Alagaesian

Thanks to the warm air being brought to the western coast of Norway by the Gulf Stream – we have milder summers and winters in Bergen than other cities.  Albeit if we can only enjoy them without the rain. 

The first thing I learned about Bergen is that you should always bring your raincoat or an umbrella.  Raincoat is best as the wind can easily make a casualty out of your umbrella. 

It is said to be raining 90% of the year in Bergen – although this year we had quite a nice summer so maybe it was down to 80%. 

Bad weather or good weather – it shouldn’t be something that would stop the people from going out.  Det er ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær (translated – no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes). 

So, we just have to get used to it. 

Too bad, this weekend is Lysfest (Festival of Lights) to mark the start of the advent and the weatherman has been saying the sky’s going to pour down 100 mm on Friday.   

From where I grew up, we always say it’s already christmas when we reach the ‘ber’ months.  You’d start hearing those songs over the radio - or even countdowns in some stores. 

I always look forward to christmas because this usually meant (note past tense) getting money from my folks and grandparents.  That was when I was a selfish smartass kid.  

And now that I’ve grown up – it’s sort of the other way around now.  You get lesser gifts than what you give out…  At least I do (and for some of you who still get loads of stuff – I’m happy for you).  Not that I’m complaining.   

Started my holiday shopping last weekend – and dropped in the shops tonight as well and grabbed something while waiting for my bus.   Weeknights is the best time to do this if you want to avoid the long queues – so I thought it best to beat the rush. 

For some reason, I always end up in the gadget shops and in deep thought of what I should get myself for christmas.  Hey, we are not restricted to giving gifts only to second persons.  For all you know, with the heck of the year you’ve put on – you deserve a gift yourself! 

I have my eyes set on a macbook.  I think the guy in the store already knows my name as I have been on his shop for the nth time without getting anything. 

My subconscious tells me that I have already booked myself a gift – a week off on the Sharm (Egypt) on christmas.  That means I’ve gone a bit overboard this year – and I have used up my budget for a macbook… 

Perhaps another bluetooth instead to replace the one I lost?

Here’s one by Muse – ‘Starlight’.

Technorati Tags: Muse, Starlight

http://www.bt.no/kultur/film/article318588.ece

If there is a day that people would wear tuxedos to the theaters, it would be today. 

It was the premiere of the latest 007 movie – Casino Royale – here in Bergen.  I was fortunate to get invited by ‘Q’ to a Premierefest (Premiere Party) where I had a chance to hobnob with the rich and sophisticated of Bergen. 

The night started with free-flowing champagne in a private room in the Bergenkino theater until the much-anticipated viewing of Casino Royale.  We will probably see some familiar faces on the papers tomorrow as news cameras snapped away endlessly.  The movie itself was entertaining – two and a half hours of true James Bond sophistication, action and romance (critics have said that we actually see more ‘human emotions’ in the new film). 

And as in all Bond films – they had to crash ultra nice new cars.

Crew of the James Bond movie smashed up £500,000 worth of 007 cars in one afternoon – reports The Sun.  Three identical Aston Martin DBSs were flipped on their roofs during shots for a high-speed Alpine chase.  And within hours of the start of filming, the special edition V12 Astons created for the movie were wrecks.

It’s exactly the sort of thing James Bond would do.

The British car maker created the DBS for new 007 Daniel Craig. It is not on sale, but experts say one would cost at least £165,000.

The after-party was complete with choice drinks – from martinis to wine or cognac (we’re missing the Akevit tonight…) - and excellent buffet tapas at a nice home halfway up the Fløyen overlooking the city.  The house could’ve passed for one of Bond’s as well, albeit built in the 1930’s by a famous Bergensere architect.  And for those who were up to it, a room was reserved for high-stakes poker with a blind-bet of 300 000 dollars.

Shout outs to Geir, Janniche, Alf Johan and Per Bjørnar for organizing the premierefest.  Vi gledde oss! 

Technorati Tags: casino royale, james bond, aston martin dbs

My notebook has been crashing – since 2 weeks back.  I think its days are numbered – which means that I need to backup my files over at my gmail account perhaps every week.

I had it diagnosed by our office IT expert.  The culprit, it appears, are my shareware programs – Kazaa, bit torrent, etc. etc…

I do not really see the connection, except of course if there are viruses being shared around etc. etc.  Apart from that, I do not understand how these programs could eat up the computer over time and cause them to crash.

Ok – I’m not the computer expert so I’ll just take his word for it.  I’ve now deleted all those programs which I don’t use anyway – except for my bit torrent! 

If these things cause computers to crash – then aren’t we in big trouble (considering the millions of users).

I should’ve bought a Macbook when I was in Hong Kong!!!

Two vampires were spotted in Goteborg, Sweden over the weekend. 

Apparently, witnesses say these species originally come from Bergen and paint the town red – usually on a weekday – when one leasts expects trouble.

How’s Pacific next week?

What crappy weather…  Hale on the weekend and strong winds today.  I was literally kept awake until the wee hours by the wind banging on my windows.  Amazing they’re still in one piece. 

This morning i opted not to use my umbrella or risk it to be another casualty of the infamous wind here in Bergen.

So what else is new?