Under Age 3

Some years ago I wrote two posts about getting asked for an ID when I bought wine in the UK  (Under Age &  Under Age 2). I thought it probably wouldn't happen again for another 500 years. But then, when you least expect it, the world has something unforeseen up its sleeve for you!

I was at the shop buying some essentials—plus a can of excellent Swedish pear cider. The lady behind the counter asked "can I see your ID, please?" Let's just halt there for a moment shall we?

So, my beard have started to get some gray patches (I know, me and Clooney). I had bent my head down to pick something up and she repeated the question as I came back up.

Me (sticking my chin forward and pointing with the index-finger):
"See? My beard has gray patches!"
Her: "Yes, but I'd like to see your ID please."
Me: "For the soap or the cider?"
Fredrik: (Starts laughing!)
Her (a little bewildered): "That!" (points to the cider.)

I showed her the ID.

Really, I'm up for a good compliment any day, but in reality's highborn name! Some other day perhaps? -when I have a clean shave and a colourful base-ball cap? Mom thought it was hilarious though, so at least the story came to serve some form of higher purpose! :-)

Macro Economics, Aurora & Deer

I spent all night in the dungeons of the University chasing money through macro-economic models and pouring over Keynes-models. The clock struck midnight and I was afraid of getting caught in the burglary-alarm. Out on the car-park the air was crisp and cold. Since campus is right next to the woods and I had been inside for hours it was time for a walk.

An otherwise gung-ho track across the fields and into the woods, but the ground is frozen now so the walk is quite smooth. At the edge of the field the reeds have frozen and the ice-crystals made high-pitch whistely bell sounds, when the wind brushed through them. Several times it made me turn my head around to see if anyone, or anything, was following me. I didn’t figure out what it was till I was almost back at the car.

On the last leg I came down a hill and out of a small valley. The road was lit in front but I chose the big dark plane at the side instead. The fields are all walkable after the harvest, and especially after they freeze. The Northern Lights were spreading themselves across the sky up above. I turned the torch on to see where I was stepping. After a while, distant reflections of the torch-light appeared in my peripheral vision. I gave it no further thought until the reflections started moving about. What?

I pointed the torch at the reflections. They were still there, but weren’t moving any more. Ah! All of them were in pairs. I couldn’t see their bodies, but knew I had the company of a group of deer. When they ran off they became ‘visible’ as the dark shadows they looked like were moving instead of standing still. Toward the woods they went, but I couldn’t see them entering, and think they were still somewhere in the field. Further down there were more but I tried not to disturb them too much this time. After all, I wouldn’t want to hang in a field with my friends under the Aurora and be scared off by some dark creature carrying freaky portable starlight.

Far away somewhere in my mind I could hear TNT playing ‘Northern Lights.’

Impressions from a Night in the Woods

2nd-3rd of May 2011

The ice has almost melted off the lakes now and the air still has a sharp chill to it. I saw a rabbit still in its winter fur, it ran across the road in front of me. In between the trees somewhere I heard a moose grassing on the trees. It was after sundown and I didn't stick around till it came out, cause I couldn't see what size and in what mood it was. But you could distinctly hear the thump of big jaws chewing on the branches. The leaves are springing out now, so I guess it's something good to eat.

By the lower lake the frogs are getting loud, and back on the road two skunks almost ran me down! I clapped my hands loudly as they came towards me in a ferocious speed. They changed their course and disappeared in between the trees on the other side of the road.

By the old mill place all you could hear was the little river running full of the spring-melted snow. That is; until I stumbled across a chain that is meant to block the road. I probably scared up the entire woods with the noise!

Midnight came and went, and it is still not dark. The arctic summer is near!

Autumn's Coming!

We just had the most awesome Rocknations youth conference on in Church ever! …so far! One night some of us boys that were serving went off to get some food down at Nando’s, after our duties were over. I was gonna take the train home to Leeds and had to run to catch it. Good company makes you wanna stay for just a little longer. Long enough to have to run for the train afterwards. It was great! A drizzle of rain in the air and pitch dark! Reminding me of so many nights in the mountains…

It was then I felt it! I think I wrote about this topic last year too. Just for a fraction of a second it was there! The wet and chilly air revealed something distant, something that was not quite there yet. -Something that could be felt from very far away. Autumn!

I got excited! I’m quite tuned to these things after years in the outdoors. -And I love Autumn so much! Everything sounds different, the music is different and I pick out other records from the shelf. -Just intuitively. I was born in the Autumn, my beloved little sister were born in the Autumn, I love Autumn!

Maybe I feel a special expectation this year, since I spent so much time home in Norway earlier this year.

Lately I have found myself waking up in the morning not knowing which country I am in. I see the light and am not even half awake. I turn around in bed and think: that’s my window… mmm, light… there’s my wardrobe in Norw… (old steam engine going by on the train-line down the road) wake! England.

I really want to be here! But I really want to be back home at the same time. I used to say: “Anywhere, as long as something is happening there!” Right now I need to make something happen. But still there’s a sense of future and unachieved potential in both places. It feels like there are mountains of the mind to climb in both places. And new things are happening indeed. The people I meet, the arts-exhibition Haj and I have put on, new perspectives, Church…

I found something I had written in one of my journals a year ago. I was proclaiming that I was gonna stay in the UK and giving reasons for why! It made me happy to see it again. I just need to stick with the programme. Just that the programme seems to be extending to two countries. Not that I mind. Then I can wake up and go: light, window… mmm… morning, in Norway? UK? And I could be wrong and right with different answers every so often.