Fabulous response!

Beach going at this time of year requires more than sunscreen

The response to the blog has been gratifying. Comments, emails and contacts re-established from friends and family from all over the world. Given the busy schedules most of us seem to be bound by, I'll do my best to keep the momentum rolling. Highlights from the week have included:

2009 Phoqaawii reunion
Arnosts' plan for a 2009 Phoqaawii reunion on Heron Island sounds pretty damn good to me! Finances permitting of course. Kim commented that only Arnost would plan 4 years in advance. I assume she meant that as a compliment ;)

Inflation adjustments for ranting
Martin Doherty offered his own unique tangent on ranting. Take a look at his comments at the bottom of the Rant on Ranting.

Three dumb monkeys...
...a picture that struck a chord with the subjects! I've placed a full sized photo lab quality JPG for download. It's a 1.2 meg download and can be found here for the next couple of weeks. If any of the pics you've seen are "must haves", just drop me a line and I'll organise a proper quality version for you.

Ashley saved from a fate worse than death...
...at Pete's bucks party when I passed out (not from drinking thank you. I have a condition, alright?) He informed me a couple of days ago that I was under threat of being teabagged. Those of you who know what that is understand the seriousness of the threat. Those of you who don't, trust me, you don't want to know.

Curved Yellow Fruit
I've been reliably informed that this is in fact a non discriminatory appellation used to avoid unwelcome fruit stereotyping. So there.

Kims waterskiing trip on the Hawkesbury
Please redirect all enquiries about that particular lost weekend to Kim. Oh, did I mention she's jumping on a plane to Seattle and on to Alaska on Sunday? For 3 months? Coincidence??

The way we were
It's been very popular and I have a vast stock of images to call on. If any of you folk have something particularly juicy you'd enjoy sharing with the entire world, let me know. In the meantime, more fashion mistakes and dubious hair are on the way next week.

A rant about ranting

It's something that as Australians, we cherish our birthright to go off about anything that gets under our skin. Bridge toll, stamp duties, GST, Delta Goodrem, Kerry Packer, the government (irrespective of its stripe) Bush, etc. it doesn't matter what the topic is, we are raised with the God given right to open our pie hole and give our 5 cents worth of uninformed opinion and then go off and do better things.

For some reason, Norwegians get scared when I rant


Now, as we well know, ranting doesn't mean we are actually going to do anything about it. I normally use ranting simply as entertainment and just for keeping conversations going at particularly dull gatherings.

So I come to my point. I live in Norway these days and blow me down, they don't really get it when it comes to ranting. They take it deadly serious and get all scared looking when you go off about the tollgates now encircling our little town (one of my favourite rants) and how someone should be put up against a wall for it and the tollgates blown up.

I maintain it's a cultural heritage thing for we southerners. Rannveig of course just tells me to leave it alone and stop making so much noise.

Any opinions on this subject? Stick it in the comments.

The way were were pt. V

...or three dumb monkeys as I call it

click on it to see a bigger (and uglier) image

This one was taken at symphony in the park, early 90's. No comment required guys.

I've been asked a couple of times about when Arnost is going to be properly represented in our growing rogues gallery. He's actually a problem because he hasn't changed much since he was 15. Those Khun genes are as strong as a cockroach's (as anyone who has had the spooky experience of meeting his charming but alarmingly similar looking siblings can testify). Be patient. I'll find something worth the wait!

Some Norwegian humour

American truth in advertising

Despite the reputation for having a sense of humour that would make the Germans look like party animals, the locals here do have a refined sense of the ridiculous.

As evidence, click on this link and see for yourself (Windows Media format, streaming file). It is a nice example of a particularly Scandanavian chore that isn't too far from the truth. The tag line in English is "Get a better start to the day"

The way we were pt. IV

Back when we all still had necks

A double dose today. Pete Juchau is todays victim representing the southern hemisphere. Actually the years haven't been too rough on him seeing as he wasn't that pretty to begin with (more your rough, tough knockabout bloke, right Pete?) Anyway, Pete gets gentle treatment from me here in consideration for his noble behaviour at his bucks party weekend some years later where I did my fall down and roll the eyes into the back of my head routine some of you are familiar with. He made sure that no one took the opportunity to have a whizz on me while unconscious. Cheers mate!
Nice noggin palm, Kristina!

Representing the northern hemisphere and in bunad* no less, my brother in law Joe, Rannveigs sister Anne Kirsti and the kids (l to r) Peter, Kristina and Jacob. Taken on National day 17 May 1993.

*Norwegian national costumes for you heathens down south and across the Atlantic

Oskar reconquers Tønsberg

So far the move back for Oskar has demonstrated just how much he managed to charm his way into the lives of others. First day after returning he is across the road and up to the first floor apartments begging for attention from some of the girls who live there (which he naturally got).

They were going to call us before Solveig got their attention by calling for Oskar and he was returned (ha!) without incident. Looks like Solveig and David are going to be meeting a lot of new people through Oskars network.

The way we were pt. III

Not much changes, really...

Kimbo, mouthing off or yawning (possibly both) at Julefest 1992. A certain Mr Matthews was also present for those of you with long memories.

Nice best mans suit, Kim

Dolled up as my best man, April 1992. She's my best friend in the whole wide world, so she deserves to get two pictures, right? (*snigger*) Besides, I'm sure there are a few people in Cairns who wouldn't mind having a look at the pre-millenium Kim.
Special note to Kim (you others should not read this) Remember the Hawkesbury River water skiing trip? I wonder if I've got those nuuuuuudde pictures of a certain someone staggering out of the river in the middle of the night after a bunch of certain cretins stole all the girls clothing. Hmmmm. I was sure that I had them around here somewhere.. (just kidding. Honest. I didn't have the camera that night)

The way we were pt. II

Hmmm...who ever could this be?

Yes, todays lucky winner is someone most of us know and love...Piccles! This was at our very first Julefest held at West Street in Cammeray, July-ish 1992. Please note the streamlined look and more defined hair colouring.

No, none of you are safe. We have so very many pictures to get through. Requests and / or bribes to prevent publication can be addressed in the "Comments" section.

Todays timewaster. One of the funniest videos on the net at the moment. It's a streaming one, so you folk with modems will be able to see it just fine. Click here to have your view of Natalie Imbruglia altered forever. (Windows Media format)

The way we were pt. I

...and the camera adds 5 kilos

As promised, an unwelcome reminder of the passage of time. I thought that it was only fair that we should be the first victims in this sad, but unavoidable ritual. 13 years ago, 1992 Austinmer Rannveig and I tied the knot. Both of us were complaining of being fat at this time (as were the rest of you about yourselves, if I remember things rightly).

LC has a predictable reaction on seeing her parents pre-baby photos


Who will be next in this unwelcome turn down memory lane? Stay tuned.

Oskar moves out

Oskar in full stress mode after moving

Pretty puss Oskar has moved into his new accommodations back at Munkebakken. It was a stress free event and he seemed much more concerned about taking advantage of the heated bathroom floor than pining over us leaving him. (Not a surprise really).

Oskar gets cozy in his new digs

David and Solveig have been kind enough to take in our demanding little furrball. It's going to be strange not having him underfoot, whining about the lack of chicken fillets in his life. He'll be back with us sometime in May for a visit when the new surrogates have to travel away from sunny Vestfold for a while.