750VpX-8aNPGq0239E_HC5BcQku_Ci8K-Zdw/s4032/20230615_192140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprynMUW4GbBV7BPyNyGQ8NQ9_pCXEmDM1UJ_5q-NBTkU0OTuyd85TtsQUwxlo7Mr4qxLRF2YasIjrjXJQc1qZ786tlN0bOBt7_j6DXlr9zR7eELGk8T0QMDjMItvllv2YjvZOwROSEzsHA-85Xr750VpX-8aNPGq0239E_HC5BcQku_Ci8K-Zdw/w400-h225/20230615_192140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So once I was done with the <i>Thursday Murder Club</i> and the latest book club book didn't seem forthcoming from Adlibris, (Yes, sadly had to resort to actually buying a book as not a single public/school/university library in the whole country seems to have a copy of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30653832-welcome-to-the-goddamn-ice-cube" target="_blank">Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube</a>.</i>) I decided to get the remaining four volumes of <i>Monstress</i> from the library.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxY2k38xADR9Gl1m29j_lnhFkE0L8MTPvoqhxojLsdBk-B968oyxjdxYM6L4Q3rRRclbNbU9Yk4Ft5qO-_7nLweiXzOzudzzhhr9v3dJGhHzo2w76xRvEPKu78H2HYBnA67SGOEGSEINp20a6rrlmSioztmtUicgDotQoJJ89eZ_hlMwjsHI3Fg/s4032/20230615_210036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxY2k38xADR9Gl1m29j_lnhFkE0L8MTPvoqhxojLsdBk-B968oyxjdxYM6L4Q3rRRclbNbU9Yk4Ft5qO-_7nLweiXzOzudzzhhr9v3dJGhHzo2w76xRvEPKu78H2HYBnA67SGOEGSEINp20a6rrlmSioztmtUicgDotQoJJ89eZ_hlMwjsHI3Fg/w400-h225/20230615_210036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I have to admit, between the fourth and fifth volumes I got a bit lost. Maybe it was the rushed reading during commutes, maybe my attention was not fully there. Either way, it was with something of a shock that I realized that there are in fact more than five volumes :|. How did I miss that?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuACLDtUOr7rJEzInT4zufURn9nxFWyQzuUmPfN0sHqZusZNMpHbFryW790LxZDd3WbrQak_ap8DmjtbCbktRsQIcQqdoFYia-6W-cpocZwAyuLeUPK62_WtvkXchpJfVvOB8LnhOtgZA9l4Uz1LIeQpesV45HkGyVBS2BfPFTj5lqlanu56CKw/s4032/20230615_232726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuACLDtUOr7rJEzInT4zufURn9nxFWyQzuUmPfN0sHqZusZNMpHbFryW790LxZDd3WbrQak_ap8DmjtbCbktRsQIcQqdoFYia-6W-cpocZwAyuLeUPK62_WtvkXchpJfVvOB8LnhOtgZA9l4Uz1LIeQpesV45HkGyVBS2BfPFTj5lqlanu56CKw/w400-h225/20230615_232726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So now I'm kinda stuck waiting for not only the next two volumes to arrive from other libraries, but for the (currently) latest volume to be published later this year, and then for one of the libraries to acquire it :|. There's also of course the latest volume of the <i>TMC</i> that's supposed to come out later this year, but I'm less impatient about that. Osman is much easier to read with gaps I feel :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUTLL-LNwX-0HWLO9AZ1xYMTAjCSaLaurw7xomCbJD46HDcsXLnyw0z39WJKJbTanXGIR9SMRPkAf1tMRzVHtBY8q4ZAZMEYc9_E2n8mKkhk8iQYPPTmfH3yrGTdtVJZvKW434jxzy8Nbje2RKXNPMA0zVCzhFzin2BJN_nCD0pRft8sUKmllhA/s4032/20230618_141446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUTLL-LNwX-0HWLO9AZ1xYMTAjCSaLaurw7xomCbJD46HDcsXLnyw0z39WJKJbTanXGIR9SMRPkAf1tMRzVHtBY8q4ZAZMEYc9_E2n8mKkhk8iQYPPTmfH3yrGTdtVJZvKW434jxzy8Nbje2RKXNPMA0zVCzhFzin2BJN_nCD0pRft8sUKmllhA/w400-h225/20230618_141446.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In the meantime it's onwards with <i>The Hobbit</i> and hoping for the <i>Ice Cube</i> to arrive so I can read it before the book club meeting next Tuesday. Yeah, doesn't seem very likely :P.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGP_xVuSsKp4a2aNH6rAse3C2iylc7vIkucCgmKtAeIXontfzdVQ8StjQ365Xo5fAPGWax6Q4_9rEUy1p2gyJim_i24SjHOHTd59cZZgUq7ooC5uWu4aNV4hTDJpoaf3Ccg2ljvv45E502Dk4kHo4FBXbaqnLUMNVqpqcYQAe16stRklNSz-R3g/s4032/20230619_210517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGP_xVuSsKp4a2aNH6rAse3C2iylc7vIkucCgmKtAeIXontfzdVQ8StjQ365Xo5fAPGWax6Q4_9rEUy1p2gyJim_i24SjHOHTd59cZZgUq7ooC5uWu4aNV4hTDJpoaf3Ccg2ljvv45E502Dk4kHo4FBXbaqnLUMNVqpqcYQAe16stRklNSz-R3g/w400-h225/20230619_210517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In the parallel universe outside of novels, graphic and otherwise, the annual summer hibernation is imminent. The world is getting quieter, people are beginning to disappear. Schools are shut, public transport cut and everywhere the signs of hatches being battened down for the great summer vanishing act.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCEbOil2FNJC_BmNkTOZ0KoHF1kUCy1qg3QBSONV28CoJQaPxMuGQVzobo81c7oJzXo6CiGcH14uONa4QU-p1otDqwIBEcU7IvB9V7Jz7ff4--OJ07gKiL4u64J56LmulgTAK3k6nc0VS2feFuGjXRbpXnDaThbMJpSU7f69SLiYh6Bf-wqe4AQ/s4032/20230623_202628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCEbOil2FNJC_BmNkTOZ0KoHF1kUCy1qg3QBSONV28CoJQaPxMuGQVzobo81c7oJzXo6CiGcH14uONa4QU-p1otDqwIBEcU7IvB9V7Jz7ff4--OJ07gKiL4u64J56LmulgTAK3k6nc0VS2feFuGjXRbpXnDaThbMJpSU7f69SLiYh6Bf-wqe4AQ/w400-h225/20230623_202628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">After ten years, I still find it genuinely bizarre :). I mean, I get it. The schools are off, the kids have to be entertained without access to any childcare and it's the best time to head off all together for a nice family holiday. But why leave? It's some of the best weeks of the year to be <i>in</i> Norway. Of course, not everyone leaves Norway altogether, many people just head off to their cabins and such, so there's that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQYZ3TURiNPRyull1jTXoTA1gqiQZHfL-pI9NT-IK4wS1dGDcL10ddgg5MM2aG9beiBc4saDyuGfuftvLfpGXOf377mK7MgCUHAcD2dwEh3XueOb6i7Shv-E905aSbDqmCw8CzBeazjpyYxER-xYt1rLiCTTceUmyf2gl1tnEYCvSQX-2v_nl4w/s4032/20230625_170328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQYZ3TURiNPRyull1jTXoTA1gqiQZHfL-pI9NT-IK4wS1dGDcL10ddgg5MM2aG9beiBc4saDyuGfuftvLfpGXOf377mK7MgCUHAcD2dwEh3XueOb6i7Shv-E905aSbDqmCw8CzBeazjpyYxER-xYt1rLiCTTceUmyf2gl1tnEYCvSQX-2v_nl4w/w225-h400/20230625_170328.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyhow, so then there was the annual work summer party before people disappear, and this year it was a beach barbecue. I'm not entirely sure why, but I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to cycle the thirty odd kilometres to work in the morning (for the first time since I started working in Oslo), to then cycle another twenty k to the beach after work, and finally the last fifteen back home afterwards, including a 140m climb up from sea level :|.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdFSVUT4UT4P_vzN-Fcqw84bM5z6ea5GaiQ5d2UD5_nO0ALrj60mgbgaydo_3CZ9v-eAkhVCP2dLL2mCXMhXIJCVQkhIvMiA7YWLuxF5SkQxM1VSIs-Sl8vF2omQ9NvIpLAJKkiy33uDG8YghcHvtKyAlp50H3YiL7zWHbhL-f9R3c-M4oUPuuw/s4032/20230628_064105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdFSVUT4UT4P_vzN-Fcqw84bM5z6ea5GaiQ5d2UD5_nO0ALrj60mgbgaydo_3CZ9v-eAkhVCP2dLL2mCXMhXIJCVQkhIvMiA7YWLuxF5SkQxM1VSIs-Sl8vF2omQ9NvIpLAJKkiy33uDG8YghcHvtKyAlp50H3YiL7zWHbhL-f9R3c-M4oUPuuw/w400-h225/20230628_064105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Turned out quite fun actually! Except maybe the final climb, that wasn't much fun. The cycle into work in the relatively early morning cool breeze was particularly awesome! It was kinda cool to see the sheer numbers of people cycling into Oslo to work. Even though I imagine this is significantly lower traffic than it would be outside of holiday period. I might even do that a few more times before the summer holidays are over and the throngs return :P.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMi97Yg8TFv-KthPflJTe18IDbfTIpPUY69w9ATbQPd0-we780oqstKw7BKzUUZVWN37WYg7kfhePpbd1Cgm6qoLFtFTkSffkIzjpp1lJc7axi7nW3eR0JdZpeCuRobXA3FVNXQ-gSOKdKC37Hy3q2lgIOddcX-ko3g1ysReifIuK0Z4e9oQ1AQ/s7360/20230609_201512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2800" data-original-width="7360" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMi97Yg8TFv-KthPflJTe18IDbfTIpPUY69w9ATbQPd0-we780oqstKw7BKzUUZVWN37WYg7kfhePpbd1Cgm6qoLFtFTkSffkIzjpp1lJc7axi7nW3eR0JdZpeCuRobXA3FVNXQ-gSOKdKC37Hy3q2lgIOddcX-ko3g1ysReifIuK0Z4e9oQ1AQ/w640-h244/20230609_201512.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I am quite looking forward to a somewhat quieter month at work. Well, at least I'm hoping for one.</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-53257655731871612512023-05-27T17:06:00.008+02:002023-05-30T11:12:19.607+02:00The North Sea cycling adventure!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kOzF6lZmH6HXCaly_KHLVVHtl_7D3T8xcSUOZc0zzrItJiLyQHIYAOJNr0_TfjfMiGC6ZqYFBxFp5zBhKNHcFrH3BpcD_Q3n0Az1n7r7HVr4Okwm_LqdHE0TM4hIxlY-98YwGDWFNa7-jc0mY1-yrHuoXc_A28EzPV-vNUhk5PVc82NBaAc/s4032/20230506_174218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kOzF6lZmH6HXCaly_KHLVVHtl_7D3T8xcSUOZc0zzrItJiLyQHIYAOJNr0_TfjfMiGC6ZqYFBxFp5zBhKNHcFrH3BpcD_Q3n0Az1n7r7HVr4Okwm_LqdHE0TM4hIxlY-98YwGDWFNa7-jc0mY1-yrHuoXc_A28EzPV-vNUhk5PVc82NBaAc/w400-h225/20230506_174218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">May has certainly been an eventful month :). For one thing, the snow finally decided to say goodbye. And we started cycling in earnest! I suppose there's more that has happened, but it's very hard to look past our amazing and frankly somewhat wild cycling trip along the North Sea cycle route!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXScXlaEB8hsB4vYLi9wyKMoFGreIWv6whTBjy5F7XERu-Qd9IYJf9Fw37P-LGGnH3ayoVud7isS9D3K475qUWm1rnAB8ngbOz3OJpI0jKjlFB6q57kJNenNnfZDA8iEtjBbn4UCZeAo1Nwb_tXwE9ahFEvns7kkf6tA9-LlKyuzmds18AvE/s4032/20230508_195802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXScXlaEB8hsB4vYLi9wyKMoFGreIWv6whTBjy5F7XERu-Qd9IYJf9Fw37P-LGGnH3ayoVud7isS9D3K475qUWm1rnAB8ngbOz3OJpI0jKjlFB6q57kJNenNnfZDA8iEtjBbn4UCZeAo1Nwb_tXwE9ahFEvns7kkf6tA9-LlKyuzmds18AvE/w400-h225/20230508_195802.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBI2ngQxwD1G-gRR6qlN4n_Xm-a09E_0PTjDl8_MhNE2qijc3bxuSKaR0W62hdTJpTxm_mRWhhCMle_bOml0b1p9EUAlShqe-6s7sfJqEm8WMwsZJ5c7uB9acEbHXkG6kQ7hWGMPxqKG-1yjT7QcBTmn8mqFiYgr9YkIek5-hTQmfWQTDWvfc/s4032/20230513_122103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBI2ngQxwD1G-gRR6qlN4n_Xm-a09E_0PTjDl8_MhNE2qijc3bxuSKaR0W62hdTJpTxm_mRWhhCMle_bOml0b1p9EUAlShqe-6s7sfJqEm8WMwsZJ5c7uB9acEbHXkG6kQ7hWGMPxqKG-1yjT7QcBTmn8mqFiYgr9YkIek5-hTQmfWQTDWvfc/w400-h225/20230513_122103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So, last month we'd planned and booked this trip, starting on the west coast of Norway at Stavanger, and making our way over the next four days to roughly the bottom of the south coast of Norway at Mandal. A distance of a mere 300 odd kilometres :D. Add in over four vertical kilometres of elevation to gain (and then lose again) and you get the picture.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM95XrHyAspPcy6eo7f9XjBbzyvTbbp6mbGqid6_zjiqm618GooGuNytwzvOAKjiMIO4scSkO6a23CNWh50IlXPAFb1inaU2hnortq6BBJTFxJADhlSjHeXOykThaPLaeXVR7W3v7UWPlXzl-oemy5GHKiGKfwqxENiZKno7c_GecFjR7aSA/s4032/20230514_130636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM95XrHyAspPcy6eo7f9XjBbzyvTbbp6mbGqid6_zjiqm618GooGuNytwzvOAKjiMIO4scSkO6a23CNWh50IlXPAFb1inaU2hnortq6BBJTFxJADhlSjHeXOykThaPLaeXVR7W3v7UWPlXzl-oemy5GHKiGKfwqxENiZKno7c_GecFjR7aSA/w400-h225/20230514_130636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtrqJq5KBXARrjo5wkN_Z5y4vUWygZC42RxSHDXYrefEPWp7cT7hkhM7Ksw6F0xcPCMmqO6zpI6fOLD7Uy-0Aq4RLKMVohA84-jWDJKg1gf22nx9Iz3LRLxQQtNagm7dJRxDOspq7IHz4fdq1VtP9sM0CCrr_0MJKIIB0vW48ZX6u0UA5zCI/s4032/20230517_084042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtrqJq5KBXARrjo5wkN_Z5y4vUWygZC42RxSHDXYrefEPWp7cT7hkhM7Ksw6F0xcPCMmqO6zpI6fOLD7Uy-0Aq4RLKMVohA84-jWDJKg1gf22nx9Iz3LRLxQQtNagm7dJRxDOspq7IHz4fdq1VtP9sM0CCrr_0MJKIIB0vW48ZX6u0UA5zCI/w400-h225/20230517_084042.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Given that up until the end of April we'd done almost no cycling since last summer, we decided to at least try and get our legs in some sort of shape :P. Which was quite a lot of fun, given the lovely weather (and good ice-cream :D). Yet, having only accumulated about 150 km over two weekends, I wasn't feeling overly confident ;).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q9AFyHeQrKynamrTT2yXG78iSx4_qS8KGQo-wWd0qIeAwj3YUOHK0u0uMa2nUqFAzm_viJwBsz4_tBNN2GLae3x3ByrIXdHcUPoSrjFrqxFZtYDNvkStoTV8KEFc6DrVWVads5kEuFLHqj2OONeZ6BYnSqxMHThsFkVeir8eja1Vh4_Eh80/s4032/20230517_084730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q9AFyHeQrKynamrTT2yXG78iSx4_qS8KGQo-wWd0qIeAwj3YUOHK0u0uMa2nUqFAzm_viJwBsz4_tBNN2GLae3x3ByrIXdHcUPoSrjFrqxFZtYDNvkStoTV8KEFc6DrVWVads5kEuFLHqj2OONeZ6BYnSqxMHThsFkVeir8eja1Vh4_Eh80/w400-h225/20230517_084730.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5MkMr3lv6599knrj5wr2ALhibxUwWjCLkGjpqecCofLzksCuQNixWgmwW2-I9u7esRae2bQ_i486PDpbdEO7rmLB_z166JmIydYiLseEg5vS9VapGsRmtMqNlT3m5zLRurOw-KRiidsYn7_uH5_cVIEs74ggmp98sJTGC9X4qXLionJnc6w/s4032/20230517_101551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5MkMr3lv6599knrj5wr2ALhibxUwWjCLkGjpqecCofLzksCuQNixWgmwW2-I9u7esRae2bQ_i486PDpbdEO7rmLB_z166JmIydYiLseEg5vS9VapGsRmtMqNlT3m5zLRurOw-KRiidsYn7_uH5_cVIEs74ggmp98sJTGC9X4qXLionJnc6w/w400-h225/20230517_101551.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It was thus with some mild trepidation that we packed our panniers with clothes, equipment and food and headed off to catch the overnight train to Stavanger! We arrived early the next morning to find a bit of rain and many signs of the city (just like the whole country really) preparing for the annual Norwegian National Day celebrations! We'd done our bit, bikes decorated with some appropriate ribbons and a flag :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C_BE2QX0ewD5gMSPV9DoawIg7tO3Ps24PJuQOZQ6CkqCCTg-lCnAghJTCRNoRH7sNggKmuOIkEv58kK1avOM_nk-bOqGNXiXgaq3yWl5_wN5C1KC7-o5EUFniR7zUhEG1NsLPNN9Q1OTMHVPjdAi-aWgtqYP3la_xSZuC-sc7Iz1w2L5szI/s4032/20230517_080805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7C_BE2QX0ewD5gMSPV9DoawIg7tO3Ps24PJuQOZQ6CkqCCTg-lCnAghJTCRNoRH7sNggKmuOIkEv58kK1avOM_nk-bOqGNXiXgaq3yWl5_wN5C1KC7-o5EUFniR7zUhEG1NsLPNN9Q1OTMHVPjdAi-aWgtqYP3la_xSZuC-sc7Iz1w2L5szI/w400-h225/20230517_080805.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvH87wjl1qI71zPzc1vjrdNqwoKzgb4fvZFGXMRiTwqLuZ0Cc9lpMyvGm2YLJORhgw75m6Co1Y3tyfGg4MnT5XsAJ6Hv2OYQ1O8ZRu8Tb0jzjm30YfKHZjAM-Q_abblR8kjlEmc4V67kvuH2EQ2JSBX46ZTqxrzho0N78UHV1p0RXEI0TIwU/s4032/20230517_093124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvH87wjl1qI71zPzc1vjrdNqwoKzgb4fvZFGXMRiTwqLuZ0Cc9lpMyvGm2YLJORhgw75m6Co1Y3tyfGg4MnT5XsAJ6Hv2OYQ1O8ZRu8Tb0jzjm30YfKHZjAM-Q_abblR8kjlEmc4V67kvuH2EQ2JSBX46ZTqxrzho0N78UHV1p0RXEI0TIwU/w400-h225/20230517_093124.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As we headed off from Stavanger central station to find the famed Cycle Route 1 (aka the North Sea cycle route), the rain was light and brief and soon the sun was making an appearance through rapidly scudding clouds, blown along by a relentless sea breeze. Fortunately for us, while the wind was strong, it was almost entirely a tailwind!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEhhTS4Rq0_KFvcUzjgtqG65Y2iOupGPeKM2UF-783ZOUx1vU85NOYTpGvEsd_4CbDafB7K9QtAJPHM2kVL4hh_sN4FDkROzZYeKk6LStCEvq8RQDv7wQ87vr1fHsit_e24_VMpXWqdYm72H5zpmYm-mjodman2HY8CQGksTh9bd5wBk1MCM/s4032/20230517_100647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEhhTS4Rq0_KFvcUzjgtqG65Y2iOupGPeKM2UF-783ZOUx1vU85NOYTpGvEsd_4CbDafB7K9QtAJPHM2kVL4hh_sN4FDkROzZYeKk6LStCEvq8RQDv7wQ87vr1fHsit_e24_VMpXWqdYm72H5zpmYm-mjodman2HY8CQGksTh9bd5wBk1MCM/w400-h225/20230517_100647.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RRbCgHd1Wi-oOEYvqyKL6hekHAzOJiQSk8ErzyYP-_UF2qRh000ZdfBtnqqu6457QvPk0WD7Au8ofnsu6ZZpYkrCUu_bAxxhkOYnuUbV9ZnQGE5A7TODKRuoXFKPhLIOCXScJkYOiHwjcwsAbU_GUZDggAZAnGO33GkV5jQ-7nG7JStj5cU/s4032/20230517_101900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RRbCgHd1Wi-oOEYvqyKL6hekHAzOJiQSk8ErzyYP-_UF2qRh000ZdfBtnqqu6457QvPk0WD7Au8ofnsu6ZZpYkrCUu_bAxxhkOYnuUbV9ZnQGE5A7TODKRuoXFKPhLIOCXScJkYOiHwjcwsAbU_GUZDggAZAnGO33GkV5jQ-7nG7JStj5cU/w400-h225/20230517_101900.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCShNqTGFQA9Z0DmpHfo_R3g_Pu-1IzewPqmVWq8k4UcMTNficMX2ZQgi1Zu6UWNq4V9x2hp-nUeyx67CvRgx2jno5BEeRJfTzpcBFAqsM1ceF-JILoqZRFJL_ZRbqvHS7j8YhnmEglw6hHLZ3Ie6KKC8B6-VyRTFbHUljFBb2Afncw1JAcUM/s4032/20230517_133433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCShNqTGFQA9Z0DmpHfo_R3g_Pu-1IzewPqmVWq8k4UcMTNficMX2ZQgi1Zu6UWNq4V9x2hp-nUeyx67CvRgx2jno5BEeRJfTzpcBFAqsM1ceF-JILoqZRFJL_ZRbqvHS7j8YhnmEglw6hHLZ3Ie6KKC8B6-VyRTFbHUljFBb2Afncw1JAcUM/w400-h225/20230517_133433.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We stopped a few times to enjoy the celebrations at various places on the way, including a long and boisterous tractor parade! We also enjoyed looking at the various pristine fine sandy beaches with foamy surf. The water looked ridiculously cold even had we the time or inclination to actually go for a swim :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj2SFfH7xAxyD-9fw-m12t4mtjKmdcEfWZL5CKQrsAANuZfPUZTY1AGtG5GmvWNEbtelQSWxAiz0bNFer0EiVFD7Pk59tyZxFEHcSzIS8-hWm4mgdOGwVIk88vH588J_KSX5Fd63ocL6qz6V5f6qMX_8Mkq2FRfupXN3GL_VHXlbropwxxt0/s4032/20230517_134525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj2SFfH7xAxyD-9fw-m12t4mtjKmdcEfWZL5CKQrsAANuZfPUZTY1AGtG5GmvWNEbtelQSWxAiz0bNFer0EiVFD7Pk59tyZxFEHcSzIS8-hWm4mgdOGwVIk88vH588J_KSX5Fd63ocL6qz6V5f6qMX_8Mkq2FRfupXN3GL_VHXlbropwxxt0/w400-h225/20230517_134525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjCMiYeBjQztrAd2zBkCLMq50jvT44IMdZy_0g7bYBdgo0ngpsqLTDxmR_E2PzHpQxaGeIiTyYbd9eFZHaKdvhEi3MFgkFv8MvelHXKh8bIpLZdgXrJipq8qg2bEDKskcNzsWiqN0j5Grq-UE67ZvsnPYxbC2ulbwLSqtayq0cpJBFDAYAj8/s4032/20230517_142239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjCMiYeBjQztrAd2zBkCLMq50jvT44IMdZy_0g7bYBdgo0ngpsqLTDxmR_E2PzHpQxaGeIiTyYbd9eFZHaKdvhEi3MFgkFv8MvelHXKh8bIpLZdgXrJipq8qg2bEDKskcNzsWiqN0j5Grq-UE67ZvsnPYxbC2ulbwLSqtayq0cpJBFDAYAj8/w400-h225/20230517_142239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhUoVQ4YFNl01k-8mF1x6NQvwjHSYkwRlmd2_s1C55iQikhiulcIfwaFm_fAOIrP6zDEAY-W0LadXR7Y4qrUwcqZ4NPvevLSHySuoCjuK0XnbaR776Ijtf40xL-hZcHSVi3IoBlHgLQ7sKzoSR1P-8tfIc_wcN5IsN3KxESPTGiKFqqzc32Y/s4032/20230517_154655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhUoVQ4YFNl01k-8mF1x6NQvwjHSYkwRlmd2_s1C55iQikhiulcIfwaFm_fAOIrP6zDEAY-W0LadXR7Y4qrUwcqZ4NPvevLSHySuoCjuK0XnbaR776Ijtf40xL-hZcHSVi3IoBlHgLQ7sKzoSR1P-8tfIc_wcN5IsN3KxESPTGiKFqqzc32Y/w400-h225/20230517_154655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Stopping often to take in the view (or find our way) we finally found ourselves on the home stretch to Egersund along the old gravel track snaking its way along the old Jæren train track. The trouble with tracks though, as we experienced repeatedly over the next few days, is that the angle of incline tends to vary rather dramatically.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx78RYST_5RVKMZQDfW64wBfHzhkEu-ho05XSr6ULLCbtavC_BLdZZd7Lh_Nl4xo51J8fg8MBTmVfPnGQUsEvfI_e-TpLJdpvruz01_CQU6D-bCyf9CTIxjcrkmKukFRwCke2uRj_6lyyS0tKp7nrOjLKYKTjUbH1LFPIaB3lShXw14oAD5E/s4032/20230517_164706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVx78RYST_5RVKMZQDfW64wBfHzhkEu-ho05XSr6ULLCbtavC_BLdZZd7Lh_Nl4xo51J8fg8MBTmVfPnGQUsEvfI_e-TpLJdpvruz01_CQU6D-bCyf9CTIxjcrkmKukFRwCke2uRj_6lyyS0tKp7nrOjLKYKTjUbH1LFPIaB3lShXw14oAD5E/w225-h400/20230517_164706.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTQTy49jBrnyne1TzfKr4jKkTv0RUWILvXRaFELlDOmu903Mcwt3B9UWBU1P7LX7JvZPIw6RlO88VU1UoSFxk5YeFirBZTiRR7C13_yohEiAhzNqr5XHXKCoMn78-RbDee9crCDBXKwi8dRTbab0nQcbZCXsj6KthUYrtK1nWUeRMFLGjh38/s4032/20230517_192957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTQTy49jBrnyne1TzfKr4jKkTv0RUWILvXRaFELlDOmu903Mcwt3B9UWBU1P7LX7JvZPIw6RlO88VU1UoSFxk5YeFirBZTiRR7C13_yohEiAhzNqr5XHXKCoMn78-RbDee9crCDBXKwi8dRTbab0nQcbZCXsj6KthUYrtK1nWUeRMFLGjh38/w225-h400/20230517_192957.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Still, overall the first day with 100 km was tackled with relative ease I would say :). We even made it to our hotel well in time to enjoy the local parade from our windows :). In the middle of the older part of what looked like a pretty vibrant town, our room in the Grand Hotel was quite a fun spot to observe the festivities from! We even explored the immediate vicinity in a short walk and found dinner conveniently at a waterfront restaurant but shielded from the wind :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYExoCB0c3TCdNARmsMUgQrub4Wob4bv5CGWA2pP8k_FZPf_ZB2kppwKDweDLLN6emKF5gRQ7I_qryTKXncZEtiWYAnwrGCD-IWAlH6P8Uyictjz-gepWqS66hJBtvWP8WFEbahsjUVSirXpsXx-Whlydw-gv4G34EnFcrdOcNi7ix2hlOVdo/s4032/20230518_100743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYExoCB0c3TCdNARmsMUgQrub4Wob4bv5CGWA2pP8k_FZPf_ZB2kppwKDweDLLN6emKF5gRQ7I_qryTKXncZEtiWYAnwrGCD-IWAlH6P8Uyictjz-gepWqS66hJBtvWP8WFEbahsjUVSirXpsXx-Whlydw-gv4G34EnFcrdOcNi7ix2hlOVdo/w400-h225/20230518_100743.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdly2tuXNTIpoqHmNhO1wDOnel9qB_TWEsaxQUdNWOOQ1GFSfHsHDri1rlcIkat4ih3C8LOHpdObivIf6rrflTBkziuHCWf_idiEWkIVw1rT4T8yQ0XKj-hwijsd5ZtOSKOadYpMFKU5qIRC42Ukgku3hcxgucnjqAfXx8lvI8dM8nd5RvbPs/s4032/20230518_105832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdly2tuXNTIpoqHmNhO1wDOnel9qB_TWEsaxQUdNWOOQ1GFSfHsHDri1rlcIkat4ih3C8LOHpdObivIf6rrflTBkziuHCWf_idiEWkIVw1rT4T8yQ0XKj-hwijsd5ZtOSKOadYpMFKU5qIRC42Ukgku3hcxgucnjqAfXx8lvI8dM8nd5RvbPs/w400-h225/20230518_105832.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The next morning, after a good breakfast we embarked upon what would prove to be a shorter, but far more taxing day of cycling. That Norway is hilly is apparent to anyone who arrives pretty much anywhere in the country. That a trip along the coast requires one to negotiate inlets, fjords, rivers and promontories of rock is probably a natural extension :). Still, doesn't make it any easier!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopXVIp_Gpzv_lh5J6ZJ3bM2vrPJHu81400rk9-a-qdEPktmzTSTBybQkoWH7fre3Dtv2X-fJ8NBvsgruw0PJIvHodfSnn1yAgkvl3Ssn8MbU4KhXsP2iA8x0JtsFnetW8WeTRXNXNZfeTyBOzZQlOZceP0XR9TD1HYYafPMqp8zAGL0pA2cg/s4032/20230518_113701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopXVIp_Gpzv_lh5J6ZJ3bM2vrPJHu81400rk9-a-qdEPktmzTSTBybQkoWH7fre3Dtv2X-fJ8NBvsgruw0PJIvHodfSnn1yAgkvl3Ssn8MbU4KhXsP2iA8x0JtsFnetW8WeTRXNXNZfeTyBOzZQlOZceP0XR9TD1HYYafPMqp8zAGL0pA2cg/w400-h225/20230518_113701.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqb4I304MoVBKRh3GCaqYTpLAPs-4n7aP62CLismqbPs1XNNh1Y-1KvfxG7OjTwjS2MLs6fjN4N2pAeAiNopPER-iJfrAAeXN8-8Ag9-FemSWHx5sCT0vSMjBwb8yQzA5ShMnviJfgRVzI4_m9cLEup7s3HIWjFYDL8in5-hodSSHVxCaIU0/s4032/20230518_133011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqb4I304MoVBKRh3GCaqYTpLAPs-4n7aP62CLismqbPs1XNNh1Y-1KvfxG7OjTwjS2MLs6fjN4N2pAeAiNopPER-iJfrAAeXN8-8Ag9-FemSWHx5sCT0vSMjBwb8yQzA5ShMnviJfgRVzI4_m9cLEup7s3HIWjFYDL8in5-hodSSHVxCaIU0/w400-h225/20230518_133011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Once we got going though, the stunning landscape did make it easier to take the mind off of the hard work somewhat :). The coastal landscape changed dramatically from the previous day's sandy beaches to the more prevalent rocks and boulders with little hamlets and villages scattered about.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOB3sLz6Us8xr7uK4fE1XZ7KDjrbla0-XH22pFa2N3_acSpnH_2k50HLqpSfbrLGdpxt_OnVgHFClg5YED9gztnnW6sjEmOSa32N2F5ciY8wJH1W-bo4X1tFnbexS7bU4_DOuJPFcW6UEdva1jLLMwwaWSOEMh7p5yRW8WQjhjrBXMudUqSA/s4032/20230518_140016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOB3sLz6Us8xr7uK4fE1XZ7KDjrbla0-XH22pFa2N3_acSpnH_2k50HLqpSfbrLGdpxt_OnVgHFClg5YED9gztnnW6sjEmOSa32N2F5ciY8wJH1W-bo4X1tFnbexS7bU4_DOuJPFcW6UEdva1jLLMwwaWSOEMh7p5yRW8WQjhjrBXMudUqSA/w400-h225/20230518_140016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHujsyvKmBkbQDzSD4CpSxl7KRF2pezjky35H5LqllXewYBRWEyFJ2JnHlJdMwpE9vulrAhEjHGU_swn9Cy_DeWTpqjdVzHr_xh6npfn35YfTur9wrvj0PW6LpaXY8UGVxcXCQy2zR2KxyKL441W-12YRKztks1eiVfsvOO7UDP0PKVWmD1w/s7840/20230518_141723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="7840" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHujsyvKmBkbQDzSD4CpSxl7KRF2pezjky35H5LqllXewYBRWEyFJ2JnHlJdMwpE9vulrAhEjHGU_swn9Cy_DeWTpqjdVzHr_xh6npfn35YfTur9wrvj0PW6LpaXY8UGVxcXCQy2zR2KxyKL441W-12YRKztks1eiVfsvOO7UDP0PKVWmD1w/w640-h234/20230518_141723.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the absolute highlights of the day was the cycle tunnel above Jøssingfjord! Sitting alongside the larger newer tunnel for motorised vehicles, this older road was complete with cavernous openings providing views down into the valley below. The sense of awe for me is somewhat indescribable I have to say. The combination of the unexpectedness of the stone tables and chairs set out in this steeply angled old tunnel with the panoramic views from the vast openings in the side was quite mesmerising!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEiN6FBxi5s3tVLWFUYFwqnVQov9U3AN6qni9_kfHJQ9K9IeItNOEVihRmdaMu9BFWOoy1lMKjs3Lt3fXqyMDenLDBDlNNHY8bxeMtgTjMP7QX7I4ucAYOxc3QpSAFpe5GIaUkn3czgS25pNniixVJh3bDsGDfbXYThnfo64tG0L4ZR0RlbM/s11440/20230518_142948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="11440" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEiN6FBxi5s3tVLWFUYFwqnVQov9U3AN6qni9_kfHJQ9K9IeItNOEVihRmdaMu9BFWOoy1lMKjs3Lt3fXqyMDenLDBDlNNHY8bxeMtgTjMP7QX7I4ucAYOxc3QpSAFpe5GIaUkn3czgS25pNniixVJh3bDsGDfbXYThnfo64tG0L4ZR0RlbM/w640-h158/20230518_142948.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5vG0pZHTr9flBDa8G63QJEDOQVBPhkHV6J5oUk-5kyA0MnBV3xkBn9_CJxiNOFbBxJZvCyqjZSiMl2ywdbxpQU6MkrTYOYA3VfTnLiFHYIxypNxnWUvC7EhXURNcZbfD1cDTkysQHHmDNouroHkbBi3myAmj9vKqUgFEnI9JW2rt-tN_dzk/s4032/20230518_144624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5vG0pZHTr9flBDa8G63QJEDOQVBPhkHV6J5oUk-5kyA0MnBV3xkBn9_CJxiNOFbBxJZvCyqjZSiMl2ywdbxpQU6MkrTYOYA3VfTnLiFHYIxypNxnWUvC7EhXURNcZbfD1cDTkysQHHmDNouroHkbBi3myAmj9vKqUgFEnI9JW2rt-tN_dzk/w400-h225/20230518_144624.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We also met a young Frenchman on his bicycle (complete with his personal tent). He'd spent the previous few weeks cycling along the coast all the way from Oslo and was planning on spending the next few <i>months</i> cycling up the coast of Norway, hoping to eventually make it to Nordkapp! I cannot even imagine the mental fortitude needed to achieve that feat all by oneself!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fbMcuXrmc6ERAdnG_Su-GUaH21huBGZQv9TNaqc0kiDLD--B31NT_d-rz5kJKzT9Xw1j-Hdj3KjQFMSpI-5qUmaynURD9lsiAg_ba_cUbcSU2lgtbG4OJlb_vYgI-DPdL9N-0YoqnyojDHi-QSfBpmzcxdNTWSB2AWc4mQT5R2EEPiZ2OOI/s4032/20230518_160046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fbMcuXrmc6ERAdnG_Su-GUaH21huBGZQv9TNaqc0kiDLD--B31NT_d-rz5kJKzT9Xw1j-Hdj3KjQFMSpI-5qUmaynURD9lsiAg_ba_cUbcSU2lgtbG4OJlb_vYgI-DPdL9N-0YoqnyojDHi-QSfBpmzcxdNTWSB2AWc4mQT5R2EEPiZ2OOI/w400-h225/20230518_160046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ9R0zCSsBJ6JfpGPuw_ZGt0lRha8mkDRN2YCfkPp4jWISBIrIFVcAH2w2RLaw9wM7eOUCbbdDYMtXTGktLBuk5s73Xx1bMzNAXRjmbaHydLuvjzLtSFuo4ys3fkhqYbRq6Rll0G194jLLTNO4nx4rKxgXZM5iFHBcKiFskaFOJ7pGezEU3A/s4032/20230518_171729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ9R0zCSsBJ6JfpGPuw_ZGt0lRha8mkDRN2YCfkPp4jWISBIrIFVcAH2w2RLaw9wM7eOUCbbdDYMtXTGktLBuk5s73Xx1bMzNAXRjmbaHydLuvjzLtSFuo4ys3fkhqYbRq6Rll0G194jLLTNO4nx4rKxgXZM5iFHBcKiFskaFOJ7pGezEU3A/w400-h225/20230518_171729.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">After many miles of hills and fjords, when we did make it to the outskirts of Flekkefjord, our stop for the night, it was a huge relief :). The day had been largely overcast, which probably was for the best, helping us make good time without overheating :). A hot shower, a lovely dinner at the hotel and sleep was very much appreciated!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONMbR4cyyM_Zk00PArgzznAGaDd8r1xotR6QHsbarum5DElKUcWpgLnvQRyBg1_U9YttWEsNheLZWd-Udjd-Qh4OTdKWiMG7_4ez_44ZfCw_ZwU2aiQRniwonsYgZn_HsZ2ed3ibgvpPLN3z6GTpwahoZrJs9PILBwbSQHpDWjJYPXK5Q1T0/s4032/20230518_203923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONMbR4cyyM_Zk00PArgzznAGaDd8r1xotR6QHsbarum5DElKUcWpgLnvQRyBg1_U9YttWEsNheLZWd-Udjd-Qh4OTdKWiMG7_4ez_44ZfCw_ZwU2aiQRniwonsYgZn_HsZ2ed3ibgvpPLN3z6GTpwahoZrJs9PILBwbSQHpDWjJYPXK5Q1T0/w400-h225/20230518_203923.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEnf2BQQHCKwbXnIcVg19gS33cPztCpeI92u-vmb9Hjnth7s3JmltpMZfp91mXRgxyWrR-JW6Nr4-uChX3ipX2D3Y1lnMsDSOMr4Vawy1ZX7AwoTut1jsxQTrEdVrsdg1C276tOANZ4tVwnUcyqC5hjQnMU0gB-kr5aIYlD2ojv0tigBIgQE/s4032/20230519_101758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEnf2BQQHCKwbXnIcVg19gS33cPztCpeI92u-vmb9Hjnth7s3JmltpMZfp91mXRgxyWrR-JW6Nr4-uChX3ipX2D3Y1lnMsDSOMr4Vawy1ZX7AwoTut1jsxQTrEdVrsdg1C276tOANZ4tVwnUcyqC5hjQnMU0gB-kr5aIYlD2ojv0tigBIgQE/w400-h225/20230519_101758.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei5V6jBjEf4i5_viT-zGglWv4lRyqrFnBnLzNWpOXvwADSmI1CiT4JX1L6hbSIHJ5O8sm6m_sD8TCGMSWfi-vJPYYTjETAp_0YnP6GJdUTtSSnBrBY14PqN1GuUaBH9TVy8XTCb7Yx23dj46u7XBsb9rN5-zzY2p-3laZHqeoGjStrRFhszk/s4032/20230519_112008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei5V6jBjEf4i5_viT-zGglWv4lRyqrFnBnLzNWpOXvwADSmI1CiT4JX1L6hbSIHJ5O8sm6m_sD8TCGMSWfi-vJPYYTjETAp_0YnP6GJdUTtSSnBrBY14PqN1GuUaBH9TVy8XTCb7Yx23dj46u7XBsb9rN5-zzY2p-3laZHqeoGjStrRFhszk/w400-h225/20230519_112008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Leaving Flekkefjord the next morning was a bit of a struggle. A couple of long days of cycling in the legs does make things feel heavier. This was not aided by another stretch of uneven tracks with a fickle attitude towards gaining and losing elevation with little warning :|. Once we cleared that stretch though, the going got much easier :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8zLJPBXI2Z4TWMZ1t0dw48JA4QzihwOXpjcuSXbXb_aCxx0TIFxRCcC0Wm47v7TQVO76q1UdL5g1loRt7ezuDAUpfIbnCVrNlBtNiQbEctRt0oy7pvthOPmL3HqQYFqcUWkvIZc2QU6NyAdnkKHhCCvZjJ4FkqDjKFDHlg1V8rkLmxKQWxU/s4032/20230519_115237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8zLJPBXI2Z4TWMZ1t0dw48JA4QzihwOXpjcuSXbXb_aCxx0TIFxRCcC0Wm47v7TQVO76q1UdL5g1loRt7ezuDAUpfIbnCVrNlBtNiQbEctRt0oy7pvthOPmL3HqQYFqcUWkvIZc2QU6NyAdnkKHhCCvZjJ4FkqDjKFDHlg1V8rkLmxKQWxU/w400-h225/20230519_115237.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFRJIY4GMHGpDgrZ6M6cgTu80x1G-hwaolxGO-5SMAZnnj1d8lT8Hoon0W2iLy3zE0hPW7I5SusOSh5Vjqyx8O0uY9MWATE0CZEUMZxP5_uY9lUYxHzAaRGk9jcV-9WHB3rJoctE_uPQxcqTWwommY0NonfaoRxahORH1dE-6gF0EWxtRS9M/s4032/20230519_123759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFRJIY4GMHGpDgrZ6M6cgTu80x1G-hwaolxGO-5SMAZnnj1d8lT8Hoon0W2iLy3zE0hPW7I5SusOSh5Vjqyx8O0uY9MWATE0CZEUMZxP5_uY9lUYxHzAaRGk9jcV-9WHB3rJoctE_uPQxcqTWwommY0NonfaoRxahORH1dE-6gF0EWxtRS9M/w225-h400/20230519_123759.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKf3cKtMCBACoZdyiwcfAGzalPNLhW79iqwHOuAqoc5IlKN8N3wGFedi56G1y6kFlKYT467oKdy_QToQZvHf6kT6jrI6ShE5pBKfc5ICTGdrVgvLY4HoUusITH9sxOnI9ig2wpzO8upNYnqS-KvFQCIyCD-fS91OEyHSHIyEoIn63U_Gzvi8M/s4032/20230519_140039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKf3cKtMCBACoZdyiwcfAGzalPNLhW79iqwHOuAqoc5IlKN8N3wGFedi56G1y6kFlKYT467oKdy_QToQZvHf6kT6jrI6ShE5pBKfc5ICTGdrVgvLY4HoUusITH9sxOnI9ig2wpzO8upNYnqS-KvFQCIyCD-fS91OEyHSHIyEoIn63U_Gzvi8M/w225-h400/20230519_140039.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This was a day of avoiding the tunnels the main road was going through. Going up and over and taking wide detours into the surrounding countryside was the name of the game. Given a significantly brighter day and nice tarmac roads though, we were hitting a good stride.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpKnmzphRHU5CSY5VaTuaLrawDWYxuXPDj2B1NatV9BI2kNQgdxZxtZrYc0WqGFaFjHse7H-hjTN5TtarORPFX6WsGACg9GdQCjQ1qBpfAWemefnVvyb01L9gT0temzs39R1yLY8qdvNCMrGvkosqipKuWMb6oEBJUzbLI-t9JmsXhy1v-pg/s4032/20230519_132050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpKnmzphRHU5CSY5VaTuaLrawDWYxuXPDj2B1NatV9BI2kNQgdxZxtZrYc0WqGFaFjHse7H-hjTN5TtarORPFX6WsGACg9GdQCjQ1qBpfAWemefnVvyb01L9gT0temzs39R1yLY8qdvNCMrGvkosqipKuWMb6oEBJUzbLI-t9JmsXhy1v-pg/w225-h400/20230519_132050.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgC-OoVjo6ZxgAZQIeEWUZNk-uO9Y6vSZgw4icTYiytHFOUwJf5MUWeHWt2ctA8OX0-2dlzw-rW5Mv3eI1nJK0iehAn3_buG-fKkVtqglA4g8EyygA8NJH6bA9SL_nT3a3jbUuBlG7MhukSDiOlH9XnNbhVe2GAAkqDyEo0vS-a2M3o_eMKw/s4032/20230519_132952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgC-OoVjo6ZxgAZQIeEWUZNk-uO9Y6vSZgw4icTYiytHFOUwJf5MUWeHWt2ctA8OX0-2dlzw-rW5Mv3eI1nJK0iehAn3_buG-fKkVtqglA4g8EyygA8NJH6bA9SL_nT3a3jbUuBlG7MhukSDiOlH9XnNbhVe2GAAkqDyEo0vS-a2M3o_eMKw/w400-h225/20230519_132952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UzlM0K2Dzccfw7pNZPHrOVj13Ov8CavZeeFiMOp3ghv4BRchPyw8ZzbdtUwkv9xwLbpespDTiQdjy6-5P4QvpqLbOU3YCuNxB3ql-ehb7yo341J_C8OD1OKqKNIihxISNpdkBrCZNstpLh1FCmc-j5dKbhnPEgCoGTSMt-TPkmJ8k-AgzcA/s4032/20230519_154655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UzlM0K2Dzccfw7pNZPHrOVj13Ov8CavZeeFiMOp3ghv4BRchPyw8ZzbdtUwkv9xwLbpespDTiQdjy6-5P4QvpqLbOU3YCuNxB3ql-ehb7yo341J_C8OD1OKqKNIihxISNpdkBrCZNstpLh1FCmc-j5dKbhnPEgCoGTSMt-TPkmJ8k-AgzcA/w400-h225/20230519_154655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">A nice lunch stop at Kvinesdal was a highlight, as were the views from either side of the valley as we came down one side and left up the other :). Given that the elevation gains required were less than the previous day's, we repeatedly found ourselves hurtling down the other side before fully realizing we had crested a given climb!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaZ5PanKse_o-i0pXQtW_81drlQXGwuJbZUjiQK1nCPqeMqybSacVMJadDhXb_P-uDE-5-lbt-brHNdc2DkN7_8xQc6nCi1YRA6GMDQo5JvjWvH_1reVluHvIX3Zl_Uj6ALjAgcbwcxRRqRy1RqK1z45jPwI6RPx0hzrVKy7r18qrZMpx7-Q/s4032/20230519_160658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaZ5PanKse_o-i0pXQtW_81drlQXGwuJbZUjiQK1nCPqeMqybSacVMJadDhXb_P-uDE-5-lbt-brHNdc2DkN7_8xQc6nCi1YRA6GMDQo5JvjWvH_1reVluHvIX3Zl_Uj6ALjAgcbwcxRRqRy1RqK1z45jPwI6RPx0hzrVKy7r18qrZMpx7-Q/w400-h225/20230519_160658.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rQEnnh8Uv0iBOHZ4PIP-cUlVrZHbpfHPzAAFOKeRSIYF_tUMWrYZUEO65E5t8jhlh_7I4oTbZMtY1GlT6926vTX8vZgLxVD8BY-J-aor26rIf6RebHx-9eDVl6mErXhT51uAWliR4zkBjuTcIg6v5HRG_61D-eCtMRcbrrLctpEyTU19_v4/s4032/20230519_163338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rQEnnh8Uv0iBOHZ4PIP-cUlVrZHbpfHPzAAFOKeRSIYF_tUMWrYZUEO65E5t8jhlh_7I4oTbZMtY1GlT6926vTX8vZgLxVD8BY-J-aor26rIf6RebHx-9eDVl6mErXhT51uAWliR4zkBjuTcIg6v5HRG_61D-eCtMRcbrrLctpEyTU19_v4/w400-h225/20230519_163338.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58mZh-Aq2lR1L-YJbD3Ej6QmMY4ja6zdJ1SiQI4yYI3PgidfdF0kG_fhVriCRopdge9wWNwh43PsYf2KxbD9tCtRx0Tlc2rAtb1SgzEG0jNT2R1_KTWspbBThE7_V5ALr9BL4SjV2attpDXeKDGh0_5y0odqN6E5FA4m3nfJVrZkxvf2w74A/s4032/20230519_185316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58mZh-Aq2lR1L-YJbD3Ej6QmMY4ja6zdJ1SiQI4yYI3PgidfdF0kG_fhVriCRopdge9wWNwh43PsYf2KxbD9tCtRx0Tlc2rAtb1SgzEG0jNT2R1_KTWspbBThE7_V5ALr9BL4SjV2attpDXeKDGh0_5y0odqN6E5FA4m3nfJVrZkxvf2w74A/w225-h400/20230519_185316.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The last stretch into Farsund was particularly picturesque and enjoyable as we stopped often to enjoy the view as we climbed down the spectacular Bøensbakkene overlooking Framvaren. Cycling along the fjords into the town resplendent in bright sunshine eased a lot of the tiredness from the legs! And once we'd checked into the old shipping company offices converted into a lovely a spacious hotel, we even managed a good look around the vicinity on foot!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkHbQN0LsJcGxZHx9jGVoHeYx4qH16xgZdtTY-3PCVlpnCpY1xi2TRKtf0ibVcFtLk-gg4K65FYDcqfj7sN3FmlXX1N12P7y38jXnNXMIlaZa9Ugvf4BKPN3zpNXjdRnsbwFzOJi8ad3Zmm3-3AreFu4cJrELc1_WSC7jcMWIeV3pP5CRwjM/s4032/20230519_190524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkHbQN0LsJcGxZHx9jGVoHeYx4qH16xgZdtTY-3PCVlpnCpY1xi2TRKtf0ibVcFtLk-gg4K65FYDcqfj7sN3FmlXX1N12P7y38jXnNXMIlaZa9Ugvf4BKPN3zpNXjdRnsbwFzOJi8ad3Zmm3-3AreFu4cJrELc1_WSC7jcMWIeV3pP5CRwjM/w400-h225/20230519_190524.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15oTSmP60B_D8VH91TBSoc64GeLV9q3Z8DgHFdI__h9pjfttWL6A9hzWoBxS2Ohz1oY3oRx-ZTcNC_HR2igcA65iw1rEkuNscUdBPoZ90F80ygRItz9pQyoWZL-yIAhyfvZ6KfQjay74wLKoB8mlbnnEeJlfQaVx3SXvV3pqP_IW15ecrBCQ/s4032/20230519_194719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15oTSmP60B_D8VH91TBSoc64GeLV9q3Z8DgHFdI__h9pjfttWL6A9hzWoBxS2Ohz1oY3oRx-ZTcNC_HR2igcA65iw1rEkuNscUdBPoZ90F80ygRItz9pQyoWZL-yIAhyfvZ6KfQjay74wLKoB8mlbnnEeJlfQaVx3SXvV3pqP_IW15ecrBCQ/w400-h225/20230519_194719.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8xCLN1B8IkHb2trUOt2Iv3hkPGFvswd7e0sD30b9IXqw2TPHWT6bzPMkOa15p8EmlZZXO6ZQUHrluHkPSY8nGHlwwaf0ME41xNdY-IICoWSc7DtfTwpR9OrzHSck5f4c6mCAGftuNREyz3klZd5unLbIfPfGyVN0kWKty57T3TpuhSKZ-48/s4032/20230520_081000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8xCLN1B8IkHb2trUOt2Iv3hkPGFvswd7e0sD30b9IXqw2TPHWT6bzPMkOa15p8EmlZZXO6ZQUHrluHkPSY8nGHlwwaf0ME41xNdY-IICoWSc7DtfTwpR9OrzHSck5f4c6mCAGftuNREyz3klZd5unLbIfPfGyVN0kWKty57T3TpuhSKZ-48/w400-h225/20230520_081000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">By this point we were well past the midway point of the trip with nearly 250 km clocked. Only the shortest of the full days of cycling remaining to get us to Mandal. And the day was probably the brightest and nicest we had all trip! The first leg of the trip flew by and we'd even negotiated the longest climb of the day by the time we decided to take a short detour into Gitlevåg for a picnic lunch by the water.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJrTARnXA4JKAVFmxXyzBYHH7ryp6bl3QmHzPh6-_P80il_m2qpOqCqkYwp043F_Yqw0zu9CbDVv64MabFZJQGQIHG4gxYPbuXyze204II_TVKdohoQ5RKIdkZxUle1xBj3yIMyAPiQM7q2ZTfeJfZ1u3Lh0I_T9sPbj_sjUx7FT_RLfdvZI/s4032/20230520_093415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJrTARnXA4JKAVFmxXyzBYHH7ryp6bl3QmHzPh6-_P80il_m2qpOqCqkYwp043F_Yqw0zu9CbDVv64MabFZJQGQIHG4gxYPbuXyze204II_TVKdohoQ5RKIdkZxUle1xBj3yIMyAPiQM7q2ZTfeJfZ1u3Lh0I_T9sPbj_sjUx7FT_RLfdvZI/w400-h225/20230520_093415.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NeIqkJZbp3XtrUMVmHh2fgx8PM-do_jaUN4-lrV15RIsq8qfDK1tVeUyQVpipWJ70F3BNZ8Nx2Cj1enGq6TXN9nUaItm7RKvESYcDuF8BpAPyZgDXDWtrFzt_ea7Pxp_pWLSyn-II6ixtc1ofynuQQiFd7Eg4Sywj2JUDHv00J_3_NPZ6vo/s4032/20230520_101742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NeIqkJZbp3XtrUMVmHh2fgx8PM-do_jaUN4-lrV15RIsq8qfDK1tVeUyQVpipWJ70F3BNZ8Nx2Cj1enGq6TXN9nUaItm7RKvESYcDuF8BpAPyZgDXDWtrFzt_ea7Pxp_pWLSyn-II6ixtc1ofynuQQiFd7Eg4Sywj2JUDHv00J_3_NPZ6vo/w400-h225/20230520_101742.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRsydsHjyjJsfFbL4Z4WTqSqRYOLJV-UVEMwVZ4Ap7PKLYThn2gDaMF2GPR3n4dZat3-5VhGliPoGqnjNYC9zqoLUaE8PDRBLcdCi6CwFAFsperbLlPzNL16t91rLFsRKyHuE543Amc3uiq9ZB03e5jsMMr7klvhJWB3rkKxAnZggwOL259c/s4032/20230520_111145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRsydsHjyjJsfFbL4Z4WTqSqRYOLJV-UVEMwVZ4Ap7PKLYThn2gDaMF2GPR3n4dZat3-5VhGliPoGqnjNYC9zqoLUaE8PDRBLcdCi6CwFAFsperbLlPzNL16t91rLFsRKyHuE543Amc3uiq9ZB03e5jsMMr7klvhJWB3rkKxAnZggwOL259c/w400-h225/20230520_111145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Having not found any of the decommissioned seismic ships moored at Farsund, (to be fair, we didn't look all that hard), we found some on the fourth morning, moored outside Lyngdal! Reminders of a past life :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyS1jGFwD3v3L_Y0Irxnk6uippsuA1bQn8FEcZzyBI9oFzAHOXps35xJt6P06NzQIVDpLlgH5e-HogKX6ZBeRuCRObafdrTS37kNkrM3mvCIriwuJr6nwkQf8V9DlakJ_LT8rdhcPpYI1QPsLx6LbYJV-NRUK_fmq0rMKIgGu1nT4esSL2d0/s4032/20230520_114146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyS1jGFwD3v3L_Y0Irxnk6uippsuA1bQn8FEcZzyBI9oFzAHOXps35xJt6P06NzQIVDpLlgH5e-HogKX6ZBeRuCRObafdrTS37kNkrM3mvCIriwuJr6nwkQf8V9DlakJ_LT8rdhcPpYI1QPsLx6LbYJV-NRUK_fmq0rMKIgGu1nT4esSL2d0/w400-h225/20230520_114146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRX5F7gWwjxkoWdKeW-tn6kl4GKKPpJ0j5NE8yC83J9lIJ7j8u7jBsOb3djBNjQ4TLYVnsyiOT5JzjxGbInjRVfMF1oaaatt1WnXZrlyDv1wEzUCphClzOm_GRYhQZy4CWPElCoxiNXRD5lwdaW7kRbbhB8Hx2yca3r2DjyZ-Zm6WFwY6yTQ/s4032/20230520_125219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRX5F7gWwjxkoWdKeW-tn6kl4GKKPpJ0j5NE8yC83J9lIJ7j8u7jBsOb3djBNjQ4TLYVnsyiOT5JzjxGbInjRVfMF1oaaatt1WnXZrlyDv1wEzUCphClzOm_GRYhQZy4CWPElCoxiNXRD5lwdaW7kRbbhB8Hx2yca3r2DjyZ-Zm6WFwY6yTQ/w400-h225/20230520_125219.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gt4tCo3M6siEP8PDCU1zYuqWsOUSJ2-JS-A7TxTdK8Bsarvf3gU1m8as5shGsnuT9fYL9aZt9MaMosXTYvzE1DVH8uD3tUj-1fepIDs-7oQhENL1qTGaa6AG2ecEByUnaSoqZpefzLtDpYj02z0W6A9vPPI-RQNS9NoY3TX7AQ5EKg9EV7g/s4032/20230520_131226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gt4tCo3M6siEP8PDCU1zYuqWsOUSJ2-JS-A7TxTdK8Bsarvf3gU1m8as5shGsnuT9fYL9aZt9MaMosXTYvzE1DVH8uD3tUj-1fepIDs-7oQhENL1qTGaa6AG2ecEByUnaSoqZpefzLtDpYj02z0W6A9vPPI-RQNS9NoY3TX7AQ5EKg9EV7g/w400-h225/20230520_131226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The final afternoon took us on mostly relaxed tours along the coast line through amusingly named places like Spangereid and Lonestrand. There was a much appreciated stop for ice-cream at Vigeland and then the final stretch of grit and unpredictable steep climbs along the old postal road into Mandal :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZYxlRsm8NMygybKemAU1E6iRoceoFgWZKV0E7e1pFVuufnnbQ7l9CsTBzdl0Bhc0lHXXV7i6Kl8Xj6GH77xO1Dun52vpj8R8Y5ConEITzqQtQJs49KiilGzOSVqPkAWVfCKxy6lm0UfHhuBWh2WQYcUEAnvLWRHBDq-o2ftH-m8H452Uwbw/s4032/20230520_132343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZYxlRsm8NMygybKemAU1E6iRoceoFgWZKV0E7e1pFVuufnnbQ7l9CsTBzdl0Bhc0lHXXV7i6Kl8Xj6GH77xO1Dun52vpj8R8Y5ConEITzqQtQJs49KiilGzOSVqPkAWVfCKxy6lm0UfHhuBWh2WQYcUEAnvLWRHBDq-o2ftH-m8H452Uwbw/w400-h225/20230520_132343.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6IlGrNOdWipZnkYqGlA2Iztzc25EbWi1pHPY4clf152dXbpmHKPJMX711AuDTHLvALHtR-ZGycq7El9QjTM9SrtzbgRbwxOqLMzS_H5UDTuJ7iBbnY4M7XDi3BTFpPecqky0z7uSgjNSLFTB7XPsIBp_b3bsKoYNeR8-ISZ2JoSVgloW2qY/s4032/20230520_151143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6IlGrNOdWipZnkYqGlA2Iztzc25EbWi1pHPY4clf152dXbpmHKPJMX711AuDTHLvALHtR-ZGycq7El9QjTM9SrtzbgRbwxOqLMzS_H5UDTuJ7iBbnY4M7XDi3BTFpPecqky0z7uSgjNSLFTB7XPsIBp_b3bsKoYNeR8-ISZ2JoSVgloW2qY/w400-h225/20230520_151143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNwTd1_VLMuP1xiv3c9mUxd1V3JsJB8gOaID91Rrj-RW6toIBbw2cPrusFuFUfWCbJ_kbp8QviUD2E-h4XfXMgT6PcC-8a7SUcGjO1lSVlNEDeLhTeHtM4IE-oDedqaK0_W-L-h-aEMN0TXwdJsT3YPSzIlYfl0qtOlg1NGhHtqpGks5FKGc/s5776/20230520_155151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="5776" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNwTd1_VLMuP1xiv3c9mUxd1V3JsJB8gOaID91Rrj-RW6toIBbw2cPrusFuFUfWCbJ_kbp8QviUD2E-h4XfXMgT6PcC-8a7SUcGjO1lSVlNEDeLhTeHtM4IE-oDedqaK0_W-L-h-aEMN0TXwdJsT3YPSzIlYfl0qtOlg1NGhHtqpGks5FKGc/w400-h196/20230520_155151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We made the most of the beautiful weather and explored a bit of the picturesque waterfront of the town. We were staying at Mandal Hotel which bills itself as the southernmost hotel in Norway! And regardless of the truth of that matter, I have to say the dinner was superb :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm_b0iHfXzZ9T8Gv_TGFCoTFICcdolR5LhulTP-FyE0m0YOp_5oOySn6I2nEI-VKjmGD-jX-og2DVtN1HEXs-6M0PmPk3OREr_0HGsJsAH0a9MqnA6VlYNixjtnrsKiOPu1yaTCWNca4I7jq02MwJm97rCAgs_N8LPJ0lVMPIp0R6NRSlKOE/s4032/20230520_181202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm_b0iHfXzZ9T8Gv_TGFCoTFICcdolR5LhulTP-FyE0m0YOp_5oOySn6I2nEI-VKjmGD-jX-og2DVtN1HEXs-6M0PmPk3OREr_0HGsJsAH0a9MqnA6VlYNixjtnrsKiOPu1yaTCWNca4I7jq02MwJm97rCAgs_N8LPJ0lVMPIp0R6NRSlKOE/w400-h225/20230520_181202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKyEi1t_nOuk0ukpwK3aLlMvpxu45GzZAaSZS3ODsyugVVy5XDVYtPG9rZamj2UOHTdeAPxMG2v8obIHlRmMEZCyAHexjqX5Fbcx8wdnw2mwA-AWzF5rXk9PHtG5PFiTntHfpAUimbMvSdVQ9Nxb3n0O5Wf9FQhOGMQKZaM7cSueK-42haak/s4032/20230520_182316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKyEi1t_nOuk0ukpwK3aLlMvpxu45GzZAaSZS3ODsyugVVy5XDVYtPG9rZamj2UOHTdeAPxMG2v8obIHlRmMEZCyAHexjqX5Fbcx8wdnw2mwA-AWzF5rXk9PHtG5PFiTntHfpAUimbMvSdVQ9Nxb3n0O5Wf9FQhOGMQKZaM7cSueK-42haak/w225-h400/20230520_182316.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBAOYmXgkpEDZaZ7Th8dK3ojZkEqH7YAvtzsYZzzZx4MKJBoeIhp_92DV2aVyJBaO7Dp9v_OFeAbugPI_bg8wperKYzO59tb9JPvNCpZwVElGY-y4sGlmqmxtU-2vqUvXVmQ0CiwM7dFrSI42__SBcl6KIK16cKYmThlxusvZaKTcSb6KpQg/s4032/20230520_192217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBAOYmXgkpEDZaZ7Th8dK3ojZkEqH7YAvtzsYZzzZx4MKJBoeIhp_92DV2aVyJBaO7Dp9v_OFeAbugPI_bg8wperKYzO59tb9JPvNCpZwVElGY-y4sGlmqmxtU-2vqUvXVmQ0CiwM7dFrSI42__SBcl6KIK16cKYmThlxusvZaKTcSb6KpQg/w225-h400/20230520_192217.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On Sunday morning all that remained was really to make our way up along the Marna/Mandal river (different maps seem to disagree on the actual name) to the closest station to catch our train back. The route was more or less flat and the river kept us entertained with its rapids and bends.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS90o_hr9YGxESzZMLLl94aGesJodMSxaIDThObGpCOEKSmapBJfLzz9FQgM14R9eX0Ena-cPBtdTb8XLoJ6Jmd1iYLWJK3YB2BbNztraHpMeEIczcHlzv7mTmgakR6TT89BN19KLY5-TtjXdQjk51JMTldMJJx90NTh16l2o5bNPqTfqOPFE/s4032/20230521_094522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS90o_hr9YGxESzZMLLl94aGesJodMSxaIDThObGpCOEKSmapBJfLzz9FQgM14R9eX0Ena-cPBtdTb8XLoJ6Jmd1iYLWJK3YB2BbNztraHpMeEIczcHlzv7mTmgakR6TT89BN19KLY5-TtjXdQjk51JMTldMJJx90NTh16l2o5bNPqTfqOPFE/w400-h225/20230521_094522.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWvbl86-lyALiS2Dz-Pr0rk2w3ix-X4G_Vw0Raq8GVghBMeJNl1A-PErdgEr8HcUT_snqH0oDly4DGucMHWwBEHnrR9qdBgGfWzFNjtTj4nqul5uyeMNodi9fdlqjPVzygzFc6BnYpHA9eSrjWSUmMXlNsrRe8fmO7qzIUums09yPImop__Y/s4032/20230521_094619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWvbl86-lyALiS2Dz-Pr0rk2w3ix-X4G_Vw0Raq8GVghBMeJNl1A-PErdgEr8HcUT_snqH0oDly4DGucMHWwBEHnrR9qdBgGfWzFNjtTj4nqul5uyeMNodi9fdlqjPVzygzFc6BnYpHA9eSrjWSUmMXlNsrRe8fmO7qzIUums09yPImop__Y/w400-h225/20230521_094619.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMab8zaQLNzGoltsH_rKrpOLdc2sOARjjjB-VPEC4KcSVnSAYuROmMO2P9yNHxMXZZECGKFgRGrSg_iNwlXNe1aiWkE5s9v_OjAwAM3CWzo6zhpEFV2r5MSkGjuQQjKruEDPrghuLjmchEzWeuNfOg30fDP7Yj_blsAyiXFAm9AnCMl0NCwI/s4032/20230521_142932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMab8zaQLNzGoltsH_rKrpOLdc2sOARjjjB-VPEC4KcSVnSAYuROmMO2P9yNHxMXZZECGKFgRGrSg_iNwlXNe1aiWkE5s9v_OjAwAM3CWzo6zhpEFV2r5MSkGjuQQjKruEDPrghuLjmchEzWeuNfOg30fDP7Yj_blsAyiXFAm9AnCMl0NCwI/w400-h225/20230521_142932.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We made it in plenty of time, and despite a rather flustered train conductor, who seemed to be rather taken aback by our need to load our bicycles onto the train before we could depart, settled into a very picturesque if somewhat long five hour journey.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0CVN9c8ZNhlrDB01yRS1D6IkR_Bsa_3ZwS9d9W0aIftxMhHAFn4VSgUcL68Qukjs1SsHw8vnNk6037p-rQt_MzlQGVhL__vdkHtBiqB5o__wLc6lROJqzr3M2vlf5XDIxVfjsOUfBLiV8L-CKGrx9OK7ZG1-i_evbcV3uDsPkW0800mLq94/s4032/20230520_134014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0CVN9c8ZNhlrDB01yRS1D6IkR_Bsa_3ZwS9d9W0aIftxMhHAFn4VSgUcL68Qukjs1SsHw8vnNk6037p-rQt_MzlQGVhL__vdkHtBiqB5o__wLc6lROJqzr3M2vlf5XDIxVfjsOUfBLiV8L-CKGrx9OK7ZG1-i_evbcV3uDsPkW0800mLq94/w400-h225/20230520_134014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlg2IypJjOK8TJnl8F9jc3JTsYt7AFajNo7pFsOFzC1RSiGnXFG_JzToDCgplBRxjmzTsMKKVaE1BuAiMHzVh9AeXMdPYiGiqcjaLVSQRzGfNZ9Ojia3bgA0O7baG3xybMzuOWHvjkWChrJnDkhf2B9M9Uh6URB3j70VqH-S3WSaW-pdOZCO0/s4032/20230520_183909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlg2IypJjOK8TJnl8F9jc3JTsYt7AFajNo7pFsOFzC1RSiGnXFG_JzToDCgplBRxjmzTsMKKVaE1BuAiMHzVh9AeXMdPYiGiqcjaLVSQRzGfNZ9Ojia3bgA0O7baG3xybMzuOWHvjkWChrJnDkhf2B9M9Uh6URB3j70VqH-S3WSaW-pdOZCO0/w225-h400/20230520_183909.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRhcv1gjWUF3lsBQZOmD5qQX_5KEso7u1gbQY5Qf4FQ6RzVjdrQA3eGLlmrZ6XM4ynqE75KAEM7IMdFhfd_-BdfybZT3xzIEVrf0Mu1E6cLssI8jm5R2MacXId2Dsq-0i7lWJE3QhYQfJQ2KwekQ-485yf74xdVjI6EtDp-zFrxQeAMCI2sg/s4032/20230521_102241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRhcv1gjWUF3lsBQZOmD5qQX_5KEso7u1gbQY5Qf4FQ6RzVjdrQA3eGLlmrZ6XM4ynqE75KAEM7IMdFhfd_-BdfybZT3xzIEVrf0Mu1E6cLssI8jm5R2MacXId2Dsq-0i7lWJE3QhYQfJQ2KwekQ-485yf74xdVjI6EtDp-zFrxQeAMCI2sg/w400-h225/20230521_102241.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The week since has been filled with memories of those rather crazy days :). I guess you know a holiday was particularly awesome and extra-ordinary when the mind just refuses to re-enter the present and more ordinary :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd4RJtbpTuWqwPrY8Ej4B93YISHC6b3lfI85kjyf4H8qroBjuduNE8lx8cqJPsNvet9mruTsqDQBjloCLFGh3mchpiGdlQG85rmMz82b6JL3A1M7eXoNjQXcZ2Tzbho3ILStU3IoI64JNcCSX3L_fIUjEHoslmRagJgixhV_MKIYn98tmDxE/s4032/20230522_071629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd4RJtbpTuWqwPrY8Ej4B93YISHC6b3lfI85kjyf4H8qroBjuduNE8lx8cqJPsNvet9mruTsqDQBjloCLFGh3mchpiGdlQG85rmMz82b6JL3A1M7eXoNjQXcZ2Tzbho3ILStU3IoI64JNcCSX3L_fIUjEHoslmRagJgixhV_MKIYn98tmDxE/w400-h225/20230522_071629.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I did finally finish reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/877104.Unfinished_Tales_of_N_menor_and_Middle_earth" target="_blank">Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth</a></i>. I'd wisely decided not to take it with us on the holiday. Not only because my library sourced copy is quite the heavy tome, but also because I rightly gauged that there would be no time nor energy to actually read :). But in general I also really enjoyed meandering through the tales at a pretty slow pace. Giving time to reflect on my memories of the other stories being referenced.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09o94aEsFFohXyE3R_r9590p1Qsg-45cGiP_6ABTKQSqpIxVRnFn2zftg4WHiiDcA6uUnQhg-y8XsLOG0ZYXJfBTpki5J9sTn5uZjbQQ5H2XgGa1PoAnQywj8SS__fZo694vuhAIB6_6dL9fWpzqqOhMo2wHVfR3xZRf84Cv9M3YjAzqfLSU/s4032/20230524_181153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09o94aEsFFohXyE3R_r9590p1Qsg-45cGiP_6ABTKQSqpIxVRnFn2zftg4WHiiDcA6uUnQhg-y8XsLOG0ZYXJfBTpki5J9sTn5uZjbQQ5H2XgGa1PoAnQywj8SS__fZo694vuhAIB6_6dL9fWpzqqOhMo2wHVfR3xZRf84Cv9M3YjAzqfLSU/w225-h400/20230524_181153.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It was great fun finding out some new details about the history of Middle-earth, and of course much further background on the more known events and characters. It definitely is unique as a creation, with the depth of thought and the personal history of JRR's creative process that Christopher so brilliantly brings to light. I couldn't not continue reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18966.The_Silmarillion" target="_blank">The Silmarillion</a></i> after :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Nhx59KXwfH4xj9WeXt0gv7FNeAGZAKoNE1lO4FTvqen4oaB7fxJU-OLXyxRAMW7y65OEkX6fiJBLnl3pIGDqooNSQpF0WFSZsKuT6i8ORI1KHRLFAVOjOyEb0lQEyDSTRUzxrN83aSmdIYHOsJ-ux6eq3AIfeGRKbewqfQJPZexx7GuTHZQ/s7920/20230520_115343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2704" data-original-width="7920" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Nhx59KXwfH4xj9WeXt0gv7FNeAGZAKoNE1lO4FTvqen4oaB7fxJU-OLXyxRAMW7y65OEkX6fiJBLnl3pIGDqooNSQpF0WFSZsKuT6i8ORI1KHRLFAVOjOyEb0lQEyDSTRUzxrN83aSmdIYHOsJ-ux6eq3AIfeGRKbewqfQJPZexx7GuTHZQ/w640-h218/20230520_115343.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-4558206546001074802023-04-30T23:14:00.011+02:002023-05-01T11:51:53.199+02:00A winter that refuses to say goodbye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcvwzRuGceQP0Z8527GEmDpK3DVaamlr-4n3FYsTdtKGv9-Cbaq_VMAM0pqGapVZy-D_SJvVD3yKDIop7HmPpb5UyUPfAwq0FIQytMB3qQEBcDcGYui6zVKdfreUNTJz28BjTw8b4GZml2TkL-6OymKB40n89xRJ0ZUlyy7OKVzwsa606xRw/s4032/20230401_122207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcvwzRuGceQP0Z8527GEmDpK3DVaamlr-4n3FYsTdtKGv9-Cbaq_VMAM0pqGapVZy-D_SJvVD3yKDIop7HmPpb5UyUPfAwq0FIQytMB3qQEBcDcGYui6zVKdfreUNTJz28BjTw8b4GZml2TkL-6OymKB40n89xRJ0ZUlyy7OKVzwsa606xRw/w400-h225/20230401_122207.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's nearly May! Where is this year going?! Like seriously? :) It's not all bad of course :D. Take the skiing season for example. Since my last blog post we managed to nearly double the distance skied for the season! Mainly because there was some extremely unexpected, but highly appreciated snow at Easter!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_E-j-01TzkHMIyeXd0Q6bCcEadDiVlgHRLC86GNfucbBCKhrAer_X_LASAOzus0zcZN5l5UnTyBgfnB0is9YTHE4s1Zt5tl12aPEun-ap6DRPZphVJ6Q_2y7K5SKwlsEFnvaRkm_fcTuN962bk16GDDkxOwgCN4P5YalwKVhonKYju0yg0A/s4032/20230401_111244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_E-j-01TzkHMIyeXd0Q6bCcEadDiVlgHRLC86GNfucbBCKhrAer_X_LASAOzus0zcZN5l5UnTyBgfnB0is9YTHE4s1Zt5tl12aPEun-ap6DRPZphVJ6Q_2y7K5SKwlsEFnvaRkm_fcTuN962bk16GDDkxOwgCN4P5YalwKVhonKYju0yg0A/w400-h225/20230401_111244.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Since then the snow all but disappeared, aided in no small part by a beautiful few spring days with nearly 20°C. Then somewhat shockingly new snow appeared. Then that disappeared again, as one would expect at the end of April! And now there's more snow forecasted tomorrow. Seriously, what's going on with the weather? I suppose we all know these are ripples of the effects of climate change gathering pace in the not too far distance...</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdiYqMDtivAdd4eJH6-AUnVKuAoWJKsyxqRWTHtDK0cBANpMGlgWMAxJbY97mvHZSDD3GS26lvCJZq0H52IczdMIB04QrSH_LPuQ3cv_CT8vPnNCKct5bUqp5e0qViQ2JNbxhUrIRP7rwwU-wwmDE3ZHKDGXeehb3sTxY0AaCejHF3cQLY0E/s4032/20230329_082947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdiYqMDtivAdd4eJH6-AUnVKuAoWJKsyxqRWTHtDK0cBANpMGlgWMAxJbY97mvHZSDD3GS26lvCJZq0H52IczdMIB04QrSH_LPuQ3cv_CT8vPnNCKct5bUqp5e0qViQ2JNbxhUrIRP7rwwU-wwmDE3ZHKDGXeehb3sTxY0AaCejHF3cQLY0E/w400-h225/20230329_082947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzLMjxwMm-9KJ-inwLwn8nu7SZ_f5dTtwZ8ZxGiCF8TDegz87zjT3SZUsqHZGBF-qbxoMkoMJEUlTKhl_0M0w98C6zlgRA7Wab1_yzy7FlcbAcd9XJC06ApnBoTR-gkOpHVOjycjDEyJbBZR3kzwhTuTDzi8dbQ5xHsALHdIgg-dlGAleZvc/s4032/20230425_065039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzLMjxwMm-9KJ-inwLwn8nu7SZ_f5dTtwZ8ZxGiCF8TDegz87zjT3SZUsqHZGBF-qbxoMkoMJEUlTKhl_0M0w98C6zlgRA7Wab1_yzy7FlcbAcd9XJC06ApnBoTR-gkOpHVOjycjDEyJbBZR3kzwhTuTDzi8dbQ5xHsALHdIgg-dlGAleZvc/w400-h225/20230425_065039.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sometime during the much needed Easter break though, we decided to book another cycling holiday. Having not done one last year, it felt bold. Well, it feels even more bold now that we finally got the bikes out of storage and went for a short exploratory trip this afternoon :D. Ah well, it'll be fine :P.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjf8eEgdwE2FAJ3DA_A-UX_hNlukYkR-W3ltQYsY97wqyvgx5iSJJn0jxDIFZZYMe7DK_o3pn6tEBDFtggZ1SjrJk1a14ZdI0ktHX9cXSe8Hn8HoXe8BjTCB9loPPQDWlwU__Of35Lwle6W6wJ4nlbtrzHRDT_7sVxd39jdclS6MAfDjGxW3Y/s4032/20230329_185023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjf8eEgdwE2FAJ3DA_A-UX_hNlukYkR-W3ltQYsY97wqyvgx5iSJJn0jxDIFZZYMe7DK_o3pn6tEBDFtggZ1SjrJk1a14ZdI0ktHX9cXSe8Hn8HoXe8BjTCB9loPPQDWlwU__Of35Lwle6W6wJ4nlbtrzHRDT_7sVxd39jdclS6MAfDjGxW3Y/w400-h225/20230329_185023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm getting a bit tired of saying work's been crazy actually. So some incidentals to ponder. The less time I have to sort through the thoughts and feelings in my head, the less nice I am to be around I think. Sure, I feel bad afterwards, but that's usually too late to stop me from snapping at people. Deserved really has nothing to do with it, because caring is a habit. And once one starts losing it, inevitably, undeserved hurt follows. (Of course you could argue any kind of hurt is undeserved, but that's neither here nor there.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0D4kCZHUnqrI2KgwCAUEsR-eQdbyvy3Jt703j9pN9KDpqcP3vqu9RM3FMek2ZLZWwqJXabKOyj-MZu1GHo_8JB32PkR-cn-YGShiDrziKC8y81k4M5aOyqXEoMDJP5cAQv4Im_Zzt8xvonVIN8luIf0-RdWHb3j2aUnR_tOJuslgwfzGYjc/s4032/20230329_185419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0D4kCZHUnqrI2KgwCAUEsR-eQdbyvy3Jt703j9pN9KDpqcP3vqu9RM3FMek2ZLZWwqJXabKOyj-MZu1GHo_8JB32PkR-cn-YGShiDrziKC8y81k4M5aOyqXEoMDJP5cAQv4Im_Zzt8xvonVIN8luIf0-RdWHb3j2aUnR_tOJuslgwfzGYjc/w400-h225/20230329_185419.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The underground golf was a lot of fun though, it has to be said :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HH74QsGxDmzTL-K_woo7oHyzSfEBDnPWBILzc_6mWMl0dK_dTDkcO_UjYd0Z-I_Xup6xRF0eQSos7RUCdgjrl0qz8wcU8f5Uko3hbmUZOM0vJ-AMtlhgtBgjSdMe5eGzxeTG5GM8_oJxt-i-L4XQVNfESUse3AQRfN4T7QBhdemxXzk5cW4/s4032/20230329_202833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HH74QsGxDmzTL-K_woo7oHyzSfEBDnPWBILzc_6mWMl0dK_dTDkcO_UjYd0Z-I_Xup6xRF0eQSos7RUCdgjrl0qz8wcU8f5Uko3hbmUZOM0vJ-AMtlhgtBgjSdMe5eGzxeTG5GM8_oJxt-i-L4XQVNfESUse3AQRfN4T7QBhdemxXzk5cW4/w400-h225/20230329_202833.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As usual, I've been taking refuge in books whenever I can. Got through the whole <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/52498-ex-machina" target="_blank">Ex-Machina</a></i> series in pretty much no time. And overall, I don't think my opinion changed much from what it was after reading the first two last month. However, it was indeed interesting to see a graphic novel take on issues of politics, race, gender in quite such a way and deliver a genuinely gripping story.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaikNWzzzijIn0yvzkc6njC4ZVeHeOqMmfYxp_VE7vGoT57UMmy27Dx6fRKNpooQOZ2e96C2Q6h8cyOZIFM9RYtZcPnI1IHHJ35rPyUeHnm-K1M0UQ2fJglsTJqTZXdz8HgruQwK8ulajjvl7CCBcpGHp6VgdE9AHhlEF-fPxXMVTlXUAilaw/s4032/20230401_134515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaikNWzzzijIn0yvzkc6njC4ZVeHeOqMmfYxp_VE7vGoT57UMmy27Dx6fRKNpooQOZ2e96C2Q6h8cyOZIFM9RYtZcPnI1IHHJ35rPyUeHnm-K1M0UQ2fJglsTJqTZXdz8HgruQwK8ulajjvl7CCBcpGHp6VgdE9AHhlEF-fPxXMVTlXUAilaw/w400-h225/20230401_134515.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">While I did want to get on to Middle Earth, I was waiting for this month's book club book to show up at the library, and while I waited, I thought, what would be a good graphic novel to pick up that would tide me over in the interim. It had to be a graphic novel, because my head was in too much of a jumbled space to focus on just written words. I settled on <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29790393-the-sandman" target="_blank">The Sandman: Overture</a></i>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAclO6JZa8EmlAsAlYcOTADJ7zo4I8vulossgLt46oYQQDSl6muogH6l7gc-n-VVCkJTtH3xNItVaaqdPfSAvlNII6zn2q6rC8AWj7PlGTqXRrOPP5DIozC1rBTuwGnor_tr8BppEVp3KadFrBpDxQRP_U4mGkBBi7bmYA3VeSVIbwoUXrGQ/s4032/20230402_135808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAclO6JZa8EmlAsAlYcOTADJ7zo4I8vulossgLt46oYQQDSl6muogH6l7gc-n-VVCkJTtH3xNItVaaqdPfSAvlNII6zn2q6rC8AWj7PlGTqXRrOPP5DIozC1rBTuwGnor_tr8BppEVp3KadFrBpDxQRP_U4mGkBBi7bmYA3VeSVIbwoUXrGQ/w400-h225/20230402_135808.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">What an absolute masterpiece! I've read it a few times now, and each time there's new things that pop up. As with a lot of Gaiman stories, to be honest. I suppose the writing leaves so much space for the reader to fill it with their own imagination, each time is a new experience. Because, after all, each time I'm a slightly different me, with a different set of circumstances, thoughts, experiences in my immediate past giving me a slightly different perspective.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0KCs6T4xM5SRlgT-_k-OU8zdAOqdXWcJQje2q5BpRl3AlcKBAYAPnMrz8ZxtKWGxw19tlmEK5D84PfAsbuuvriBRi4_34nyMSs_GYLO9nmBr7XXw1LhOZ6GdwNY502LK_EhJRHylJ_C-d5KlEjkFif0QII8Cb-wYj4T7QzEuKONyQMonR7U/s4032/20230404_211847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0KCs6T4xM5SRlgT-_k-OU8zdAOqdXWcJQje2q5BpRl3AlcKBAYAPnMrz8ZxtKWGxw19tlmEK5D84PfAsbuuvriBRi4_34nyMSs_GYLO9nmBr7XXw1LhOZ6GdwNY502LK_EhJRHylJ_C-d5KlEjkFif0QII8Cb-wYj4T7QzEuKONyQMonR7U/w225-h400/20230404_211847.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">And then finally <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30971620-the-winter-fortress" target="_blank">The Winter Fortress</a></i> did arrive, and in many ways it was quite a good book! Both in and of itself, and for me to get back into words-only books given my state of mind :). It's a journalistic work digging through some parts of Norway's history during the second World War. It also follows a handful of Norwegians through the years of war in a very personal way. A lot of the material was collected from diaries and interviews.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD5jOWYWEQuH_ucew3syGl491xYhhTO0LFjv_rIoliPXCSaZL0Dkgf7rcVCvxVxQZAxgWTc3d-ppwWYQJOJKx8dHViglvny1Qk7K4GkjKY8gdjFoB_0BEEAImPEXt0Xp2rBaarq5HwqqZ4jDPqkqXFdcxWeqtj7MPbIUUK0IQ5gLvSQXxed0/s4032/20230407_131358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD5jOWYWEQuH_ucew3syGl491xYhhTO0LFjv_rIoliPXCSaZL0Dkgf7rcVCvxVxQZAxgWTc3d-ppwWYQJOJKx8dHViglvny1Qk7K4GkjKY8gdjFoB_0BEEAImPEXt0Xp2rBaarq5HwqqZ4jDPqkqXFdcxWeqtj7MPbIUUK0IQ5gLvSQXxed0/w400-h225/20230407_131358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I could personally relate to a fair bit of the landscape. A lot of the events from the book took place on the other side of one of mountain ridges I posted photos of last month. Familiarity with the Norwegian weather, landscape and lifestyle does give a particularly interesting perspective on things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBwmslpawk7y8MhiKwJFPk9Jjy7MNAfdR2ABBRFLLB95MQ7Hl3vu5FSzOrlQCaIziAcIqCeSewZ9LWwjts2VG_N7er8egV_vSCr4bq4J44Y0OSsoXVIqvuqjaf1P1ieqSvQkWwKFDEMNxsVAnw4JRzb8IqBhm840QGg86RzMObZGElA8K0YU/s4032/20230407_132437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBwmslpawk7y8MhiKwJFPk9Jjy7MNAfdR2ABBRFLLB95MQ7Hl3vu5FSzOrlQCaIziAcIqCeSewZ9LWwjts2VG_N7er8egV_vSCr4bq4J44Y0OSsoXVIqvuqjaf1P1ieqSvQkWwKFDEMNxsVAnw4JRzb8IqBhm840QGg86RzMObZGElA8K0YU/w400-h225/20230407_132437.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There's also the fact that Norway, while very much in the periphery of the main theatre of war, was deeply affected. But because it was not maybe seen as so thoroughly tormented as say France, and maybe to some extent because of the speed with which the country was invaded to start with, there is a deep reluctance on the part of those that saw those years first hand, to share their experiences.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHeO-1-ZjflCiWHdBjsSyu1QsWoFPDoeLPVQ0ZmAHqzhPwpOwj-IueRGZuJ0mQmddhbaLeaGUag28JIvUI2aw4_A3_cLIGep6qMk0rT1QhP1rrRo_0gI0ydAqiyQtX6B2tJJ_9yzoNicbrxDpGj9V-u6Hrly97fj_r-f8QBhAQjk7Y9HAMzc/s4032/20230408_104035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHeO-1-ZjflCiWHdBjsSyu1QsWoFPDoeLPVQ0ZmAHqzhPwpOwj-IueRGZuJ0mQmddhbaLeaGUag28JIvUI2aw4_A3_cLIGep6qMk0rT1QhP1rrRo_0gI0ydAqiyQtX6B2tJJ_9yzoNicbrxDpGj9V-u6Hrly97fj_r-f8QBhAQjk7Y9HAMzc/w400-h225/20230408_104035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There are many layers to the story of course. But overall I think a good balance is struck in keeping a lot of it very personal. I for one appreciated the author's choice to keep much of the focus on the people caught up in the churn of events bigger than themselves, and doing what they could.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygZsHfwgBpDGTeIShs7z3HzC57f7I_TCXmPv-LC2MYbvFw3kKAU9zopFde0Wt5eTbOyGOFaPakeGvRn9idQOBKBB2CcUuptsBrLpMfMa0nGSRIA_mEfXz2DP10Ef5kGhiZYtsMhLbNMkOsm64QTmm6OCvJnR1kD5eWaqt1WpF9XY-Bb9tuAI/s4032/20230408_132044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygZsHfwgBpDGTeIShs7z3HzC57f7I_TCXmPv-LC2MYbvFw3kKAU9zopFde0Wt5eTbOyGOFaPakeGvRn9idQOBKBB2CcUuptsBrLpMfMa0nGSRIA_mEfXz2DP10Ef5kGhiZYtsMhLbNMkOsm64QTmm6OCvJnR1kD5eWaqt1WpF9XY-Bb9tuAI/w400-h225/20230408_132044.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So that brings me up to the present more or less. I finally started reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/877104.Unfinished_Tales_of_N_menor_and_Middle_earth" target="_blank">Unfinished Tales</a></i>. And I continue to be fascinated, as much by the depth of JRR Tolkien's creation, as by the care with which Christopher Tolkien unfurls the mythology and presents it as a world to explore and experience. Given the latter's tendency to reference <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24763330-the-silmarillion" target="_blank">The Silmarillion</a></i>, especially in the stories of the First Age, I ended up getting that book out too and reading them more or less side by side as appropriate :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbmw5jH5t80y5KWE9Mpy6FRHHrnzmik1reFu8CIpRZTlvWtscuWxzYN5TubJjDZqqyofxbtVTYkRwKWEkZD4BTb9srzj8TxogSRZMf1kk-dtAkZlZ1wt1b_K_c4FzFICDLn_xw40fGQepqDJZi1ngrRECQJNfD2a7U1bbpBU0WVPQyGCzIEc/s4032/20230408_134348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbmw5jH5t80y5KWE9Mpy6FRHHrnzmik1reFu8CIpRZTlvWtscuWxzYN5TubJjDZqqyofxbtVTYkRwKWEkZD4BTb9srzj8TxogSRZMf1kk-dtAkZlZ1wt1b_K_c4FzFICDLn_xw40fGQepqDJZi1ngrRECQJNfD2a7U1bbpBU0WVPQyGCzIEc/w400-h225/20230408_134348.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's fun for a change to be able to sink into a story/world/universe/myth/legend without actually needing to know the "what happens next". I already know. I'm now wandering the many meandering paths of "what else is there to discover". Makes for a more relaxed pace of reading. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSDYF2yjdcjkQkvme_kavs4oAEQwk0VMejGrz8QibDeV2qAA40NpYZCvxeH9ucragNJwlOxbbz-nDKszh8yUtLpsF52CjdLDUCHFKKWddo1tO201OH_ul41LnuKyCBO6AZhJg0dY0xA6biCQvhM-S-4daTer2J21dp4_RCE6Qk6CDOeqTPU4/s4032/20230409_123408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSDYF2yjdcjkQkvme_kavs4oAEQwk0VMejGrz8QibDeV2qAA40NpYZCvxeH9ucragNJwlOxbbz-nDKszh8yUtLpsF52CjdLDUCHFKKWddo1tO201OH_ul41LnuKyCBO6AZhJg0dY0xA6biCQvhM-S-4daTer2J21dp4_RCE6Qk6CDOeqTPU4/w400-h225/20230409_123408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Which of course, is a much appreciated change of pace at least in one part of my life at the moment, while other bits continue to run headlong into an uncertain future.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvLtoAkMxSm3mMdll74woYi40HNpgAEp_sd_pWKKUj7VDRc8hQyzuPt67i6IbTw74o7HDKI7HN0UPVGF1WehaLcyWUi3XE-iarw1nN9TT1JEMjZRiUJz7KlfGdQq-6nadnxzjVNp_XaYrnaS_SQXJWOZMr-VONTKS7veAO3hgMrrKPqteqQ8/s4032/20230409_123945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvLtoAkMxSm3mMdll74woYi40HNpgAEp_sd_pWKKUj7VDRc8hQyzuPt67i6IbTw74o7HDKI7HN0UPVGF1WehaLcyWUi3XE-iarw1nN9TT1JEMjZRiUJz7KlfGdQq-6nadnxzjVNp_XaYrnaS_SQXJWOZMr-VONTKS7veAO3hgMrrKPqteqQ8/w400-h225/20230409_123945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">PS. Watched <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6710474" target="_blank">Everything Everywhere All at Once</a></i>. Was amazed, mesmerized, confused, shocked and generally amused :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9hzC4IVGYmaDLfQGgsbUZTjZnrficG9FgHiWQfkEaHdPePff2qCNGm25CIaELom_nGTj9nUN-CADRTL5h_H69eL_foOJlOSTI0XoF4Hs9nFHBihTU2WooxJIalJ_IhdzKro1Wx8NMG2C3f8oUBmd6iSHDOGhkNvN5Y6tt_hgmaD_OfJoNyA/s4032/20230422_114401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9hzC4IVGYmaDLfQGgsbUZTjZnrficG9FgHiWQfkEaHdPePff2qCNGm25CIaELom_nGTj9nUN-CADRTL5h_H69eL_foOJlOSTI0XoF4Hs9nFHBihTU2WooxJIalJ_IhdzKro1Wx8NMG2C3f8oUBmd6iSHDOGhkNvN5Y6tt_hgmaD_OfJoNyA/w225-h400/20230422_114401.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">PPS. Watched <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7405458" target="_blank">A Man Called Otto</a></i>. Was moved.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouHkc2z1PsH9t1i4EBYwYcMs13J91ltamyAhgdwzcP4u-6m7fOeo_7mC_iHbJRCl1FsVfvzd5k8dgSTEg0htQ_blrQLN8__kkbnfnTzAuV7tgyowcN-1TFI7IuOYB3PBDIqTn7DxXHJKZLpS25NAgaZeucNxhFB4F1Dygf24ifnOijxge6p8/s4032/20230430_152208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouHkc2z1PsH9t1i4EBYwYcMs13J91ltamyAhgdwzcP4u-6m7fOeo_7mC_iHbJRCl1FsVfvzd5k8dgSTEg0htQ_blrQLN8__kkbnfnTzAuV7tgyowcN-1TFI7IuOYB3PBDIqTn7DxXHJKZLpS25NAgaZeucNxhFB4F1Dygf24ifnOijxge6p8/w400-h225/20230430_152208.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-55293030250171750282023-03-28T22:03:00.003+02:002023-03-28T22:03:37.151+02:00On stories, myth and legend, familiar and otherwise<p style="text-align: justify;">Like it or not, this year seems to be turning into a great snow winter :). I mean, I love it, but I'm increasingly surrounded by people who wish the snow was well and truly gone and spring on it's way already :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wbHDLewPYqsWZ_5TnMJ46pPXGYmQ2F0IPN_mjTx7rkQY3EoquJL7zTSe1Bhx1ljRgscwv7ekmlt8PswunuVDvb7Zn_8GxIl-rMq5k_aVM7JgxyK2VsbNJoFxQ5zRPnpxMeqZu7tD6bZCHCqDQJRI3EL1RF9OjOm2Grk-T0Weg2wbgqS7tEk/s4032/20230227_074640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wbHDLewPYqsWZ_5TnMJ46pPXGYmQ2F0IPN_mjTx7rkQY3EoquJL7zTSe1Bhx1ljRgscwv7ekmlt8PswunuVDvb7Zn_8GxIl-rMq5k_aVM7JgxyK2VsbNJoFxQ5zRPnpxMeqZu7tD6bZCHCqDQJRI3EL1RF9OjOm2Grk-T0Weg2wbgqS7tEk/w400-h225/20230227_074640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Having said that, it's not been all plain sailing, what with periods of dramatic thaw that's left roads icy, roofs leaking.. All sorts of drama. Following an unlikely, and frankly quite unfortunate, sequence of events I'm not going to go into, this meant that I ended up getting to shine my pick-axe and axe wielding skills over a weekend. Which I thought was great fun!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict1zooDt43CyzPanlV6g4GYwDCIYjZHIWdKewCeS7RCwcKwFbKZ-JRPLIBaWV-oBRcQjrOKRAUkq9JKCuSVCO8iH6wKsG9f0DfPDpWkq3WPUQRkBRCPSwnhwyXFZcWnAHC0s0IWkrrd8sVD-8QTWjnEZ2i-LcOfvArxJMUyDTZFg1yUyVhoU/s4032/20230304_230459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict1zooDt43CyzPanlV6g4GYwDCIYjZHIWdKewCeS7RCwcKwFbKZ-JRPLIBaWV-oBRcQjrOKRAUkq9JKCuSVCO8iH6wKsG9f0DfPDpWkq3WPUQRkBRCPSwnhwyXFZcWnAHC0s0IWkrrd8sVD-8QTWjnEZ2i-LcOfvArxJMUyDTZFg1yUyVhoU/w400-h225/20230304_230459.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Reminds me of that bit from <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0276751" target="_blank">About a Boy</a></i> where Hugh Grant's character feels somewhat guilty about the fact that he's excited about being able to drive fast behind the ambulance on dead-duck-day... Aside to an aside, did you realize that film's now <i>twenty</i> years old?!! Crikey.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvSvCHMbtTk1YiyQGXi6a-_jsuuomXRVKyMlreK1cKMYCJshCFgmGihEnq2vcWgeVMRWNfFlgy5JS01GlECTLEK7iEiAw_ay3DRjD_625IQ3i5XmDqvJKdOE3t9zyEgVAi4z0vDm4nfxrJJD9jFlPwpIEFCyK9huEl2KmR6igSf4pYYMtCNY/s4032/20230305_154831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvSvCHMbtTk1YiyQGXi6a-_jsuuomXRVKyMlreK1cKMYCJshCFgmGihEnq2vcWgeVMRWNfFlgy5JS01GlECTLEK7iEiAw_ay3DRjD_625IQ3i5XmDqvJKdOE3t9zyEgVAi4z0vDm4nfxrJJD9jFlPwpIEFCyK9huEl2KmR6igSf4pYYMtCNY/w400-h225/20230305_154831.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyhow, speaking of snow, there's also been some more cross-country skiing :). Although the last time I went out the snow was so heavy and wet that it almost not quite worth it :P. Still, snow is snow, and I'm happy for as long as it lasts. Definitely adds happiness to my life :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT2GM9Y5ExJa_dQyKVn3ETT-n73v_yJnz-BH2ZR-HA6q7UYujVjX-Jb8Vn7LXISRjMutUyfte3hkfgWrH2sIxQ3Fq91-r0bDp1SNV3DKI8m_VTsIYv4dAc0uQ9sQLtZRPhgbvKuYwC5QVH7ui_m0JRinJUfl3IRRWFvUBGoxTBhyhAyqU_1g/s4032/20230311_111124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT2GM9Y5ExJa_dQyKVn3ETT-n73v_yJnz-BH2ZR-HA6q7UYujVjX-Jb8Vn7LXISRjMutUyfte3hkfgWrH2sIxQ3Fq91-r0bDp1SNV3DKI8m_VTsIYv4dAc0uQ9sQLtZRPhgbvKuYwC5QVH7ui_m0JRinJUfl3IRRWFvUBGoxTBhyhAyqU_1g/w400-h225/20230311_111124.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Some weekends ago we also went on a little trip with some friends, and a lot of new acquaintances, to a cabin in the middle of nowhere about a couple of hours' drive away. To be honest, it wasn't that in the middle of nowhere, but the fact that we drove there late on a Friday evening definitely reinforced the feeling of remoteness. It felt a lot nicer driving back on the Sunday afternoon :). In between there was quite a bit of fun! We also ended up spending what felt like most of a day on or near a large frozen lake. That was very cold!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYovFWc33n5h6nprSpofAwWrWKSDTufImGktb4FVpTPqBLAVq8Gsdy_N1Xdz8qU_GflVOHw7PkVZySqJN2p6XpuKNwy5jQyBm6cy65EnazsA0S1dtV9BiaeeFLptIKSgNl-_j_Tht8QJFV1kexOABvGX-KlIjjf-M-6AUzH2Q_D8In2zRDxI/s4032/20230311_130331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYovFWc33n5h6nprSpofAwWrWKSDTufImGktb4FVpTPqBLAVq8Gsdy_N1Xdz8qU_GflVOHw7PkVZySqJN2p6XpuKNwy5jQyBm6cy65EnazsA0S1dtV9BiaeeFLptIKSgNl-_j_Tht8QJFV1kexOABvGX-KlIjjf-M-6AUzH2Q_D8In2zRDxI/w400-h225/20230311_130331.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In between all that and the continuing crazy busy work situation, I had quite a variety of books to keep me happy :). First of all <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92143.Bone" target="_blank">Bone</a></i>. I mean, what a tremendously funny, touching, thought provoking, but ultimately just <i>nice</i> thing! I got the whole series in one volume as a Christmas present and I just loved it to bits! Definitely something I'll read again. Especially whenever I'm feeling a bit down and generally bummed at the world :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCGEPMSc4K-5s6eDgRLlQUGSJlN0FLD8vr6Pv_-DCeI3xZ4FGtsQ-n7AYJt1WcCCj08JJm8CVrKZSmgi6NsSYqFh0-aB7B0RMo_gGYywCSUDiPDAhYYYXpMiR7Yl4aGt4Sx6BgamY-vphepDKBlC4oY3RmZEwptpjnqyszLO_dfcLhTw-lSM/s4032/20230311_143527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCGEPMSc4K-5s6eDgRLlQUGSJlN0FLD8vr6Pv_-DCeI3xZ4FGtsQ-n7AYJt1WcCCj08JJm8CVrKZSmgi6NsSYqFh0-aB7B0RMo_gGYywCSUDiPDAhYYYXpMiR7Yl4aGt4Sx6BgamY-vphepDKBlC4oY3RmZEwptpjnqyszLO_dfcLhTw-lSM/w400-h225/20230311_143527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I only even heard about it because of Gaiman's <i>A View from the Cheap Seats</i>. So that was another hit. Not quite the same sort of experience was had reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/145354.The_Einstein_Intersection" target="_blank">The Einstein Intersection</a></i>. Which I acquired for the exact same reason as <i>Bone</i>. I'm not sure what it was, maybe I just didn't pay enough attention to details. Maybe I'm just not as familiar with all of the many cultural references. Either way, I was just generally confused to be honest. There was definitely the feeling that I was leaving a lot unexplored, but at the same time I was very happy to move on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGgHmXLe72aqN8Zd0o5QF98jxyODDS7i106uI5P76uv-vkkQgSpCIA0LD_6kO6yiAD7noFKWXAEfVu6eEJr9OVzspgFvKoylb6BBYlQAfK6UWUpzmwbBhRiAsMbTCLCBC5qLHFqnFqUD_w3-AvHXFyFytbFplDClkDHe8KFe4cih2LPiiGXU/s4032/20230311_143808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGgHmXLe72aqN8Zd0o5QF98jxyODDS7i106uI5P76uv-vkkQgSpCIA0LD_6kO6yiAD7noFKWXAEfVu6eEJr9OVzspgFvKoylb6BBYlQAfK6UWUpzmwbBhRiAsMbTCLCBC5qLHFqnFqUD_w3-AvHXFyFytbFplDClkDHe8KFe4cih2LPiiGXU/w400-h225/20230311_143808.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Between those two, I chanced upon the first couple of volumes of two different graphic novel series. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/146415-saga" target="_blank">Saga</a></i> was kinda interesting. In an oddball, pretty out there, but entertaining nonetheless sort of way. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/52498-ex-machina" target="_blank">Ex Machina</a></i> was more so. More interesting, more out there, more entertaining :). To be completely honest, I was just browsing around in the library, minding my own business, when I spotted them on some recommended shelves. Read them, returned them, didn't think too much about them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhbyz4eMSbJGTbI0mb56x2YD5_leNSdh7WCwRsLbfyCG64ZZE39zV4TMuFmEKtNy8pbbadn9C-8C6TZtbSrW_ZrgN0o6_kzRkcElrVLByPPPtw1c584NS8eVXAmMClo5IDqxCUsMEQ_ytaCmGkXieiVAZzG52E9dFanxzyEw0C9nWEWF8Yso/s4032/20230313_200105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhbyz4eMSbJGTbI0mb56x2YD5_leNSdh7WCwRsLbfyCG64ZZE39zV4TMuFmEKtNy8pbbadn9C-8C6TZtbSrW_ZrgN0o6_kzRkcElrVLByPPPtw1c584NS8eVXAmMClo5IDqxCUsMEQ_ytaCmGkXieiVAZzG52E9dFanxzyEw0C9nWEWF8Yso/w400-h225/20230313_200105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then I read the book club book for the month, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59574239-the-last-girl-to-die" target="_blank">The Last Girl to Die</a></i>. OMG! Like, come on! Who writes stuff like that? Actually, more importantly, who <i>reads</i> stuff like that?! And Goodreads is full of raving reviews! Seriously? It was probably one of the worst books I've read in a long time! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCuBN1KFIifygXO9vj9aDb2pHy_EVirfUTqHimbARkyAaBLny48vRnWqZITTB1DtAUxcC5wfr_uBrEXrmSx_SHn8G1DvUdfYtVryL5e-V9n-SPcRe6GapLGmEBFi6uhMzdbcfIHGCSfhRElManeIAa0FLe_JFGlaK1RgY69PglZcVc4UyXSo/s4032/20230313_200939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCuBN1KFIifygXO9vj9aDb2pHy_EVirfUTqHimbARkyAaBLny48vRnWqZITTB1DtAUxcC5wfr_uBrEXrmSx_SHn8G1DvUdfYtVryL5e-V9n-SPcRe6GapLGmEBFi6uhMzdbcfIHGCSfhRElManeIAa0FLe_JFGlaK1RgY69PglZcVc4UyXSo/w400-h225/20230313_200939.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Or rather, it was the book I genuinely disliked the most in a long time. The difference may be subtle, but significant I suppose. Mainly because it's not a badly written book. Just painful reading! It's dark and miserable, but told in an almost light tone that I found seriously disconcerting! I guess for people who don't want to or like to get particularly into the books they read this may just be like a fast paced thriller? But I basically just about got through it as quickly as I could and moved on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndhuAlT_PREHNuY5Du7DcxJENys2UxV6TWjtwaMtyH9dDFtxe_SvVrKMfbXwaz372ACrV90klUhzcpOVeWcUuaiq3NPZ_slvpaxtRWdrM1yqzIaN6gyu_ujPLiG0Jbcd5B5zuF6is_xP8VMv2AaMpwq-EnF0h8lazakE-Ix2JSqSDHf2fPeo/s4032/20230315_211824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndhuAlT_PREHNuY5Du7DcxJENys2UxV6TWjtwaMtyH9dDFtxe_SvVrKMfbXwaz372ACrV90klUhzcpOVeWcUuaiq3NPZ_slvpaxtRWdrM1yqzIaN6gyu_ujPLiG0Jbcd5B5zuF6is_xP8VMv2AaMpwq-EnF0h8lazakE-Ix2JSqSDHf2fPeo/w400-h225/20230315_211824.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Straight to <i>The Einstein Intersection</i>, but even that was a massive relief! I'd actually kinda gotten used to the fact that often book-club books that I'm uncertain about turn out really interesting or at least thought provoking, and it's just a function of exploring different perspectives. But this one (still talking about <i>Last Girl..</i>) was just plain miserable. A case of the a book really living down to the off-putting blurb.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVFSJ73g8gXMstC6IvEyv7wycxH9EyxxUmESyCpKgVCd6qQlv-8C0wLEaSlDbOM5HiayB41wuQkOYHgvwB-MrgLZq0DfE2CpNYmD9KnPFa41oI_pXg79lSKQnVtlREl07ccN4gmEZ6wnnScQGXEAtuDNiCa2C7Pwr3HLj4d0WOkIoNrV63Hs/s4032/20230316_080006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVFSJ73g8gXMstC6IvEyv7wycxH9EyxxUmESyCpKgVCd6qQlv-8C0wLEaSlDbOM5HiayB41wuQkOYHgvwB-MrgLZq0DfE2CpNYmD9KnPFa41oI_pXg79lSKQnVtlREl07ccN4gmEZ6wnnScQGXEAtuDNiCa2C7Pwr3HLj4d0WOkIoNrV63Hs/w400-h225/20230316_080006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, so having spent ten days or so reading a couple of not particularly enjoyable books, my thoughts returned to Brian K Vaughan (the brains behind both <i>Saga </i>and <i>Ex Machina</i>). I eventually ended up acquiring the rest of the latter series, partly out of curiosity, partly just to go back to weirdness I can get into, so that's what's occupying me on my commute at the moment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXq-HogeDURC6el6qx6hIo92_NulScuiMvYRYU1Ua8d6QZzalDAsrOLlETMmbxbn9Ac4ahWZVNlrrBztl3wEJLIDzMBxCDMP-wKpWi-RFzfU4gwhGj2XtvLX78o4kig1ICaFWQnkvR4GuY7S-m3_BQUU-SpvxawdTL9woGQNls3GPK-KafD8/s4032/20230317_073952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXq-HogeDURC6el6qx6hIo92_NulScuiMvYRYU1Ua8d6QZzalDAsrOLlETMmbxbn9Ac4ahWZVNlrrBztl3wEJLIDzMBxCDMP-wKpWi-RFzfU4gwhGj2XtvLX78o4kig1ICaFWQnkvR4GuY7S-m3_BQUU-SpvxawdTL9woGQNls3GPK-KafD8/w400-h225/20230317_073952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In the midst of all that though, on a rather gloomy Saturday, we went to the library where I spent a very enjoyable few hours digging around the forewords, introductions, prefaces, post scripts and such like of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/597790.The_Children_of_H_rin" target="_blank">The Children of Húrin</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7332.The_Silmarillion" target="_blank">The Silmarillion</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41015249-beren-and-l-thien" target="_blank">Beren and Lúthien</a></i>. There was a distinct feeling of sort of finding my way back into the world that first ignited my excitement and love for fantasy literature. (I suppose strictly speaking, I'd read fantasy before, but this was on a completely different level :).)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gX5q42HvCw8qVnKHMdoJcqP1Yoq3UVrtcw6JDa7UymPZAMi6DOu2XYIoHmzyJf4uTwaG16Vq2t-Ni08gDKKzE4QLtQ7kd3D7EO5f23oFwORvDNXDfZhMHpEEgdPQnyKVOzwqXecrYlxywoj6cORNfY7ZLu6UUPmTbPZiJ9U4ibzBWEu9WRk/s4032/20230318_120816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gX5q42HvCw8qVnKHMdoJcqP1Yoq3UVrtcw6JDa7UymPZAMi6DOu2XYIoHmzyJf4uTwaG16Vq2t-Ni08gDKKzE4QLtQ7kd3D7EO5f23oFwORvDNXDfZhMHpEEgdPQnyKVOzwqXecrYlxywoj6cORNfY7ZLu6UUPmTbPZiJ9U4ibzBWEu9WRk/w400-h225/20230318_120816.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I suppose what was really interesting for me was how personal it all was. Christopher Tolkien gives us such a beautiful view into the inner world of the creator of Middle Earth. Even though I've read <i>The Silmarillion</i> a few times, it had never spoken to me in the same way the letter from JRR to Milton Waldman in 1951 did. Naturally :). I was particularly intrigued by how JRR returned time and again to the same tales and would explore expand or just re-write them in different ways at different times.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87M3zoNKcLlQFfC9wr5z5zaQkbR8H72pTEFtMahGDd_AA9Sr98NOQr7zD-skOOYwwrMkmkU2nZx7GbbYQ1BIUUdpqnRNbgfs6TUgtJDAhoS6fjPAOvsiM_EOL_Am8Bce0MjVEufyVfY_tsL9V-UmLPPN6hozS4jwpGLyh5wPCclU6c946qCk/s4032/20230318_133704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87M3zoNKcLlQFfC9wr5z5zaQkbR8H72pTEFtMahGDd_AA9Sr98NOQr7zD-skOOYwwrMkmkU2nZx7GbbYQ1BIUUdpqnRNbgfs6TUgtJDAhoS6fjPAOvsiM_EOL_Am8Bce0MjVEufyVfY_tsL9V-UmLPPN6hozS4jwpGLyh5wPCclU6c946qCk/w400-h225/20230318_133704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">All in all, I was left with a profound need to get back to Middle Earth. Maybe after my foray into Vaughan's alternative NYC :).</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-66519503808416457502023-02-26T18:55:00.000+01:002023-02-26T18:55:42.788+01:00Life in between moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7QRH-H_xxBbG1DXDm5RUKb3I1IghfY5sAAMJVc-rFpVdKcp8UiQAoL6mgQ-qT-kJ9EJ27ezDPuZOppSAJG75O04RtOCvTr_P216jnCAM4hdWfljo0Uh882bAQIv_elQK8cUKkJaTtul67gXL_jedWS7DbYBcxdaWJq5RDOMHidiZUp217qw/s9744/20230205_160044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="9744" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7QRH-H_xxBbG1DXDm5RUKb3I1IghfY5sAAMJVc-rFpVdKcp8UiQAoL6mgQ-qT-kJ9EJ27ezDPuZOppSAJG75O04RtOCvTr_P216jnCAM4hdWfljo0Uh882bAQIv_elQK8cUKkJaTtul67gXL_jedWS7DbYBcxdaWJq5RDOMHidiZUp217qw/w640-h162/20230205_160044.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Yup, February has also gone by in a flash. However, there's a very different feel to how this month has gone by compared to January. In a good way. I guess the week and a half away has had a lot to do with it, in more ways than one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvztX2L8Y0i45QYwqnnbsGzTL1ekJAiU7sgVuXGDb9cHOO61oU8LMvomnuHxm2bYkao5gW3wTaDJCvZ1_-e2kzAapkAwuMTn52FfHLjwXGfOTZdDKUXjbfhbUkFGJp9zR0yDgTGAWgD6DSgyeHDRSl1s4uAcPrj6BcWMf1L8bkIp8m4rtQj2E/s4032/20230204_085649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvztX2L8Y0i45QYwqnnbsGzTL1ekJAiU7sgVuXGDb9cHOO61oU8LMvomnuHxm2bYkao5gW3wTaDJCvZ1_-e2kzAapkAwuMTn52FfHLjwXGfOTZdDKUXjbfhbUkFGJp9zR0yDgTGAWgD6DSgyeHDRSl1s4uAcPrj6BcWMf1L8bkIp8m4rtQj2E/w400-h225/20230204_085649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">A first trip back to India in almost four years... in some ways I could tell, in others, it felt like I'd hardly been away :). The weather was great! Bright sunny days with the temperature bouncing between 15 and 30 ºC. A perfect getaway from the deep freeze of the Norwegian winter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ52L8Q6X9bVdKVPBca_7K45Fgd2Tdvx0kjruIwWen3Yvws08LXkMv-q7Bh4UtrDOh0zHoiAVsdnKgIHFn8vljefG4sSw8iJm_dVF64EExOPCZjdnxxOLOBcU35EX4qz3QOaTFD3Gf_Hhsgk7RdqnT2QT0WfVEzkQSepzl2MNBM_Ogic74PKc/s4032/20230211_122019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ52L8Q6X9bVdKVPBca_7K45Fgd2Tdvx0kjruIwWen3Yvws08LXkMv-q7Bh4UtrDOh0zHoiAVsdnKgIHFn8vljefG4sSw8iJm_dVF64EExOPCZjdnxxOLOBcU35EX4qz3QOaTFD3Gf_Hhsgk7RdqnT2QT0WfVEzkQSepzl2MNBM_Ogic74PKc/w225-h400/20230211_122019.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Made the most of what felt like very little time, visiting family, checking out old haunts and new. Meeting people I'd heard about for years and not met before. Found out yet again why I like clothes made in India :). Took some more steps towards making peace with the fact that while we're not looking, the world is constantly changing around us.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-kLs9AxV_ulrVjSVH-fJuzvpeI4PYYwH2qBEaGWpwKEPirqRrCoZFxR1xgINXkYkBnHtBhQPU2JYLKLdFQ_IgvU9MTwtyowEzqWETaaRr8Q8XdaIlGWZjwKmyWSrRH7woZI6QcfsC9h0toYPPYv4XxH8uk3U2IntFYNEScnIOz8IHDDXlbU/s1024/IMG-20230220-WA0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1024" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-kLs9AxV_ulrVjSVH-fJuzvpeI4PYYwH2qBEaGWpwKEPirqRrCoZFxR1xgINXkYkBnHtBhQPU2JYLKLdFQ_IgvU9MTwtyowEzqWETaaRr8Q8XdaIlGWZjwKmyWSrRH7woZI6QcfsC9h0toYPPYv4XxH8uk3U2IntFYNEScnIOz8IHDDXlbU/s320/IMG-20230220-WA0005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dadu 1926 - 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm also grateful we could see my grandfather one last time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tIEqNaD8MriwhWXPd8sBdboMabqRaEWEvH1lhozVcgyHk4guNXfeA0Ql9-fxjbaiX62r3JcwxXG6qSqamj6dy6d5w2XPPyXDWEbhnLoB3B8lBd6iP7UT-wIgvg1r1xIfhoKUpih3eaJ6JhMWdQwV-IAZ3ftHq2L0BCbJgIklzPmL2i_c_zc/s4032/20230212_105458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tIEqNaD8MriwhWXPd8sBdboMabqRaEWEvH1lhozVcgyHk4guNXfeA0Ql9-fxjbaiX62r3JcwxXG6qSqamj6dy6d5w2XPPyXDWEbhnLoB3B8lBd6iP7UT-wIgvg1r1xIfhoKUpih3eaJ6JhMWdQwV-IAZ3ftHq2L0BCbJgIklzPmL2i_c_zc/w225-h400/20230212_105458.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">No account of a trip back to India can possibly be complete without mention of the food, of course :). Given that this was not mango season, it made sense that I didn't have any of the fresh, sweet, juicy mangoes that I crave most of the time. Other than that, had pretty much everything :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeP6wpP_TBv2d0BcPQ2Or79zxm5jLzcB0i5UFcq6V-eVvLBN8QPOurvE6QSin-58YnbIF2hnWcxpjMRuVGMrZnRocpHtZfG8SO9dmftNfsoSwF9z8GnnWWNOpJF1vszfR4TWUnZc31s91ItkX3lGlHMmjyCY-jWb7DRAsOp2K9XBoORT-6Y0/s4032/20230212_173839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeP6wpP_TBv2d0BcPQ2Or79zxm5jLzcB0i5UFcq6V-eVvLBN8QPOurvE6QSin-58YnbIF2hnWcxpjMRuVGMrZnRocpHtZfG8SO9dmftNfsoSwF9z8GnnWWNOpJF1vszfR4TWUnZc31s91ItkX3lGlHMmjyCY-jWb7DRAsOp2K9XBoORT-6Y0/w225-h400/20230212_173839.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Even went so far as getting some <a href="https://www.slurrp.com/article/phuchka-kolkatas-favourite-street-food-1658429974343" target="_blank">phuchkas</a> from one of the local phuchkawallas on the trip to Shantiniketan for the really complete Bengali food experience! (Note that the link is <i>not</i> to Wikipedia since they seem to have made the shocking decision of redirecting to pani puri, which anyone would tell you is <i>nothing</i> like phuchka. Only phuchka is phuchka, ok? Good. Moving on.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NNVLsRKjJkpZ24dwP_ChUSlHjpXp_lrkFR-kaOwd4YNStEiEJPzfqLK0tjbRAC89M7GlScEd_w2GOOxM3ohm4tTNz9SZ-yjT4isFIM7A-2b2SjRA47cneAt6cfZc-8wHyiiEuMJzMc-tdBPXlGRuyCR7N4bvMkrQQaFba0R3uttW1THguf8/s4032/20230203_165016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NNVLsRKjJkpZ24dwP_ChUSlHjpXp_lrkFR-kaOwd4YNStEiEJPzfqLK0tjbRAC89M7GlScEd_w2GOOxM3ohm4tTNz9SZ-yjT4isFIM7A-2b2SjRA47cneAt6cfZc-8wHyiiEuMJzMc-tdBPXlGRuyCR7N4bvMkrQQaFba0R3uttW1THguf8/w400-h225/20230203_165016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It was all over too soon of course, but hopefully the next trip will be rather sooner than four years :). All the travelling worked out quite well in the end. A bit of a tight connection through Dubai on the way back notwithstanding. The checked in bags didn't make it, but hey, that meant we didn't have to lug heavy stuff over ice and grit and got them delivered at home the next day :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUpeJHQpWT-KiJ0G6sjJdT-FNweXfF9w0G_SLJLexz3ZuuxDKBg_2IVTpf2jhoUwwSKuyXBzBJJKnWFTi3hU5UnBX_Ru94GIheott_5ZYwHaisljWCuMRKkL5M50wYU8Uq2NAp5y_FywRNryq9Iyv-nlAKs6WlhQ2fSJ34vptDUvrs5p-zRs/s4032/20230223_080005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUpeJHQpWT-KiJ0G6sjJdT-FNweXfF9w0G_SLJLexz3ZuuxDKBg_2IVTpf2jhoUwwSKuyXBzBJJKnWFTi3hU5UnBX_Ru94GIheott_5ZYwHaisljWCuMRKkL5M50wYU8Uq2NAp5y_FywRNryq9Iyv-nlAKs6WlhQ2fSJ34vptDUvrs5p-zRs/w400-h225/20230223_080005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Since then things have been busy, but not too busy. And I think at least in part this has been a case of perspective. And letting things go a bit. Which is something I felt I'd gotten better at, but I guess it's one of those things that's never really sorted forever. A bit like cleaning the house. You clean it, and then after a while you need to clean it again. In between, life happens.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC2x_1PvyvK2eWL29k3eQEngwGuqyyic8l27W2XlFmb_-e_a0q6H8wvJGpDTYi104xKKinwoAVDt9bv_5DLEPsL9QbKlJXeRTrEOAwPas6GhdAP3VPsAch-ugK2uH81YRa3ARaqbAOE80a8E3SbulOBUFhOxLQY75BYEIsK_11N6xVX0K3Cc/s4032/20230204_102051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC2x_1PvyvK2eWL29k3eQEngwGuqyyic8l27W2XlFmb_-e_a0q6H8wvJGpDTYi104xKKinwoAVDt9bv_5DLEPsL9QbKlJXeRTrEOAwPas6GhdAP3VPsAch-ugK2uH81YRa3ARaqbAOE80a8E3SbulOBUFhOxLQY75BYEIsK_11N6xVX0K3Cc/w400-h225/20230204_102051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of, reading's been happening. In between things. I'm finally done with the Culture. Even took the books back to my friend who'd lent them in a big shopping bag yesterday. What can I say? It's been an experience that has forever changed my perspective on sci-fi. The boundaries of possible have shifted. And it's an immense loss that Iain M Banks is no more and there will be no more Culture novels.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpDJ02hGVLRMDGzYgIj4EoPR6cA3u5xE7g47dIbcdJ6yfXb9sxQuE5-6N-Rh6ykaL6tT9_83WGZVt3TJd9T-Dz9gTcKzR4LdJHEho1vgJxV1Ia3lVp1QLYsaGkJ4dRD02L2zajrkCaGB97bG8xix1MdvVfsCHd_05A3iUhbZMWLUCdGtHPW0/s4032/20230205_145727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpDJ02hGVLRMDGzYgIj4EoPR6cA3u5xE7g47dIbcdJ6yfXb9sxQuE5-6N-Rh6ykaL6tT9_83WGZVt3TJd9T-Dz9gTcKzR4LdJHEho1vgJxV1Ia3lVp1QLYsaGkJ4dRD02L2zajrkCaGB97bG8xix1MdvVfsCHd_05A3iUhbZMWLUCdGtHPW0/w400-h225/20230205_145727.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The story itself had it all :). While nothing, in my mind, comes close to the shock and awe of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3395563-use-of-weapons" target="_blank">Use of Weapons</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18487465-the-hydrogen-sonata" target="_blank">The Hydrogen Sonata</a></i> very much holds it's own compared to any other Culture novel. The scope and extent of the story, the variety of the characters. Mix of Minds, various pan-human and more exotic species. The long view of the evolution of a society while maintaining focus on individual lives. It was a treat :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH033Gn7OK6OhF563caApnaKM49PhNftuVpOy9gix2TmFph3RUmmUu8vXT4fz4JoLlLGMx-o_1sHmk19uB08rljlAVQCaaWigDUxiw8U7heT3dDoUwA7FPZxpGrzxR18uHGY_CErtHoVRHeXoZfK0g9SaM7Jnod5RUy-Kqtx1RsYvqqdNR4iM/s4032/20230205_152400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH033Gn7OK6OhF563caApnaKM49PhNftuVpOy9gix2TmFph3RUmmUu8vXT4fz4JoLlLGMx-o_1sHmk19uB08rljlAVQCaaWigDUxiw8U7heT3dDoUwA7FPZxpGrzxR18uHGY_CErtHoVRHeXoZfK0g9SaM7Jnod5RUy-Kqtx1RsYvqqdNR4iM/w400-h225/20230205_152400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Since then I've also finished reading the book club book for the month, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9722566-the-tiger-s-wife" target="_blank">The Tiger's Wife</a></i>. An amazingly visualized fabric of story with beautifully fleshed out characters. Neither the story nor the characters were sacrificed. Add to that the layering of generations of lives in the mercurial social political and religious landscape of the Balkans and it was a genuinely eye opening experience.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYdTpV1syZvG4lvPENm3AvrHnSNzRWJtP60-ZHTB3GvMKRBF48HKI-y7ENqacT_PbVCHhEpE-g-kl6eByT8GPpdpf9QjfOk6iIO4-E9_MMOQGzToA-gsWZNHYNPd8Zs7J3so6tiL5vjjFoEOH5sm6i7cggAFQ14hBmLOn5HQ0ogSwE5bAbCw/s4032/20230225_131307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYdTpV1syZvG4lvPENm3AvrHnSNzRWJtP60-ZHTB3GvMKRBF48HKI-y7ENqacT_PbVCHhEpE-g-kl6eByT8GPpdpf9QjfOk6iIO4-E9_MMOQGzToA-gsWZNHYNPd8Zs7J3so6tiL5vjjFoEOH5sm6i7cggAFQ14hBmLOn5HQ0ogSwE5bAbCw/w225-h400/20230225_131307.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">And now I'm finding myself sinking into the world of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92143.Bone" target="_blank">Bone</a></i> with a very contented and relaxed sigh (metaphorically speaking, haven't read any of it this weekend :P).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOnq1FslPKLzDN44jKEVcvEUjinUIrCZPyIEQ6k6fihIBFea88iKEfM_fLF1JHVpgLU4e4i5CfwJjKzke-CWXZSmTv13MmjJtc4XVaFs8XzLkv8ZwLtAMVEgpEd4KqOsmQeN5TBGZe0DLJbvFMshQrOHQv6rX94sMJ6SDuiwc5ZIXlSZ77Vk/s4032/20230204_105906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOnq1FslPKLzDN44jKEVcvEUjinUIrCZPyIEQ6k6fihIBFea88iKEfM_fLF1JHVpgLU4e4i5CfwJjKzke-CWXZSmTv13MmjJtc4XVaFs8XzLkv8ZwLtAMVEgpEd4KqOsmQeN5TBGZe0DLJbvFMshQrOHQv6rX94sMJ6SDuiwc5ZIXlSZ77Vk/w400-h225/20230204_105906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">One thing that happened before the India trip of course, was the weekend trip to Norefjell! To go downhill! And what a great weekend of snowboarding it was! The lack of recent experience was definitely on show the first hour or so, but after that it was like the last three years melted away. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTMl7fMpTCdYSszS7iDIslng_PwQcr7CPEaGawknlRm06G24L-EpxtVWIe8k6fbfBQDYjsqS6_FyMGJXQkF7ve1sx7r_HGIOAbs7tMiZ2VkY_uf3DkjKQbpEf9_95XfrG4mGqUW-jG-ZY5TIcgyN2Mls4BLdYZQvvEhILq_uyR2UJwMNS1j4/s4032/20230205_102152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTMl7fMpTCdYSszS7iDIslng_PwQcr7CPEaGawknlRm06G24L-EpxtVWIe8k6fbfBQDYjsqS6_FyMGJXQkF7ve1sx7r_HGIOAbs7tMiZ2VkY_uf3DkjKQbpEf9_95XfrG4mGqUW-jG-ZY5TIcgyN2Mls4BLdYZQvvEhILq_uyR2UJwMNS1j4/w400-h225/20230205_102152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There was fresh snow both days, so the surface conditions were amazing. And on top of that the weather was brilliant with lots of sunshine. There was a lot of wind the Sunday morning which shut the upper slopes, but luckily Norefjell has quite a lot of more sheltered slopes, so we enjoyed our time regardless :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3hGddjcVR5bS4qSyGFo-vrOxXhlObNc7ddgV9FmHpnotSaTn5PEQlXBrkrKD2otl5MVSaH5a3ss502EMRrTdlHP89UEqql_5079AvY0rX7O2V81nexTNk1HP-XTNuBd5w4_bpFRq0XSazsGLYwJ2oQL7qFWCpqtWaSKkfGI1oZtz9jVSYt8/s4032/20230205_104730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3hGddjcVR5bS4qSyGFo-vrOxXhlObNc7ddgV9FmHpnotSaTn5PEQlXBrkrKD2otl5MVSaH5a3ss502EMRrTdlHP89UEqql_5079AvY0rX7O2V81nexTNk1HP-XTNuBd5w4_bpFRq0XSazsGLYwJ2oQL7qFWCpqtWaSKkfGI1oZtz9jVSYt8/w400-h225/20230205_104730.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">That weekend now, unsurprisingly, feels like a long time ago :). There's been a surprising amount of fresh snow this week though, and yesterday I decided to head out on a solo expedition on cross-country skis for a change. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SdXi4HrAwIyOByowyKnseoLHiLPb3lTELtRDM95lA4vcoGA0Es5YNULFigIfMfluXUG422986CSRH5yTEZT7ZZtEmsAJvSYbGPhMuF9JzoCGtXYPhBpjtnU6tEXDz1vHW1Rmza5wc-yUIJTGjspiG0ajf6B0IQuU36erAOZAzt-hCyS__Ng/s4032/20230225_113658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SdXi4HrAwIyOByowyKnseoLHiLPb3lTELtRDM95lA4vcoGA0Es5YNULFigIfMfluXUG422986CSRH5yTEZT7ZZtEmsAJvSYbGPhMuF9JzoCGtXYPhBpjtnU6tEXDz1vHW1Rmza5wc-yUIJTGjspiG0ajf6B0IQuU36erAOZAzt-hCyS__Ng/w400-h225/20230225_113658.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The day was perfectly sunny, the tracks were pretty close to pristine seeing how it was the school winter holidays which meant most people were away, leaving the tracks more or less empty :). To be fair, I also probably picked the relatively less frequented ones anyway. Starting from the tracks beside the local train station, taking it easy and stopping often, to take photos or catch my breath, I made it all the way to Spikkestad in a bit over three hours. The train back took ten minutes :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0oZUKnFVdKE_MVa9rx7rVeXTu3WkkxWobvyMDSESzpDMjq-VjMl09TG91LYvYOeHNo0Bf_zi4YRkFOjSxYi_VCXfNyBj7UNfYZ2WMupztS3zM3ylD1XlVNmwbUi3y66btvSNgWyaSGN_OzKGs_OeyQJmnMW5pX3refbLUGVyjisfQeLXgHg/s8608/20230225_121015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2656" data-original-width="8608" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0oZUKnFVdKE_MVa9rx7rVeXTu3WkkxWobvyMDSESzpDMjq-VjMl09TG91LYvYOeHNo0Bf_zi4YRkFOjSxYi_VCXfNyBj7UNfYZ2WMupztS3zM3ylD1XlVNmwbUi3y66btvSNgWyaSGN_OzKGs_OeyQJmnMW5pX3refbLUGVyjisfQeLXgHg/w640-h198/20230225_121015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-85798251371579554312023-01-29T14:23:00.011+01:002023-01-29T14:34:54.479+01:00Keep calm and carry on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwjkahwf5ascgKa1XVITeY6NdqR5G-I0I4LUeLoHtCRMNbZj8KvekO_75fXKzGyeKZdx6DW9EFPjFfWtLoX_y3lKFL5zQc1C3HvAfZ-mfPTXNtWILQoQpHG8oQsftu82dS9VtJnyTXcdtlkCuzTAru3oyJoCcGWdMIjD2DagsoKO_6i7yWUo/s8704/20230121_121629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="8704" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwjkahwf5ascgKa1XVITeY6NdqR5G-I0I4LUeLoHtCRMNbZj8KvekO_75fXKzGyeKZdx6DW9EFPjFfWtLoX_y3lKFL5zQc1C3HvAfZ-mfPTXNtWILQoQpHG8oQsftu82dS9VtJnyTXcdtlkCuzTAru3oyJoCcGWdMIjD2DagsoKO_6i7yWUo/w640-h202/20230121_121629.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So, another new year, more snow, cross-country skiing and wondering at exactly what point in life did I gain this mostly seamless understanding of which and how many layers to put on to survive a given level of cold...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BLToGFBRQyWIpLAZ_k-lpRiuaBBVv-8dx_Pcaxdk0EH3BcBoQvLglczMwy4bS1OzGhNWmiVy9ioV4p4CqnPOnXP7Rn8VD0J8MI9N_VpE1rgHhnK4IqfqQLzqcEaDprdUlaiyibOJ9ocmPe9EnKw3bIbFEow0e3zawjZHU-31PwtUfPRsFjA/s4032/20230106_125029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BLToGFBRQyWIpLAZ_k-lpRiuaBBVv-8dx_Pcaxdk0EH3BcBoQvLglczMwy4bS1OzGhNWmiVy9ioV4p4CqnPOnXP7Rn8VD0J8MI9N_VpE1rgHhnK4IqfqQLzqcEaDprdUlaiyibOJ9ocmPe9EnKw3bIbFEow0e3zawjZHU-31PwtUfPRsFjA/w400-h225/20230106_125029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIoFXpRIbfRarDA6TI7wUPmGF9cuiXfMOi-oaGkK7uSgQQtvddj2NUW30uJldH8gNdhvNb-UwI2clqtbmyo_M36rrtMwBJhgK9UlXk-FikJHO1Pb6kWcwB4-ihLdyA_vl2MzcizNnA1wGhkFGZS5BHi8yRIUnxowGoZXJ9HI7GuoAjzv6Y8Q/s4032/20230121_124114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIoFXpRIbfRarDA6TI7wUPmGF9cuiXfMOi-oaGkK7uSgQQtvddj2NUW30uJldH8gNdhvNb-UwI2clqtbmyo_M36rrtMwBJhgK9UlXk-FikJHO1Pb6kWcwB4-ihLdyA_vl2MzcizNnA1wGhkFGZS5BHi8yRIUnxowGoZXJ9HI7GuoAjzv6Y8Q/w400-h225/20230121_124114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, this year seems to have started at absolutely break-neck speed. Leaving me a little breathless already. It's surprising in a way that for the first time I can remember we are barely through January and it already feels like 2023's been going on for a while. Not sure that's a good sign :(.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4MRhpr_a8ev-88vTaaJt5PTu7IKOztZmIW15x6ntdD5WtJ4TwyHCjRcAE3eOwURrDoWu2x7ItDOaGYztxXZ2PL2x_5wDzslul3vp8RRUd4bKqE9voruRNYWh-B1PZ4-cCuUfy2iimFimZo5lOydztwlwR7vxILIDoQvNsdtml9DR7ht4-dw/s4032/20230106_192823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4MRhpr_a8ev-88vTaaJt5PTu7IKOztZmIW15x6ntdD5WtJ4TwyHCjRcAE3eOwURrDoWu2x7ItDOaGYztxXZ2PL2x_5wDzslul3vp8RRUd4bKqE9voruRNYWh-B1PZ4-cCuUfy2iimFimZo5lOydztwlwR7vxILIDoQvNsdtml9DR7ht4-dw/w400-h225/20230106_192823.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QeytmtllCeKT6wOvIQUdnSIgskNG5dHXhqs7wfK9e0u4EBeZhDJWrLSjaRpcaqjGNsV23Lv6qgnCQ_nGwM5_y0ZSM8iEsQaHyjhbhktBwdCUNozTe380f-gtvst6lja04SsMVLTYMLTtS7FUgHvD6zocN3mnp4urAABpW7WDU-DFCwSWCyE/s4032/20230107_120014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QeytmtllCeKT6wOvIQUdnSIgskNG5dHXhqs7wfK9e0u4EBeZhDJWrLSjaRpcaqjGNsV23Lv6qgnCQ_nGwM5_y0ZSM8iEsQaHyjhbhktBwdCUNozTe380f-gtvst6lja04SsMVLTYMLTtS7FUgHvD6zocN3mnp4urAABpW7WDU-DFCwSWCyE/w400-h225/20230107_120014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Either way, to focus on one of the better things about life at the moment, the snow!! It <i>did</i> end up snowing a bunch, a couple of times this month, leading to a reasonably good amount of cross-country skiing so far. Although the fresh snow has stayed away for a bit over a week and the temperature flitting between positive and negative values on a daily basis has left things rather hard and icy. Maybe there will some more of the good stuff before too long :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtRbRarRWsRKawPIz2aQ3146W8UlT6cLsZ2gpLIrDDooBHSjYR-IEXrBSFoFw26ixnsoCyaiv3Mb8JUHAUdubYdG0BgDxgH_VGXQeLe6jz_RB5F3lYEByJAwjecxyD_rrERcw5MBZAtB5G_ILmttKZjOoy3k4-ipOdz_sOjlkhSg6zrwtfoc/s4032/20230120_190617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtRbRarRWsRKawPIz2aQ3146W8UlT6cLsZ2gpLIrDDooBHSjYR-IEXrBSFoFw26ixnsoCyaiv3Mb8JUHAUdubYdG0BgDxgH_VGXQeLe6jz_RB5F3lYEByJAwjecxyD_rrERcw5MBZAtB5G_ILmttKZjOoy3k4-ipOdz_sOjlkhSg6zrwtfoc/w225-h400/20230120_190617.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMVRzs0ZszvRVgxODFQ-bilyp5UuZ-d8M3kKjZzanVCoVkyLx1RtKLc5XO53IL1SAtCMfALwsf31pCDf9EPITwJIdJFoBhHR-iI47f45i8BMtc-6Z51U1mzJ8ezzJOBUXUdpUD_eJXuq9R2ePawNtovOCkEBdqjjwjB64d9JpZTuJtGJe9CM/s4032/20230121_131346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMVRzs0ZszvRVgxODFQ-bilyp5UuZ-d8M3kKjZzanVCoVkyLx1RtKLc5XO53IL1SAtCMfALwsf31pCDf9EPITwJIdJFoBhHR-iI47f45i8BMtc-6Z51U1mzJ8ezzJOBUXUdpUD_eJXuq9R2ePawNtovOCkEBdqjjwjB64d9JpZTuJtGJe9CM/w400-h225/20230121_131346.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There's been a little bit of travelling too! Back to Stockholm for work, and this time I got the chance to actually look around a little bit! It felt quite different from the other Nordic capitals I've being to. Oslo, Helsinki, Reykjavik and even Copenhagen to some extent feel decidedly small and laid back in comparison! I suppose what I'd really like is to be able to go back in the spring, or maybe summer. I keep getting told winter doesn't really show the city's best side :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvGVK5rGEefHIUgLU9NGlsggi-pDaJ6Lt7_U4BxhTsQdS-hfO6QJU2ft3l24opJ1X4bVBUuNwHw2jtRr61Tyov0WJESo3TlY-zf0-F5urq_sQm5hQ2G1_cAiuowhenPvw7Y_j6-10d8DFvUrSZXTrkWQc9jfg3ToWbO_twSSXTCHjb8v1Nfc/s4032/20230110_181903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvGVK5rGEefHIUgLU9NGlsggi-pDaJ6Lt7_U4BxhTsQdS-hfO6QJU2ft3l24opJ1X4bVBUuNwHw2jtRr61Tyov0WJESo3TlY-zf0-F5urq_sQm5hQ2G1_cAiuowhenPvw7Y_j6-10d8DFvUrSZXTrkWQc9jfg3ToWbO_twSSXTCHjb8v1Nfc/w400-h225/20230110_181903.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzKqdgPiNq3KbwU3egZotz5a2bazL_5eeBmmOs0SZIjsoTHJvv8FMwC3zc4cOPn3ZsQ7cpVO6AKZzJow_7B4JZFcqdDmcexeZuIoJiG2t4A6wIBaOe2Jh6YmBr5RaEnNXAtD3yya9klk8SlRCh2fuUcA_6ZZ9sqwdLdpX4F8blVDgsyUKnvc/s4032/20230110_220244.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzKqdgPiNq3KbwU3egZotz5a2bazL_5eeBmmOs0SZIjsoTHJvv8FMwC3zc4cOPn3ZsQ7cpVO6AKZzJow_7B4JZFcqdDmcexeZuIoJiG2t4A6wIBaOe2Jh6YmBr5RaEnNXAtD3yya9klk8SlRCh2fuUcA_6ZZ9sqwdLdpX4F8blVDgsyUKnvc/w400-h225/20230110_220244.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There was also a very brief but fun weekend trip back to the UK for a belated celebration. Pleasantly, the entire travel situation worked beautifully and without a hitch. Except of course some amount of panic getting to Oslo airport on Friday evening as the train services decided to descend into chaos. We managed to get to the gate pretty well in time in the end, only to have to wait because the flight was delayed. Reason? The flight crew, who were coming in from Oslo got delayed because of the same train issues :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVStHm3knki61M2BPrsT1-BQvbT3L3fEjnD0PRCayfJVEMWrSqAce-LSx_ZAOjkrZAla3O6XSVxFrCwnEmoRKNjqiXRcNsdVKIqKMskQUg2I4f3xuUEJIUvxZSwymds_fYAdDwSwZoxdRqNhieEC9Q5Zz2X-EnbO1CRqZVG4Nvs1xTkVYGUGg/s4032/20230113_201205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVStHm3knki61M2BPrsT1-BQvbT3L3fEjnD0PRCayfJVEMWrSqAce-LSx_ZAOjkrZAla3O6XSVxFrCwnEmoRKNjqiXRcNsdVKIqKMskQUg2I4f3xuUEJIUvxZSwymds_fYAdDwSwZoxdRqNhieEC9Q5Zz2X-EnbO1CRqZVG4Nvs1xTkVYGUGg/w400-h225/20230113_201205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In general though, I feel life has been somewhat busier than I'd like it to be. Mostly, if not entirely, because of work. I mean, I realize it's always better to be busy at work rather than have nothing to do, but still. I think I appreciate having a bit of headspace to be able to reflect on things. Plan, consider, evaluate. At the moment all I seem to have space for is plunging headlong through an unending and seemingly insurmountable list of things to get done. But this too shall pass, and in the meantime, I'm trying to keep calm and carry on :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcGnZX9vur7LKeeKbOT21t33tEipqeKlFDqpaxGYkRr-0xFiWRIQVdeRiATZoUbG0LfxkxNwXawSfI02FNcAGu3jc-iDeODIvUgw7tPQHaNtelK1IYdrFhsk5Aw8GTxFtZdSl8T5jinIohSBCh-hSwINI3tKB2ukPsRdCJ5FdcXFoPbeW3sQ/s4032/20230124_085138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcGnZX9vur7LKeeKbOT21t33tEipqeKlFDqpaxGYkRr-0xFiWRIQVdeRiATZoUbG0LfxkxNwXawSfI02FNcAGu3jc-iDeODIvUgw7tPQHaNtelK1IYdrFhsk5Aw8GTxFtZdSl8T5jinIohSBCh-hSwINI3tKB2ukPsRdCJ5FdcXFoPbeW3sQ/w400-h225/20230124_085138.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Naturally, reading has been happening a bit less. Even missed the monthly book club meeting for the first time in years. When I have had the time though, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18487465-the-hydrogen-sonata" target="_blank">The Hydrogen Sonata</a></i> has been providing me with a welcome escape. I'm about half way through and things are warming up :). Sadly, I'm reading this with the nearly constant thought in the back of my head that this is the last one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYE1YwKYm9Sh1Zalz6BsOgQ7v9nO3CDKt6vRZyyFHlPu9UETRcXcSNtSdgeFKfw2rguI9TA3WEM46ONCVDHIWDZ8U3fqtHZyjvijlJA4IPUzntxQo7Fnwx7dJXOwkcGlx647AVgmSoyBmibuVjpr4FKwLjEqXMn_cyuB_qBr_JzWbH6QaFRY/s4032/20230102_173642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYE1YwKYm9Sh1Zalz6BsOgQ7v9nO3CDKt6vRZyyFHlPu9UETRcXcSNtSdgeFKfw2rguI9TA3WEM46ONCVDHIWDZ8U3fqtHZyjvijlJA4IPUzntxQo7Fnwx7dJXOwkcGlx647AVgmSoyBmibuVjpr4FKwLjEqXMn_cyuB_qBr_JzWbH6QaFRY/w400-h225/20230102_173642.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I have been wondering if/when I'm going to go looking for the rest of the stuff by Banks. I'm not sure. I think I'm quite happy that a lot of the astute if cynical views he has (had?) on life are presented in the mostly benevolent and benign context if the Culture. Not sure I want to go delving into it all without that comforting blanket.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaswR17L38dWFyAMbHelofNLjnBliy3jWcl2pOn7_6C9uztg-bZvipnIPvV6JBLFMogSTbD730y-o0qdmyVMB9FOdPGKSva4UrJFHvaBexCc0yfOzjxqBLQoRp3Cy6LGKLUUCjJX5I5GXaT04pctQkjyNcFK-YJGNrXsbrIhGLXBU9UEKsfA/s3954/20230102_184900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="3954" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaswR17L38dWFyAMbHelofNLjnBliy3jWcl2pOn7_6C9uztg-bZvipnIPvV6JBLFMogSTbD730y-o0qdmyVMB9FOdPGKSva4UrJFHvaBexCc0yfOzjxqBLQoRp3Cy6LGKLUUCjJX5I5GXaT04pctQkjyNcFK-YJGNrXsbrIhGLXBU9UEKsfA/w400-h225/20230102_184900.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In another attempt to bring some light-hearted balance to life, we've started watching <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417299/" target="_blank">Avatar: The Last Airbender</a>,</i> and loving it! I've been aware of it for a long time, but never thought to make an effort. The first season was un-dubbed, and great fun to watch, but turns out the next two are only available on our chosen streaming service with Norwegian audio. It's no great impediment, we even get most of the jokes, but given that some of the characters are dubbed with somewhat strong west coast accents/dialects, it's a little more effort :). I guess there's a way to go before we feel as comfortable in Norwegian as we do in English...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4N9o1Yi-IKtPV4HLGzsdwDDJ6v5PgQy6etGRTfoiPBa3IQNoaLuT2K1XeD5WnFjGv4lnHgI1dq1_yw-hkbRWSp6LEvhrevbI4v_EL2zBpZ6K_RxBdVjb8v8KHtzIXcwWiDdarffQL-1i970XRGF5K2aIrIGLKHzQ7A64kEEyhsZ3xb0EcHk/s4032/20230124_074523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4N9o1Yi-IKtPV4HLGzsdwDDJ6v5PgQy6etGRTfoiPBa3IQNoaLuT2K1XeD5WnFjGv4lnHgI1dq1_yw-hkbRWSp6LEvhrevbI4v_EL2zBpZ6K_RxBdVjb8v8KHtzIXcwWiDdarffQL-1i970XRGF5K2aIrIGLKHzQ7A64kEEyhsZ3xb0EcHk/w400-h225/20230124_074523.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I almost forgot! I did actually also finish reading the book club book for this month! And it was one of my suggestions! But one I had picked more or less at random from the fantasy racks at the library. So it was with some curiosity that I started <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42730332-the-starless-sea" target="_blank">The Starless Sea</a></i>. It was certainly worth the time :). Weird and wonderful is probably an apt way of describing it. The author certainly seems to have an amazing imagination.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPkLS5k76domNcg2sC4zRvD0E5nbvIkjrwujERqaOKT6cuE9OAAYoLirZX3CLILSlrvbitr9UGQqBwB9AInTbTsZjfb_o1QwF8z5nzUjpXJ4ZfFvd144ObWdmuzoUkMW3tOwJVlPFke6_84MTGni0IqTqdWgDpdL18SV9k-yA2OTXvvL9fU0/s4032/20230127_201736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPkLS5k76domNcg2sC4zRvD0E5nbvIkjrwujERqaOKT6cuE9OAAYoLirZX3CLILSlrvbitr9UGQqBwB9AInTbTsZjfb_o1QwF8z5nzUjpXJ4ZfFvd144ObWdmuzoUkMW3tOwJVlPFke6_84MTGni0IqTqdWgDpdL18SV9k-yA2OTXvvL9fU0/w225-h400/20230127_201736.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">While the story itself was interesting, and the world it was set in extremely diverse and intriguing, I'm not sure what to make of the individual characters. With the possible exception of Madam Love and Kat, I wouldn't say I ever really warmed to any of the rest of them. They felt more like placeholders for the story and the author's tools rather than actual people.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMj6gRXswzbyDMy4Yz_r2ww3LqUKfcO1wPaJ_-O6WqTGSYPJRgBHch0rTCCA4zm7M5NYbhLNuHHFAWGCU5_GZ2IZNHZy4s99WyDWLdAOdmzhnD-QxU7idYktdp0WnT8bu5_Ob5DngOcPbreKRjwVhKRfIFtOjMtA-amRXLXdWwXcMYSahxfeE/s4032/20230120_123952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMj6gRXswzbyDMy4Yz_r2ww3LqUKfcO1wPaJ_-O6WqTGSYPJRgBHch0rTCCA4zm7M5NYbhLNuHHFAWGCU5_GZ2IZNHZy4s99WyDWLdAOdmzhnD-QxU7idYktdp0WnT8bu5_Ob5DngOcPbreKRjwVhKRfIFtOjMtA-amRXLXdWwXcMYSahxfeE/w400-h225/20230120_123952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">(While trying to remember some character names, I also stumbled across <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3040386546" target="_blank">this</a>! :D. So, I don't agree with the overall view that the book was unreadable and a waste of time. However, I <i>do</i> very much love the way she describes the book. Felt accurate. And extremely funny :).)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s6LuJxsH_qFuo5Vle57u8cdYAtDLVrCFlBa3oS9Uy6pSH698NzwTkxgJB65nHz2UTD5Vsn9Ga8fFGopO2M5lkw04OG7qx5yG9V3z5sUZ4-WETIqfdgJqSUsJMcLf2jAw3QjmXAxkZ5ZkU2KtmyFR0fKzffyuoUQxsnG8tMWsy8Nby9KW9T4/s4032/20230120_124133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s6LuJxsH_qFuo5Vle57u8cdYAtDLVrCFlBa3oS9Uy6pSH698NzwTkxgJB65nHz2UTD5Vsn9Ga8fFGopO2M5lkw04OG7qx5yG9V3z5sUZ4-WETIqfdgJqSUsJMcLf2jAw3QjmXAxkZ5ZkU2KtmyFR0fKzffyuoUQxsnG8tMWsy8Nby9KW9T4/w225-h400/20230120_124133.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Right. So.... There's actually a lot to look forward to in the next month! Visitors, downhill! (<i>Downhill! Snowboarding!</i>) And finally that trip back to India. But in the mean time, keeping calm and carrying on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhir1EYns9DWROo2hcVn51D1k1QD6OBH9QrYf2lFVfMc63pTmuHDXvxUKv5524zxaUzPtraeRVL0E7SoubyKeJ2gXZG3PLautPNOKCOFR6kTLwM1tx0GFCYsjIaSiKu1q0sI26HJMCWV7D59BAPW1VmONXl4SIK6RCgt_s4_lkXlKnDmM6B3AQ/s6768/20230121_132148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="6768" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhir1EYns9DWROo2hcVn51D1k1QD6OBH9QrYf2lFVfMc63pTmuHDXvxUKv5524zxaUzPtraeRVL0E7SoubyKeJ2gXZG3PLautPNOKCOFR6kTLwM1tx0GFCYsjIaSiKu1q0sI26HJMCWV7D59BAPW1VmONXl4SIK6RCgt_s4_lkXlKnDmM6B3AQ/w640-h248/20230121_132148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-25544754193657205002022-12-31T23:11:00.003+01:002023-01-02T13:15:08.034+01:00The one where we could go places and see people again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx_rf3O3ra5x_vGvRurWPGBNyqaad9Mq89m1zJV4m2eIGDbrN2V8vhpumVqVv5bGkxZ2Tn6hAm-Niyb9BIqhTDKHZ-y-MQUd9j9nMDin38e0vS52dVhK0RCHXn-diWzW6g8gipJkW12xcGIGuwTkY2JsRFR4_54390nN85Kud365VoB5vxsE/s4032/20221203_153726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx_rf3O3ra5x_vGvRurWPGBNyqaad9Mq89m1zJV4m2eIGDbrN2V8vhpumVqVv5bGkxZ2Tn6hAm-Niyb9BIqhTDKHZ-y-MQUd9j9nMDin38e0vS52dVhK0RCHXn-diWzW6g8gipJkW12xcGIGuwTkY2JsRFR4_54390nN85Kud365VoB5vxsE/w400-h225/20221203_153726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Right, where shall we begin?! This month has been crazy and happening enough, let alone the year :). In a good way. Mostly. I guess starting with December itself, it's been a properly white lead up to Christmas here! Although we did, after a gap of a couple of years, manage to finally spend Christmas this year with family in the UK! And continued the tradition of returning home on New Year's Eve. With a minimum of fuss as well, I'm happy to report :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgnZ0vn07fSbBA2JfK9LPeDYthJTcJHIqDHOj17EACONWyzwJU1jXFK4BZTDy4IL1XIXGsSDPzYqdpiLIZKoRbKkaYg92sqI7FHlz0twGnYtXbrqvm2rRTpj4mNTb0xyeU4SQyvbqko2zd1VpW9Lsl8TkleunR_JMoyFwn11AoETYcIIHRt0/s4032/20221203_175824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgnZ0vn07fSbBA2JfK9LPeDYthJTcJHIqDHOj17EACONWyzwJU1jXFK4BZTDy4IL1XIXGsSDPzYqdpiLIZKoRbKkaYg92sqI7FHlz0twGnYtXbrqvm2rRTpj4mNTb0xyeU4SQyvbqko2zd1VpW9Lsl8TkleunR_JMoyFwn11AoETYcIIHRt0/w400-h225/20221203_175824.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHQ5OrMVQLRGsVwVuCqP1yyNj98XEskXljk3nlNNidUAQClw_1TS9_Qk1ytlL2m57bEA1t6qMdXQ89MiTVPmMdKrOBmpJbeR1xj9FsqrKrIfu4mBHNCYEHmIzz8nxU85SPXn-H_CscULM93xobWEDpEuW-YcFADOMEYm02-GKrd8H1xbhpVk/s4032/20221206_203741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHQ5OrMVQLRGsVwVuCqP1yyNj98XEskXljk3nlNNidUAQClw_1TS9_Qk1ytlL2m57bEA1t6qMdXQ89MiTVPmMdKrOBmpJbeR1xj9FsqrKrIfu4mBHNCYEHmIzz8nxU85SPXn-H_CscULM93xobWEDpEuW-YcFADOMEYm02-GKrd8H1xbhpVk/w400-h225/20221206_203741.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hao0nZrQU0WmwMgbTJQ0inrK0gBjaO5ln7StPJ3nzbUr4qcX0gS6XCT1QP2TvPkCYHa18I_6_n8WBQyeTvq0u6E4wPibELaI7OJ7I_BDg-LUpGLryLzKVUZK0UHE2CYMZONmOQdbzJn2EXihv7u5QRTV1Nu2d-laMLW7ukvCPqhETWJx7n8/s4032/20221206_204022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hao0nZrQU0WmwMgbTJQ0inrK0gBjaO5ln7StPJ3nzbUr4qcX0gS6XCT1QP2TvPkCYHa18I_6_n8WBQyeTvq0u6E4wPibELaI7OJ7I_BDg-LUpGLryLzKVUZK0UHE2CYMZONmOQdbzJn2EXihv7u5QRTV1Nu2d-laMLW7ukvCPqhETWJx7n8/w225-h400/20221206_204022.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The trip to the UK was also a pleasant getaway from the unusually chilling temperatures hereabouts earlier in the month. The deep freeze was accompanied by some although not a lot of snow around us unfortunately. And while we've been away it looks like it's rained a bunch and turned things somewhat icy and wet :(. Oh well, now that we're back, maybe it'll get cold and start snowing again!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpc7O9hLdC-awFZfDLcYmIHQR7QTFiRwAwHwGQPNROAq7CaxH3nqhmFjVD-KZfE-rEjYtCTemXSk5uIaH9Woa8b2XkrB45VIMnwNq2RpAOKVG7yD06jv_ROodstEeyTB2aEIJx3h5J6baL8baM2mgx39XMD62TIA0GUdN-VQujOQeqJWgbSY/s4032/20221224_210707.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpc7O9hLdC-awFZfDLcYmIHQR7QTFiRwAwHwGQPNROAq7CaxH3nqhmFjVD-KZfE-rEjYtCTemXSk5uIaH9Woa8b2XkrB45VIMnwNq2RpAOKVG7yD06jv_ROodstEeyTB2aEIJx3h5J6baL8baM2mgx39XMD62TIA0GUdN-VQujOQeqJWgbSY/w225-h400/20221224_210707.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_G3jG_nhZqe3XOZyWDeUw9KD9pntgJjii4c0lNsfDaYlO82setHtKRQZXVhenWCUq3mh204bgiAPnizQnN61tFTzSdv0kvWwbkUnnwxfqh2OK3AqIeAscCgEp92FSeCjn8NLcKP-5PHn75Xgt4AuwXgQcRpbckDEb3834x59IVznWnRf_io/s4032/20221225_171402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_G3jG_nhZqe3XOZyWDeUw9KD9pntgJjii4c0lNsfDaYlO82setHtKRQZXVhenWCUq3mh204bgiAPnizQnN61tFTzSdv0kvWwbkUnnwxfqh2OK3AqIeAscCgEp92FSeCjn8NLcKP-5PHn75Xgt4AuwXgQcRpbckDEb3834x59IVznWnRf_io/w400-h225/20221225_171402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">While in the UK though, in amongst the food and the merrymaking and enjoying the open fireplace, walks, more food and so on, a new family activity was embarked upon with great enthusiasm! A patched blanket was to be made, and we all decided to pitch in with the knitting (and in one case crocheting)! A large number of us were complete or at least relative novices, so the results were suitably wonky, at least to start with :D. In the end though, it all seemed to come together pretty well! Not sure this will turn into a regular activity, but I did find it really relaxing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7OhbnvUeJ4JQ65CXEIWL4LZxyNYDvdM-vQXLNaV2xDjNdwJy7WVEbS8oLnylwmF-b0FAjLqo8r6ZWgRdPCWMvOaqLyx26cbJfdLU1M2ylgHljNRlxciFYISUUhZZRpbS7fAMemd_UH8qEDPkGgfpS7WF_9li9CXChDqBtg800b1OVxrR6xA/s4032/20221227_204654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7OhbnvUeJ4JQ65CXEIWL4LZxyNYDvdM-vQXLNaV2xDjNdwJy7WVEbS8oLnylwmF-b0FAjLqo8r6ZWgRdPCWMvOaqLyx26cbJfdLU1M2ylgHljNRlxciFYISUUhZZRpbS7fAMemd_UH8qEDPkGgfpS7WF_9li9CXChDqBtg800b1OVxrR6xA/w225-h400/20221227_204654.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItbT0Ho8Yr7qgo6ofAoTledkhYfOiEUCxfnBMFYQDSU8Z1MZnnEF2zxx2sUqRh8KsME-3izsyTDtfnglFDNZ5tz0NLlYKbpyzcA5BCEAZIASfDc53lSd8kZ9sfgRju8gSs1Nc1n0ik8IDaaxVwZei-FOi3IXbHnZ17_uzsbNYvNF9LLkWaBQ/s4032/20221230_220959.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItbT0Ho8Yr7qgo6ofAoTledkhYfOiEUCxfnBMFYQDSU8Z1MZnnEF2zxx2sUqRh8KsME-3izsyTDtfnglFDNZ5tz0NLlYKbpyzcA5BCEAZIASfDc53lSd8kZ9sfgRju8gSs1Nc1n0ik8IDaaxVwZei-FOi3IXbHnZ17_uzsbNYvNF9LLkWaBQ/w225-h400/20221230_220959.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Relaxing feels like something I rather needed a lot. Although maybe not in quite the same desperate sort of way like the previous few years... The latter half of the year has felt pretty crazy busy with work. Things have changed, are changing, and in all likelihood will continue to change. Somethings hopefully for the better, others maybe not so much. Rather like life in general. But it does feel like the complete break from work has been much needed and very helpful. There's of course still a day more of holiday to go before that needs to change :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eiquT0emMcVg4taHWxO-XGmfoEO_ePM3YDDEXHPqFI_keWe1nxY1cPP8mwZWaIVai44ok1QMxQCANeR9ojhkJQsBDkL0LnQvUR-tqmDCjJBqdcrSgOEGCIF8qvsbClxwmu-TBdsBXBsQVDGHVUUB0RYXDXy7hS-Q1rZsLCyMZj8Ih5gZzpA/s4032/20221217_122046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eiquT0emMcVg4taHWxO-XGmfoEO_ePM3YDDEXHPqFI_keWe1nxY1cPP8mwZWaIVai44ok1QMxQCANeR9ojhkJQsBDkL0LnQvUR-tqmDCjJBqdcrSgOEGCIF8qvsbClxwmu-TBdsBXBsQVDGHVUUB0RYXDXy7hS-Q1rZsLCyMZj8Ih5gZzpA/w400-h225/20221217_122046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQYKf4VBSOmzqrJsLfskf2do1Zy1RViU94sUtVY3-KB3TsqlMvdamXnTA3KOPutugiwLGuDpvNSTvUb8tl0LLwlfR6wQP_dC53ex2bxCiGjCSuNcGjtSJl0JGvY-IDXnXTsKSEGM-xwYzmGC72CgYZmFdj545gObEEWvKR3n4LpGBj7bCTmc/s4032/20221218_002631.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQYKf4VBSOmzqrJsLfskf2do1Zy1RViU94sUtVY3-KB3TsqlMvdamXnTA3KOPutugiwLGuDpvNSTvUb8tl0LLwlfR6wQP_dC53ex2bxCiGjCSuNcGjtSJl0JGvY-IDXnXTsKSEGM-xwYzmGC72CgYZmFdj545gObEEWvKR3n4LpGBj7bCTmc/w225-h400/20221218_002631.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of break, another highlight of the last month has been the weekend trip to Bergen! While it wasn't entirely spur of the moment, much of the planning was pretty on the fly :). We decided to take the overnight trains there and back instead of flights. Mostly to good effect :). Met up with some friends to catch a particularly special concert and also catch up (although some couldn't make it thanks to a bad combination of weather and flights :(). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqBRZ95O2ngSAtma54vQM3OabvE3uGuKou0d-XkiH5hKXreUbSqnTfdM0doaCtMVNioHT0pyNwCAeiMKGD1RhmRl6tz31y27yekoogtvBb92tXW9sKpXfqz3CxdVX1ZxwxcJzCu34n4I8oYG37n21VIxzE-tT-6XlC6a3UFo6uDyrqAWgf8g/s4032/20221218_113538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqBRZ95O2ngSAtma54vQM3OabvE3uGuKou0d-XkiH5hKXreUbSqnTfdM0doaCtMVNioHT0pyNwCAeiMKGD1RhmRl6tz31y27yekoogtvBb92tXW9sKpXfqz3CxdVX1ZxwxcJzCu34n4I8oYG37n21VIxzE-tT-6XlC6a3UFo6uDyrqAWgf8g/w400-h225/20221218_113538.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zMinFn75R7hGHDzUSMMFrwG_WwoEwA2r3KswNnfKFez_LNjR6xsYp8NJeUI4Clu-x_xWWoafiDNG6nGuG2Nu-2rGEpDe10e8bTafenuZHgTrr8BeMegIWYRCMmk8F2lve2fI8gvLheeWw7OlDNSMCGStYhgGnXNlWENh2P9u_GBCH-Fbebg/s4032/20221218_114459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zMinFn75R7hGHDzUSMMFrwG_WwoEwA2r3KswNnfKFez_LNjR6xsYp8NJeUI4Clu-x_xWWoafiDNG6nGuG2Nu-2rGEpDe10e8bTafenuZHgTrr8BeMegIWYRCMmk8F2lve2fI8gvLheeWw7OlDNSMCGStYhgGnXNlWENh2P9u_GBCH-Fbebg/w400-h225/20221218_114459.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Enjoyed walking around the city. Went up to Fløyen and enjoyed a very relaxed lunch. Walked down a very snowy track again. Enjoyed visiting the amazing <a href="https://en.visitbergen.com/whats-on/gingerbread-town-pepperkakebyen-p895763" target="_blank">Pepperkakebyen</a>, the Christmas market and generally just ambling around or hiding from the cold in a café :). Ended our stay in perfect fashion at one of the seafood restaurants by the waterfront before catching the train back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySkuLmMXs_giPCFezVtNMrRsmgQLtbQtQcWZWMTWZuLn1_5rmCKCQPA6o6JxS8lTflTa4mMTiLxtKGEVpQ_0nHzr8f7dlerd6OzCTDEx3L5fOblKtObXWLK97K3TGwztd_DqhruBM36qXWq5JWd8ocoSrfE0z7n8Lz6uW0-4yjHYg-i20zKc/s4032/20221218_183055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySkuLmMXs_giPCFezVtNMrRsmgQLtbQtQcWZWMTWZuLn1_5rmCKCQPA6o6JxS8lTflTa4mMTiLxtKGEVpQ_0nHzr8f7dlerd6OzCTDEx3L5fOblKtObXWLK97K3TGwztd_DqhruBM36qXWq5JWd8ocoSrfE0z7n8Lz6uW0-4yjHYg-i20zKc/w400-h225/20221218_183055.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMnODuciDSHURVRLa72z2CME79uSdfg8KwZHLgJoJCPUDOLvJf32B3CiJ-lh1JFCyAWzPlSN1foKs_g63XmXPtm80M9zLHk3aKQOK2WALSTXTWtDiOe3WeN3kyuBbsoGexn22KuhIT7cDSAsBiNdyPjKG8t6foArykW9Rax1J1ti2Qdcin2U/s4032/20221218_191053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMnODuciDSHURVRLa72z2CME79uSdfg8KwZHLgJoJCPUDOLvJf32B3CiJ-lh1JFCyAWzPlSN1foKs_g63XmXPtm80M9zLHk3aKQOK2WALSTXTWtDiOe3WeN3kyuBbsoGexn22KuhIT7cDSAsBiNdyPjKG8t6foArykW9Rax1J1ti2Qdcin2U/w400-h225/20221218_191053.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzmxLXYBZYSLO-cdm7aWq5K6mSwpQYhhH9nZKxyMUiqIUefLpB_FnJyuTQJxS-zeSPEoA4XHdWBp5KV7iABJCe1F679_95cMmTJSo8nJijEf-gQCN48mZspb4khi4-dFUTZGZnL5maQ7lQ5G2TPANTD6K8PvdljOwTJGaz0YsWEeTdAgG_90/s4032/20221218_193633.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzmxLXYBZYSLO-cdm7aWq5K6mSwpQYhhH9nZKxyMUiqIUefLpB_FnJyuTQJxS-zeSPEoA4XHdWBp5KV7iABJCe1F679_95cMmTJSo8nJijEf-gQCN48mZspb4khi4-dFUTZGZnL5maQ7lQ5G2TPANTD6K8PvdljOwTJGaz0YsWEeTdAgG_90/w400-h225/20221218_193633.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Ended up following the World Cup final in between, with the best possible result ever :). No, didn't keep to my plan of not watching any matches in the end and did watch a few of the Argentina ones.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmWG65r8ZQjTQ5bA8SHRkXalOSFrabsIJ5Wi3OgOvBdkRfu7x1vUaoS-5o8-LjQ7W5zIPrW1byXFNnFrIY1aYfTuGYi86n52SpLPgavFVIMTTKSvEjOg1AJ5Wv2w978wNzxHnC9KfSIV4O_xAU798001s9J8wuvpMqzohG8yCbo_FcOlP3wk/s4032/20221210_124657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmWG65r8ZQjTQ5bA8SHRkXalOSFrabsIJ5Wi3OgOvBdkRfu7x1vUaoS-5o8-LjQ7W5zIPrW1byXFNnFrIY1aYfTuGYi86n52SpLPgavFVIMTTKSvEjOg1AJ5Wv2w978wNzxHnC9KfSIV4O_xAU798001s9J8wuvpMqzohG8yCbo_FcOlP3wk/w225-h400/20221210_124657.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTbW_16nA6OldCqthEtRNDXYgfGb-ynmpUrjsaP8MT0unUNoBfAoxxb7fTBhVYov-h_xEExyGgBFdzL_-yCIKUg2EsTw9s_10ahDhYs5hD6VzOagGUCQOaoz82diHCFxX9xkwM_w5nbagUnIpH15TDUZJ-rU5RvLioDIPDtWA6-FkOX5Ecb8/s4032/20221217_130759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTbW_16nA6OldCqthEtRNDXYgfGb-ynmpUrjsaP8MT0unUNoBfAoxxb7fTBhVYov-h_xEExyGgBFdzL_-yCIKUg2EsTw9s_10ahDhYs5hD6VzOagGUCQOaoz82diHCFxX9xkwM_w5nbagUnIpH15TDUZJ-rU5RvLioDIPDtWA6-FkOX5Ecb8/w400-h225/20221217_130759.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Looking back, there has actually been quite a bit of travelling since the spring. I've spend at least some time abroad every month since May. Including many new places (and countries) I'd never been to before! Which feels crazy given the last couple of years. It still feels a little unreal planning travel. It was of course amazing to be able to see family a bit more often again, and in some cases for the first time in years. But some pandemic induced habits will probably be good to keep in mind going forward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnROgzzlPwW9t-dWJGdIHVvFgcyWu7UDBK52-aFFYMj7E-MaoHG0Uhu2VY7BXjjQY00AovIGF65JYtrAVreCY082PRvKivqDi_41ubM5N7kLfeK2WdMz8OsaZuy9J7KHPSuBNAPXnYmDuaAFLpN2goSz61ZwsdzTt1IAKiMr5v1uwn9NCXg0/s4032/20221218_112512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnROgzzlPwW9t-dWJGdIHVvFgcyWu7UDBK52-aFFYMj7E-MaoHG0Uhu2VY7BXjjQY00AovIGF65JYtrAVreCY082PRvKivqDi_41ubM5N7kLfeK2WdMz8OsaZuy9J7KHPSuBNAPXnYmDuaAFLpN2goSz61ZwsdzTt1IAKiMr5v1uwn9NCXg0/w400-h225/20221218_112512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfMMxfP1wbv8s7jFgPRfij-phG6ajdd-Cu5kiRmz4qQVnGKdl7fJalaQLxUacWWAf2s31gUWxRSnlm9dFrmE9jaObzSdW2oNPKUSS7d4wvpDbW2jlxpI0Tpg5X_UvWwSLxGnI0JZPqx-KuJk3u_GVOuzwEMUz9Qn06Vsw1NL9n-VXToNZcf4/s4032/20221218_114653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfMMxfP1wbv8s7jFgPRfij-phG6ajdd-Cu5kiRmz4qQVnGKdl7fJalaQLxUacWWAf2s31gUWxRSnlm9dFrmE9jaObzSdW2oNPKUSS7d4wvpDbW2jlxpI0Tpg5X_UvWwSLxGnI0JZPqx-KuJk3u_GVOuzwEMUz9Qn06Vsw1NL9n-VXToNZcf4/w400-h225/20221218_114653.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">When it comes to books I guess it's definitely been a big sci-fi year. While the <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/49118-culture" target="_blank">Culture</a> </i>series has kept me occupied and enthralled since summer, earlier in the year came the unforgettable encounters with <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29889255-dune" target="_blank">Dune</a></i> and the<i> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/189931-remembrance-of-earth-s-past" target="_blank">Remembrance of Earth's Past</a></i> trilogy. There have of course also been other books, some more intriguing than others.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK8AUGWuMM1eS0vLt49PpVdGtr39rsC-W0QIrEkvVr-5JPhWzjtbAXmKLGSiCkPuqLH12WOGNatynNulFlivSHbWJxKoX4Ez08kXhfcgUU96LAFDuDVPK1bc-OsucCJ6_uvfaj_jEDNLldfXlazuZehtDWGv4czWO9OCBEfvxXTQI0kPTQwc/s4032/20221218_180115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnK8AUGWuMM1eS0vLt49PpVdGtr39rsC-W0QIrEkvVr-5JPhWzjtbAXmKLGSiCkPuqLH12WOGNatynNulFlivSHbWJxKoX4Ez08kXhfcgUU96LAFDuDVPK1bc-OsucCJ6_uvfaj_jEDNLldfXlazuZehtDWGv4czWO9OCBEfvxXTQI0kPTQwc/w400-h225/20221218_180115.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3c4wbvT3TUD_Vtae2lckBS0F3nwW3h1VdOjjtfrDdQdXxhCTfeoVUcr5Srq-mOw6KoO5AyQsz3uhwVQeJczUOVf2wjluhiSyNnaw--J7CDpouiDAR6yJDAaCckBIE8kWmJxCdLUG1QWLoFDeBCMwsoYeDn9RrcV7BYaggeENC6zcfiYOIsE/s4032/20221218_152115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3c4wbvT3TUD_Vtae2lckBS0F3nwW3h1VdOjjtfrDdQdXxhCTfeoVUcr5Srq-mOw6KoO5AyQsz3uhwVQeJczUOVf2wjluhiSyNnaw--J7CDpouiDAR6yJDAaCckBIE8kWmJxCdLUG1QWLoFDeBCMwsoYeDn9RrcV7BYaggeENC6zcfiYOIsE/w400-h225/20221218_152115.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I did finish reading <i>Lessons in Chemistry</i> and while the end was nice, my feelings about it (beyond what I've already written in last month's post) seem to have been lost in the intervening month. I guess <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9543421-surface-detail" target="_blank">Surface Detail</a></i> looms large in my mind right now having just finished reading it earlier today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7kPv8KsC9U1oRrnFtZEjusmXc9wndctfT-0_yBQg5aUGZhNt6r39i3CClY1rqkOmJ5Tu0TnSsm_hqXUb5hZCqmqaymLAq66bzO_UcLAyQkc2jWgzISKXVizgPYCYYENIiX2Ah0fw0ubucPLlz3juB8L8Da85y4uiPgSc6pk3z2TVhfVcuyA/s4032/20221218_185659.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7kPv8KsC9U1oRrnFtZEjusmXc9wndctfT-0_yBQg5aUGZhNt6r39i3CClY1rqkOmJ5Tu0TnSsm_hqXUb5hZCqmqaymLAq66bzO_UcLAyQkc2jWgzISKXVizgPYCYYENIiX2Ah0fw0ubucPLlz3juB8L8Da85y4uiPgSc6pk3z2TVhfVcuyA/w225-h400/20221218_185659.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhNIA6SJFB-_DoZVwWGSK4JFp5PSsR1tvcTmfWiOxkvbH8iO2WRGnTMLUfez65LqrmXl6ec8Ujn8Y44L-cEt3XPPYMQ2l9QjBTJpC5kXLWFLDkcDezVI1IN5krYa8ceHUMmgNaK2_e5GySpNK3XvsLs6DIEsb3JQSpr09NhnN-lSsZ62Whik/s4032/20221218_191039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhNIA6SJFB-_DoZVwWGSK4JFp5PSsR1tvcTmfWiOxkvbH8iO2WRGnTMLUfez65LqrmXl6ec8Ujn8Y44L-cEt3XPPYMQ2l9QjBTJpC5kXLWFLDkcDezVI1IN5krYa8ceHUMmgNaK2_e5GySpNK3XvsLs6DIEsb3JQSpr09NhnN-lSsZ62Whik/w400-h225/20221218_191039.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Having noted that <i>Matter</i> was the longest <i>Culture</i> novel I'd read up to that point, it was immediately superseded :). Unlike the former though, I had no trouble getting into <i>Surface Detail</i> whatsoever! And while it definitely starts with a bang, it doesn't particularly fizz out at any point either!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hXtvSm7TNTmL-j5m0Y1scA0CFF6fKQi9ZJtZ39GwpHjI6wcLC4ysXAjHrWz1UqGAwnHyOifVNzgX_e5MmO06oFXGDa6hnGSUKp7VUxtvLLRlAsDxJC_TfF_Oa31P7oVExCiYK65Iv67jU34cQLqWTVxRVQsqC7hy9oGWSS8c4O9H_gO2Tsw/s4032/20221218_193916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hXtvSm7TNTmL-j5m0Y1scA0CFF6fKQi9ZJtZ39GwpHjI6wcLC4ysXAjHrWz1UqGAwnHyOifVNzgX_e5MmO06oFXGDa6hnGSUKp7VUxtvLLRlAsDxJC_TfF_Oa31P7oVExCiYK65Iv67jU34cQLqWTVxRVQsqC7hy9oGWSS8c4O9H_gO2Tsw/w400-h225/20221218_193916.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGF-2iTgfW4Ir7lOdCWJ52LPUTKtaj6bCiiHu9lLg7drz1qj1fUddrqnZTLGi6Xj6437qUDNS3Yp0fuNs6qkdt_2zrqFxyxnDCIxb038WfGOk4tyrECBDepqUEubGGRQaxYOR5b_bBLfvkoOSsa6m73SNmEcOdYRUlMVSPahMHatoUTNEzwns/s4032/20221218_213025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGF-2iTgfW4Ir7lOdCWJ52LPUTKtaj6bCiiHu9lLg7drz1qj1fUddrqnZTLGi6Xj6437qUDNS3Yp0fuNs6qkdt_2zrqFxyxnDCIxb038WfGOk4tyrECBDepqUEubGGRQaxYOR5b_bBLfvkoOSsa6m73SNmEcOdYRUlMVSPahMHatoUTNEzwns/w400-h225/20221218_213025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I have to say, even accounting for proximity bias, I really did rather enjoy the ending of this one :). Much more so than that of <i>Matter</i>. Sure, not all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted, but let's face it, this is Banks, so they never are. There is, regardless, a genuine sense of closure. Especially with the revelation right at the end! I mean, who says he doesn't do recurring characters :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoljZjnw3nAmvgBdbpEF9ZmxVw7Cx0C9vPoI22QVjRsb_USaeRrwkfvRC5Qa3b4Y18lLhkv0i2nTC2xPGOOpwZncDPARce0iJDYyjAYCUJidgq-wld6cUHAuov4foyVHN3JO_S4wV6r4z42O7_gvNVBVfy1KUnXwn1n9zEGvbSWFyFSBprwUg/s4032/20221218_220855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoljZjnw3nAmvgBdbpEF9ZmxVw7Cx0C9vPoI22QVjRsb_USaeRrwkfvRC5Qa3b4Y18lLhkv0i2nTC2xPGOOpwZncDPARce0iJDYyjAYCUJidgq-wld6cUHAuov4foyVHN3JO_S4wV6r4z42O7_gvNVBVfy1KUnXwn1n9zEGvbSWFyFSBprwUg/w400-h225/20221218_220855.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMTiARUoD6xippDiZnWFaLXkERyAWs2d5d7FlE9uRd5amJ1kLwq3t29Cqy9HL5Z7hgICpQ2mobOXB9B4Y-ll6TDURXe8KeXLbyAeMdyKIR2Brq5lz43IzEAHGuWnZVLQwc7hU0OKm65lTz3wYLZjeyz33kcm37_ajhGt6LnhG3bZc3iq6MXE/s4032/20221223_112830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMTiARUoD6xippDiZnWFaLXkERyAWs2d5d7FlE9uRd5amJ1kLwq3t29Cqy9HL5Z7hgICpQ2mobOXB9B4Y-ll6TDURXe8KeXLbyAeMdyKIR2Brq5lz43IzEAHGuWnZVLQwc7hU0OKm65lTz3wYLZjeyz33kcm37_ajhGt6LnhG3bZc3iq6MXE/w400-h225/20221223_112830.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Having now got pretty close to the end of the series, I feel less of my initial amazement at how different each of the novels feel despite being set within the same universe. But is that purely because the last two books I've read are a mix of the many different things from before? Who knows. Not that it makes the reading any less enjoyable. And there's still the last one to read :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0GER2S2R0uS6jJ1JmABtm7LfzyQ2MFjJ17MGHUVlJvJGhl344ji0svEykGusKAcbDjqHJPGHGo-up_2KXqpU0p8ct3cSUR2e4pKEVoCR8C46jDad7aMW7KAx1NDhfehMVkKqfLDzws7HskoxrScrIl6OGqBWuBSSEei7FLpqFX_MKyV9oRs/s4032/20221224_144316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0GER2S2R0uS6jJ1JmABtm7LfzyQ2MFjJ17MGHUVlJvJGhl344ji0svEykGusKAcbDjqHJPGHGo-up_2KXqpU0p8ct3cSUR2e4pKEVoCR8C46jDad7aMW7KAx1NDhfehMVkKqfLDzws7HskoxrScrIl6OGqBWuBSSEei7FLpqFX_MKyV9oRs/w400-h225/20221224_144316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOxsKky49ebguZcBjT09D95pTh_bUK5fZHZqTMcwB98XsRN8GpVgUrtEn17hn0xfoRUULoMx9Roi4kKuBs80tInC4fN07zeah1-PbL7ZZxOGMh_-hMbBLyUMuoX_ILfwP6Ckw556wn-3Hb7ZFaIIRKe3ej9HschQTsiDSPLUcXsVDEmdL2gE/s4032/20221225_102002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOxsKky49ebguZcBjT09D95pTh_bUK5fZHZqTMcwB98XsRN8GpVgUrtEn17hn0xfoRUULoMx9Roi4kKuBs80tInC4fN07zeah1-PbL7ZZxOGMh_-hMbBLyUMuoX_ILfwP6Ckw556wn-3Hb7ZFaIIRKe3ej9HschQTsiDSPLUcXsVDEmdL2gE/w225-h400/20221225_102002.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I do feel the magnitude of the loss Ian Banks' death has left is beginning to hit me. I hadn't actually realized how soon after finishing <i>The Hydrogen Sonata</i> he passed :(.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJg7YOQPeuljpdVfEYwWNTPskdTk1oSBCESV8w3J0QetiSwHCq34fKpoJ04BUhOqzRNmNRw6ZadWCJ6zCzsGuOgucdgFZzGLKiRhabm5x4vDEX_A_VDG04ULgyqVvCzblD1LDOovUigu8tUNKYlzYbuPwIeZBcBMkseg8qCzzqC8u5E3Vz9g/s4032/20221226_150100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJg7YOQPeuljpdVfEYwWNTPskdTk1oSBCESV8w3J0QetiSwHCq34fKpoJ04BUhOqzRNmNRw6ZadWCJ6zCzsGuOgucdgFZzGLKiRhabm5x4vDEX_A_VDG04ULgyqVvCzblD1LDOovUigu8tUNKYlzYbuPwIeZBcBMkseg8qCzzqC8u5E3Vz9g/w400-h225/20221226_150100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFGkSfU3t2FkPgpVBbQyFGhm_hHIMSg3PA2Ek18DWVds5exjfJyET6weXPYZkhChkb8Gu-UtnRTJ6QkSNnrpDMVfliN0T0wIhn9aAqCMl_t0iELUxdvRQJ4rnDYwCfjDWoQG65ODwXo2WcLE6EYs67Alv88qijvgxjBBVXvedOSGOx7O5sy0/s4032/20221230_141506.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFGkSfU3t2FkPgpVBbQyFGhm_hHIMSg3PA2Ek18DWVds5exjfJyET6weXPYZkhChkb8Gu-UtnRTJ6QkSNnrpDMVfliN0T0wIhn9aAqCMl_t0iELUxdvRQJ4rnDYwCfjDWoQG65ODwXo2WcLE6EYs67Alv88qijvgxjBBVXvedOSGOx7O5sy0/w400-h225/20221230_141506.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So looking back on the year then. Has it been a good one? In many ways, yes. But in some ways sad too. I suppose just like every other year, and yet unlike every other year. I feel like I'm repeating myself :). Is it a phase of life thing? I vaguely remember all these "best year ever", or "a year like no other" type posts in the past. And now it's like "same same but different" :P. Maybe I <i>am</i> just getting older :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBz34toVD5HU436Dmw3XoHoX0GgN4ktNwSkHZwcMSGRNKXJ-fyXv9dgPnHQdwHYUZXeBRz5tymrhVXNGeTmcCAVPWA-Yin1nU4j_ZZC1LoEPuJle3L2ZvG2JY-w4JA1oA7-EeerkZA9gEs-qCAZshXSoeiegE8plE4iIlxn-f62DvpN4qdrA/s4032/20221230_142406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBz34toVD5HU436Dmw3XoHoX0GgN4ktNwSkHZwcMSGRNKXJ-fyXv9dgPnHQdwHYUZXeBRz5tymrhVXNGeTmcCAVPWA-Yin1nU4j_ZZC1LoEPuJle3L2ZvG2JY-w4JA1oA7-EeerkZA9gEs-qCAZshXSoeiegE8plE4iIlxn-f62DvpN4qdrA/w225-h400/20221230_142406.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1Aem3UVkl4yfyvTQOU290hngJfSHefbacEg8ApTYHIRz5xuXyBby_ARc_zKjk30LMPn52ZrlFdKBORew_f0EGusJNMF16BiQZi_wMnC-t-Agnk1dC-OIHZMAbeXd4oPGm_tUqGCJNgbwnFrURSQ2Q9SnjT91iYF2vMImJ3o-_PcJazBz9xI/s4032/20221230_142739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1Aem3UVkl4yfyvTQOU290hngJfSHefbacEg8ApTYHIRz5xuXyBby_ARc_zKjk30LMPn52ZrlFdKBORew_f0EGusJNMF16BiQZi_wMnC-t-Agnk1dC-OIHZMAbeXd4oPGm_tUqGCJNgbwnFrURSQ2Q9SnjT91iYF2vMImJ3o-_PcJazBz9xI/w400-h225/20221230_142739.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There's been a lot more travel, but a fair bit less exercise. Lots more seeing family, but some meetings tinged with sadness. This was also the year when I became Norwegian, but "stopped" being Indian. All in all, I think it has been a good year. One that leaves me looking forward to the next trip around the sun. Hopefully some cross-country skiing. Hopefully some downhill too! And finally that much delayed trip back to India!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi51kCqBiIyCwy36wERVKeZZOlQIi5bmicvZZJdrvZBm1JgzU4H8BP-mH_THEXio6H6xHyHh6dHalG7m0iC4NonybqciNOw9YDRFy3iztWrzAh3sR9uSNZz_iwudj6hOtKUb5Wrcze8LxsLwIx2gIsgZzAkLiF0SmnKQCRUo_92nH4IrbQKaQ/s6064/20221218_120238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="6064" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi51kCqBiIyCwy36wERVKeZZOlQIi5bmicvZZJdrvZBm1JgzU4H8BP-mH_THEXio6H6xHyHh6dHalG7m0iC4NonybqciNOw9YDRFy3iztWrzAh3sR9uSNZz_iwudj6hOtKUb5Wrcze8LxsLwIx2gIsgZzAkLiF0SmnKQCRUo_92nH4IrbQKaQ/w640-h300/20221218_120238.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpp-oSfG7h71tMkTFuXZBaP9WtHKioSxXx4P3QK1BztcHUygpdrjOhFe-BPccjUP3Fx0hNBva2nEfvI8PCfXjiaZVeY_dVwOSJ9qQ6l-bQe9LpbPUEB0Y1YilHcUmJRBHaYR_a8FZGxu7otyiosTQ98UGQe2dEmOHc1-UMRLbgWfp7Pe-r3k/s7024/20221218_143339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="7024" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpp-oSfG7h71tMkTFuXZBaP9WtHKioSxXx4P3QK1BztcHUygpdrjOhFe-BPccjUP3Fx0hNBva2nEfvI8PCfXjiaZVeY_dVwOSJ9qQ6l-bQe9LpbPUEB0Y1YilHcUmJRBHaYR_a8FZGxu7otyiosTQ98UGQe2dEmOHc1-UMRLbgWfp7Pe-r3k/w640-h264/20221218_143339.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-720876523150531352022-11-27T16:22:00.000+01:002022-11-27T16:24:38.188+01:00The dimming of light<p style="text-align: justify;">After a rather surprisingly warm early November things seem to have gone back to normal. Well, kinda. The temperature dropped below zero, finally killing the plants that had been rather confused up until that point, even sending out some more flowers wondering if spring was arriving <i>really</i> early I suppose. Then came some snow!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGqNAjUlhTEhRoji1d3Z1AQPkjGQcva_GYfRe4SRESlq4EEmOazVw5obcRASlYI9Q8Ih6z7rttKCDixwInofT2NTpQ66Ykvcedqq_zY5scWVYfLMpN6ESufgmU1B1wZuEjCn3O032GReJNAplyVol5nAU0aYuYvNxxGqY1rz5j02mWgDV6rM/s4032/20221123_094946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGqNAjUlhTEhRoji1d3Z1AQPkjGQcva_GYfRe4SRESlq4EEmOazVw5obcRASlYI9Q8Ih6z7rttKCDixwInofT2NTpQ66Ykvcedqq_zY5scWVYfLMpN6ESufgmU1B1wZuEjCn3O032GReJNAplyVol5nAU0aYuYvNxxGqY1rz5j02mWgDV6rM/w225-h400/20221123_094946.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">That didn't last long however, as the temperature's gone back into the reds (i.e. above 0 degrees C) and the precipitation turned first to sleet and eventually to plain old rain :(. So most of that early snow's now been washed away. And that's taken with it the sense of brightness that snow cover seems to bring to the otherwise dark and miserable beginning of winter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrrQxNL0mavoB0o433iNjnR1zAzJDbC2pKDKRsRZ3Nhm7c7mmDoySL_qmsr3nF0Fv7fI9QUhUkbVX56PHgPyWLYFl1ei4UDaRGMZSJbAPiKxGSnqcA9EJ_rt8vXsZVRK5FW8gJL1muCcui0BdsNdo8iN15t5c_MJuQJiUPQQMDGpykkgixaQ/s4032/20221031_080050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrrQxNL0mavoB0o433iNjnR1zAzJDbC2pKDKRsRZ3Nhm7c7mmDoySL_qmsr3nF0Fv7fI9QUhUkbVX56PHgPyWLYFl1ei4UDaRGMZSJbAPiKxGSnqcA9EJ_rt8vXsZVRK5FW8gJL1muCcui0BdsNdo8iN15t5c_MJuQJiUPQQMDGpykkgixaQ/w400-h225/20221031_080050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">To add to the general sense of misery, after a couple of years of socially isolated winters, this year the early winter colds, sniffles, fevers and flus seem to be back with a vengeance. The Covid prevention habits are probably coming in handy though, as people seem to be getting things from their school-aged kids or public transport but then not necessarily passing it around too much :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGbPJmVUqryKBANCY1C4IjxfzWKN-qKeGluPHNkYELvTEOsqA4CexdBi3zIPj3z9g5Q3sTQd4Qx9RMk_bLRRDt8BDXxUzdbB0qeIQXpPePdPUsyjXfkZiwh5UY-TDLQlQFmG2EhPX_9u5HJMqprpRYyAIexgfaDAPPU04uin4QZQ_aEBRlJg/s4032/20221103_140840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGbPJmVUqryKBANCY1C4IjxfzWKN-qKeGluPHNkYELvTEOsqA4CexdBi3zIPj3z9g5Q3sTQd4Qx9RMk_bLRRDt8BDXxUzdbB0qeIQXpPePdPUsyjXfkZiwh5UY-TDLQlQFmG2EhPX_9u5HJMqprpRYyAIexgfaDAPPU04uin4QZQ_aEBRlJg/w225-h400/20221103_140840.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So yeah, it's been a great November so far :P. To be honest, I've hardly noticed its passing as I've been somewhat buried in work. The only travel further afield than Oslo coming from a one day work trip to Stockholm. My first visit there, and all I managed to see was mainly the insides of meeting rooms and the ever present water from taxis. To be fair, the weather wasn't exactly inviting either. Maybe another time I'll get to see more :).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMLoKn37cpRHcD6ujs4Qlwztm3Zw6mM0zK2WwoN0EFhuJ2KTTuH3u8O6BqbOOnd0qTq67VCDoK6jqf0-fsoYBBBl98YCjbp1TP3nOjEpdrDpNtMfuKZM9g8940O1Nhd5TieAdLKhIJwHYR03RawyLnzZTHOAIVhJJXLqXdKoZhnKj-I-qUYo/s4032/20221029_161021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMLoKn37cpRHcD6ujs4Qlwztm3Zw6mM0zK2WwoN0EFhuJ2KTTuH3u8O6BqbOOnd0qTq67VCDoK6jqf0-fsoYBBBl98YCjbp1TP3nOjEpdrDpNtMfuKZM9g8940O1Nhd5TieAdLKhIJwHYR03RawyLnzZTHOAIVhJJXLqXdKoZhnKj-I-qUYo/w225-h400/20221029_161021.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Reading's been a bit slow as well. I did manage to finish <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3312929-matter" target="_blank">Matter</a></i>. Definitely the longest Culture book so far. And now that I'm done with it, not sure what to make of it to be completely honest. There were loads of bits I really liked. The ending left me feeling quite sad though. I was hoping Djan would make it through.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX_11kowoBA1P0Su12lxUYBh7uJOla4obl9yL0t8gkH50haWh4TB3vJFaKh0M3C0TcSrVxRPse53SUOiaBD_UZZ4HwfWO_qjIBf2FRJ6j9X-BmnLS7bS9oJOaxo9vR4UC5_UF5Wy-OGfsikMXXEZYUfMXkIsWC9Dba6aOpii5TbdcI15NkhU/s4032/20221030_120715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX_11kowoBA1P0Su12lxUYBh7uJOla4obl9yL0t8gkH50haWh4TB3vJFaKh0M3C0TcSrVxRPse53SUOiaBD_UZZ4HwfWO_qjIBf2FRJ6j9X-BmnLS7bS9oJOaxo9vR4UC5_UF5Wy-OGfsikMXXEZYUfMXkIsWC9Dba6aOpii5TbdcI15NkhU/w400-h225/20221030_120715.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I think the main feeling I'm left with is a sense of being left hanging. The abruptness of the ending (yes, after nearly 600 pages, it still felt abrupt) leaving me oddly frustrated. I keep getting reminded of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/535073.Consider_Phlebas" target="_blank">Phlebas</a></i> in that sense. Although that book had a much better sense of conclusion and closure thanks to the epilogue.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0mp6drMy7vkDjFvYG3p1KgRCzhQH41Mi9qM_BuHnQn5q9iGPFbGIPqmsfLJKqMcKacd6Cx6G2lHpQixdFflxW4oaWq5L10mmfOSWKlmuQA81paD8eXqgE47F4kXIsH3BHKj-5ZLWDTEjJzpKUYKgYDQ6iOAXW-4fk9L8-ATkW5QaDyXuDX8/s4032/20221105_152310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0mp6drMy7vkDjFvYG3p1KgRCzhQH41Mi9qM_BuHnQn5q9iGPFbGIPqmsfLJKqMcKacd6Cx6G2lHpQixdFflxW4oaWq5L10mmfOSWKlmuQA81paD8eXqgE47F4kXIsH3BHKj-5ZLWDTEjJzpKUYKgYDQ6iOAXW-4fk9L8-ATkW5QaDyXuDX8/w400-h225/20221105_152310.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I wonder what the last two Culture books have in store :). But instead of finding out, I decided to read next month's book club book, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58556596-lessons-in-chemistry" target="_blank">Lessons in Chemistry</a></i>. And it's been quite the journey! I'm more than three quarters of the way through, so there's a lot of space for twists and turns still, but so far I've enjoyed reading it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh4pcCe3IYbU0DKdrHESJuOixxOLDsdctPyJwUdXKyBHSBcx8V1nNtxg3yZGlfrkGtt3SzD3LY45E0Ym6I94y7tlsmMKZuxKcGzqk5NPFNmoTXc1CHIZdYV0RMrEhv4KXJcwcl1eCVBPTZT4XDwe3ppIFKPURGaKm7sOGs68m4Qosv6eAbx8/s4032/20221110_074732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh4pcCe3IYbU0DKdrHESJuOixxOLDsdctPyJwUdXKyBHSBcx8V1nNtxg3yZGlfrkGtt3SzD3LY45E0Ym6I94y7tlsmMKZuxKcGzqk5NPFNmoTXc1CHIZdYV0RMrEhv4KXJcwcl1eCVBPTZT4XDwe3ppIFKPURGaKm7sOGs68m4Qosv6eAbx8/w400-h225/20221110_074732.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Which is not to say it's a "fun" book. There are definitely bits that make me laugh out loud. But many others that make me mad, leave me shocked, frustrated or just sad. And I think that's exactly what the author is going for. One of the more chilling aspects of the book is how even though it's set in the 1950s and '60s, it actually came out earlier this year, and the issues of sexism and gender based discrimination in workplaces is still so rife, making this a completely relevant book for this day and age.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-iml0pZE0o8N2RqgP27MldpeHax6DWoaFtIgsfV1r5ImpzzFkAZKXjagk5lMh2jOyOMcRDn-To7mL5VcuX3lC5jnkcFz3ojrmQKpmfVWutd_DPHv02zfhilfuHlh1UzRFeYAjbTW-55BZWJIfjeYSJece_uFvL3BF56O4XKvdEd_vgazfbo/s4032/20221110_200246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-iml0pZE0o8N2RqgP27MldpeHax6DWoaFtIgsfV1r5ImpzzFkAZKXjagk5lMh2jOyOMcRDn-To7mL5VcuX3lC5jnkcFz3ojrmQKpmfVWutd_DPHv02zfhilfuHlh1UzRFeYAjbTW-55BZWJIfjeYSJece_uFvL3BF56O4XKvdEd_vgazfbo/w400-h225/20221110_200246.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Looking forward though, it's finally my turn to suggest books again! And instead of just being lazy and dredging up things from my to-read list, I went hunting through the fantasy section of our local library! I'm leaning more and more on the library these days actually. The last several book club books I've managed to find in the local one, and those that weren't available here, could be ordered free of charge from some public library or other further afield! Long may it continue :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAjlqhuQnCEZ5n4DDO6zOwcxp5fDhOsDhO2hJiuEg4Go76bnTP4T6jHHU9QthuTCu3WPu-zIjXuXK3x_YVmmIP7zG1BGCgt0zh8S2yvetkTTwSg4rOjKL2VXyWskm44y9kPHwGf0Gt86lbYA8_FR-gK4gsnEwV7FGt_CZgAnVQVBYsBR6Vp0/s4032/20221112_161314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAjlqhuQnCEZ5n4DDO6zOwcxp5fDhOsDhO2hJiuEg4Go76bnTP4T6jHHU9QthuTCu3WPu-zIjXuXK3x_YVmmIP7zG1BGCgt0zh8S2yvetkTTwSg4rOjKL2VXyWskm44y9kPHwGf0Gt86lbYA8_FR-gK4gsnEwV7FGt_CZgAnVQVBYsBR6Vp0/w400-h225/20221112_161314.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">PS. Decided not to watch any World Cup matches this time around. This is actually much less of a sacrifice than it may sound. I'm not sure if I'm taking a stand specifically. Or if I am, what that stand is for or against precisely. But there we have it. I am checking the scores off and on though, and was happy to see that Messi got Argentina one step away from the brink yesterday.</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-89962436686638122542022-10-30T14:33:00.000+01:002022-10-30T14:33:15.002+01:00Of long awaited conversations and the new amidst the old<p style="text-align: justify;">It's sunny today! This is newsworthy because for the last week or two it has been anything but :|. Rain, mist, and fog have been taking turns, and on occasion joining forces, to make the world in general somewhat miserable looking. But as I say, today it's sunny, and we'll hopefully go out and make some use of it :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy3173RBQvRv1otOSKGw4exvyinQBTzl4SVUcVUbZcV1o6LeJQgQklyaAPYb0db9n2PAMlAJyatlcjc3ZoYTLigvti9jfYjabJaIZYRArtmg_T7B5O4LMgJ7gjQ_FdTUOnOACszgv1UpSbTcZSRtJp5T90vrloc_WRAuQg5Rwf8UuwcRu7Pc/s4032/20221003_074548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy3173RBQvRv1otOSKGw4exvyinQBTzl4SVUcVUbZcV1o6LeJQgQklyaAPYb0db9n2PAMlAJyatlcjc3ZoYTLigvti9jfYjabJaIZYRArtmg_T7B5O4LMgJ7gjQ_FdTUOnOACszgv1UpSbTcZSRtJp5T90vrloc_WRAuQg5Rwf8UuwcRu7Pc/w400-h225/20221003_074548.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcenRegHzu8ozCSZvvueakt8LvY6miG6QFQT8DDgjBosORGXk6VI9TzA8ykBv2Y5f8lTKMjPfzG_BWSREHDppdTY090eLX1C1ugZTU9JzzFl3b36ss6gRABefsz7Pf9LP0Byxep1zrb8xP6LLW9e-q1tNaFnPvf85uZrsZuUSvMOEG1inYaY/s4032/20221017_160234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcenRegHzu8ozCSZvvueakt8LvY6miG6QFQT8DDgjBosORGXk6VI9TzA8ykBv2Y5f8lTKMjPfzG_BWSREHDppdTY090eLX1C1ugZTU9JzzFl3b36ss6gRABefsz7Pf9LP0Byxep1zrb8xP6LLW9e-q1tNaFnPvf85uZrsZuUSvMOEG1inYaY/w225-h400/20221017_160234.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In the mean time though, life's been generally ongoing in fits and starts. One of the constants has been the reading, so let's start there. Having finished with <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/890899.Look_to_Windward" target="_blank">Look to Windward</a></i>, and having thoroughly enjoyed it, I thought I'll just dive into <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3312929-matter" target="_blank">Matter</a></i> right after. However, for some reason I'm still not entirely sure of, I couldn't really get into it straightaway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXdadUoDYVSyRdv1g52_jyCTs4_XX76XIZex8nO22UYpAPLowYcyW6sE1lFv0x48ppCyytJgeZkII_Elu30r6Ac6msIlmb5_JZl42u6zKY9lSMoSssh9Tm1de8XfiC77zZmZvKxYZh6lLcIO6AhTiCprQGzDP3vaJWA9W4GOEUO5Xv4OD3Fs/s4032/20221007_134312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXdadUoDYVSyRdv1g52_jyCTs4_XX76XIZex8nO22UYpAPLowYcyW6sE1lFv0x48ppCyytJgeZkII_Elu30r6Ac6msIlmb5_JZl42u6zKY9lSMoSssh9Tm1de8XfiC77zZmZvKxYZh6lLcIO6AhTiCprQGzDP3vaJWA9W4GOEUO5Xv4OD3Fs/w225-h400/20221007_134312.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0eLTKbcnyJ9-47gX6aBKZAhKh9BueWoVjkmtHooZfxnnmTi1T2BGuL4x-w_SItNDI3C0pkHc_s5jsCEYaG53RAhCc5AvoGCiHbvhUVdczJeqNMSloFp_dhGEZHE3AnQiD9U0r6ligcLbIf2Uu6c_YvE4keoyHEu8qF_WhiZ9mwwuvmwM7mQ/s4032/20221007_143744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0eLTKbcnyJ9-47gX6aBKZAhKh9BueWoVjkmtHooZfxnnmTi1T2BGuL4x-w_SItNDI3C0pkHc_s5jsCEYaG53RAhCc5AvoGCiHbvhUVdczJeqNMSloFp_dhGEZHE3AnQiD9U0r6ligcLbIf2Uu6c_YvE4keoyHEu8qF_WhiZ9mwwuvmwM7mQ/w225-h400/20221007_143744.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">When I gave it some thought, it occurred to me that the <i>Culture</i> series could actually be considered in a way to be a trilogy of trilogies. If you put aside <i>The State of the Art</i> seeing how it's not actually a novel, then the first three, next three and last three novels have been written (or at least published) somewhat close together, but with a greater gap between each group. Does this do something to the tone of the books in some way? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZphe44NjFlCKznfA8nvki7MiQm9GGU5OSWQ5H3PuGEd78VXk2kEFzorODvenSHVxbfDb-SltFBi46gkphgaPQFnKpLNTyQ_fUhi5-w0A0GraPWeoLaa6h-WcgpG7i0KiOrrEW2Ny89-jYAE6aVi8usVWihOy4xqJ9Ip05HInEJG4owp8672c/s4032/20221007_163754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZphe44NjFlCKznfA8nvki7MiQm9GGU5OSWQ5H3PuGEd78VXk2kEFzorODvenSHVxbfDb-SltFBi46gkphgaPQFnKpLNTyQ_fUhi5-w0A0GraPWeoLaa6h-WcgpG7i0KiOrrEW2Ny89-jYAE6aVi8usVWihOy4xqJ9Ip05HInEJG4owp8672c/w400-h225/20221007_163754.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIfX3H5NLuhiWlwJBrnwY8XELMvwdFY8gZDejVZUvzw2JLrSGv3qCpRe_ekHyXVz2KYWnOW5J5nFtWyKoK63U8MtnTtDQANNlGy1-03TTFXJ1Lfc4FOg4h-geO2kPjC-Wyg8af7OyQVWpCXfyA4J8siCPLSf2X3rz4FtAH3nc_FNTjVbPcEE/s4032/20221007_164941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIfX3H5NLuhiWlwJBrnwY8XELMvwdFY8gZDejVZUvzw2JLrSGv3qCpRe_ekHyXVz2KYWnOW5J5nFtWyKoK63U8MtnTtDQANNlGy1-03TTFXJ1Lfc4FOg4h-geO2kPjC-Wyg8af7OyQVWpCXfyA4J8siCPLSf2X3rz4FtAH3nc_FNTjVbPcEE/w400-h225/20221007_164941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I do feel like I read <i>Consider Phlebas</i>, <i>The Player of Games</i> and <i>Use of Weapons</i> rather close together, and though the books were completely their own stories, there was a sense of crescendo, a building up of tension, as if Banks was shifting through the gears a bit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3G5IpFR0ZuMMNoJ-MMXk34BP39NfMYfbhXSrro7DOCF6AO8XgFcL_ceNKzGligRjP0zycw8QRSiXHRCEx7fFHQYStU6vZVTubhEJAzKq50rZeKPJENCrIzOsvSJacDpsphYnmqPigWfjA2skPSpKcFA-i_8NVgl1Z7s_n2aXH5LvZPt9nlU/s4032/20221007_161646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3G5IpFR0ZuMMNoJ-MMXk34BP39NfMYfbhXSrro7DOCF6AO8XgFcL_ceNKzGligRjP0zycw8QRSiXHRCEx7fFHQYStU6vZVTubhEJAzKq50rZeKPJENCrIzOsvSJacDpsphYnmqPigWfjA2skPSpKcFA-i_8NVgl1Z7s_n2aXH5LvZPt9nlU/w225-h400/20221007_161646.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRJxdSWgzOJRAFyxoNUTOiQcLK31LbqMBvynTYmcdFHerZksaOwpCaMc7GhOESTkO3uvmeHP4_B_FZMEKu_IwRAMd1fLo3kZqRUwogdaLeQV5AbvLr8HrfXzKNXRAmeFbhz-aYV-JHfyQpNfE9QU573c4WI128FwWcY1CGRMfPxqR7DhsjD0/s4032/20221008_110135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRJxdSWgzOJRAFyxoNUTOiQcLK31LbqMBvynTYmcdFHerZksaOwpCaMc7GhOESTkO3uvmeHP4_B_FZMEKu_IwRAMd1fLo3kZqRUwogdaLeQV5AbvLr8HrfXzKNXRAmeFbhz-aYV-JHfyQpNfE9QU573c4WI128FwWcY1CGRMfPxqR7DhsjD0/w400-h225/20221008_110135.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I had something of a similar feeling with the next three novels. There was something of a gap between my reading of <i>Use of Weapons</i> (partly just to recover from the end of that book and partly to catch up on the book club readings) and <i>Excession</i>. But then I read <i>Excession</i>, <i>Inversions</i> and <i>Look to Windward</i> in quick succession. And again, I definitely felt this sense of build up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnY7tlAcpzk1RL40tNYkyd2OqkgQPUeXYHT0gqu16DGIaReSfhh3N7NRdKMeJTYIAliTJdOqnJC-p9r0_lZpvAmNdoXfZQOv7P_onF0rPW7vgeICtCnSbbaTKhQVejS1aaoBhKfcYsITgQRk-YOApxAMA1GuSP7Xg3TSeVqMMjiw3XoJhW4g/s4032/20221008_151816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnY7tlAcpzk1RL40tNYkyd2OqkgQPUeXYHT0gqu16DGIaReSfhh3N7NRdKMeJTYIAliTJdOqnJC-p9r0_lZpvAmNdoXfZQOv7P_onF0rPW7vgeICtCnSbbaTKhQVejS1aaoBhKfcYsITgQRk-YOApxAMA1GuSP7Xg3TSeVqMMjiw3XoJhW4g/w400-h225/20221008_151816.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKETjdzDQj8sN5XG2wvv79WA5Nk9kojRkL2s83BtMpyIFFtei9oSnUgj98vInhjAjBzTm_ExfsiKhcYFYbwsa6vy_OpL_p_7te664QiIbWw88FGwHLjQOX9Bt6C9JxZI-qheTwp_OhOlcGv2hOQcTUxF5aWyy0XhYhoj2yvSHOmihS3P3RqY/s4032/20221010_103612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKETjdzDQj8sN5XG2wvv79WA5Nk9kojRkL2s83BtMpyIFFtei9oSnUgj98vInhjAjBzTm_ExfsiKhcYFYbwsa6vy_OpL_p_7te664QiIbWw88FGwHLjQOX9Bt6C9JxZI-qheTwp_OhOlcGv2hOQcTUxF5aWyy0XhYhoj2yvSHOmihS3P3RqY/w400-h225/20221010_103612.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In each case, the third book in the sequence has been my favourite. The narrative has been more layered, the protagonist(s) much more shaded in grey, the conclusion emotionally charged. Which is not to say the other books didn't have those elements, just maybe not in the same way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrH23Q0jeJHF2dve40MtbrFMWYSV3ghYSruHEptrdr8HPoJsuHSA0psaTCVE7qKrCavESyzU0MHCL6fylCo27I-QTW4OutkDONP-XHUIRViJd0DPAcFOVRg9yis0CBvKsNX-x4awTQ1PYODisIaXnKhaxGokBI7Nqi7VGoPMOTVzazysjflM/s4032/20221010_120633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrH23Q0jeJHF2dve40MtbrFMWYSV3ghYSruHEptrdr8HPoJsuHSA0psaTCVE7qKrCavESyzU0MHCL6fylCo27I-QTW4OutkDONP-XHUIRViJd0DPAcFOVRg9yis0CBvKsNX-x4awTQ1PYODisIaXnKhaxGokBI7Nqi7VGoPMOTVzazysjflM/w225-h400/20221010_120633.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zu5zqPsFDLX2Xe-ojBacXpGLLjHcPrQ3qOQZI7e-fzPO7IXk15aDJiBEhMj7abBRXKtK_eexIJt5oJxifrC8wNabotp5DoPHQtyvduQr6it9EJ2-Nzl5vifxcJ0ikUGNwUtuIZY2HULanDbxAldDMk7QGvbPVKUUwVm4UWIB9kE_zlENSGI/s4032/20221011_110653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zu5zqPsFDLX2Xe-ojBacXpGLLjHcPrQ3qOQZI7e-fzPO7IXk15aDJiBEhMj7abBRXKtK_eexIJt5oJxifrC8wNabotp5DoPHQtyvduQr6it9EJ2-Nzl5vifxcJ0ikUGNwUtuIZY2HULanDbxAldDMk7QGvbPVKUUwVm4UWIB9kE_zlENSGI/w400-h225/20221011_110653.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyhow, I did end up really enjoying how <i>Look to Windward</i> played out in the end. It wasn't the sort of shock to the system the ending of <i>Use of Weapons</i> was, but felt powerful nonetheless, especially the epilogue :). Banks does have an amazing way of putting things in perspective.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPbf2lr3nvhHFfusql71EJsMnVBdbppw-h4q0w460QsyGQsV8Xw3zyHAdE29epxCoApQWFXFb54xoFQUNmVLNzO8pjmuGg8oTM9UEd0jCss1l0HTPINTqw1uDX96Ado73oEut4abwU86SzKer022y6Sqc-9t-iZDpFM9qQO_9EVUpqeFg4y8/s4032/20221010_121357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPbf2lr3nvhHFfusql71EJsMnVBdbppw-h4q0w460QsyGQsV8Xw3zyHAdE29epxCoApQWFXFb54xoFQUNmVLNzO8pjmuGg8oTM9UEd0jCss1l0HTPINTqw1uDX96Ado73oEut4abwU86SzKer022y6Sqc-9t-iZDpFM9qQO_9EVUpqeFg4y8/w225-h400/20221010_121357.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VwBc4i4wszaOqyrA8IujtWooMsYv4fICVBB1fpXVttEsU0b8v7hlYkyuFh8zyghzVWET8-HJIJuWxdUhuiFiKftLlNf3KkilvSq65rS_Cxbq2zQJOB7VdZmc3ACzeXE4NkvUBZviem5NorBfM4j5HUqwtlJu4Ng2GeimGcuqcCnm-FxofBw/s4032/20221011_113821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VwBc4i4wszaOqyrA8IujtWooMsYv4fICVBB1fpXVttEsU0b8v7hlYkyuFh8zyghzVWET8-HJIJuWxdUhuiFiKftLlNf3KkilvSq65rS_Cxbq2zQJOB7VdZmc3ACzeXE4NkvUBZviem5NorBfM4j5HUqwtlJu4Ng2GeimGcuqcCnm-FxofBw/w400-h225/20221011_113821.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then, as I mentioned, I couldn't really get into <i>Matter</i>, possibly partly just because I needed to give myself a bit more time to think about <i>..Windward</i>. Fortunately, there were more book club books to read :). This month's book was actually one I'd been looking forward to! The latest (although since then there's another one been released I think, anyway) in the <i>Jackson Lamb</i> series, this time rather obviously called <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52298766-slough-house" target="_blank">Slough House</a></i> :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3Fn47_ZuSZADHV6pwkDTV0Vzu5u4mmFLGnxpyyWUOBRmUagzMDwXhpDL-PNGWd6ggOgr5pC3BJ1lWcoLaDiBcuYp4E1SEQY66NkKbT_Pn6rBAM4y9oQB3GLm2yNOksYnUhVbfAdWGN7F_alriG7DywRAUeQr6ay-1LpLY91Ygms5uWUvO1U/s4032/20221010_202931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3Fn47_ZuSZADHV6pwkDTV0Vzu5u4mmFLGnxpyyWUOBRmUagzMDwXhpDL-PNGWd6ggOgr5pC3BJ1lWcoLaDiBcuYp4E1SEQY66NkKbT_Pn6rBAM4y9oQB3GLm2yNOksYnUhVbfAdWGN7F_alriG7DywRAUeQr6ay-1LpLY91Ygms5uWUvO1U/w225-h400/20221010_202931.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBxfsZSdq2bSwAeF0Oma9g2pTaqDkkOdziByAJ7XjrCFM21XAF3-Ao7qFzBeZ7UwDTxb9Bp72G0AOhoIajwS_Nwcd5Gzwy4SNDg8suG_VNgEXwtbRST3P7w2iCIu2ftHbnZhgrLRTmvkhhS8OturnzrjemxB4qz1ptKQIQG8tGoO36hZioDQ/s4032/20221011_131230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBxfsZSdq2bSwAeF0Oma9g2pTaqDkkOdziByAJ7XjrCFM21XAF3-Ao7qFzBeZ7UwDTxb9Bp72G0AOhoIajwS_Nwcd5Gzwy4SNDg8suG_VNgEXwtbRST3P7w2iCIu2ftHbnZhgrLRTmvkhhS8OturnzrjemxB4qz1ptKQIQG8tGoO36hZioDQ/w400-h225/20221011_131230.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyone familiar with my history with the series would be pretty surprised, I think, to read that I genuinely enjoyed this book! Partly this could have been the setting, I read mostly on the trip the US, either on planes, or in between happenings with the family in New York or Asheville (more on which later). Reading it in bits and pieces meant I could actually enjoy how Herron writes! I have a feeling I'd never really paid much attention to that before.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsveLdIZkCSbi6dM2EqX12sj7NkKdmxn4kxzaUr7AtebyTBs16QJ1BFbiE5X8lcaO7wJPG1lXttzRFd0wVt1caIPF9Gz3VUzUNhmwFp3jJLBCNPWS6oJvCleT4c03glRLANDqrfDbpp8eCaXJ6mLhTvfGSGYoUD7Gt-efhrQeLlrr4xJewMc/s4032/20221011_164601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsveLdIZkCSbi6dM2EqX12sj7NkKdmxn4kxzaUr7AtebyTBs16QJ1BFbiE5X8lcaO7wJPG1lXttzRFd0wVt1caIPF9Gz3VUzUNhmwFp3jJLBCNPWS6oJvCleT4c03glRLANDqrfDbpp8eCaXJ6mLhTvfGSGYoUD7Gt-efhrQeLlrr4xJewMc/w225-h400/20221011_164601.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWfisNGW41Gnvwx1pvGEKZGnJquMGORY-uxTS3BNkJqLDpD96NeOgu67xfSo0eIRRPq4nHrNsvyC3WtMxWFtES5xm7CufFifuDBhRqUvVFygPCOwAqPf2_pO6SWgw_-cHCfj-Eu4EIcGMEpPF4j_pQL5uX839EZIAgBfb3Ae9jd-1apQb_rg/s4032/20221011_174635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWfisNGW41Gnvwx1pvGEKZGnJquMGORY-uxTS3BNkJqLDpD96NeOgu67xfSo0eIRRPq4nHrNsvyC3WtMxWFtES5xm7CufFifuDBhRqUvVFygPCOwAqPf2_pO6SWgw_-cHCfj-Eu4EIcGMEpPF4j_pQL5uX839EZIAgBfb3Ae9jd-1apQb_rg/w225-h400/20221011_174635.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I have to say, of course, that the ending wasn't much fun for me. However, (and here I must warn you, some spoilers follow) given the ambiguity, and the previously telegraphed reappearance of Sid, I'm more at ease with River's situation this time around rather than a quarter of the way through <i>Spook Street</i> when it seemed like the OB had shot him in the face! Now I can look forward to reading the next book :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKoN5osoDlREsuAKt3DUEyQDufGy8aYx2lrfpJqYy3STDLOssRup_V1u75LlLeuYUavKZvZ3zzDGSCS8Dtk7aaduTjXMsGk_8azhkJnGDO0YpcTZxt6EXDPCN-ULOuM72IPKeSky2Aspa0Rfiz5C4lyJajK4eGyc1tCrSSZK3Sbnbl1vWAQE/s4032/20221011_183533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKoN5osoDlREsuAKt3DUEyQDufGy8aYx2lrfpJqYy3STDLOssRup_V1u75LlLeuYUavKZvZ3zzDGSCS8Dtk7aaduTjXMsGk_8azhkJnGDO0YpcTZxt6EXDPCN-ULOuM72IPKeSky2Aspa0Rfiz5C4lyJajK4eGyc1tCrSSZK3Sbnbl1vWAQE/w225-h400/20221011_183533.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v6L43QcR6KrHEl_j7wwtcgReJ237jS8oYCFeFHR88DpLATeeA_0HrzJfSwdHVwRG2Po1wVKvH418NP_C97kbbUe5znwy4T53JPVR4rvmR1v4yE6tjkYiLwvOy-c929FpdlIRrCBswtzsHljHiFnCxbZmYawPOPv3Cbl8w1S4KeRsSQJUMgs/s4032/20221014_144129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v6L43QcR6KrHEl_j7wwtcgReJ237jS8oYCFeFHR88DpLATeeA_0HrzJfSwdHVwRG2Po1wVKvH418NP_C97kbbUe5znwy4T53JPVR4rvmR1v4yE6tjkYiLwvOy-c929FpdlIRrCBswtzsHljHiFnCxbZmYawPOPv3Cbl8w1S4KeRsSQJUMgs/w400-h225/20221014_144129.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">And then, once we were back from the trip, the next book club book which I'd ordered from the Library was waiting to be picked up, so I thought maybe it'll be fun to read <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42270777-the-beekeeper-of-aleppo" target="_blank">The Beekeeper of Aleppo</a></i> sooner rather than later. Not wholly unexpectedly, this turned out to be a book I'd probably not have read had it not been for the book club. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh1_5qPFOrQ_dFnHSb3FlWWx_SlvlXtU7k2OpL6zZZ_ckWAph6bgTHXOO7zeCW29j3FazHZ2XRIyN7WU99yUF_hYDfj26dJkZ7Suyfr08SpOKmcOC2HzS2BcGrEbwsNykim5grs3aK3QUYRlgrj3V177FpYiWZks65hRzlZNeRFCd9OGqhJg/s4032/20221016_095757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh1_5qPFOrQ_dFnHSb3FlWWx_SlvlXtU7k2OpL6zZZ_ckWAph6bgTHXOO7zeCW29j3FazHZ2XRIyN7WU99yUF_hYDfj26dJkZ7Suyfr08SpOKmcOC2HzS2BcGrEbwsNykim5grs3aK3QUYRlgrj3V177FpYiWZks65hRzlZNeRFCd9OGqhJg/w400-h225/20221016_095757.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23auPs93gsVy45xTxJJK6AOUIoNTeTx4zSSQ77Cuv8lVLwNNsi108JLddafD0jSAiLof14EuGq0OwXlRgtx0ARx3mcZ2mrM9oWkYcynw67irQrOSkJV751UsTNSkEeD39zt3ls8ZVfv9fIWx2CYbfQgUTf4fI1K8rqNU6rxgtiBrhpErKXGQ/s4032/20221016_102826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23auPs93gsVy45xTxJJK6AOUIoNTeTx4zSSQ77Cuv8lVLwNNsi108JLddafD0jSAiLof14EuGq0OwXlRgtx0ARx3mcZ2mrM9oWkYcynw67irQrOSkJV751UsTNSkEeD39zt3ls8ZVfv9fIWx2CYbfQgUTf4fI1K8rqNU6rxgtiBrhpErKXGQ/w400-h225/20221016_102826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Regardless, I'm glad I did, because it speaks compassionately yet unflinchingly about the ongoing horrors of war, displacement and separation. Something that is otherwise altogether too easy to just hide from (in my privileged position of not being in one of those warzones, of course).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr0x5wYoZkz-rXpLmKUH-euplLquE8PwsfErwLw0Wk5Xab1kRrXhdhHsxysk2z5nskmJrqdDw-rLehZDMjrKcvkjU1hrdl2Lx4Is-j0Hm7kZFkd4ih4yy3zmueOmlHvpMZxM_BwAAymzr5nI26DwEi0vJyhPkTYtZBm5l5b6AZUPAQDDP-dY/s4032/20221016_145151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr0x5wYoZkz-rXpLmKUH-euplLquE8PwsfErwLw0Wk5Xab1kRrXhdhHsxysk2z5nskmJrqdDw-rLehZDMjrKcvkjU1hrdl2Lx4Is-j0Hm7kZFkd4ih4yy3zmueOmlHvpMZxM_BwAAymzr5nI26DwEi0vJyhPkTYtZBm5l5b6AZUPAQDDP-dY/w400-h225/20221016_145151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe3eQ8RqBeNRKoZs7IACA60xeRX7Uc8lGm8tbKbQfg55c8vDE8dYQPSi3evbm9ezEYTd3uD2weNRskueOOpCQO6LLPcC0yNMJv-DMmLpB-8ng3cZkI9iU8s3ytYSv8w8H0enf_xyGtMxmlWGOpzjvbkfOg8xCnF0FJQEA89-rl9MPSzEni7c/s4032/20221023_144327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe3eQ8RqBeNRKoZs7IACA60xeRX7Uc8lGm8tbKbQfg55c8vDE8dYQPSi3evbm9ezEYTd3uD2weNRskueOOpCQO6LLPcC0yNMJv-DMmLpB-8ng3cZkI9iU8s3ytYSv8w8H0enf_xyGtMxmlWGOpzjvbkfOg8xCnF0FJQEA89-rl9MPSzEni7c/w400-h225/20221023_144327.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The Syrian refugee crisis is not over, but here in Northern Europe it's been rather buried by the war in Ukraine. Unsurprisingly and somewhat understandably. Regardless, it felt timely to be reminded of the ongoing issues in other parts of the world. But even beyond that, the story of Nuri and Afra itself was worth experiencing. Having finished reading it, I now feel myself gravitating back to the world of the Culture, so <i>Matter</i> will probably be my companion for the next few weeks :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBQJ29VvsBPnZKX4AOJHb5LWsFlEOCq-qCatKsc7jy2DEtoe2qZosmFEv3lhVetOk1znTOBsIMNZOlRZAXnMpVr53fXkqHPJeIz0by8xY-aSN54dU7nTMpwgT-vJfDBaTfDItL1-dJkoBV578WJp4CikAlRXwLVbNG4SmTW_yfSHJJ0oPbKE/s4032/20221007_122339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBQJ29VvsBPnZKX4AOJHb5LWsFlEOCq-qCatKsc7jy2DEtoe2qZosmFEv3lhVetOk1znTOBsIMNZOlRZAXnMpVr53fXkqHPJeIz0by8xY-aSN54dU7nTMpwgT-vJfDBaTfDItL1-dJkoBV578WJp4CikAlRXwLVbNG4SmTW_yfSHJJ0oPbKE/w400-h225/20221007_122339.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HrZgRdZzEdhntOK4wm4fLRL2SMYWxDP1SafpHotSekwD7BjV21O57lDfy3uXyQwUJkocwoEEGHNDChVuXq4SQkfli-QxFzr0J38DIZ87rGZiwQlp5I_-iDq_YLxEv4JBHNoZwLIF0aU_xK6fOlTNUQZKRZt2Qi_oL-lNbK1hjGKVmAf0L4o/s4032/20221007_132839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HrZgRdZzEdhntOK4wm4fLRL2SMYWxDP1SafpHotSekwD7BjV21O57lDfy3uXyQwUJkocwoEEGHNDChVuXq4SQkfli-QxFzr0J38DIZ87rGZiwQlp5I_-iDq_YLxEv4JBHNoZwLIF0aU_xK6fOlTNUQZKRZt2Qi_oL-lNbK1hjGKVmAf0L4o/w400-h225/20221007_132839.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The post for this month, however, would be in no way complete without mention of the much awaited and anticipated trip to the US for a long delayed reunion with some of my family there as well as some visiting from India! And what an amazing trip it turned out to be!! :) For one thing, all the travels - the flights to and from New York as well as the long drives from New York to Asheville and back, worked out like a charm. (With the one exception of the hour spent trying to get through Lincoln Tunnel from New Jersey, but that was really nothing in the grand scheme of things :D.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY_TFgdNOjjzZsE2QwuwEVjUw4AcGuF3XYi_ztfmrZUQp2Rf5Dzo1wi7DnTZ0w69k4wePPjXpPsUbAkMN7i_zqNbRwbErGJLbme8lbdje6Q3Sxxtv5Kt_Ph2rJBXcKefwzQgblQEr3o5Bw3Z02HmQCsJXbwYM7GQNj3bGcG6TrfHuomWkvGo/s4032/20221007_115856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY_TFgdNOjjzZsE2QwuwEVjUw4AcGuF3XYi_ztfmrZUQp2Rf5Dzo1wi7DnTZ0w69k4wePPjXpPsUbAkMN7i_zqNbRwbErGJLbme8lbdje6Q3Sxxtv5Kt_Ph2rJBXcKefwzQgblQEr3o5Bw3Z02HmQCsJXbwYM7GQNj3bGcG6TrfHuomWkvGo/w400-h225/20221007_115856.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs32UuvjEbifSDZJIT_NnOuynL52J0lyKPqD-W1aQlKi3l1mIq5c6NaXC64f9B7DsuNZCOvT55fQwCRpkXwzqqazJlbrJ3r_2aFZvOHYDWcTVHYhHaQGYUCy4xZcCbQ8BHJT1IgzEwbRkbXIiBaAKshjceeXCwkXZdVZE43iVP1ThWdm8QGAs/s4032/20221007_133148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs32UuvjEbifSDZJIT_NnOuynL52J0lyKPqD-W1aQlKi3l1mIq5c6NaXC64f9B7DsuNZCOvT55fQwCRpkXwzqqazJlbrJ3r_2aFZvOHYDWcTVHYhHaQGYUCy4xZcCbQ8BHJT1IgzEwbRkbXIiBaAKshjceeXCwkXZdVZE43iVP1ThWdm8QGAs/w225-h400/20221007_133148.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We spent a lovely day in Manhattan, lazily exploring bits of the Upper East Side, Central Park and a brief tour into Midtown. The weather was amazing, some of the locations familiar from previous visits. But the biggest source of enjoyment was just being able to spend time with family again, not through chats and emails, or even through screens on video calls, but finally in person :). The last day of the trip was spent similarly in NYC, with some added catching up with friends we hadn't met in five years!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpnB2bJ0n53halFOCydyLPudJyDBElex2O0Z6kvc0QtsM-JcnAEXiofWjllaIWXsN3CkZViLFi9UqJpXJdMY91Ss09vLBLdrTgprihoaUbvmJA_QfGRpccyiqpHtGJWuesh1zTnGSELursi87OezoJ0HwWDPDkn0Uf0KoPVYV-HyTHeDKuSw/s4032/20221007_142756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpnB2bJ0n53halFOCydyLPudJyDBElex2O0Z6kvc0QtsM-JcnAEXiofWjllaIWXsN3CkZViLFi9UqJpXJdMY91Ss09vLBLdrTgprihoaUbvmJA_QfGRpccyiqpHtGJWuesh1zTnGSELursi87OezoJ0HwWDPDkn0Uf0KoPVYV-HyTHeDKuSw/w400-h225/20221007_142756.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75_HPZnfSr7lswkTPxithe39JY96VGcNhOu2NZavirMrBxZSk0gdiSCzMtmLwGhIsiSd_5PLZhGc4oPHTjHRfwYeZkzTUcTHK28aQ5vVS4RJKroncrW5wIXfJyJnxbj8yTKlSSj2o_s5BE3gFNQJ6DehAcgJOOzvikyFlEjEmLEQue67ALog/s4032/20221007_143001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75_HPZnfSr7lswkTPxithe39JY96VGcNhOu2NZavirMrBxZSk0gdiSCzMtmLwGhIsiSd_5PLZhGc4oPHTjHRfwYeZkzTUcTHK28aQ5vVS4RJKroncrW5wIXfJyJnxbj8yTKlSSj2o_s5BE3gFNQJ6DehAcgJOOzvikyFlEjEmLEQue67ALog/w225-h400/20221007_143001.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The week in between though, was utter bliss! The familiar long drives to and from Asheville served as an interesting counterpoint to the days in Asheville spent relaxing, walking, chatting, birding, catching up, cooking, eating, laughing and just generally enjoying being together :). Even got to catch one of my mum's concerts live for the first time in ages! And celebrated my aunt's birthday in style :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTnGROSMCuI7F5cwjG_V247onvZylpoAlihKMYxVOnCDN4q4kpkIO-H-tstkM7gr3BYh4DSfK_nz1udP9G9m6eA5aRoMZW1WJd94msBOKTnNLzgi90tmRah8IO5WHQSmuBD6AJcRPupYJpdNXIwYcBP59k2DaA2irFi_5MF4ddWuScdlJugM/s4032/20221012_202417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTnGROSMCuI7F5cwjG_V247onvZylpoAlihKMYxVOnCDN4q4kpkIO-H-tstkM7gr3BYh4DSfK_nz1udP9G9m6eA5aRoMZW1WJd94msBOKTnNLzgi90tmRah8IO5WHQSmuBD6AJcRPupYJpdNXIwYcBP59k2DaA2irFi_5MF4ddWuScdlJugM/w400-h225/20221012_202417.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbFdzUWQ_7FN0k7CbhzlAMFf567bLaTGNRMndz-NumuBm0RoX0amKmDWJvOKXw8Nt0LZbd-mXRpaOZxfOTqVb-Y-54hNopb1Ug1JKH3ZfUcIG6sJCuMKin2hqihvETfTSgTPP7XRiLgG67BNsTRgXrbdHnUgP-gf8i-paeyPJ2JgYxJA1tp0/s4032/20221013_224409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbFdzUWQ_7FN0k7CbhzlAMFf567bLaTGNRMndz-NumuBm0RoX0amKmDWJvOKXw8Nt0LZbd-mXRpaOZxfOTqVb-Y-54hNopb1Ug1JKH3ZfUcIG6sJCuMKin2hqihvETfTSgTPP7XRiLgG67BNsTRgXrbdHnUgP-gf8i-paeyPJ2JgYxJA1tp0/w225-h400/20221013_224409.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The weather all through served us very well too! And for the first time in my many years of visiting Asheville, the autumn colours were on full and gorgeous display! In fact as we headed south, there seemed to be more colour than in the north east. Then through the week we were there the trees changed in front of our eyes from the occasional reds, oranges and yellows amidst the green to progressively more fiery riotous colours :). It was a fun time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvkFQnQAdTnGT5Bhnr-xX20D_-aRku6OUR_EV_EwVf5pFB0w6egRagOR1G-fhnUfUFhpd-ksEHEFm_JQyPusujPFTKblL_9mVV4XPsHoy8bCI9qm56OvJwn2-uZXKXbft6z4Bmd5RyZ6eCnVLGWnWSf6TJlIkFFG5EVcPxBErf4UBLvUl9sU/s4032/20221011_105015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvkFQnQAdTnGT5Bhnr-xX20D_-aRku6OUR_EV_EwVf5pFB0w6egRagOR1G-fhnUfUFhpd-ksEHEFm_JQyPusujPFTKblL_9mVV4XPsHoy8bCI9qm56OvJwn2-uZXKXbft6z4Bmd5RyZ6eCnVLGWnWSf6TJlIkFFG5EVcPxBErf4UBLvUl9sU/w400-h225/20221011_105015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2p9fRRMZn-KgTPWFFjKFiekHysbs7roIM65DnD0jC-wg6lUkNd422dCMtJmEWOJcbhRuWx3FT7ofKtU3_OzDMeLe5NMWnV1AWiQ0f5tuh8_5hfN1r-ghzYQ197a9dEPvRshqkm6kro7ANyqlWjVOLmfjaPTpAoZWGSTjG4uNOSFQf5oSvps/s4032/20221011_121225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2p9fRRMZn-KgTPWFFjKFiekHysbs7roIM65DnD0jC-wg6lUkNd422dCMtJmEWOJcbhRuWx3FT7ofKtU3_OzDMeLe5NMWnV1AWiQ0f5tuh8_5hfN1r-ghzYQ197a9dEPvRshqkm6kro7ANyqlWjVOLmfjaPTpAoZWGSTjG4uNOSFQf5oSvps/w400-h225/20221011_121225.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The fact that we had a week meant that things didn't need to get too hectic :). There were quiet times to take it all in. I suppose it can be easy enough to cruise along the path of one's own life. Stay (or grow) insulated from the other lives being lived all around us. There's good reasons for it, I'm one of those that does find social interactions beyond a point somewhat burdensome. But being able to share life does have the possibility to bring so much joy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEerr7nXq2amRPdMUEkCoiqxF7FbsFtgkZYiK3KnqkGliaizGgrRNX-QWYPGOGV-FNVtH_tVKHPdF0oCtbAseOdE3FIPsSWxqt5Ml9qrB_kOlvpOnPm3wesvn37m_XoLtoO9QHYOIRovvgI4n-TrcqmC3ugGfZuMHC2jWRzNHGz-i2WVAIUs/s4032/20221014_145102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEerr7nXq2amRPdMUEkCoiqxF7FbsFtgkZYiK3KnqkGliaizGgrRNX-QWYPGOGV-FNVtH_tVKHPdF0oCtbAseOdE3FIPsSWxqt5Ml9qrB_kOlvpOnPm3wesvn37m_XoLtoO9QHYOIRovvgI4n-TrcqmC3ugGfZuMHC2jWRzNHGz-i2WVAIUs/w400-h225/20221014_145102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnczFBCYpuWERfDELC1Cc0CYV9wsZH0Ur1m4BATK95YyOEZKHeLoZl9JnD4bOAIbKzTJU6LmOvWGeVQtl7-MvKe0sJcQ50cF5xxBw_1L438V1y7iKg3d1aEQisvVis0exWOJuS1lBCKWGt_ZNDh013Y8xKpJzGOU2Vzd4ynJOMjC2v1W8Cnc/s4032/20221014_150135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnczFBCYpuWERfDELC1Cc0CYV9wsZH0Ur1m4BATK95YyOEZKHeLoZl9JnD4bOAIbKzTJU6LmOvWGeVQtl7-MvKe0sJcQ50cF5xxBw_1L438V1y7iKg3d1aEQisvVis0exWOJuS1lBCKWGt_ZNDh013Y8xKpJzGOU2Vzd4ynJOMjC2v1W8Cnc/w400-h225/20221014_150135.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Well, it's been something of a travel filled summer-autumn this year. Especially after the enforced seclusion of the last couple of years. But now it's likely to be a bit more of a settled couple of months till Christmas. Traditionally not the most fun time to be living in Norway, what with the darkness creeping over everything and the loss of colour from the world around. But I feel the memories of the fun trips to Greece, Belgium and the US have fortified me somewhat :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBEcnS3kzh2EYwj9M5n0ALMPwZdtsvbT1xUxQeG7DytqFfWC0St5e-5GfTNu7S-nQy37j-qlrJp3k6gLdgyoN8kVbSiOeSPy1vFV82jK7ElAzBqVOGM5Nr332PIZSm2zmuiSqzEYSekem4VOyxQ7EWUMOcpQDbIH-PxfAjIoRHW65dl3VcmA/s4032/20221014_152716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBEcnS3kzh2EYwj9M5n0ALMPwZdtsvbT1xUxQeG7DytqFfWC0St5e-5GfTNu7S-nQy37j-qlrJp3k6gLdgyoN8kVbSiOeSPy1vFV82jK7ElAzBqVOGM5Nr332PIZSm2zmuiSqzEYSekem4VOyxQ7EWUMOcpQDbIH-PxfAjIoRHW65dl3VcmA/w400-h225/20221014_152716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDLS0c6UMjgnuKP0pE-XTSkZH42aH4TbiIVf1kY-GQQmASTa2wWPmUd5IaL7DlwSTbZvJ9qE-W6p5WsLu4ZRPxkaEPLEPJcDIvWuc_YJktbQPgzI77Kn12He9EHF0d5wu_oCEg92xjWpK_mF8wB5turGZv_wpHrKQuIdrgsNWBw-Ot73-UfU/s4032/20221014_183700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDLS0c6UMjgnuKP0pE-XTSkZH42aH4TbiIVf1kY-GQQmASTa2wWPmUd5IaL7DlwSTbZvJ9qE-W6p5WsLu4ZRPxkaEPLEPJcDIvWuc_YJktbQPgzI77Kn12He9EHF0d5wu_oCEg92xjWpK_mF8wB5turGZv_wpHrKQuIdrgsNWBw-Ot73-UfU/w400-h225/20221014_183700.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Doesn't stop me from already looking forward to the planned trip to the UK for Christmas though :D.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71zyEjvRzbAvyXmv3wPwSa5qnl4CLrGzUX81Lk19banvYZMfh24gmdI7SqUiG30eaNH57YD4fXTsLEZEV30RtPzm4sjqWOOTnugcoy7EKuCyXxR3O_lX7f8SGbACNmu1hJWVOdOvGqHTqT2X0YpFNy3kuy26zRtwsedj0adt-QhGgp2Os0bs/s4032/20221015_101246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71zyEjvRzbAvyXmv3wPwSa5qnl4CLrGzUX81Lk19banvYZMfh24gmdI7SqUiG30eaNH57YD4fXTsLEZEV30RtPzm4sjqWOOTnugcoy7EKuCyXxR3O_lX7f8SGbACNmu1hJWVOdOvGqHTqT2X0YpFNy3kuy26zRtwsedj0adt-QhGgp2Os0bs/w400-h225/20221015_101246.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Obligatory Virginia interstate signage photo :).</span></td></tr></tbody></table>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-79146793116286686162022-09-30T17:11:00.003+02:002022-10-04T09:54:41.807+02:00Of changing colours and Flemish ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpFZ_SJsSAsLrqIzhyrAuxhWrYmidOvu_z3-3yE5EZZmm99r9sEbZMN5Hc0xskZzLgxS4zbxQJ7ADvh7EwyEPp1bPN8X2JrWthA0P7h2FGGGy89ba4mhFL_ln8kJm6Y7aGvceRBAPu0R1neluJTWDQ3u_d_0qWMihLT5G3jys6qCUM9qjXP4/s4032/20220903_141748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpFZ_SJsSAsLrqIzhyrAuxhWrYmidOvu_z3-3yE5EZZmm99r9sEbZMN5Hc0xskZzLgxS4zbxQJ7ADvh7EwyEPp1bPN8X2JrWthA0P7h2FGGGy89ba4mhFL_ln8kJm6Y7aGvceRBAPu0R1neluJTWDQ3u_d_0qWMihLT5G3jys6qCUM9qjXP4/w400-h225/20220903_141748.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's definitely autumn now. I mean, it's not been summer here for probably more than a month, but now there's not even the faintest chance of pretending :). The colours are changing. Pretty slowly I have to say, for Norway. But the leaves are still mostly on the branches. Which is extra surprising given how wet and windy it's been lately.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfuaN9uC3ne8wwOu72gH_U9a5g0MTaPpER0_JmVEs5IPGtgxxbgv1pHn1tf-A8bU5CibU93i6nY0_-8u-7zAF_D2rCVLvf4ome1Gxn39D9zujTb8fUOPskqqa9qTXsC3wAh_Rd_V-skegPLPXon-FsIUfvk1BpOjlnZdE6zw0kXtR00CYgPo/s4032/20220911_132816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfuaN9uC3ne8wwOu72gH_U9a5g0MTaPpER0_JmVEs5IPGtgxxbgv1pHn1tf-A8bU5CibU93i6nY0_-8u-7zAF_D2rCVLvf4ome1Gxn39D9zujTb8fUOPskqqa9qTXsC3wAh_Rd_V-skegPLPXon-FsIUfvk1BpOjlnZdE6zw0kXtR00CYgPo/w400-h225/20220911_132816.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Another birthday came and went. A reminder of time passing, life being lived. The world around us changing as it rotates and revolves and does all sorts of other things we don't notice, and us changing with it. Somehow I've ended up leaning towards the calendar year as a more natural way of keeping track, rather than my birthday. I suppose in many ways 1st January is more of a coincidence than my actual birthday right? Only insofar as it concerns my life that is. But there you have it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TywXBQQPvcB1gOkxLZvttFu8gImcf5ajjHrZb9eYOZboGeIySpXb1c6kYg2yFzN8UeoixjJZCKBr6laFfRFMKYzl33kO8WmmMZxSaEcp3lwum1A_deU8tGoaQHD3ybvQF2CcvUIvUinArUqkUKfA1jkfrvZQXQuczdckSSksBXT7BtxaAP4/s4032/20220902_181449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TywXBQQPvcB1gOkxLZvttFu8gImcf5ajjHrZb9eYOZboGeIySpXb1c6kYg2yFzN8UeoixjJZCKBr6laFfRFMKYzl33kO8WmmMZxSaEcp3lwum1A_deU8tGoaQHD3ybvQF2CcvUIvUinArUqkUKfA1jkfrvZQXQuczdckSSksBXT7BtxaAP4/w225-h400/20220902_181449.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The travelling has been ongoing in the mean time. This month it was Belgium! Yet another country I'd never actually been to before, and now I have! And it definitely did not disappoint!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JPkBfLXay4-38tkyMg6g-MuPW5XxFS0oQdXjXtTwY3rdcI_bk7JC1ohg3RlRMwrPzeL-bDdQSMorJyTlMVApTXPB7ghmnt_2x4cFgh_UMIrff5Dkjbzwezc5hF8bjEzXdrLzfeAxpAPF4NNJakx89DQMXMjs__Acpl7oRPmJmKNpAefboDg/s4032/20220915_205845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JPkBfLXay4-38tkyMg6g-MuPW5XxFS0oQdXjXtTwY3rdcI_bk7JC1ohg3RlRMwrPzeL-bDdQSMorJyTlMVApTXPB7ghmnt_2x4cFgh_UMIrff5Dkjbzwezc5hF8bjEzXdrLzfeAxpAPF4NNJakx89DQMXMjs__Acpl7oRPmJmKNpAefboDg/w225-h400/20220915_205845.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We were in Mechelen for a long weekend, tagging along at a conference. Lots of interesting conversations, seminars, discussions. Even some spilt beer (not my fault!). But the town (city?) itself was really awesome too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7p-55dj4AumrdPjT5Idi9ejQSoZ9nrhIHI-ar8luTYVKfsRTH4VfY_P5Wo0hD4jW8HNJHxO6Q90q2OvjkE6N1P1yCGFnG0eBNXrWljf7b-LPEFTaJkvb9VEsUQqKZusydXWnuRBaxXLdLIIUR4lPfEqDLDyW4kH4AG1bjhbrpOnFsemzgSU/s4032/20220915_210010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7p-55dj4AumrdPjT5Idi9ejQSoZ9nrhIHI-ar8luTYVKfsRTH4VfY_P5Wo0hD4jW8HNJHxO6Q90q2OvjkE6N1P1yCGFnG0eBNXrWljf7b-LPEFTaJkvb9VEsUQqKZusydXWnuRBaxXLdLIIUR4lPfEqDLDyW4kH4AG1bjhbrpOnFsemzgSU/w225-h400/20220915_210010.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There was a certain amount of rain, but mostly not when we were out and about taking in the sights! Which was very convenient! Situated between Brussels and Antwerp it's squarely in Flanders, the Dutch (or Flemish) speaking part of Belgium. There's a river that flows through it, but does so in such a civilized sort of way that I kept thinking this has got to be a canal! There was even a floating walkway along a significant length of it which we very much enjoyed :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJpJO5_PB7rzWswv8PnsfOe747ZpDhPkA0xV_KnuRt2ZymY9ulB9UpxJuNcOviy71kV-N7PzOYFJ5HfBh-46YyasHASvxFtF6DcCGAtdzsjpdT4xFr-gJZz1mrKN6pvk0tZWJRBD90xs7eSItitsPowqQmO0HCzP2aAO4soVwEtuAzRF7HXQ/s4032/20220919_181454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJpJO5_PB7rzWswv8PnsfOe747ZpDhPkA0xV_KnuRt2ZymY9ulB9UpxJuNcOviy71kV-N7PzOYFJ5HfBh-46YyasHASvxFtF6DcCGAtdzsjpdT4xFr-gJZz1mrKN6pvk0tZWJRBD90xs7eSItitsPowqQmO0HCzP2aAO4soVwEtuAzRF7HXQ/w400-h225/20220919_181454.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXnqms2_xViz4t_iZpYxoBE-gwg4v3IJu4WtuzIKIxyV58msc2XIalq8CjKz8XQ7Nwiq52LSskUgt6uoJ351J6FFYWsY4AlGA441HT3AulrW-MeqGT2G67Efnuxcezl0oqT4RuOSh5dPjGXDCJMfxAZ_5zvIJHrWm1elaBr5DmhpwJHRBnow/s4032/20220919_164330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXnqms2_xViz4t_iZpYxoBE-gwg4v3IJu4WtuzIKIxyV58msc2XIalq8CjKz8XQ7Nwiq52LSskUgt6uoJ351J6FFYWsY4AlGA441HT3AulrW-MeqGT2G67Efnuxcezl0oqT4RuOSh5dPjGXDCJMfxAZ_5zvIJHrWm1elaBr5DmhpwJHRBnow/w225-h400/20220919_164330.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The thing of particular interest was the imposing tower of St Rumbold's cathedral! At close to 100m tall, it's easily the tallest thing for a long way around. (It helps that Belgium is also spectacularly flat!) In keeping with our luck with the weather, the sun was out and the skies were clear the afternoon we decided to climb up to the top!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP1w0jMPqhtZojY-bjBXQQGJw18lJM0YnLGaCNuwW9CpIixKWw_NfknbjkfUXrxaijd0tb7o14_BqQGWY7piiVsPf3VMIj8QDEmy0G7--rYxQqIaiOTKmdazdzwO0NL5TlF3PW73Rrc3SZXKRmOJbETLhCemkgU7xKmG8TFpYwDP_gDQ83WQ/s4032/20220919_152232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP1w0jMPqhtZojY-bjBXQQGJw18lJM0YnLGaCNuwW9CpIixKWw_NfknbjkfUXrxaijd0tb7o14_BqQGWY7piiVsPf3VMIj8QDEmy0G7--rYxQqIaiOTKmdazdzwO0NL5TlF3PW73Rrc3SZXKRmOJbETLhCemkgU7xKmG8TFpYwDP_gDQ83WQ/w225-h400/20220919_152232.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEXndRSFgMNaEP8zoDCnrbE9Rjm9ug6WU9RmQEOl0XJaq05G9fLYERhPLNFixgIIIeFXjbyZRq0MIMKM9pkA2JeNwmHTGtI6cODX5SG4pf3ybIdSSHqC2ZWDcgAmia3lfFxLiyeFec_X28SUuHN17cYsrdfhoSgOQh4OwqA8O-RLytUKTtM4/s4032/20220919_153214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEXndRSFgMNaEP8zoDCnrbE9Rjm9ug6WU9RmQEOl0XJaq05G9fLYERhPLNFixgIIIeFXjbyZRq0MIMKM9pkA2JeNwmHTGtI6cODX5SG4pf3ybIdSSHqC2ZWDcgAmia3lfFxLiyeFec_X28SUuHN17cYsrdfhoSgOQh4OwqA8O-RLytUKTtM4/w400-h225/20220919_153214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>As we walked up to the skywalk at the top, the views through the tower windows were fantastic, but so were the museum-like presentations of the various layers of bells and their associated paraphernalia inside! There were even several times when the bells rang while we were in the tower itself! (Although I later realized that one of those times was just some speakers :|.)<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j8qbFLh_0sI_2bvqtDCDD9Owhwrnimpu69pkF8mWbHYXRZ18u6Qk7HQfbRbwC3IMslLLRXr6JIJu7oLz853EPWHNbIBI0ezcGzaWrj-TLZb8X2qVeN8ktkMw-8OD--MdAdIib9ciTmBT_Kyb_M6g0-hnK8_D7NmhO4DlrO6YT_BhbYzWTjY/s4032/20220919_154503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j8qbFLh_0sI_2bvqtDCDD9Owhwrnimpu69pkF8mWbHYXRZ18u6Qk7HQfbRbwC3IMslLLRXr6JIJu7oLz853EPWHNbIBI0ezcGzaWrj-TLZb8X2qVeN8ktkMw-8OD--MdAdIib9ciTmBT_Kyb_M6g0-hnK8_D7NmhO4DlrO6YT_BhbYzWTjY/w400-h225/20220919_154503.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh_541PFN_fczwJEtmhBwB8NRutoTVrPRPR1L9r7ry2batgDD4PIC5pbgXw3MvcmKzdXluWCl4kku8wRcZGtdue6-TeHE78YgEzTxxrNCwMcM0jlGh5NjFhKUj9wXs6qlbhS6VWyBq8es2X5L3FDmfHceY0q5uIkynzxCk9Y7lchg0CtFxVY/s4032/20220919_154809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBh_541PFN_fczwJEtmhBwB8NRutoTVrPRPR1L9r7ry2batgDD4PIC5pbgXw3MvcmKzdXluWCl4kku8wRcZGtdue6-TeHE78YgEzTxxrNCwMcM0jlGh5NjFhKUj9wXs6qlbhS6VWyBq8es2X5L3FDmfHceY0q5uIkynzxCk9Y7lchg0CtFxVY/w400-h225/20220919_154809.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonwj6wToiz4ivdK0uNeruGX_euKn8sWH76sK6ziAHqozFOs5zHjWN_6G1577LGVLqt4EEOKryI1bq_ilGP7s3GSpaI82uJQK8a7qB37RElCHnWE9uVt-fpGVMSsURZjKp8qOVR5dFUqYw7rAA-_P2tik6lI8holNo6MBpDgc8WajLZoyTL3A/s4032/20220919_155623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonwj6wToiz4ivdK0uNeruGX_euKn8sWH76sK6ziAHqozFOs5zHjWN_6G1577LGVLqt4EEOKryI1bq_ilGP7s3GSpaI82uJQK8a7qB37RElCHnWE9uVt-fpGVMSsURZjKp8qOVR5dFUqYw7rAA-_P2tik6lI8holNo6MBpDgc8WajLZoyTL3A/w400-h225/20220919_155623.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I suppose we weren't there in peak tourist season, but it was definitely nice to even have the skywalk all to ourselves for a bit of time. And the weather to be able to enjoy the vistas stretching out on all sides.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bPw3VbVrQB8QLveOkn1AU3IbEe-TpD4PA_cN7kjqLAOs97ffMx7jurCceJJUSKafkyzP83NY4uAtCzsLc0WuIT1bBpm6VqL0CKxTGCM9O8f5Wna_rj0uHeW4yXaz3esuMXZq4kA1poDT31IByE0XEL0YERhOAx2ijA3y06XQpvYWQFs7r6c/s4032/20220919_160616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bPw3VbVrQB8QLveOkn1AU3IbEe-TpD4PA_cN7kjqLAOs97ffMx7jurCceJJUSKafkyzP83NY4uAtCzsLc0WuIT1bBpm6VqL0CKxTGCM9O8f5Wna_rj0uHeW4yXaz3esuMXZq4kA1poDT31IByE0XEL0YERhOAx2ijA3y06XQpvYWQFs7r6c/w400-h225/20220919_160616.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPsY4149-aBweAVB8_gJR-AbI6UndZMJyVRHM8Ui12y_-8yA4IxrE6znTcIrDVxwUQAi4OXngjh2pqxibG67GtfWsxJkMNI_UE5jktsoGJ9pBgXHXLgbIK7gzcENo31ET9vxRFknwhD7vdBi1piG7J_joyAKEuubthaiyx1IrRerWBlEdxFQ/s4032/20220919_161013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPsY4149-aBweAVB8_gJR-AbI6UndZMJyVRHM8Ui12y_-8yA4IxrE6znTcIrDVxwUQAi4OXngjh2pqxibG67GtfWsxJkMNI_UE5jktsoGJ9pBgXHXLgbIK7gzcENo31ET9vxRFknwhD7vdBi1piG7J_joyAKEuubthaiyx1IrRerWBlEdxFQ/w225-h400/20220919_161013.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As for the rest of the city, it was full of amazingly beautiful buildings in various styles. Lots of cobbled streets, and roads. And lots and <i>lots</i> of places to eat and drink at! We didn't necessarily have the time to sample it all, but did at least manage to try some proper Belgian ales at <a href="https://www.hetanker.be/en" target="_blank">the local brewery</a> and a tub of fries with the famed variety of sauces :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLb6jkLaSKLonTc6o-EL7OllVSFmWDXayMdFmKrNemYfFYX4BGgi5VcNjNuv9uJxt9Y8QJxcpSAtTAAvNMI0CiXSt7Aqwqh-u1Xexb0JKpxB-a_ES8tcs-W_r7if2eMLL0jBNqzupg4xjvFDX3gBKiKK4I5oXG3aeSDhj1Qc8QcoM3qOLWVk/s5840/20220917_161630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2768" data-original-width="5840" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLb6jkLaSKLonTc6o-EL7OllVSFmWDXayMdFmKrNemYfFYX4BGgi5VcNjNuv9uJxt9Y8QJxcpSAtTAAvNMI0CiXSt7Aqwqh-u1Xexb0JKpxB-a_ES8tcs-W_r7if2eMLL0jBNqzupg4xjvFDX3gBKiKK4I5oXG3aeSDhj1Qc8QcoM3qOLWVk/w640-h304/20220917_161630.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nyw15yG6XYpz3sQl4onql-lfrJt2YDrcW7PxZR9OUHaK1rVjzBoq5iPgb-w-KC94OwRu7rZdhMzoMhO5IVfcX3J_vHP7_XcgVvO1pw1cTfIHFsYkgTUtyKqydjeGBCf0LX2JARRYW_vx60u-557x3ZALSxlBuvd10V_DtK7S8YbBiN84kF4/s4032/20220919_185329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nyw15yG6XYpz3sQl4onql-lfrJt2YDrcW7PxZR9OUHaK1rVjzBoq5iPgb-w-KC94OwRu7rZdhMzoMhO5IVfcX3J_vHP7_XcgVvO1pw1cTfIHFsYkgTUtyKqydjeGBCf0LX2JARRYW_vx60u-557x3ZALSxlBuvd10V_DtK7S8YbBiN84kF4/w225-h400/20220919_185329.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Belgian beer is a particular favourite of mine, and I was extremely happy to see that the original local stuff is genuinely awesome :D!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuZGwPY3YxA2ROlY0ju203zngbMCBnofdSXCPwnYAI5VDdBJQVOg5K_RtSSLB9KhETax7-uKuE6VRO0rUqd2OZSrRJ_QYdACsBY30H8vXETtbaZTmyGfiI6Lnx9CKlsSDG-CODZt9zVZ3L7q7MVAP43sL-kJbSuNzPEcIcIPqQpWLvIPjrUw/s4032/20220917_212352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuZGwPY3YxA2ROlY0ju203zngbMCBnofdSXCPwnYAI5VDdBJQVOg5K_RtSSLB9KhETax7-uKuE6VRO0rUqd2OZSrRJ_QYdACsBY30H8vXETtbaZTmyGfiI6Lnx9CKlsSDG-CODZt9zVZ3L7q7MVAP43sL-kJbSuNzPEcIcIPqQpWLvIPjrUw/w225-h400/20220917_212352.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlMvxPG1fnOMx7h_xluMidhX1jNobrLuzF1Xh98uIbZV42m7xQ6R4d27SzTGcWce5LsxrjxDIwjLEhD1N8ILH_P-c6zD1HH9Tqo8a-6-BN-41SHlljl5j5ndiT0WoJh5x9YUDA9MTlZzIhNZNMaK4-ICZpIFmeVU8uMoQ-YONGKKBo1JZJ6U/s4032/20220919_170717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlMvxPG1fnOMx7h_xluMidhX1jNobrLuzF1Xh98uIbZV42m7xQ6R4d27SzTGcWce5LsxrjxDIwjLEhD1N8ILH_P-c6zD1HH9Tqo8a-6-BN-41SHlljl5j5ndiT0WoJh5x9YUDA9MTlZzIhNZNMaK4-ICZpIFmeVU8uMoQ-YONGKKBo1JZJ6U/w400-h225/20220919_170717.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Otherwise this has been a pretty crazy busy month. What with one thing and another I feel as though the upcoming holiday couldn't come fast enough! Everyone has their visas and flights and so on, and this time next week I'd be seeing some family for the first time in many years! Probably not too surprisingly, I find myself trying to keep my excitement contained mainly by not thinking about it too much :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWrjsljHhSwhqPjZKtQrcet43DHB75eU9H7xDCMx4-T6FPtrgkB8i90bHQbVazr_m1rCVcSZ4TBGOJKfE8JabQXRUFrYvzp-vvB6EuLlChFdYCyHTNonCsPp7K4FOXE-TMC1ikqz-FuCienMWgwnCAZHd6IQL2ZjpWAkS8gl7N3mYFP-8_Oo/s4032/20220917_165709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWrjsljHhSwhqPjZKtQrcet43DHB75eU9H7xDCMx4-T6FPtrgkB8i90bHQbVazr_m1rCVcSZ4TBGOJKfE8JabQXRUFrYvzp-vvB6EuLlChFdYCyHTNonCsPp7K4FOXE-TMC1ikqz-FuCienMWgwnCAZHd6IQL2ZjpWAkS8gl7N3mYFP-8_Oo/w225-h400/20220917_165709.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">On to the now more or less permanent section of my posts, the books :)! <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1118357.Inversions" target="_blank">Inversions</a></i> did more or less turn out as I was expecting, to my great joy! And yes, as anticipated, you never <i>really </i>get told who's who, but it seemed pretty obvious in the end :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumVpnaVYreZ8taNAbEyo4aXbTHytEF1oYssTo7TZJE4toIiV4j_WV0RCvZ4FT-WH5w-gXkZgC82EHZJ2RcRTnPPMZZWcGJ1OJyKMOwez5jsm1gDS7swT-fdsGBrJLmTlWh_i4ZbxYXRhCRDVsDW5Y9QJwdw0qykBm1tp-PjstE_K07Hbgprk/s4032/20220917_173729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumVpnaVYreZ8taNAbEyo4aXbTHytEF1oYssTo7TZJE4toIiV4j_WV0RCvZ4FT-WH5w-gXkZgC82EHZJ2RcRTnPPMZZWcGJ1OJyKMOwez5jsm1gDS7swT-fdsGBrJLmTlWh_i4ZbxYXRhCRDVsDW5Y9QJwdw0qykBm1tp-PjstE_K07Hbgprk/w225-h400/20220917_173729.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then it was time for another book club book! This time it was <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49568660-the-memory-wood" target="_blank">The Memory Wood</a></i>. The blurb was not promising. Seemed altogether way too dark for my general taste. And guess what? The cover didn't lie! Barely a chapter or so into the book and I was about ready to give up thanks to the simply terrible turn the story seemed to be taking. So I decided to do something I almost never do, and just read the last page.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIRDRR1WwbDCY3o2l4xgJyGxpG1PklJ83EmdWrLSI9aYvwENmyDW_JVnKppIzIBJn0o5kh7UdCbMpLOmuXeUuHpG3jqYhlwBTDprTa-73FXDbLqoHE6qO3BeelVZQP9c935VyIZ5NXrvHzpNBXNBGUyCWOXOCNITsx6bNhPngqAdL-VW1I1I/s4032/20220918_212918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIRDRR1WwbDCY3o2l4xgJyGxpG1PklJ83EmdWrLSI9aYvwENmyDW_JVnKppIzIBJn0o5kh7UdCbMpLOmuXeUuHpG3jqYhlwBTDprTa-73FXDbLqoHE6qO3BeelVZQP9c935VyIZ5NXrvHzpNBXNBGUyCWOXOCNITsx6bNhPngqAdL-VW1I1I/w225-h400/20220918_212918.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Satisfied (sort of) that there was at least <i>something</i> to look forward to that wasn't demented and twisted, I managed to get through relatively unscathed. Oh there were definitely good bits to it. The writing was pretty captivating. Some of the characters, very interesting, and if not then at least thought provoking. I guess my trouble is just that if I wanted to get depressed by the depths to which human nature can sink, I can get plenty of that just by reading the news!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X_4ARxEDg339EDfMjNchZWf2-2qMh7SvG6PRNLbeg1k2Xwksm6ADAVcQ-r7obf_Ky8ml0GXticQGUwPgORjKQ8YszVaAgM55bYKbpB1d339eBoO7Tw8EO3gH0i3YPBD8Pdx4zB5Luq2o3PePMVK_f-RENwRCOHcHJzcRMqd27GD6_wPhl44/s4032/20220919_155205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X_4ARxEDg339EDfMjNchZWf2-2qMh7SvG6PRNLbeg1k2Xwksm6ADAVcQ-r7obf_Ky8ml0GXticQGUwPgORjKQ8YszVaAgM55bYKbpB1d339eBoO7Tw8EO3gH0i3YPBD8Pdx4zB5Luq2o3PePMVK_f-RENwRCOHcHJzcRMqd27GD6_wPhl44/w400-h225/20220919_155205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So now it's back to the much nicer Mr. Banks. The thing is, it's not like people aren't devious and awful and what not, just that that's not <i>all</i> there is to it. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/890899.Look_to_Windward" target="_blank">Look to Windward</a></i> is again, fascinating in its scope, structure and the general way in which it flows. Yes, I'll say it again, having now read seven of the ten books of the series, I still wouldn't be able to say that I've found any sort of common pattern or simple structure to the stories. They continue to be gloriously and awesomely different :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRe8fO2WjewbKrPDcF-nysHkkgu7-zii7ql7WaLECAwsYl_v4oLWlOJ-7MENH2ZotNcLX7mdEH9Vnv3tB4gimX8Wx0znQl5VwOYbxubwg5zvjxVvrDL_2WqD4lEOj-QEOf1Cx9Wc-2Xh2JZyJiWDGocFiqHRkKDzo_Q5z1WD46TJDD5wXTcs/s4032/20220919_162509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRe8fO2WjewbKrPDcF-nysHkkgu7-zii7ql7WaLECAwsYl_v4oLWlOJ-7MENH2ZotNcLX7mdEH9Vnv3tB4gimX8Wx0znQl5VwOYbxubwg5zvjxVvrDL_2WqD4lEOj-QEOf1Cx9Wc-2Xh2JZyJiWDGocFiqHRkKDzo_Q5z1WD46TJDD5wXTcs/w225-h400/20220919_162509.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Haven't managed to get to the end yet, but this seems like another one with interleaved stories running in different layers. Now that I'm getting to the business end of it though, things are beginning to come together! So I'm rather looking forward to how it all ends. In the mean time though, I'm also just enjoying the ride :)!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs55fHaVKvz_sqRMUJ6Pnil-sVQZ7YgjPse8x9ags_c7XsuxJjhkpt3YINSckIcQA9pTQUSOEJAlx96oxV7CokDN2SmNKFCccrbjuw8A4gT9r_UgST1JcFt01rPnQxIvz2b_I7bdBB9wSmxu3pF_eeMvutJea5D9dS2znDHICg8dFFoEvY9Xw/s4032/20220914_175132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs55fHaVKvz_sqRMUJ6Pnil-sVQZ7YgjPse8x9ags_c7XsuxJjhkpt3YINSckIcQA9pTQUSOEJAlx96oxV7CokDN2SmNKFCccrbjuw8A4gT9r_UgST1JcFt01rPnQxIvz2b_I7bdBB9wSmxu3pF_eeMvutJea5D9dS2znDHICg8dFFoEvY9Xw/w400-h225/20220914_175132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-70203153447710637252022-08-28T21:37:00.006+02:002022-08-29T10:42:15.534+02:00A Greek wedding!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ183JxfEx5w9rpNDlgcGNmDdGSJvEct_Q1W0lq-zgdsFPc8kxwXxk0_CZAxXoqwJGN9veF1ePCaXmIfzwDGnDjhCYIgyTbG6CMEPEOTBlV_aCAaS15VRSOTt3FRrRzoOlXfVxH4A6Z_MzKQIf-9lTMqml9FRQiZ5sTBhm4YIvgx9cgErPkJQ/s7600/20220809_194518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="7600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ183JxfEx5w9rpNDlgcGNmDdGSJvEct_Q1W0lq-zgdsFPc8kxwXxk0_CZAxXoqwJGN9veF1ePCaXmIfzwDGnDjhCYIgyTbG6CMEPEOTBlV_aCAaS15VRSOTt3FRrRzoOlXfVxH4A6Z_MzKQIf-9lTMqml9FRQiZ5sTBhm4YIvgx9cgErPkJQ/w640-h242/20220809_194518.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">And just like that, August is almost over. Been a good one too! The weather's been fine, mostly, but nothing like the week we spent in Greece! Which has to be the absolute highlight of the last few weeks :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIuIKol1GrwjmIUohYlIw8_DHnrSOv5y6gXvrdFGVNnT_Rdwi3wIJRivCu-Fbpbn-AddonfoGuweoxtbA8xr0ZsQSBn6nnTEUJ68_WiKpce3FUYzPhQ1uYRDJYKsxH1o0wSUlkOe2iatPfDUBGCtwqrN9QfOh7mUHPzrJRRQGWKHscgkX7RQ/s4032/20220801_074439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIuIKol1GrwjmIUohYlIw8_DHnrSOv5y6gXvrdFGVNnT_Rdwi3wIJRivCu-Fbpbn-AddonfoGuweoxtbA8xr0ZsQSBn6nnTEUJ68_WiKpce3FUYzPhQ1uYRDJYKsxH1o0wSUlkOe2iatPfDUBGCtwqrN9QfOh7mUHPzrJRRQGWKHscgkX7RQ/w400-h225/20220801_074439.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbV7b1eQa_wsj8fWAqpnlE0MU9VLdKGcQC9qF4GG_R8FP6dQAXDr3qalNm6hiDlZKjYpH_zzjPgLrEqlFIVM03AeWKDtmmhrWUkUPEcnnhIu0q-ksMOpb0mKZJvuTMSygTe330Xys9j3279SuXBkd0AYguObb1tr4RqQziCdSwqHb-isxwLvo/s4032/20220806_171846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbV7b1eQa_wsj8fWAqpnlE0MU9VLdKGcQC9qF4GG_R8FP6dQAXDr3qalNm6hiDlZKjYpH_zzjPgLrEqlFIVM03AeWKDtmmhrWUkUPEcnnhIu0q-ksMOpb0mKZJvuTMSygTe330Xys9j3279SuXBkd0AYguObb1tr4RqQziCdSwqHb-isxwLvo/w400-h225/20220806_171846.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraOg8kFS2g1J413UD9PsIlpFRsOTeqfQTIQjdk2WbXL-mL7j4Vg4r-r8yLPRaOsJM-T9PnPVB5p0uGS1-9YzZM_pZtQrVCqNVbnAYEZMucQ64vakYJV67F86DUbcaeSSk1TFoSdd2PcLx3Lsb-RQ0FcAiVTIgWiVob5XEXMBP5YrugGDpg_M/s4272/IMG_33919.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraOg8kFS2g1J413UD9PsIlpFRsOTeqfQTIQjdk2WbXL-mL7j4Vg4r-r8yLPRaOsJM-T9PnPVB5p0uGS1-9YzZM_pZtQrVCqNVbnAYEZMucQ64vakYJV67F86DUbcaeSSk1TFoSdd2PcLx3Lsb-RQ0FcAiVTIgWiVob5XEXMBP5YrugGDpg_M/w400-h266/IMG_33919.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, despite coming <a href="https://lightswillguideyouhome.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-shores.html" target="_blank">close</a> a few times, I've never actually spent any time in Greece. (No, the transit through Athens airport does not count :).) So when the invite for a friend's wedding appeared, it was not a difficult decision. Especially given the surprisingly affordable direct flights between Oslo and Thessaloniki.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsY9ECCUG7NdoBhlSgziiPoNvLlL2KOhXY0L6N_1guhOCJsZdI04KaUIGWVfyPDT3dehhMy5thNtpk97kMPpMWQS0mAXUUKV2iCc1P2ivTYZ2Q3A9rvE8OogFi43hYBzwHDcph-1wEyybOrfVuXB6Nsyy5qzl__9eMv64uhXlcJkjMtj-ODFo/s4032/20220807_103832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsY9ECCUG7NdoBhlSgziiPoNvLlL2KOhXY0L6N_1guhOCJsZdI04KaUIGWVfyPDT3dehhMy5thNtpk97kMPpMWQS0mAXUUKV2iCc1P2ivTYZ2Q3A9rvE8OogFi43hYBzwHDcph-1wEyybOrfVuXB6Nsyy5qzl__9eMv64uhXlcJkjMtj-ODFo/w225-h400/20220807_103832.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ48-K8IZoPI_SzJHeGj6zyeng91OY1naaDq-vLLEwKEE7y4joYHtxn-QfPU8Mr5rrkxRyCfqcjsEGdspRQVg2zm6JPoDZ54wVJoxy6eJdwzj202IHUyzfwU5Xk8PMcJbboZ64glYlmMilMNiiRZOGBtI3g_kF5E2FbzdhAayzmhkto7IUXc/s4032/20220807_105016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ48-K8IZoPI_SzJHeGj6zyeng91OY1naaDq-vLLEwKEE7y4joYHtxn-QfPU8Mr5rrkxRyCfqcjsEGdspRQVg2zm6JPoDZ54wVJoxy6eJdwzj202IHUyzfwU5Xk8PMcJbboZ64glYlmMilMNiiRZOGBtI3g_kF5E2FbzdhAayzmhkto7IUXc/w400-h225/20220807_105016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UCl5s6Qfwv6PqT-hhs_uAhHQqRu41x10zcwsNbAQ8SUFV7pqtBdZNknpIFncTN9dPVPOF2Fqu0QJhBv_OVfs0nLoTB4U9x6CaxXyt-DGTnjZzpiN-wWOyxRAqO753lH0wh-m_4zdl0MYjD8ubB3yQ0qCR7MxZt3Q4p9JqhUYwbJcpRwD9-A/s4032/20220807_111938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UCl5s6Qfwv6PqT-hhs_uAhHQqRu41x10zcwsNbAQ8SUFV7pqtBdZNknpIFncTN9dPVPOF2Fqu0QJhBv_OVfs0nLoTB4U9x6CaxXyt-DGTnjZzpiN-wWOyxRAqO753lH0wh-m_4zdl0MYjD8ubB3yQ0qCR7MxZt3Q4p9JqhUYwbJcpRwD9-A/w400-h225/20220807_111938.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, you might be thinking, if this was a first trip to Greece, surely the places to go to would be the properly famous bits in and around Athens? Or the famous Santorini perhaps? Well, the wedding was happening in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalkidiki" target="_blank">Halkidiki</a>, in the north. In what the Greeks insist on calling Macedonia and the (North) Macedonians had to end up changing their country name over. So we figured why not just explore this part of Greece!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGtvibAJ576rf-VnhW8_FmZITbZVz31HjKWJY5yCTfrbPma1caOGF6inw4IQFvI8ZI3t0KEq-6gED7-3NIDzb7KlgJi1i-fmWf0z8klq9oSs42l635Q7tkbz_Mld84SwNkmAgZFrwJQB83ACRdGvaKOLweYfkqweaKi1dkODf1BWJG9ODMMs/s4032/20220807_110109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGtvibAJ576rf-VnhW8_FmZITbZVz31HjKWJY5yCTfrbPma1caOGF6inw4IQFvI8ZI3t0KEq-6gED7-3NIDzb7KlgJi1i-fmWf0z8klq9oSs42l635Q7tkbz_Mld84SwNkmAgZFrwJQB83ACRdGvaKOLweYfkqweaKi1dkODf1BWJG9ODMMs/w400-h225/20220807_110109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKeQHdqfbMgcCqE0y4EdC5dWdJIoToydDgbxE1zH4j5JcZ4a5syBJ2hUIM9OR6GDrcqzZo0C8rU1-Lmg53GCyoB5sI2bFqZVj-cGpl9pwSwpDECSneHLvCi5Rj4Fbc2Fj91vhwVI_p8Rof200_W8DiFKIyk4vbd-N_QDCVgxxKoeyQTHMTaM/s4032/20220807_114238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKeQHdqfbMgcCqE0y4EdC5dWdJIoToydDgbxE1zH4j5JcZ4a5syBJ2hUIM9OR6GDrcqzZo0C8rU1-Lmg53GCyoB5sI2bFqZVj-cGpl9pwSwpDECSneHLvCi5Rj4Fbc2Fj91vhwVI_p8Rof200_W8DiFKIyk4vbd-N_QDCVgxxKoeyQTHMTaM/w400-h225/20220807_114238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9itg9MhOKkY6bkpGKO1kTNwtHmtObw2wPwsKfJrSM9NSzx51vE0rfYEUGhxCBuWN0e4RhnqaGnlClVkx3OdPMNDCv79O_Zvr5DdqM6Q0uhWSDEvqyjBBlCVFZKxNM3OPl7mBKQxrHBK1vaENL-NRnVfb2SoaYfmtLaXfMRIxP4k1E64FKAM/s4032/20220807_134328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9itg9MhOKkY6bkpGKO1kTNwtHmtObw2wPwsKfJrSM9NSzx51vE0rfYEUGhxCBuWN0e4RhnqaGnlClVkx3OdPMNDCv79O_Zvr5DdqM6Q0uhWSDEvqyjBBlCVFZKxNM3OPl7mBKQxrHBK1vaENL-NRnVfb2SoaYfmtLaXfMRIxP4k1E64FKAM/w400-h225/20220807_134328.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and as such does rather seem to go on forever! We ended up spending the first half of our week-long stay there. We had originally thought to spend at least one of those days driving around to explore the countryside outside the city, but the mesmerizing spread of old and new meant we decided to spend all the time we had just exploring the older part of the city on foot! As an added plus, the majestic if somewhat camera-shy Mount Olympus was a permanent fixture on the horizon :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3_jZzZa7IGagavNEGqXtOwSqlXdjTNWrXRK48aXoP05b8JJnbpG9pU5rN8iCdfD4qmcaV2RpJFn-WyDBLrRtFwPE660rhE7KV7WmDT3WHFheThRZxXcjn6IPdzw-RYz8pQB7SgoWBj-DLSJMX69c7qnc6k1qL7vUfybU-fBPlNTJ2mCxtsE/s4272/IMG_33942.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3_jZzZa7IGagavNEGqXtOwSqlXdjTNWrXRK48aXoP05b8JJnbpG9pU5rN8iCdfD4qmcaV2RpJFn-WyDBLrRtFwPE660rhE7KV7WmDT3WHFheThRZxXcjn6IPdzw-RYz8pQB7SgoWBj-DLSJMX69c7qnc6k1qL7vUfybU-fBPlNTJ2mCxtsE/w266-h400/IMG_33942.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31_BaWQMeeAkCYLljlRHAQUfCS5CYjPsEKyxoG4tSng67PPvJf207ORJgh4Esixmsw7VU7O8xYn6-7edLH6_SANTW8UDohjdAaP3vasfud80dbhvw12W7Mi6zrjLXbGi-tt5vpPEYjFjcYQjxW-PtIRHYNi16DiL8V9n2Gy8MPvOjTqNFKVM/s4272/IMG_33971.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31_BaWQMeeAkCYLljlRHAQUfCS5CYjPsEKyxoG4tSng67PPvJf207ORJgh4Esixmsw7VU7O8xYn6-7edLH6_SANTW8UDohjdAaP3vasfud80dbhvw12W7Mi6zrjLXbGi-tt5vpPEYjFjcYQjxW-PtIRHYNi16DiL8V9n2Gy8MPvOjTqNFKVM/w400-h266/IMG_33971.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVgCf9vbcp3rr-ZAa5pM7j54Rlf-Z9bFjkyJo8H4Fv6SPSmCwqLcuVRi2_C4LWKUrkjs0nyCSxVoy-Zu_GupAPpiHtsG1N1x3_TGQ9y5Wd0dwJZU-lCbA6YRWjwL_qOn4ghHJ7PuScZioobPoQMM-iIC8BKMO653tMDkfAXSelqmT1PYTuUg/s4272/IMG_33982a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVgCf9vbcp3rr-ZAa5pM7j54Rlf-Z9bFjkyJo8H4Fv6SPSmCwqLcuVRi2_C4LWKUrkjs0nyCSxVoy-Zu_GupAPpiHtsG1N1x3_TGQ9y5Wd0dwJZU-lCbA6YRWjwL_qOn4ghHJ7PuScZioobPoQMM-iIC8BKMO653tMDkfAXSelqmT1PYTuUg/w400-h266/IMG_33982a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Firstly, there are the layers of history to the place. All the way from Alexander the Great and the ancient Greeks, through the Roman Empire and early Christian times, through the middle ages, the Ottoman Empire and finally post liberation modern Greece. (Which is only apparently about a couple of hundred years old! Mind-bogglingly, for me at least, this actually means that modern Greece is actually a younger political entity than the USofA!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0lAGSewL2gpMcX8lrm0cLP5jYTeTY-yasS5r7s78DdHtLSdRzYXm7ejOISM_9ir51bGpybckPcQyUPIdnzPuxEz2Fa21eAVc1_JTWq2KZDkHbC39XZoQjLujKikMkW1iSuGt35PYcT9Xw2w7K2Fa_mv5ZmxR-LZs9BdPRRimYH46DplUNtU/s4032/20220807_174635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0lAGSewL2gpMcX8lrm0cLP5jYTeTY-yasS5r7s78DdHtLSdRzYXm7ejOISM_9ir51bGpybckPcQyUPIdnzPuxEz2Fa21eAVc1_JTWq2KZDkHbC39XZoQjLujKikMkW1iSuGt35PYcT9Xw2w7K2Fa_mv5ZmxR-LZs9BdPRRimYH46DplUNtU/w400-h225/20220807_174635.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJI7sMKAqoLnt0u1U4w03_pogrH1pdS1X8uYcEa1MOwVx_XxF7OviQj__OFL0hI9laNp0P-e_kvb2ptcKJVVNNOHwAgm5zYE-7oe7ejNnmVkYXgI75-NB9mYd9UOR-N9uwHmIKfgtixUDgNlhFLJPQqSoBlF6DUbZm3WbcVJbcqo4DOse1z0/s4032/20220807_175721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJI7sMKAqoLnt0u1U4w03_pogrH1pdS1X8uYcEa1MOwVx_XxF7OviQj__OFL0hI9laNp0P-e_kvb2ptcKJVVNNOHwAgm5zYE-7oe7ejNnmVkYXgI75-NB9mYd9UOR-N9uwHmIKfgtixUDgNlhFLJPQqSoBlF6DUbZm3WbcVJbcqo4DOse1z0/w400-h225/20220807_175721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZYJJR9isMxvG9nBUJZP9pZuXc1AAjMHV_ewwCvc75D4OdYyEUwsRlxwf4Njw3dkBoZ0BW4rKpru5XkRFmKtw3u3kGbZL3rSpU90gcnR7XkqHAXVch1MHBpciloPgS-PwrsGXf4hTScTFa6vMRpzkt4PoE2e9ed57bYWHd3KckVadL9j6vwY/s4032/20220807_181017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZYJJR9isMxvG9nBUJZP9pZuXc1AAjMHV_ewwCvc75D4OdYyEUwsRlxwf4Njw3dkBoZ0BW4rKpru5XkRFmKtw3u3kGbZL3rSpU90gcnR7XkqHAXVch1MHBpciloPgS-PwrsGXf4hTScTFa6vMRpzkt4PoE2e9ed57bYWHd3KckVadL9j6vwY/w400-h225/20220807_181017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then there is the way in which said history coexists in the streets, parks and cafes of Thessaloniki. In the middle of bustling thoroughfares, there are exposed architectural ruins of various ages. The cuisine is clearly (once you've dug a little) a mix of ancient and more recent influences. And even the buildings all around seem to be a random mix of Byzantine and modern with smatterings of everything in between!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2koJdVEtehtFArYK5pMbYrAeUgbXYZkpR_gBxHb8fuh4GqYRwhhTWH3d1s-DcZaDnDxEdc9-qnI_SKgnyq2c398WEa8h5q7W_WXaNCU7PWvFBd6pH578733UagXoVYC2MlptmDVq22PBRifYAAccv77HlN5ImXAazIbZAFsFfD9tkLbqwDCs/s4272/IMG_33988.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2koJdVEtehtFArYK5pMbYrAeUgbXYZkpR_gBxHb8fuh4GqYRwhhTWH3d1s-DcZaDnDxEdc9-qnI_SKgnyq2c398WEa8h5q7W_WXaNCU7PWvFBd6pH578733UagXoVYC2MlptmDVq22PBRifYAAccv77HlN5ImXAazIbZAFsFfD9tkLbqwDCs/w266-h400/IMG_33988.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY9HtuP5ZCUi90h1oso9J9Fw9Ezth1ASdaDl8rnRgad2Ixb5XnQu0FmGohuTu3R1LMKSI8JrnVK6Kj8xgTVOe4WK2G538lhoOKU-NbdHIoQ9ONOMNmL-SrPQSxU_34DqZqjRgPyOq2dEZFoZeiqOniWBu_ao6xI3rMxWZ3e_zg0tPU9Z-LJY/s4272/IMG_33994.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY9HtuP5ZCUi90h1oso9J9Fw9Ezth1ASdaDl8rnRgad2Ixb5XnQu0FmGohuTu3R1LMKSI8JrnVK6Kj8xgTVOe4WK2G538lhoOKU-NbdHIoQ9ONOMNmL-SrPQSxU_34DqZqjRgPyOq2dEZFoZeiqOniWBu_ao6xI3rMxWZ3e_zg0tPU9Z-LJY/w266-h400/IMG_33994.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvp6yptQm1Q4DocxLfE507qN2w3svLP6SqZK1dc0Qqb-wp4EhyX1yTIGeKy7_5y2cYQQpl3qETb48tZKtqzZYie88WT0O65nvKd9yvvXsDURnJltonuGypS7Bp45hJaO-64zAco5niSjTYwSlcur_zeSHYX2BkWKr5Z1SaZuAF2D377N7Bko/s4272/IMG_34001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvp6yptQm1Q4DocxLfE507qN2w3svLP6SqZK1dc0Qqb-wp4EhyX1yTIGeKy7_5y2cYQQpl3qETb48tZKtqzZYie88WT0O65nvKd9yvvXsDURnJltonuGypS7Bp45hJaO-64zAco5niSjTYwSlcur_zeSHYX2BkWKr5Z1SaZuAF2D377N7Bko/w266-h400/IMG_34001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then of course there was the food! Oh how I love Mediterranean food :). And it wasn't just that the moussaka and the soutzoukakia that I was already vaguely aware of was just better in Greece, but the sheer variety of flavours! From stuffed vine leaves to eggplant fried in various ways, from amazing salads to odd stacked pancakes, from Greek yogurts and cheeses, to ouzo, to local made beers and desserts, the more we experienced, the more the world of Greek food seemed to enchant us and open more doors for us :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oIAV8y9HSitInPGBZ89WHJH7WqzfQwbGATG57m6-GyrM8suUYIDAnIV7vPuZ2VjuwVeApXt-OoLrcbTeRddYE8mUOhiKP45jYt1Jl9R0diesfQ0iV_9s4jmtphyp17qULnlj2RrkadWa1jS1UueNmXXxQfBUJUZ3CIZYI0tM5UunesSQcJ4/s4032/20220807_122014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oIAV8y9HSitInPGBZ89WHJH7WqzfQwbGATG57m6-GyrM8suUYIDAnIV7vPuZ2VjuwVeApXt-OoLrcbTeRddYE8mUOhiKP45jYt1Jl9R0diesfQ0iV_9s4jmtphyp17qULnlj2RrkadWa1jS1UueNmXXxQfBUJUZ3CIZYI0tM5UunesSQcJ4/w400-h225/20220807_122014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE9b3UW-4T0ytsM9U-BDKHJeByZ9qBKmsST8MbmXZjBNtC97-djaPADPPfT7hNNe9wDR5bx7rg1HJNvQGs28ui9LUjCjty5KyWwlYMgBfSdRwMzxxwluNeSEhUsMlBrUEYFp0qBm0UPO0kzDpZVqvaeXw6KNjsRk6vJ22KtEze0S7Fn6q-CU/s4032/20220807_123051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE9b3UW-4T0ytsM9U-BDKHJeByZ9qBKmsST8MbmXZjBNtC97-djaPADPPfT7hNNe9wDR5bx7rg1HJNvQGs28ui9LUjCjty5KyWwlYMgBfSdRwMzxxwluNeSEhUsMlBrUEYFp0qBm0UPO0kzDpZVqvaeXw6KNjsRk6vJ22KtEze0S7Fn6q-CU/w400-h225/20220807_123051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghk-rMd2sJYoIsl3f5qzBGt_-PVZMHXd6AOanFYrsiIhhrFesUCJPv30CjvJmH7ml4hOW60thV8Iwrjm1Y-BbPHM94dXmCOQTVkz7jqYG-3ZkG7dEgdsJYIvQIjhT4fKnctZYDXbhekHemj1KK5dDcuaQBrGjb5qRyXIpqYD1D56eEqj6fJNU/s4032/20220808_130110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghk-rMd2sJYoIsl3f5qzBGt_-PVZMHXd6AOanFYrsiIhhrFesUCJPv30CjvJmH7ml4hOW60thV8Iwrjm1Y-BbPHM94dXmCOQTVkz7jqYG-3ZkG7dEgdsJYIvQIjhT4fKnctZYDXbhekHemj1KK5dDcuaQBrGjb5qRyXIpqYD1D56eEqj6fJNU/w225-h400/20220808_130110.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Yup, it really was <i>that</i> good :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGiDrjN0NqwOWC3dXKTyToy_0lU5zrOHnxWuwGmfc4CnB53vjEsvj-YKdy-CFe-BoqPlAUeFa-XNj1960C_5oiBqlAupZFVyW-A_YDTG5LrZ8cTZ7D2jTQa0BHRl6gt4QzDAJk8MGtZkBIYIaBmg-zBIQLB8r1C57HOb_VMEpLe5mTnpzeWI/s4032/20220807_190811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGiDrjN0NqwOWC3dXKTyToy_0lU5zrOHnxWuwGmfc4CnB53vjEsvj-YKdy-CFe-BoqPlAUeFa-XNj1960C_5oiBqlAupZFVyW-A_YDTG5LrZ8cTZ7D2jTQa0BHRl6gt4QzDAJk8MGtZkBIYIaBmg-zBIQLB8r1C57HOb_VMEpLe5mTnpzeWI/w400-h225/20220807_190811.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiq0afnNG1lYdPzRx_4NZ0KEAcxXG-Nv4_KiYy4qrKSuYaA_nWfRYVlYOlyopQdRvFg0Zt2RJEVBwR4JuF_EIfY4dJfC48bwr9MeVowzENXVaDq7V9x419pDxydBcKh1MjysPP6GhO4ih4aKZUgqMsQP1bBDAUiIYXftM18YZ0w-ivhRB1bo/s4032/20220807_193715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiq0afnNG1lYdPzRx_4NZ0KEAcxXG-Nv4_KiYy4qrKSuYaA_nWfRYVlYOlyopQdRvFg0Zt2RJEVBwR4JuF_EIfY4dJfC48bwr9MeVowzENXVaDq7V9x419pDxydBcKh1MjysPP6GhO4ih4aKZUgqMsQP1bBDAUiIYXftM18YZ0w-ivhRB1bo/w400-h225/20220807_193715.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rZciG8L6xxrM6p_7L3m4TJSjTqV19LyulX2u_Ue5FH_78MPY4aUssoqkGC5wXmTb2tWq7lm4_rfZbEXPyqII0cPreKU6rdO8Oc2bwCVC9G2yalZgtMuPM3BtigTmH5-5SjT3tlBCltbMfPAVO_4KPEr_HqubrjEescgi2TXvOjAdlrfUmR4/s4032/20220807_172849.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rZciG8L6xxrM6p_7L3m4TJSjTqV19LyulX2u_Ue5FH_78MPY4aUssoqkGC5wXmTb2tWq7lm4_rfZbEXPyqII0cPreKU6rdO8Oc2bwCVC9G2yalZgtMuPM3BtigTmH5-5SjT3tlBCltbMfPAVO_4KPEr_HqubrjEescgi2TXvOjAdlrfUmR4/s320/20220807_172849.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Oh, and did I mention the cats? :)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt1ewci8JoynS6dm5Ee_-g3ssexuVfK8dtYK7hdFYCLRipe4F_z7QoMqbv2VnKKhYqbVcbZhiI0vwonZBhaLA0xxbx2vyOmUNRzYeqa1Vv8UeiPJ2qrAIE7vZR1OTcHQjGbcgIHQHSGgNUA02nIvpK5GbY0ZGRLbcsZWGBEtFYKzWWaselos/s4032/20220807_181921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNt1ewci8JoynS6dm5Ee_-g3ssexuVfK8dtYK7hdFYCLRipe4F_z7QoMqbv2VnKKhYqbVcbZhiI0vwonZBhaLA0xxbx2vyOmUNRzYeqa1Vv8UeiPJ2qrAIE7vZR1OTcHQjGbcgIHQHSGgNUA02nIvpK5GbY0ZGRLbcsZWGBEtFYKzWWaselos/w400-h225/20220807_181921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyto9wDAq7KeWiPsyEpl4ENyi83B7PVgiTXHTGK7C4oCis4JvMNb56Vh_HE0LGZLT6bQijP1tRzkbioXyrHz85J0IzxZvbE38-DnTKwczRfjGKiXnHAonOhgpfSiaspW7hLfy1VbxD-yPsLUT198dswrAjd7RMsWlfR1jT8VlbGd8iIt1yWQ/s4032/20220807_182726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyto9wDAq7KeWiPsyEpl4ENyi83B7PVgiTXHTGK7C4oCis4JvMNb56Vh_HE0LGZLT6bQijP1tRzkbioXyrHz85J0IzxZvbE38-DnTKwczRfjGKiXnHAonOhgpfSiaspW7hLfy1VbxD-yPsLUT198dswrAjd7RMsWlfR1jT8VlbGd8iIt1yWQ/w400-h225/20220807_182726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXEJvHdEtw4HCqiSt77fE2DaQ8UcJKusZll3bb8c4lMuR4TPHP6OF21VmYqKfjJXkSaGB8Q3m7x1YR4XBU5O_EwBeWGVbBWaWwJy6ro63yIpCW7zsHMWauqSB6a-_4-sWOLcTfNWCKoSQ4c7Cq6PJyaqnAQfrzbHWkTuN2JICtY-cqUCQVHc/s4032/20220808_010033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXEJvHdEtw4HCqiSt77fE2DaQ8UcJKusZll3bb8c4lMuR4TPHP6OF21VmYqKfjJXkSaGB8Q3m7x1YR4XBU5O_EwBeWGVbBWaWwJy6ro63yIpCW7zsHMWauqSB6a-_4-sWOLcTfNWCKoSQ4c7Cq6PJyaqnAQfrzbHWkTuN2JICtY-cqUCQVHc/w400-h225/20220808_010033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, there was also the heat. But to be honest, being right next to the Aegean and seeing how things never really got much worse than 34 degrees Centigrade at any point, it wasn't that bad after the first couple of days. We did, in very non-European tourist fashion, retired in the middle of the afternoon each day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdsgQNDNcSz4Tygxtf1AP1K-aVYQf6YbD8Ko9TWzBWDsdPPv2VIRJTTVyHn5TLzdFo1JD8yDPmj1V0B-yH6clvZpB5YnjIixYrrhk7V2r2ge2vG-TsgAUuybcDB6GtPSTYbcaFZxgWVJsubgiEqQtvMaccV5zYCb7hR_JgofEexRHLGfY-n4/s4272/IMG_34011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdsgQNDNcSz4Tygxtf1AP1K-aVYQf6YbD8Ko9TWzBWDsdPPv2VIRJTTVyHn5TLzdFo1JD8yDPmj1V0B-yH6clvZpB5YnjIixYrrhk7V2r2ge2vG-TsgAUuybcDB6GtPSTYbcaFZxgWVJsubgiEqQtvMaccV5zYCb7hR_JgofEexRHLGfY-n4/w266-h400/IMG_34011.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSrng6bws95xrHzEonSyVnBv6mRMxveif9ljK70r1LVlk3_EcxqeDfNIgq5esq98-l-VUEm6LUlpeUDbadG_MfrCxZEDV3P0AT8y73BXFFSQbBItNqO91EuE1sDt7bqCHOP9N7b-SLPG8t41EelMPmIQNpgF8q4zxp40ug9zJLqhwEDvP_Ow/s4272/IMG_34016.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSrng6bws95xrHzEonSyVnBv6mRMxveif9ljK70r1LVlk3_EcxqeDfNIgq5esq98-l-VUEm6LUlpeUDbadG_MfrCxZEDV3P0AT8y73BXFFSQbBItNqO91EuE1sDt7bqCHOP9N7b-SLPG8t41EelMPmIQNpgF8q4zxp40ug9zJLqhwEDvP_Ow/w400-h266/IMG_34016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCYfrl36EqYrZckHsupIOv3vcjWyP-bkDo358UHiZGCjYcq9GV2NSC6P5phdcesk-LgqIqjc0UijrU0-YSPLCxim0tX9uBs_O1TZ2pouv5pp4ENaLMLEyhbSRH9BFczxJskixxsogyN3SjXY2oVrwWAe27ydCCKfKQbQoGhNX-xeAxr4HPIE/s4032/20220809_102343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCYfrl36EqYrZckHsupIOv3vcjWyP-bkDo358UHiZGCjYcq9GV2NSC6P5phdcesk-LgqIqjc0UijrU0-YSPLCxim0tX9uBs_O1TZ2pouv5pp4ENaLMLEyhbSRH9BFczxJskixxsogyN3SjXY2oVrwWAe27ydCCKfKQbQoGhNX-xeAxr4HPIE/w225-h400/20220809_102343.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We'd start in the mornings, take in some part of the city and then by not long after midday find somewhere nice for a long and leisurely lunch. Then we'd head back to our rented apartment and only emerge once the heat of the afternoon started to abate and stay out till the early hours of the morning :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s0S2jBorB_Z9xW_IS4G_9aKyz6SdlsUvRp6_5WNSAcTvd9DWmj6SnzprooEFwZnPHT3epDibZBQjpTQcX_n0VFH5vOHNdUMTVa-IBAUWm0h2vUrzso2roYjh9S26N9efbpZuZbprHBrvR4vkiQKAVrsSPOzB0J3rL3B8N--K0fcMO2M1FWA/s4032/20220808_200439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s0S2jBorB_Z9xW_IS4G_9aKyz6SdlsUvRp6_5WNSAcTvd9DWmj6SnzprooEFwZnPHT3epDibZBQjpTQcX_n0VFH5vOHNdUMTVa-IBAUWm0h2vUrzso2roYjh9S26N9efbpZuZbprHBrvR4vkiQKAVrsSPOzB0J3rL3B8N--K0fcMO2M1FWA/w400-h225/20220808_200439.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_sMS1xeZ-bG5bqIBDNaYoZZkKrCd6-mWoLxOSSJSX_uogUQEkL_bGrmdfvqfSBr-xlmtA9BFFJZ8dQC6A3UKOrfuoJAruVlgjnP7NP5ONSQNgAOv_Acl-VTSZRzb_njoHLvnEiW-2dRz22hAXTW6FOYAZxfXxWeTCsSwTiwpRIcT1djgbAw/s4032/20220809_224511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_sMS1xeZ-bG5bqIBDNaYoZZkKrCd6-mWoLxOSSJSX_uogUQEkL_bGrmdfvqfSBr-xlmtA9BFFJZ8dQC6A3UKOrfuoJAruVlgjnP7NP5ONSQNgAOv_Acl-VTSZRzb_njoHLvnEiW-2dRz22hAXTW6FOYAZxfXxWeTCsSwTiwpRIcT1djgbAw/w400-h225/20220809_224511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JNwGnJw40gPphw_r0DNViJ8mPJBJPybRS5rMZwEBQI41CH-skf_NqvMfM5GPSbJIuXhvXRUiDluEeEmKKC0ssw2hK5LXQaCQlImOdfyuC-yd5f73JnsjtV0rqZMER2Osx3l4BGFAqInIy6u4xkzbbqU7b_f9dd0qm3ZLN4fgUTLyuEis2go/s4032/20220809_001603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JNwGnJw40gPphw_r0DNViJ8mPJBJPybRS5rMZwEBQI41CH-skf_NqvMfM5GPSbJIuXhvXRUiDluEeEmKKC0ssw2hK5LXQaCQlImOdfyuC-yd5f73JnsjtV0rqZMER2Osx3l4BGFAqInIy6u4xkzbbqU7b_f9dd0qm3ZLN4fgUTLyuEis2go/w225-h400/20220809_001603.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Almost made me feel like I was back in India :). An odd feeling of something almost like home-sickness hit me the first evening as we sat on our balcony above a narrow street with a narrow view of the sea, and a sudden rain shower proceeded to pound down onto the awning and blur the world around us. The particular smell of fresh rain wetting hot tarmac and concrete :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyauo5_YL3JY-s1tCg25BRqW2V9OnV8FSZrMGMN2MkWV_PmtwnZ0IOvUshSy_Hq1JdK8EPRWB1BNiHEGg7t58et1c8AI8wB7Vojhu8Bn7wF2MNPdGaTGMk8AR6lZEOaDotsoynknkRm96-DKvrPwhax11Yip8WLK-9E2bTyO2WPy1UdQOVMo/s4032/20220809_125745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyauo5_YL3JY-s1tCg25BRqW2V9OnV8FSZrMGMN2MkWV_PmtwnZ0IOvUshSy_Hq1JdK8EPRWB1BNiHEGg7t58et1c8AI8wB7Vojhu8Bn7wF2MNPdGaTGMk8AR6lZEOaDotsoynknkRm96-DKvrPwhax11Yip8WLK-9E2bTyO2WPy1UdQOVMo/w225-h400/20220809_125745.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k3X5p4x-6LUUpvCKGdBjKUdSonVM9CMwPgWxhdxAnq0fY6HDOoOoRIlcbNU_Jw94ZdDHWX4bXgxoKzOKFJRKGoZenuuJSq_QKpO8B1VSMvw3QRXnOcxSgyGKi_T9Tr73iqedVTL08sj-kOByA5Ft6TuJeBOX7gWcNZ-EcO6L_1BssVDlZ0g/s4032/20220809_130650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5k3X5p4x-6LUUpvCKGdBjKUdSonVM9CMwPgWxhdxAnq0fY6HDOoOoRIlcbNU_Jw94ZdDHWX4bXgxoKzOKFJRKGoZenuuJSq_QKpO8B1VSMvw3QRXnOcxSgyGKi_T9Tr73iqedVTL08sj-kOByA5Ft6TuJeBOX7gWcNZ-EcO6L_1BssVDlZ0g/w400-h225/20220809_130650.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNLPzonaq910KWiqHiuo1lCCq2M3PUPzfDZh7qrGa4qtmWctspLbOymF48qVzfEDlyJREoqZkKTnsim6FtXY_85mYUhXCs-b3bzohxFStpA4lkmBk7tOedwWhEMZKGj0efh_Q3LoUKWBrTyOL6d00QksnbRpkLRTvA6IiciJvAdCYJvv70Tc/s4032/20220809_134009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNLPzonaq910KWiqHiuo1lCCq2M3PUPzfDZh7qrGa4qtmWctspLbOymF48qVzfEDlyJREoqZkKTnsim6FtXY_85mYUhXCs-b3bzohxFStpA4lkmBk7tOedwWhEMZKGj0efh_Q3LoUKWBrTyOL6d00QksnbRpkLRTvA6IiciJvAdCYJvv70Tc/w400-h225/20220809_134009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">All that was only half the week though :). We then decided to take a very circuitous route down to Paliouri, closer to where the wedding was to take place. On-route, we experienced just how hilly the northern bit of Greece can be! And how wiggly the roads are. Provided one avoids the big motorways, of course :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J7f-IO0cO8DBxZ0TygiuETD8iBSJvN6HyXyN4erBKI6ffUOzAy1VxCHFhEnAKjq6ka5MLoFEcRv6rpKeCCupWYbSa_MexUNnDpWz7gBltptI-vn9VE4hyoVMV-cxGgmpTfjlS69f2s0hSekOX2eIUFyOfhxs745SUcEoDRbDXA6R-Se8iNs/s4032/20220810_143236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J7f-IO0cO8DBxZ0TygiuETD8iBSJvN6HyXyN4erBKI6ffUOzAy1VxCHFhEnAKjq6ka5MLoFEcRv6rpKeCCupWYbSa_MexUNnDpWz7gBltptI-vn9VE4hyoVMV-cxGgmpTfjlS69f2s0hSekOX2eIUFyOfhxs745SUcEoDRbDXA6R-Se8iNs/w400-h225/20220810_143236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCqqAOUKNhkrogSlWlAP1D6qiiTuSINDNTEYZ-Nh0t-jEgvWaOQXjQJ2BaI2gkqKwnyGY4tLwoW6k8_awaLnCJWpmo21SbdkkXJC-WwhJ0y0v7FeKAS4QP7bEyaFPnJlh9gTGAgA7hpYpdNygvrvHzU3DPNWZPjoMIgy5E1E-6RmZH-Dlxfo/s4032/20220811_094947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCqqAOUKNhkrogSlWlAP1D6qiiTuSINDNTEYZ-Nh0t-jEgvWaOQXjQJ2BaI2gkqKwnyGY4tLwoW6k8_awaLnCJWpmo21SbdkkXJC-WwhJ0y0v7FeKAS4QP7bEyaFPnJlh9gTGAgA7hpYpdNygvrvHzU3DPNWZPjoMIgy5E1E-6RmZH-Dlxfo/w400-h225/20220811_094947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPgPm9u_ahDm4SUThiWU5X8MerzDFOpu7E_Y1ZIW-YorZ8KKYZ6Fs4uF5MtH1-Mo5UaaHQvhVQWnWLmVuINoLHC-Dz4G6oEoXd5YJd0d0JA-sw1uJxLrlM6bfYAjr3M9XzmelJqTA07rtU67B2Qc1bhsO0wy8LURupkJFokcU5z9rNlVuZ7E/s4032/20220811_183917.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPgPm9u_ahDm4SUThiWU5X8MerzDFOpu7E_Y1ZIW-YorZ8KKYZ6Fs4uF5MtH1-Mo5UaaHQvhVQWnWLmVuINoLHC-Dz4G6oEoXd5YJd0d0JA-sw1uJxLrlM6bfYAjr3M9XzmelJqTA07rtU67B2Qc1bhsO0wy8LURupkJFokcU5z9rNlVuZ7E/w400-h225/20220811_183917.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The wedding of course was gorgeous :). But Paliouri itself, and the outer parts of the Kassandra peninsula, were amazing in their own right. The polar opposite of Thessaloniki, Paliouri is a pretty small town. Mainly serving as a residence of most of the staff serving the many resorts and hotels littering the coastline of the peninsula.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYc8an9rsp_PUHHg4QlB53ecam5lyZvnWKwP4T57T2Z8M9gQnszNYYX4Q7HpbXuYfbjHUH_3lxE18nV1YMRaa0l-TNw3FRCc6oT6Zs5i9PXN_C-UoNEY0LoDXWbEuac0QkaVncPgU8u9OF2Jd0Wi3pmDi_WdJlUxj8G8mgun221sXqR5_Trq4/s4272/IMG_34055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYc8an9rsp_PUHHg4QlB53ecam5lyZvnWKwP4T57T2Z8M9gQnszNYYX4Q7HpbXuYfbjHUH_3lxE18nV1YMRaa0l-TNw3FRCc6oT6Zs5i9PXN_C-UoNEY0LoDXWbEuac0QkaVncPgU8u9OF2Jd0Wi3pmDi_WdJlUxj8G8mgun221sXqR5_Trq4/w400-h266/IMG_34055.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJzqCCgZfMGKw6TjHwb9zaFuWFx-I3IA-YuT1Ns9-VrzfghYQFroO8F1hHyKUv3IItvQNaWmCfrAwJDipdY-9xiAYyqj1i0VmhzMdytoDi3BBRXdfhc0hvT6tC92Lk09kUGJ5X0ik7GhqZfhV2K02pG8pctqzxn1lt55yGTjd1suxOJWA4yc/s4032/20220812_000412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJzqCCgZfMGKw6TjHwb9zaFuWFx-I3IA-YuT1Ns9-VrzfghYQFroO8F1hHyKUv3IItvQNaWmCfrAwJDipdY-9xiAYyqj1i0VmhzMdytoDi3BBRXdfhc0hvT6tC92Lk09kUGJ5X0ik7GhqZfhV2K02pG8pctqzxn1lt55yGTjd1suxOJWA4yc/w225-h400/20220812_000412.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5rtEiCMAN-Ukhs_86yh9p-hVhdu1hXbxkvONioB6cxE3-JukI3mReTKR544mDshGL9M3O8RiZH0RgNKir4TAXH5u45vwh4KMzju-WtQTs5Cx3hZt57bxrBp0mFm5EFuYPLP6-RiW661OiT6ZA9Teqo3oPwZ9slf_7MVHvZCGHVr6kMY5Jjw/s4032/20220812_124644.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5rtEiCMAN-Ukhs_86yh9p-hVhdu1hXbxkvONioB6cxE3-JukI3mReTKR544mDshGL9M3O8RiZH0RgNKir4TAXH5u45vwh4KMzju-WtQTs5Cx3hZt57bxrBp0mFm5EFuYPLP6-RiW661OiT6ZA9Teqo3oPwZ9slf_7MVHvZCGHVr6kMY5Jjw/w225-h400/20220812_124644.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpxqofnY0ntGtAPGqMPPsR9WwlEk2aS1_hq1y46jF6af1eU8aeW_YQ0QrNFZtzrhvPI5yrFUkQN47j7THbdmC8EPZvHRoYSNlhCb4q-qv06kusgMDytXYwCDsTEV0eAwhEcujAHTO_rdThVzmisSn_pDneZyzkww45I-JqEY2VQbBe5M5408/s4032/20220810_214415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpxqofnY0ntGtAPGqMPPsR9WwlEk2aS1_hq1y46jF6af1eU8aeW_YQ0QrNFZtzrhvPI5yrFUkQN47j7THbdmC8EPZvHRoYSNlhCb4q-qv06kusgMDytXYwCDsTEV0eAwhEcujAHTO_rdThVzmisSn_pDneZyzkww45I-JqEY2VQbBe5M5408/w400-h225/20220810_214415.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here the food was even more fun to explore, life much more languid and the beaches beautiful and accessible. Given we ate a few dinners in the middle of town, we got to notice how the locals seem to be fond of eating out in large groups. The food was almost always ordered for the table with everyone around just picking and sharing as they liked (again, very reminiscent of Indian restaurants). There were always groups of kids playing on the streets while the parents relaxed and chatted at their tables. All in all a very different and chilled out pace of life :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwRPy2fmbw7AXmQFTPutmu58A6U_kvCTQxKIEB0Ux2kXMMmnS7-rdFUkMN_hEymg2Kj8T75PCBSqHJnZQv1msqx6hY0-WKU_prUJJvr3wS0p6OnR_s-fiy2E733WOCroahwJizGPu-yXQDoFQXyG4PmUizSfowtjKW7ezMMTxBvlZIBecSss/s4032/20220810_201556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwRPy2fmbw7AXmQFTPutmu58A6U_kvCTQxKIEB0Ux2kXMMmnS7-rdFUkMN_hEymg2Kj8T75PCBSqHJnZQv1msqx6hY0-WKU_prUJJvr3wS0p6OnR_s-fiy2E733WOCroahwJizGPu-yXQDoFQXyG4PmUizSfowtjKW7ezMMTxBvlZIBecSss/w400-h225/20220810_201556.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswYYdj23JimAs8cmM18pjmPzK7PXchJv7WXwG12AVa27ZOEoV1jKV01sKsfJC75ieJs7AYdExJr7jNHoNw8vd4PpFUgzd9lCTrXcCa55t05lBsy8ZmlbPabQGzoogAHurbRh1r3mDs7Cz5f25Mzn0eloLo6APWxl60IkaJxGwq_gvKABtMtw/s4032/20220810_203240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswYYdj23JimAs8cmM18pjmPzK7PXchJv7WXwG12AVa27ZOEoV1jKV01sKsfJC75ieJs7AYdExJr7jNHoNw8vd4PpFUgzd9lCTrXcCa55t05lBsy8ZmlbPabQGzoogAHurbRh1r3mDs7Cz5f25Mzn0eloLo6APWxl60IkaJxGwq_gvKABtMtw/w400-h225/20220810_203240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Oh, it also provided the opportunity of the perfect swim in the sea. You know, the kind where you walk into the water and after the briefest moment of chill, the water feels just the perfect temperature to go all in :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEW_52wsh3sMtyzZY1RPsNtNPTUvNxHw9NM0RTbNjsm2vJ6mEMmYboSSx6X4lkHecMelUZc9_2x1T33kiwohuTH-TIfJjT6vRgDo-NX9o3MESaMKbrH1f5WGuuZYhIKBsYFLjVcCq12CxKyeaM5jciQA1XS5qsQTuPaGhWm6Wm6tg3CVE52U/s4032/20220813_115334.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEW_52wsh3sMtyzZY1RPsNtNPTUvNxHw9NM0RTbNjsm2vJ6mEMmYboSSx6X4lkHecMelUZc9_2x1T33kiwohuTH-TIfJjT6vRgDo-NX9o3MESaMKbrH1f5WGuuZYhIKBsYFLjVcCq12CxKyeaM5jciQA1XS5qsQTuPaGhWm6Wm6tg3CVE52U/w400-h225/20220813_115334.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBz25JnG1u2n7uwTUBW9Hd9y9FzV_IIXnmHYLbfSiyPHHVzKSZttuPuegdiY8jCX0gYK6oQHHOqJJcjUNGqc7JfkLQ3CQVHRzxv38t359Lhcaw5C-VEPVqMFRa6Fno3L-fjP5_C-Pr02PLxsuH7QJA-Jgh0qVcfrCU_W-4A2eHDqr4FEYNJU/s4032/20220813_120617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBz25JnG1u2n7uwTUBW9Hd9y9FzV_IIXnmHYLbfSiyPHHVzKSZttuPuegdiY8jCX0gYK6oQHHOqJJcjUNGqc7JfkLQ3CQVHRzxv38t359Lhcaw5C-VEPVqMFRa6Fno3L-fjP5_C-Pr02PLxsuH7QJA-Jgh0qVcfrCU_W-4A2eHDqr4FEYNJU/w400-h225/20220813_120617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfZkI32-L3wcwKuKhlgV910iUvEnzBEPXuMJ_9AcO7lnr3bK1ltpvlGQQkbVmIGPvUU6a7st-3tYQRW4K-2DFFdH97GU4oQMZKw32qeWaqlrNU-DzXcMsjR_jCr3kuT98335L0TaRX8GwPrqlPd2wKJufGwuPqOptLTCW6JzsIf2pDw-iUO0/s4032/20220813_134115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfZkI32-L3wcwKuKhlgV910iUvEnzBEPXuMJ_9AcO7lnr3bK1ltpvlGQQkbVmIGPvUU6a7st-3tYQRW4K-2DFFdH97GU4oQMZKw32qeWaqlrNU-DzXcMsjR_jCr3kuT98335L0TaRX8GwPrqlPd2wKJufGwuPqOptLTCW6JzsIf2pDw-iUO0/w225-h400/20220813_134115.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Eventually it was time to make our way back to Thessaloniki for the flight back, but we made the most of the day driving back hugging close to the coast and stopping occasionally to get a bit more of a feel for the place. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHApY2JVi--S8VoM_obM-80wk8CIfFh7v7GhbWRc8uD4eyj7k0vYqsGPj3WQgLOjsDTMs_aVn5MprN6WUXwvNAaImzKtLOLdwrz3vRZc9nUwshaAoPwzRjpnV7uNLivoYVPMu0R6NlBdLBCWKXfdEx9Yd45WLZrae5v7q85H7BQDxslzhrGo/s4032/20220807_174805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHApY2JVi--S8VoM_obM-80wk8CIfFh7v7GhbWRc8uD4eyj7k0vYqsGPj3WQgLOjsDTMs_aVn5MprN6WUXwvNAaImzKtLOLdwrz3vRZc9nUwshaAoPwzRjpnV7uNLivoYVPMu0R6NlBdLBCWKXfdEx9Yd45WLZrae5v7q85H7BQDxslzhrGo/w400-h225/20220807_174805.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOq0_-B1T9SOKvtm1-gLSXT3Ub1cKAnJB4bcISocqu2nWm_dBfPYn2PvOpc4HkPJfiSLl-kleTNWh8nxyDyub0cMnMaDzR7dz49RapkRQUWMQphugSX_KAYjgQfloYTWXFT5K3Oso2r7R-v-zO0mmkyILVAY8J9udFzVCuBmcb_hJp2h-3gU/s4032/20220808_190011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOq0_-B1T9SOKvtm1-gLSXT3Ub1cKAnJB4bcISocqu2nWm_dBfPYn2PvOpc4HkPJfiSLl-kleTNWh8nxyDyub0cMnMaDzR7dz49RapkRQUWMQphugSX_KAYjgQfloYTWXFT5K3Oso2r7R-v-zO0mmkyILVAY8J9udFzVCuBmcb_hJp2h-3gU/w225-h400/20220808_190011.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00eztUn62RhpwTh8EUiRfg1weeiBo1MbMkItblFmhzDDiDhDtdX165rRfEP-BMtgwy8G0UuDAZb5bmQH908Xf3vfvsKU-G7Xs_whNpeh7uZvDgcGTFPJ_cDyWYN5h2EH5H3WBbaPjyqkNrdjMCELlP-csBDFZrP4umx5zKozHe1jpdX6bVnQ/s4032/20220808_191453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00eztUn62RhpwTh8EUiRfg1weeiBo1MbMkItblFmhzDDiDhDtdX165rRfEP-BMtgwy8G0UuDAZb5bmQH908Xf3vfvsKU-G7Xs_whNpeh7uZvDgcGTFPJ_cDyWYN5h2EH5H3WBbaPjyqkNrdjMCELlP-csBDFZrP4umx5zKozHe1jpdX6bVnQ/w225-h400/20220808_191453.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Sadly, the late flight back meant all the regular modes of transportation were long gone once we made it out of Oslo airport. So we did the sensible thing and just checked into one of the airport hotels to sort of extend the holiday just a little bit, get some sleep and a good old Norwegian hotel breakfast before heading back home again :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaVMhjjUzgXNX2Bm2RUipBQvQoK2c1q_Ps5k_xQI4dZvQLaX6AYZd5AK_7QA8QmMI7vpuWebCKsEzDfumjwwCLyv6jCTfa6jOzMUXm6Nz-cvHARlT8QtJwTFHZZ19tq9Z59RmeiHDmSVPAlMWqeLy6oL7iYLSNMXAvkr9itQ062JeVjB5LYI/s4032/20220807_115102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaVMhjjUzgXNX2Bm2RUipBQvQoK2c1q_Ps5k_xQI4dZvQLaX6AYZd5AK_7QA8QmMI7vpuWebCKsEzDfumjwwCLyv6jCTfa6jOzMUXm6Nz-cvHARlT8QtJwTFHZZ19tq9Z59RmeiHDmSVPAlMWqeLy6oL7iYLSNMXAvkr9itQ062JeVjB5LYI/w225-h400/20220807_115102.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv015J0QZ6g1Y3WLPzQ3U1C2-qkIoXunxcg_nZiqA2OMFZDo1sxaIxyVWFhM_G82kbcWxRNTOSGdg9ZAvqoErdCppr1U_jFxQ4Pqb2MAgNSUgBQwgkwffn9rjo5fpmHCNS2p7NafACoL392zg41MtQ-lePSw7k27sW0rfGjO2TH1pYsR1ADjQ/s4032/20220807_174723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv015J0QZ6g1Y3WLPzQ3U1C2-qkIoXunxcg_nZiqA2OMFZDo1sxaIxyVWFhM_G82kbcWxRNTOSGdg9ZAvqoErdCppr1U_jFxQ4Pqb2MAgNSUgBQwgkwffn9rjo5fpmHCNS2p7NafACoL392zg41MtQ-lePSw7k27sW0rfGjO2TH1pYsR1ADjQ/w225-h400/20220807_174723.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaD9GB69zCL0ErppSYbSPmJeF16ckp6NKLmKcnc_D9bNb--FXswXvk1qTYpLwVxGJ6mTAJk_b5qCHBRxdmuZZh63zxw9mWD60Bxtsnvnf0iRUJWyNnZ54JMONgCohnnWLRtOwUzZM7c0H77XARgMICb55saPF9etJPWF9jZjKdapSaFjCOZs/s4032/20220809_114325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaD9GB69zCL0ErppSYbSPmJeF16ckp6NKLmKcnc_D9bNb--FXswXvk1qTYpLwVxGJ6mTAJk_b5qCHBRxdmuZZh63zxw9mWD60Bxtsnvnf0iRUJWyNnZ54JMONgCohnnWLRtOwUzZM7c0H77XARgMICb55saPF9etJPWF9jZjKdapSaFjCOZs/w400-h225/20220809_114325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Compared to that, there's not really been that much else going on to be honest :). But I <i>have</i> been reading more Banks. So, it took me a little bit longer than I'd have expected to get through <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/535060.Excession" target="_blank">Excession</a></i>. Not because I didn't like it, but because it felt like this was a book better read in longer stretches. Snatching a few pages here and there, on trains and so on, I had to keep going back and forth a bit, to catch some of the references.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf20o5qf2WMhM4V2h-LrYii8fsydfXP7jd5st50U84M35TzFTHg6SkmuPPq9oZCqASp8SJGkqxEjCKA43hIhEqS2jW2VHv56x2lxU-W2cs9lrhV4k_GTzxfeZzl6RipUBAk-NJMvbJjCAb9kS_cXf4psWgIFVFbd3XtScpXWT5hnhH6odX4k/s4272/IMG_33937.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmf20o5qf2WMhM4V2h-LrYii8fsydfXP7jd5st50U84M35TzFTHg6SkmuPPq9oZCqASp8SJGkqxEjCKA43hIhEqS2jW2VHv56x2lxU-W2cs9lrhV4k_GTzxfeZzl6RipUBAk-NJMvbJjCAb9kS_cXf4psWgIFVFbd3XtScpXWT5hnhH6odX4k/w400-h266/IMG_33937.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta5Kn0MQBqC6e-k0UGoNm8AU6qWqamYJ8BLo4VKvbUXBGfmS6xKFsJCshjhyJfSYDjxzc5Yzef1YT8dInhRD9zsJaTn1tBDE5JaBJVnPdtDhz-aKKfZRnSPSc1ywPZrncWRE9uK1NL1KvkR5SJF4NcfdPB6iajtlssusQqiWnfd9foEx8d4Q/s4272/IMG_33969.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta5Kn0MQBqC6e-k0UGoNm8AU6qWqamYJ8BLo4VKvbUXBGfmS6xKFsJCshjhyJfSYDjxzc5Yzef1YT8dInhRD9zsJaTn1tBDE5JaBJVnPdtDhz-aKKfZRnSPSc1ywPZrncWRE9uK1NL1KvkR5SJF4NcfdPB6iajtlssusQqiWnfd9foEx8d4Q/w400-h266/IMG_33969.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This, again, was a completely different sort of story to the previous Culture books. Again, in a good way :). Here, finally, the Minds had their say. The pan-human and other species characters took more of a back-seat in some ways. True to form, I needn't have bothered going back and forth to keep things straight in my head, because Banks would subtly and carefully help out by explain just enough so you didn't feel lost. But I really wanted that thrill of having figured some of it out for myself already :). Fortunately, there wasn't quite the bombshell ending as in <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3395563-use-of-weapons" target="_blank">Use of Weapons</a></i>. If anything, things were rather tame, but overall, another greatly enjoyable read.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgym0X8XQ7PSh_Oavye_8eOqcq_Jj39j7RC5Y0Drebcps04B9MlhNs5RDOwcgnkcJ5xdMps0wBWKanxIECTiMdxSRsvBoIE5lIXlNwlOuEb6c9Jut_NnNpl52pn9SbjQSvo-RbD76txpsnhn_yj6Cb0R_K3NVmKTLvFWRNrsO_SebGOZ1TP1Sc/s4032/20220809_151758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgym0X8XQ7PSh_Oavye_8eOqcq_Jj39j7RC5Y0Drebcps04B9MlhNs5RDOwcgnkcJ5xdMps0wBWKanxIECTiMdxSRsvBoIE5lIXlNwlOuEb6c9Jut_NnNpl52pn9SbjQSvo-RbD76txpsnhn_yj6Cb0R_K3NVmKTLvFWRNrsO_SebGOZ1TP1Sc/w225-h400/20220809_151758.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAYWZqIq7LQJ-O6Ef7Js_mJrnwqZMMIYg2GF60GKZhaDY4yCA783xdtiypmE-L9_wRmaRF6hUISZ1RixG38MS4RONmBhXYeaYup4H7UkY7OJiNt35mywzpNCkTavpeCGkOli4E5zAFYFdMduKeh57qxD_NQHs6pZJlyI0tbSnmoHqb8Ot2KY/s4032/20220809_192224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAYWZqIq7LQJ-O6Ef7Js_mJrnwqZMMIYg2GF60GKZhaDY4yCA783xdtiypmE-L9_wRmaRF6hUISZ1RixG38MS4RONmBhXYeaYup4H7UkY7OJiNt35mywzpNCkTavpeCGkOli4E5zAFYFdMduKeh57qxD_NQHs6pZJlyI0tbSnmoHqb8Ot2KY/w400-h225/20220809_192224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1118357.Inversions" target="_blank">Inversions</a></i>, initially, doesn't even feel like a Culture novel at all! But I'm convinced one or more of the characters are actually Contact. Maybe even Special Circumstances. The hints are there, and I'm itching to find out if I'm reading things right, or just seeing shadows :). If it goes as I suspect (and hope) it will, then this is really a masterful work in subtlety!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaj9qgDr6Lu_pIdN8qk8XbK8sJIs0FCajYzERTcK1C5xjz7uE5UvI6qf27XwUIVwvXHOnutNdKFXkKFSE17ANYWQvozcYk118NJEVN4e3Ggz1kGGJ76fLHgbmVyS0_SmderK2_VfFl2nOujJXHfFccafK0gMxGP-zpdIEGjXRNCAMmrMt62IY/s4032/20220809_193030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaj9qgDr6Lu_pIdN8qk8XbK8sJIs0FCajYzERTcK1C5xjz7uE5UvI6qf27XwUIVwvXHOnutNdKFXkKFSE17ANYWQvozcYk118NJEVN4e3Ggz1kGGJ76fLHgbmVyS0_SmderK2_VfFl2nOujJXHfFccafK0gMxGP-zpdIEGjXRNCAMmrMt62IY/w400-h225/20220809_193030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOcVKy2u5NXgSy8e2SGJrzuOPwDnTmQ3k75-rWcvaffuCuYiJhVM4E43m6weWapmPvDEchfNGgC0JwpMMkXqHcJudrVP0VZUbScALlyjyvN0iEfzDUNoFCmAjq_qaxmB1UjkkaNFjwcasvEpWiL4t4yLg0mnzxFpvZPJUKsbxWEyklMslFdk/s4032/20220809_193451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOcVKy2u5NXgSy8e2SGJrzuOPwDnTmQ3k75-rWcvaffuCuYiJhVM4E43m6weWapmPvDEchfNGgC0JwpMMkXqHcJudrVP0VZUbScALlyjyvN0iEfzDUNoFCmAjq_qaxmB1UjkkaNFjwcasvEpWiL4t4yLg0mnzxFpvZPJUKsbxWEyklMslFdk/w225-h400/20220809_193451.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaqUtJTDKBRPmIjsIbrVKgVrZiHzD8bKEDqpXCcTOKmZPuBVRc6SNv_pj_90ANBRR27YuMPmeG1v322hIdAhrRnNBcWX8EcF1Ro_QC8NwhBUJnHSvohHrLAYu8J9CDb4CrSTitQq9uycCrh7qyuMwrMlHcm0TmHIQ-0G_unto16jBPNnxFFU/s4032/20220809_202546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaqUtJTDKBRPmIjsIbrVKgVrZiHzD8bKEDqpXCcTOKmZPuBVRc6SNv_pj_90ANBRR27YuMPmeG1v322hIdAhrRnNBcWX8EcF1Ro_QC8NwhBUJnHSvohHrLAYu8J9CDb4CrSTitQq9uycCrh7qyuMwrMlHcm0TmHIQ-0G_unto16jBPNnxFFU/w225-h400/20220809_202546.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Oh! In between, I decided to read this month's book club book one evening. It was in some ways an odd suggestion for our book club. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7790860-tao-te-ching" target="_blank">Tao Te Ching</a></i> was, well, <i>interesting</i>. Fortunately, it was also brief. The contents of this book I suppose have been subject to much speculation, study and philosophical scrutiny. Read quickly, and with no real intention of getting to the bottom of any of it, it can be rather funny :). (I feel the need to add the caveat that much of the mirth is probably a lack of understanding on my part of the social, political and historical context of the material. I don't intend this deprecatingly towards anyone who takes it seriously, just that I was not prepared to.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXMJjl61pUrz-QgzSx87l5G7Gbjm1sZK2xpqB6XXi4RoSyCokCNrVGPLok54BRGM6NYzOW-DRzO6PSz6njhi-chvQFZDhBep0TateISQAzXEKOxFfnfW0ZB1Dlkcy9MUigaKQQ44icNZprUZUKJ0p61MhW2FbuCjvQ7eB-y2kR6OIaeAwk5w/s9312/20220807_220806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="9312" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXMJjl61pUrz-QgzSx87l5G7Gbjm1sZK2xpqB6XXi4RoSyCokCNrVGPLok54BRGM6NYzOW-DRzO6PSz6njhi-chvQFZDhBep0TateISQAzXEKOxFfnfW0ZB1Dlkcy9MUigaKQQ44icNZprUZUKJ0p61MhW2FbuCjvQ7eB-y2kR6OIaeAwk5w/w640-h190/20220807_220806.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-50950965173778866482022-07-31T21:15:00.002+02:002022-08-01T09:34:31.924+02:00On Special Circumstances<p style="text-align: justify;">Yes, as expected, July was generally more chilled out workwise. No, I didn't end up doing much cycling :). With the exception of a nice 45k ride today that is. Which was great! And left me hoping for some more cycling in August... I guess we shall see how that goes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOojNIysvpG_73U7meyW6MK4mjEymg4ikqbBHifsNH2WZwu8TqX4Azjwsa-FSS6JDgp7b50IR4cRzoompaw85SePEIWUPS0rsMA2z_TGxxKjJ7B6I83ZS45_MlPjdvHGbJ2PXHBX1UQzW9_br-4JjZ0XwCh3JJ_7_6pmDyqWnkYgF5S19NWiQ/s4032/20220731_105220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOojNIysvpG_73U7meyW6MK4mjEymg4ikqbBHifsNH2WZwu8TqX4Azjwsa-FSS6JDgp7b50IR4cRzoompaw85SePEIWUPS0rsMA2z_TGxxKjJ7B6I83ZS45_MlPjdvHGbJ2PXHBX1UQzW9_br-4JjZ0XwCh3JJ_7_6pmDyqWnkYgF5S19NWiQ/w400-h225/20220731_105220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20gRIoo57CeSC6MYVKkD5NX-KCiODhFOyFxcCrXPocfERNQ2KffMnQZdr2ocNEp_V8Gf0URhb8qlT3SLundE8eWpAT-tm4SA3clLrGcpFpk1fu1rj4Gv1BADzEBwTVEAhgtuADBC8Rz9jVDIS-OYjclv9UrIlHoTa-gbMa1UPDN4kqspxqs8/s4032/20220731_111807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20gRIoo57CeSC6MYVKkD5NX-KCiODhFOyFxcCrXPocfERNQ2KffMnQZdr2ocNEp_V8Gf0URhb8qlT3SLundE8eWpAT-tm4SA3clLrGcpFpk1fu1rj4Gv1BADzEBwTVEAhgtuADBC8Rz9jVDIS-OYjclv9UrIlHoTa-gbMa1UPDN4kqspxqs8/w400-h225/20220731_111807.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It is a bit disconcerting (although in a good way... what's a feel good version of disconcerting?) to think that at the beginning of the month we ended up taking a detour through Helsinki to get back to Oslo from London! Yup, the flight chaos in Europe did catch us even though we weren't really travelling all that much.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IyYaV63ZqUUTTENyP9ym3V4elSvPXghBrB3FIAoedRIntuV0eh8fuOlb9UrxmGyDPJIJiFh7ARNm6Cp3BqabpztUXm1cKJ9Vh2CrKaayMuvVNaQCEFTMV2X4ONL3dfE9_1FS81rZpNDHgGPW7VNncadjSHjaBDzBsz2vQ18C7rk0R8ZTSdA/s4032/20220629_140843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IyYaV63ZqUUTTENyP9ym3V4elSvPXghBrB3FIAoedRIntuV0eh8fuOlb9UrxmGyDPJIJiFh7ARNm6Cp3BqabpztUXm1cKJ9Vh2CrKaayMuvVNaQCEFTMV2X4ONL3dfE9_1FS81rZpNDHgGPW7VNncadjSHjaBDzBsz2vQ18C7rk0R8ZTSdA/w225-h400/20220629_140843.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnT9Hd2LRGcA35jfW_dBGI4zyb3GpbA27onSeb2zcG4KT5lN0Qu4xn9Gp8Ro7b5nTIHrhwdzT0KbsTwLLC5qu-kBoxSDyefKCSpxHtTbUX8-WsBfPpT4VZpyB6KFvR3e3rdGvHUs_t0QM-3pf4AmROnASsV2j_CALBITETvLEn7BaiS7zTik/s4032/20220629_164552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnT9Hd2LRGcA35jfW_dBGI4zyb3GpbA27onSeb2zcG4KT5lN0Qu4xn9Gp8Ro7b5nTIHrhwdzT0KbsTwLLC5qu-kBoxSDyefKCSpxHtTbUX8-WsBfPpT4VZpyB6KFvR3e3rdGvHUs_t0QM-3pf4AmROnASsV2j_CALBITETvLEn7BaiS7zTik/w400-h225/20220629_164552.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">But let's rewind a bit. The trip to the UK was actually really great! Seeing some of the more distant members of family after years. Some for the first time! (This was aided somewhat by a proliferation of Covid babies :D.) Despite the short duration of the trip we did manage to stay with all the close family for at least a night.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCBTD8bQUZyXv1AIxQnTUUVXJMfTumvK9VKAO4Y0uOJILya1cnsLg14rs1wvEd5RxXe1xLCq11xUKZ8C7IOGUMenP3AK57IGVVnGVi2Y7awj_h8SKDrPAvjSXIdvScXrAv2mx2Id_AUFnv3vWzlmbgBTArYee_5Ad_3GCvhhvJcTu219qKsg/s4032/20220629_165151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCBTD8bQUZyXv1AIxQnTUUVXJMfTumvK9VKAO4Y0uOJILya1cnsLg14rs1wvEd5RxXe1xLCq11xUKZ8C7IOGUMenP3AK57IGVVnGVi2Y7awj_h8SKDrPAvjSXIdvScXrAv2mx2Id_AUFnv3vWzlmbgBTArYee_5Ad_3GCvhhvJcTu219qKsg/w400-h225/20220629_165151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj754Dpe9PAVAmeyZoJ5WBbLgMl2i_R-4EwtHrAIqXm6w2IN_PY2yLFUN_Vn1o0Oxkm1GmICAM7m8GGJzplrVF6NdgPrEeSyvsaO-Hv7rXjLW-bSreauWPJpskTSXXZus5o-S4CNZgi1tpuSzT-H8d_d5Kz2nHG_pzuOpReC84YYjsziQVqI/s4032/20220703_135646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj754Dpe9PAVAmeyZoJ5WBbLgMl2i_R-4EwtHrAIqXm6w2IN_PY2yLFUN_Vn1o0Oxkm1GmICAM7m8GGJzplrVF6NdgPrEeSyvsaO-Hv7rXjLW-bSreauWPJpskTSXXZus5o-S4CNZgi1tpuSzT-H8d_d5Kz2nHG_pzuOpReC84YYjsziQVqI/w400-h225/20220703_135646.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">But when we got back to Heathrow to catch our flight back on Saturday, having checked in successfully and all that, we found "flight cancelled" notices on the boards. Long story short, the quickest way back to Oslo seemed to be Finnair flights via Helsinki :). I'd never been to Finland, so we decided to make the best of it and try and get as much time as possible in a new country!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7q-m934ZHIWwXP59SQvpNphnhsOx_w_k-zVNao6s9paCIjdx1-ZEIjOcrp8grmSUaylxuTS_dwDJ9aIPj7Mr_9DZgLC3HnEQCw_3dEHb_JNv6tHLX5xhV9Ki-o-faRwFABXdeY2ftAEjC7alLXq85_65gZeKoQ21V893pJUBlHyd4wh8VLU/s4032/20220703_140800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7q-m934ZHIWwXP59SQvpNphnhsOx_w_k-zVNao6s9paCIjdx1-ZEIjOcrp8grmSUaylxuTS_dwDJ9aIPj7Mr_9DZgLC3HnEQCw_3dEHb_JNv6tHLX5xhV9Ki-o-faRwFABXdeY2ftAEjC7alLXq85_65gZeKoQ21V893pJUBlHyd4wh8VLU/w225-h400/20220703_140800.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6np42ezXDsf8bDqpctC628G-svVzqDXpXchq8cRnS_Ns3ChWGGTGxJw7YcXOti9dv0daUHnmXZ9eYOw-j39MbCg2hb4RuZVwYz59chOpZA2P70qaoVAhybQhVnl3YpfOLG0OKueY4UfHZ-H3buYSOkrIM5HCkyVP1tGWU4bvz8pQOcTnlx3E/s4032/20220703_144448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6np42ezXDsf8bDqpctC628G-svVzqDXpXchq8cRnS_Ns3ChWGGTGxJw7YcXOti9dv0daUHnmXZ9eYOw-j39MbCg2hb4RuZVwYz59chOpZA2P70qaoVAhybQhVnl3YpfOLG0OKueY4UfHZ-H3buYSOkrIM5HCkyVP1tGWU4bvz8pQOcTnlx3E/w400-h225/20220703_144448.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We ended up walking around Helsinki in amazingly sunny weather for the best part of 3 and a half hours! And what a lovely place it turned out to be :). There was a distinctive feel to it that was quite different in some ways from Oslo. The architecture, for instance. The older stuff was much more grand and fancy feeling. The newer buildings, however, had a recognizable swish yet simple vibe. So yes, there were a lot of familiar bits too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRpiYda1Ag4ZL50A4o0f9dsk9EKBwjJNI5F0VI3szkAHpiiSl5OgiR5vM_HTsKg6aOvAPfa3vwkupGxve7vPSxuC71b7hwhtVqY39SJTKPPUUwCp9DRPjeu95ZhnkmNpVUfeiGzpNC3eT5JJnZEKjW833w0F14mY-7CtTXdhxI1SjJUrSgM8/s4032/20220703_152431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRpiYda1Ag4ZL50A4o0f9dsk9EKBwjJNI5F0VI3szkAHpiiSl5OgiR5vM_HTsKg6aOvAPfa3vwkupGxve7vPSxuC71b7hwhtVqY39SJTKPPUUwCp9DRPjeu95ZhnkmNpVUfeiGzpNC3eT5JJnZEKjW833w0F14mY-7CtTXdhxI1SjJUrSgM8/w400-h225/20220703_152431.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7A324n75vIrf4q4piZoj6wL1KaX4ByE9x2prz3-qF4ikOranhQGwMHFZ-ifITecBPwWrAAeiV_UiURuW_-hw4mQqjH064vrYfXsiGACRyssJ_-xkGiOUaTjKzkR1RKvbjSRzHn6dTG-0N4M5YXQ5aCSuJKlIauURwOaIX8VfOFX1RPBwdzBY/s4032/20220703_155453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7A324n75vIrf4q4piZoj6wL1KaX4ByE9x2prz3-qF4ikOranhQGwMHFZ-ifITecBPwWrAAeiV_UiURuW_-hw4mQqjH064vrYfXsiGACRyssJ_-xkGiOUaTjKzkR1RKvbjSRzHn6dTG-0N4M5YXQ5aCSuJKlIauURwOaIX8VfOFX1RPBwdzBY/w400-h225/20220703_155453.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Not sure I had a particular favourite bit, but the streets of the older part of town around the cathedral with their profusion of interesting facades and almost hidden green parks were a lot of fun! One thing that was quite a surprise to me though (ignorant as I was of Finland in general) was the amount of Swedish language used, particularly in signage and announcements!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U75VPM-6HJgWyF4Irr3v1Cum_MXJKUA86408OOrIJfrQxYzs9chik-Jh3dGXGQUuRM5bc6eEtyR8clD-kvo2TnseJJT4BnlA73swiTF81dT4nLpAYCIYO6Csa7OSn46-bHU3VSWBmaSxgPYeENvNO5o4x7PuJpIJ8xiQ6jlru0EP6hVI9yU/s4032/20220703_155724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U75VPM-6HJgWyF4Irr3v1Cum_MXJKUA86408OOrIJfrQxYzs9chik-Jh3dGXGQUuRM5bc6eEtyR8clD-kvo2TnseJJT4BnlA73swiTF81dT4nLpAYCIYO6Csa7OSn46-bHU3VSWBmaSxgPYeENvNO5o4x7PuJpIJ8xiQ6jlru0EP6hVI9yU/w225-h400/20220703_155724.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRqmPuE92ADFL2GO3P-e6j5G-KnijGXq-VB9bDsnMdSa5vTLP-wY0gBTgO3HoD6LYEg2hU0mlNl0o9rXn74FPLHQjE3g--WIA-JtbK5ov-qhO_1fxq_man71AygUCZyScfbcPfQEryS1IcqABD3xfIyM1vt0OV1pVNCMel8qojBqLeMeN02Y/s4032/20220703_160043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRqmPuE92ADFL2GO3P-e6j5G-KnijGXq-VB9bDsnMdSa5vTLP-wY0gBTgO3HoD6LYEg2hU0mlNl0o9rXn74FPLHQjE3g--WIA-JtbK5ov-qhO_1fxq_man71AygUCZyScfbcPfQEryS1IcqABD3xfIyM1vt0OV1pVNCMel8qojBqLeMeN02Y/w225-h400/20220703_160043.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Since then it's mainly been a rather quiet month of enjoying the sunny days with walks in and around town. Enjoying the quiet part of the year :). Or should I say the even quieter part of the year. I guess I've become quite Norwegian if the regular bits of life here feels hectic and busy :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnBVFW3LCpGoED0JmcBnu_-5IUj8lmyyNli5w73Gzczlwp6333wa0T244EB5-nTGP1OED17sMwlSBxVut9Qx6NN_Q5KnYqv-TiAnjWI9MU04-0cjYMfAsruLQ5aqpzoH0zdg9xyvrMFOuFlgdPPZ_WH-fWUlQTWAd6BqPs5V5EW7PrkegxrM/s4032/20220703_161208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnBVFW3LCpGoED0JmcBnu_-5IUj8lmyyNli5w73Gzczlwp6333wa0T244EB5-nTGP1OED17sMwlSBxVut9Qx6NN_Q5KnYqv-TiAnjWI9MU04-0cjYMfAsruLQ5aqpzoH0zdg9xyvrMFOuFlgdPPZ_WH-fWUlQTWAd6BqPs5V5EW7PrkegxrM/w225-h400/20220703_161208.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggynKiB9y9QIlm9ByUGsbkYpF33S6QO1-hWjdXB7rPiG_VLIOHcehJQGoOHGQwR6-lxcGwncxwSDEzm_Z3QBkOoJTa0ShtYSCpbe2lV1jRJFQBJ8UQbyv4b9aKwnvM0YIzcNVhABvrpD19xiek-KLqnmkARua3-9LGq7AHXJZoG9oHYpl4WVI/s4032/20220703_162200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggynKiB9y9QIlm9ByUGsbkYpF33S6QO1-hWjdXB7rPiG_VLIOHcehJQGoOHGQwR6-lxcGwncxwSDEzm_Z3QBkOoJTa0ShtYSCpbe2lV1jRJFQBJ8UQbyv4b9aKwnvM0YIzcNVhABvrpD19xiek-KLqnmkARua3-9LGq7AHXJZoG9oHYpl4WVI/w225-h400/20220703_162200.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There's also been some reading happening. Since getting back to <i>The Culture</i>, I've finished reading <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1194918.The_Player_of_Games" target="_blank">The Player of Games</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3395563-use-of-weapons" target="_blank">Use of Weapons</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/567700.The_State_of_the_Art" target="_blank">The State of the Art</a></i>. And could there have been more different reading experiences offered up by the same author? Not sure. And I consider this a very good thing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMTv7jwOOwKdekIKei9QSyHn44-g_qatyLh5ntQWcvF0XU49jL3VbwZMHUWwL0mYzlAkOOxiRajk7657Qux1vhaN_pr5d2FENEYfdYMkfxeRXAnpgs12JPHKdlXqhIspTyF_4pBRBHj8q2hhSkeVc1ydoTWQsPzV19xE9jXYwMDxSyAULmkw/s4032/20220703_163440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMTv7jwOOwKdekIKei9QSyHn44-g_qatyLh5ntQWcvF0XU49jL3VbwZMHUWwL0mYzlAkOOxiRajk7657Qux1vhaN_pr5d2FENEYfdYMkfxeRXAnpgs12JPHKdlXqhIspTyF_4pBRBHj8q2hhSkeVc1ydoTWQsPzV19xE9jXYwMDxSyAULmkw/w400-h225/20220703_163440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FrqakhWO_RChr0BnS5kUJDDJkw8i-vclEOwnIKR655Rb-et-uPC73C0yKPOonHZEK030g1OIdpQqeKIJfW6EwWpgjsx4LZjT2SGqzh3mQRk6jjq9C6DtT_1g2vf6nKYxKn6Bnw2QFAw7qv30n4akH3Rqav_4NTIHFf2WgdfCoE_8WtBSw58/s4032/20220703_164631.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FrqakhWO_RChr0BnS5kUJDDJkw8i-vclEOwnIKR655Rb-et-uPC73C0yKPOonHZEK030g1OIdpQqeKIJfW6EwWpgjsx4LZjT2SGqzh3mQRk6jjq9C6DtT_1g2vf6nKYxKn6Bnw2QFAw7qv30n4akH3Rqav_4NTIHFf2WgdfCoE_8WtBSw58/w225-h400/20220703_164631.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The last first. <i>The State of the Art</i> is a collection of short stories and one novella. I think I rather prefer the novels. The short stories were intriguing, but left too many bits hanging. Which I suppose is the thing with good short stories, yet, really good short stories do allow you to gain some closure within the space of a few short pages. (I'm thinking Gaiman, unsurprisingly.) The novella provided more space for the ideas to grow a bit, but there was still something missing, I felt.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7NwkimHsgTCgYoySO0c2CkXPX6al3royS3hEWhS0KxsnMCXlj_F_QT2hUMG0Af1bvlOiZdm_qY0ktyhnZNEB2gs1KF0b_Zrq9LJp1d1fkvWdQX4MGfZd9dItZpvofORWskJssy7Ny4oHfwt0kgMNm-iK4AdlBTBSmYSfPLtX813p7p0LX8Q/s4032/20220703_164910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7NwkimHsgTCgYoySO0c2CkXPX6al3royS3hEWhS0KxsnMCXlj_F_QT2hUMG0Af1bvlOiZdm_qY0ktyhnZNEB2gs1KF0b_Zrq9LJp1d1fkvWdQX4MGfZd9dItZpvofORWskJssy7Ny4oHfwt0kgMNm-iK4AdlBTBSmYSfPLtX813p7p0LX8Q/w400-h225/20220703_164910.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh68MnBJ-S9NwyJZUmDSOgUa0UbbdRf2K_dByIcC3LokOZawR50C9E2_rTCSFttNwX8s8hda6gr3Vsf1br5dIdDtdGNjW1Q4tdsbuWEfejRmXTKriGXVYGEAxxJ8uHXNPp13DOnafbUcBOTOIbRyFx4g_2_rlAdrw1hV1qYtp2bjReAIWfCkc/s4032/20220710_170554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh68MnBJ-S9NwyJZUmDSOgUa0UbbdRf2K_dByIcC3LokOZawR50C9E2_rTCSFttNwX8s8hda6gr3Vsf1br5dIdDtdGNjW1Q4tdsbuWEfejRmXTKriGXVYGEAxxJ8uHXNPp13DOnafbUcBOTOIbRyFx4g_2_rlAdrw1hV1qYtp2bjReAIWfCkc/w225-h400/20220710_170554.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There was no such issue with <i>The Player of Games</i>! In some ways this was quite a straightforward story, without meaning to say that that was any less interesting. Somehow it felt to me like a bit more of a classic sci-fi story. It's possible that by this point I'd become a bit more accustomed to the <i>Culture</i> universe, so to speak.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFgnqkZfhTdtvrl4ZhMhVzxzNE2Yiy0FfCkNlSLe9Wx13FxjfO_n9qmpdPhhMR554PwrRA6sN8GCB3HcRnnw5HzPLZR23wGGz9AlV1OBxciOfgAijNEC7mF9cbDx9o_UBfPSN4VuC2oJVbMq8U6_MQGX8JiaCUGAOFjt104P_jZibi40262U/s4032/20220711_183010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFgnqkZfhTdtvrl4ZhMhVzxzNE2Yiy0FfCkNlSLe9Wx13FxjfO_n9qmpdPhhMR554PwrRA6sN8GCB3HcRnnw5HzPLZR23wGGz9AlV1OBxciOfgAijNEC7mF9cbDx9o_UBfPSN4VuC2oJVbMq8U6_MQGX8JiaCUGAOFjt104P_jZibi40262U/w400-h225/20220711_183010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdgdLo_Gw67h3Td1_Rpc6grdng9u1uIQ3UCdMnz7J9fPhkapid7bPS7SKF1VhcO2s_fTRZ2eSh-D_3vWXNIlL-Dxq9c2k8dXTtTfuNC1HWfvyi__NX50G2sMRrULjcW2X2j0fSvTEoeE-SSHfw-I9QPvrPhAIfOdyvYGuKLewVDZHC95YccE/s4032/20220721_223233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdgdLo_Gw67h3Td1_Rpc6grdng9u1uIQ3UCdMnz7J9fPhkapid7bPS7SKF1VhcO2s_fTRZ2eSh-D_3vWXNIlL-Dxq9c2k8dXTtTfuNC1HWfvyi__NX50G2sMRrULjcW2X2j0fSvTEoeE-SSHfw-I9QPvrPhAIfOdyvYGuKLewVDZHC95YccE/w400-h225/20220721_223233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Use of Weapons</i> on the other hand, with it's interleaved storylines flowing alternately backwards and forward, was a fascinating read. I thoroughly enjoyed getting immersed in the many histories of Cheradenine Zakalwe. And then the end happened. There's a part of me that's still trying to come to terms with that ending. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, but the twist was quite something.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5Hr0tNH5hi7scjKLE04xvVip34VXPjijZcwyrYKq3pzF4zSMyXeNy5qDW0DJadmu7282tXPYrEgBl76xpJnc6sZ2cOMAmIk09UZzb4CTy5xHsYiryLGiKyOliwN1_TLbEZ-MzhTCRgULWygWzMfZ9RTH54uHeeGSoQHpupRrrYmfPZhOQC8/s4032/20220721_205955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5Hr0tNH5hi7scjKLE04xvVip34VXPjijZcwyrYKq3pzF4zSMyXeNy5qDW0DJadmu7282tXPYrEgBl76xpJnc6sZ2cOMAmIk09UZzb4CTy5xHsYiryLGiKyOliwN1_TLbEZ-MzhTCRgULWygWzMfZ9RTH54uHeeGSoQHpupRrrYmfPZhOQC8/w225-h400/20220721_205955.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U8rj3uDnN01FnMI2WiY0Fi2Poiax3COGUab_6mANyilB7JZEcGIQ4155ZvA3jm8z07ZDDc9AtONHpq8wKeExAz789D9ze6LbA6IDvTh9nczv93Zat_hx3QqpsRDofJCeTXucLmlkBNyKeIPgM3qVxPk1fQOOzj8mzpLJNdhV_cNww3nyxFU/s4032/20220731_113926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U8rj3uDnN01FnMI2WiY0Fi2Poiax3COGUab_6mANyilB7JZEcGIQ4155ZvA3jm8z07ZDDc9AtONHpq8wKeExAz789D9ze6LbA6IDvTh9nczv93Zat_hx3QqpsRDofJCeTXucLmlkBNyKeIPgM3qVxPk1fQOOzj8mzpLJNdhV_cNww3nyxFU/w400-h225/20220731_113926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So, it is with some excitement that I've now started off with <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/535060.Excession" target="_blank">Excession</a></i>. I wonder what this one will be like :). A friend recently mentioned that Iain M Banks was one of, if not the, best science fiction writer of the last fifty years. I am beginning to see why :).</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-22510719060404255342022-06-26T16:20:00.003+02:002022-06-26T16:28:36.811+02:00Midsummer reflections<p style="text-align: justify;">Another month gone, and we're nearly halfway through the year already!! Crazy how this year seems to be disappearing. (Or do I feel like that every year? Hmm.) One contributing factor is the travelling that's ramped up again after the Covid enforced hiatus. Most of this month though, has been spent mainly at home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb0KPcBXvyF8wTp-nF5isICYbv5_C-mFLch9Lz3wJeIcWpdPRPGpjzTq8CpHhs4E7HIeuQIA8mLT8vt1tNXk0YaCcZsM0LuYwcDKxl_jZpPy76pbEGpcMvuCd4SsPzAdORssz0wbEpLOi2X7nyDMUCnp4oOL3OccBmAd1Krc6k5mOvb8yWxQ/s4032/20220619_131642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb0KPcBXvyF8wTp-nF5isICYbv5_C-mFLch9Lz3wJeIcWpdPRPGpjzTq8CpHhs4E7HIeuQIA8mLT8vt1tNXk0YaCcZsM0LuYwcDKxl_jZpPy76pbEGpcMvuCd4SsPzAdORssz0wbEpLOi2X7nyDMUCnp4oOL3OccBmAd1Krc6k5mOvb8yWxQ/w400-h225/20220619_131642.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Looking back now, the drive back from Trondheim at the beginning of the month feels like a distant memory. Since then, work's been busy, but cycling has begun somewhat more in earnest :). We've had nice weather for it, generally, and made reasonable use of it! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQPBZFhWrcSSM5nPGt2kVLPapyC_oHghWgtiqE_vFi4Q8B2UT9DFSc56cCtVaCcOV2ApnnC9XWnnk0G90x6oID27I8qYYE6BHFMLrl05g8b3uEeD4oREKWZw6e5fRYHCaUzW44pmWScPEdP_SemcZQgnFuBXllQC5CeBmV-478cLutud4wTc/s7168/20220605_145114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="7168" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQPBZFhWrcSSM5nPGt2kVLPapyC_oHghWgtiqE_vFi4Q8B2UT9DFSc56cCtVaCcOV2ApnnC9XWnnk0G90x6oID27I8qYYE6BHFMLrl05g8b3uEeD4oREKWZw6e5fRYHCaUzW44pmWScPEdP_SemcZQgnFuBXllQC5CeBmV-478cLutud4wTc/w640-h256/20220605_145114.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So far it's mainly been the regular haunts, but there's been the odd foray further afield along stretches I haven't cycled in a couple of years or more. It's funny how some things remain clear in my memory and others fade. For example, the steep climb up from Nærsnes to Slemmestad is probably something I've only done a handful of times, but remains vivid in it's misery :P.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaR6KKKyjRCsNw5ocf8U_auH5DG3Vo4jpjYR7FGssejt-lfSrAflXq2fkmj1pVOb_ZSHED03rYkXkW1-pn0cp6uUe9J6I2LXPZo1GRwZ0LlxVn9dftvWMGNpLl8TrL-ri5IJ5yvd4gybuEwW0wkYvBI66VSi3WYX4-pWOvHf2VjYeCYEztFo/s4032/20220605_145341.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaR6KKKyjRCsNw5ocf8U_auH5DG3Vo4jpjYR7FGssejt-lfSrAflXq2fkmj1pVOb_ZSHED03rYkXkW1-pn0cp6uUe9J6I2LXPZo1GRwZ0LlxVn9dftvWMGNpLl8TrL-ri5IJ5yvd4gybuEwW0wkYvBI66VSi3WYX4-pWOvHf2VjYeCYEztFo/w225-h400/20220605_145341.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I feel like I'm back to reading a bit more again. Finished with <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/535073.Consider_Phlebas" target="_blank">Consider Phlebas</a></i> with a distinct sense that here I've found something really interesting here!! The books definitely do have a sense of being self-contained. Each a novel on it's own, but together, building on the legend of Culture. I'm now about halfway through the second book, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1194918.The_Player_of_Games" target="_blank">The Player of Games</a></i>, so this sense is less imagination and more observation :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNnzJ1a-ZMOTBxkpvZgGAAIHdm40V-Hc4W7FT6e13YNf2GGUbQEBT1TfF78Qkk_zF2IdiQD9XYVSfr8lwpyWZ20QfiC4zcbekOJJnxl7oZvjf6MPLdF1O_l5OF9AkgbJ0GxhQ2Y3WEIQySYTwzJuP4Pd4Vw54RspBVR60Xp6biTsGzBhB3EQ/s4032/20220605_184353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNnzJ1a-ZMOTBxkpvZgGAAIHdm40V-Hc4W7FT6e13YNf2GGUbQEBT1TfF78Qkk_zF2IdiQD9XYVSfr8lwpyWZ20QfiC4zcbekOJJnxl7oZvjf6MPLdF1O_l5OF9AkgbJ0GxhQ2Y3WEIQySYTwzJuP4Pd4Vw54RspBVR60Xp6biTsGzBhB3EQ/w400-h225/20220605_184353.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The couple of things that I'm particularly fascinated with (trying not to give away too many details here) are the timeline and the extent of volume in space the series seems to be dealing with. On the first point, there are definitely aliens, but the majority of the protagonists are humanoid. Whenever I've come across such a setup before, it almost invariably means that said humanoids have in some way or other descended from humans from Earth (aka us). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoxke9L3wG0wi8wVhpNjD7HtUIMv9YqdY-Netwvsq85mUqpva62nD2IOeYHTGQySQnbF_791vRsqE9AWfKYOAuw4ibpLVaobxgzhA1tTRWQlVnxLAZryGChVzKCbOFUeH_IpYEs3xVbrImmef7GKeMd6iYm5W9s14J06CUuqP5tKrb5bawUA/s4032/20220606_113911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoxke9L3wG0wi8wVhpNjD7HtUIMv9YqdY-Netwvsq85mUqpva62nD2IOeYHTGQySQnbF_791vRsqE9AWfKYOAuw4ibpLVaobxgzhA1tTRWQlVnxLAZryGChVzKCbOFUeH_IpYEs3xVbrImmef7GKeMd6iYm5W9s14J06CUuqP5tKrb5bawUA/w400-h225/20220606_113911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Contrary to said assumption, just by way of some comments in passing, one realizes that the history of Culture is proceeding <i>as we speak</i>! And our solar system just happens to be some backwater neighbourhood where the locals have yet to crack faster-than-light travel and is just an offshoot of general humanoid development ongoing in the rest of the Galaxy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi701rfiHIzmPD82JLbe3zbWSFZQUpI5x5yPiKxuKWGodOoYUiRbhdDyAGQZneIPAo0hx3sONh-enpeHn2kodEXdw91UABjJs6T5NKHCZM0Fu3fzjBav9_uErZnwrVOZvx-LN8Glnx80y28BWTyRTmVoPgGba7foOspv27y_Q1nM84WEA7ElU8/s4032/20220618_135312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi701rfiHIzmPD82JLbe3zbWSFZQUpI5x5yPiKxuKWGodOoYUiRbhdDyAGQZneIPAo0hx3sONh-enpeHn2kodEXdw91UABjJs6T5NKHCZM0Fu3fzjBav9_uErZnwrVOZvx-LN8Glnx80y28BWTyRTmVoPgGba7foOspv27y_Q1nM84WEA7ElU8/w400-h225/20220618_135312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of. Despite the clearly fantastic hyper spatial travel capabilities of the Culture, they only really speak of the one Galaxy! Ok, so <i>TPoG</i> is already reaching out into the nearby clouds, but that's still a far cry from say <i>The Remembrance of Earth's Past</i> -like idea that intergalactic travel as merely a natural extension of interplanetary travel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwz5BUPBl3u2-IlyoCjswrTZC_eBe-MnzeHrncZj3ycYRW34NUW__99I6TIMRqJwLJVFflg2o5slRTEoiDov_oTIi2et1QjwdaAdn2AcKI9O1JQQjZOEBrn403q6CAtd1VhdWJyfa58qRHzezrFQRkCrPuCn68xu-QEiG1-49ii02Z0ZWh3Mg/s4032/20220618_140055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwz5BUPBl3u2-IlyoCjswrTZC_eBe-MnzeHrncZj3ycYRW34NUW__99I6TIMRqJwLJVFflg2o5slRTEoiDov_oTIi2et1QjwdaAdn2AcKI9O1JQQjZOEBrn403q6CAtd1VhdWJyfa58qRHzezrFQRkCrPuCn68xu-QEiG1-49ii02Z0ZWh3Mg/w400-h225/20220618_140055.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As I said, interesting. And there are other ways in which Iain M Banks seems to be the purveyor of a very different brand of space based sci-fi than what I've come across before. Which I'm thankful for, and enjoying greatly :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJoAvLyhjtvi-wgTmAxSujCVOnunv-Wl96IfA7zy3yr56m9NOkRkYeafMkdk33FDsqB3G8OGIrHHvSExS7olvjjYR5m9XkV8s5B4fiOYhu8LpERcoiu-VY7GHmKHhBRgUH5XClTSGErq0HYSIZ8mG6c97gOHnlWcPTXp_LmJAzwzFwLoM7JU/s4032/20220624_174756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJoAvLyhjtvi-wgTmAxSujCVOnunv-Wl96IfA7zy3yr56m9NOkRkYeafMkdk33FDsqB3G8OGIrHHvSExS7olvjjYR5m9XkV8s5B4fiOYhu8LpERcoiu-VY7GHmKHhBRgUH5XClTSGErq0HYSIZ8mG6c97gOHnlWcPTXp_LmJAzwzFwLoM7JU/w400-h225/20220624_174756.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In between the two though, I finished reading this month's book club book, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29953831-the-sympathizer" target="_blank">The Sympathizer</a></i>. I'm not sure I liked it very much. To be fair, there's a lot that was new to me, historical context-wise, which I suppose I appreciated. But there was a sense of jumpiness. Restless angst. Frustrated sarcasm. Maybe that was intended, given overall how the story went, but it left me rather unable to empathize with any of the characters. This I suppose left the overall reading experience feeling a bit flat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWoyd_bhMee-RnugUaJuvlZlimJNdyLc-W57Qj_Qhgvkq7zKf5ckH-s8v7Z_xNPySynabn6JuMjHOQBqh3TpTUI9Jk7iai6IGH9X4MmXCs7ZjskgML2_T1QCL-3l18pafz0Y7LqaRsVkk9Rfz_jz4kgk15G-KyBCAi8WM3g7XuHP0NGXL1Uk/s4032/20220616_185902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWoyd_bhMee-RnugUaJuvlZlimJNdyLc-W57Qj_Qhgvkq7zKf5ckH-s8v7Z_xNPySynabn6JuMjHOQBqh3TpTUI9Jk7iai6IGH9X4MmXCs7ZjskgML2_T1QCL-3l18pafz0Y7LqaRsVkk9Rfz_jz4kgk15G-KyBCAi8WM3g7XuHP0NGXL1Uk/w400-h225/20220616_185902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then, on a brief foray to the library, I decided to somewhat randomly pick up a couple of graphic novels. The first, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30014871-blade-of-the-immortal-omnibus-1" target="_blank">Blade of the Immortal</a></i> (Omnibus vol1), was immensely fun! It's been a long time since I've come across anything like it. But manga, especially samurai stuff, seems to be quite popular among the local youth these days, hence the volume's in the library I suppose. I don't think I'm going to go find any more volumes, but I'm very happy I read this one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KE7H4aW7dAkzKo1uO0lDgOWD5MxFRR7DHFYy8yUEW5v4eTf6feOyT45yexTHgaBZOToaDY9cvEglkbqygxo8gYsH1inPOjdrW4nJrFKjj8hhi5svG5niW3IhXhZnBG2YuO1U1xq9RfOZxfh65sysLnP6w2AlkvcUVYzIkI9VNVs9TTTSORk/s4032/20220623_203147.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KE7H4aW7dAkzKo1uO0lDgOWD5MxFRR7DHFYy8yUEW5v4eTf6feOyT45yexTHgaBZOToaDY9cvEglkbqygxo8gYsH1inPOjdrW4nJrFKjj8hhi5svG5niW3IhXhZnBG2YuO1U1xq9RfOZxfh65sysLnP6w2AlkvcUVYzIkI9VNVs9TTTSORk/w400-h225/20220623_203147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58013542-loki" target="_blank">Loki: Mistress of Mischief</a></i> on the other hand was less fun. I guess it was just a bit too straight and simple in some ways. Straczynski, while perfectly good, doesn't really operate in the same rarified atmosphere as say Gaiman or Miller. Shame. So after that I figured I was done with further distractions and went happily back to Culture :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5dwIjiN3fqkz1ZCpOsXmSXXwfnS44VVBAiuEw6RPuJTiCmJbEKCg2CwkoUP_UkM3nbkFeXhw-xl5uA7bPq2E1u1GIwbBA6MlbJNZiIRxMRvHoSnEdNLb-RxOGmXfz-cwuGGf0FoVPwO-Isst_ZakNPZLb4mko6M01y3p13zfiamOMXZS4XY/s4032/20220619_141211.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5dwIjiN3fqkz1ZCpOsXmSXXwfnS44VVBAiuEw6RPuJTiCmJbEKCg2CwkoUP_UkM3nbkFeXhw-xl5uA7bPq2E1u1GIwbBA6MlbJNZiIRxMRvHoSnEdNLb-RxOGmXfz-cwuGGf0FoVPwO-Isst_ZakNPZLb4mko6M01y3p13zfiamOMXZS4XY/w400-h225/20220619_141211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The end of the month brings with it another short trip over to the UK, for yet another long overdue family get together. Then hopefully July will be another nice and cycling-filled month in Norway. One I hope is a bit less stressful workwise, given most people will be on holiday, but who knows. At least some of the local trains are still running through the summer this year :).</p>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-5161977327335823152022-05-31T20:39:00.001+02:002022-06-06T16:40:08.647+02:00Of dandelions and reunions<p style="text-align: justify;">I have a headache. Mainly because the weather is totally awesome :|. It seems that I've inherited my mum's ability to sprout a headache when spending significant amounts of time in hot sunshine without some kind of head covering. Oh well. One gets older... On the upside, Trondheim in nice summer weather is really pretty!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcxZOmcINHLrodJ5qcJfoYK_UiPSuJAR4SkD8b6g2lZW2FT2sMra8bjd75Yuq6U6SFu5IFKuOk8C0HuPr58TrcOvOUUCoeIrn0lQw-BjjPoOtnlydITKf-nCBO3ou6fWJ7Sl5lHWLHcI8iFMQI_IO3QJtj-Qa6pHYroxrWBhE_I0QhCM0BB0/s4032/20220508_130925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcxZOmcINHLrodJ5qcJfoYK_UiPSuJAR4SkD8b6g2lZW2FT2sMra8bjd75Yuq6U6SFu5IFKuOk8C0HuPr58TrcOvOUUCoeIrn0lQw-BjjPoOtnlydITKf-nCBO3ou6fWJ7Sl5lHWLHcI8iFMQI_IO3QJtj-Qa6pHYroxrWBhE_I0QhCM0BB0/w400-h225/20220508_130925.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">But let's back up a bit. May has been a month of a fair bit of travelling for me. First there was a work trip to the UK. (Yes! Those have started happening again. And while I'm happy that Covid is slowly relinquishing its grasp on the world, I still feel travel is more fun when not for work.) Heathrow was a bit of a nightmare with delays and such, but otherwise it was reasonable, as far as these things go.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVCEBeUrRxUF1NBO48bUE-I1GH_ekVr2wOvInOKTIwfrHuat2yR8cI7K0GkFwOtrPYPwrFJ4RL9Ci-Wl9UBTGfasMmH344yowDbM0HZP_mBU7VtuT0pRXjEIlVI8yLqev9Fn0Rf_W0uypqkTmYWk5qjU0D10AUuydjL23urFm1LSDjGXtc3o/s4032/20220504_202852.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVCEBeUrRxUF1NBO48bUE-I1GH_ekVr2wOvInOKTIwfrHuat2yR8cI7K0GkFwOtrPYPwrFJ4RL9Ci-Wl9UBTGfasMmH344yowDbM0HZP_mBU7VtuT0pRXjEIlVI8yLqev9Fn0Rf_W0uypqkTmYWk5qjU0D10AUuydjL23urFm1LSDjGXtc3o/w400-h225/20220504_202852.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The week after, when we were visiting the in-laws for a weekend of gathering and celebration, the Heathrow experience was curiously smooth! (Maybe they figured how I feel about leisure travel vs work travel!!) The weather was great! We met loads of people we hadn't met in some years. Ate loads of great food :). There was even time to actually relax and enjoy some quiet time with family.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HkkQspWSDyPlFpYUn7Gwth4g3so4vZvNEIjA5LjleU6RGm2FVC3dtRn9qGFfpxrl-yjpu1bTq9-t9bstraZg3Od2IugjAN9RbcSDQ91wSCZsH9g9IdZEiXo-obPVP9qWm582HV4mDSMbTuVYL3ueASKh6b2lIhbYM5D-_ibHxX-Owevacb4/s4032/20220514_103413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HkkQspWSDyPlFpYUn7Gwth4g3so4vZvNEIjA5LjleU6RGm2FVC3dtRn9qGFfpxrl-yjpu1bTq9-t9bstraZg3Od2IugjAN9RbcSDQ91wSCZsH9g9IdZEiXo-obPVP9qWm582HV4mDSMbTuVYL3ueASKh6b2lIhbYM5D-_ibHxX-Owevacb4/w225-h400/20220514_103413.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEY3SRCbbkmI5PBRoWM6Z8N-TDi8qS2O6nb1bW5NU1hL53qVj1Mhi8Da1dVruDgwwnKSD8w8hEhu2WhehGUG_nPH3bA7LCtYyl7_2For492_cG--bhDw8UZUHZiuu4BzRUJxtI4_AovK2FLlObWjw5rSk_P7qYh5ufVpU4X7r08mT9LNDaw4/s4032/20220515_172150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEY3SRCbbkmI5PBRoWM6Z8N-TDi8qS2O6nb1bW5NU1hL53qVj1Mhi8Da1dVruDgwwnKSD8w8hEhu2WhehGUG_nPH3bA7LCtYyl7_2For492_cG--bhDw8UZUHZiuu4BzRUJxtI4_AovK2FLlObWjw5rSk_P7qYh5ufVpU4X7r08mT9LNDaw4/w225-h400/20220515_172150.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Then we were back home for a week, and off again on a long awaited visit to mid-Norway, visiting friends! Rørvik is one of those places that when you mention to people you're going there (assuming they know of its existence) are likely to respond with <i>why?</i>! Of course, seeing good friends we hadn't seen in ages is probably a good enough reason to go anywhere, but the place was really nice too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmD6UGpcmdo1EMrewenFyYW9l7ag_MChwPsRdFWoezTzS1PcR8Qu6T6U_nuxiYYBWYfHUuSX7jTUnwQaYyf05fxLWaxx0mwOnWmkMb9W6dGAxAk1qf6eze47rIf3yjheF1ZbGgKK2peAA73d8CiMXCP8Lh_iGEIUU4d0uSxfHlLO4C1FUYsI/s4032/20220526_194614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmD6UGpcmdo1EMrewenFyYW9l7ag_MChwPsRdFWoezTzS1PcR8Qu6T6U_nuxiYYBWYfHUuSX7jTUnwQaYyf05fxLWaxx0mwOnWmkMb9W6dGAxAk1qf6eze47rIf3yjheF1ZbGgKK2peAA73d8CiMXCP8Lh_iGEIUU4d0uSxfHlLO4C1FUYsI/w400-h225/20220526_194614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ_C1j32DkidfwgyaQmlGpfqdRXt7rV4o_u83nvnRbPIAwi5bhOWI-jlGo1a2X7g7um3z17pdhgBHwGVz0JZx6B4B_6QJHqYBzxvToJhTqxcROBfFDwv9TvoieE5xo_xCuu9-JYqFgzsQ6t9MYuTGlIQB9I-51yydoMMMTs3tFZiQX39mnog/s4032/20220526_195140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ_C1j32DkidfwgyaQmlGpfqdRXt7rV4o_u83nvnRbPIAwi5bhOWI-jlGo1a2X7g7um3z17pdhgBHwGVz0JZx6B4B_6QJHqYBzxvToJhTqxcROBfFDwv9TvoieE5xo_xCuu9-JYqFgzsQ6t9MYuTGlIQB9I-51yydoMMMTs3tFZiQX39mnog/w400-h225/20220526_195140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Norway is a very long country though, so driving halfway up it was a task best split in two. We stopped for a night in Trondheim on the way there for a preview. Even managing to meet up with some friends who were headed to Rørvik using other modes of transport! The next day we met yet other friends who were headed the same way on the ferry on route (although we promptly lost them as soon as we were off the ferry).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4af9AEqYeMgDwMbYGOW44CHAEBLPqVuMCuHS-AsdCUhF8yXDpSPQGz-cnN3S24RHuQ4wHz_MMm04smYStzreVjvTnmPukQyM9Uw5yz3PFjfAcDyJCTHHpzJcDaMl9CaKMy-Hu8ZUPfanznwqqG0YIaSU7rkSyVFJYVc_09-IVF9OV0HWUU_A/s4032/20220529_135045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4af9AEqYeMgDwMbYGOW44CHAEBLPqVuMCuHS-AsdCUhF8yXDpSPQGz-cnN3S24RHuQ4wHz_MMm04smYStzreVjvTnmPukQyM9Uw5yz3PFjfAcDyJCTHHpzJcDaMl9CaKMy-Hu8ZUPfanznwqqG0YIaSU7rkSyVFJYVc_09-IVF9OV0HWUU_A/w400-h225/20220529_135045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KElrDNhAH0qVNRJobCZoiZBhHzNjPW1M1xakFBawYdmpYefNKWCcy8p9Uqh9sYInc0g4mg4CQchxizNg22cvqE4tVBw1K5rrfnH8b1sVtjaXgO4YXQTMEBcCY2ettsdd7uK2cBzqmaEroMfeLIWw_YiUtnrUipbn4fVQJwrgo1JXUR8WjLQ/s4032/20220529_180042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KElrDNhAH0qVNRJobCZoiZBhHzNjPW1M1xakFBawYdmpYefNKWCcy8p9Uqh9sYInc0g4mg4CQchxizNg22cvqE4tVBw1K5rrfnH8b1sVtjaXgO4YXQTMEBcCY2ettsdd7uK2cBzqmaEroMfeLIWw_YiUtnrUipbn4fVQJwrgo1JXUR8WjLQ/w225-h400/20220529_180042.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, when we did make it there, it was to much excitement and joy :). I was particularly excited that the kids were as excited to see us as we were to see them. Three years is a long time when you're 12 :). The weather, while indulgent, wasn't exactly out and out glorious. But it still allowed us enough opportunities to explore a bit. Most of the time though was spent catching up!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOAqaU1P8TiTooMG12I4zIteUIivRwK3jqAH99_X-l6V0M9AdbS18neuZ8fFaI9kPH71XcGNmu2JxJ577iTylLbjrZ0n0506X22IVgZKa0Hs9iUIRwE4Sryz4cdXC9vPVazlPUDO2rIh9_oYBxoV7RaOoEIS9-MRCVirDLE-1GZWFgM7H62M/s4032/20220529_180308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOAqaU1P8TiTooMG12I4zIteUIivRwK3jqAH99_X-l6V0M9AdbS18neuZ8fFaI9kPH71XcGNmu2JxJ577iTylLbjrZ0n0506X22IVgZKa0Hs9iUIRwE4Sryz4cdXC9vPVazlPUDO2rIh9_oYBxoV7RaOoEIS9-MRCVirDLE-1GZWFgM7H62M/w400-h225/20220529_180308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So now we are back in Trondheim again. Norway's capital back in the Viking times, it's well known today for the largest technical university in Norway. Which means that a majority of Norwegians I know have spent some time up here :). We'd long heard about its awesome restaurants and great vibes, so it seemed like a good idea to spend two nights instead of one before heading back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4RSh22WImlWouzxPcGN4FoQx45dM4--NK8RRu4D-X9GS6oLp_dYGMynQRZr_SwfhG_HMJ04sV6AHGrh7vxQbGjRPH64h2AhKn5fN-3nPpL26CbfgdLE4ZfHcVdGg7FzV0avMu0PmduyAMwxn6QWkwAa7FvDeueqOo5Jseix3cNtFcRtahJ4/s4272/IMG_33790.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4RSh22WImlWouzxPcGN4FoQx45dM4--NK8RRu4D-X9GS6oLp_dYGMynQRZr_SwfhG_HMJ04sV6AHGrh7vxQbGjRPH64h2AhKn5fN-3nPpL26CbfgdLE4ZfHcVdGg7FzV0avMu0PmduyAMwxn6QWkwAa7FvDeueqOo5Jseix3cNtFcRtahJ4/w400-h266/IMG_33790.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3LERyQIE_hFGM8KpQQ1bZD_XH5w8Bi9ncNL1ka3rbSiHggW4q4hhde13zeq-ctmKD6qcxq7Wr3uPJrOIp_rAchMF7aZCqYxoA6QTkCado5_GRZieDoMlOI0LYiu6AwbJn1gdxWm1A2gNQPn35vraI6YcoOD-kQ1go5ErteK6bPAgooEhSPA/s4272/IMG_33793.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3LERyQIE_hFGM8KpQQ1bZD_XH5w8Bi9ncNL1ka3rbSiHggW4q4hhde13zeq-ctmKD6qcxq7Wr3uPJrOIp_rAchMF7aZCqYxoA6QTkCado5_GRZieDoMlOI0LYiu6AwbJn1gdxWm1A2gNQPn35vraI6YcoOD-kQ1go5ErteK6bPAgooEhSPA/w266-h400/IMG_33793.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The weather, as I mentioned at the top of the post, has been exceptionally gorgeous. And we've spent it exploring, dozing on random bits of grass and trying out some of the famed food. So far, it has all been really great! (If only I'd remembered my hat.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgMCG0yN_22L_01qBClHIgT9yVjys3Gy-q8036UkFlvuXoMX4rO3ipRRLcVVGYPliB42o1p2QTgaYxyS6mkcXf1llxpQZw4mwsIxaQDfi7jNXf_uqIeCfrSv5zeRo-Ww8QF8vCSNsWgmyU2hM5U8ctJ-5r5si2O7gVBjgkfEQKj4kly7NS2Y/s4272/IMG_33837.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgMCG0yN_22L_01qBClHIgT9yVjys3Gy-q8036UkFlvuXoMX4rO3ipRRLcVVGYPliB42o1p2QTgaYxyS6mkcXf1llxpQZw4mwsIxaQDfi7jNXf_uqIeCfrSv5zeRo-Ww8QF8vCSNsWgmyU2hM5U8ctJ-5r5si2O7gVBjgkfEQKj4kly7NS2Y/w400-h266/IMG_33837.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-j2xuPBmq_YqiwhSBAre6HmxKAxnI1rQ5XX-3L5ixckrNm_myK8d43ha7uplPBVU1quEM80qbwtgioHvBiT4Jn2X_kqJp06_0brxBvM8g7clglYHgIlqvPsrrBfc19IfcaMlYWbAJVz9HHUC-XMMEJNKLaaT_K6lJ4MF-y1Co-DgtXIXvCg/s4272/IMG_33870.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-j2xuPBmq_YqiwhSBAre6HmxKAxnI1rQ5XX-3L5ixckrNm_myK8d43ha7uplPBVU1quEM80qbwtgioHvBiT4Jn2X_kqJp06_0brxBvM8g7clglYHgIlqvPsrrBfc19IfcaMlYWbAJVz9HHUC-XMMEJNKLaaT_K6lJ4MF-y1Co-DgtXIXvCg/w266-h400/IMG_33870.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In between all the travelling, we finally managed to go out on the bikes. But then I promptly had a puncture courtesy of a particularly sharp piece of grit :(. Oh well, hopefully some more summer cycling will happen in June, July and beyond.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp6irqM-ml5sSvCQdS_wA4sJEsubT0HwYCOCD5r5HP2F9t7M2ZhH-Ql5T3CZOn17uKieFaYcYBZXeL7GkivN9RPThSR2i0OCnLaUcHn3TwPTNfH1t12Z1CbQHHEU6T7sjlgPc4YiP5uPlJicB5ycHiA0kMLbHq-isyco3x0dU26jHuNW5xKs/s4032/20220530_193612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxp6irqM-ml5sSvCQdS_wA4sJEsubT0HwYCOCD5r5HP2F9t7M2ZhH-Ql5T3CZOn17uKieFaYcYBZXeL7GkivN9RPThSR2i0OCnLaUcHn3TwPTNfH1t12Z1CbQHHEU6T7sjlgPc4YiP5uPlJicB5ycHiA0kMLbHq-isyco3x0dU26jHuNW5xKs/w400-h225/20220530_193612.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUtpUV41zhTXvdBDmzeTgSFTv74nre_0oTwRm1FXax8kYxvw7ulHj9n_nPi_1PDbRTP4Jm-EQ4JZ_Ec3eN7Dllsv-qReAzVkhb4DQ30_cTTF9gtkVuWkNMi04S--UstBv2-CQUYHLtU-8lVrCnRUzGunAucPJnHIDxfQAbTmVjaxJgpd6rso/s4032/20220530_125850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUtpUV41zhTXvdBDmzeTgSFTv74nre_0oTwRm1FXax8kYxvw7ulHj9n_nPi_1PDbRTP4Jm-EQ4JZ_Ec3eN7Dllsv-qReAzVkhb4DQ30_cTTF9gtkVuWkNMi04S--UstBv2-CQUYHLtU-8lVrCnRUzGunAucPJnHIDxfQAbTmVjaxJgpd6rso/w225-h400/20220530_125850.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">On the book front it feels like it's been a while since I've read anything. But that's probably because there hasn't been time to read lately :). <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34326633-dune-messiah" target="_blank">Dune Messiah</a></i> didn't really change my mind in the last few hundred pages. Although, I had this distinct feeling that had there not been the same sense of foreboding throughout the whole book, I may actually have enjoyed it a bit?! I guess we'll never know.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzBiCC0y4YvaoRKj14w2w1acdfloOF_2bJGELvBx1WeKU0cxM_DQaCxfyrHpZSwZyTqsdB2jDpvech3iIncgjO150ZC2s0wdc3kr63WHq7OMV45EjGlnJrfNaYwG72YS1yaPBhW3hNrntbh4gjyatIDspFpOsyREfRHAFjc_TFDA8d-HbZFA/s4032/20220531_173411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzBiCC0y4YvaoRKj14w2w1acdfloOF_2bJGELvBx1WeKU0cxM_DQaCxfyrHpZSwZyTqsdB2jDpvech3iIncgjO150ZC2s0wdc3kr63WHq7OMV45EjGlnJrfNaYwG72YS1yaPBhW3hNrntbh4gjyatIDspFpOsyREfRHAFjc_TFDA8d-HbZFA/w400-h225/20220531_173411.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I figured it was time to take a brief break from sci-fi and read the book club book. Which this month was <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56751638-olga" target="_blank">Olga</a></i>. I enjoyed it quite a lot actually! There were many layers to the book, I felt. Once again, as a book translated into English, it's hard to say how much of the original feel to the story has carried over. Overall though, both the style and the story seemed really interesting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXhMLmXnKBYLuDKcXQVuWmudih-NNmqPgXe0xLXRHl6MIpbS6ZsRAq28h2zBS5CxfVKV2NL-1j1lka3Te-6LiI7eX1YqQMWZ4S6cs3Y_XLaMfO3h0-bbO-IHVrDJPwSfJYzy_x5QA20CcxWaAUh2hsqR-0SvP65m8GxODqmKRI13NnVR-dqo/s4032/20220530_105936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXhMLmXnKBYLuDKcXQVuWmudih-NNmqPgXe0xLXRHl6MIpbS6ZsRAq28h2zBS5CxfVKV2NL-1j1lka3Te-6LiI7eX1YqQMWZ4S6cs3Y_XLaMfO3h0-bbO-IHVrDJPwSfJYzy_x5QA20CcxWaAUh2hsqR-0SvP65m8GxODqmKRI13NnVR-dqo/w400-h225/20220530_105936.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Since then I've jumped back into the world of sci-fi. This time, in the form of the strange and wonderful world of <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/49118-culture" target="_blank">Culture</a></i>. As a series, it seems more Asimov than <i>Malazan</i>, in that, subsequent books don't happen immediately one after another, and often with a different cast of characters. I'm nearly done with the first book, and <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/535073.Consider_Phlebas" target="_blank">Consider Phlebas</a></i> is an excellent advertisement for the late Iain M Banks. Courtesy of a friend, I do have the rest of the nine volumes sitting behind the sofa, just waiting to be read :D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfOHvsE2CUlFOn0d_3hIv27Hniwncz1MIUHxj1zhfe6da8srIdr1WSdO92xFD3PfTAirYX8fTXT6PYkL3RiPl78rgY3_fuyHhy9LfCwF98exr0E9982AJf0fsb8M2sXcAhvMDSIGcZbZGgIApyjIFsC5wEcnrg6RbxcW1o_orgJoNrpIyqag/s4272/IMG_33908.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfOHvsE2CUlFOn0d_3hIv27Hniwncz1MIUHxj1zhfe6da8srIdr1WSdO92xFD3PfTAirYX8fTXT6PYkL3RiPl78rgY3_fuyHhy9LfCwF98exr0E9982AJf0fsb8M2sXcAhvMDSIGcZbZGgIApyjIFsC5wEcnrg6RbxcW1o_orgJoNrpIyqag/w400-h266/IMG_33908.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Trondheim, Norway63.4305149 10.395052835.120281063821153 -24.761197199999998 90 45.5513028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-85929590395791999372022-04-30T21:57:00.063+02:002022-04-30T22:18:14.908+02:00Spice, dreams and fragments in blue<p style="text-align: justify;">Another month seems to have disappeared at light speed. This time, the most significant thing for me personally was finally catching Covid-19 :(. Got to experience most of the milder symptoms for a couple of days. But thankfully beyond a bit of residual tiredness that has been about it since.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NeMFnwt5610rI6UIN6ii2BYoXRkB3nhGvknBrGXImx9j_ak8t0AD749R5Ceoy_W6BSZliinWgj0xFF2vPMamedDpguxLvK1oQEmIFxrbNY2hx6PtA6GJtrPjgw305IPkFp9bQCMnUhvRL2Kq9qL9vImfcrPdK8ysO-h4a6Ha3jASwkHS-Ac/s5680/20220415_140330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2800" data-original-width="5680" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NeMFnwt5610rI6UIN6ii2BYoXRkB3nhGvknBrGXImx9j_ak8t0AD749R5Ceoy_W6BSZliinWgj0xFF2vPMamedDpguxLvK1oQEmIFxrbNY2hx6PtA6GJtrPjgw305IPkFp9bQCMnUhvRL2Kq9qL9vImfcrPdK8ysO-h4a6Ha3jASwkHS-Ac/w640-h316/20220415_140330.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Before that though, there was the very nice Easter week with lovely weather and visitors! As usual for much of the week Norway more or less shut down, so we spent a lot of time outdoors. The ice cover that has since completely disappeared from the lakes was still very much in evidence. But flowers and green leaves were starting to make their way through.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zPnR_U8xWr-NYKZFkJ1GOZWLxfVTkZ46aMBS0FzDCF_Yw7p6sbzSvO0sJkO5sFA-2LqzpOZmxtTvVjJPMUimrAujJOL7qJDEYHpC8lUol5XzMO04-TjJ2LfP0yf_t2fxbpU6MCQxoJEcQGYTXXl1N7FCzrFsUt3L6h16NAam2i7sHcisol4/s4032/20220410_134830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zPnR_U8xWr-NYKZFkJ1GOZWLxfVTkZ46aMBS0FzDCF_Yw7p6sbzSvO0sJkO5sFA-2LqzpOZmxtTvVjJPMUimrAujJOL7qJDEYHpC8lUol5XzMO04-TjJ2LfP0yf_t2fxbpU6MCQxoJEcQGYTXXl1N7FCzrFsUt3L6h16NAam2i7sHcisol4/w400-h225/20220410_134830.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, usually I hold the view that the plant life here waits for the National Day (17th May) before exploding forth, but this year spring seems to have come early! There's noticeable amounts of green more or less everywhere you look and the crocuses have come and gone, to be replaced by a variety of colourful flowers everywhere. The one downside I suppose is that it's been rather dry. Maybe there'll be some welcome rain soon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjia9sOtDGnfpuAtD1it1_429SgPgtaOkvWjOzjWzmJHrzzPYzCx95bs3Ff7VSNKUj1vhOqwc8jkEJp94ab48FBlKdWiE4w2oIem1Wt1QOp737Imh_lPQjCFXiTxxFlqe5hyJBMFySvqkmS9yGnN2Q02035_pTrYQ-yU2MBr6HwkMT3vbXldk0/s4032/20220410_163341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjia9sOtDGnfpuAtD1it1_429SgPgtaOkvWjOzjWzmJHrzzPYzCx95bs3Ff7VSNKUj1vhOqwc8jkEJp94ab48FBlKdWiE4w2oIem1Wt1QOp737Imh_lPQjCFXiTxxFlqe5hyJBMFySvqkmS9yGnN2Q02035_pTrYQ-yU2MBr6HwkMT3vbXldk0/w225-h400/20220410_163341.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of dry, finally got around to <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29889255-dune" target="_blank">Dune</a></i>! And what an experience that was :). But first I did finish <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52046104-rejoice" target="_blank">Rejoice</a></i>. To be honest, the latter half of the book didn't do much to change my initial impression. Which is not that I disliked it exactly... It just left much to be desired as a sci-fi book.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0Ch0yLbe_UpmLXqfKx36Av_yHSZQy22hk4Aa9elDkakjoA68iC8A2FrC69lkBbcZuMd0kEAFiCgO4GHcwqaM5Lz4HJl_X8XfTm3c83m67ZVn83arKi9gQSEL2AnYq9lRL0Bwuri8yeaQPlgtXebqixzjX2joJv2zCn1GSJ23NSIWU7JfJF4/s4032/20220415_100306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0Ch0yLbe_UpmLXqfKx36Av_yHSZQy22hk4Aa9elDkakjoA68iC8A2FrC69lkBbcZuMd0kEAFiCgO4GHcwqaM5Lz4HJl_X8XfTm3c83m67ZVn83arKi9gQSEL2AnYq9lRL0Bwuri8yeaQPlgtXebqixzjX2joJv2zCn1GSJ23NSIWU7JfJF4/w225-h400/20220415_100306.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I suppose lately we've read enough books at book club that are of the thought-provoking and sometimes philosophical nature, so this one fits right in with that. I had just hoped that there would be more <i>character</i>. As in character building, interesting protagonists, interplay of individuals and relationships. All that things that made <i>The Book of the Fallen</i> such a treat. I guess this was just a totally different book.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ERPlyg3I648JWO5WlqmpWTiGfd-zoOKwLKTezbqnCjMh8yiKlIPNGqT3u1VP2tn-PvKpjeRBXyQeAWVGJ-lfhararY1ZjgKB69NOptIgxyin-GKx9ldoUBwO58nJaGcKrWnxrtNSHIPJywAFH4fLUNRdzW0UPjGYPq16n321-ITdocXb30Q/s4032/20220415_151248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ERPlyg3I648JWO5WlqmpWTiGfd-zoOKwLKTezbqnCjMh8yiKlIPNGqT3u1VP2tn-PvKpjeRBXyQeAWVGJ-lfhararY1ZjgKB69NOptIgxyin-GKx9ldoUBwO58nJaGcKrWnxrtNSHIPJywAFH4fLUNRdzW0UPjGYPq16n321-ITdocXb30Q/w400-h225/20220415_151248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The feeling remains that this was more or less a vehicle for Erikson to just get his opinions on politics, the environment, morality to some extent and a variety of other topics across. I mean, don't get me wrong, the premise of the story itself is kinda interesting. But there's not that much story going on, and whatever there is, is just smothered in the rest of it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1lcwkxFhnV7_VyRZenSXxcacjrjGLZbab2aGJkLcblKhzGbvpgRF5HMg8LGRKxmJYLHB_6GsK6T0Ng4ZEBn_uNDhAFR3fDzm6078J7V0JjWomt1OO_tjwIdoTs9t-x1fo1BWUDoWbDMls8g8pay26LfM0J_vk32teQiW-Q8LMDUMmN3tIuo/s4032/20220415_154856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1lcwkxFhnV7_VyRZenSXxcacjrjGLZbab2aGJkLcblKhzGbvpgRF5HMg8LGRKxmJYLHB_6GsK6T0Ng4ZEBn_uNDhAFR3fDzm6078J7V0JjWomt1OO_tjwIdoTs9t-x1fo1BWUDoWbDMls8g8pay26LfM0J_vk32teQiW-Q8LMDUMmN3tIuo/w400-h225/20220415_154856.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Moving on to <i>Dune</i>, then, was positively mesmerizing! (I have to mention here, that I'm already a third of the way into the second book, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34326633-dune-messiah" target="_blank">Dune Messiah</a></i>, and that may somewhat colour my opinion of the first book. I will, however, try to recapture the actual feeling of awe and amazement that accompanied my reading <i>Dune</i> itself!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGzRnaC9kFFBlSuNUuYFHBAzRyv3QKWpnGpBxY_xLEXuoIPJoJKNqV0VdOBsDEUl0hdVku8SW2BzwnVMyQ05SdjUliC0_W8iTqwerBw0PSjZXHPWGJAyv11Xai0aJN4C1m1WsXCwbXBljpqg39A3mkq4ohSiX05OAa_nXrbmc9pTNsC7VmTI/s4032/20220415_160637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGzRnaC9kFFBlSuNUuYFHBAzRyv3QKWpnGpBxY_xLEXuoIPJoJKNqV0VdOBsDEUl0hdVku8SW2BzwnVMyQ05SdjUliC0_W8iTqwerBw0PSjZXHPWGJAyv11Xai0aJN4C1m1WsXCwbXBljpqg39A3mkq4ohSiX05OAa_nXrbmc9pTNsC7VmTI/w400-h225/20220415_160637.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's been interesting how the rather diverse books I've been reading lately nonetheless have threads connecting them. There was the pure exploration of space and its impact on the human being that tied in the Weir books to <i>The Remembrance...</i> series. Then the more social and cultural themes that connected <i>Remembrance...</i> to <i>Rejoice</i>. And finally themes of ecological balance, interdependence and in some cases chaos that thread together <i>Rejoice</i> and <i>Dune</i>. Or maybe it's just that in reading one after the next my mind builds these connections.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8bTgJPCMZsJQuzhBSezNCJ0q1kH74yavPqsVx5DylBDtcYPex8ohnPeAt7OJD-hlOjZEhDkM643FT0VKGEVVbZJdikrpYPc-bhwv-uGbb4-FQ1_-4I3uyMjcKpnCeEA3r7XoeEcLlq72XETXQGEwTkGbznGy07ey9jNXqrcANACE6ztoYmo/s4032/20220417_145421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8bTgJPCMZsJQuzhBSezNCJ0q1kH74yavPqsVx5DylBDtcYPex8ohnPeAt7OJD-hlOjZEhDkM643FT0VKGEVVbZJdikrpYPc-bhwv-uGbb4-FQ1_-4I3uyMjcKpnCeEA3r7XoeEcLlq72XETXQGEwTkGbznGy07ey9jNXqrcANACE6ztoYmo/w400-h225/20220417_145421.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Frank Herbert, however, takes the reader on a very interesting journey in the way the story unfolds. There's almost a sense of detached wonder as the perspectives shift swiftly from one character to another. I've never read anything quite like this before. You get to feel like you're in each character's head as the story unfolds, and yet Herbert manages to keep secrets, surprises, twists if the plot!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWoef5hSvOI3IFXZR_8DhkeUTrXJyrSvXXk4qsqliGDqPrTlEZ8Vt53NyQu0fxtfbAB6UMj5HtxXrEIIMSZauQQksesffCmmWPKEwZA75oB4Tu2t_v_ib9IHkuikvoXT8N9r3S7TIctxAM1Kr0VwDokULYestk6dLWd7tgUEw-i_ey9U8W-w/s4032/20220418_135956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWoef5hSvOI3IFXZR_8DhkeUTrXJyrSvXXk4qsqliGDqPrTlEZ8Vt53NyQu0fxtfbAB6UMj5HtxXrEIIMSZauQQksesffCmmWPKEwZA75oB4Tu2t_v_ib9IHkuikvoXT8N9r3S7TIctxAM1Kr0VwDokULYestk6dLWd7tgUEw-i_ey9U8W-w/w400-h225/20220418_135956.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I will, I think, forever wonder if the book would have been a very different experience had I not seen the film before. (This being the new 2021 film.) I suppose the answer must be yes, but I'll never know quite what sort of a different experience it might have been. For anyone reading this who still has a choice, my unequivocal advice would be to read the book first :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jVXgkRQAWk2ln3ChO4zYdcYqUKGdu8Pa3WQSjkJdznZb9pvwt9owEp81YH-2i0LNBR0Q4k1zNsereKZ8pmNYsgEwiATQ3UuCqTY6XbHXltjVdQCaiPsswrLUL2wnOLFBZg3Awf1GsUHI5lySQP_Lx7JPsuO2PNEh-bhB5lUUOjhCB4KMpXA/s4032/20220418_140745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jVXgkRQAWk2ln3ChO4zYdcYqUKGdu8Pa3WQSjkJdznZb9pvwt9owEp81YH-2i0LNBR0Q4k1zNsereKZ8pmNYsgEwiATQ3UuCqTY6XbHXltjVdQCaiPsswrLUL2wnOLFBZg3Awf1GsUHI5lySQP_Lx7JPsuO2PNEh-bhB5lUUOjhCB4KMpXA/w400-h225/20220418_140745.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's not that the film isn't good. It's just that the way the story unfolds in the book is so unique, there's no way any film can really do justice to it. Having seen the visual treatment in the film though, and knowing some of the facts, that colours how you read the book. To be sure, things in the film don't happen quite like they do in the book, so there's plenty of room for discovery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1BnYktBljVyOqnSMzDG9bQ7v96BMQFq5xHMAHeYxzvqdSB2AKD1G4JbLgPCKGZvMehbP93_FVrWcMqZ_FJSFFcBE9ZUtEvk1GH65QnXsuTpdZBvjn-wzMfsZCtkydpSwMNfAYQF2XzSrdhsOwFOU5JdghbMWcBweVFw5bBRsnCWaqklxXu0/s4032/20220428_173811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1BnYktBljVyOqnSMzDG9bQ7v96BMQFq5xHMAHeYxzvqdSB2AKD1G4JbLgPCKGZvMehbP93_FVrWcMqZ_FJSFFcBE9ZUtEvk1GH65QnXsuTpdZBvjn-wzMfsZCtkydpSwMNfAYQF2XzSrdhsOwFOU5JdghbMWcBweVFw5bBRsnCWaqklxXu0/w400-h225/20220428_173811.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The same thing is true of the way very early in the book (and this happens in <i>Dune Messiah</i> as well), the reader is pretty much given a blueprint of how the story is going to unfold. Luckily, that does not stop things from being interesting still! After all, there's things none of the characters know :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54Z0PfczFbBbmnixKQ6N0pZY9kwAjkwm6AwqXDTT4pT5ule8qQ16GcClmgSi3KxAPr1TgW4vRwlODpiPB_PDNV1ev6DAdMOdX_GfBXOkOi5VqyChjUQTpirjfUrqsRn8i3nuGqzYvgfgAL7JX_pKKqAdw3jzMl27m0KXCtuQC9FQuJBxrK08/s4032/20220428_202827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54Z0PfczFbBbmnixKQ6N0pZY9kwAjkwm6AwqXDTT4pT5ule8qQ16GcClmgSi3KxAPr1TgW4vRwlODpiPB_PDNV1ev6DAdMOdX_GfBXOkOi5VqyChjUQTpirjfUrqsRn8i3nuGqzYvgfgAL7JX_pKKqAdw3jzMl27m0KXCtuQC9FQuJBxrK08/w400-h225/20220428_202827.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I feel as though <i>Dune</i> is a book I will happily re-read. There seem to be aspects of the world, the characters, the story itself that I haven't yet fully grasped. There is more to explore, savour. Can't say I can say the same about <i>Dune Messiah</i>. But I think I'll actually finish it before I say more about that :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0zpaqrR0p3pkfpjXH0JyKmaEemIW0tRpvYVHiisXySY9sX4IFQcPJAz2AvgKmQ2VovST3QqsWM6JGop35FSktMaM5rOcdnxiszmUv1drckm78d-LhMptxyJEpg08NxsimyV1qakkALTcLYPtXSPnaXTbgfWhSjpC10P2N1WnxDSdud5oCto/s4032/20220428_203322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0zpaqrR0p3pkfpjXH0JyKmaEemIW0tRpvYVHiisXySY9sX4IFQcPJAz2AvgKmQ2VovST3QqsWM6JGop35FSktMaM5rOcdnxiszmUv1drckm78d-LhMptxyJEpg08NxsimyV1qakkALTcLYPtXSPnaXTbgfWhSjpC10P2N1WnxDSdud5oCto/w400-h225/20220428_203322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We're now moving into the part of the year where traditionally travel dominates the agenda. After a couple of years of everything being turned on its head, some level of normalcy seems to be creeping back. A few long overdue visits are planned. We shall see how it all goes down.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And all the while we continue to pray for Ukraine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-19IAdSUjsSdstTQkxNrCyXLBwxQY1ytjBmkvu32cJaJVkLRcgPzDCcwYR1x3Dbp6c1icuRn1Pvx5TxXrU5Mk2CrXbhTuAJ5b5ug41ikn65QzEiQXd-NSzJInQuEUjw2_-jIcET5ggntNxGgqt6B8XVSr0SdoZw2JbuYFd2Z7opsgYeI8Kfk/s4032/20220425_182928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-19IAdSUjsSdstTQkxNrCyXLBwxQY1ytjBmkvu32cJaJVkLRcgPzDCcwYR1x3Dbp6c1icuRn1Pvx5TxXrU5Mk2CrXbhTuAJ5b5ug41ikn65QzEiQXd-NSzJInQuEUjw2_-jIcET5ggntNxGgqt6B8XVSr0SdoZw2JbuYFd2Z7opsgYeI8Kfk/w225-h400/20220425_182928.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8116763 10.450161431.501442463821157 -24.7060886 88.121910136178855 45.6064114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14896941.post-42888692853777899212022-03-31T23:16:00.005+02:002022-04-01T20:30:42.242+02:00A preview of summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP48xvOBw0BU5NQK26_crMYDnQ5RGc8oqFGWF7zabrbr2EPlTEFqAVGiP7-_KGoPoNr5NaILpw5n6RLC38KjTNf6LvL7HxXnrdPneTPiePJwkZ6yJJruGrXiLT7N2TyN9jOGHkR3TuNiX2YeFatzOoBm6yJPAx-bkmPcP8TnTYHQr0xjiOo2s/s7120/20220320_122539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="7120" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP48xvOBw0BU5NQK26_crMYDnQ5RGc8oqFGWF7zabrbr2EPlTEFqAVGiP7-_KGoPoNr5NaILpw5n6RLC38KjTNf6LvL7HxXnrdPneTPiePJwkZ6yJJruGrXiLT7N2TyN9jOGHkR3TuNiX2YeFatzOoBm6yJPAx-bkmPcP8TnTYHQr0xjiOo2s/w640-h258/20220320_122539.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's been a month that went by rather quickly. For a variety of reasons. There was a distinct feeling of drowning in work and sundry other things that tend to pile up slowly while one is not noticing till it all feels like a bit too much. So the holiday was timely. And very much appreciated!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWN_srkHwgIfMD95NvYJoMsXdiiARCWViXp_uqH8m_-oJBXYp31EHtDBwYe8areBO-KNQ5pAADsxt7qip7LMTvO4nkXVtLOs7TG-kUW_rD8EI5ohJ7aIuxbYczcXWbfAgG6xtA5XzVCeY2eMrD9tOi9qYRbK5BduaN1OfMX9w10WAPDGhn6nM/s4032/20220320_124452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWN_srkHwgIfMD95NvYJoMsXdiiARCWViXp_uqH8m_-oJBXYp31EHtDBwYe8areBO-KNQ5pAADsxt7qip7LMTvO4nkXVtLOs7TG-kUW_rD8EI5ohJ7aIuxbYczcXWbfAgG6xtA5XzVCeY2eMrD9tOi9qYRbK5BduaN1OfMX9w10WAPDGhn6nM/w400-h225/20220320_124452.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA633Paqm2CGonhH8VBoe4cDVNRPLuVg0JQBwpfxyssFSQqwl9MSa-kWhA7I88H3my6TbOmPGUNw7le7tayABEJimdjt1s84sP5tZ31cQx0HWu8LXIJ7Td_rUvHQEiAL4BH20zo1qxGxH7EYxQfyNN47ySXoP-PcsU7UT0dkccbBtCWZ1yMqs/s4032/20220320_142857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA633Paqm2CGonhH8VBoe4cDVNRPLuVg0JQBwpfxyssFSQqwl9MSa-kWhA7I88H3my6TbOmPGUNw7le7tayABEJimdjt1s84sP5tZ31cQx0HWu8LXIJ7Td_rUvHQEiAL4BH20zo1qxGxH7EYxQfyNN47ySXoP-PcsU7UT0dkccbBtCWZ1yMqs/w400-h225/20220320_142857.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Direct flights to a very popular destination for Norwegians were made good use of and a very relaxed and warm week in Gran Canaria ensued! I'd never really been to that part of the world before. In fact the closest I'd come would have been sailing out from the Mediterranean through the Straits of Gibraltar. Which is not that close really.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSVd7x6HsZbBRAmMDeCdD2Fy8ydOHbzqszlwyTi_qr5u0EswzQ6ulsS7w9dGJ0D5PU_dfkDUrR-edFKcb0ifcp9r8PEvAVVCY2XWQtFwy8cs4BY3aKcjd-i4WIPLCJ5rTAkSMd1SE6T5zJmvNUdtVEEyvRrTGKy9lE7wQ3EMMw1HA8WB2Onk/s4032/20220321_092634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSVd7x6HsZbBRAmMDeCdD2Fy8ydOHbzqszlwyTi_qr5u0EswzQ6ulsS7w9dGJ0D5PU_dfkDUrR-edFKcb0ifcp9r8PEvAVVCY2XWQtFwy8cs4BY3aKcjd-i4WIPLCJ5rTAkSMd1SE6T5zJmvNUdtVEEyvRrTGKy9lE7wQ3EMMw1HA8WB2Onk/w225-h400/20220321_092634.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We were staying on the south coast in a relatively quite part of the island, which was really nice. Good weather, great food, nice beaches and warmer pools :D. And to top it all off some of the family from the UK had made it over as well, so great company too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZepwS0hh_ALbXaz_o4WbBjY0s78alqPKKWkawTulJdwRKJsUq00RVTk3JGx4x7E5aR145vgJhOwmPAdnyGc2JLAvxaOERiaV3zIHJyGXXJKQ9pLckInSuXZ-hSLvvJtMa4587CqjanGrD5KofS5PVN9Dr_yuG5cnXYWD3pwjjc6uqy-vs7Ms/s4032/20220321_195018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZepwS0hh_ALbXaz_o4WbBjY0s78alqPKKWkawTulJdwRKJsUq00RVTk3JGx4x7E5aR145vgJhOwmPAdnyGc2JLAvxaOERiaV3zIHJyGXXJKQ9pLckInSuXZ-hSLvvJtMa4587CqjanGrD5KofS5PVN9Dr_yuG5cnXYWD3pwjjc6uqy-vs7Ms/w400-h225/20220321_195018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjia8-k2CU0o-lim0bkLGhlzw094JP4u3_Ds1P-VHiujyNJZQ5_d1zy3qYzMcMCCGzzyf7b9aS2kOLLOasviVs_BKfG_CB4zRJYhiOjM8jfbT2E8LITPqe70UdunnSBtdv6ZmI5vCD7wQ-rwHi1sgZNkV3aCatP130LwnKm_HKlBQqL2YoGuGg/s4032/20220321_172041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjia8-k2CU0o-lim0bkLGhlzw094JP4u3_Ds1P-VHiujyNJZQ5_d1zy3qYzMcMCCGzzyf7b9aS2kOLLOasviVs_BKfG_CB4zRJYhiOjM8jfbT2E8LITPqe70UdunnSBtdv6ZmI5vCD7wQ-rwHi1sgZNkV3aCatP130LwnKm_HKlBQqL2YoGuGg/w400-h225/20220321_172041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">I was particularly impressed by the variety in the beaches, rocks and boulders littering some, nice sand in others. And, in the case of the famous Playa del Maspalomas, quite an impressive expanse of sand dunes! The water felt a bit too cold for me to actually go for a swim though. Especially given those heated pools :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FU7Ztb8PLwnLEFyxxILFg5CLi-pzykz8Bq3AOdzv3BkpCe3j7ZiaJM35qyxM1tiolaGrsdi2LkBqj8veZkJj94xJKBAG9zWmemaGfw7pdQdH8rHM7eNVy29dESTvOzAjH4LQIchOYSa2sPrvdHu1jRjO6a9CIZGW8xVgqIHzks7O2lvtxhY/s4032/20220321_100719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FU7Ztb8PLwnLEFyxxILFg5CLi-pzykz8Bq3AOdzv3BkpCe3j7ZiaJM35qyxM1tiolaGrsdi2LkBqj8veZkJj94xJKBAG9zWmemaGfw7pdQdH8rHM7eNVy29dESTvOzAjH4LQIchOYSa2sPrvdHu1jRjO6a9CIZGW8xVgqIHzks7O2lvtxhY/w400-h225/20220321_100719.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmijZUWL_RjGl6x_PLKm32t5NqgHoy7Mx-JPyheXhZxz0TgXFlCqaSaW2dqqG0cnSZ4kMVLw3K9RjSt7SmCgZDCXPXdnVRBOC4OFaLAZBPXz0gpw4yLw1smP_5q4iiDQU_K7-00DUDD5FDu9zlWeTYS-rbKC1jvfar6Mqd-nU07w_3rAQUWX8/s4032/20220321_101457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmijZUWL_RjGl6x_PLKm32t5NqgHoy7Mx-JPyheXhZxz0TgXFlCqaSaW2dqqG0cnSZ4kMVLw3K9RjSt7SmCgZDCXPXdnVRBOC4OFaLAZBPXz0gpw4yLw1smP_5q4iiDQU_K7-00DUDD5FDu9zlWeTYS-rbKC1jvfar6Mqd-nU07w_3rAQUWX8/w400-h225/20220321_101457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Special mention has to be made of the hike to a <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/''Sukkertoppen'+(Alto+de+las+Toscas)'/@27.8019715,-15.6868118,14.92z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0xc40822891679c67:0x2cc3b1c5a5c366e!2sNorskeplassen!8m2!3d27.8026783!4d-15.684241!3m4!1s0x0:0xce58b38b54fe3a09!8m2!3d27.8079261!4d-15.6801872" target="_blank">hill top</a> not too far away from where we were staying that Google Maps provides the name of in Norwegian :). The views were great too! Another highlight was the day spent on the slides at Aqualand north of Maspalomas! A bit of an active end to an otherwise very relaxed trip.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIf8Q-qjru2ujJYvPDggJI9HDurLy-_apv5TW3JSkL4GF1QgVvSbWhQLMQArlTEetN6XcogWIsf5BBZuzhDBBO2J9m-IsX9TiyQAvbsHKsrHo1x9wtu6TMYTXbfdzp8vheH6cPii2G0F_C_XujAMULBBT8gOBfF_V3t7-oOF7dcYHOkYzyQk/s4032/20220323_111709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIf8Q-qjru2ujJYvPDggJI9HDurLy-_apv5TW3JSkL4GF1QgVvSbWhQLMQArlTEetN6XcogWIsf5BBZuzhDBBO2J9m-IsX9TiyQAvbsHKsrHo1x9wtu6TMYTXbfdzp8vheH6cPii2G0F_C_XujAMULBBT8gOBfF_V3t7-oOF7dcYHOkYzyQk/w400-h225/20220323_111709.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">An upshot of the nearly six-hour long flight to Las Palmas, as well as the relaxed nature of the holiday meant that I managed to finish off the final book of the <i>Remembrance of Earth's Past</i> trilogy. In short, there's a lot to take in with this series. Light reading it is not. There definitely was a lot of hard science, yet, as with all good writers, the science wasn't allowed to get in the way of the story. At least for me. There was also a lot of food for thought.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYctdKOub5w1ubTetSQgONz1WlVNUskwSZf_Du2zEs-VNwH6y4KvB7ZI5Fp7a8cSnsjDGBwnjv-uQlsmAcuCNT3lZ0GP_klW91j1HGjPTlRuUq24szzYyd0PaN_ypp84AL2LELhhxmu0EOahlF5mfOumBxqsr0SfurAYQ-BXdDVq0mBrOTAg/s4032/20220322_164916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYctdKOub5w1ubTetSQgONz1WlVNUskwSZf_Du2zEs-VNwH6y4KvB7ZI5Fp7a8cSnsjDGBwnjv-uQlsmAcuCNT3lZ0GP_klW91j1HGjPTlRuUq24szzYyd0PaN_ypp84AL2LELhhxmu0EOahlF5mfOumBxqsr0SfurAYQ-BXdDVq0mBrOTAg/w400-h225/20220322_164916.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There are so many different threads to my feelings about these books though. It's quite hard to unpack it all, but I'm going to try anyway. Hopefully without too many spoilers, but please beware, there might be some.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk5hW7wFEPh-INeW-2cAd86NFX_R0-vHoDgVbxWIRqYePQPt9wsvWeg4PbDOTLzBkFCer70o_N2RG5-fsSB0UpiP5jfM35xTY2rQU0aUI42uMRDheRGoqCtPYCxfbZxMq-9eSr0bKmcYv1sEA10susv1Ff18j5jGMg52yR44JKzwLYKZzdFY/s4032/20220322_163936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk5hW7wFEPh-INeW-2cAd86NFX_R0-vHoDgVbxWIRqYePQPt9wsvWeg4PbDOTLzBkFCer70o_N2RG5-fsSB0UpiP5jfM35xTY2rQU0aUI42uMRDheRGoqCtPYCxfbZxMq-9eSr0bKmcYv1sEA10susv1Ff18j5jGMg52yR44JKzwLYKZzdFY/w400-h225/20220322_163936.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">One very interesting thing was how the original Chinese story surfaced in different ways at different points in the books. In many ways the first book <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26166883-the-three-body-problem" target="_blank">The Three Body Problem</a></i>, partly being set mostly in China and also with its heavy referencing of the cultural revolution at the very beginning makes this quite obvious. The latter two books, <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27914988-the-dark-forest" target="_blank">The Dark Forest</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32884495-death-s-end" target="_blank">Death's End</a></i> are progressively less and less tied to Chinese territory physically and yet the narrative is rich with a lot of social and cultural references.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01tcavbLlgk_sUgewnhimvqdwd_1_5cxr08V2s8rwZeqWLCPVA8lhPkw-WHQ87pDJeOpXRaTfNxkhpwaZyEwJcaRe2eGatntYcdexbj11yh4yi9tO5_6IskAZDJTaylhqJDaEwtETQUMV-wXJk3E15gNs1PLY1H7NN6IArp03ln4wnjwf_XY/s4032/20220322_164049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01tcavbLlgk_sUgewnhimvqdwd_1_5cxr08V2s8rwZeqWLCPVA8lhPkw-WHQ87pDJeOpXRaTfNxkhpwaZyEwJcaRe2eGatntYcdexbj11yh4yi9tO5_6IskAZDJTaylhqJDaEwtETQUMV-wXJk3E15gNs1PLY1H7NN6IArp03ln4wnjwf_XY/w400-h225/20220322_164049.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">One interesting thing I noticed was that two different translators have worked on the three volumes. One who did the first and last and another did the middle one. I'm not sure why, but I was much more comfortable reading the two volumes translated by Ken Liu than the one by Joel Martinson. Whether it was a different way of writing or just how the translation was being done... Or even the fact that <i>The Dark Forest</i> transitions from Earth to Space, so to speak.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3xiSzuecgNJ74GM35ObKJNE4N5zShgGvImLhrbclDlcf-LZydENNyVFHNaUK9iSw0Id7vTS63PPLHqATrVCtWTnsAAGmO54uiS-RCgAg1-C7ndhXdVRcKVK12yU4TwPJ6-Pg4cLdSTPJ8gOZYra5ICOPhgIxeqn39VlRoOx_oJwiE7iiuQg/s4032/20220322_172447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3xiSzuecgNJ74GM35ObKJNE4N5zShgGvImLhrbclDlcf-LZydENNyVFHNaUK9iSw0Id7vTS63PPLHqATrVCtWTnsAAGmO54uiS-RCgAg1-C7ndhXdVRcKVK12yU4TwPJ6-Pg4cLdSTPJ8gOZYra5ICOPhgIxeqn39VlRoOx_oJwiE7iiuQg/w400-h225/20220322_172447.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">(Interestingly enough, this week I found out that a friend had read the series, also in English, and had had the exact opposite experience. Although, he hadn't even realized that there were two different translators involved!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUE2Uu3-S0RGwm9QIZavZMnjsa9QvixSZ4OXlNHrETAGXFY7ii4J4PRf5FjSiz6wbcfY5Nu3eaAWlZu2zuhK0_BLxwMrinCs0cO7n-KKB81e2SMSqBE3THUxHvWja68n2hPCBVHULbtwQO2pm55bbl5TRmrAKIPmllGRJ9FdVugj_t6Qtqqg/s4032/20220322_172850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUE2Uu3-S0RGwm9QIZavZMnjsa9QvixSZ4OXlNHrETAGXFY7ii4J4PRf5FjSiz6wbcfY5Nu3eaAWlZu2zuhK0_BLxwMrinCs0cO7n-KKB81e2SMSqBE3THUxHvWja68n2hPCBVHULbtwQO2pm55bbl5TRmrAKIPmllGRJ9FdVugj_t6Qtqqg/w400-h225/20220322_172850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">As for the story itself, Liu Cixin definitely weaves a mesmerizing set of ideas together masterfully. A philosophy of civilizations seen through a prism I couldn't necessarily identify with myself, but one that was nonetheless fascinating to explore. The whole Dark Forest idea itself is a mind bender. And then there are the dimensional tricks which ultimately lead to the unspooling/zooming out of the timeline that left me rather breathless at the very end!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8bNHOvPtou6xPQs7fs5zT2g4Z0mjWI6q8lYgP0nFXLCL_FN4cvev4zVp4RCOnNLEQ9-ABU-lPyvxKvzHn8M-oMuveFQHtIa3m6d2Tt2eOCf6zt-RXYXL7aRf2xlWaQh2PvPg6cgPYfMIHFG0VWkENyHR1QrQVvcaQ5gnnQ8lKGVjswlsv0Y/s4032/20220322_175631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8bNHOvPtou6xPQs7fs5zT2g4Z0mjWI6q8lYgP0nFXLCL_FN4cvev4zVp4RCOnNLEQ9-ABU-lPyvxKvzHn8M-oMuveFQHtIa3m6d2Tt2eOCf6zt-RXYXL7aRf2xlWaQh2PvPg6cgPYfMIHFG0VWkENyHR1QrQVvcaQ5gnnQ8lKGVjswlsv0Y/w400-h225/20220322_175631.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There was also an almost deliberate casualness with which protagonists were treated which I felt somewhat unsettled by. Appearing, disappearing, appearing again. In many ways this was particularly pronounced in <i>Death's End</i> since in the other two books one more or less follows a single protagonist.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVMBS-Zh1fHxWqNZ9GOmU6NtJS4UOTZPKDhmV3O8obbCr2Gs-nT8ZpdO_wL7YwcheBzOCz_h0Qo3VuRIMtXty092cnE5csx3kE11prilE6JHasLoh1XW13FF1gL1PWYC0iwOKYs2c7BR85h-Q96VCm-uj1q_Az8zAUSPEN0Z1lbAM8yw7S_g/s4032/20220323_092154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVMBS-Zh1fHxWqNZ9GOmU6NtJS4UOTZPKDhmV3O8obbCr2Gs-nT8ZpdO_wL7YwcheBzOCz_h0Qo3VuRIMtXty092cnE5csx3kE11prilE6JHasLoh1XW13FF1gL1PWYC0iwOKYs2c7BR85h-Q96VCm-uj1q_Az8zAUSPEN0Z1lbAM8yw7S_g/w400-h225/20220323_092154.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">To be fair, the same is also largely true with <i>Death's End</i>, but somehow the darting, speeding timeline made it harder for me to connect with Cheng Xin than it was with Luo Ji in <i>The Dark Forest</i> or Wang Miao in <i>The Three Body Problem</i>. I suppose there are also others, so one could argue if these three were indeed the primary protagonists at all. Maybe they were merely faces of humanity as it traversed the story. In many ways my favourite character was probably Da Shi anyway :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc-hDJs71Ki4nQoaVph1697ijKWFApDntpWaMywJJVZyF2tL3Yb6NIRkCMT5qPzjTYpWlTX9aVMuxk7KNY2V7OEdCV2kevA-qaVXaQvJkOVr5pWgK-by89PrSVqfKqKxyij2TtY0diIL5KQP4xErZ1NRSACgeqyw0Qjy_LxmPc_dzYGy5FJA/s4032/20220323_112100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc-hDJs71Ki4nQoaVph1697ijKWFApDntpWaMywJJVZyF2tL3Yb6NIRkCMT5qPzjTYpWlTX9aVMuxk7KNY2V7OEdCV2kevA-qaVXaQvJkOVr5pWgK-by89PrSVqfKqKxyij2TtY0diIL5KQP4xErZ1NRSACgeqyw0Qjy_LxmPc_dzYGy5FJA/w400-h225/20220323_112100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">So yeah. Happy that I read all the books. Probably never going to read them again (which means getting them from the library worked out quite well). Very different from anything I've read before. There are, nevertheless, echoes of some of the ideas in this series that I feel I've come across elsewhere, and probably will again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwll4rCr72XxlKG65h_2iV61UFfySoxlV9aZ-vBXNVXnAthqe7LPjBWwT0RLy6FSRLI9eVs9W548u9sdIhEiBt-rxjZlxElskHJeFRVLNRaCVOKa3ptRMLabYbtoeFUKcmfINeHxWBAb71J4wz32Jo478yyj3dOwX0Q1x4bcHW9650V0H1Q9A/s4032/20220323_142512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwll4rCr72XxlKG65h_2iV61UFfySoxlV9aZ-vBXNVXnAthqe7LPjBWwT0RLy6FSRLI9eVs9W548u9sdIhEiBt-rxjZlxElskHJeFRVLNRaCVOKa3ptRMLabYbtoeFUKcmfINeHxWBAb71J4wz32Jo478yyj3dOwX0Q1x4bcHW9650V0H1Q9A/w225-h400/20220323_142512.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It was such a huge contrast starting <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52046104-rejoice" target="_blank">Rejoice</a></i> after <i>Death's End</i> that I actually had to take it easy for a few days. Just let all my swirling thoughts and feelings from <i>Remembrance..</i> settle a bit :). Now that I'm properly getting into Steven Erikson's sci-fi though, I have to say it feels more like philosophy and satire wrapped in a thin layer of science. I guess probably best to give the man the final couple of hundred pages before jumping to too many conclusions, he <i>is</i> my favourite fantasy author after all :).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB6ZeMkm4YKHXyT9dpYGTj1H-oVjVUPwJiWIE_2b2Eh4FdAxiBDDPZ53uB_XjWu6WHA_k5MoZ7TtxAL70leiyDkIP_VuAWBoISm7kE5TA_pTfdCRvwmlfQZZJwakpHfxyWxAhoKa38oL94_20e7j9jnMTrJxMxt34z7oEHUhSrPLbQChgBWw/s4032/20220324_191043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB6ZeMkm4YKHXyT9dpYGTj1H-oVjVUPwJiWIE_2b2Eh4FdAxiBDDPZ53uB_XjWu6WHA_k5MoZ7TtxAL70leiyDkIP_VuAWBoISm7kE5TA_pTfdCRvwmlfQZZJwakpHfxyWxAhoKa38oL94_20e7j9jnMTrJxMxt34z7oEHUhSrPLbQChgBWw/w400-h225/20220324_191043.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, in a constant undercurrent to life, the war goes on. Each day I feel a little more used to it, which makes me feel a little more terrified. The missile strike that interrupted the Saudi GP though was a reminder that this is not the only one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyDo0TJF21eiL4Ab7FfqFo8cZikj8iiFjbgTud0YPfVrDMBHfzZkkWTGSH1GO-7-9hP-y1yP1dCxnQN7UE7mEb5sFtJW2dzgTP4VafIjkJ0wDprErafeEYReXR1ZZYpoOtwbYX26_HlyJBKpEFVJQKVTo12tgIENtvPY1mn0xnXXN2kHVV0I/s4032/20220324_193737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyDo0TJF21eiL4Ab7FfqFo8cZikj8iiFjbgTud0YPfVrDMBHfzZkkWTGSH1GO-7-9hP-y1yP1dCxnQN7UE7mEb5sFtJW2dzgTP4VafIjkJ0wDprErafeEYReXR1ZZYpoOtwbYX26_HlyJBKpEFVJQKVTo12tgIENtvPY1mn0xnXXN2kHVV0I/w400-h225/20220324_193737.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">(Very very happy that Ferrari are doing well, by the way. <i>Finally</i>! Long may it continue. I'm not even going to say anything about Liverpool.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxtDsbtHt7hPMyms7f-bjGNJuOeLUgDNGXZQUcLuEW9UTXO1UZNr5MgXew-CjVCbzdY88tr84Ey4apQ3XDbevzi_hGssc-HezwieYJ0zZKoV8WjE6Wf66dpFMxfrHANz5doGY3rxbeVmk0OLwR8TKqJrQQLfdIfskrNqDlgNMIIeJU__22Eo/s4032/20220322_182752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxtDsbtHt7hPMyms7f-bjGNJuOeLUgDNGXZQUcLuEW9UTXO1UZNr5MgXew-CjVCbzdY88tr84Ey4apQ3XDbevzi_hGssc-HezwieYJ0zZKoV8WjE6Wf66dpFMxfrHANz5doGY3rxbeVmk0OLwR8TKqJrQQLfdIfskrNqDlgNMIIeJU__22Eo/w400-h225/20220322_182752.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>krayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14059156686511467620noreply@blogger.com0Gullhella, Norway59.8096128 10.452348431.499378963821151 -24.703901600000002 88.119846636178835 45.6085984