Dressed For The Occasion - Or Just Lazy?

Just in for a pit stop at my mom's, between a week in Edinburgh and my return to Norway. It has been quite an adventurous time these last few weeks, and I'll let you in on some of the action. I think the last post left off right after that amazing weekend I spent with my friend here in Gothenburg. Something about a Robbie Williams song...

This was on Monday. I went home to my mother for re-packing the suitcase, and a slight altering of my mental state. Sure, I was visiting another friend, but there are friends and there are friends. Wednesday morning I was on my way, via train to Oslo and later Ryanair to Scotland, and arrived safely at Hannah's place in the evening. We had an early night; after all it was a regular workday for the professor (Hannah's man), who was a tad overworked to put it mildly, since he's recently been appointed Head of School in addition to his real work. You see, being Head of School isn't necessarily that fancy, it could simply mean that any frustrations and conflicts around the department are directed your way and you end up the main target.

Thursday we did nothing much really, except from being two friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time. She served homemade scones, jam and tea in the conservatory, and it was so peaceful listening to the rain drumming on the glass roof. They live in a rather quiet area, with Liberton Golf Course as next neighbour. (Considering that there are nearly 30 golf courses in Edinburgh it's actually hard to avoid being close to one.) So we stayed in and talked about this and that. Well, poor Hannah had to venture out for half an hour, as her little rascal kitten was due for his first shot.

But you know me, can't sit still for long, and Friday we were out of the house before noon. First a stop at the The Elephant House, which I at first was reluctant to visit, as Hannah advertised it as the place where J.K. Rowling sat while writing Harry Potter. I didn't want to offend my friend, and as she told me it actually was a nice place I surrended. She was right, I loved the place. And although they're milking it a bit nowadays, I also immediately understood that Potter mum wasn't the first one sitting there being creative. My guess is that she just found that atmosphere rather inspiring, as Ian Rankin and others did before her. Did you know that there's a very high density of writers in Edinburgh? And that the city is the first of three appointed by UNESCO as a "City of Literature"? No wonder I like the place.

Next stop was Edinburgh College of Art where a friend of Hannah's is doing her masters in sculpture. They'd been to the Orkney's and in conjunction with that had a small exhibition opening that day. Who am I to judge, but I must say a lot of it was rather naive and unfinished. Liked the free wine and canapés though. No, that wasn't fair. I kept saying to Hannah that my definition of art is when I don't get the feeling I could have done it myself, and there sure were a few pieces that I surely couldn't have accomplished. After that it was time to go home and fix supper for all of us, and I thought it was a good idea to contribute. So when the hosts relaxed in the lounge I stirred the pot with my "famous" risotto.

Up early Saturday and off to the young daughter's ballet. Well, she did the dancing while Hannah and me had "full Scottish breakfast" at Vincent Cafe. The ballerina joined us after the lesson and the three of us headed to the Rudolf Steiner School Christmas Market. Which was quite a funny thing, since I was actually supposed to be doing my part back home in Norway, in my own daughter's school. She had to double shifts at the stalls while her mother was enjoying a much more liberal attitude to the concept of Christmas markets. In Norway it would have been an absolute NO to serving alcohol, but in Edinburgh we could get instant relief from that nasty wind and chilly rain by a cup of mulled wine for only £2. Since it was for a good cause I selflessly sacrificed myself and had another. Maybe a third too, can't rrmemmberr.. .,. .,..

I was also lucky enough to be in Edinburgh while the Edinburgh Art Fair 2009 was on, and that's where we took the bus after the Christmas Market. I don't think I've seen so much art displayed at once, and it was simply too much to digest in one sitting (or walking rather). My feet were sore, and when the professor joined us at the venue I sneaked off to the bar for some alone time. Sat there for half an hour, reviewing some of the art in my head. Funny what you end up recalling after a massive overload like that! One artist that really caught my eye, and who I even would like to have on my wall, is Cyril Croucher. Sure, there must have been painters that were more skilled, painting like Rembrandt, but I always seem to fall for these distorted perspectives.

The contrast couldn't have been bigger, 'cause next assignment was grocery shopping, and we did that at ASDA. Huge store, got everything, cheap - and open 24/7. Do I need to say more?

I skip Sunday here, and jump straight into the following week. Bus again to the city center. (Did I mention the excellent bus services they have there? For £3 you get a day-ticket, and for that you can travel as much as you like for a whole day. Obviously.) First a quick tour around Harvey Nichols, a store where I felt oddly foreign. Not from being Scandinavian, but being from another world. Don't think I'll ever would like to spend thousands and thousands (and were talking pounds here!) on dresses and coats from YsL, Gucci and Stella McCartney. Hannah on the other hand knows exactly where to spend her fortune as soon as she sells £5,000 worths of her own work. That's the beauty of friendship, you don't have to be copies of each other, liking the same things all the time. Fascinating how different we look at some things, while being in total understanding regarding other stuff.

From HN we walked to a favorite place of mine - a bookstore. And to make it better this Waterstones  had a Starbucks! It all came to perfection as we sat down by the window and I could see the castle. Could I ask for more? (I guess I could, but not here, not now...) Again I was thinking about the writers of Edinburgh, and if you're writing you're most likely reading too. For research, inspiration and such, and no doubt Rowling had walked these stairs as well. Hannah pointed it out to me, and don't you agree? Could this be anything else than the "Trick Stairs og Hogwarts"? I almost got lost myself...

I've been going on and on here, and if you haven't fallen asleep yet, I'm impressed. Maybe you're still waiting for juicier stuff? Enough with the tea-parties! Sorry to disappoint you, but this wasn't that kind of adventure, and Tuesday turned out pretty much the same with more shops, and a wonderful walk through The National Gallery of Scotland. Had coffee there too.

This post has taken me most of the day. Brakes of course, for coffee, dinner, coffee again, and some laundry in between. All through this I've been dressed in appropriate attire for the occasion, sporting my new lush, black velvet dressing gown and satin PJ's! Almost feel like a writer, ha, ha, I even have a glass of wine next to me.

Thank you for staying with me, but this is what comes after being absent for nearly two week, while actually doing something. All good, except a thing or two, but they are not meant for the "public". Need more private space to reveal my heart there. But I do need it, so we'll talk elsewhere, sweethearts. :-)

PS. And I didn't drink that much whisky either, neither Caol Ila nor any other. Guess there will be time for that sooner or later.

Batteries Recharged

You'd think I was going away for a much longer stay then a weekend, if you'd caught a glimpse of me and my suitcase last Friday, and I almost shouted Siempre Lista! as I entered the hotel lobby. What I did forget though was the chargers for my phones. At the time I saw it as a sign that keeping connected to the outside world shouldn't be main priority this weekend, so I simply turned them both off. Sunday afternoon between sightseeing and dinner I turned them on just to see if anyone had been trying to reach me. 4 messages - "You said you at least would keep the phone on.", "You have to answer NOW!" and two Voicemail. There was a smaller catastrophe going on at home, as my daughter had been without electricity for the whole day!

"Home" in this case is Bergen, and even if I hadn't been spending the weekend at a hotel I'd still be 800 km away from her! Should be someone closer to her that really could help her out, and there is, but her first thought was to call me. I must say that warms my heart.

I'm back now at my mom's, and feel fine. All batteries are fully recharged, mine as well. The suitcase was also refilled before departure, and with me I have whisky, wine, Christmas gifts and fond memories.

And now I should play a certain Robbie Williams-song...

Parking Lot Ponderings

My mother and I ventured to IKEA today, and an interesting thing happened at the carpark. Lots of people, and lots of cars, as always, but I found a nice parking spot not too far from the entrance. I drove past the spot, and turned to the right in order to reverse back into it. This is the way I usually park, unless there are too many cars coming from behind. You see, somehow people never seem to expect you to park that way and they keep coming too close. Anyway, as I started the maneuver I noticed this older man watching me, and I knew he was actually curious to see how I'd manage. I did fine (what else?), and we left the car and headed towards the store. But this man approached me as we passed, and said something like: "I'm so impressed! I've never seen a woman do a reverse parking so perfectly before. All in one go."


Isn't it funny? He'd never say something like that to man, in fact he wouldn't even have stopped to check the action out. Men are supposed to handle things like reverse parking and simple household plumbing, but there's nothing genetically supporting that idea. I wonder though, does it make me more or less of a woman when I can fix these things myself? I know the answer, but it has taken me a while. Actually, for a long time I thought I didn't fit into the label "woman". I too (of course) was influenced by the traditional gender models, and knew I was too much of a "techie" to be truly feminine. But as I was sure I wasn't a man either, I kind of felt like nothing. Strange thought really, and a long gone one now as well. But this woman remembers when she felt like "nothing".

When all this happened at the carpark I immediately saw the blogpost, thinking of how we discussed reverse parking before, me and a friend. For most people it's about better view and safer departure from the spot itself, but my friend learned while spending time in "danger zones" it was the only way to park - you needed to be able to get out as quick as hell if things were getting complicated. Perhaps not the worst of approaches; it's good to know there's a way out.

Daily Dos(z)e Of Knowledge

Today I'm going to the University here to listen to an open lecture about the most recent research regarding Stonehenge - The Stonehenge Riverside Project. Very interesting indeed, just too bad I don't have company. Might be something for you, Toril? Or maybe you'll join me in December for "a lecture with a title that is rediculously long, and for which you also need to be somewhat sober to read out loud..."

Sweetheart

Back in Sweden again, but this time it's more relaxed. My mother is doing much better now, and we can focus on nicer things. Like this weekend it was the annual crafts fair, which my mother have been participating in for a number of years. Lots of people and a lots of nice things on display and for sale. I bought a heart for myself. Good to know you can buy one when needed. Maybe I should give it away?

Otherwise I'm so excited I can hardly sit still! In two weeks time I'm getting a very special guest here, and this is actually a first for me. The very first time, since I moved away from here 23 years ago, that someone is visiting me on home ground. So special... There are innumerable places to go to, and even more things to do, but I don't want to make a plan or schedule. I think we'll just make them up as we go along. No stress, just quality time, for me and my VSOP(-e).

Then only a couple of days after that I'm going to Scotland as I mentioned the other day. Well, I said I wanted to go visiting Hannah in Edinburgh, but it wasn't sure. Now it is though, and I so look forward to it. Lots of things to be happy about, right? And don't I deserve it...