Nature lives its own life

Our livingroom filled with water and me trying to save the essentials.

So, where can I start? We haven't even unpacked everything, gotten organized in the new house nor managed the insurance papers from the big Brisbane flood before we get flooded again.

Last night when we where all relaxing and doing nothing, Iben (Danish roomie) came running and screaming out of her room which was filled with water. From underneath the main entrance the water was pushed in like from a high pressure hose. It took a few minutes and our living room and rooms were covered in 30 cm of dirty water.

We tried to cover the opening under the door with towels, but

realised pretty soon that was hopeless. All we could do was to save our stuff, call our landlord and wait. Lucky we had the upstairs area that was dry.

Andrew and Pooya trying to unblock the drain.

After an hour or so the water went back and we could look at the damages and start cleaning. Oh lord, what a mess! All the floors were covered in mud, leaves and what else that should normally be outside.

The floors on our rooms were floating and the smell...well, I guess you all know the smell of sewage.

It took us a few hours and at least the mud was gone, but now we are just hoping for new floors. It seems like the standard here, or the lack of standard, is much, much, much lower than Scandinavian countries.

The "flood victims".

A few days later:

But as a "plaster paa saaret" our landlord gave us a nice card and four bottles of wine today. He is the best landlord so far.

Today we finally "moved" into the rooms for the second time. It's still a bit messy, but its good to move out of the suitcase.

Take care,

Ida

Back in Business

Seems to always be long breaks between my posts. Reason?! I am lazy.

Since my last post there has definitely been some "dramas". After Christmas Queensland got flooded. To start with it was only in North Queensland, but moved fast south, and hit Brisbane eventually. There was heaps of confusing messages going between Norway and Australia at the time. The more coming, the more nervous I got. In the end our house started taking in water, and then my flat mates had to evacuate.

It turned out everything went fine in the end. None of them were hurt, and the house only got minimal damages.

The flood in our neighbour's back yard.

Shortly after it turned out everyone got the message of eviction, and had to leave. We started panicking a tiny bit. Suddenly we were homeless and on the other side of the world. Lucky for me I had Millie, who had made it back to Norway, to look for a new house. After only a few days we had arranged a new house in West End.

In the middle of all the mess three lovely Australians had decided to visit Norway. Stupid, if you ask me. Who wants to leave summer in Aussie land for negative 20 degrees, snow storms, darkness and more snow?

The first week they were there I had to work a lot. But we made it to Tromose the first weekend. It was a relaxing weekend where we went out the first night and stayed with Boerge, had a look around on Saturday, and stayed with Elise on Saturday.

We have been to many different cabins, skiing, tried snow mobiles, played in the snow, seen the ice hotel in Sweden, seen rein deers, sledding, seen the Nordic lights and much more. Think they enjoyed their time at the top of the world.

The Artic Lights over Narvik City

Ellie and Rowan being attacked by rein deers

Beautiful Narvik Mountain on the first day of sun, 2011

View over Narvik City and the Fjord

Last Wednesday it was time for my return to Oz. Stayed two nights in Oslo with Merethe and Onkel Rune before departure. Ellie, Rowan and myself walked the Oslo Marathon these two days. Had a look at Oslo's main street "Karl Johan", Majorstuen, Wigerlands Parken, shops and the new Opera House.

At the airport I met up with Millie and we flew back to Brisbane together. We got to the new house early Friday, but had no time to relax. After a shower we emptied our suitcases and went straight to the old house to start packing our stuff over there. After two days, five trips back and forth with stuff and a massive clean-up of the rooms, we could finally take a trip to the beach for some lazy time.

So, this is where I'm at now; a bit sunburnt and extremely jet lagged. The new room is kind of on its way to become organized. We just realised we have WAAAAAAY too much stuff. Its also very hot here now, so when possible I'm sitting in front of my amazing fan.

Hoo Roo for now,

Ida