December 2008 - Nina 18 Months

Seasons Greetings!

December month brought us a true Norwegian winter, but a quick trip to the UK certainly lightened up the Festive Season as well as finding the Norwegians True passsion!

Christmas was a true family event held at my moms house in the UK. This was definitley a special treat for Nina, as not only was she spoiled rotten by the grandparents but both my brothers were there, and my Dad and Gran made the trip up from Devon to join us. This was the first time Nina met her Great Grandmother!

New Years found us back in Norway just in time to witness the most spectacular fireworks show by the local people of Vagsbyd, Kristiansand. Norwegians pride themselves with the knowledge that skiing is their passion, there is a norwegian saying that goes "All Norwegians were born with skis on!" However on Dec 31, we realized their First True love is Fireworks! All laws cease to exist for this one day when you can shoot of fireworks whenever and where ever you want. It doesn't matter how many or how loud, or if it is in your garden or the middle of the street.....you can just go nuts...and boy they Did!

Starting at around 3pm it was constant through to New Year with a serious Crescendo at midnight. As our house is situated on a hill with a view of the valley, we had an amazing view and a Spectacular show! - the quiet, sleepy town of Kristiansand was Alive and Kicking! I've never experienced anything like this before and it will definiltey be one of the memorys I take away with me from Norway, albeit a strange one! Nina managed to sleep through the whole thing....but I think the Only reason for that is because she was in mom and dads bed! :)

Conisbrough, UK

Note:

The Fireworks video certainly does it NO Justice, but gives you an idea of the Craziness...also, this is just a small section of the subarbs that we can see. Certainly not the whole of Kristiansand town...which was apparently going nuts as well!