Island life

Woken by a cute little four year old who climbed into bed with us, I found myself smiling at the thought of my first day in Norway.

When I eventually got up a couple of lazy hours later, it was to a world of white. Not snow but some pretty intense frost that was cm thick in places. Just like a picture postcard, the conifers were nicely frosted and the ponds happily frozen.

After a lazy morning, my sister Erin and I headed to the islands down south where we were to stay with her first host family, father Knut and wife R. We walked to the bus station (I was carrying 3 bags and so had to keep one hand out of my pockets at all times supporting one of them. So i was stuck constantly switching the bag between each hand as the fingers on the one clasping it were reaching temperatures not heard of since my Ice Age 2 DVD was left in the freezer for 2 weeks next to the leaky mince meat. Ahh, those were cold, dark days indeed).

We arrived safely in time for the usual light show common to these parts. Only nobody told the Norweigans and some idiot hit the main switch and killed the lights when it was only around 3pm! And they've been doing it ever since too! I plan on missioning it tomorrow to see if I can find who's behind this fiasco!

So cause there were no lights, we decided to go out instead. And luckily for us there was a private church service on which we were lucky enough to be invited along to. Watching my sister get dressed for it I was left noticing how the best dressed I could get was to make sure the odour emitted from my underarms wasn't life threatening and that my pant zipper was up! Then boots on and scratching the remains of lunches spilt milk off my jeans and we were set to go.

The church ceremony was held at what is arguably the oldest church in Norway (over 1000 years). Came with an old guy in a suit who could bring tears to the eyes with his singing and another guy at a piano who rivaled mozart. I even caught myself humming along to a few of the songs a couple of times (quickly put an end to this however before I emptied the whole place!) The church was also beautifully made. Simple but elegant. It was a true, authentic feeling church with little in the way of gold and statues etc. Lutheran or something I think.

We were led through a song or two, a fairy tale (little matchstick girl) and then taught a little of the history of the church and then it was time for gingerbread biscuits, doughnuts and coffee. Erin and I also posed for a snap to go in the local paper here. Ahhh, India all over again.

I left feeling happily content but also wondering if they purposely make church seats uncomfortable so that you don't fall asleep mid session..?