On Sunday I was invited to take part in some fishing / canoeing. Continuing my policy of saying yes I rolled up (slightly nervously) for my first proper experience of fishing. Gudny handed me a rod then gave me a quick rundown of what to do. And shared a delightful story about some poor sod who got the fish hook stuck in his nose hahaha... Just what I wanted to hear. Suffice to say, I was spectacularly useless at it. “Perhaps aim for the water rather than the weeds Graeme?” The next suggestion was to move out to some rocks where I was a bit further away from the aforementioned weeds although it may have been for everybody else‘s safety for all I know. Apparently one of the beliefs in Norway is to have sex before fishing as it dramatically increases the chances of catching something (fish, that is!). I’ve just looked that up and there is an article on Facebook about it (something about dopamin), so it must be true. There was a gentleman nearby who was certainly reeling the fishes in at a brisk pace…
My prowess at fishing can be quite quickly described - after being left alone for a mere 10 minutes or so on this rocky outcrop, it subsequently took three people to untangle my fishing line. Their patience with me was a sight to behold.
After a short break for the obligatory “k og k”, Gudny’s son Erik v kindly took me and a couple of others out in a canoe to try fishing in deeper water as the chances of catching something were greater.
This was a much less stressful way of fishing - rather than throwing the line out and reeling it back in (with either weeds or someone’s nose attached), you let the hook sink for a while (mine was v light with no bait) and then flick it up to try and attract the attention of a wandering fish. I was just as useless at this as my previous attempt; whichever way I tried to flick the line it always seemed to end up near the oar and I spent the entire time worrying about it getting all tangled up again.
As I get settled in to both my new flat and the job, I’m gradually getting a routine sorted. I now start each day with an hour of Norwegian (Mon - Fri tends to be new stuff and the weekend revision) before going off to do work related things. I’m by no means brilliant (or even adequate) at it but I do feel I’m making progress and starting to learn useful conversational stuff. I can give a guided tour round my apartment and talk about family, shopping, food etc. That being said, there are still phrases such as “My husband is not eating the children“ which I have to translate.
Monday afternoons I tend to catch the ferry across to Sandnessjøen for a wee walk and also the inevitable… delighted to say that the lovely ladies in the cafe now know what I like to drink so don’t have to order any more :-) One feels one has arrived!
Tuesday was our last staff meeting of the year and also a chance to say goodbye to David, the current priest. Looking back on my career I feel I‘ve been lucky to always have worked with such lovely priests/ ministers. David has been kind enough to type out whole services for me so that I know exactly when to play. Always a big help!
Wednesday was a rehearsal in Herøy for Operapub which is on Friday (more of which in another post) in one of the school halls.
Thursday involved a funeral followed by my weekly “snakker Norsk med kaffe og kake” with Laila. It has been her husband’s birthday and their wedding anniversary so there was no shortage of cake. One slightly roundabout conversation as I tried to ask when the bonfire that night was “når” and Laila thought I was asking about where “Nordvik“ a few exchanges of “når?” “Nordvik.” “nei! Når?” ”Nordvik” etc…
Åsmund also showed me a little rug that had been shorn (?) off one of the sheep that used to abide outside my house when i stayed in Stavseng.
It was not a v pleasant evening (rain and wind) for the bonfire but it was certainly warm near by. On the plus side, after my spectacular sporting failures at clay pigeon shooting and fishing, I am delighted to report that I positively trounced two young boys (7 and 5 yrs old?) at boules :-)
Yay for Opera Pub!