Visits - September '11

It has been about two and a half years since I was last in Norway, so I was really looking forward to this trip. I planned to go to Norway last year, but with my friends new Baby Boy, it wasn't practical to do it.

So, the first problem I had was with the Norwegian currency, as no travel companies in Portsmouth had any Kroner! So I decided to just leave it till I arrived at Heathrow. Could have always used my bank card in a cash machine in Norway as that would have dispensed Kroner from my UK bank.

Both me and my girlfriend Koren (from Koren's Beauty) were picked up by a taxi from our home and taken up to Heathrow where I bought the currency and some extra presents for my friends (mostly chocolate).

The flight from Heathrow to Gardemoen to about 1.45 hours, although there was a fair bit of turbulence (which didn't please my girlfriend).

Normally, when we land at Gardemoen, my friend is there ready to pick us up and drive us to Askim. However, he was busy with work and his family, so we had to find another way ourselves..

I had used the Flybussen before, so we asked at the information desk if it went to Askim, but were told "no, you will have to get the train into Oslo". Bit of a bummer.

I bought two tickets to Askim, for the "Torget" and we found the platform to get to Oslo, then change to the Mysen train. On the train to Oslo, the train conductor came up to us, I gave her my tickets which she stamped then she made a joke about something saying "blah blah, voksen og vosken, ha ha ha". I didn't have a clue what she was talking about and before I could say "beklager jeg er Engelsk" I thought "bugger it" and just laughed along instead! (damned cringey).

We arrived at Oslo S train station and I met my old friend Kai there. Was nice to see him, as I had not seen him since I last was in Norway, although we do still play together on the Xbox.

Both myself and Koren got on the Mysen train and headed towards Askim. This is where my Norwegian came in handy. An announcement came over the tannoy stating something about a problem with water, cutting off all stops after Askim and a bus service would continue the journey. It was lucky that Askim was the last stop and my friend Espen was waiting for us when we got off.

We then headed to Espen's house and I finaly got to meet his son Sigurd who is now two and a half years old. Such a nice little guy with a smile that lights up the room. Espen's wife, Hanne is pregnent with their second child, expected in October.

We stayed in their basement again, which had an ensuite bathroom and large tv, so was comfortable.

This is also was when I finaly got to eat my first Pølser in "too long", and we just took it easy for the evening. The next day on the Friday, we all took the train into Oslo (Sigurd's first trip on a train) where it was a gloriously sunny day and about 18oC (not bad for September). In Oslo we took a trip up to Holmenkolen to see the new ski jump, although we couldn't get to the top as lightening had taken out the lifts.

We met Kai again in Oslo and popped into TGI Fridays for a meal, before wandering around Aker Brygge. This was one of the hightlights of the trip, Especially when a giant seagull poohed on my girlfriends leg (could have been worse and hit her head) She didn't see the funny side as I did :)

We sat at a bar in Aker Brygge and had a beer, which cost 80 NOK (about £8!) so was nice to see the old expensive beer again. Later we left Kai and got the train back home to Askim. We spent Friday evening chating and catching up on our stories and such, was nice.

Saturday, we spent the morning at Espen's house and me and Koren watched Avatar on his large flatscreen "cinema". Had not seen the film and they needed some time with Sigurd, so passed a couple of hours. Kai then came down from Oslo and we chatted, played a game and played with Sigurd. Was a nice evening.

On Sunday we first went to see a couple of war memorials local to Askim and had a walk around the woods. Was so nice to breath the fresh air and feel the peace whilst standing next to a Norwegian river. After this we had lunch with Espen's mum and dad and then visited his brother Jørn and family.

Was nice to see them all, had a few beers with Jørn and was good to catch up and see how his two little girls, Mathilda and Selma had grown. I only get to see they kids in stages of their lives, so they are always different between visits to Norway. I think the liked the sweets I had bought them in the UK.

That evening we spent more time at Espen's house and then Monday we were travelling home again (too soon).

Even though we didn't experience too much on this trip, it was all about seeing my friends and their families again and it was great to see them and feel as welcomed as I always have done.

Time to plan the next trip....