Takk

If you're only going to learn one word in norwegian ( take note dad) then Takk is the word to go for. Meaning thank you, it's a pleaser, it's politeness and it's also a great pacifier if required.....

Last October I had an initial meeting with a builder from Trondheim, who despite being quite helpful at our meeting, sadly disappeared into the ether shortly after. (probably on realising the potential grief working with a British architect would bring. Lol.) However, every cloud and all that.....and as such on the last visit I managed to meet up with a great bunch of guys from a local contractor and including a specialist in masonary and puss (I'm sorry what.........oh yeah puss, Nowegian for plaster....)  All of whom are local residents of the village and of course you can probably point to their houses from ours ....see previous posts ;)

They were recommended by my neighbour (they say that you should always listen to a Norwegians advice!) and not only did we have a great initial meeting, but they have stayed in touch since and we have now got a new roof booked in for later in the summer!  

I can't remember if I've said this before but currently the roof, whilst water tight, is certainly not warm and definatly not snow proof (as I found out a couple of weeks ago during the storm when puffs of snow were blowing into the house around the chimney flashings, it was like a horror version of Ivor the engine trying to get into house). 

The roof at present is made up of a timber plank ceiling with just profiled metal sheeting on top; the net result of which, is all the heat disappearing out through the roof and depositing a good layer of condensation en route!  It also sounds like being inside a maraca operated by a toddler when it rains......parents you know what I'm talking about.

So we will have a new metal tiled roof, fully insulated with new guttering, soffits  and fascias, hopefully all on time for next winter :)

Warmth here we come.  

I'm not sure what kind of roof finish the house had originally? Whether it was cut stone or even grass, as so many in the area are, but the metal tiling is a good compromise  and will certainly last out our tenure,  but more importantly fit the budget! (And in fairness is identical to the neighbouring houses) Oh, and about takk......so knock a k off and you get norwegian for roof (tak) figure that out .....it certainly explains why I often got strange or no replies to emails when I signed them off with roof as opposed to thank you ?!? 

Next time, why calling your child Ned is a bad idea if you plan on being in Norway.......google translate it ;)

Takk.

Let it snø......

So when kath and I unleashed our adventure on line we pitched it as a cross between grand designs, escape to the country and ice road truckers.....suffice to say last weekend was more of the latter. 

I posted a double selfie (is that the right term?) of my dad and I as we sat in gatwick ready for our weekend away and prior to that I rechecked the weather forecast that I had been diligently checking for 2 weeks prior.....oddly enough it had been the same. I.e. Strangely mild weather, very strong winds and heavy snow......called by the man on the vaernes car hire desk as Storm Orla.

After a pretty easy going flight watching episode 1 of sky atlantics fortitude (which is on you tube for free and I highly recommend it if your nordic noir, albeit slightly Hollywoodfied. It's got the killings Sarah Lund (Sofie something) , Michael Gambon and the great Stanley Tucci to name a few and is set on a fictional town on Norway's bear island, Svalbard).....anyway where was I...... 

.....our first trip of the day was a now usual jaunt to ikea and the DIY stores and suffice to say when I stepped out of the car I was faced with 50mph gusts of horizontal snow so strong I could barely stand up. After donning our hats, coats and other winter paraphernalia to make the 50m dash from the car to the entrance doors, another car pulled along side and out jumped a sporty ( are there any other type) norwegian wearing jeans and a t shirt! Oh the shame.....

So I could also mention the fact that we had the occasional white out on the drive, the fact I got the car stuck on the hill outside the house, that we had so much drifting snow over night that I had to dig the car out or that one of my just met, lovely neighbours, took the car off me and reversed it up the hill for more grip...oh the double shame.....but actually it was a weekend of firsts, the first time electricity has been on in 30 years (see the last post ;) ) the first time I've ever needed to explain in norwegian that my snow chains are too small (hopefully the last time as well), the first time of sleeping in the house (the champers will be saved for when kath joins me .....nothing personal dad), the first time I've ever needed to clear the snow before I could reach the toilet (it's currently in the barn) and the first time my dad has left the country in about 10 years and certainly in the 3 years since my mum died. 

Here's to lots more firsts at nordic-snø :)