The last book reviewed for now in the category of books released for Haakon and Mette-Marit’s 10th anniversary is this book: Haakon og Mette-Marit i 10 år, by Liv Berit Tessem. Unlike the other two books, this one is chronological. It has one chapter for each of the ten years they have been married. I… Continue reading Book review: Haakon og Mette-Marit i 10 år
National Day of Mourning
21. August will be a National memorial in Norway. There will be an arrangement later today. The song below is another of those songs that have really been the “soundtrack” so to speak, for getting through this tragedy. It was written as an ironic approach to the European Union referendum in Norway in the 90s,… Continue reading National Day of Mourning
Chocolate Dump Cake
Every now and then, I need an easy thing to throw together for unexpected visitors. This time, it was a friend of mine who is getting her PHD in Vienna, who is home for a brief time this summer. I had been offered dinner at my parents before she was due to arrive, and so… Continue reading Chocolate Dump Cake
Book review: Mette-Marit – Prinsesse av folket
As I said in my review the other day – there have been three books released to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Haakon and Mette-Marit’s marriage. This is the second one I’m reviewing. It is called Mette-Marit: Prinsesse av folket. En illustrert feiring av Norges kronprinspar, (Translation: Mette-Marit, Princess of the people. An illustrated celebration… Continue reading Book review: Mette-Marit – Prinsesse av folket
Book review: 10 år med Kronprinsparet
This August, ten years have passed since Crown Prince Haakon married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in Oslo Cathedral. A slew of books (okay, three, so far) are coming out, two television specials are coming later this month, and the couple are also being interviewed left and right about the past ten years, and their causes. The… Continue reading Book review: 10 år med Kronprinsparet
Norwegian elections
Even though the Norwegian election campaigning has been postponed by the Utøya shootings, I have still managed to vote as the election itself is going normally. Election day is September 12, but they open up for distance voting a fair bit before that. And this year, they’re also experimenting. 10 municipalities in Norway are offering… Continue reading Norwegian elections
Life has begun to return to normal
Albeit slowly. It was a shock the first time I turned on the television after the attacks at Utøya and in Oslo 22. July – and noticed that the programme did not cover those attacks. I think it was the Wednesday after. Life goes on, even for the television channels, who emptied all their programming… Continue reading Life has begun to return to normal
Til Ungdommen
This is probably the song that has been used the most in memorials across the country. It is written by Nordahl Grieg in 1936.
Why dementia is extra bad in these situations
My grandmother has dementia. It runs in the family. Her mother had it. Her mother’s father, allegedly, had it. (I’m choosing to take the positive here that my grandmother didn’t start getting bad at remembering things until she was 86.)