A Few Things…

...You Need To Know

There are a few things you need to know about living in Norway. It rains a lot, but we’ve established that already. The fashion is quite different and I will talk about it in another post but it’s linked to the previous statement. But on today post I’m going to talk about the challenges of driving with a sunset and sunrise within hours of each other.

After buying a car (for the price of a small apartment anywhere else in the world thanks to the lovely Norwegian taxes) and getting your Norwegian driving license (which I didn’t have to take because I have one from the big European Union, yeah) you get to drive on the open roads (well not as open as you might think… it seems that they almost always end up in a cul-de-sac thanks to the numerous fjords scattered here and there but that’s another issue). So as I was saying you get to drive and Norwegians take it seriously.

For example speed limit*. Speed limit is speed limit… no margin. Go 5km/h over the speed limit and you’ll get a 600kr fine. 15km/h and it goes to 2900kr, 4200kr for 20 over and when your speedometer reaches 25km/h over the speed limit you’ll get to be 6500kr poorer. All fines have to be paid on the spot. One has to know that the highest speed one can go is 90km/h and that’s on the motorway**. Which prompt me to explain to you that I have nothing against speed limits at all but please (Norwegian) people can you get your act together. For example during the 7-minute trip from my house to the kids’ school there are almost 10 different speed limits. First it’s the 30km/h zone, then I reach the 40km/h about 200m later I get to drive at 50km/h then I have a stretch of about a couple kilometers at 70km/h (woohoo but usually there’s traffic jam around 3.30pm from all the people going back home after work!!) then 60km/h, back to 40 then 50, a few hundred meters at 60 then back to 40.

Another thing they take really seriously it’s the pedestrian crossing. Again I am all for safety. But one has to understand that I just moved from a country (China in case you just happened to stumble upon my blog because regular readers would know, I talk and link back to my previous life A LOT!) where pedestrians were the lowest on the food traffic chain. It went a little bit like this: big truck, smaller truck, big bus, smaller bus, big car, smaller car, motorcycle, electric bike, bike then pedestrian. My technique to cross any given road in Beijing was to sandwich myself between 2 locals and pray the entire time!. Here pedestrians won’t even LOOK before crossing they just go and you’d better be the one to pay attention which you should of course but come on people, look before you cross please!

Last but not least (and probably not really last either but I’ve got to wrap this post) is the right of way. For you readers that might not be aware of this rule is that every car that comes from your right has, you guess it, the right of way (well except when you are at a roundabout and this is also another story because they don’t know what to do with all their tax money so I suspect that somebody in the government opens a big map of Norway every year and plays pin the tail on the donkey pick a place and build a roundabout) oh and  by the way there is no concept of minor and major roads, every cars coming from your right, no matter how small that road is will zoom by you without stopping. So the right of way; again nothing really against it even if I think a stop or a yield stop make a little more sense and help the process. I’ve witnessed so many helpless Norwegian drivers at a 3-point road not knowing what to do since every drivers had a car on their right hand side that they needed to let go first. Well unless I’m in the equation (or any other foreigners) and I will make the process go faster by taking it upon myself to “break” the rules.

One last thing they take VERY seriously, before going on the real subject of my post, it’s drinking and driving. Anything over 0.02 per cent (that’s less than a glass of wine -in comparison it's 0.05% in France and 0.08% in the UK and the USA!!)  and you will face at least 1 day in jail, a hefty fine and the lost of your license. On the other hand they are not supposed to telephone while driving but I have an easier time counting the numbers of people NOT phoning and driving then the ones phoning and driving.

So the challenges of driving with a sunrise and sunset within hours (yes, yes that the subject of the post, go back to the top and it’s mentioned in the first paragraph!). When you get a late sunrise and early sunset, the sun doesn’t have the time to go up high in the sky but stay just above the horizon which tend to look like this when you drive (of course you might have a nice husband that wash your car more often then mine hence have a cleaner windshield):

Photo taken in the middle of the day

For some obscure reason, it seems that I always drive to the East in the morning and West in the afternoon so I always have the sun right into my face. The sun plus the obligation for all vehicles to drive with their headlights at all time (even on the brightest summer day) makes the challenges of the pedestrian crossing and the right of way feel like an obstacle course.



* Please note that taxi seem to think the rules (especially the speed and telephone) don’t apply to them.

**Did you know that The Isle of Man and Autobahns or roads with more than one lane for every direction in Germany are the only places in the world that do not have a general speed limit?

Can You Dance?...

...Yes Wii Can!

Well if Jeremy cannot play in the NBA or work in the Government, maybe it can make it in Hollywood!

A future in a boy band?

Thanks...

...Giving

This year I’ve decided to cook my first (all by myself without any help) thanksgiving dinner.
We played it safe and invited British people (and made sure they never enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner before!!) to share our feast.

The Cook and a partially set table

On the menu:

• Green Beans with Lemon Butter
• Whiskey Glazed Carrots
• Sweet Potatoes à la Celine
• Traditional Cranberry "sauce" (special request from Jeffrey)

Main Course

I’m totally aware that a nice crisp brown turkey would have made a much nicer photograph…if only I had taken the picture!!

• Turkey with Cider Gravy

Before shot (After shot has not been shot!)

The Pecan Pie was actually made with walnuts (could not find Pecans in Stavanger to save my life ). As for the Pumpkin Pie it’s not my favorite but Jeffrey put his foot down and said that it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it.  So being the caring wife that I am, I oblige!

"Pecan" Pie & Pumpkin Pie

On a separate note, here an email forwarded to me from an article by Mitch Albom. 


“The best holiday of 'em all”

I'll take Thanksgiving.

You can have Halloween, New Year's, Christmas, Fourth of July, Easter, Hanukkah and any day dedicated to presidents.

You can stack them all up on one side, and the turkey on the other, and I will stand on the other.

I'll take Thanksgiving. It is, to me, exactly what a holiday should be.

For one thing, there are no gifts. You never have to worry about what to get someone for Thanksgiving or how much to spend. There are no lectures about "greed" or "commercialization" or how we're "forgetting the spirit" of Thanksgiving. No way. The spirit of Thanksgiving is eating. Who could forget that?

Secondly, it comes with football. What other holiday does that? New Year's Day? But at least with Thanksgiving, you don't have a hangover.

Also, there is no "right" place to go on Thanksgiving - except home. There is no church or synagogue. No graves that must be visited. No trekking out to watch fireworks.

You just sit on the couch, or sit at the table, and you laugh and eat and laugh and burp and - ta-da! - you are credited with knowing the "true meaning" of the holiday. Also, it comes with a parade.

Did I mention the dressing? Not the turkey dressing. The human dressing. There isn't any! Oh, sure, maybe you put on a nice pair of pants. Maybe. But who really dresses up for Thanksgiving? You can celebrate in a sweatshirt. Can you say that about New Year's Eve? Not unless you're a lonely, pathetic loser.

And Thanksgiving doesn't require some smarty-pants history known only by your geeky cousin from Baltimore. Uh-uh. There's no quoting Lincoln or Washington. No reading from the Declaration of Independence.

What do you need to know about Thanksgiving? The Pilgrims and the Indians had dinner. Pass the gravy.

Thanksgiving never moves. It is always on a Thursday, strategically placed so that you might as well take off Friday as well, since Saturday and Sunday are next, and, while you're at it, maybe half of Wednesday just to pick up everyone from the airport. Thanksgiving gets you half a week off.

What does Labor Day get you? Monday?

And there is no shopping on Thanksgiving, unlike Memorial Day or Presidents Day. Sure, there are Thanksgiving sales, but you do them on FRIDAY! How cool is that?

Also, there are no masks. You don't beg for candy from strangers. And nobody eggs your house.

Have I mentioned stuffing?

There is no more celebratory food - short of dessert – than stuffing. Be honest. When you were young, you couldn't get enough of it, right? Maybe you hated cranberry sauce, but all kids loved stuffing. It was everything great about bread and pudding and hot, mushy food wrapped into one. Tell me you don't still feel that.

Tell me there's anything better than a meal that goes all night, that doesn't have an event tied to it, that doesn't come with a bill at the end.

Tell me there's anything better than only having to catch up with your aunts, uncles and cousins to feel like you did the holiday proud.

Tell me there's anything easier than passing plates. Tell me there's any better place to appreciate what you have than in a kitchen filled with good smells.

Tell me there's a better invention than "the kids' table."

And what holiday not only condones but pretty much expects you to fall asleep on the couch?

So let's sum up. No costumes, no presents, no services, no tuxedoes, no time limit, no guilt trips, and all the food, naps and football you want.

I'll take Thanksgiving. After all, no one tries to sit on the turkey's lap and ask for an X-box.

Trends...

...And Us!

It all started when we lived in China and Elle Magazine published an article “Les jours Lounges” about how it had become trendy to use your PJ (ok…fashionable, silky PJ) as a piece of clothing per se.  China was way ahead of them!!!

Now that we are in Norway, a new article in “L'Express-In Style”  shows that Scandinavian Cuisine (really?!) is the new 'in' thing!

Trends seem to be following us!!

Looking For…

...New Pair of Leg Boots

This little French girl is currently in Paris and is buying… Rain boots. I  know it’s kind of ironic

Didn’t find those (didn’t look too hard either) but I wonder if I wanted the boots or… the legs?!!

Paris Here I come….

...Again!

Just to let you know that I’m going to Paris tomorrow morning on a Girls’ trip. First time on a low cost airline flight… wish me luck!!!

Three and half days away from home… I’m sure they can survive without me. I left a note just like last time.

Aaaaahhhhh Paris

Football* Season...

...Is Back

Jeremy is back playing soccer.

The "master" in action!

The 3 color jerseys make it a little confusing. But this time Jeremy didn’t change jersey midway through the game.  In fact with 3 fierce girls on his team they pretty much won most games and I didn’t even get the chance to use my new found skill of screaming at the top of my lungs… “kiiiiiiiick the ball, kick it!”. But of course we are not keeping score!

The winning goal

* that's Soccer for my American readers

"Fashionable...

...In Rainy Weather"  - Part III

It’s time again for “Fashionable in Rainy Weather” by Celine. If you miss part “Un” and “Deux” click on their respective link.

Today I will show you THE rain boots. The Rolls Royce, the one you need to have if you are anybody (I’m currently a nobody because I’m not freaking paying the Norwegian price for it).

Apparently, “Hunter is to Wellington Boots, what Christian Louboutin is to high heel shoes”

Exhibit A & B about being somebody!

Kate & Angelina (I left Brad on the picture because well it's Brad!)

So let me present you the HUNTER boots.

Once you enter the “Hunter” club you need the Hunter Accessorizes to go with it!

The socks (£25) to keep your toes toasty The pocket (£30) to keep your keys/money The bag (£70) to keep your boots

Now let’s move on to Umbrellas. I finally found a solution to the problem of wet umbrella.

Pretty ingenious

She’s At It…

...Again!

I usually take on a new hobby each time I move country.

It all started in Argentina with a casual mud podge afternoon party, because the girls and I could only do so much Spanish lesson,s shopping, and champagne luncheon s(ah those endless luncheon!!!) followed by framing and a little needle points (everybody needle point when they are pregnant, no?). Hobby frenzy took on a full swing in Scotland with patchwork (made my mother-in-law really proud), “cartonnage” (creating object with cardboard), book binding, a little Black and White photo development and even carpentry (yes I did indeed!). We did stay almost 5 years in Scotland hence the myriad of different hobbies! In France I didn’t have time to start on a new hobby (we stay only 10 months), girls night out doesn’t count as one does it (Heather, Emily and Missy thanks for keeping me sane!) but I decided instead to go over all the projects I had started over the previous 7 years and tackled the task of finishing the unfinished business. In China I had a try at porcelain painting but mostly it was all about computer: blogging, learning HTML and graphic design but also about photography (you want to have your camera handy every single day, because there was always something interesting, puzzling to document). I’m in no way as good as my sister-in-law (graphic designer and great photographer) but I’m having fun learning.

As you can see I’m a real butterfly when it comes to hobby. I like the learning process but once I get a grab of it I need a new challenge. My friends in Beijing were often joking that I could do everything (I kept saying oh I use to do that, and that, and that, and…), the only thing I don’t know how to do, is how to knit so they forbade everyone to teach me! Oh I’m also the laminate queen (I know, I know you are just dying with envy!!).

I haven’t taken on other new hobbies here and what’s keeping  me sane in this country is still Photography and Post processing. But in the last couple of weeks a group of girls (I really should start to refer to them as women) decided to go on a Silver Jewelry Making class and here are some examples of what I made with my 10 little fingers, 2 pliers and TONS of patience (I have none left since those classes!)

And this is what happened when you leave your jewelry and camera unattended!

For the Love of…

...Macarons

I’m not one of those Expat’ that stock up on food from back "home".  Sure like anybody I will buy that pot of Nutella if I find it at the local supermarket (I might not even look at the price) but would I haul back a suitcase full at the end of the summer trip; no. The only exception to this rule applied to some of Jeremy and Chloe’s treats, but never a year supply only a few packages here and there as… well, treat. Ok so why am I talking about this when the title of the post is Macarons. Well the other exception is that Jeffrey has to bring me back from his trips to Paris some Macarons Ladurée; no exception. Not only because I adore them but also to ease the fact that I am not going myself to those trips to Paris.

All this talk about Macarons because tonight was my Cooking Class with the French Group and the topic was Macarons. Francois’ (our French Patisserie Chef) macarons are good but oh Ladurée...

Making macarons requires a great deal of discipline and is a process that is highly dependent on exactitude, technique, and proper equipment. For this reason it is a notoriously difficult recipe to master and a frustrating endeavor for the amateur baker

Although predominately a French confection, there has been much debate about its origins. Larousse Gastronomique cites the macaron as being created in 791 in a convent near Cormery. Some have traced its French debut back to the arrival of Catherine de' Medici’s Italian pastry chefs whom she brought with her in 1533 upon marrying Henry II.

The macaron as it is known today was called the "Gerbet" or the "Paris macaron" and is the creation of Pierre Desfontaines of the French pâtisserie Ladurée, composed of two almond meringue disks filled with a layer of buttercream, jam, or ganache filling.

Ladurée claims to sell 12,000 of them daily.

It all starts when your get your hands on the lime green bag:

First you get a feast for the eyes with the assortment of colors and you get to open the round box:

Then you have to choose which one you'll start with, decision decision again for which second one will have the honor of your palate. You would try a third one but you have to restraint yourself... at least for a couple of hours:

Unfortunately it has to end... Until next time:

Maybe on his next trip I’ll ask Jeff to bring me back some from the competition: Pierre Hermé’s Macarons

First Frost

Today was the first time we got frost. Winter is near.

It's getting cold

Guy Fawkes Night…

...aka Bonfire Night

The good thing about living in all those different countries is that you get a chance to celebrate a lot of different traditions and even continue on doing so after you left the country.
The British School of Stavanger organized tonight bonfire and fireworks display.

Before & After shot

Getting ready for the Fireworks

A little background history:

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, is an annual celebration held on the evening of 5 November to mark the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 5 November 1605, in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to destroy the Houses of Parliament in London. The occasion is primarily celebrated in the United Kingdom where, by an Act of Parliament called The Thanksgiving Act, it was compulsory until 1859, to celebrate the deliverance of the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.


The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, organised by Robert Catesby, Thomas Wintour, Robert Wintour, Guy Fawkes, John Wright, Christopher Wright, Robert Keyes, Thomas Percy, John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, Sir Everard Digby, Francis Tresham, Thomas Bates, was plot to assassinate James I of England and restore Catholicism to England. The 13 conspirators planned to place a hoard of gunpowder in an undercroft directly underneath the House of Lords. The plotters believed it to be the perfect place to hide explosives, as the undercroft had gone unused for some time.


In January 1606 the Thanksgiving Act was passed, and commemorating the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot became an annual event. Early traditions soon began after the act was passed, such as the ringing of church bells and the lighting of bonfires, and fireworks were even included in some of the earliest celebrations. The act remained in place until 1859. Despite the repeal of the act taking place over 150 years ago, Guy Fawkes Night still remains a yearly custom throughout Britain. (Wikipedia)

Mc Donald's...

...ditches Iceland

I so wanted to experiment the world most expensive Mc Donald when we visit Iceland. But according to an article I read a couple of days ago I now can enjoy the most expensive Big Mac in the comfort of my own city!

A year after Iceland went bankrupt, it is now losing McDonald. Reykjavik, the capital, is home to all three of the country's McDonald's restaurants.

Magnus Ogmundsson, managing director of Lyst Hr., which holds the franchise in Iceland, told The Associated Press, "The economic situation has just made it too expensive for us." His situation was made difficult by the McDonald's requirement that the store's goods be imported from Germany. So, he had to spend in euros, which became incredibly expensive because of the krona's plunge.
To get a sense of how bad the situation became, check out the price of a Big Mac. It already costs $5.29 in Reykjavik, and to turn a profit, it would have to go for $6.36 – making it the most expensive in the world. Currently, the title goes to Switzerland and Norway, where a Big Mac costs $5.75.

I'm NOT Lovin' It

Autumn Colors

Autumn is definitely here. The leaves are changing their colors .

Privacy...

...What Privacy?

When we first moved here we were a little surprise by the number of thing you could find online about anybody. If you were looking for a person and had their name you could easily find their phone number (landline and mobile) their address and could even have a bird view of their house. It also works with just a number or just an address (you would then find whose number it is or who lives at this address).

So it didn’t come as much of a surprise when I found out that at the end of October an official records showing the income and overall wealth of nearly every Norwegian taxpayers (the “Skattelist” or Tax List) was released and available online to everybody.

What might appear to non-Scandinavians as a gross violation of privacy, the defenders of the system here say it enhances transparency which is essential for an open democracy.

In national broadcaster NRK's database, you can type a name, hit search and within moments get information on exactly what that person made last year, paid in taxes and his or her total wealth.
It also gives an overview of how those figures compare with Norway's national averages for men and women, and averages for that person's city of residence.

The country of 4.8 million people had the third highest income tax among industrialized countries in 2007, according to the latest OECD statistics, behind Denmark and New Zealand.


So who's Norway's richest man?
Tobacco mogul Johan Henrik Andresen, worth $2 billion, has surpassed last year's No. 1, industrialist Kjell Inge Roekke, according to Dagbladet.
Norway's richest woman was stock market investor Tone Bjoerseth-Andersen, whose wealth of $107 million placed her behind 24 men.