From all of us, to all of you, lalalalal!!!

First of all, SORRY for not writing for days and days.

Second;

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!"

For you non-norwegians, christmas eve is the big day in Norway. Now we're off to church as we do every year, then it's all about the food and the gifts, hehe:)

I'll tell you more about it another time, for now i just want to wish all of my family and friends a happy christmas! We all have so much to give thanks for on a day like this, i sure know i have!!

God bless you all!!

Telling the story

On Tuesday i was asked to join the church in one of their newer traditions. It's a great way of telling the christmas story. They invite nurseries to come and go on a "journey" where they hear and take part in the gospel.

The children get to dress up as angels, wise men, shepards and off course, Mary and Joseph. We had three gruops on tuesdays, there are still ten exited groups to come.

It was a lot of fun and i think it's a fantastic way of teaching children the reason why we celebrate christmas!


The wise men are following the the priest (in this case the king)







The lovely little angles!

Zoo

Was at the zoo in Kristiansand today with my family, i'll upload some pics tomorrow! We saw animals like this, but this picture is one i took at Madagascar:)

Catching up

Since my past contains four years in two different boarding schools, i have friends all over the country. In one way it's nice, but it's also quite frustrating trying to meet them. Luckily i have some people still living quite close by, in Kristiansand. That's the city where i'm going to start studying next year.

After spending time with Toky, i went to Arnhild and Torunn's nice apartment where i spent the night. Today we finally had some sunshine, so me and Arnhild went for a walk. We met this scary, but beautifull swan. When i took the picture it was hissing at me!! I think it looks a bit funny:)


We've known eachother for years. I think i met Arnhild in a tree (no, not kidding) when we were about five or something. We have been friends since then, but after we started in different schools at age sixteen we haven't met that often. It was great meeting again, i just wish i could stay longer.

Hope to see you soon!

Sharing memories

Yesterday(friday) i drove to Birkeland Folkehøskole (a school) to meet my friend Toky. We met at Madagascar last year and have kept in touch since then. I'm so happy he's in Norway this year and that we can meet. He's an outstanding musician and plays all sorts of instruments. We spent a long time just playing and singing songs that remind us of Madgascar.
Tena milay be izy!!!

I just have to say that his norwegian is amazing! He speaks a lot more norwegian than i speak malagasy, and i was there a year! He's only been here since august!
Hope to see you again soon Toky!

Following advices

It's already been over a week since i came back home. One of the biggest reasons of going home was to calm down, relax, think etc.. Well, i've had some trouble doing that. I have volunteered in my congregation with youth work, i'm visiting people and stressing about all the christmascards i should send, but i know i won't. But, to do as been told and for my own sake, i went on a little retreat. Monday morning my dad drove me up to our cottage. It's almost up in the mountains, but not really. I came back on Thursday, it was great!!! I was all alone in something that really feels like in the middle of nowhere. I spent my time reading books, playing guitar (learning), and walking . I'm quite proud, cause i never switced on the telly!

I found out that i really needed it, since during the entire time i was never even bored!

One day i went for a walk in the rain. It was wonderfull breathing in the fresh air and compare it to the poison of the tube air. I know what i prefere, hehe:)


(not that i'm not going back!)

The sad part was that there was no snow! But then, the last day, i woke up and the ground was finally white!!! I didn't get the chance to really enjoy it, because i had to pack all my stuff and get going.
Hopefully we'll get some snow in Lyngdal too before i return to London.

SURPRISE!!!!

Hello friends! This might be a shock to a lot of you, but I'M IN NORWAY!!!!!!!

I arrived in Kristiansand last night at 5.55. It was soooo good to be back! Had a delicious hot-dog at Shell together with my sister and dad on my way from the airport.

Maybe you think, "but why???". Well, let's just say that it wasn't what i wanted to do. I wasn't getting the experience i was looking for, so i made my decision. BUT, i am going back in January for a fresh start in a new church. So it's not like i've dropped London completely.

To all you friends who think, "why didn't she tell me?" Well, i didn't tell anyone, just my family. I wanted to make sure that i actually was going home before i let you all know. When first things were decided, it all happened really fast and suddenly, here i am! Sitting in my own living room, mum and dad around, internett at home:) Life is great!!!

Just so you know, i've got my "old" mobil number, in case someone tries to reach me. And one more thing, i won't be travelling around Norway to visit people even though it would be great. But, you are all welcome to Lyngdal, hehe:)

A small break

Hello all beloved readers!

If you are one of the few "regulars" on this site, then thank you! I just have to tell all of you that i'm taking a little blog break. There are a lot of things going on right now. But, give me a couple of weeks and i'll be back in business!! There might be some big news.

Take care!

Another thursday

Hello again everyone!

Yes, it's thursday again and that means some "blogging" time. The thing is that i've spent it all on skyping, so i won't have time to tell you much of this weeks great adventures. Oh, what a pity...

I've talked to my lovely niese and nephew today, i love them so much!!! I just had to show you this picture my brother sent me a copuple of weeks ago. They always fall asleep in the car in all sort of "comfortable" postitions. When i talked to them today they were all cuddled upp in front of the tv looking at the six o'clock childrens show, eating cake. They said they miss me, but i have a feeling i miss them a bit more here i sit all alone:)

I also talked to Kathrine Brun, haven't spoken to her in ages. She's a pupil at the Norwegian School in Madgascar where i worked last year. We had a lot of fun so it was great talking to her again!

I am trying to think of news to tell you, but i think i'm gonna save it for next week. But, i tell you, i will have some big news next week, they're just not ready for publicing yet. So, "stay tuned!" as they say, hehe!

I think that's it! I should do some work now.

Today (i'm not good at headlines)

It's been four hours since i got out of bed, took a shower, ate my burnt toast (so English) and started walking towards the always overloaded morning bus to Brentford (yes, where i work). Walking to the bus is how i wake up. Step by step i open my eyes a bit more and try to get my brain over on more important thoughts than my lovely warm bed and why i burnt the toast, again.
After a 15 min walk i reached the bus, i got to sit today!!! After spending about 30 minutes on what should take 10, i reached Brentford. Today me, my team mate Miko and a nice lady called Maria had the School Assembly. We talked about believing in God and keep asking him about things, even though you wake up and there is still no Pony in the garden (i checked every morning). I think the kids liked it. Being young and new you're quite interesting compared to a lot of teachers and other people they see all the time. So, they cut you some slack and listen. Well, i liked it and hope i get to it again soon.

Right now I'm waiting for the Open House Cafe to open. Then I'll be smiling behind the counter going: "How can I help you, love? Would you like some carrots? Beans? Would you like some drops on gravy on that, sir?" I do this every thursday, you meet a lot of nice people.

Later today i'm going to a Deanery Youth conference. I don't really know what it is, but i do think it will be exiting. I hope to make some good notes and return with a bunch of ideas.

Another day in London!

My week

Some of you might have understood that i've had some task which hasn't been very exiting, at least for me. But, from this week i've got some new things, Hurrah!
So, let me fill you in!

Monday: I work at the "Genesis project". My task is to look after cute kids while their parents study. They're from six months old, i love it!
Tuesday: Team day! The team get together for bible studies, prayer and just hanging around sharing ups, downs and challenges. We have a great time together!
Wednesday: I work in the parish of St. Philip's and St. James with Hildegunn in Whitton. Again, lovely kids! We play and entertain while their mummies talk and do a "family time" course. In the evening i go to "fellowship group" at St. Paul's, it's quite good! I'm hoping that some more people will join us.
Thursday: My only day of serving in the Open House Cafe. There is also a school assembly which we go to. In the evening it's Alfa, i serve and do the washing up.
Friday: DAY OFF!!!
Saturday: DAY OFF!!/tasks that need to be done.
Sunday: Sunday school and the Young People's group (the YP's).

So, that's my week, pretty full eh? I like it!

Brrrrr!

Greetings! I know i just told you it's autumn, i take it back, it's winter! Right now i thank my parents for sending me the wool hats, socks and sweaters, 'cause it's COLD! Well, at least for me who skipped last year's winter and enjoyed the summer in Madagascar.
To get to work in Brentford i have two options (if you take away the bike, yes i am lazy). I can either take two buses, which takes ages 'cause of the traffic and the fact that it's longer, or i can take one bus. But, one bus equals a walk for about 15-20 minutes both ways... Because of the lack of training and my addiction to chocolate i usually go for the walk and one bus. So, on my way to fellowship group last night, i put on wool from top til toe, and thank God i did! You see, after the walk i sat down and waited for the bus which usually takes about 12 minutes. I waited, waited and waited... it took almost 50 minutes!!! I tell you, i was shaking pretty hard when the bus finally got there. There had been some problems down town where it came from. I just say "fotoana gasy", which means "Malagasy time".
Lats just hope there won't be consequences like a cold....

The fun of cameras!

Sometimes i just do silly things, and sometimes it turns out good, but mostly just silly:)

It's Autumn!

Then the silliness!

You can have lots of fun with a camera and a mirror, he he!

Bits and pieces

Somethings i should have uploaded last week:)

This picture was taken last weekend, when it was Diwali. It is a Hindu light celebration. I don't remember exactly what though.. But, there were fireworks all around the area the entire weekend. When i got home saturday evening there was a bunch of people outside my flat shooting up fireworks. I joined them for a little while, it really felt like new years eve since that is the only time we use fireworks in Norway.

Need some nice, comfy and feathery slippers? I just had to take a picture of these, are they not horrible? Well, i do need some slippers... should i?







This is Anne Marie and her love, OEystein. He was here last weekend, a really nice lad.







They, Hildegunn and me lived in the white house on the corner. The lovely Brooker family was on a half term brake, so we got to stay in the house.



On friday we went to Central London where we visited the Norwegian YMCA house.








And off course, we were tourists, hehe, "looking good Hildegunn;)!"

The sun will come out, tomorrow!

The sun will come out, tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there will be SUN!!! I don't know if you remember this song, but it's from the movie/musical Annie, my absolute favourite as a kid.

In my blog description i wrote that i will share my ups and downs, well i haven't really been doing that.... For a time now i have felt like I've been waiting for the sun to come out. Things hasn't been great i must say, but finally the the biggest and darkest clouds are letting a few more rays of light through to my grey mood!! I think the clouds are filled with a dash of homesickness, a lot of missing Madagascar, a spoon full of both reverse cultural shock and fresh cultural shock. All of this mixed together can make you a bit down. But, i am starting to see the light in the end of the tunnel, at least the hope that it exists, so i'm ok really:)

I will continue to update, both fun things and not so fun things!

(By the way, the picture is taken by my brother, love ya bro!)

The estates

In Brentford we have some big estates as you can see at the picture under. Some of the people that live there are non-english or has some difficulties when it comes to language or getting a job.
Well, eleven years ago the "Genesis" project was started by the Parish and has done a great job. Part of their main aim is: "...advancement of education and the relief of poverty in the Haverfield and Brentford Towers Estates, Brentford..." I don't know much about it yet, but i will. From now on I will work in the project every Monday, helping babysit kids while their parents take courses at the center. I met some of them today and I'm very exited.
The picture above is the Mission Hall where most of the teaching takes place. this is also the place where I'll be on Mondays.


At this picture you can see some of the towers. We don't have anything like this is Lyngdal, where i come from. I have to find out how many people live in one of them, i bet the number is huge!

I'll tell you more about all of this when i've started!

I want a doggie!

Hildegunn lives with the Brookers. They are a family of six, one of them being Olli, this extremely cute dog.
Last Friday (our day off) we went to the Brookers and mad Waffles, the Norwegian way. Off course Olli was around, for company but mainly for the food:)
We had a lovely day off and the Waffles were great! For more pictures, look at Anne Marie's blog.

Happy Birthday!

This beautiful girl is Kathrine Brun (her link is on the right) and yesterday was her 15th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! Since i don't get the chance to reach her yesterday, i thought i'd do it this way:)
She lives at Madagascar and i miss her a lot!!!!!
Katta: I heard that your party was very good, i'm happy for you and i wish i could be there with you. Keep "bloggin"!! Klemklemklem

The answer to my dreams:)

If you're not norwegian, you're missing out on something. This is THE snack of all snacks! I miss it!
But, rumours tell that i might have some this week, happyhappyhappy!!!

A "Hello" to the Lolands

I was surten i had uploaded this piture, sorry love! Well, here they are, my beloved almost sisters. From left, Lise, May and Elin. We come from the same "hood" in Lyngdal. I first got to know Elin, since we're the same age. My first memories of her involves a grey kitten and lots of candy, being a great fan of both cats and candy, we imideatly connected. I think i was about five when i first payed visit to number 51, and ever since we've just grown closer and i do consider them my family.
Love you guys!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, lalallala....

Yes, Merry Chritmas!! After all, we are almost mid-october!
I truly hope that all of you agree with me that this is way TOO EARLY! It's been like this for two weeks already!
This picture is taken at Marks & Spencer's in Hounslow. I was there on Tuesday with Anne Marie and i just had to take a picture, to show the insanity! Two weeks ago i passed one of those scary little Santas going: "Merry Christimas", next to him was Rudoplf the Reindeer singing christmas carols, I'm not ready for this!! I don't know how it's in Norway right now, but please tell me we're not as crazy as the Englishmen.
Feel free to leave comments on this thing. Personaly i don't want christmas stuff around 'til december. What about you?

Lovely calenders, thay will turn bad before you get to open number one!



Some times it does help to write down your frustrations:)

Upgrade!

Hello friends! As you see on the left side i have got a new message thing! My dear Anne Marie helped me with it just now. Now you don't have to enter the "comments" thing to leave me a message, great or what?

To all my dear readers, THANKS for leaving comments!!!!! It makes me wanna write every day! But, as you probably know my access to internet isn't much to brag about..

Right now i'm at Anne Marie's place (check out her blog! Link on the left). I'm being a bit unsocial but i'll find a way to make it up to her:) The last days has just passed without any big happenings really.. Hmm, but there is probably something i should mention.. Oh, the youths in St. Pauls had the service on Sunday, it went really well!

Hopefully I'll get some more internet time tomorrow, i'll try to write something interesting, hehe:)

Hoping for lots of messages in my new box thing!

More about the wedding!

It wasn't just the wedding that was great about this going to Norway thing, it was all about the people! This fabulous picture is me and Karianne. We were in Madgascar together in the autumn last year. She practically lived in my flat for the entire time she was there, about four months. We had a great time together, and it was so much fun meeting her again. I spent one night at her place, since we went together to the wedding, thanks Karianne!

This is Toky and Kristin. Kristin was a volunteer at Madgascar the year before me and Sindre. She didn't just fell in love with the country, hehe:) She and Toky has been a couple for about a year and a half now, maybe a bit more, they're so qute! Toky is in Norway this year, at Birkeland Folehoeyskole (s school). I went on a surprise visit to him right before going to England, he's so cool. We spent some time together at Madgascar since he was the pianist in the choir.
Toky had a special present for Elin and Sindre, he had written a song wich he playes performed on the party. That is what io call a nice gift. After that we, meaning the youth that have been to Madgascar, got up and sang two Malagasy songs. Sindre on piano and Toky on drums, we really rocked the place, hehe!

I also met some people i hadn't planned on meeting, wich made it even better! These lovely girls are Svanhild (sitting) and Elli. They've lived at Madagascar for two years. It was great meeting them again, i really feel that they're my little sisters. I miss hanging out with them. I met two other families as well that i met in Mada, it was fantastic meeting all those people again!

AE savne daakke alle!!

Happely ever after

Finally i get to show you the pictures from the wedding! This happened almost two weeks ago, it was fantastic! This is after the service in the church, outside the place where the party was.


Here comes the bride, lalalala! She was so beautiful! She got the upper part of her dress made in Madagascar, the rest of her is made by herself and her mum. I must admit i find that quite impressive, and what a result!





This is when they get the blessing, man and wife, for ever and ever, wow! There was hardly a dry eye in during the exchanging of woes that was followed by a wounderful piece on the piano. The whole service was just fantastic. Music played a big part in the servics, as it does in their lives. A good friend of them sang "Songbird" by Eva Cassidy, again eyes filled with tears. The youth choir lead by Sindre and Elin a year ago also contributed with two songs. The entire thing was ended by a piece on organ and guitar, really original and suiting for the newlyweds.

The dinner and the rest of the evening was at Rennesoey. It was quite an old building and the entire place was lit up by loads of candles, it was so romantic! And then you got all the wonderful speeches, yes, it surely was a day to remember.

CONGRATULATIONS Elin og Sindre!!!!! Miss you a lot, God bless!

Grrr!

Ok, here I am in church, got up early for one reason only; to update my blog, put out nice pictures from the fairytale wedding and so on, but it ain't gonna happen.. The reason is I forgot my wire, the wire that connects the camera and the computer..

I'm really sorry about this, I will try again tomorrow:)

A quick note

Hello friends!
In case you're wondering, I'm still alive and well! There has been a week with no updating, sorry about that. Because of a fantastic trip to Norway and no internet connection, i've had no chance to tell you about my exiting life in one of the world's most interesting cities! But, on monday i'll be back in the game, hopefully!

To all of my readers, THANK YOU! I can't belive that there are so many people reading, it really means a lot to me:)

Open House

Every day of the week St.Paul's has a cafe that is open to everyone. A lot of people come here to have their lunch, both old and young. The cooks are great and the food is fantastisc, this I know because we get the leftovers:)
Miko and I do two things. Either we work behind the counter serving food, or we just sit with poeple and talk, we are "open ears" as they call it. It is nice and an oppertunity to meet a lot of fantastic people.

This is a picture from the cafe, I took it today.



Well, it's weekend and I'm going home. Hopefully I'll tell you more on Monday!

A night on the town

We in the team have different "days off", Miko and I don't work on fridays. Hildegunn has also the day off then, so we usually hang together then. On saturdays we get the day off if there's nothing special happening. This saturday there was nothing going on, so we went to Central London. We were five girls and went to a lot of different places. We went to Kensington, Notting Hill, Portebello Road,Covent Garden +++
During the day we came up with the idea of going to a musical. We searched for some pretty cheap tickets, found them, bought them and went! We saw "Footloose", it was awsame!!! It was my first real musical, and i truly loved it! The music, the actors, the stage and lightening, and offcouse the dancing, WOW! We went dancing out of there full of energy when it was finished.
Now I'll start saving up for a new one. I hear "Dirty Dancing" is on it's way, anyone jelaous?

just talk

Now i'm sitting at an internett cafe in Hesteon, that's where i live. It is really close to the airport, i see big planes crossing over ny head every day. I think it's quite facinating staring uo at those big heavy things and knowing that the are flying! If thay can get those things in the air, why can't thay find a way for us to fly? The thing is that when i walk to my bus stop and a plane is crossing over, my eyes goes up and i think "wow". The problem then is that you don't look where you're going. I must admit i have cvome quite close to some very embaressing falls and crashes. Ooops, i'm out of time!

A taste of Nature

Sometimes it's hard for a non-city girl like me to handle all the traffic and people. What do I do then? Answer; you find a park! Luckely there's quite few parks around the area, and this is pictures taken from the one closest to me. I needed some peace and quite, and I found it. After a while of peace and some playing with the camera i went home. But, it was a good pause from the world.
By the way. I live close to heathrom, the airport. There's a huge ammount of planes over our head during the day. I didn't see the plane on the picture until i got back home. Nice eeh?


Just so you won't forget me:) I LOVE digital cameras!

Getting around

I don't live very close to work, I'm actually the volunteer with the longest way, unfear! But, i don't complain, it's not like it's that far, pluss, i've got a bike! This splendid thing gets me to work and everywhere i wan't to go. And, if the weather is bad or I just feel lazy, you've always got the red buses. Today was the first time i went by bus, and i must say it's quicker by bike. So, as long as the sun is shining I'll be quite sporty:)

The Brentford Team

Well, here we are; Team Brentford! All inn all we are a team of seven, but we are split into pairs. So, Miko and I work together in the Parish of Brentford. The parish has two churches, St.Pauls's and St.Faith's. It is at St.Pauls that the center is and where we go "to work". On Sundays I will go to St.Faith's, while Miko will be at St.Paul's. We'll be included in the Sunday school programme, so that will be exiting.
This is from last weekend when we were presented to the congregation at St.Paul's. Yesterday we did the same at St.Faith's.




This is a picture of Kjetil Aano and Miko, taken last Sunday after church. He came to meet with ous bosses and to meet us, we had a nice day as you can see. It was lovely weather and we went to a marked where the church had a stand. There was live music so we just sat ack and enjoyed the day.



This is a picture of St.Faith's. The church buildings are quite different. I think this is a baeutilful church.