Guy Prezzies!

Do you know what to get your man for Christmas? I've managed to get around his birthday all right, but for Christmas, I'm totally blank.

If you're looking for gifts for guys, have a look at Car Guy Garage. Workbenches, storage cabinets, car lifts and bike racks galore, but also personalized garage signs, garage clocks, car decor... Or what about a motorized cooler???

What my hubby's getting? Probably not a garage ice box - he might have put it on his list, though...


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Paris - Day One,

After a (very short) night at a small airport hotel in Oslo, we got up at 4.15 to make our flight to Orly at 6.40.
Everything went smoothly, except that were a few minutes late due to too many people on the plane... They were about to check everyone's passports again when one flight attendant asked if everyone on board was going to Paris. 4 bewildered people got up and left the aircraft - they were going to Copenhagen! So much for airport safety...

At Orly, we caught our bus, and after a short walk, found our hotel. It was only around 11am, and we hadn't expected to be given our room till well after lunch, but after a 5 minute wait our room was ready - a nice, clean room on the top floor, facing the courtyard. The hotel being on the Boulevard Sait-Michel, that was a good thing!
A very quick stretching of the legs - and off to find lunch.

The only problem with that was being able to choose, and at 12.15pm we were settled in a bistro with a view to the Panthéon.
We went for a 3-course menu, it being the first day an'all, and the feeling of that first sip of red was heavenly!

My chosen menu comprised both duck's liver and duck's meat - I love the little birdies when cooked by Frenchmen...



After lunch, with the Panthéon right there, we decided to be tourists, and went inside.

The inscription over the entrance reads something like: To the great men - a grateful people.

And they're all there - Marie & Pierre Curie, Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola; writers, scientists, statesmen - the crypts under the building are open to the public, and you can follow the literary, scientific and political history of France as you wander around...

The Panthéon itself was built to replace the ruined church dedicated to St Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Louis XV vowed he would replace it if he recovered from a serious illness, and when he did, he set off to fulfill his vow in 1758, with the help of the architect Soufflot.
It was only completed in 1789, year of the Revolution, and the Republican Commune decreed that it should no longer be a church, but a mausoleum for the interment of the great men of France.

Twice since has the building been consecrated a church, only to revert to being a temple to the intellectuals of France.


This is the tomb of Voltaire, with the foot of his statue, in the crypt of the Panthéon.

In 1851 Léon Foucault hung his pendulum from the inside of the great dome, to demonstrate the movement of the Earth. Parisians came by the hundreds to look at this "magic". The pendulum still hangs there, and moves sideways 11 degrees per hour... Imagine the suspense!
Foucault's Pendulum - the brass ball you can see to the right.



The great dome, from which the Pendulum hangs... all the way up!

Here endeth today's lesson - after a lovely walk through the Latin Quarter, we toddled off back to our hotel, had a very healthy snooze, and strolled out to have our second 3-course meal of the day at around 7pm. Another lovely one, and back to the hotel we went, where we slept like sleep-deprived babies till the next morning. Bliss!

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Edinburgh For Hogmanay

No sooner have I left Paris, than I start to think about other places to take my hubby away to...
I've been to Edinburgh before - he hasn't. It's a beautiful city, set in a jewel of a landscape. As for things to do - you'd be very unlucky if you didn't stumble upon a festival of some kind - there's a reason why Edinburgh is called the Festival City.




Coming up, of course, is Hogmanay - celebrating the New Year for days on end, with performances, parties, parades and a Torchlight procession, culminating in the Royal Bank Street Party on December 31st. Dress warmly, and bring your party boots!
There are festivals for Children, Books, Film, Science and more - there's even a Politics Festival!
Before Hogmanay though, Edinburgh comes alight to welcome you to it's pre - Christmas events, from November 22 to December 24th.



What we'd love to see is the Military Tattoo in August. Not for the military side of things, but for the skills of the participants and the grandeur of the Tattoo itself.
Where to stay?
Whether you're looking for Cheap Hotels in Edinburgh, or more pricey Hotels in Edinburgh, they're quite easy to come by.
Certainly, if you're planning your visit for one of the Festivals, it's probably a good thing to book early, but Accomodation in Edinburgh is plentiful and varied, both price- and locationwise.

There's more to the area too, of course. In addition to a beautiful, Scottish landscape, there are plenty of historic sites not far from the city, among them Roslyn Chapel, that played a major role in Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code", and has it's very own, very special history and architechture.




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Wordless Wednesday # 30

Notre Dame: Rose Window and Altar

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Bush Wonder

I wonder what George W. and whatsername have done with all their stuff for the last 8 years...
I mean - the White House is bound to be furnished, right? They can't offer a President of the United States a partially furnished appartment - it just wouldn't do. All the trimmings for him and the missus would certainly be there, ready and waiting in the White House.
They must have lived somewhere before, though. Maybe they sold everything in order to pay for the campaign(s)? Mmmm. Probably not. I've heard of idealists, but somehow George W. doesn't strike me as one of those. Anyway, Bush furniture would have been worth lots more after he was first elected (well, at least some time after, once all Al Gore's stuff was sold out), so maybe they sold it then?
Perhaps they kept the old house, so that the First Babes had somewhere to party. They must be getting on now, though, so when Georgie retires next year, he and whatsername will probably need a small, low-maintenance flat somewhere.
In that case - just as well if they've sold everything.
Try the internet, George! It's got... eh... like... everything.

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We're Back!

And we had a lovely, lovely time.

I will post pictures if I can - can't vouch for the quality, since I was reduced to using my cell phone camera. The proper one was left at home, due to Mrs. Teflonbrain.

So, when whoever has my USB cable returns from school, I shall have a look at what I've got, and hopefully share it with you...

For now - let me just say that 4 days without worrying about anything but where to stuff our faces next and sore feet was absolute bliss. It was also great to get home last night, to our little (and not so little) angels.

One fine thing about going away is coming home...

More later.

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Restored Finery, Family History

Walking along Champs-Elysées, gawking at the wondrous displays of all the famous jewellers, I suddenly remembered a lovely pearl necklace I inherited from my grandmother a few years back.
It's twisted, and the lock is shot, but it consists of three rows of beautiful white/pink pearls. It's not (I don't think) in any way priceless, but I've been meaning to have it restrung, cleaned, and issued with a new lock. It will be passed on to one of my (numerous) female offspring, and it's value lay in it's history more than anything else.

Hubby and I put together own loads of things (antiques, jewelry, old photographs etc...) that have been passed down through the generations. We've been meaning to write down the part of each item's history that's known to us, so that our knowledge doesn't disappear when we go, and I think now is a good time to catalog everything.
With computers, digital cameras and memory disks/sticks readily available, a catalog with photos, one for each line (his & mine) is something that can be done with relative ease.

An added incentive is the "your kids, my kids and our kids" issue - we don't want them to fall out over what they're due to inherit from us... At least, they need some help in figuring out which item belons to which family line!

They may not be interested. Still, with a comprehensive list or catalog in various formats, the next generation has a chance of knowing a little more about their roots and where they came from. So have all the generations ahead...

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Bloggers For Peace - November 7th

Have a look at the Peace Globe in my sidebar!
A larger version will be flown full colors on November 7th, for Mimi's Blogblast For Peace. Go get your own Globe and join in!

“I have no idea if world peace is attainable. But aiming for it is.”
-- Stockard Channing

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Wordless Wednesday # 29

Under The Bridges Of Paris With You....

Wordless Wednesday Participants

1. Chris in Oxford 2. Shelia 3. Yen 4. cheh 5. Chris 6. Tiffany Anne

7. Working at Home Mom 8. heather 9. german 10. pips 11. Country Life 12. Country Life

13. Sophia 14. Comedy Plus 15. Dana

Check out the new Wordless Wednesday HQ!!
View More Wordless Wednesday Participants

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

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Off Today

- and I could have done a Wednesday Umpteen list of all the things I have to do...
It seems the passports are the only things that are ready to go - I haven't packed so much as as hankie yet.
Also, I have to sort out our bedroom for the in-laws. I suspect there's a whole herd of dust-rabbit there, just waiting to hide from me, and show their little furry selves as soon as mum-in-law sets foot in there. Must wait for little sleepy-eye to wake up, though, Miracle Boy has been sleeping in lately, bless him.
There's a truckload of clean laundry to sort out, and a couple of loads to wash and hang - I know she'll do it, but I don't really want the baskets to bulge too much when she arrives.
The kitchen floor... With Miracle Boy in the worst throes of "I want to stuff things in my mouth all by myself at mealtimes", the floor looks an feels like it's been sprayed with glue, and has to be cleaned over and over... Luckily, it's tile, so I won't be scrubbing my way through it any time soon.
# 5 Brat's room - no, I'll leave that to her.
Bathroom - was conveniently forgotten by whoever was in charge of cleaning it on Friday (one of the brats, not me for a change), and needs sanitation...
Hoover over the lounge, do some dusting - and then I'm ready to start packing, as soon as everyone has had a hearty, home-cooked meal.
I need a holiday... Oh, yes, I'm going on one!

When I come back, there'll be no laundry anywhere, the windows will be clean, the floors too, the dust-rabbits will have fled and # 5 Brat's room will be fit for a princess. I don't know how she does it - maybe it's the lack of blogging...

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The Big Blue in Blackpool

Blackpool... Ever been there? If you're British, you probably have. If not, your parents and grandparents very likely went there for their holidays - it's been a holidaymaker's paradise "forever", and still is the UK's # 1 holiday resort.
The beach (Pleasure Beach, no less), the sea and the theme park are all in one place.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the adventure and entertainment capital of Britain. Set in 42 acres of grounds with over 145 rides and attractions, it also has many cafes and restaurants, and a capacity in theatres of 7000 seats per day in 3 specatcular shows.


Adjacent to all this, you'll find the Big Blue Hotel. In fact, it's the only on-site hotel at Pleasure Beach.
The Big Blue is also the only new hotel built in Blackpool for 25 years, and the name is self-explanatory. It's not small, and it's blue...
The hotel was recently voted Hotel of the Year at the Blackpool Tourism Awards, of all the Hotels Blackpool has to offer, and has beautifully designed bedrooms with lots of space and a contemporary feel.

For business guests, they offer a separate executive wing with it's own entrance, Club Executive rooms and exclusive use of the Club Lounge.
For leisure guests, there are family rooms, a Gymnasium, a Bar and Restaurant, and of course all the thrills of Pleasure Beach.

For a holiday of sea, sand & fun all in one, certainly a place to take the family to. I'm still saving up for the big one...


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Water

For most of last week, something like 500 000 people in Norway's capital, Oslo, were told to boil their water before drinking it.
Parasites had been discovered, among them the Giardia Parasite, that will make you sick for weeks, sometimes even months, and that's all in all a nasty little critter.

Ok, for the average household, having to boil the water is just an inconvenience. A major one, that ought to be avoided, but still, it's something you can live with for a while. The hospitals and other large institutions are a challenge, though - especially since many of the people there are weakened already.

So - the Civil Guard delivered fresh water to the larger institutions daily, in tanks. For a few days, that worked too.


Oslo has one source of water. One. No alternative pipelines to other sources - just the one lake, and it's an open one. The water is purified and cleansed before it reaches the taps of course, but the pipelines are old and worn, and there are a host of possible sources of contamination along the way.

This time, the contamination was a natural one, and it was treatable. Half a million people in Oslo can now drink water from their taps again.
The Water Boards' routines for testing and information to the public have been straightened out, and everyone agrees that the pipelines should be replaced as soon as possible. (Nothing is said about when. Not much is said about connecting to an alternative source either...)

Water truly is the essence of all life, and it's no longer necessarily a reliable commodity. Even here.

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How About A Facial?

Have a look at this video clip... Doesn't it look heavenly?

Rita Page is an award-winning CIDESCO Diplomat, and in this video, she navigates you through the confusing world of facial care equipment. The video, that has recieved the Silver Telly Award & Silver Davey Award, is designed for professional aestheticians / skin care specialists, but anyone can learn the techniques shown. The video has been featured in magazines such as Medical Spas, Skin Deep, Skin Inc., and Dermascope.

I must confess; I don't know a galvanic current from a rotary brush, but that and much more (as well as the proper Facial Equipment Techniques) is explained in detail by Rita in the video, letting her vast aesthetic knowledge and experience shine through.

At the very least, it makes me want to go and have a facial. A thorough one!

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Paris Trip Update

We're leaving tomorrow!
The plane takes off at a very ungodly hour Thursday morning (06.40 AM), and we have to be there at least an hour before. Since it takes us an hour and a half to get there (2 with parking...), we've booked a hotel room near the airport for tomorrow night. Getting up at 4.30 beats not sleeping at all, and it makes for a slightly less harrowing start to our 4 days away from everything. Yay!

It also means that the in-laws can move in tomorrow night, and don't have to get up long before the crack of dawn on Thursday.
They're house-, baby-, brat-, teen- and beast-sitting, you see, for the duration of our time away. The older kids are very good, and will be taking care of the beasts and themselves, mostly, but the in-laws have their work cut out for them regardless...
We're eternally grateful, and it'll probably be the last time we feel we can ask them to do it - they're getting on, and we can tell that they don't take things in their stride anymore.
They're happy to help, though, and we have backup, both for brats and beasts in case of trouble of any kind, so they'll all be fine, and we can go away without worrying about anything.


I'm really looking forward to it, and hubby will too, once he's put these last few days of work behind him. Work has been a nightmare for him for quite some time, but it looks as if things are loosening up some now, and that he can go away with a load off his shoulders. Makes for a lovely time, for both of us.
Cell phones are a drag, but can be shut off at least sometimes, so he'll hopefully be able to relax.


Paris, here we come!

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A Photo On A Tuesday

We get some lovely sunrises here - this was taken this morning (three minutes ago, in fact), and is by no means as spectacular as the one I've used as a header image for some time, but lovely all the same.

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The Human Touch...

Do you ever wish there were somebody there to ask questions when you browse a website, looking to (maybe) purchase something, or looking for support of some kind?
I have.
Imagine being able to type your question and get an instant answer...

With LiveHuman.com, you can have that kind of service on your site - whether you want to offer your customers a support chat service or a pre-sales information desk.

Your website can come alive in a totally new way, and your customers will certainly be pleasantly surprised.
They will be able to see whether you're online or offline, and can chat with you or your staff at the click of a button.
You will be able to monitor how your customers use your website. Info on their location, referring sites, current page, time on site etc will be available to you.

LiveHuman.com allows you to customize the feature – all chat windows are HTML elements, and this gives the ability to customize it with any HTML element – like animations or small videos clips. This can also contribute to keeping customers on your website.
The pricing is low - probably one of the lowest on the market for such comprehensive software.


The best part? It's very easy to install - 3 simple steps, and you're up and running. Oh, no, that's not the best part... 7 days free trial is the best part!

Have a look at the site, LiveHuman.com, for product comparisons, pricing, screenshots and features details.
To make your website go "live" and interactive, look no further...


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Halloween Header

Look at my beautiful spooky header!
Gattina made it, along with many others, and she's graciously letting us less creative souls use them for free...
So head on over there and decorate your blog for Halloween...

Oh, and while you're there, check out her "Vernissage" post - her paintings are wonderful!

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A Visit From The States

It's finally decided. My Arizona relative is coming over next May, and she'll be staying in Norway for 2 months.
She's welcome to stay with us for 2 months, but I think she's planned a trip up north to see the Midnight Sun, and some extensive visiting of relatives all over Southern Norway.

I'm sure when she bought her bungalow, she could have bought a piece of Arizona luxury real estate, but she had other priorities, like visiting grandkids, traveling, enjoying herself.

She's a great lady, and I can't wait to see her again.

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Eu(Reba)!

How dim can you get?

More appropriately, how dim am I?

I've been wondering if Reba had a human anywhere in the Blogosphere, and today I worked it out.
Imma (Alice) is Reba's human..

I don't quite get how I missed that one...

The almighty umpire has decided that they both shall recieve a ticket for the raffle on november 26th - in honor of visitor # 9000 and my teflon brain.

Congratulations!

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Bad Credit?

There have been times in my life when my credit has been less than great. Luckily, I've never had credit card debt, but sometimes the mortgage alone is enough to smother you...
If you are in that situation, and perhaps have a fistful of those offensive, expensive small loans that amount to a fortune each month, check out Bad Credit Offers.
It's a free consumer resource, dedicated to helping those with a less-than-perfect credit.
They offer help with Credit Repair, Home Loans, Auto Loans and more.
Setting up a new business? Compare Personal Loan Offers here.


Getting more loans is perhaps not a great solution for bad credit problems (unless you have a surefire business opportunity lined up!), but refinancing the ones you've got and getting better interest rates would be a good start. Browse and compare offers, find the deal that's good for you and apply online - it doesn't get any easier.


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Manic Monday # 29 - Frost

Jannagraphics made this banner for Mo and MM!


No frost today - not even a twinge. It's 9 degrees Celcius and cloudy, so no help there for the theme.

I could always dig up an old photo of course, from the winter of 2006 - was that ever frosty!





Meet Frost, a quite well-known Norwegian electronica duo, featuring Frost (Aggie Peterson) and her partner Per Martinsen...


Am I into electronica? No. I know the girl though, or used to when we were kids. Her parents were friends of my parents', and she's 4 days older than my kid brother.
Want more frost? Go see the dotcom!

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Bedroom Spruce-up

Our bedroom is your typical, Nordic, light wood, light walls, light curtains type room. Not in any way offensive, but boring...
It would highly benefit from a makeover, and the furniture is a great place to start.
I've always wanted a sleighbed. They look inviting, and make for a cozy atmosphere all by themselves, with their curvy lines and opulent look. I've never seen them as King Beds before, though.
Queen Beds are fine, and large enough, really, but we've both gotten used to the extra space, and wouldn't want to downsize...

Furniture From Home is well worth a visit, regardless what you're looking for. All their furniture is gorgeous! The site itself is beautifully laid out, and matches their merchandise perfectly.

I'll go back and have another look at that Sleigh Bed now, and see if I can find some lovely pieces of furniture to match it. Somehow I don't think that'll be a problem...

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I Belong In ...

Found this over at Sandee's, and I wasn't going to publish it, but then the result came, and I thought it was rather funny.

You Belong in Paris

Stylish and expressive, you were meant for Paris. The art, the fashion, the wine! Whether you're enjoying the cafe life or a beautiful park... You'll love living in the most chic place on earth.

What City Do You Belong In?

I knew the answer to that - great that Blogthings did too, although based on slighly different criteria...

Off back home in a week's time!!!

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A Virtual Makeover

I've just had my hair done. I'm pleased with it, sort of, but I'm always a little befuddled when the hairdresser asks: What do you want to do with it?
I'm always tempted to answer: Long, dark & curly. I never do - I'm afraid she'll come out with extensions and color charts...
Anyway.
With a membership at Makeover Solutions, even with a free membership, I could have tried out several hairstyles and colors before going to the hairdressers. Definitely one to try next time. At least, I'll have some idea of what I want!
It's quite fun, actually. Even with the free membership, you get to try on every imaginable celebrity hairstyle, loads of makeup colors and more. All you need to do, is register and upload a suitable photo of yourself.
With a paid membership, you get access to even more hairstyles and makeup styles, a cartload of accessories, and you can upload as many photos of yourself (or hubby) as you wish. It's not just for women, you see, you can give your significant other a once-over too, or leave him to play with the site by himself...
You can share your pics too if you want, and get opinions on your makeover(s) on the forums. There are beauty tips galore (you can share yours, if you like), and product reviews too.

All in all, a fun tool, that can do wonders both for the every day look and for that special occasion. Trying out that head of jet black hair before applying the color is sometimes a good idea!
Maybe I will ask for long, dark and curly next time...


This has been a paid post.

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You People Are So Polite!

I've just realized - I've forgotten all about the 8000 visitor raffle ticket that was promised, and now we're going on 9000, without anyone being blessed with one...
I know you've all been frantic with expectation - you should have said...

Anyway. I wasn't here, so I wasn't able to determine who hit the mark. The umpire was called in (me), and it was unanimously decided (one woman, one vote) that Jeni from Down River Drivel was the obvious choice this time. Congratulations - one Raffle Ticket, one!

Why? She actually wants to come over for Lutefisk! She likes it!
We're about to start the season here (the months before Christmas are lutefisk months), and one of these nights, hubby and I are going to be stuffing our faces while the kids have pizzas or tacos.

Jeni, if you can get hold of some, I'll provide you with a step-by-step recipe, for the lutefisk and the trimmings...

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

Raffle draw on November 26th!

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All That Gear

Did you think that all you need to ride a horse is a horse, saddle & helmet? Not so.

Every week, hubby comes home with a new piece of horse riding apparel that seems to be an absolute must.
Each horse needs it's own saddle. Every horseback is different, and the saddle has to be adjusted. There are stirrups, ropes, bridles, scrapes and brushes. All the stuff has to be stored in the barracks we use for a tack room, so there's also need for hooks and other storage gear.

I have a little bit of trouble understanding why we need what seems like a dozen of every item, though. He's so into this, he can bring home a new bridle because it looks nice, even though there are 3 for every horse in the tack room already. Brushes, files, scrapes... you never know when all the old ones break at the same time.

Oh, well. At least our horses don't use either blankets or shoes, so that's two less items to be hoarding...
He enjoys it, though. # 4 Brat too - she's extatic with every new hoofpick that enters the premises...
Oh, well. When hubby's happy, I'm happy. I sit through a western film on DVD with him from time to time,too.
(Luckily, I'm a girl, so I can blog simultaneously!)

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Dark, Darker, Darkest

Every day, a few minutes less daylight.
We only have one outdoor light here, which is far from enough when there are no street lights or neighbours.
A few more light fixtures out there, like one over the entrance door, for example, would make life a lot easier in the months to come. The one lamp we've got is on the corner of the house - it's something, I guess, but far from enough when you step out into absolute darkness!
I've investigated solar lamps too, and as a supplement, they probably function quite nicely.
Something has to be done about it soon. We're getting on, and the old night vision isn't what it used to be...

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Blog Around The World

I found this over at ... And Miles To Go Before We Sleep...

Mel at Monday Morning Power has created this meme. It's a way for us to promote our blogs and share in some link love. Anyone can play along - just remember to follow the rules. Have fun!!!
The meme is based on a recent post that was conducted asking the question “Why do you Blog?” and the rewrite “Why do you Blog? - Reworked.”
The purpose of this meme is to tell our tales by spreading the reasons that we blog to as many sites as possible. We get to explain ourselves, direct traffic to our site and highlight our own favourite post. A positive experience for everyone involved. Create a short advertisement for your site that will be spread across the blogosphere; a growing directory of blogs.


*Start Copy Here*

This is an open meme. You do not have to be tagged to join in. All you have to do is follow the rules.Please let me know when you have added your site by leaving a comment on “Complete List” with a link to your post. This will insure an up-to-date list, giving you even greater distribution. You then have the option of copying the growing list back to your site

Rules:
Create an inventive post title
Write a brief introduction to the meme.
Copy from “**Start Copy Here**” through “**End Copy Here**”
Paste into your post
At the end of the “*list*”, before “**End copy here**”, please add your name, site name (with link), a very brief description (2-3 sentences) of why you blog, and your most important, most representative, or most relevant post (with link.)
Tag at least 5 others to participate.
Leave a comment and a link to your post on “Complete List”

My name is Mel and I am the Author of Attitude, the Ultimate Power, aka Monday Morning Power. I blog because I am passionate about happiness and living in the moment. I want to spread the concept that we are in control of our own lives and can choose how we act and react. My site is focused on the Pursuit, Capture, Care and Feeding of a Positive Mental Attitude. One of my most representative posts is “Happiness Vs. Human Nature.”
I am Max and I offer weekly articles on MAX. Why do I blog? I do it because I want to share my thoughts with you guys. I present a new and interesting way of transmitting philosophical thoughts: funny, engaging and intriguing! My funniest, yet intriguing, post is "Don't you just love People?"
I am the Great and Powerful Baba Doodlius. My 100% factual blog The Thoughts and Sayings Of Baba Doodlius is intended to educate all of you curious readers about the Truth behind the Great Secrets of the Universe. I have the Truth! Can you handle the Truth? For a sample of my powers of enlightenment, read my Revelation of the terrible secret of Bigfoot, aka Don't get stepped on.
My name is Amelia and I am the Author of Amel's Realm. I blog because I need to voice everything in my world so that I won't explode. My site is all about thoughts, experiences, fears, problems, misadventures, hopes, and dreams of an introverted tropical girl in a foreign land (Finland). One of my most representative posts is On Trust and Relationship.
I am Geoff of Geoffandcarley.com and I blog for reasons as diverse and as fickle as my moods. Mostly I blog because I'm firmly convinced I've figured a few things out and that the world will benefit from my experience the same way I've benefited from others' experiences. One post that I feel captures my emotional involvement and my ire (but not my humor as much) is Decision time.
My name is Judy and I am the Author of ~~Sugar Queen's Dream~~. I blog because it's cheap therapy and I have something to say. I feel my most powerful post is called “The Myths of Smoking......”
My name is Sindi and I have written a blog entitled Life is a roller coaster!. My blog is based on the ups and downs of everyday life. I started blogging because I was going through some hard times and I wanted to meet new people to talk to. I like to write and was hoping people might enjoy reading what I have to say. I think the most inspiring post I have written to date is We Effect So Many.
People call me the Midgetmanofsteel (although I’m neither a midget, nor made of steel). I am the sole author the blog Mental Poo: a mostly true and humorous account of things that have happened to me, are happening to me, or are just filling my head and taking up valuable space where images of women should be. You can get a sneak peek into my mess of a brain by reading “Raisins are People” – a true account of my son’s first field trip.
My name is Sandee and I have a blog called Comedy Plus. My blog is just for fun, and I started it to poke fun about everyday life. My reason for blogging is to have fun and meet new friends. I have done both beyond my wildest dreams. I have posted lots of jokes, but when ask what my favorite joke is, I always pick Anger Management.
My name is Lynda. I blog to as a way to expose my writings and to spread my knowledge on the subject of love. My primary blog (I have 15) is lynda's loft. My favorite piece would be I LOVE..... I have over 300 original poems and posts dealing with the wonderful and painful world of love. I love love!
My name Adrian, although most of you probably know me as the Mighty Genie King. I am the author First Time Dad. I started blogging as a way to document my growing up pains as my wife and I raise our daughter. I hope that one day my daughter will be able to look at this and get an idea what life was like "back then". Now I blog about everything but the main focus is still the same! One of my favorite posts is Goodnight Sweetheart! Hello Basil! Eh...Who's Basil...
Hello, my name is Ann and I'm the author of A Nice Place in the Sun. I blog because I care about people and want to make them happy. My site is focused on humorous, inspiring, and nostalgic posts about life, children, and memories. My most representative post, or the post where I'm most myself is "The Craziest Experience Of My Life."
We are a team of writers, and everyone calls us NAFA, so that would be our name. We are the proud authors of NAFASG©™ - United And Dedicated Behind You™. Blogging, to us, is a form of spreading useful information and sharing our knowledge to every part of the world in order to contribute to the betterment of our global community. The post that we feel would be representative of our blog and the global community at large is The Sociological Interaction.
Hola! This is Mariuca and I blog because writing is what makes me whole. I write about anything under the sun from life, love, friends to cats and work. I tend to write best when under pressure and my personal favourite post from Mariuca is Love in Disarray.
My name is Susan and I am the Owner of ~~Wake up America ~~, which is a political, right leaning blog. I blog because I believe we need more voices out there to separate fact from fiction, to support our troops and to high light the lack of ethics from journalists today. I feel my most powerful post is called "Are You Proud to be an American......"
"Here I am :-) My name is Mauro and I'm the author of 1 Million Love Messages ... maybe the biggest love challenge in the blogosphere. Why I blog ??? Because I believe that bloggers can make a difference in the world. That's my challenge! My favourite post it's (for sure) Adam Donkus & Lizzie's Love History."
Hi there World I am Aussie, the author of Little Aussie Cynic and I want to Breathe among others. I was recently asked:"Why Do you Blog?" this takes me back to the beginning... I started blogging in an attempt to get people thinking, using my cynical humour as a tool to make people laugh, think and at times get the blood pumping.... Each of my Blogs takes in a little peice of my varied personality but the one which discribes me best would have to be There is Always a Natural Way the latest edition to the Aussie Cynic Family...
I am Zubli Zainordin, in Total Happiness, I organize the Book Project blog and co-author Santa's Community Blog and Hall Of Fame Blog. I blog with the purpose of documenting about my self for my own reference, my future generations and friends who prefer to know me. I also share vital and valuable information entirely on total happiness. I believe in Santa Claus and I share the Spirit of Christmas within this Blog World. In addition I promote bloggers, their blogs, and invite them to share their blogging experiences, and together with Shinade, I review their blogs and award them with the Zubli and Shinade Recommended Read awards. Those who continuously show continuous blogging improvements shall be residence of the Hall Of Fame blog.
I'm Holly from Mama Pajama. I am a stay-at-home mom to my two year old son, Cameron. He is such a joy in our lives. I just stumbled across blogging after watching a television show. I wish I had found it sooner, as it has been so much fun meeting people all across the globe. It's my own place to share about my family, interests, likes, dislikes, etc. I love that I've found my own little circle of blog buddies that will read the stuff I have to say....as mundane or silly as it might be! LOL It's fun leaving others comments, and knowing that something I post or comment just might make someone smile that day. I'm already having a hard time turning off my computer at night, so I'm hoping to keep this blogging addiction under control. My favorite post so far is Lucky Girl.
I'm Kathleen of Invisible Keepsakes.Well, I blog because if I don't, I'll go mad and get very hard to live with. I need a tableau for my creative endeavours. I write poetry. That is to say, I am a poet. I'm not a great poet; nor am I a deep poet, but I love wordplay and creating images and entertaining people with my ideas and interpretations of events and news and random topics. I've written quite a lot of poems, some have even been published, but I think the one I would have you read is Bad Dawg #7 because I feel so strongly about it.
I am Beth or Skipper - whoever you are most comfortable with, and I author My Life Starts at Forty Two. I am really trying to turn my life and myself around - and become the best me that I can. It is not always easy with family, illness, etc, but I refuse to give up. This is my journal of journey. One of the best posts that I can use to describe me is The Decision.
I am Delirious the creator of Lifeonalimb. I always wished I could have my own little newspaper and write all of the columns myself. But since I probably wouldn't make enough money to pay for the paper to publish it, I decided to go the "free route" instead. I don't think this is my best post, but probably one that most people would enjoy; death-defying Stop in, check it out, leave a comment, then go get therapy.
I am Bridget from "And Miles To Go Before We Sleep" I am a stay at home mom of five young children, ages 1-12, three of which have special needs. Two of my boys are afflicted with Autism so it is a very busy household. I started bogging because our family moves around a lot and we ar very far away from our families and this was a great was to stay in touch with them. I met so many great people through blogging and I enjoyed it so much that I now feel like it's another job (one that I enjoy). My favorite post so far has to be The Old Tree In The Middle Of The Dry Desert.
My name is Winsome Gunning and I am an artist who started blogging about `The Creative Process’ and `The Power of Listening to Silence’ on Winsome Gunning Art Walk. From my own listening to silence came A New Green Earthmy personal voice for green change. About DioxinAbout Simple Ways and A Green Earth are also my voices for green change. On these two blogs I publish contemporary green news from around the world.I am the wily Blogolope, and I blog for fun and to get things off my chest and hopefully be funny.
I created Blogolope because I thought it would be fun, simple as that. Blogolope to Assist Santa, Elves if a funny post. is an example of the issues about which I have felt compelled to write.
Hi, My name is Janice Ng & I'm the miracle mum from "This is a miracle". I started to blog to document the foot steps of my 2 boys : Amos & Zachary. With this blog, they are able to look back what they have been through: their joy, excitement, laughter, fighting, crying, screaming... etc when they grow up. One of my favourite post is "The loving brothers" on how the 2 brothers showed they tenderly care through a piece of strawberry cake!!
My name is Stine, a Norwegian mother of 6, and I blog at Mother's Home!. I have recently created another blog/site, Mother's Got A Dot Com. Why? First, for my own enjoyment. I've gotten to "know" so many lovely people since I started, and blogging has become an addiction (Sound familiar?) Second, I'm continually amazed that I can actually earn a little extra doing what I enjoy so much... I also get to let out some steam sometimes, as in Stage Mums.

**End Copy Here**

I tag the following:
1.Down River Drivel
2.Chicken's Life
3.Just Me...
4.La Place De Cherie
5.My Dogs Keep Me Sane

Have fun!

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My Job

My job is quite varied...
Chef, cleaner, caretaker, laundress are the more obvious job descriptions.
Administrator, logistics engineer, decorator, waitress and maitre d' also come to mind.
As for landscape architect, nurse and vet consultant - yes, sometimes.
Every day, I do a stint as teacher's assistant. I also care for pets and livestock in my spare time. I'm a secretary, creative consultant and carpenter. I run my own complaints department, I'm a trouble-shooter, an all-round mechanic, and I dabble in psychology.
Since I've managed to make everyone around here believe that I know everything, I double as a dictionary too.

If I were to do an employee self evaluation, I think I'd give myself an acceptable score all round, except for the cleaning part. There are limits. Cleaning is so desperately boring, and since the result of any effort in that department only lasts for about 5 minutes around here, it's also a waste of time. Object of procrastination # 1!!!

How do people find time for day jobs?

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Wordless Wednesday # 28

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Cutting Down On Weekly Memes

I'm going to have to cut down on the memes... Thursday Thirteen has become too much - I just can't come up with a witty, fun list of 13 things about my life every week. It's kind of becoming a stress factor, and that's not the idea at all...
Which leaves MM,Heads or Tails, WW and the Photo Hunt. Three in a row at the beginning of the week is a bit steep too, and I've not been a very good participant of Heads or Tails lately. Since it's stuck in the middle on Tuesday, I've decided I have to give that a miss too. So sorry, Skittles!
Both TT and Heads or Tails have been fun, and I think TT was the first meme I ever did, once I figured out what a meme was, LOL! I'm glad that I was there to support Skittles' very own meme too, when she started it. It looks as if it's here to stay, and I'm happy for her!
So - I guess the polite thing to do is to remove the blogrolls and notify the parties in question.
Sad, but there you have it - you can have too much of a good thing...

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Vote For Claire (& Me)

Have a look at Claire's entry to the Visa Gift Card Contest, and vote for her entry! I'm sure it would make a wonderful gift card - imagine, a real hiker's view of the UK mounts & vales!!!
While you're at it, vote for mine too - you know you want to!

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Raving About Stainless Steel

Just brace yourselves, because I'm going to. Rave about stainless steel, that is...
The sheer versatility of it, the fact that it can be used for decorative and useful items both indoors and outdoors, for cooking and decorating, for hanging towels in the bathroom and making your cooker look stylish, makes it a favourite material with me. All you need is a creative designer, and the material does the rest.

The Stainless Steel Store offers a wide selection of useful, decorative and hygienic items, all made of Stainless Steel.

How about a Stainless Steel fire pit for your garden? A Stainless Steel toilet brush & holder, perhaps, or a lemon squeezer, some egg-cups, or maybe a set of Stainless Steel thermo espresso cups?

There are hundreds of items, each more beautiful than the next, a variety of finishes to the material as well as of uses.

Whether you're looking for modern, stylish items for that finishing touch, or practical, down-to-earth ustensils for your kitchen or bathroom, you've got both right here at the Stainless Steel Store. Go browse! There's much more to see and covet...


This has been a sponsored post.

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My New Blog

I'm sort of ready to welcome you all over there now.
Some of you spotted the tiny little post I had a few days ago, and I thank you all for your positive feedback!
I'd love to see more of you there - I'm getting more confident about Wordpress' features every day, and I feel like it's taking shape.
The amount of posting on this blog is almost embarrassing sometimes, so it's great to have another place to unload!
I'd love some links to it too... Poor thing, it's all alone over there...

Howzat for blatant begging!!??

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Less And Less Toys

Going from 4 kids craving toys for Christmas to one (soon to be 2, but Miracle Boy isn't craving much yet...) was quite a transition.

The 4 oldest are quite close in age, and they more or less wanted the same things at one point. One year, for example, the big hit was Remote Control Cars. They were all slobbering over toy catalogues in the weeks before Christmas, and since they'd all been quite good, we mentioned the wish to Santa, and he granted it to all 4 of them.

4 RC cars under the tree. We had no idea what we had done. Winter in these parts is no good for playing with those things outdoors, so for months, we had four humming, buzzing, wheezing contraptions spinning around on the floors between our feet.

The two little ones will soon be there too. We may do it again, we're weak, and we forget... This time around, there'll ony be two of them though, and for that we are truly thankful.

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Busy Evening - Not So Weird Norwegian Food

Yesterday, my kitchen was a slaughterhouse...
We were offered half a moose's backside the other day, and we picked it up yesterday afternoon.
Have you ever seen a thigh off a full-grown moose? It's huge! And the amount of meat on it is staggering.
It had to be cut down to freezer-size portions, and a couple of friends came over to give us a hand. All 48 kgs were hacked and cut, and all the bones removed. The rumpsteak alone was something like 7 kgs! Then, everything had to be packed & labeled, before going into the freezer.
I've still got some offcuts I'll be mincing today, that'll make the most wonderful game meatballs in time...
The rest of it, hopefully, will look something like this when served:


Yummy!

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Looking For A Bargain?

Well, chances are you'll find one at NCNaturals. Their section on Online Coupon Codes is truly comprehensive, and the best part is - you're spared all the intrusive ads you find everywhere else. The layout is simple, so locating the coupons is quick and easy.

All the merchants offering coupons are listed alphabetically - from Adidas coupons to Zappos coupon offers. All you have to do is browse through and find the bargain you're after.

The site is updated daily, and there are offers from hundreds of companies.

If you need a break in your bargain-hunting, be sure to browse the rest of the site. It's dedicated to the beautiful state of North Carolina, and you'll find all about places to see, travel guides, beautiful nature photos as well as a lovely book section.

For a coupon hunt out of the ordinary - NCNaturals is an experience that'll put a smile on your face...


This has been a paid post.

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Manic Monday # 28 - Bat

Mo, you've outdone yourself...
Being the old bat that I am, my thoughts go back to the days when we, a gang of batty females would get together for some loud music, drinks & make-up, in preparation for a night on the town.

Music-wise, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", from Meat Loaf's album "Bat out of Hell" (the first one, came out in 1977) was an absolute must-hear, and boy, did we have it on full blast...

Here are some exerpts from the lyrics, the song being a duet about a couple out on a date:

"Ain't no doubt about it, we were doubly blessed
We were barely seventeen, and we were barely dressed"

The part that pretty much sums up our expectations of men and life at the time - the couple is approaching "third base", and the girl stops the proceedings with this:

"I wanna know right now:
Do you love me
Will you love me forever
Do you need me
Will you never leave me
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life
Will you take me away, will you make me your wife
I wanna know right now!
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever...!

We would all sing along, and cheer as the poor guy gives in and promises to "Love you till the end of time..." Conveniently, we wouldn't bother too much about the lyrics in the last section, that go like this:

"So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
'cause if I got to spend another minute with you I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise
Or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
Praying for the end of time
It's all that I can do!
Praying for the end of time
So I can end my time with you!"

The old bat is now a mother to a new generation of batty females, and can only hope that their expectations change in time, as hers did.

Still, it's a great song.

Manic Monday Participants

1. Gattina 2. Jamie 3. Comedy Plus

4. And Miles to Go... 5. Deb 6. Sophia

7. Mary mert 8. Lisa

Learn more about Manic Monday here.
View More Manic Monday Participants

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

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This One's For Bee!

Bee's off! Here are some cakes to wish her and the Sarge a great trip!!! Pop over and wish her well!

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Romance Is Not Dead

No, I don't think it is. If it were, our race would be extinguished, and there are few signs of that happening...

My most romantic experience was when hubby proposed to me.
We were sitting side by side in the middle of a crowd on a cruise on the Oslo Fjord, and he silenly popped the question in my ear.
Looking at it now, as the sentence above, it doesn't sound very romantic, but it was. There was no getting down on knees with a ring, no great show in front of everyone, just that quiet, intense moment between just the two of us.
I didn't need to think about it...

Since then, there are red roses now and then, sweet words pass between us, and we both try to make the other's life as good as possible. The odd tête-à-tête dinner, some time to ourselves, but also the good times with all the kids can be romantic, in an odd sort of way! It's us, it's our life, and we're not going to let romance die.

As for Romance Novels, they can be a great supplement, can't they? I think so. I read anything, including Romance Novels, and I live the story as it unfolds before my eyes - always have done. To me, that's the beauty of litterature. You get to live another life for a moment, and perhaps the story can enrich your life in some way, teach you something that you can put to use in your own life.

Fill your heads with romance! It may make the world a better place. Mills & Boon is a good place to start.

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Photo Hunt # 24 - Smelly

The smelliest thing in my life just now!


More on the PhotoHunt!

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A Globetrotter's LogBook

Remember pen & paper? You know, those things we used to have in the prehistoric days before blogging took over...

Perhaps it's time to rediscover them, at least for travelers.

The Globetrotter's LogBook® #1 - Countries of the World is just the thing for everyone that loves traveling.
It's got loads of info on the world's current 193 countries (with room for entry and souvenir stamps!),sections for registering flights and vaccinations, and plenty of space for your own notes. In Appendixes, there's a World map, a time zone map, conversion tables for various measurements, and a list of interesting websites, among many other things. (In case you just have to bring that laptop along...)

You can leaf through it here, and discover why it's a must-have for any Globetrotter, passionate traveler or newbie backpacker.

It's full of relevant info and it looks like a practical travel companion. Do remember to bring a pen along, won't you!!


This has been a paid post.

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Our Birthday Season Is Coming Up

Yes, we have one.
Out of 8 family members, 6 have their birthdays in October and November. Luckily, they mostly come in clusters, so I get away with 3 parties...
The first one is on Sunday, with Hubby & # 2 Brat on one day. Then, there's # 3 Brat on November 14th, and # 5 Brat, myself and # 4 Brat within 4 days from November 25th to 28th.
That's 3 family gatherings of around 20 people within a month and a half. It's hard work, but a very nice tradition.
I can feel a lutefisk dinner coming on...

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Plush

Over the years, with 6 children, we've got more than our fair share of plush animals in this household.
They come from all over - grandparents, friends, fairground lotteries... Some of them are very well made, some are pure rubbish, and I have to confess that I've smuggled quite a few of the latter out with the trash over the years.

Kids love'em, though, and as ours have grown older, they've all put up a special shelf dedicated to their all time favorites in their rooms.

The quality ones survive the generations.


This fluffy, furry post was sponsored.

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Weird Scandinavian Food

Honest John's Pizza & Wings
will be offering pickled herring pizza the week of the festival.
Slices will be offered during the Festival.
This is a rare opportunity to really be Scandinavian!


While googling Swedish Meatballs, I came across this. With the caption you see above. I thought it deserved a mention in my "weird Norwegian food" section - now with an all new subsection for Scandinavian food!

I somehow doubt you'll find a Scandinavian who's ever heard of it...

The Festival was in July, but for next years' helpings of Pickled Herring Pizza, you'll know where to go...

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A Photo Phor Phriday

Meet the new addition to the phamily, Border Collie puppy Luke.
It's a she.
Somehow the name stuck.
If anyone can come up with a better one, we'll consider it, but it'll have to go by # 4 Brat, who's the reason why Luke stuck...
Thing is, we keep referring to her as "him"!

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The Young And The Beautiful

Have a look at the photos on the Samsung G600 site! Those Queue Jumpers all look fab, and all the photos have been shot with a Samsung G600. That phone camera has more going for it than my digital camera has...

They call it the image conscious phone, and it certainly takes great photos. While you're there, check out the other features it offers too!

If you're looking for a stylish place to spend your evening, there's also the top 30 clubs in the UK. Some fabulous places!

Before you leave the site, be sure to Vote for Queue Jumpers with The Samsung G600 5 Mega Pixel Camera Phone. When you've done that, you can run out and buy yourself a new phone. Or ask Santa for one.


This was a paid post.

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Exotic Day Trip

I'm going abroad this afternoon.
All the way to Sweden...
Now, that may sound exotic to some of you, but from where I live, it's a 40 minute drive, and we go there sometimes to do some serious grocery shopping.
The prices are quite a bit lower than in this country, and the shopping centers near the border also put their prices down further, to attract Norwegian customers.
There's also the added attraction of a much better choice, and with a huge family of food buffs, we like to go and fill up the larder from time to time.

Yes, we will be getting Swedish meatballs - the kind most of you lot have to go to IKEA to get... (Ive noticed some serious slobbering when I've mentioned those in the past!)
Booze is cheaper over there too, but we won't bother with that today, we've got enough here to drown a wedding party.

So - I guess you've learned something again today: when in Norway, stay close to the border, and go to Sweden to buy your booze. Or come and see me, and we'll make a night of it.

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Snow?

All over Norwegian papers and news sites yesterday was the forecast for snow in Southern Norway.

- Get your tyres changed now!
- Winter's coming in the South!
- Snow chaos in Oslo!

I don't know what Oslo is like today, but it's raining here.
No need to put that North Face jacket on just yet, although we've had a few very nippy mornings lately.

A change of car tyres soon is probably a good idea - summer tyres on snow is lethal. The problem is that everybody doesn't change in time, so those lethal drivers may still be out there for some time after the first snow has fallen.

I'd rather have some cold, crisp, sunny days - the rain, sleet and snow can keep as far as I'm concerned. In that context, cold is good! Especially when accompanied by sunshine.

Every day that passes brings us closer to spring...


This weather report was sponsored.

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2 Weeks To Go

I've hardly thought about it for a long time, but looking at the calendar today, it hit me: we're in Paris in 2 weeks' time!
Hubby's got a new passport, and all we need is to sort out the home front logistics before we go - it seems that all the kids have had things scheduled for just that weekend lately, so the in-laws will have their work cut out for them.
One (very detailed) list to be put up on fridge by yours truly.
Must get kids to give me details first. Sounds easy, but it's not...

"I've lost the paper""Not sure, I'll ask tomorrow""Forgot to ask""I think it's the 26th - could be the 27th too""Get OFF my case!!!"

Get the picture?
No, they're all right, really. They're not used to us being away, and we're usually able to take them places at short notice, so they've not had to plan ahead much. Father-in-law is a dear, but needs to have his details planned in detail in plenty of time...

It'll be OK, though.

As for us, we'll have a grand old time, and we'll enjoy every minute. Cell phones are a drawback, but there you go, can't be helped.
Two weeks still, and that's just as well, I need to spruce this place up a bit before my whirlwind mother-in-law moves in.

We used to have a commercial for Ajax detergeant - "Cleans like a white tornado". That's her. She's a dear.

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Mother's Got A Dot Com

OK, you can go and have a look now. Here. It's very much a work in progress, but I can see it taking shape, and I hope I'll feel as much at home there as I've done here. In time.

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Luggage Trouble

There's just too many of us...
No, we're actually just the right number of people for a family this size.
It's just that every time we're all going further than to the mailbox, I have to put my logistics head on. If we're all bringing more than a toothbrush, every spare cubic centimeter in the car has to be used, and everyone's luggage is restricted to a minimum.
Since we are the proud owners of one of those luggage box thingys you can put on the roof, what seems to be the problem?
We need a truck rack for the roof of the car...
We forget! Every time we need extra luggage space, we go: oooh, yes, that's what we needed to do, but there's no time now, we'll have to work around it... We do, and we manage, and we forget. Until the next time...
Actually, I don't really mind. It teaches everyone to travel light.
It also saves me quite a bit of laundry when we get home!


This inspired personal post was sponsored.

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A Viral Link List

Guess what? This blog's Technorati authority is down by 80 or so in about 3 weeks, and it ticks me off.

I know that viral linking works, it's probably the reason why I'm not down by 200, so I'm publishing this backlink list.
Below is a list of blogs that have linked to me in the last month or so, plus a few associated with the first viral list I published. The ones who didn't link back are taken off the list - sorry...

The idea is to reciprocate, first and foremost. The hope is that the people on the list grab it and ask their blogging friends to do the same and pass it on. Whenever I spot a new link to this blog, I will find a way to link back. If everyone does the same, the viral chain is on the move again.

If you think this list is too long, feel free to make your own list of blogs that have linked to you (or make up your own criteria for linking to blogs) - most of them will pick it up, and some of them will publish the list and add their friends and family... who'll publish the list, and add... etc... etc...

The important thing is to keep the viral linking alive!

Not on the list? Copy it, add yourself and a paragraph about viral link love, and publish. Something good is bound to come out of it!

(Bloggerbloggers: Paste it in "compose", Wordpressbloggers in "visual" - saves a lot of work, and keeps the links live...)




One Man’s Goal - Ryan Shamus - The Dragon Project - I Am Facing Millions - Norwegian Photo Blog - Etienne Teo - Cariboo Ponderer - I Hate Your Job - Life Snippets - Mouseski - Mother's Home! - Blogging Mix - A Blog About Nothing - Jaycees Desires - Chessnoid - DCR Blogs - Muffin 53 - Chicken's Life - Skittles' Place - The Buzz Queen - A Little Piece Of Me - Comedy Plus - Adsense Tips - Escape Job Hell - Missylicious - Secretalife - Internet Marketing Mind - Misdo Link Love - Make Money Online - Home With Heather - Marketing Experiment - Untwisted Vortex -All Things About - ..And Miles To Go Before We Sleep.. - How To Get Traffic On Blogs - Tech For Novices - Grow Rich Along With Me - Carver's Sight or is that Site - Time Out - ZIFF - Blogolope - Life In Vegas - Patrick On Music - Places Remembered And Imagined - The Last Page On The Net - alilsumptinsumptin - The Professional Assistant - Mother's Got a Dot Com - Down River Drivel - Kaschim & Othello - My Dogs Keep me Sane - Mao's Mews - Life From A Cat's Perspective - Life's Dayly - Perfectly Parker - La Place De Cherie - Kids, Cats & Books - Mumblings - Pablog - Kellie The Orange Cat - Darling Millie - The Cat Realm - I Am Henry, King Of Downing Street - Fab Fivez Catz Ad-Vice - Confessions Of A Fat Chick - Faz The Cat - Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady - Blur Ting - Spiff The Spaceman - Duward Discussion - This Is A Miracle... - La Chanson De Phoenix - It's a Blog Eat Blog World - I Was Born 2 Cre8 - Mariuca - Bleeding Espresso - Max - Eleanorblog - Work Of The Poet - First Time Dad

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Poker - Need Some Gear?

In my ehm.. tender youth, I used to play poker.
We played for pennies, and we never won nor lost more than one or two dollars worth, but it was fun, and we used to keep it up into the wee hours of morning.
Now, if I'd had the space for it, I would have liked a games room. With, of course, Card Tables. Two would be ideal.
Complete with comfy matching chairs, loads of chips (I'm not bothered about playing for cash, but one has to have chips!!!) and perhaps a piano man in the corner for the players to shoot at.
(I think I got carried away there...)
And a bar.
Come to think of it, I've played Canasta too, and all sorts of card games - all of which fit very nicely around those pretty tables.

Cardroom Supply can help if you've got the space and the inclination.
You'll find tables in every style here, made from various types of wood, in various sizes, all with chairs to match their style.
There are also some very attractive dining tables that double as Poker tables, and tables you can fold away when not in use, so in actual fact, you can use the space you've got...

If you're really serious about the game, there's accessories too. Tournament timers, chips racks and cases, all you need for a fun night in!
(Don't forget to get playing cards...)


This post was sponsored. I fold.

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Wordless Wednesday # 27

Bronze Age Rock Carvings - Norway

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Not Very Sociable

I haven't been a good blogger today, and I'm sorry.
Hubby & I have been off to help my uncle sort out my aunt's grave today - the new headstone to replace the two old ones has finally arrived, and it's beautiful.
It's in the form of an open book, and my mother & uncle, who died in 1955 and 1967 have got their names on the left page, while my aunt, who died this year, has hers on the right page.
It's lovely, and we made a new flowerbed around it, planted some (hardy) flowers, and covered the rest with spruce.
The finality of it all is sad, though, and I always get a little melancholy whenever I'm there.
We ate out on the way home, which lifted my spirits some - the kids were sorted out with pizzas at home, so we were free to dine on our twosome... Always very nice!
The kids had also sorted out the beasts and the two youngest, so all we had to do was to get them to bed and put our feet up.
Our feet are officially up now - a little blogging doesn't count, does it???

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A Confession

I'll tell it like it is.
I don't have a clue about accounting.
So when told to blog about financial reporting software, my mind returns a big, white blank, with no hope of any content whatsoever.
OK - I think I know what a red number is (not so good), and I've learnt through personal experience (sigh!) that overspending is a bad idea.
(I wish someone would tell me how to achieve overearning).
In that light, maybe I need some of that software. If put to proper use, it could perhaps show me those red numbers at the end of the month...


Content-rich and sponsored.

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Heads or Tails - Explorer

Brought to you by Skittles





My little explorer...





Let out to explore the world...





Such a big world, so little time...

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Do You Know An Olympian?

Maybe you want to be one yourself?
For the 2008 Olympic Games, the torch of the Olympic Spirit will be relayed all the way to Beijing in time for the Games.
Samsung, as proud sponsors of the relay, need your help.
They're looking for local heroes in the UK, people who have overcome adversity to achieve a better life, people who have helped others do the same - a local hero could be many things. You get to nominate whoever you think deserves the honour.
Perhaps you're the one, perhaps you know someone who would be just the right person to relay that Olympic Spirit.

It's up to you to Nominate torchbearers for the historic Torch Relay to theBeijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The most important criteria are that they must be over 14 years of age, UK residents, and be able to run 400 meters carrying the torch.

A once-in-a- lifetime opportunity - nominate today!


This has been a paid post.

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Your Votes, Please...

Here's your chance to have a genuine Stine on your Christmas Gift Cards...




Would you believe - I designed this gift card for Visa (now doesn't that sound grand...), and it's now quite well ranked, even if I've done nothing to promote it. So... I thought I'd ask for your votes & see what happens.You can vote right here!



And... you can make your own, too, and enter the contest.
Just make sure you vote for mine first!!!

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Looking For Manic Monday???

It's down there - hit the scroll button, why don't you...

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Disclosure Policy

1. Some posts on this blog are sponsored. In most of these, that fact will be disclosed within the post.
2. In some (rare) cases, I will accept opportunities where advertisers require that sponsorship is not disclosed within the text. It will, however, be disclosed in the labels of the post.
3. Some posts include one contextual link.
Some links are sponsored, some are not. However, they're just links, not product endorsements, and as such, whether or not they're sponsored is irrelevant.
4. I will strive to keep all sponsored posts neutral and informative, and any opinion expressed will be my own.
5. I'm sure you're able to determine which posts are sponsored and which ones are not. If you even care, that is...

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Relative Update.

My designer drug addicted relative has now been accepted in a drug rehabilitation program. I hope she commits to it, and I hope it's a good one. I don't know a lot about the various methods, so all I can do is hope.
I guess that's all anyone can do, as well as try to muster some kind of trust, or, failing that, at least some support when she gets out of there.
She's got two lovely children who need their mother, they're hoping too.
She didn't start on that bumpy road until after they were born, and she was well into her 20es (I know, how stupid can you get???), so at least they don't have any congenital addiction problems.
Luckily, they also have a father who cares well for them, and other relatives who love them dearly.



The contextual link in this post is sponsored.
Proceeds will be donated to a relevant charity locally.

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8000 Came & Went...

Am I getting complaicent? I hope not, but the 8000 visitor mark passed me by while I was away...
As I don't feel like counting all the way back to try & work out who hit the mark, I will give out a raffle ticket to a (not quite) random commenter today or tomorrow...
Comment on any post, I'll get hold of the omnipotent umpire (me) and together we'll find a worthy one.
Also, my age still haven't been guessed correctly - raffle ends on November 26th, that's my birthday, but how old will I be?

Hints: my age is dividable by 11. The last 2 digits of my year of birth is dividable by 21. Think of JFK. Now, if you don't get it, I'll have you all committed.

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Hmm.. Sorry, Vegas!

In a previous post about Las Vegas, I asked if there are any locals there.
There have been no reactions to this question, but I now have reason to believe that there are, in fact, local people living in Las Vegas.
Why, you ask, this sudden insight?
This is a post where the following is to be included: Las Vegas homes for sale.
If you go and have a look at the site, you'll see that they indeed have Las Vegas homes for sale.
I take that as proof that people at least (prior to selling their homes) have been living there in the past, and as an indication that some people may be living there still.
Not bad homes, either...


This bewildered post was sponsored.

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Whoaaa, haa, haa!

I'm touched, grateful and awed at the faith bestowed upon me... (See the comments to this post). I must confess, though, that after setting up the dotcom and posting a couple of preliminaries, I've hardly been there... The very thought of doing say, a MM with all the loadings of pics and links is daunting. My head needs a rest before I make a serious attempt at a serious blog post...

As for the step-by-step instructions...

Don't ask how I did it, I've been to every help page known to BlueHost. (I'm also an honorary member of the STMS - Short-Term Memory Society). All I can say is that I finally managed to load Wordpress (via something called Fantastico) into my account, and that it somehow worked. I also located the File Manager, and somehow uploaded a couple of templates, one of which didn't function.
BlueHost has so many perks and extras, I'll be busy for the rest of my life, but for the moment, I'm kinda resting on my laurels, gathering strength for the next battle...

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Marvelous Linguistics

Being foreign, I sometimes get these weird associations when it comes to words and phrases in English...
Take commercial collection agency for example - my first thought was: what a wonderful idea! An agency that helps you find whatever you're collecting! Commercial, but that's OK, you'd expect to pay for it, wouldn't you?

I was slightly off the mark. I went to have a look at the site, and blushed... In case you're a wog like me, it's actually an agency that helps you collect your money from reticent debtors.
Live and learn...


This educational post was sponsored.

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Manic Monday # 27 - Tracks

Thanks to Mo, I bring you another must-do from Norway, the railroad journey from Oslo to Bergen - Bergensbanen, or Bergen Track.

The tracks were laid along a route recommended by arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen , who went over the mountains on skis to find the most appropriate route for the railroad.



The mountain plateau of Hardangervidda was by no means ideal, neither for the actual building of the railroad, nor for the running of it, especially in winter. Keeping the tracks open was, and still is, a challenge.


The tracks were built simultaneously East/West and West/East, and were joined together at Ustaoset during this ceremony in 1907.

King Haakon VII officially opened the tracks on November 27, 1909, at Voss Station.

The tracks were then 493 kms long, and sported 182 tunnels! It had cost the equivalent of 1 National Budget of 1909, and these are some of the guys who built it.



Finse Station, 1222 meters above sea level, is the highest station along the way, and the journey itself is the highest above sea level that connects two cities in Europe.











Now - don't you just feel you've learnt something today???
Seriously: It's a beautiful train journey, it's just a fraction of the length of the Transsibirian (6,5 hours), and I recommend it to anyone who comes here. Or you can just enjoy these pictures...

MM fall graphics by Jannagraphics!

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Car Insurance? Go Compare!

# 1 Brat is in the process of getting her driver's licence. When she does, the next likely step will be to buy an old banger with her hard earned savings, and become a road menace (statistically...).
When that day comes, she'll need a car insurance, and she'll very likely be shopping for the cheapest one she can find. In this country, that means getting a quote from every company, usually to find that they've added this and that to the end price when the bill arrives. Since she is a statistical road menace of 18, it won't be cheap...
In the UK, youngsters with a newly issued licence probably also have to pay more for their car insurance, but they can get quotes and compare prices at gocompare.com.
They don't have to visit each site, since they can compare leading insurance companies from one site, that specializes in just that.
Gocompare are independent insurance comparison specialists, not insurance brokers, and their service is absolutely free.
Whether you're a young driver or a more seasoned one, you'll be able to compare quotes here.
Perhaps you're not after the cheapest insurance, but the most comprehensive one? Their five star rating system makes it easy to find the right insurance for your needs.
Oh - and they don't change the prices. The quotes you get from gocompare.com are the same as if you go directly to the insurance companies.

You can also get quote comparisons for home insurance, motorbike insurance, van insurance and breakdown cover.


This has been a paid post.

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Mountain Picnic

As promised, pictures from our picnic near the babbling brook.
# 6, # 5, # 4 Brats, and puppy, having a great time in the icy water...
Thought I'd managed to take pictures without the car, but as you can probably see, we didn't walk very far....

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Slow Down...

Go Slow... even out here in the back of beyond, we have to remind ourselves of the reason why we moved out here. We're in luck in some respects - there's no cell coverage, so if we can't hear our landline, we're cut off. That helps with the slowing down, I can tell you!
Perhaps dressing the part and heading for the beach (in our case, the nearest Water World, ha, ha!) might do the trick, too...
Somewhere out there is a Mad Gringo who believes that hawaiian shirts and sarongs can put you in the mood for a change of pace.
Maybe he's right. If I had this beautiful sarong to wear, I would probably be looking for a place to use it - and a quiet sandy beach, preferably with a daiquiri in one hand and a book in the other, would come to mind. It would definitely put me in a Go Slow frame of mind...

If you're on your way to slowing down - permanently or just for a while - and really want to look the part, you should check out the Mad Gringo. Fun Tees, Hawaiian shirts, pareos and sarongs, as well as a fun insight into the Go Slow mentality - the site puts you in that holiday spirit!


This was a paid post.

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No Photo Hunt, But...

This was the picture I took for yesterday's Photo Hunt Theme - Curvy. I missed the PH, but I thought I'd show it to you anyway.
We've just spent a few days alongside this beautiful, curvy river.

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We're Back!

We came back late last night, having spent most of the day at a local fair/market. You know - complete with local farm produce, crafts, food from the barbecue, and, being in Norway - waffles.
I do enjoy coming to our little cabin in the mountains, and so do the kids, so we're not in the market for an Orlando rental home any time soon.
The weather was beautiful for most of our stay. On Friday, we went off to have a picnic high up in the mountains, which we all enjoyed immensely. Sun, fresh air, babbling brook, happy kids who got their boots wet... Photos to come, as soon as I've transferred them...


This was a sponsored, personal post.

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Autumn Break!

I'm taking half the family off to the mountains today. A little time away won't harm any of us. Hubby's working, that can't be helped, but since the kids are on a week's break from school, I can get off and put some heating on in our little cabin, and get things ready for the winter.

So... No WW today, no TT tomorrow - I may get to do the Photo Hunt on Saturday, but it won't be an early one this time. Perhaps I find a good motif for the theme while I'm away...
Will publish a new viral list when I'm back, too - lots of fresh links to include, once I've extracted them from Technorati!

Have a great rest of the week everyone - see ya!

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Yes! Yes! Yes!

Finally! I've managed to set up my dotcom, complete with Wordpress and a template to start with.
It's taken most of the morning, and my head's done in, so I've still got all the default posts/comments & stuff on there... Haven't even given it a name yet.
More on that soon!

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Does Real Life Come Into It?

Las Vegas. I can understand the attraction, up to a point. When it comes to getting away from it all, Las Vegas must be the place on Earth furthest from just about everyone's Real Life...
The gambling, the shows, the concerts - it's all probably wonderful and overwhelming, but not really my thing.
As for the hotels; many of them have everything in-house. At the Imperial Palace Las Vegas, for example, you'll find restaurants, a huge casino, bars, dry-cleaning, a medical center, a pool, it's own Concert Hall and a Classic Automobile collection... For starters.
There's in-house shopping as well, of course.

The locals (are there locals?) will probably tell me that there's more to Vegas. I hope so.
That said, if I were ever in the area, I might just pop by, just to have experienced it...
For getting away from it all in a big way, Vegas might just do the trick!


This post was sponsored, but the slot machine ate it all...

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A September Update

A new month, with new possibilities - and a recap of the last one...
Incomewise, I reached both goals this month - first, getting the all time income to 4 figures, and second, reaching 300$ for the month.
I made 312$!
So I'm happy.
The main chunk comes from PPP - 177$. Adsense contributed with 2,02$ in September, so it's not totally dead, but almost.
Bloggerwave and Sponsored Reviews rarely have anything to offer, I still haven't made a cent with Loudlaunch (their campaigns are so weird...), and Smorty - well, I seem to miss the opps, or else you need to be dotcom to accept.
The best bets for me, besides PPP, have been PayU2Blog and Blogsvertise. ReviewMe have come up with the odd assignment too, but their new policy does nothing for me - it's probably great for the big blogger names, though.

Rank, now: Technorati started out well - viral linking almost got me upwards the top 10k, but then their 6 month policy somehow kicked in (started blogging in January, and probably started getting a few links in around March), and both rank and authority began dropping. Yesterday, I was down to 15800... No top 10k anytime soon! Depressing. Just keep linking in, folks, I'll link back and all.
Google hasn't been here yet - anyone else seen their 'bot? One can always hope for a (small) jump in PR...
Alexa is stable. Since they rate you on the percentage of total 'net activity that comes to your blog, I probably can't expect anything significant there until hell freezes over and pigs fly.
Never mind - I'm enjoying myself anyway...

Next goal? $2k before Christmas.

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Home, Sweet Home

We built this house and moved in 4 years ago, and spent quite a bit of money in the process.
It soon turned out that we've got a fine bit of real estate here. We had it assessed son after we moved in, and were told that the value would be about double of what we spent building it.
Now, that's all down to the market, of course, and as long as we're not planning to sell up and move, it's of no consequence.
Still, it's nice to know, and we've always got that as leverage with the bank, in case we decide to shop for better interest rates, or need a loan to build stables or something. (We soon will).
It's also good for the kids - or will be, when we one day throw in the proverbial towel. They may not be able to take over, but a sale will bring a nice chunk of pocket money to each of them, even though there are 6 of them.

Neither of us are financial whiz'es, but it's good to know that we've done something right with regard to posterity...

This post was sponsored. A girl's gotta eat, too.

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Manic Monday # 26 - Orange

For orange, I thought I'd tell you about one of our local industial success stories, Helly Hansen. Why that popped up for orange? To the average Norwegian, Helly Hansen (based in our neighbouring town, Moss), is synonymous with life jackets and rain gear. When I grew up, that meant orange! I managed to get these three HH items together within seconds - rain gear, forest gear, life jacket...
Helly Hansen is well known these days for it's sports wear (they make street wear too!) that's sold all over the world. All of it is no longer manufactured here in Moss, but this is where it started. They still have a thriving factory locally.

A little bit of history:
Helly Juell Hansen began in 1877 with his first oilskin waterproof jackets. He had been at sea since the age of 15. Now 35 and a captain, he knew how it felt to be soaked to the skin, cold and miserable. Helly and his wife Maren Margrethe got hold of a stock of coarse linen and linseed oil. They designed and sewed jackets, trousers and south'wester hats for ocean use. They then applied oil to the garments and dried them before an open fire.
It was an instant success - they sold 2000 items the first year!
They won a diploma for excellence at the Paris Exposition in 1878, and the brand name has evolved ever since.

Orange, part 2:

This is a bonus picture that I took yesterday, while despairing to find anything for orange. Sun & rain gave this...
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet...

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