Archive for January, 2010
Orion’s Belt (1985): The trailer
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Photos and videos on January 30, 2010
Top 5: Norwegian movies (1970s-1990s)
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on January 30, 2010
It’s a tough call selecting only five Norwegian movies for this period, but here are my favourites:
- Orion’s Belt: Espionage thriller set in the fishing community of the Svalbard archipelago. (1985)
- Flåklypa Grand Prix: Ivo Caprino’s much loved animated puppet movie was a huge box office hit when it was released in 1975. (1975)
- The Pathfinder: Fast-paced Sami adventure by first-time director Neils Gaup, nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film. (1987)
- Insomnia: Personal thriller featuring a couple of policemen from Oslo who travel to Northern Norway to investigate the death of a 17-year old girl. (1997)
- Cross my Heart and Hope to Die (Ten Knives in the Heart): Award-winning, atmospheric coming-of-age story following the adventures of 12-year-old Otto after he meets an enigmatic man twice his age. (1994)
See also http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/12/top-5-best-norwegian-movies-of-the-past-decade/ for the best Norwegian movies of the noughties.
Where to find noodles, curry paste and more?
Posted by admin in Food and drink, Shopping on January 29, 2010
Mekong: Asian food shop in Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in Food and drink, Shopping on January 29, 2010
I love Asian food. Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese… you name it. But while there are more and more Asian restaurants to choose from here in Østfold, getting hold of ingredients for cooking at home is not as easy. Only one place to go in Fredrikstad: Mekong. Here you’ll find all the basics such as noodles, spices, pickled vegs, pastes and sauces, but also dried seaweed, mushrooms and roots, fresh tofu, a good selection of frozen fish and seafood, and a fresh fruit and vegetable department selling the likes of pak choi and bitter melons among others. The only thing that’s missing is Japanese food, which sadly I’ve found impossible to find in this part of Norway. But for everything else, from bamboo shoots to wonton leaves, head for Mekong.
Mekong Orientalske Matvarer Pham Van Van, Nygaardsgaten 34, Fredrikstad. Tel: 69 30 72 70.
An interview with graphic artist Brenda Boo
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on January 28, 2010
I recently came across this graphic artist’s work and I thought her stuff was rather cool. Admittedly it’s a bit girly – but hey, nothing wrong with that right? Brenda’s from the US originally, although she’s now based in Halden. Which gave me a perfect excuse to feature her on this blog 
Brenda, how did you become a graphic artist?
I’ve been drawing since I can remember. It’s something that I just always did and I’ve had no schooling. It still surprises me to date that anyone would buy something that I do every day for my own sanity.
Your drawings are very original, where do you get your inspiration from?
Seeing Disney films was my first spark of real interest and amazement. The art in Sleeping Beauty most of all. Jamie Hewlett (English comic book artist and designer, best known as the co-creator of the Tank Girl comic strip and band Gorillaz) is my favorite artist. Other than that everything I see, read and touch inspires me.
You’re from Michigan originally, what made you move to Norway?
I met a boy. Ha ha. Truthfully I met my now husband in a club in Detroit, Michigan and after years of friendship we got married and I decided to move here about 5 years ago with him.
How do you like it here, and what were the best/worst things about moving to Norway?
My opinion on that varies from day to day. Being a foreigner here is not easy. Either people are scared to death to talk to you or expect to be your best friend instantly. It’s very different from my hometown. However, I feel very fortunate to be able to raise my daughter in Norway. I know she is safer and I have had the opportunity to stay home with her for 3 years and that is something that rarely happens where I’m from.
What do you like best about Østfold?
I love Gamlebyen. The market in the summer time and I love the summers here. I have lived in Sarpsborg and worked in Fredrikstad but I really feel at home in Halden. It’s hard to explain why.
Best kept secret about Halden?
There is this graveyard I live by in Os Alle kirke. It’s stunning if you like that sort of thing. Which I do. I have a blog that has a lot of graveyard pictures and I try in the summer to go to different graveyards in Norway when I can to take photographs.
Why the Boo name?
Well, I love Halloween and when I first saw Monsters, Inc and heard him call the little girl Boo, I fell in love with it. I call my daughter Boo in real life. It’s my nickname for her and it is also my business name.
Any new year’s resolutions for 2010?
Draw more. That is pretty much my daily resolution that never gets fulfilled unfortunately.
More about Brenda Boo here http://www.thebootique.com/Gifts%20Shop/Gift_Shop.html
Østfold in Pictures: Skihytta, Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos, Sport on January 27, 2010
Where to go cross-country skiing in Østfold
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Sport on January 27, 2010
There are many places one can go cross-country skiing in Østfold, but these are my favourites.
- Fredrikstad Marka: A popular spot within easy reach of Fredrikstad. It can get a little bit crowded at times near Skihytta (the place to go for coffee and a waffle after your foray into the woods), but you’ll find a good choice of tracks in a varied terrain.
- Rakkestadfjella: Fewer people come here, which means you might ski for hours on end and only meet a handful of locals. Pack a picnic, and make it a day outing. Great scenery, and who knows, with a bit of luck you might even spot some wildlife.
- Harehjellhytta: This is a good choice in the Sarpsborg area, with the possibility of going skiing after dark as some of the tracks are lit up at night. Artificial snow is used when required, and the tracks are in good condition.
- Halden: There are many tracks to choose from in Høiåsmarka just outside Halden. Høiåshytta, which lies 236m over sea level, is open Thursdays 1700-2030 and Sundays 1000-1500 from September to Easter.
Check also http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/12/where-to-go-alpine-skiing-in-østfold/ for info on where to go downhill skiing in Østfold.
Jens Stoltenberg in Hvaler, Østfold
Posted by admin in Photos and videos, Uncategorized on January 26, 2010
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on January 26, 2010
Labour politician Jens Stoltenberg (born 16 March 1959) was Norway’s youngest prime minister ever when he first took office aged just 41, in March 2000, after the resignation of Christian Democrat Kjell Magne Bondevik’s government.
He held the post for a year-and-a-half, until Oct 2001, when the Labour Party suffered a severe defeat in the elections. After a term as leader of the opposition, Stoltenberg came back to power in Oct 2005, having won the general election, and was reelected for another mandate in 2009.
His dad, Thorvald Stoltenberg, was a top politician in two governments in the late 1970s- early 1990s, and Jens Stoltenberg was involved in politics from an early age. At university, he studied social economy, the queen of the sciences during the Labour Party’s golden years from 1945 until the 1970s.
His economic policies, however, have been rather different from those traditionally associated with the Labour Party, continuing Gro Harlem Brundtland’s move towards the political centre and a more liberal economy.
Stoltenberg is a well-liked politician in his home country, seen as reliable and trustworthy, although some argue he lacks his father’s charisma. He is, however, a very capable politician, and a good ambassador for Norway.
Jens Stoltenberg is married to diplomat Ingrid Schulerud and together they have two children, Axel and Catharina. He lives in Oslo and has a summer house in Søndre Sandøy, Hvaler, where he often spends his holidays with his family. He is a keen cross-country skiier, and an atheist.