Well folks, it's been a long time since my last proper post as we've been frantically trying to settle into our new life here in Bergen.
So much has happened in the past few weeks I couldn't possibly report all of it so here's a kind of condensed version...
Arrive safely after staying an extra week in the UK to tie up loose ends, etc. We stayed in a hotel for a couple of nights while we waited for our furniture to arrive from the ship.
Within a week of being here, Heather had made friends with the neighbours kids who are all Norwegian! Fortunately they learn english at age 6 so some of them could speak to her. Didn't stop her though. She managed to ride her bike down the hill and into a wall, breaking her thumb in the process!
The first few weeks were just spent unpacking and moving in. We also had to get used to the nightmare prices here! £9 for a vodka and lime! Also the food is different, the cheese is sooooo bland, nice...but bland. It's like Jarlsberg - rubbery with no flavour. Milk too - there are about a million different types ranging from fat free to soya to lactose free to whole milk. They love yoghurt here too and have it on their cereal in the morning.
Heather started her new school a couple of weeks ago and seems to be enjoying it. Her friends are from all over the place - Iceland, Germany, Holland, Japan, Singapore and England. I've also become quite friendly with the mums here too. They're all so nice and in a similar situation to me. I thought they'd all be 'oil wives' but they're not. Many of their husbands are doctors for some reason and a few are oilmen as expected.
Hamish loves his new home and being with me all day. He has a new 'big boy' bed we bought from IKEA when we first arrived. His room has all his toys in and a lovely view of the mountains. Although he seems to prefer playing in Heather's ENORMOUS room more. As Alan has the car at work, Hamish and I get the bus every afternoon to collect Heather from school so that's an adventure for the wee man.
Alan is enjoying his job too and it looks like he'll do well there which is a bonus. We had our first night out at the weekend without the kids. We had a couple of girls babysit and we went out with his work for a meal then onto one of the guys boats which was moored in the harbour then onto a big music festival in the Grieghalen (Grieg Hall) in the centre of Bergen. It was to celebrate 100 years of Hydro (Norway's big energy company) and they had organised loads of bands to play. There was jazz, swing, classical, DJ and the highlight was the guy from Roxette and his new band (ok they were pants!). They had a similar event in Oslo too and the main attraction was A-Ha!!!
Got lots more things coming up too, got a lunch with the mums from school then a girlie night out next week, the school parents evening, Heather starting ballet classes, got a couple coming for lunch on Sunday from Alan's work. It's all just never ending social life!
Anyway must go as I'm up early tomorrow. Will try to keep blog updated from now on. Now that our wireless broadband is working - oooo I'm sooooo clever :)
