SATURDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2024

(Oslo, Norway)

I didn’t sleep too well, due to a combination of being mentally too energised and the room being too warm. I can’t say I was too enthusiastic when the alarm went off, but then, I rarely am…

Nevertheless, I was up for breakfast which was another selection of fabulous food options, and enough to fill me up for a short while at least. The food in this hotel is really excellent. 

Andrew got ready and headed down to play for the morning’s classes, and I got ready to go and explore. Having downloaded the Oslo Bysykkel app, I ventured across the road to the nearest bike stand to get a city bike. It took me a good five minutes to work out how to get the bike unlocked, but eventually I managed and I set off down a side street, which led to a pedestrian bridge over the busy main road. I pushed the bike over this and then was ready to cycle around Bygdøy, a peninsula nearby. 

The bike was very heavy. It was good on the flat, and the downhills, but every time the path headed uphill I simply got off and pushed. I didn’t have the energy to do otherwise, although it did get slightly easier when I figured out how the gears worked. I say ‘gears’ but it only made a marginal difference.

Still the farmland scenery was pretty and I was doing ok until the sign at a junction no longer contained my destination. Luckily, another cyclist was passing, so I tried out my basic Norwegian and asked got directions. He answered in Norwegian…and I understood! Then he said a lot more and I must have looked completely blank, because he then said ‘English?’, and explained that whilst the other way was shorter, he was sending me the more scenic way through the forest. Fine by me.

I continued on, entering the ‘skog’, and went happily sailing down a steep hill. At the bottom was a beautiful bay, and I stopped at a bench to admire it. It did mean, however, that I’d missed the turn to my destination, so after a few minutes, I pushed the bike back up the hill until I found my chosen path.

Back on the path through the woods, it was a little more level, and I was soon at Huk, where I put the bike back in one of the stands, before walking to the shoreline. Wandering along, I found a suitable swimming spot and decided to have a dip. 

The water was about 15C, and with the sun out, it was absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed a lovely 15 minutes, just splashing around the bay, some swimming, but mostly head up breaststroke looking at the boats and the scenery.

I got dried off and chatted (in a mix of Norwegian and English) to a few others, before I walked back to the transport hub. It was after 12 noon, and with lunch starting at 1245, I decided to catch the bus which was leaving in 2 minutes’ time. I downloaded the new app (the one from five years’ ago no longer worked), bought a ticket, and hopped aboard. Ten minutes later I got off and walked the five minutes back to the hotel, arriving just as the classes were doing their cool down exercises.

Lunch was another tasty affair, which was good because I was ravenous, again. 

We decided to relax and rest in the afternoon, so I did some blogging, read my book and then got ready for the evening’s ceilidh.

It was of course dinner first. Yes, more food, and just to be on the safe side, I popped across to the mabutikk for emergency chocolate…

The ceilidh was more of a showcase than a traditional ceilidh dance. The acts were a good mix of dances, songs, story telling and humorous acts. There was also a demonstration of Norwegian dancing by a couple of groups and a chance to join in, as well as a few traditional Scottish dances.

Andrew and James played one tune in a selection of tempos, something they haven’t done together for twenty years and it went really well, and they were followed by me reading my poem for the occasion (see below). 

After the ceilidh, it was down to the bar until a bit after midnight, before I sensibly went to bed (it’s now 0044…again, so calling that “sensible” is a bit of a stretch, I’ll admit), and Andrew went to a follow-on party in another room…  

More tomorrow! And in the meantime, here’s the poem:

THOSE WHO CAME

They came from near, they came from far

They came by plane and train and car,

Each one came with joy this day

To dance with others, here in Norway.

 

As they stepped off the train, a welcome was had

And soon in the hotel, all were glad

Of a chance to mingle, to meet and greet –

And to eat dinner, before getting to their feet,

For the music had started, notes filled the air

Calling the dancers to rise from their chairs,

“Take your partners please – for the very first dance!”

(Some wished they’d printed out the instructions while they had the chance…)

 

With the music and dance keeping folk on the floor,

There were cries of “Again!” and “Can we have it once more?!”,

Until eventually it was time for bed,

Or at least, that was what a few people might have said…

But they may have stopped at the bar – well it was on the way,

And they may have had a ‘wee dram’ to end the day.

 

But as the sun rose next morning it was time once more

To stretch out those feet upon the hardwood floor.

With every class, the dancers learned something new,

Whether a dance, or a step, or a figure or two.

 

After lunch, there was a tour of the Sculpture Park

Where, made from bronze, granite and cast iron, there were two hundred works of art,

Then in the evening, at the ceilidh, the dancers had their chance

To join in and learn some Norwegian folk dance.

 

With the trip just half-way through, there was still so much to do,

More classes, more dancing and more chatting over a drink…or two…

Would they choose to rest their weary feet?

Or tour the folk museum with its old-world streets?

Or maybe take the plunge in a cold swimming lake?

Or find a café, and sit, and eat cake?

 

One thing is for sure, no matter what they do

They’ve packed their kilts, their jackets, and long dresses too –

For the last night of the trip is a gala ball,

Reels, jigs and strathspeys – they’ll dance them all!

 

They came from near, they came from far

They came by plane and train and car,

And each one came with joy this day

To dance with friends, here in Norway.