Day 17 Friday 30th May 25 Valer

Helen has been a fantastic host, our visit has been such a pleasure 

Washing and drying laundry 

Beautiful grey cat 

 Forest walk this morning. Located lost ear bud up by the log store area  and now can't find the charging station with the other ear bud ! So it goes . 

Andy went for a run and found a moose print in the forest 

Trip to Flisa to return too  big a SIM card , visited  several second hand shops and then drove  on to Elverum to get the correct  size of  card . Heavy hail storm on the way there. Stopped off at the Sorsassjoen lake for a very  bracing short swim in sunshine and cool wind

Helen,  Mari Anniken and the children went to the open air museum in Elverum  today.

Day 16 Thursday 29 th May Ascension Day

 Gate to the pond at Helen's farm 

Swim in the lake Family meal in the afternoon  Mari ,Andy's niece Elina and Isak arrived late last night after a 6 hour drive from Alesund. Norway  citizens have today and tomorrow off work. Magnus, Andy's nephew, his wife Anniken and their sons Marcus and Mathias joined us for fish pie and salad 

Goodbyes to Magnus and Anniken Mattias and Marcus as they head home to nearby Elverum 

The porch 

Day 15 Wednesday 28 th May

 Trip to local lake between Valer and Elverum.14 degrees Andy ventured in for 10 mins That persistent cold Northerly wind put me off . Went to Flisa to get a SIM card for the Sat Nav which is playing up. It proved to be too big 

Beautiful colours 

Hoof trimming day on the farm Helen comforting the cows 

They are contained in a cage and supported by a belt under the belly to protect the trimmer from injury 

The lake , meal prep hut

Day 14 Tuesday May 27 th Valer

 Raining pretty well  non- stop all day. A rest day for me , recovering from the long and interesting journey here. Andy catching up with his sister and her husband Hans Kristian 

Hand carvings by Hans Kristian spotted in the shed window 

Breakfast time 

Day 13 Monday 26th May Voler I Solar

Set off from Oslo after a shower at Ruth and Christian's house . Thank you both for your warm hospitality over the weekend.

Stopped off for lunch by a lake south of Valer. Too choppy to swim 

Arrived in Valer late afternoon at Helen's farm  2 .5 hours drive North  from Oslo. Rain and thunderstorm en route had  cleared by the time we arrived . Andy's sister Helen is an organic farmer with her own dairy business. We are not far from the border with Sweden in Valer. Rolling , verdant pastures.

 Beautiful cows , very well looked after 

Day 12 Sunday 25 th May 25 Oslo

Train into Oslo , walked from the station to the harbour on a rain misty day 

Visited a new modern art museum recommended by Ruth 

Ain't that the truth 

Michael Jackson and Bubbles in ceramic by Jeff Moons 

The only British artist on show 

 The museum was preparing for a new exhibition Making Spaces 

Walking to the National museum we spotted the floating sauna complex 

A cheerful picture by Munch called the Sun 

My favourite painter Kandinsky 

Another artist I enjoy Yayoi Kusama Narcissists garden 

Reindeer skulls curtain 

Day 11 Saturday 24 th July Oslo Family Day

Andys sister Helen and husband Hans Kristian visited for the day 

Watching present unwrapping 

Helen and Ruth 

Magnus ,Andy's nephew and his sons Marcus and Mattias visited too 

 The family assemble in the garden for a photo shoot 

Day 10 Friday 23.5.25 Hirtshals DK to Larvik Norway

Swing ball is still going 

Beautiful views


 Caught the Colour line  ferry at 1.00 pm A very smooth and comfortable 3. 5 hour  crossing.  Arrived  early evening in Oslo , where we are staying with Ruth , (Andy's niece) and Christian,  their 2 sons  Sigve, and  Sverre,  and cat Molly. 

Day 9 Thursday 22nd May 25:Skagen and Hirtshals

A walk along the beach which inspired the Skagens painters so 

where two seas meet 

Back at the campsite in Hirtshals 

The Nature meet festival was just starting in Hirtshals. The official opening by a Minister  was delayed when the tent blew away

 Photos taken in Skagens museum today Painters included Peder Severin Krøyer, Michael Ancher, Laurits Tuxen, Anna Ancher and Marie Krøyer; the Norwegian Christian Krohg; and the Swede Oscar Björck.

The staged photograph for the painter