MY CHRISTMAS: MY CHRISTMAS

My Norwegian Christmas:

23/12 - "Little Christmas Eve" / Lille Julaften

Here me and my family traditionally have rice porridge with butter, sugar and cinnemon on top. My mum hides an almond and the one that finds it gets a marzipan pig. Many Norwegians do this.

We also set out a plate of porridge to the santa (not Santa Clause, see previous post).

Grevinnen og Hovmesteren/Der 90. Geburtstag oder Dinner for One which is a black & white short from Western-Germany with the English comedian Freddie Frinton and May Warden. It's shown in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Australia and South-Africa on New Years Eve, but on the 23rd in Norway. It's been shown for maaaannnnyyyy years.

24/12 - Christmas Eve

Traditionally people in Norway will eat "ribbe" / whole pork ribs, with "sossiser" / mini un-smoked sausages, sauerkraut, vegetables, "tyttebær"/lingonberries and potatoes ++.

Our roast, un cooked and un-prepped of course.

In my family we've always has "skinkesteik"/Christmas roast of ham, roasted and boiled potatoes, "sossiser", "tyttebær", gravy and vegetables. (I feel like I'm forgetting something....?) Normally mum will make a small piece of "ribbe" for the people that want that, but this year we're skipping the "ribbe". I really don't mind. I think Christmas roast tastes a lot better. 

Then after dinner and desert, normally around 18:00 ish, we start opening presents. So fun!

25/12 - 1st Christmas Day / Christmas Day

When I was a kid I got up early on Christmas Day to run downstairs to try out my gifts and check out my stocking. Yeah our stockings either hang by the fireplace or lie under the tree. In it is often some candy, fruit, cartoons, games etc.

Christmas Day is a day where the family gather around the TV to watch old time classics, like Disney and Cindarella. Ever since the 1970s Tre nøtter til Askepott/Three Gifts for Cinderella, org.: Tři oříšky pro Popelku, have been shown on Norwegian TV. One MAN dubbed all the voices into Norwegian. In the beginning I found it hilarious, and I kinda still do, but now I'm used to it. Tried watching it in Slovak language, but it was just so wrong + I can't speak Slovak.

Then often we'll have a Christmas brunch/lunch with some other part of the family we weren't with on Christmas Eve. Usually this is leftovers from the Christmas dinner mixed with freshly cooked bread and/or rolls, omelettes and the normal ham, cheeses etc.

25/12 - 2nd Christmas Day / Boxing Day --> 30/12 - The Day before New Years

Here we've got MAANNYY family parties, hopefully some skiing, friends parties and much more fun. (And suddenly my family looked greek, by the looks of the picture xD )

31/12 - New Years Eve

Early on New Years Eve we smash the peppercookiehouse into a thousand pieces and eat it. (That's just an illustration, I'll show you our soon)

When I've spent my New Years Eve with my family, we normally have a turkey dinner. It the last two years I've been with friends at parties. One year I had taco on New Years, that was lush!

01/01 - 1st New Years Day

Either you're waking up and taking it easy, might go ski OR you're hangover.

Merry Christmas!

I think this guy is a genius! HAHA!
Today's song: All I want for Christmas / Dancing with iPod

MY CHRISTMAS: BAKING PART 2 - ADAM + STEVE?

We've decorated our peppercookies :D Don't they look nice?

Isn't that awesome? 

"Not only just Adam and Eve, 

could be Adam and Steve."

HAHA! I just had to.

Then we made marzipan. Firstly made four colours red, green, blue and purple. Then we dip it in chocolate and with nuts on. This is our tradition in our house. We have these at family parties and also give it as presents to people.

Merry Christmas!

I love this music video, so cool!

Today's song: David Guetta - Titanium ft. Sia

MY CHRISTMAS: BAKING PART 1

Me, mom and my sister had our first Christmas bake session. We made peppercookies, which basically is gingerbread cookies with pepper. So tasty.

We're gonna decorate the cookies tomorrow hopefully.

Shot by one of my sisters, the 8 year old one

Stay tuned for more baking! Merry Christmas :)

Today's song: Glee Cast - Do they know it's Christmas?

MY CHRISTMAS: HOW MANY SANTAS DID YOU SAY?

In my house, at the moment, we have 134 santas of all sorts! In Scandinavia we have "santas" and of course Santa Clause too. In Norway we say that santas lives on farms, woods or mountain, hidden from humans.

 

Traditionally they are red. But about 10 years ago a children's series, "Blåfjell" (Blue Mountain), introduced blue santas.

Giving the people a choice to either dress up in the traditional red or the new blue. Nothing more right or wrong than the other. Normally I'll see both colours out in the streets in December.

I saw New Years Eve with Hansa, Christiane and Simen yesterday evening. Liked it. It's one of those feel-good films. I recommend you watch it. It will give a warm fuzzy feel to start your Christmas celebrations with.

Merry Christmas :D

Today's song: I'll be home for Christmas - Rascal Flatts
 

BREAKS MY HEART

Today I hosted my third Kids Away activity. Went okay, made loads of gifts.

But what hurt my heart today was a amazingly cute 6-year old girl at my project told me "Daddy is funny when he's drunk. Last time he fell down the stairs and mummy started yelling at him. He often gets drunk." ... Some people doesn't deserve the great gift of becoming parents !!!!!! Human scum! 6 YEARS OLD! 6! So tomorrow I have to file a report to Social Services, which is no fun, but it has to be done.

In 9 out 10 cases of domestic violence the child(ren) is in the same or neighbour room, again causing them problems; anger, tantrums, anger, depression etc. Violence against children is the absolute worst thing I know! They have done nothing wrong and gets beaten. That is wrong.

I actually considered becoming a social worker, helping. Funny as it might be, it was the character Maxine Grey in Judging Amy that inspired me to think of that. But then I said to myself, I would rather make something like the series to motivate more people and maybe change more lives. Her character, and people like her in the real world, sometimes see hell when go to work. Kids beaten so badly that their whole body is bruised, alcoholic parents who forget to make food for them cause they're smashed beyond recognition. But still these people keep fighting. These children survive. Some of my friends have gone through hell and more when growing up, they're still dealing, but they're bouncing back.

This is no fun for kids. As with most kids, my parents argued when I was younger, it broke my heart and I used to go to bed so angry and sad. So many times I wanted to trash absolutely everything in my house. And sometimes I did, knocking over books, bed lamps, kicking stuff outside. I even had a period where I asked my mum to buy me a boxing pad. She asked why, I said just going around angry and need to hit stuff. What I didn't tell, was where I got parts of my anger from...

BUT kids all over the world is abused and experience serious forms of neglect. THAT is something to fight against.

Yelling and shouting in front own children should be avoided at ANY cost. It doesn't belong in a childhood. All parents fights, but they should at least have the common decency to don't do it in front of the kids. Growing up with this causes stress on the kids. Your kid often get tantrums and get angry? It's not always its fault, it gets from somewhere. Normally it will copy how it sees the parents react. There's a saying: "Monkey see, monkey do"

So to all parents, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Today's song: Placebo - Running up that hill

1ST OF DECEMBER

1st of December guys!



The magical time of the year. I'm not in Christmas mood yet, but I'll get there. Really looking forward to Sunday though! Having the Christmas workshop I'm hosting for the kids. Yesterday I went shopping for about 3 hours to get ahold of all the arts and crafts stuff. It took a bit longer than anticipated cause of the general strike in the UK. I still need to get a hold of paint brushes.

I belive that every single child should have the oppertunity to give a gift to someone they love, something they have spent a lot of time making. That's all what Christmas is about, showing your love and being gratefull and giving. It's doesn't matter about the pricetag, but the thought put behind it.

My wishlist

I've only wished for two things this Christmas, "Europe on a budget" and "The man in seat 61". Two apperently great books about interrail. I really hope to go backpacking through Europe next summer, making a documentary about my travels and meeting new and amazing people. That's my dream, exploring the world.  If I can manage to make a piece AND explore and have fun in the same time, that's great.

Besides those two, I'll be happy for anything and nothing really. I've got most of what I want/can have. Know this is gonna sound a bit Miss America, but I really want to make a differense for the kids. If I can get them into Christmas spirit, I'll be so happy words can't even describe it.

Christmas

Been listening to Michael Bubles Christmas album for weeks now. He's spiced up the classical Christmas songs with a bit of jazz and 50-60s style. Check it out on Spotify.

Merry Christmas to all!

Today's song: Coldplay Christmas Lights

CHRISTMAS CARDS MIXED WITH KNITTING

**WARNING** From now on until Christmas eve, many of my posts will be about Christmas, shopping, snow, films, music, culture and all the jolly stuff. So if you're a Grinch, close it now and come back 01/01/12.

One of this years Christmas cards I'm sending to family, friends and others.

Today I licked 22 envelopes and 22 stamps... Then tomorrow or Thursday I need to buy 3-4 more. I love sending Christmas cards and love getting them, so get cracking people.

On the right there is the mitten I've been working on. I finished the main in like September this year, but needed some guidance with the thumb from my mate Simen. I've knitted mittens before, but that's two years ago, so needed a refresher.

We gossiped, knitted and chatted for 2:43 hours. I just thought "Wow that went fast, let's set a record next time, five hours." Me and Simen can just chat about random stuff for hours. Show us a picture of a sheep and we'll give 30 min conversation. 

This week is the Christmas week in Swansea. On Thursday me and my good mate Dean are going Christmas shopping :D And we also start our countdown for "Christmas eve". We celebrate it over here on the 9/10th weekend. Then Friday Swansea Winter Wonderland opens and on Sunday it's the annual Christmas parade and Lights Switch-On.

Today's song: Nightmare Before Christmas - What's this?

A SUM UP

Hello. Two weeks since last time... Sorry, been so busy. Okay let's get you up to speed then.

I love Halloween. The ghosts, vampires, ghouls and everything else. If I could choose, I'd be a vampire! Not Twilight style, cause that's just crap... I'm more Vampire Diaries kinda vampire. Anyhoodle, Halloween was great, worked in Oceana filming that night:

After I finished I went home, cause it was way to crowded in there...

Two of my Norwegian friends, Anine and Maja came to Swansea to visit:

They said they had a lovely time and wanted to come back. Just that next we're not going out the night before they leave, haha!



Yesterday we went to Cardiff to see Norway vs Wales (football). Norway lost, 4-1... I felt ashamed went I left the stadium, having the Norwegian flag on my cheek!

I did film a lot, but I have to edit that later. Not enough energy today.

Besides that I'm busy with uni projects, which annoy me... They're boring and I feel like I'm wasting my time. I would rather be working with my final piece. Cause the two films we're working on now isn't getting assessed, only the research.

Oh, I've got a job as a videographer for a documentary commissioned by an art gallery in Cardiff :D :D But want to know the most annoying thing, because I have to film and stuff with the uni exercises I can't stay and edit!!! An stupid exercise is keeping me from something that actually counts.

But I'm having a chat with my tutor next week to see if it's anything to do about it, which I highly doubt. Otherwise I have to try to be creative :D

Also went rollerblading for the first time in 3 years today, for 1,5 hours. Felt a bit weird, but lush to be back on'em again ♥ (a bit rusty, but getting there)

Now I'm heading to bed to continiue reading "The Power of Six", book number two in the The Lorien Legacies series.

Love this song!

Today's song: Flo Rida - Good Feeling

MY HOUSE

Here you go mom, finally, a tour of my house. It's a really nice house, done up during the summer. And we got a great landlord who fixes any problems that might pop up.



As some of you saw in the last post, I found sign language music videos on YouTube. And since that I've watched loads. I think it's so fascinating. It was actually these videos that gave me my idea for one of my documentaries. In one of the modules, we have a project called "Student Led", meaning it's free and we can make whatever we want. I want to make a doc about sign language and how it's like to live your everyday life doing that. Most likely I'm hoping to sign up for the Discovery sign language project. They will pay for my course in BSL (British Sign Language). In return I have to commit to the project, working every other Friday. That would be a great way for me to research for my documentary. One can not really understand another persons way of life before one puts himself  in their shoes.

I think sign language is beautiful and exciting to watch. The idea of communicating like that is to me an incredible thing.

Today's song: Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA (ASL)

SIGN LANGUAGE

I just came across some amazing music videos. He "sings" them in sign language, ASL. How cool is that?



I can say my name with sign language, but that's it. I used to know more, cause we had to learn it 6th and 7th grade. We mostly focused on the one-hand alphabet, in Norwegian, not necessarily words. We even had a test in one-hand sign language. This wasn't compulsory in my time, but our teacher said it was important. Till this day, I really appreciated that she taught us that. One of my little sisters, Christina, she's in 3rd grade now. Her class has had sign language classes from 1st grade cause one of her classmates is deaf. So she knows bits and pieces. I think that's really good.

I think sign language should be compulsory in school, at least to have a basic understanding.

I want to learn sign language, so I'm considering signing up for Discoverys sign language project. It would be amazing to be able to "speak" that.

Today's song: Jessie J - Price tag Sign language style

GOT A NEW JOB AS A PHOTOGRAPHER

I've started my new job now, for Student Swansea Events. Working as a promoter and photographer (film mainly). We had our first "trial" evening on Wednesday the 19th of October at Fuzzylogic (Oceana).



For now I'm working in the Monday team, promoting the concept iLoveMondays. Today I've been visiting Illustration course to tell the student about the Halloween flyer competition. Basically we want them to design a flyer within 36 hours. Can it be done?

I submitting a design proposal to, which I'm making later tonight/tomorrow. I do love my job, cause even though it's minimum wage, I get free entry to a bunch of the cities clubs, VIP and much more.

I LOVE HER NEW SONG! I've listened to it like 7 times today already. Check it out
Today's song: Rihanna - We found love

KIDS AWAY - FIRST ACTIVITY

Today was the first activity of the new project I'm in charge of, called Kids Away. It went absolutely perfect. First I would like to thank my 5 volunteers, who did an amazing job walking through the forest on treasure hunts and making sure everyone was having a great time. Thank you :D

For those that don't know, the Kids Away project take about 20 kids out on monthly activities, such as bushcraft, climbing, bowling etc. With the next week or so, I'll be launching the Kids Away blog (BETA site so far) were you can check out our project, get involved or give donations/support us. F. ex. for the December activity we need jam jars and toilet roll tubes.

Today we were in Gower having bushcraft courses together with Dryad Bushcraft. Andy and Rick were today's amazing instructors, who thought us everything from building a survival shelter and lighting a fire to making friendship bracelets from forest items. 

I felt so good finally starting up. All the stress and planning is worth it when you see these kids faces. They are an incredible bunch of kids, just that some might have had and have a rough time.

One of the boys doesn't speak outside his family, hardly even in school. He's really shy. Today we got him to smile and participate in all activities. He loved it. I also managed to get a faint whispers with the word "Okay" when I asked him "how you feeling?" after he tripped on a stick. One activity, one word. Just imagine, maybe after three activities we'll get a sentence. THAT is progress.

That's what I mean, many of these kids need help rebuilding, but even so, all of them smile and have fun. If I can say I've managed to improve the life of a few kids during my time I'll be through the roof.

Today's song: The Killers - Human

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE

Every Thursday I've got a four philosophy seminar/lecture. I like philosophy, it makes you think of the world differently. This is a response I've written to one of the topics we had today (13/10/2011). This post is also posted on my career blog.

______________________________________________________________________

What is the meaning of life?

This is a question philosophers and people have asked themselves from dawn of time. It's in the very nature of humans to question the world around them. What's the point? Why should I iron that shirt? Why should I go to uni? Why should I bother getting out of bed in the morning?

Matrix - Red: Disconnect from Matrix Blue: Stay put - Source: Warner Bros Inc.

Is reality fundamentally one or is it many? That is a question that has been asked many times. Take the Matrix films. The theory of the world most humans grow up in is computer generated and exist only as part of clever programming. And that the real world is outside this. But then again, what determines what is real and what is not?

I would say the fact that I can see the world, that I can smell the different smells, that I can hear the sounds around. Basically the five senses. But when one dreams, doesn't one see, smell and hear too? What is there to say that the dream is a dream? Maybe the real world is a dream and the dream the real world.

Source: Reellifewisdom.com

We make a choice and either accept it or not. Simple as that. Humans base their choices on logic, moral and ethics. Most of us has the same "moral-code", but then you have the people that have a different view. Are they wrong or are we wrong? We classify someone mentally ill when their minds are much different from the general public. But think of this, the mentally ill will sometimes say they are sane and that in fact "we" are the crazy ones. The perception of reality is subjective.

Back to my original question; What is the meaning of life?
Is it to become rich and buy the newest Audi? Or is to be happy and live life?
This is also something that is subjective. My meaning and plans are different from my friends, if not much, then in some degree.

Meaning with life to me is to be happy, live life, make a difference and be remembered. I chose this reality and accept it, even though it may give you a hard time some times. I wish to make my mark on the world, even if the mark is tiny. If I can help someone or make something that change something and/or someone, I get happy. Yes life is hard and I make bad choices all the time, but I also make good choices. This goes for all of us, in some degree or another.

"Live the life you love, so you can love the life you live."

Don't give up and stay put, it get's better. Sometimes the light in the end of that tunnel might seem so far away or it could be all black. If ever I felt lost, the great and amazing people around me turned on the light.

A great music video, with a stopmotion effect.

Today's song: One Republic - Good Life

HOME SWEET HOME

My room is done :D and I love it! We went to IKEA the other day, all us boys, to buy loads of stuff. Apparently students get 15% off on everything in IKEA (UK only), which is great!



Have a look in my new room: (I know it isn't as smooth as the last one I did, but the program crashed so had to simplify it)


So there, now mom you can't stop nagging about pictures of my room. Haha! I'm gonna post some more pictures of the rest of the house some time in the future. It feels good, having our own house. I'm home now.

Today's song: Sweet home Alabama

KIDS AWAY MUSICLAND

Been working with my Kids Away project all day. Not long now. Gonna be lush to start with it, see some of the kids again. Been calling every single parent/guardian and arranging a social night for the volunteers today.

  

Have you heard James Morrisons new album? The Awakening? It's amazing! That is my album of the week :D 

For the last four days this song has been stuck in my mind! I know it's kinda cheese and it's boy band, bt it's kinda catchy. And the lyrics are true.

Today's song: One Direction - What makes you beautiful