Tromso, Norway

Once again it has been absolutely forever since I last updated this darn blog! Well it's been so long that I've almost forgotten what to write!

Well my Norway trip was incredible, and very interesting... the journey was horrific. It took about 15 hours to get there and about 12 to get back, we missed a flight and caught almost every mode of transport possible. Tubes, trains, planes, buses, taxis.... it was an adventure! I'll detail the terribleness another time. Onto Tromso...

Tromso was amazing - easily the most different place I've ever been. I saw my first snow. The sun rose at about 9.30am and set at about 1.30pm, leaving all our body clocks totally confused as to when to sleep, eat etc but we had an amazing time - the husky dog sledding was the highlight of the trip although we went there intending on seeing the northern lights. Unfortunately they weren't active while we were there. I met Charlotte's gorgeous friends Michelle and Louise, together the 5 of us had a great girly weekend away, although surprisingly we didn't get up to any mischief as it was so expensive there! We wanted to go out for Charlotte's birthday but couldn't afford it and we were all so tired! The trip there was so incredibly long and we were worn out from the wilderness centre trips and just wanted to sleep!


On the Sunday we wandered into town hoping to find some action around but not a person was to be seen, Tromso isn't the most happening place - I think everyone must hibernate in the winter. There was amazing mountains around the town - such stunning scenery. It was a bit overwhelming!

Anyway have a look at my photos from the trip. Oh and on the way back we saw the most stunning sunrise from the plane that I've seen in my entire life! :-)

Sisu

To perservere in hope of Summer
To adapt to its broken promise
To love winter

To sleep.

To love winter
To adapt to its broken promise
To perservere in hope of Summer

===============================
Lavinia Greenlaw, 1962

Sisu (Finnish term for perservering in the face of adversity)

Halloween & Guy Fawkes

Last week was Halloween. On Saturday we went shopping in Camden for Halloween outfits to wear out clubbing on Saturday night. Camden is full of goths so we thought it would be the perfect place to find something Halloween-esque. Ended up getting some devil horns and skull-patterned tights (I didn't want anything too over-the-top!)

We carved our pumpkin and made a Jack-o-lantern - my first one ever! Turnmills was great, there was heaps of people dressed in Halloween costume and Dimitri from Paris was really good.

On the 31st, Halloween eve, we went to an Imogen Heap gig - she was awesome! She has such an amazing voice. If you haven't heard of her, check her out.

This weekend it was Guy Fawkes. There has been fireworks going off all weekend. On Friday night Charlotte and I went along to watch the fireworks at Clapham Common. Pretty much every park in London puts on their own fireworks, run by the local councils. We put on our jackets, gloves and beanies and went down to the common with our flask of hot mulled wine :-) It was great! The fireworks here are timed to dramatic classical music, its so festive! Lots of people were there with their flasks, toffee apples and sparklers. It's a shame that most parks aren't allowed bonfires anymore.

I spent the weekend shopping for warm things for winter - coats, beanies, thermals etc in preparation for my trip to Tromso. I'm so excited - less than 2 weeks to go!

Oh I also was pickpocketed on Oxford street and had my wallet stolen! Such a pain. I ended up in the local pub with Charlotte cheering me up that night!

I think we are heading to Stonehenge and Bath this weekend!