PR Stunt

Until September, Gamlebrua will be closed for restoration. The bridge is old and rusty, but the idea behind the restoration is also to do a stunt in connection with the centennial of the bridge in October. The plan is to light up the bridge, and Nedre Eiker's politicians say the illumination will be a spectacular sight and a huge PR stunt for the municipality. If the idea of lighting up the bridge goes through, I am curious about the end result!

No tulips?

Do you remember the photo I posted last September, of the gardener planting bulbs in front of the statue of Herman Vildenwey? For some reason, I assumed it was tulips the gardener planted. I say "for some reason," but to be honest, I assumed it was tulips because those are the only flowers I know about that grows out of bulbs. With a little help from my mother, I can show you this photo of the flowers that has grown from the bulbs, and tell you what they are called: Pelargonia (of some sort)..

Kastanjeknopp

This is a picture of a kastanjeknopp, a bud on the chestnut tree growing in my friend's courtyard. The photo is taken a week or so ago, so the leaves are all sprung by now. It's actually in bloom, like all other trees here are at the moment.

17. mai-toget

Thanks for all the comments to yesterday's photo. If you got happy seeing her smile, just imagine hearing her laughter! Today I'd like to show you a picture of the parade, 17. mai-toget. The people you can see walking here are the local scouts led by Nedre Eiker's chief of police.

Nasjonaldagen

17. mai is Norway's national day! Here's a happy teacher from the elementary school in Åsen, Mjøndalen, who is walking in the parade with her students this morning!

Lamper

I like the light that streams through the window of this lamp store at night. I walked past it one evening and wanted to take a photo of it. Here it is!

Bamsesykehus!

Here's a photo from last Saturday's bamsesykehus (teddy bear hospital) that Nedre Eiker Red Cross arranged for the World Red Cross Day.

Ståle stålorm

I contemplated for a while, before I finally got ready for a walk in the forest yesterday morning. "Do I have the time?", "What if it starts raining?" and "What if I meet an elk" were my poor excuses not to go. In the end, "Fresh air will do you good" and "You'll feel great afterwards" won, and I found myself walking along the forest path. I am happy I went, as I had forgot how much I love the sound of birdlife and how good the smell of wet pine really is (it had been raining the evening before). I did worry about meeting an elk for a while, I have to admit, my elk encounter earlier this year have made me a bit wary. I did, however, stumble upon something else, a slow-worm, or what we say stålorm. I am just happy it wasn't the poisonous adder.

Red bud

Within just a week, this tree have gone from having red buds to be full of dark red leaves. Just a little longer, and summer is here!

Same same but different

Just a few months since this photo was taken. The same tree, yet different.

Boklopper

Once a year, the library in Nedre Eiker arranges a flea market, selling out all their old books and magasines. I went there this weekend when they arranged it, thinking I would leave with a picture to show you guys and books for myself. I have to admit I got so carried away as they were sold for 10 kroner a piece, (which is real cheap, just about 1 pound or 2 amercan dollars), I left with just books...

World Red Cross Day

May 8 is the World Red Cross Day, celebrated on the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. Worldwide, local and national red cross marks the day, and in Norway this is done with a fundraiser, with volunteers going door to door with a collecting tin. Nedre Eiker Red Cross also marks the day, every year, with an information stand. Here they want to attract more volunteers, raise money for the local activities and inform citizens about the activities they carry out. The celebration and information stand was carried out yesterday, in the centre of Mjøndalen, with a very successful teddy bear hospital for the children and coffee, waffles and information about the local Red Cross for the grown ups. For more information about Nedre Eiker Red Cross and what they do, check out their web page.

Flaggdag

Norway has sixteen official flag days. One of them was yesterday, Labour Day. Here's one apartment building in Mjøndalen where a few of the tenants celebrated the holiday by putting out the flag.

Mailbox

Another theme day is here! I don't know if its about fashion, status or in order to save the mailmen from stopping in front of each house, but many neighbours have come together and put up different kinds of these mailbox houses, collecting everything from 2 to 10 mailboxes in one place.
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