ITHF in Stathelle, Norway
We arrived in Stathelle and the home of our interin hostess, Edrund Olaisen, late Friday afternoon. It gave us just enough time to have a glass of wine before she introduced us to our 'bedroom' hosts, Per and Ingrid who live just down the road. Per and Ingrid live on Rotary Hill - ther are 3 Rotarians in a row and apparently up the hill are a few more. Rotary is very active in this area and Ingrid is currently an Assistant Governor. Edrund was Governor in 2000-2001 same year as Monty and knows him. It's such a small world!
Jan went to pick up his and Edrundæs house guests from Australia, Barbara and Peter and we all had supper together to get to know one another. Then off to our hosts for the evening for coffee and cake.
The night was so deliciously warm we sat on the deck overlooking the sound and watching container ships steam out to sea. Per tells us that in a 24 hour period they normally see up to 70 large ships. Despite the heavy sea traffic Ingrid goes out swimming each morning at 6:00 to invigorate herself.
The 8 of us emptied Peræs wine bottles nearly as fast as he could bring them out. There wsas clearly no time to let the wine breathe so he brough out an attractive wine decanter to aerate the wine and saving us valuable time...
Even though we are far south in Norway, we are still considerably north on the world map and consequently, at this time of year, it stays light until quite late. Even though the sun hasn't set, the evening air brought with it a cool chill. Ingrid brought out colourful fleece wraps to drape around each of us warding off the cold and from the sea we would have made a pretty picture.
Large glass cylinders partly filled with sand colour acquarium rock held white pillar candles on the deck table. We ate our way through bowls of chips, pretzels and peanuts-in-the-shell to fuel our conversation and absorb the wine.
"Are you driving?" asked Per, poised once again to fill my glass. Confused, I answered no. "Good" he said, and proceeded to top up my glass.
At 11:00 the Aussies headed back with Edrund and Jan while we moved the party indoors. Hans and Per discovered a common love of music and when the volume forced Ingrid and me downstairs, we discovered a common love of books. Ingrid was a librarian before she became Head of Culture for this region so we had lots to talk about until 12:30 when my eyes drooped and called it a night.
I have no idea when Hans and Per wrapped it up!
Jan went to pick up his and Edrundæs house guests from Australia, Barbara and Peter and we all had supper together to get to know one another. Then off to our hosts for the evening for coffee and cake.
The night was so deliciously warm we sat on the deck overlooking the sound and watching container ships steam out to sea. Per tells us that in a 24 hour period they normally see up to 70 large ships. Despite the heavy sea traffic Ingrid goes out swimming each morning at 6:00 to invigorate herself.
The 8 of us emptied Peræs wine bottles nearly as fast as he could bring them out. There wsas clearly no time to let the wine breathe so he brough out an attractive wine decanter to aerate the wine and saving us valuable time...
Even though we are far south in Norway, we are still considerably north on the world map and consequently, at this time of year, it stays light until quite late. Even though the sun hasn't set, the evening air brought with it a cool chill. Ingrid brought out colourful fleece wraps to drape around each of us warding off the cold and from the sea we would have made a pretty picture.
Large glass cylinders partly filled with sand colour acquarium rock held white pillar candles on the deck table. We ate our way through bowls of chips, pretzels and peanuts-in-the-shell to fuel our conversation and absorb the wine.
"Are you driving?" asked Per, poised once again to fill my glass. Confused, I answered no. "Good" he said, and proceeded to top up my glass.
At 11:00 the Aussies headed back with Edrund and Jan while we moved the party indoors. Hans and Per discovered a common love of music and when the volume forced Ingrid and me downstairs, we discovered a common love of books. Ingrid was a librarian before she became Head of Culture for this region so we had lots to talk about until 12:30 when my eyes drooped and called it a night.
I have no idea when Hans and Per wrapped it up!
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