Are we crazy??? (2 Viewers)

[jumartoo]

A watery forest walk today. The weather doesn't keep the Norwegians in. It can't or they'd never go out. We see many walking and running and today saw this in the forest.

Now back at the apartment eating waffles and drinking coffee and watching the passing traffic. Seems to be rush hour at the moment. This one has its Christmas decorations already.

Survived the funny fish last night. Waiting to see what's for dinner today!

Tomorrow we go to the cabin in the mountains.

 

[Judge Mental]

I'm oft to Ikea for some meat balls

 

[Chockswahay]

Since touring Norway last year we have fancied the coastal 'cruise' on the 'Herti Gerti' (Hurtigruten ferry in your last pic) all the way up to Russia

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[Jenben]

It looks like a great trip @jumartoo. Lovely advert for Norway, the tourist board should employ you !

 

[jumartoo]

We arrived at the cabin today. Our friends are very lucky people. They have the apartment in Bergen, an apartment in Spain and this cabin in the mountains above Voss.

This cabin is fantastic, the sort of building I could live in if the weather was better! For a short visit its fantastic to be here in the snow.

Tonight I cooked dinner. A bit difficult in a strange place but I managed to make a fish pie with brocolli and sprouts!

A few photos from today.

Martin clearing snow.

And enjoying the reward afterwards. They have big bottles of beer here!

Tomorrow I'm having my first cross country ski-ing experience. I hope I can post afterwards.

 

[jumartoo]

Ha ha, the men have to go and pee outside, except for in the middle of the night. For once the women have the better option .

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[jumartoo]

We had a disaster when we unpacked the supplies, Jan realised he hadn't brought the Akevitt so we had to take the trip back down the single track mountain road today, a 30 minute drive, to purchase a bottle.

Whilst down in Voss they took us to see the indoor sky diving centre. We weren't tempted to try at 750 Kroner for 3 minutes! but enjoyed watching.

We then went to see the waterfall, Skjervefossen.

View from the top.

And from the bottom.

Where we got soaked through from the spray!

No ski-ing possible today, will try tomorrow.

 

[DBK]

I'm oft to Ikea for some meat balls

Are those parts of Rudolph also a delicacy?

 

[Judge Mental]

Are those parts of Rudolph also a delicacy?

Indeedy......sautéed.

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[Chockswahay]

deleted oops

 

[jumartoo]

I have decided we are definitely crazy and we don't have Norwegian friends. WE HAVE BEEN STITCHED UP. They gave us sheep's head for dinner. It's a delicacy . Eli took my meat off the head before she served it, but the others had the whole thing. I have a stiff neck from looking the other way and we had very low light.

Any vegetarians look away now.

Martin's meal.

I can't even look at it as a photo!

 

[jumartoo]

I've had a lot of wine and Akevitt to help with this meal!!!.

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[jumartoo]

Our last full day here. Tomorrow we have to leave the mountains and head back to Bergen and be at the airport at 6.30 p.m. If we were in Britain we would be panicking about getting out of here but for the Norwegians it's not a problem! The local farmer is always on standby for such conditions.

I had my first cross country ski-ing experience this morning. I skied once before about 30 years ago in Bulgaria in a beginners ski school so today was really a first for me.

I was OK uphill and on the flat but a little shaky downhill, but I've survived.

Eli, the expert.

Me and my shadow (Jan), first downhill attempt.

Standing upright!!!

 

[Chockswahay]

@jumartoo I soooo fancy cross country skiing

Might just have to re visit Norway

 

[DBK]

I guess you weren't on a prepared track? Typically they are made by towing a thing behind a snowmobile which makes two grooves, one for each ski.

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[Jenben]

That looks like great fun @jumar and @jumartoo. Lovely snowy scenery.
I am awaiting the picture of what you might be getting for supper this evening.....

 

[jumartoo]

That looks like great fun @jumar and @jumartoo. Lovely snowy scenery.
I am awaiting the picture of what you might be getting for supper this evening.....

OK for supper tonight first we have had to work for it and whittle some birch sticks.

These have now gone into a pot with some dried lamb ribs! Don't ask! But it looks better than yesterday's offering.

Apparently it's what is eaten for Christmas dinner. It smells good cooking now.

Photo of the finished meal to follow (maybe).

After working with a small knife we were taken out for Eli to choose a Christmas tree to take to Bergen.

This one!

A little wander around before we lose the light.

 

[Chockswahay]

I AM jealous

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[Jenben]

Mmmmmm roasted twigs with some sort of dried ribs, you don't see that on Nigella!

 

[BwB]

Excellent thread, thank you.

 

[jumartoo]

Excellent thread, thank you.

Thank you!

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[jumartoo]

Now, especially for @Jenben , tonight's dinner. We have had a Norwegian Christmas meal. The sticks of salted, dried, lamb ribs were soaked overnight in a washing up bowl and then cooked for 3 hours in a large pan resting on the sticks we prepared earlier (Pinnekjott is the Norwegian name, Anglesised as my keyboard doesn't have enough letters!). They doubled in size once cooked and looked like large lamb chops. It was served with the same vegetables as yesterday because of what food we carried up to the cabin.

I must admit it was more enjoyable because I could look at what we were all eating!

One each of the lamb "sticks!". More to come.

Skol!!!

 

[Jenben]

Thanks for those pictures @jumartoo. The picture of the lamb sticks, I wondered if that was BEFORE you ate them or is that the gnawed bones of your lovely seasonal meal?

I need also to know what the sheep's head meal is called in Norwegian? It would be helpful so that I could avoid inadvertently ordering it on a menu.....

 

[Bertie Bassett]

Just picked up on this thread @ jumartoo and it's a brilliant reminder, thankyou. I spent a number of winters in the Voss area and I wondered which valley you were in. Are you near Mjøfjell, its got the Oslo to Bergen railway running through it. Love the country, its people and the scenery. Each January we saw some spectacular displays of the Northern Lights on the plateau above Mjőfjell Station where there's no light pollution. Bettered only by February sightings in Finnmark in the extreme North. As I said in the pics of the day thread....Enjoy, but watch the snow tan.....you're burning

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[Bertie Bassett]

I have decided we are definitely crazy and we don't have Norwegian friends. WE HAVE BEEN STITCHED UP. They gave us sheep's head for dinner. It's a delicacy . Eli took my meat off the head before she served it, but the others had the whole thing. I have a stiff neck from looking the other way and we had very low light.

Any vegetarians look away now.
Martin's meal.
View attachment 85701

I can't even look at it as a photo!

Normally they don't leave Rudolph's red nose on the plate, your hosts must have liked you, they obviously wanted you to share the whole Norwegian experience
Edited to add, they always tell us Brits it's a sheep.

 

[yodeli]

Wahooooo , just loved it! I hope you don't regret your trip away, even though the weather was not as brilliant as in Spain, you had blue sky (and rain and wind...) but what a beautiful country/scenery to wake up to each day! I love snow ... except when I have to drive! Thanks for sharing Judith!

Amicalement
Frankie

 

[jumartoo]

We've still got an almost full day today before going to the airport. Don't know what they've got planned for us!

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[Jenben]

It looks like it has been a fantastic trip, your friends have packed in lots of great winter experiences into a short break.

 

[jumartoo]

For @Jenben the sheep's head is called Smalahove. It's a speciality of Voss and in November they have a special fiesta where you can eat it but you have to get in quick to put your name down to avoid disappointment!!!!

@Bertie Bassett we are about 30 minutes from Voss at Ovre Fenne. It's in a different direction from Mjofjell but in the same region.

 

[Phill D]

Just picked up on this thread @ jumartoo and it's a brilliant reminder, thankyou. I spent a number of winters in the Voss area and I wondered which valley you were in. Are you near Mjøfjell, its got the Oslo to Bergen railway running through it. Love the country, its people and the scenery. Each January we saw some spectacular displays of the Northern Lights on the plateau above Mjőfjell Station where there's no light pollution. Bettered only by February sightings in Finnmark in the extreme North. As I said in the pics of the day thread....Enjoy, but watch the snow tan.....you're burning

Me too between 1980 and 1990 total of 7 winters in the Voss area Between Vinje, Rhong, Stalhiem and Mjiofell great area and the odd day on the Hanger ski slopes. and a quite a few of them ended up; up North, Bardu, Tromso etc.

would love to go back.

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