The last days of April

MONDAY 27 April - SUNDAY 3 May:

Well, more like the past week actually. Here's a quick summary:

SICK: I've had the cold for over a week now. Still feeling tired, coughing, sneezing & still got the snivels, though I must say the absolute worst part is feeling as though all energy has been drained. But, can't keep using the cold as an excuse to not do what I should, and that's studying. Especially since the cold hasen't prevented me from doing other stuff I want and like to do. Now, get to it!

I ALMOST SHOOK HANDS WITH THE KING(!!!): courtesy of my ex-roomie & fun-loving friend, Jeni D! "Why?" you might ask - the story goes like this:

Jeni's been working as an intern at the Canadian Embassy here in Oslo since last October, and this week the Embassy hosted the official visit from the Canada's Govenor General, Michaëlle Jean and her husband. They were visiting Norway in connection with a conference in Tromsø on artic matters. Well, Tuesday morning they met with the King and Queen at the castle, and embassy staff had been issued invitations to attend the welcoming ceremony on Slottsplassen - and they could bring guests! So lucky me, I got an invitation from Jeni (thank you, darling!). So ca 10am tin the morning we we're ready to view the official visit, and probably for the first and last time in my life, I'd be standing on the grounds by just outside the castle, on the inside of the fence separating the common folk from the visitors.

The king, queen & crown-princess (the crown-prince was excorting the guest from the hotel) came onto the palace square at ca 10:20am to inspect his troops (never seen that many Gardister "on show" before), and at exactly 10:30 the car with the govenor pulled up onto the square. Meeting and greeting government officials and other representatives, before the Governor actually guided the Royal family over to the "Canadian" public, alas us! Jeni and I were standing as #2 & 3 from the left, and here it comes: the king shook hands witht he first person, and jumped over the next few (us + a family) before the talked to an artist. Unlucky maybe, but they did say hi to us. And though some might think Mette Marit's hat (the crown-princess) is ugly or stupid, I really liked it (arg, should have asked her where she bought it ;P),

Okey, so I have to admitt that while I'll never be a royalist, it was pretty exciting. And yes, I was a bit starstruck!

1st of MAY: was celebrated according to tradition - appeals & speaches at Youngstorget, followed by ice cream/coffee/food/beer throughout the day. For the first time in years I actually didn't head to Blindern to spend the day. And, because it was Friday & T had the weekend off (husmorsferie/ housewife's vacation) we decided to go out to check the life on the town. Pretty dead the first few places we tried - we were after action, good music and space to dance - but that was probably just because the weather was so nice and people were still hanging out in the park. Luckily Mono's always full of action and there we found exactly what we were looking for. Needless to say we danced until we couldn't stand any more!

SATURDAY: A bit of shopping as T needed to buy a present for a birthday party she's going to next week, and I had to play the role of consultant as she really didn't know what to buy. Her friend didn't really have anything specific she neither wanted nor needed so it was a hard buy, but in the end I must say we ended up with a very nice gift.

Later in the evening we were at E's for dinner - she makes a mean lasagne & foccacia bread! Y.U.M.M.Y! Second time to play consultant, and this time fashion advice was needed as she was spring cleaning her closet (out with the old & small, in with the new ;P). We had quite a few laughs at some of the clothes (we're talking dresses and jumpers almost 10 years old), but mostly she's got a very elegant closet - I don't think I've seen so many beautiful pieces in a long time. Food, drinks & good company aside a Saturday wouldn't be complete (?) without a bit of dancing, so we headed off to Mono for a night out on the town.

SUNDAY: Lazy day mostly spent on the couch in front of the TV watching bad re-runs of TV-series or movies, but the day wouldn't be complete without a bit of fresh air & a take-away latte. There has been marked-days & tivoli around Grüneløkka all weekend, so we did a bit of browsing around the stalls (mostly junk being sold), had a few Thai springrolls, coffee and a walk around the tivoli with the 4-year-old. It was good to get out of the house :D