Yes I know… Most of them are boring, and we seldom keep them anyway. So what’s the point? Once in a while, however, they make you to do things you might not otherwise bother with. And besides – they can be fun too sometimes! So my new year’s resolutions for 2010 are:

- Try and keep warm: It’s -16°C outside as I write this, and no, I’m not used to these temperatures!

- Improve my ice-skating skills: Plenty of scope here, as I’m not exactly Jayne Torvill on the ice. With a bit of practice this should be an easy one to keep.

- Go cross-country skiing again: Going downhill’s not a problem, strangely enough, but stopping and going uphill are. Go figure! Maybe skiing’s just not for me, but I’ll give it another go in 2010 promise!

- (Ongoing from last year) Try as many Norwegian specialities as possible (smalahove is one of the last few I haven’t tried yet)

- Learn more about Norwegian cinema (I’ve just bought Nord on DVD, based on a screenplay by Erlend Loe, and I’m looking forward to watching that over the holiday).

- Travel to Northern Norway: As much as I love Østfold, I would also really like to see a) the Northern lights and b) the Lofoten Islands, so I’ll have to head north at some stage… Working for NSB or Wideroe? Feel free to sponsor me

- Take my final exam in Norwegian: Wish me good luck!

- You have 3 pairs of socks on, and your feet are still freezing.

- You wear gloves, scarf, hat and a jacket – indoors.

- You wear your clothes to bed because you can’t face undressing.

- All of a sudden longjohns seem quite fashionable.

- You avoid washing your hair as you know it will take ages to dry it.

- You worry the toothpaste in the bathroom might freeze.

- The battery in your camera just calls it a day whenever you venture outside.

- Even your neighbour’s Saab doesn’t start.

- You actually look forward to eating soup.

- You stop arguing about who should do the dishes, because it doesn’t seem such a chore at all.

- The locals start saying that it’s a bit chilly.

- Your Norwegian boyfriend puts a hat on before going out.

- Politician talk about the homeless, and it’s not Christmas.

- You finally decide to forget about the gas bill.

- Breathing hurts.

Yes I know… Not that stylish maybe, but when it’s -10°C outside, I don’t care. They are supposed to be sleeping bags by the way