Arnold

Just outside the rehearsal hall, going to practice Pierrot Lunaire, I picked up this little fellow from the road. Cold and hungry I guess. I miss summer already...

Wyrd Sisters

Quality time with my sister this weeken. We've done nothing but enjoying every moment. The highlights has been: Sisterly talks (all day and into the small hours), strolling around the city, the movie Up (with the only minor disappointment that it was dubbed), Indian food and long breakfasts. I don't really want to put her on the 5 o' clock-train...

HEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

This morning I was woken by a fantastic phonecall.
It was the leader of the audition jury who called to tell me that
I HAVE WON A TRIAL!!!

SSO, here I come!

Jeez, I can't really believe it. It's so unreal.

Location: In Kristiansand, the borrowed flat

Mood: In shock, but overwhelmingly happy

Eating: nothing yet, have to consult Helene (she's on visit :))

Drinking: ..hm, should probably run to the monopoly to get some champagne

Page turner

That's my job for today. Lars A and Andrea has a concert in Grimstad and needed a page turner. My salary is said to be a great dinner. Why not!

Short Oslo visit

My dear Dad drove me to the trainstation at Kjelsås today. I was going to go back to Kristiansand with the 11.11 train from Oslo S, so he thought it convenient to take the train down to the city. It turned out to be a bit nerve wrecking...
Yesterday I had a morning date with Wendy, a percussionist (former student of the dad!), at 08.30.
We took the bus to Kristiansand Airport together. We were both going to Oslo with the 10.30 flight. I was going there for a funeral and to visit the cello doctor, Wendy for the written exam for her lisence.
I had my fridge with me, so I had included some negotiation time on the airport. Luckily I didn't need any, except for checking in. My booking number wasn't valid. Hooray.
Wendy and I split up at Gardermoen, and when I came to Oslo S, I realized that I had some spare time before I had the short rehearsal with the organ-player at 13. I rang my sister, and she had 30 min. break, so I jumped on a bus and visited her at school. My first time to Elvebakken VGS. It was great to see where she's spending so much time!
Then I headed off to Helsfyr.
No problem.
Looked for the krematorium (it's just a chapelle now, but it used to be a krematorium until august).
No problem.
Asked for a place to warm up.
N problem.
Where were the organ player? And when to play? Where?
some problems.
When he finally came, we had 3 min. of tempo setting, and then he was off.
Problem!
The place was a maze, we had very little time left, and we had not even been through the Swan. Well, it all went well. Luckily. Despite that the Swan was more like an old one, struggling to breathe and absolutely not ready for takeoff. But it pleased the family, so I should not complain.
Afterwords, I met Mum for a coffee at the central station. We met Guro on our way too, so she joined us.
It was a very pleasant coffee date, I could have one every day!
At 16 I was on my way to Urs, the magic sound doctor for my cello. I spent around 1.5 hours in his workshop, and now it's almost as nice as it was in May. The dryness of autumn makes strange things with my wooden soundbox, but we're experimenting with millimetres and it works.
Then I could catch my bus to Dads house and see Pauline and Helene. My sister is having Desucon this weekend so we were bleaching her hair, sewing a belt and being very creative. And then watching True Blood. Finally.
And this morning I got to see my Dad too, before he drove me to the trainstation. He got very nervous on my behalf because the train didn't show up. It turned out to be 15 min. late, and then I would miss my second train. Next train would be too late for me; I wouldn't be there for the premiere of La Boheme. ooops.
But 11.11 I was well seated in my train, and now I'm on my way out the door to play some beautiful music in a way too small pit.

Joy of the day!

I was looking for a nice, comfortable black bra. And I learned something. I'm a size smaller than I thought. What a smack in the face! But this one from Simone Perele is amazing, so it's ok. And beside reading Stieg Larsson, I was met by a very nice message just now. We had an open dress rehearsal, and my neighbour downstairs listened. He liked it so much that he put this note on my door!

What an outfit!

Natasha was very inventive!

Luxury!

My day has been superb! Got to practice some hours, swam 1025 m and came home to dinner before coffee, bun and rehearsal for La Boheme. Annas cooking was excellent and spicy! Please, come here every day!!

Count Thumper!

And he has a wife, a wealthy one too. I had a great laugh!

Obsession

During my quests searching for different things on the internet, I somehow stumbled across some beautiful venetian masks. I knew about them, of course, but never really gave them a second thought.
Until now.
They are just amazing, stunning, beautiful...

and very often quite expensive.

But every girl has her dream, right?

LOOK!

Breakfast at Tonjes

Flu-times

So why not go and be a princess about it?

Friday!?

La Boheme makes my muscles ache, or rather, sitting and playing and then be home doing the same, makes my muscles ache.
So to prevent becoming really huge and sloppy, I went for a swim.
(After a decent visit to Drømmeplassen, a café in the centre of Kristiansand, with Anna.)
I knew I only had an hour in the hall (including everything), because of some diving class. but I went anyway. Better with a little than nothing. And then I'm off with a good start.
I knew the orchestra has a brilliant deal with them, so I approached the guy at the front - quite frank, telling him I was from the orchestra and wondered if there was any discount. It turns out that the permanent players goes for free, but the subs (even those on longer term) have to pay full price. Darn.
Well, I go for the second cheapest thing they have, which was a 10 clip cupon. It's not one card. It was 10 of them.
Really.
I managed to do 500 m, and then 7 minutes in the sauna before i had to leave.
Back home I knew that Schönberg was waiting for me. Pierrot Lunaire, movement 19 "Serenade". The BIG cello movement.
Aaaah!
It's tricky!!!!

(I see green!... sometimes it all feels like I could be in "Death at a funeral". Valium, anyone?)

New home

It's funny how it is with new places. Especially if it's not yours.

How to open the windows?
How to get the fan working (don't want the cooking fumes everywhere)
Is there some internet around? wireless or with a chord?
Can I practise without annoying the neighbours?
Where did he put the plug for the bathtub?
Does the fire alarm always go off when you light a candle?

Well, the windows had a hidden button on the side (this was a new thing for me! old invention probably),
the fan was just unplugged, and the internet was hidden under the TV.

Then it's the shopping.
No essential ingredients anywhere, so I found a local chinese shop and the Rimi across the street.
Gourmet!
...


Glad the swimming hall is not too far away.
Just, when is it open?
Need to check the net...

Šišky

Some of Roberts production of slovakian dounuts. He made them (and meatballs) as a farewell thing as I leave for Kristiansand tomorrow. It's quite sad to leave him, my friends, the house and my puzzle behind, not knowing when I'll see them again. All packing is done. Got only 4 kolli. Picture coming up soon.