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| Audrey, Henry and Peter in Norway 2008-2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 05-01-2009 00:16, by: Steven | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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They arrived the 26th in Kristiansand at midnight and smsed us that they arrived in their hotel at 00:30 to have a nice sleep before they would travel to Kvinesdal. So then the next morning we woke up early to do the last arrangements and then went to Kvinesdal to meet up with them. At first we didn't see them, nor could we reach them, so me and Theres drove off towards Øyesletta towards the big bridge and tunnels. When we were nearly at the bridge Theresa suddenly received the call that they had arrived in the center. They appeared to have taken the D-tour via the old road of the new road crossing of Farsund to Kvinesdal (that must have been some adventure, icy roads, waterfalls all over the place and a small road). Anyway, we met them at the local bakery with hugs and kisses and ate a nice bread or snack. From there on we went for a visit at the office of AESTON and did some general shopping and looking around. At home we had a coffee or a 'brus' drink and unpacked each others christmas presents. I was still a bit ill but was feeling already much better than the days before. We watched a bit of the new DVD present 'Streken' while the dinner was being prepared (Entrecote with gratinated potatoes and salad). Not too long after we all went to bed being very very tired, for us being the illness still somewhere in the back of our heads...and for my family the long travel the day before. Next morning we decided to have a day for rest extra. We made a great walk around the lake in Sandvatn and had a walk through the center of Flekkefjord, hoping to find a restaurant to eat at, but by not finding anything our liking, we decided to go back home again and eat at home. So we had Spaghetti Bolognese. Good to notice is that our guests always sleep very well at our place. They slept for 9 hours straight the first night. Perhaps it was the chocolate on their pillow every night?... On the early morning (8.30) of the second day at our place we made the appointment to spend some time with our family Laura and Hallvard in Valle, Brokke. So we packed our stuff for a nights stay and went on our way along a beautiful route over mountains and past frozen lakes. At Lauras place we first brought Peter to the Alpin Ski center in Brokke, as he wanted to take a day of carving skiing together with Theresa. After bringing him away we went to Laura and Hallvards place where Theresa made herself also ready for some real alpin skiing. A few minutes later I also brought Theresa to the piste and there I have been for an hour more to make sure everything was alright (also to make some pictures from Peters show off). Audrey and Henry made a nice walk through the snow in the steep hills ('traktor road') around the house. In the evening Lisa and Ivan went back to Kristiansand, but we had still a great time with a fantastic big dinner of Ribbe (pig) and potatoes and cabbage, finished off with ice and fruit as desert. After coffee and relaxing it was time for bed, with or without a kitty haha. My dad and mom in the double bed, me and Theresa in one bed and Peter on a matras next to us. In the next morning a great breakfast together whereafter we left not too long after in the direction of Flekkefjord for a dinner. We ate at the Chinese restaurant and went back to Sandvatn afterwards. Also here we didn't take much time until we saw our warm beds. The next day it was already the last day of the year 2008, the 31st of December. Audrey baked 'Oliebollen' and 'Apple beignets' with help of Henry and prepared a nice chicken vegetable bouillon. Peter fixed the satelite dish together with Steven and with the rest in the living room screaming 'YEESS' 'NOOO' 'moving picture' and.. 'HIGh BER.. no picture' at several similar times resulting in us not knowing anymore what was really a right or wrong setting haha.. but in the end Peter managed to get a clear signal and did set up our box in such way that we were able to watch Dutch TV shows for our special evening. Next to TV we also had a great game of 'UNO' in which Peter won. At midnight we had a toast with fake champaign (Apple juice with bubbles) as that is cheaper and healthier and after the required hugs and kisses we saw some fireworks from around Sandvatn. Then Peter, Theresa and I went on a short trip around Kvinesdal to see more fireworks and met shortly family (Anja) to wish them happy new year. Shortly after we went back home to get into bed again. Next morning a friend of Theresas visited us for a while which was about to go back to North Norway again the day after. The Essers made a nice short walk over the mountain again, this time in the direction of Gjemlestad. Unfortunately this time we forgot the cameras, so we haven't got any photo material of that. Perhaps when I have a new camera, I will make some pictures for you all of that walk. As dinner we ate the last bit of the chicken soup and nice crackers and bread with oven baked pathe, salmon and philadelphia. We watched some more TV and read a book and went to bed. Friday the 2nd of January the day that Audrey, Henry and Peter made their way towards Kristiansand to take the hotel for another short night to their trip the next day back to Holland. After a good nights rest, taking a bath, eating some breakfast, having a talk and packing our stuff we all went in the car to travel to Kristiansand where we would meet up with Ivan and Lisa for a day of shopping and a nice dinner later. We took the long road via Øyesletta to see the big bridge and the long tunnels. We had some weird adventures around tank stations (huh Henry?) and got us some good fuel in the cars (thanks!). Peter got his gas tank filled of his car for the travel through Denmark and Germany (after twice the bomvegstasjon!) and we picked up Ivan. We ate a nice Berlinerbol or bread at the bakery in Kristiansand whereafter we had a stroll through the streets in Kristiansand looking for a apple drill with a wooden piece (have you found it in 'Lamers' Audrey? Or do I have to send you one later?) in it to remove the apple core. We bought some presents for people who took care of cat Rover and for those friends and loved ones in Holland, while Ivan and Lisa were looking out for a restaurant that could offer us a place for 7. After the cold stroll through the streets we took a drink or two in the Irish Pub 'Patricks Pub'. Peter, Theresa and Lisa went quickly for a stroll to the local sweet shop to buy nice Norwegian specialty chocolates. Afterwards we walked to the Fiskebrygga in Kristiansand to have a nice meal at a restaurant that had the design of boats. A bar of a boat, a table of a boat, boats everywhere. A room for each table looking like the part of the boat where the captain resides. We ate, how obviously, fishy dishes, although some took a dinner with Norwegian meat. Of this trip we have some pictures soon available btw. We finished the dinner with a desert of either blueberry pie, chocolatefondant or creme brulet with coffee. Then the time was there to say goodbye. In the garage, Parko, we said bye after a short but really great time together where they drove off to their hotel. We brought Ivan and Lisa to an appointment they had with friends whereafter we drove back home where our kitties were awaiting us. Although I miss them very much right now, I think we will all be alright soon enough again. We really enjoyed my parents and brothers stay during the end of the year and the start of the new year and hope to see each other soon again! We thank them hereby for their stay with us. Life goes on, with new adventures awaiting. At the moment of writing I am in Valle, Brokke again and tomorrow I have a job interview in Bykle, an hours drive away from here. My family had a good drive, bad weather on the sea resulted in a delay of 2 hours to Hirtshals, but they managed to make it before 11pm that day (3rd of Jan) to get home. Haven't spoken them since, but I guess they are okay again and I suppose also Peter is back home again as work starts again tomorrow. Let's see what 2009 will bring to us! |
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| Tags: family, christmas, newyear | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Steven & Theresa in Norway