Going to Norway in June

Just come and breathe in Scandinavia.

And I booked myself on the Finnair flight (leaves at pretty decent hour – 8.30 am from Delhi). Settling myself in, I looked appreciatively at the miniscule movie screen in front. I, who watches no more than one movie a year, settled down to tick mark Wake up Sid and Avatar while munching on a bit too large a breakfast for so early in the morning

Breakfast was interrupted by a magnificent view and the steward checked his watch and said Afghanistan.

Eight hours later, eyes blurry from all that tv and hypoglycaemia (Finnair disgorged us at Helsinki airport with a muffin in hand and great views of theBaltic Sea) I negotiated endless kilometres of corridors trying to locate my terminal. A lovely airport and I am sure the city is as lovely but as my friends put it ‘Helsinki? Why waste your time and money and energy there when you could be spending it inNorway?’

The odd giggle, the cans of reindeer soup, furs and other exotica, watching the younger and the older age groups being subjected to intensive frisking while I simply breezed through. The forties are a comfortable age to be in.

Helsinki Oslo is a half an hour flight that warrants nothing more than a glass of juice. The aircraft flies fairly low offering a google earth view of twisting rivers, the numerous shades of green gradients and dense conifers. The Oslo airport is considerably smaller – a great relief.

‘Grab yourself a coffee,’ said my friend. ‘I am in a traffic jam.’

Traffic Jam? I wondered. Norway with its declining-aging population? I followed the directives of my stomach and wandered over to the sandwich counters.

68 Kroners! I sighed and paid up. But what a sandwich. There must have been nearly half a kilo of shelled prawn packed into the depths.

The sugar levels restored I was once again ready to appreciate beauty as I jumped into my friend’s car.

Miles and miles of green countryside spun by edged by the thickest stalks of pink and blue lupins. So beautiful … so beautiful I crooned as my friend airily dismissed them. ‘Weeds you know! We have to clear them up. You won’t find lupins in the city.’ cornflower blue sky and the shower of golden sunshine. Sounding ecstatic I know but what to do …it is true

At last in Tennisveien … Tennisview. This pine scented residential area overlooks tennis courts and a football ground and somewhere close by (just out of view for the moment) is the new Holmenkollen Ski Jump.

White Peony buds the size of a cricket ball. This is a cutting from the plant that was his grandmother’s prized possession.

Red peonies in bloom.

Tulips

My welcome drink and snack on the porch

Pims, salami and cheese

The thermometer attached to the kitchen window. It varied between 10 – 20 degrees centigrade while I was there … just perfect

My shadow at 9 p.m. across a buttercup strewn grassy patch.

My Hosts' lovely garden