CHRISTMAS IN NORWAY

Just returned from spending Christmas with Matt and Kate in Norway, and as you can see from the pictures on the blog we had a very very nice time, and got to do many varied things.Having never been to Norway it was both good to see a new country and it was also our first time to see where Matt and Kate live.They have a lovely lifestlye and both enjoy living in this part of the world.Matt has his flying and Kate has her horses to keep them occupied in their spare time.
They were both great hosts and treated us to a variety of traditional Norwegian foods which was something we shall both remember for a long time to come.We now have to lose the many pounds that we put on as a result of eating far too much.
We would like to go back later in the year to see Norway in a different season, as it truly is a spectacular country. Big thanks to Matt and Kate for a lovely Christmas
Next time though we will probably not use Ryanair as although they are cheap they have some funny rules and regs.Having been unable to get through to their customer service dept can anybody explain to me the logic of being allowed 15kgs of baggage each for which we paid £7 per case but not being able to combine it.So when we came to check in for our flight home one case weighed 17kgs and the other 11kgs making 28kgs,2kgs under.We were asked to take 2kgs out of one case and put it inthe other.WHY !!!!! ,since the combined weight was still 28kgs.

A FEW MORE AIRCRAFT PICTURES

Since we were flying over water we had to wear life jackets.The plane in the middle is the plane Matt has learnt to fly on,but we did'nt go up in this one but the more luxurious Piper Archer was used.

NIGHT FLIGHT AND TOUCH AND GOES

What a great end to our stay in Norway.Matt got a call from one of his flying pals,who wanted to know if he was up for a night flight with some touch and goes into Stavanger ,and would I like to come along.Well those who know me know I dont need to be asked twice where flying is concered.We met up with Victoria at the clubhouse who is checked out on the sleek looking Piper Archer.Matt is not yet checked out on this plane but on the high wing Cessna also in the pictures.So Victoria was P1 and Matt was P2,I was in ths back.We had a good hour in the air with a trip over Stavanger and a low pass over Victorias mums house.We also did 5 touch and goes and even made a KLM 737 wait for us which was a good result.So thanks to Matt and Thanks to Victoria for a memorable evening.

CHRISTMAS DAY

We had just opened our stockings and put our hats on,which people apparantely wear quite happily in Norway.We would without doubt get some very funny looks if we were to wear them in Kings Lyn.The other couple in the picture are Jen and Ray,Kates father and his partner who were also over for Christmas.Matt is of course on the wine

I LOVE BROODING BEACHES

I do like beaches that are cold and windswept,because there is hardly anybody about, and its almost as if they are resting and waiting for the inevitable busy periods to come.Sorry about the shot of Meg as she took off almost taking Kate with her.

DINNER TIME

After our trip up the fjord it was time for some traditional Norwegian fare for dinner.Matt and Kate did us proud,with a constant variety of weird and wonderful foods,and of course plenty of wine for Lyn.Meg their very friendly rottweiler was hopeful for any scraps that were going.

FOGGY FJORD

Unfortunately the weather was against us as the fog that we had left behind in the UK followed us to Norway and what should have been a spectacular trip up one of Norways biggest and most dramatic Fjords was somewhat spoilt by very low visibility.Never mind it was still excellent fun.

STAVANGER AND LUNCH

Some quaint streets in old Stavanger,and my curried mussel and prawn soup and Lyns small sandwich!!!!

MATTS PLACE

This is where Matt and kate live,the red one at the back,overlooking a large lake which we walked round on a number of occasions .

FOGGY THEN SUNNY EN ROUTE TO NORWAY

On the ground visibility was about 100 yards but a few minutes later lovely sunshine,the fog bank was as far as the eye could see

WINTER IN LITTLE LONDON

Took these few snaps just before setting off for Norway to spend Xmas with Matt and Kate.It was a truly magical morning.

CHRISTMAS TIME

Some Christmas scenes.The Church service was superb although the pictures don't do it justice.It's a shame that on a normal Sunday there may be 6/7 people attending,but this night there must have been a couple of hundred,perhaps it was the free mince pies and mulled wine that brought them through the doors.I'm a fine one to complain only going to Church for the usual Weddings,Deaths etc.and slipping out the side door after bell ringing
Anyway at long last the Weather has changed and its -3.5 at 11.00am with thick frost and fog,so perhaps we have seen the last of strong winds and rain for a while .
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all oury readers,and we will catch you soon.

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

Tuesday has become a regular run to Kings Lynn,using our bus passes.Kings Lynn is nothing special as towns go but its good for a 3 hour stroll a good cup of regular latte and an organic shortbread at Cafe Nero.So today was to be just another trip or so we thought.We walked down to the end of the road and waited for our pickup by our regular driver Robin at 9.26 precisely,you see if nothing else Robin is always on time,but not today we waited and waited but he didnt arrive,we were just about to give up when one of the neighbours came out and told us Robins coach was in for a service and Dave would be coming,the only trouble being Dave had'nt a clue as to the route.How she knew all this info live no idea.Anyway Dave didnt turn up but another bus did which was the 10.00am so on we got still wondering where the hell Dave was.We finally got to Kings Lynn at 11.00 am,so our 3 hour stroll was down to a 2.5hours as the bus was due to leave at 13.20 or at least Daves bus was,but we didnt know whether it had arrived or not,so we planned to get the 13.10 back as that was the bus we came on.
So we arrived back at the bus terminal at 13.05 ready to get the 13.10 back,but who should turn up but a beaming Dave with the 13.20,10mins early.Now this caused utter confusion with the majority of the pensioners(believe me there is nothing worse than a group of confused pensioners loaded down with Christmas shopping) who thought it was the 13.10 and of course got on only to see the 13.10 leave at 13.15 5mins before us.We pulled away at 13.20 with a coach load of 13.10 ers all talking and demanding of the smiling Dave what route he was taking.Unfortunately smiley Dave didnt have a clue and proceeded to set off at a good lick in a general Southerly direction.Well we seemed to go down every farm track and single track road he could find whilst being yelled by old age pensioners asking DRIVER DRIVER ARE YOU GOING TO WRETTON,ARE YOU GOING TO STOKE FERRY ETC ETC .Not once did his smile fade.We eventually made it back to Northwold still with a load of passengers not knowing where they would be going to or whether they would ever see their homes again.For all I know they are still probably at the mercy of Dave as they trundle round the lanes of West Norfolk,with Radio 1 blaring out and a fixed grin on his face.Perhaps I'll read about it tomorrow

A COLD MARKET DAY IN SWAFFHAM

A LEGITIMATE WORRY

I was getting worried that I had nothing to worry about.When I was working I would wake up two or three times during the night and worry about work for the next day.Well ever since retiring I haven't woken up apart from being told to shut up snoring by Lyn,(which I of course deny)and this was begining to worry me,not to the point of waking me up,but I felt I needed to worry about something.So imagine my delight to have woken up at precisely 2.35am with a legitimate worry.How to make sure you stop the Church Bell at just the right time on both the handstroke and the backstroke without bashing the Stay,and do you hold the rope firmly in your left hand or just let it lie there,and do I remember the exact sequence of the backstroke and handstroke,and do I remember the way to tie the knot in the rope after finishing ringing.So as you can see plenty of worries which will probably wake me up at various times during the night,and hopefully many nights to come Icouldn't be happier !!!.

So what have we been doing this week,not a great deal,we did go out for dinner at some new friends last Saturday,and again staggered back in the wee small hours,with our trusty torch showing us the way.

We have put the tree up and a few decorations which make the house look very festive,and of course we have been bell ringing,but i must admit neither of us really wanted to go last night as it was blowing a gale and quite chilly,but once there we soon got into it and very good progress was made by both of us ,helped along by some mulled wine that one of our trainers brought along .

Besides all this we have decided that we will be taking up bowls in the summer as it seems a good laugh and we are also taking on an Allotment which will be an even bigger laugh,oh and I nearly forgot we are also on the Church cleaning rota,which will again be a laugh,although we will probably have to save our laughing until we are outside the Church.

Phew!!!!

Well we had our third session of bellringing and what a session.There were only three of us trainees and two teachers,so we each got to ring for about one to one and a half hours each,so a considerable amount of progress was made by all of us.For the prevoius two lessons we had been concentrating on what is known as the handstroke and only a bit of practice on the backstroke.Last night we had the chance to put the two together,which was a bit daunting as you then have total control of the bell,which at times seems to have a mind of its own.The combined stroke is a bit like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time,not at all easy for those who have tried.Anyway it was again good fun and according to our trainers we are coming along well.I have a sneaking feeling that they may be saying that to keep us interested.
By the way Lyn and I came last in the Pub quiz on Wednesday night ,could have been due to Lyn having two glasses of wine and a strong whisky before we even got to the Pub,and the having another couple whilst we were there.Thats our excuse,but maybe the questions were just too hard for us.Anyway we staggered back up the road with our torch showing us the way,back in time to see some more of the improbable goings on in I'M A CELEBRITY GET ME OUT OF HERE.David Gest is class act and worth his appearance money, unlike some of the others.