IKEA...

It's hardly a secret that I really hate IKEA. At least on saturdays. I think it has something to do with all the people. Stressed parents, wild aunts crazy to get the cheap offers, men pretending the shopping wagon is a ferrari, screaming kids... an inferno of noises and limbs. And then it's impossible to get around without bumping into anyone or get run over. Wherever there's a huge crowd of people, you can be sure I'm not. SO - in short: it's not the place for me.
But, yesterday it was ok! We even managed to buy something!! Well, we didn't buy it - we went back today to pick it up. A mistake. I hated it again today.


Robi and I having a rest after struggling through the masses

But as a treat we bought a stuffed rabbit, now called Trupik. (Norwegians, read it as Tropik.) He sits on our sofa, on top of a luxurious, wine red filt. He looks like a king!

After our adventures through IKEA and the city (had to buy a microwave for Rob and other things too) we came home for some puzzle. IKEA puzzle, of course. Amazingly enough it went pretty well. At least better that hanging up the blinds... We need to borrow some electric drill with a long arm (or whatever it's called).

But it all ended well, and we enjoy our Munkholm, crisps and last weeks Top Gear. It really feels like a home now, sitting in our sofa, surrounded by plants, table with 4 chairs around, filts, curtains, (not a carpet yet) microwave, coffee maschine (my old one, but it's superb), water kettle, musicstand with all gadgets I need, TV on and Robi by my side. *sigh*


The dining table from Åse and Arne, with IKEA chairs


:)

Location: In my livingroom
Mood: Happy!
Eating: Cheese Doodles (haha, Robi hates the smell! Can't blame him)
Drinking: Munkholm
Listening to: the TV

Ahh!!!!

Reading my sisters blog, drinking more coffee (I'm having a real sunday again after long time. And coffee combined with auditions are not a real hit, so NOW!) and eating french Mikado's with chocolate flavor. Can it get any better?

First time in our house!

This is our house, the one with open door! I'm so happy :) Some more pictures comes up when I get the cable for my phone and don't have to send them via the phone...
I came yesterday, after a loooong day on the train. Funny enough - a fellow cellist, Silje, was sitting two - 2 - seats in front of me. Equally bored. And we didn't find each other until Sandnes..
Anyway, it was so good to see Robi again! And he has really done a good job with the interior, even though he has spared a lot of the work until I came so we could do some together. (I.e placing things in the cupboards, decorating the walls, curtains in the bedroom, shelves and so on.)
Ingvild, the Super Woman plates I got from you are fantastic!! (btw, can't log in on your site anymore... *snufs*)

Location: My own house!
Drinking: Caffe Latte, made at home
Eating: Bread with cheese and apple (Mammas speciality), another with smoked salmon
Feeling: Great, and at home
Listening to: the silence

Bored on the train!

This is my company on the 7 hours, 39 minutes travel to Stavanger. I'll grab a coffee and find a newspaper too quite soon. Pauline, do you hear me sing Happy Birthday? I love you <3

Exciting, terrifying, fantastic weeks

which I have to write about. Should, of course, have written it all before but - hey; I was enjoying it all somehow!!

First: Paris with KSO and gypsy musicians a'la Jango Reinhardt.



We played 3 concerts in a Cirqus! and lived in a 4 star hotel close by (4 stars in France, that is).


My hotel room!


The circus had long traditions. Some of the old, original posters were on the wall.

The old stables were perfect for unpacking and warming up.

During the days (except thursday) we were off until the concert at 21 so we could see quite a lot of the city. Sadly, the orchestra were the target of a flu-epidemy so almost all of them were quite put off. Luckily the French authorities are not as strict as the Norwegians, so they allow all dodgy kind of drugs to (possibly) kill the flu efficiently. I was one of the lucky ones who escaped the flu! (I guess it was because I had the stupid flu some years ago..) but Lene had to keep her bed for some time. She has written a lot about our adventures in Paris, check it out! (She has a lot of pictures too!)
I had my agenda in Paris; Looking for bow, possibly a baroque bow and cello and find some black concert shoes (of the shiny, black sort. Laque?). It took some time, so all the touristy things I managed to do was: Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and walk around Montmartre and see the famous windmill on top of Le Moulin Rouge. Didn't even find Amelies little coffee shop... But I also wanted to save some for a more romatic trip back with Robert *sniggle*
My plan for the Paris tour was pretty successful. The perfect bow for my cello (I think. Still have to understand how it works properly) found me, but then my budget were blown so baroque cello and bow have to wait some years...
Lene and I went walking around to look for shoes and other artifacts, when we saw the huge shopping mole "Printemps". They have a whole floor only for shoes (mostly Gucci, Prada and other HUGE names) and there I did find my shoes! Of course, they turned out to be a pair of Dolce & Gabbana... Needless to say, I'm a happy girl :)



I have eaten escargots!


Lene had some time by herself when I tested bows, so she ended up in a very famous makeup store. This was the result!


Spot the space invader! They are all over Paris, but I wasn't really good at spotting them...

And back home, the week of Mahler 1 and audition preparations were awaiting...

Mahler was very exciting, in all aspects. And it didn't help being nervous for monday either. Sunday night I got another little practical joke made on me by my cello. It didn't want the endpin back in! So I had to leave it overnight in one of the dressing rooms.
And now I know this: I don't like the atmosphere when 30 nervous cellists are being forced to stay in the same tiny space for drawing a number!!
I didn't win this job either, but I got closer!

Location: In mums livingroom
Mood: Tired, confused and happy - going to Stavanger in a few hours!!
Drinking: White tea (not VERY expensive one, with several strange rituals around it)
Eating: Warm, crispy cheese toast
Listening to: Grandma watching TV upstairs

Back in Kristiansand

I was a little sad to go down south of Norway now that the snow finally has come to Oslo (and staying for a while!) - but I got a surprise.
It's all white here too!!!

The orchestra is going to Paris on wednesday, and we're going to play Django Reinhardt music in a circus. A circus! I hope it'll be warm...
At the moment we're still waiting for the tickets (we're NOT flying charter).
Todays rehearsal was short, and I still had a lot of energy left afterwards, so I practiced a lot. I was held company by the three rubber brothers.


I had to walk home in the snow. Popped by a Chinese fastfood store, and now I'm enjoying my tea together with Lene :)

Ah, Forgot...
Saturday Heloisa and I played the house concert at Hans' place. It was great fun! Lots of elderly people, and some younger ones. They all live in the neighborhood. Does this say anything about our area?..

Heloisa and her dog, Claudianis

Anyways, it was around 35 people in the livingroom, all sitting and eating by tables Edel had to cough up from somewhere. I wished grandma to be there, she'd have enjoyed it tremendously. But she got ill from all the work with shoveling snow. Mum was playing operette at the opera. Well, they didn't show up, but I did help with the dishes afterwards.


The mysterious coffee guy. At least, whith him we (Lene and I) were followed by the paparazzis. Or... well, don't ask

Location: Kristiansand, Hotel Norge
Eating: Fried nudles
Drinking: Green tea (coldish)
Mood: oki
Listening to: NRK1


Aaargh! There is a storm coming to France now, so the airports are closed. I hope everything is working as usually when we're going there Wednesday morning (actually 5.15. Zzzz)

My week

in short...

• Work some evenings with Lightfoot (exceptionally good ballet!)
• Practice on my own
• Spent a great evening at a 60 year birthday party (well, 2x30) celebrating Christina and her friend Hanne, listening to super synth music (it turned out to be a bit different than I expected, MUCH better! Kind of A-ha with a touch of metal) and talking to interesting people
• Went skiing with Dad and Alexia for 16 km (longer than Alexia has ever gone before, even by foot!)
• Seen elk trying to hide behind the trees
• Played concert at Nordberghjemmet with Heloisa, and on my way there I tried not to scare the sweet squirrel eating in Dad's garden.
• Playing Spyro with Alexia

Pictures will (eventually) be uploaded. I think...
(Trur eg...)
And here they are!


Alexia in front of where the elk is.


The elk, hiding (nobody will see me here!)


The elks audience (who, of course, can't see him...)


Alexia in our little rest. Dad had brought tea and oranges!


Dad could do with some more walking. Still full of energy!


Location: Dads computer-room.
Eating: Twist
Drinking: ---
Listening to: My own voice telling me I should practice
Mood: Audition anxiety