My Opera23 June, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006 1:15:58 PM
Well, I just polished off a container of Norwegian strawberries I bought from a stand alongside the road--and I must say they are the best strawberries I've ever had. 30 Kroner (about $5), so a bit pricey, but worth it--very sweet. Folks have told me that this region is pretty well known for its strawberries--something about all the light and short periods of darkness, certainly not due to the sun being out. The only sunny day I've experienced is when I flew in last Saturday, and that was really only partly sunny. Some have joked that last Saturday was the entire Norwegian summer . . . today is in fact mid-summer's day apparently--so there is supposed to be a bit of a party/festival atmosphere tonight in old-town Stavanger. Not too festive with gray skies though.
Met with my boss's boss today, then the weekly staff meeting. Shortly thereafter, droves of Norwegians started departing the compound--I honestly thought it was a fire alarm, but apparently twas the half-day Friday tradition, and they were done for the day. Don't think it extends to us. We share the facility with the Norwegians, and thus run into folks coming and going.
I timed the commute from house to work at about 10 minutes, so not too bad. There is a grocery store a couple of hundred meters away, and a pretty nice one about 1 KM away (Helgo Mat), so there are lots of options close to home. The major shopping center and Ikea are about 5 minutes away.
I think I'll be able to get into the house as early as the 11th, though the "official" contract doesn't begin until the 14th. So I plan to keep the hotel room until the 14th and gradually move stuff over there with the hold baggage delivery on the 14th. Not sure yet how to do electrical, phone, internet--but I'll figure it out one way or the other.
Missing the family and wishing you could be here, but it would be close quarters in this hotel apartment--and there are summer-campers to be kept in line, so I'll be patient and wait.
By the way, a few new photos I took this afternoon while searching for a beach. Most of the coast is rocky, just a few sandy beaches, and not very big.
Met with my boss's boss today, then the weekly staff meeting. Shortly thereafter, droves of Norwegians started departing the compound--I honestly thought it was a fire alarm, but apparently twas the half-day Friday tradition, and they were done for the day. Don't think it extends to us. We share the facility with the Norwegians, and thus run into folks coming and going.
I timed the commute from house to work at about 10 minutes, so not too bad. There is a grocery store a couple of hundred meters away, and a pretty nice one about 1 KM away (Helgo Mat), so there are lots of options close to home. The major shopping center and Ikea are about 5 minutes away.
I think I'll be able to get into the house as early as the 11th, though the "official" contract doesn't begin until the 14th. So I plan to keep the hotel room until the 14th and gradually move stuff over there with the hold baggage delivery on the 14th. Not sure yet how to do electrical, phone, internet--but I'll figure it out one way or the other.
Missing the family and wishing you could be here, but it would be close quarters in this hotel apartment--and there are summer-campers to be kept in line, so I'll be patient and wait.
By the way, a few new photos I took this afternoon while searching for a beach. Most of the coast is rocky, just a few sandy beaches, and not very big.
