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Showing posts from July, 2012

Snow-covered Alps.

The snow covered alps in the horizon, and although it's a bit nippy, it's a beautiful day here in the Swiss countryside. Yesterday was the wedding and it was varied and fun and I think the couple getting married managed to include all the different things they wanted in the day. It is a strange feeling though to understand nothing of what is said and be totally dependent on translation. Swiss-German is definitely a unique sing-songy language. Thankfully the weather turned  out nice and all in all it was a nice day. I just finished breakfast and soon I'll be headed back to Amsterdam. Making the most of filling my lungs with clean mountain air before heading back to being 3 meters below sea level and surrounded by multitudes. My mind has started to race again and I am trying to remain just a little longer in chill mode. Wanting to figure out  how can live relaxed on the midst of busyness, which seems a to be something you have to fight for and the moments of entering it ar

Breathtaking.

Tekoe is a tea shop at the airport in Geneva. I just landed and am having a wee cup of Earl Grey while waiting for my good friend Faith to arrive. I also got a croissant with tea extract which in my opinion is more of an interesting idea than anything  very extraordinary. It had some dark bits in it but apart from that it was pretty much a regular croissant, the good kind. Switzerland. Different language and currency. Not as many tall blond people around, and even at the airport it feels more chilled. I don't know how much I'll get to see and take in in just a weekend, but it's cool to be here.  As the plane was landing I saw mountains and it brought a moment of joy to my Norwegian heart that is usually surrounded by a vey flat Holland where finding even a hill is unusual. It is good for cycling of course, something I'm getting more skilled at in the sense of navigating around confuse tourists and I haven't hit anyone properly yet (and hope I never will). I w

Reflections at sunrise.

I'm sat here at Schipol airport. It's not even 6 am yet so it's needless to point out that I am a tad tired. Add to that the fact that I have tried to get into schedule focusing on the night, and that even knowing in my head that I need to get up at 4am, I find myself quite awake at 2am. I am thankful for my skinny, tall, non-fat latte from Starbucks this morning. It was worth standing in line for. So here I am. On my way to switzerland for a wedding. Life has been so busy I haven't really had time to think a lot about it except for working out the practicalities. I think it's going to be good. The sun is rising outside. It is beautiful. Writing this on my phone is a tad challenging, but the sense I have in this moment is such a reminder of the goodness of God and His peace in my life. He truly is who He says He is.

The best speech I’ve ever not heard.

My brother’s wedding on Saturday was your typical Norwegian wedding with different contributions to honour the bride and groom and “only” 12 speeches. We started at 4 pm and ended at 2 am (which is the “normal” time for a Norwegian wedding to end).  The definite highlight of the evening was my brother’s speech to his bride. Although I do question whether or not it can be called a speech, as that implies that something has to be spoken, and there were no spoken words. Only written ones. But then I guess you could claim that the speech was “spoken” through the written word. Anyway, my brother had made power point presentation expressing everything he wanted to say and “said” it with style in 8 minutes. It’s the way to go if you don’t like speaking in front of people, yet find yourself in a situation where you don’t really have an option. We were laughing so much many tears were shed in the process, and I don’t think any of us will ever forget this speech. It truly was the best