Eeek. I had not foreseen this. I probably should have but I was busy being worried about sleep deprivation. My back is acting up. Apparently 14 hours at the computer is not being appreciated. I’ve got this rogue disk in my lower back which isn’t quite ‘slipped’ but every now and again it reminds me that it could slip if it wanted to and presses on the sciatic nerve. Hence I now have constant pain down my left leg.
Ouch.
Don’t worry, though, I’m too stubborn to let that stop me.
I guess it’s time to mention the forests. We have a lot of trees in Norway, many of them in the area called Finnskogen (‘The Finn Wood’, which spans the border with Sweden). If I had to chose between the ocean and the woods, the woods would have no chance – luckily I don’t have to chose.
On the subject of matpakker; time for some fuel:
More music, now, this time a duo that mainly made children’s records, though with the odd forage into the world of adults. They’ve split now, after some messy financial quarreling, which is quite sad, but the records live on.
I am talking about Knutsen & Ludvigsen. A lot of children’s songs have zany lyrics, of course, but I think it might be hard to beat this pair. The original concept was that these two guys lived inside a tunnel, and one of the most popular songs is about a badger that accidentally sticks his head through their ceiling.
Vi har en grevling i taket,
greveling, grevelang,
vi har en grevling i taket, grevelang.
Vi har ikke ellediller eller krokofanter,
men vi har en grevling i taket.
(We have a badger in the ceiling,
badgering, badgerang,
we have a badger in the ceiling, badgerang.
We have no elediles or crocophants,
but we’ve got a badger in the ceiling.)
See what I mean.
One of their other songs, incidentally, deals with ‘matpakker‘. K&L do not appreciate them as they ought, their complaint, mostly, is that the different slices of bread and spread get mixed up.
I’ll call him Charles, of course. I was supposed to convert him into a fishtank, but I don’t think I have the heart to kill him. I suppose I’ll have to think of a use for him as a computer instead.
It’s 3 AM. I have made it half-way. Problem is, of course, this is where it gets difficult. Staying up past 3 AM is not something I do very often and staying up well past noon the next day usually only happens if I’m on a trans-atlantic flight…
…is starting to sound like a very good idea. I’d try the power-napping thing if I didn’t know that the moment I lay down and close my eyes I will feel wide awake and probably just manage to nod off in time for the alarm to ring after 25ish minutes. So, cold shower instead. And then I’m going to see about this css. That might keep me alert. I hope.
I mentioned Lillebjørn Nilsen a few days ago – naturally, as I was going to his annual summer concert that evening. Well, the concert was great, and did not make me feel sorry to understand Norwegian. I’m sure it would be possible to translate his songs, somehow – he’s done some himself – but it can never be quite the same thing. Lillebjørn’s lyrics permeats my whole life. Along with Erik Bye he was my favourite singer as early as kindergarden – and though Bye has faded a bit from my consciousness (a few notable songs excepted), Lillebjørn is ever present. Now more than ever, in fact, after I moved to Oslo. So many of his lyrics mention specific places in Oslo, so that sitting on the tram reading street signs my mind will automatically do a Lillebjørn Nilsen medley.
Just had a bit of a break from the computer screen to watch tv. Break? Right. Anyway, BBC Prime’s repeat of Parkinson with Robin Williams and Stephen Fry as guests.
So now my tummy aches from laughing.
There is at least one good Norwegian film. Ok, so I can think of a few others, but never mind now. It’s called “Pinchcliff Grand Prix” in English, apparently, though we know it as Flåklypa Grand Prix. It’s very, very good.
I was supposed to take the rubbish out earlier. I haven’t yet. It’s still by the door. Oh, well, if I need to wake myself up with some fresh (?) air, that’ll be a good thing to do later, I guess.
A cold shower is also starting to sound like a good idea.