Archive for November 2011
A beautiful weekend is drawing to an end.
Just as the countdown of this beautiful year is beginning with the first of Advent today.
I’ve lit a candle in my room, listening to the wind howling outside my window and letting the voice of the singer in Brother & Bones; Rich Thomas, fill the room.
He played before Ben Howard, at BLÅ yesterday and they were equally amazing!
Such talent and so much soul and sincerity. It was such a treat.
Love, Love, Love! Ben Howard sang and the crowd joined in.
Me, Hanna and Maria were all smiles.
Rich was such a nice guy when we hung out a bit after the show, or more accurately, when a group of us Swedish and Norwegian girls dragged him and Ben around Grünerløkka trying to find a pub that wasn’t too crowded.
After a while it was obvious that we were just too many girls pulling the poor boys in different directions, so Maria, Hanna and I said goodbye to Rich, but not before telling him how great he was, (better than Ben!) and receiving lots of hugs and kisses.
We ended the night at Vulkan like so many nights before. Actually, like the night before…oh well 
I love my life!
And like Maria exclaimed with a toast during Saturday night’s dinner;
- We will never be more beautiful than we are right now!
- Oh, I turn more beautiful with each year, Hanna filled in and we all laughed about how great you can choose to feel about yourself.
How you feel inside will show on the outside.
And I feel full of Love, Love, Love!
Xmas market, still no snow
Posted on: November 27, 2011
Maria stayed in bed today as I took a walk back to BLÅ and passed by Vulkan on the way.
I smiled at all the fun I had Friday and Saturday, but today was Sunday and wanted to see if I could find some Christmas gifts at the market.
I strolled around the stands, had a spring roll and a waffle. I called grandma which I normally do on Sundays and continued up to Grünerløkka , to one my favourite places in Oslo: Chillout Travel Centre, where I sat down for a coffee and read travel magazines.
I want to do a world trip in a year or so, but I know I don’t have enough money yet and actually, I wouldn’t want to leave what I have right now:
Living with two of my best friends, enjoying work, nature, music and meeting lots of wonderful people!
The only thing missing now is
pure, white snow glistening on these streets.
Brother & Bones – Back to Shore
Posted on: November 27, 2011
- In: Great Music
- 1 Comment
Everything about this song pulls me right in!
Sunday @ work
Posted on: November 20, 2011
- In: Happy Days
- 1 Comment
7 a.m is way too early to be starting work on a Sunday. But here I am still, at the hotel, with a big cup of coffee, like so many other weekends since I started 7 months ago.
I’m pushing 200 work hours every month but I really don’t complain. November, the Norwegian government has decided we only pay half of income taxes so we will have more money to spend on Christmas shopping in December.
I love Norway for that. Among many things.
Have a beautiful Sunday, however you spend it.
Practise taking action
Posted on: November 19, 2011
Two of my best friends are going through a tough time. None of them can sleep properly, suffering from anxiety and stress. One is on anti-depressive pills. The other one, worries that getting professional treatment will be too expensive so she does nothing.
And like so many other young women, they carry the world on their shoulders every day, trying to look good, be smart, do well and please everyone around them.
My beautiful friend spilled tears in her coffee cup the other day, telling me that it just wasn’t the right time to get sick now.There was too much to do at work.
I tried to tell her that being sick was nothing to be ashamed of.
It’s just a sign that something needs to be changed.
We talked about things that did make her feel better and she mentioned some empowering books that inspire her.
- But of course, she said, I can’t actually practice the teachings in the book.
- Why not? I asked.
- I’d feel silly, she said with a smile.
But what is guidance for, if we don’t make the actual steps? How can anything ever change if we don’t act differently? A smart quote that you understand intellectually, but not practically, remains empty words.
It’s all about action!
As much as I feel for my girlfriends I know no one can really help them but themselves. Sure, I can listen and give support but the action to change and to heal can only come from within.
And they have to be willing to practice.
Practise letting the past go. Practise saying yes to the unknown and scary. Practise turning the TV off. Practise physical exercise. Practise meditation. Practise saving the last bit of the chocolate bar for later. Practise forgiveness. Practise thankfulness. Practice visualizing nothing less than a perfectly happy, relieved, complete version of yourself.
It’s possible.
What will you practice to get to where you really want to be?
Happiness is:
Posted on: November 18, 2011
Happiness is
when what you think,
what you say,
and what you do
are in harmony.
Mahatma Gandhi
It’s almost 2 a.m but I can’t sleep.
I’m restless and…
I feel like a million emotions and thoughts are stirring within me, like a big soul pot I’ve kept a lid on lately.
I’m brimming with happiness, but I don’t know how to express it. Not here.
If only I was somewhere high up, far away where these kinds of emotions could be justified.
Where I could yell from a mountain top or sing by fields of sunflowers.
But Oslo in November? Really?
Yes, it turns out to be here, because here’s where I’m at.
Things are not over-the-top spectacular, but my life is good.
Sitting here in our little kitchen in St.Hanshaugen with my laptop by the window, stealing internet connection from the neighbour, naked trees outside and the heat turned up inside, things are really, really great.
Things are so great they are easily mistaken for guarantees.
But none of it is guaranteed:
- My life, my breathing and existence.
- My health, my body and the experiences I am able to have.
- My friends and family, people in my life.
- My assets, materialistically and personally
All this could be lost.
We walk a tight rope every day and yet we don’t realize…
These “things” are what keeps us balanced!
I care for these “things” and maybe that’s just why I’m smiling.
I feel balanced and ready to walk a long way!
But now, I will walk straight to bed…:)
Goodnight, whoever you are.
This one requires a post of its own, because there is so much truth and soul in what she’s saying.
Simply beautiful.
Asa + Nneka = ♥
Posted on: November 6, 2011
- In: Great Music | Happy Days
- 1 Comment
There is a World Music Festival happening in Oslo this week and Thursday two of Nigeria’s, I mean the World’s coolest, most beautiful, talented and soulful artists played at Parkteatret in Grunerlökka.
Asa and Nneka.
It was such a magic evening!
I had bought my ticket two months ago and the show was sold out. None of my friends had gotten tickets but I wouldn’t miss the show for anything, so I came to the venue early and managed to be the last out of 10 people to buy a ticket at the door. I called my friend Vanessa, who came rushing in a taxi just ten minutes later, super excited and quite drunk
I listened to Asa a lot in Cape Town back in 2009 and her song “Fire on the mountain” always brings back memories of Table Mountain summer fires and sunny days.
I just love her sound and her cool.
Nneka I hadn’t heard except for some YouTube clips I checked out before going to the show.
She completely blew my mind with her cool rhymes, reggae beats, and powerful lyrics.
Please check these videos out and spread the love.
Freedom of the mind
Posted on: November 6, 2011
There is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of the mind.
Virgina Woolf
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