WINTER HAS NOT LEFT

We came back from the cabin today. Snow is what greeted us and we thought we are done with it.  I just hope that this will be the last time we will see the snow this season. It is allowed to hope! 

A BRIEF REUNION

Charles Ravndal is probably one of the few blogger friends I have kept over the years. I even attended his wedding in 2009. It is a shame that I see Charles and his partner, Odd very seldom. They live in Bergen and it is quite far away from where I live. Charles and Odd had a few days off this holy week so they visited Odd´s folks in Fredrikstad, which is not a long drive to where our cabin is. I am so glad that they visited us. 

QUEUE ON A MAUNDY THURSDAY

We left early for Sweden yesterday, unusually early. We thought that it would be a good idea to do some shopping in the morning before the traffic builds up.  On our way home, we were met by a long line of vehicles on their way to Swedish border. It was probably more than 5 kilometers of slow traffic. We got really lucky. 

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Every Maundy Thursday, a lot of Norwegians drive to  Strømstad to party and get drunk. It is quite usual to find a 10 meter (or more) queue in front of the Systembolaget- liquor store. It is expected every year that quite a number would spend the night in jail. On this day, I am sorry to say, it is almost embarassing to be a Norwegian in Sweden. 

3 MONTH OLD PUPPY

Max turned 3 months yesterday. I have never in my life had a pet which doubled its weight in a matter of  4 weeks much more tripled its weight. We were at the vet a few days ago and he weighed 17 kg. We got  him last February 29 and he weighed 5,7 kg at that time. I knew from the start that Max would eventually be around 70 to 100 kg but I did not anticipate that he would be growing radically right before my eyes.

DEAD TIRED

We have decided to spend the Holy Week at the cabin. We took Max with us, ofcourse. This is the first trip of Max to the cabin. It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes by car from Jessheim to Skjeberg. For a (little -- sarcasm) puppy, it could be very tiring. I almost felt sorry for him when he went to bed. He was snoring like a big dog! 

IN MOURNING

I have not turned on the computer the whole weekend. I was working and too busy with housework. I took a quick peek before I went to bed and a friend who lives in Texas sent me a message on Facebook and told me that our childhood friend passed away. 

I do not know if I would be able to get myself to delete all the e-mails we have sent to each other from 2004. I have been reading them again and again last night trying to find the slightest clue if she has ever told me that she was ill. Nothing. I was meaning to call her the last months. I kept putting it off because of  the little things I have to do. I feel bad that now, I would not be able to talk to her.  

I met Gigi Samson in 1974. We were just 5. We were not friends until we were 6. We were together in a lot of activities in school. I think that we loved the same things, reading, writing and music. Those were the base of our friendship but it blossomed into something wonderful. We have not seen each other since our university days. The last time I saw her was at the University of the Philippines when we were both waiting for the UP Ikot jeepney. She found my blog in 2004 and it was like we picked up our friendship where we left it off.  

We have shared a lot of things to each other. Some of our secrets went to the grave with her. Hers, I will take to my grave. It will be impossible to replace her in my heart. I lost a confidante. I lost a sister. 

May you and Je rest in the hands of our God. 

PLAY DATE

My friend, Michelle, came over today with sweet little Toby (a tibetian terrier). It was suppose to be a play date but Max-the-dog was as usual, too lazy even to say hello. Both of them just had their afternoon naps. The mommies ended up discussing (or gossiping? I can´t really say) about almost everything under the sun. 

I do not have so many filipino friends in Norway. I, therefore, appreciate Michelle very much.  I have a filipino friend who I can discuss much-more-than-the-weather-forecast with. I am sorry to say that I meet a lot of fellow filipinos here who either have nothing good to say about another person or who feels superior than everyone else. Maybe, I am not trying hard enough to find anyone.... maybe. 

PS. Hinnah, another friend, came (to probably see Max-the-dog and not me). There goes three women "discussing." 

Photo borrowed from Michelle´s Album