Hi, my name is Stinkypaw and I'm an addict...

Well hello there!  Long time no see, really.  I know, my bad, it's all on me!  I've been keeping busy and things like that.  You know, life?

My name is Stinkypaw and I'm a postcard addict!  There I said it.  The first step has been taken, in this long fight against my postaddiction, it seems.  If only I meant it!  You see I've developed this addition back in the seventies, when I was a wee thing, crying at my grand-parents' place in Amos while my folks went to visit a cousin in New-Brunswick and decided to tour while there.  They sent me a postcard to let me know where they were, had how nice it was, the fuckers.  I remember being so upset at them for ditching me at my grand parents, with no kids around!  They sent me a postcard!  I kept that card!  Yes, I still have it!  It was the beginning of my collection! From that moment on, I kept all postcards addressed to me.  A few of my uncles used to travel some and my aunts would send me a card from where they went, like Acapulco, Miami... then some friends starting to send me cards from their holidays abroad.  I went to a prep school, so it was fairly common to go away for Easter, but not for me, we didn't travel by plane.  My dad drove places.  We visited a lot of our province and made our way to the States too.  I loved to write, so sending a postcard was always fun.

As time went on, when I started to travel (by plane) I really took a liking to sending cards.  I loved to send just as much as I did receiving those little square of cardboard with a funny picture on them.  For the past seven years, I've become a Postcrossing member.  In those seven years 2,117 cards I've sent have been registered and I've received 2,109, as of today.  In reality though, I've sent out 2,590 cards, some to be registered as received yet.  Yeah, 473 cards have either been lost, received but not registered, or God knows what.

When I was in Norway, in May, I went a little  crazy.  You see I brought back two hundred ninety cards. Yeah, I know, crazy!  In my defense, they do have cards that are not only touristic and some were really nice cards, so I stocked up...  That being said, EVERYTHING is fucking expensive in Norway, so...  But still I did go overboard!

Tonight, because I had all the credit card slips from our trip and had indicated on them the price in CAN$ I did a little recap of how much I did spend in stamps and cards while in Norway...

I'll leave it at that, ok?  I think it might be a VERY good thing that I never actually sat down and calculated how much I'm sending really... It's crazy and I'm nowhere near tired of doing this yet. I think it is time for me to control myself - control such an ugly word, no matter under what circumstance or in regards to food, substances, goods, etc. - if only I had some willpower left in me.  I think that plant (of willpower) has been shut down for a few years now... sadly...  Oh, I could pretend and say that I will send less, but who are we kidding here?  We all know that when it comes to postcards I have no fucking interest in stopping anytime soon!  I'm sick, I'm an addict and I fucking assume it 'cause I love it! 

Goodbye 2015

This time of year I usually do a little recap of the year, not only to reminisce but to give me some perspective on how my year went.  2015 was quite the year, and I would lie to say I'm sad to see it coming to its end.  It wasn't all bad, nor was it all good.  We had our fair share of crap and good times too.  I guess the bad has to come with the good, right?

This year, unlike the previous last two, I've experienced less stress... because I had to let go of all my clients when we took off for our Norway escapade.  Looking back, that was the best time of the year for me.  When I try to see why, the same reason always comes back: I didn't know anyone and didn't have to walk around on eggshells all the time. Weird how I'm realizing this now.  I loved our time away, because I was with my husband away from everything and discovering new things/places/people together.  There were no expectation, no relationship, no family, just the two of us and we loved it that way.

This year, once again, Postcrossing took a lot of room in my life.  It helped me (I'm sure, not to feel lonely and lost in the Arctic).  I've met new people, online and through different meet ups.  I was about to write it was all fun, but deleted that phrase because it wasn't.  This year, I've once again realized how people get easily upset.  They get offended by the stupidest thing, and worst thing is when it is in writing.  People will read "tones" and intents and rather than ask a question, or to do a perception check, they will get upset. Just like that.

Managing my Bacefook group has had its challenges.  Yes, I am blunt, direct, abrupt, call it what you want, but one thing for sure, I will answer you if/when you ask me a question.   I've lost members.  Some I was happy to see leave, others I didn't really care, and some I still wonder why, since they wouldn't tell me (I did ask).  When I ask for explanation I'm told I'm confrontational, so no matter what I'm fucked.

This year (again) we had a water damage, a big fucking mess.  We had to move out while the repairs were being done, etc.  I don't remember having to pack and unpack and cleaning up the places where we (had to) live so many times in one year.  So much so, that when came time to get the boxes for our Christmas tree I was done with boxes and didn't want to see any more boxes. Most likely the fact that we had no snow whatsoever until today might have contributed to my not feeling very Christmas incline.

Can you believe that I've received 337 official postcards and sent 336, of course that doesn't include all the ones I've sent at meets, while in Norway, through games, lotteries and such.  I'm thinking that for the new year, I will limit myself to officials only and slowly (but very surely) let go of my group, passing it on to others, so that I can sit back and enjoy the anonymity.  Yeah, I think that is what I will do.  Do my things and that will be it.  Now, here's a good resolution!

Since there is fresh white snow outside, it is now time for my dear husband and myself to go for a walk around our neighborhood and enjoy each others company.

Wishing you, dear blends, a very happy New Year, may it bring you health, peace, love, money and time to enjoy it all.  All the best to you and yours!

Swimming against the current, or it's all relative?

As we were heading home after running some errands on the South Shore, I came to a realization, well, sort of: Hubby often said we were like salmons going up stream when we moved from the suburbs to downtown Montréal.  I didn't think much of it at the times, other then it might have been related to the fact that we don't have kids, unlike our friends, who wanted/needed more land, bigger house, etc. 

When we decided to go on our Norwegian adventure some people in our entourage mentioned they wouldn't do something like that; just leave everything behind and go away for a few months to live in a different country.

I, again, assumed it was related to the kid factor.  You know, having to deal with their schooling, etc.  During a  lunch with a friend, she mentioned how much of a pain it was for her to have to come to town.  She lives in a borough of Montréal, within fifteen minutes from downtown. 

I used to meet once every other month with a girlfriend, we would alternate once I would drive to her area and the following time she would come to town but when we moved downtown it went to once per season.  She didn't like coming to town.  She lives in the same suburb we used to, which is about thirty minutes away.  - By the way, please note that, of course, all the times I'm giving are traffic free, and since that is rarely happening, I have no clue how long it really takes to get anywhere.  Seriously.

Saturday morning, we wanted to have Dim Sum, since we had not yet gotten our fix.  The day we tried, walking to Chinatown, I sprained my foot (which is doing better and I was actually able to go walk around in a running shoe!).  We decided to go to Chinatown no. 2, i.e. Brossard.  We got in our car and drove to the South Shore.  It is about twenty minutes away.  We had our delicious fix of Chinese food, much needed after more than three months without any and then we proceeded to run some errands.  I had to get some supplies, so we shopped on Taschereau Blvd., then went for groceries on Nuns' Island and made our way back home.

As we were crossing the bridge back, that is when I thought "Hmm, I guess it's true were swimming against the current." Not only we don't stay in our hood for our everyday errands, but we go "far"! We both still drive to the West Island for our hair cuts, as well as for other things. I prefer to drive to Fairview for shopping than going downtown, not only because there is parking but mostly because they don't only cater to young skinny things. I've been known to drive to Laval, for a store in particular, because I like their clothes which are not only age appropriate but actually fit me.  Many people we know will only shop in their area, they go out in their neighborhood, they might work outside of their hood, but for the rest they stay in their area.  We are just the opposite.  We often say we're "grocery sluts" - we get our groceries wherever is near us at the time.  Since we've moved downtown, we've been to so many different grocery stores, in neighborhood we just drive through or happen to think of something we'll need and will go in the first store we see.  We are no longer loyal to a specific store; we do have our preferred places for different things, but we are not always going to the same place. 

I wonder why it is that we, as people, need to have this routine like behavior, this need to go at the same place, close by and not venture further?  Does it go back to the days when we had to fend for our food and would try to remain close to our caves, to be in a safe area?  I can't help and wonder what makes us want this?  One of the thing I absolutely loved from our Norwegian Experience, was the fact that I didn't know anyone, nor anything about where we ended up, and had to discover things. I liked that we tried Rema 1000,  and Coop and Eurospar each offering different things.  Some were near where we lived and yet we would go further to try some other store, to see what they also offered. 

I will admit, for my hairdresser I am loyal and somewhat scared to try someone new; especially for a cut.  We changed dentists (both of us) last week to give a try to a clinic walking distance from home.  I had the same guy since 1984, but his office looks run down now and in serious need of a revamp so I decided to change.  Hubby's dentist retired while we were in Norway, so he didn't have a choice.  I went for my exam and cleaning and what a difference - not only the decor, but the service, the high tech equipment... and the price!

Why is it we, well, most of us, need to have this security sense, this comfort I guess for things we know, near us?  Why is that some need to venture out while others are scared to do so or are simply not interested?  Doesn't it get boring, being so repetitive?  Do I feel like a salmon when I come home after running errands in an area outside my comfort zone?  I don't know, but I do know I'm not finding it hard to swim against the current in that case... 

Scandinavian Traveller: Likki the Trimmed Beaver - Chapter Ten, The Final One.

As I write this today, ten days after returning home, after a few days visiting Oslo, sitting in our living room, watching a movie, and after running errands part of the afternoon in hot and humid Montréal, we are back!

Before I get into how it has been since our return, I will share our last few days in Oslo.  Unlike Bodø, the weather was warmer and sunny!  We were able to wear shorts!  We walked around town, explore some.  We visited the Nobel Peace Center.  It's an interesting place, dedicated to peace.  Their main event was about children's rights with Malala and Kailash.  It was quite interesting even if their was a lot of reading to be done.  They also have a boutique, where they sold lots of postcards, and I did get a bunch, mostly famous quotes from Peace Nobel Winners.  Then after a refreshment, we made our way to Akerhus Fortress, where we had a nice view over the port and the city.

View from Akerhus Fortress

Akerkus Fortress

It was quite a large fortress and you could see why its location was so important.  Even if we didn't take the tour, walking around by ourselves on the grounds it was quite impressive.  

Not far from our hotel area, I spotted this little bookstore which had some postcards, or so I thought.  Turned out they had many artistic ones, very different from anything I could find in Bodø, so I bought lots. 

I had contacted J. a while back, asking her if she wanted to meet me when we would be back in Oslo.  She send us so many postcards from Norway, showing us different areas of their beautiful country, with explanations, I felt I just had to meet her.  And we did.  Likki got to send a few cards with her, which was nice.  We had planned a two hours meeting with her, and it lasted well over six.  We talked about so many things, such an interesting encounter and warm lady.

 J. and Likki, in Oslo

Our hotel had a nice lounge we could access anytime, where they served (Nespresso) coffee or tea and fizzy water.  After 6pm they also served dinner, which was also included in our room's price.We went twice but only ate there once.  It was actually a decent meal.  Because it was warm and humid, one afternoon we went up to enjoy a cold drink and since it was completely empty, I took some pictures of the view we had from there.  On one side we had the Palace and the other the North.

View from 8th floor lounge of our hotel towards the Palace

Overlooking Kristian Augusts gate

One evening we had made reservation at a little Italian restaurant, Ruffino, which we had tried to get in back in May with our friends, so we walked to it.  Along the way we passed this impressively nice building which had a little plate on its side, in Norwegian, of course, that I could read had something to do with the Gestapo back in 1942.  We had a delicious dinner at the restaurant, a nice way to end our few extra days in Oslo.

Victoria Terrace, the site of the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo. 

The morning of our departure, the street was mostly deserted.  As we walked towards the train station, we passed the university and I managed to quickly take a picture.

Oslo University, on Karl Johans gate

On the train, Flytoget, Likki made friend with a local, a little Norwegian moose, who was heading our way.  Lucky little fellow.

Once at the airport, we recuperated the rest of our luggage and made our way to check-in, security and duty free through which we simply walked through not even stopping anywhere.  We didn't even have time to get our tax reimbursement, since, once again, the line at check in was too long, and since we had a connection in Heathrow to Canada we couldn't use the automatic check-in machine, but had to go to the counter and see a person, which meant we had to do the queue.
 

Heathrow is a beautiful and big airport and we had over four hours there before our next flight.  We , hit duty free, grab a bite to eat and did some shopping while walking around.  We looked for a quiet place where we could get refreshed and rest a little before our long flight home.

A tea with some biscuits, please.

If not in London, where else would one truly enjoy a good cup of tea?  She knows her stuff that Likki, despite her your life, she knows!  It was strange, at the gate, hearing not only French, but Québécois and to see people with Montréal's Canadiens tee-shirts.  A fair sign we were heading home...

Last gate before heading home...

Our return home is done.  Our adventure in Vikingland is done.  We are now back to Montréal's never ending road construction, traffic and fast pace.  It was an experience of a lifetime, to be able to do so without the worries of what would await us upon our return. And this closes Likki's Scandinavian Adventure.

Closing a chapter

In order to close the Bodø Chapter of our Norwegian Adventure, things are happening and one can't help and wonder if this is the Universe showing us, it is time for us to go back home...

•  Monday morning I was awaken by the fire alarm.  Not the best way to wake up and start the day, but then I made my way to the Bakeri and had enjoyed a good cappuccino.  Turns out our idiots neighbor above us, the noisy ones, burned bacon and smoked up their place.  It took a while for the firemen to come and turn off the alarm.
   
• Monday night, despite the friggin' cold wind, was a clear night so I made my way to the lookout point to see the Midnight Sun.  The sky was so clear, it was gorgeous!  On the opposite side, the moon was overlooking the snow covered mountains and city...

• Tuesday morning, I was abruptly woken, again, by a man coming in our flat, as I was sleeping, naked, on our bed.  He just unlocked the door and walked in, his arms full.  When I said "Hey!", he turned around mumbled something in Norwegian and walked out! WTF!


• Wednesday, I brought back a book at the library, for the last time in Bodø.  I'm happy I've renewed my interest to that place.  Maybe now that contact has been re-established I will go to the one near home, in Montréal. I haven't even step a foot in since they opened it, and I'm told it's a nice one...
  
• Last night, since I couldn't sleep (the rain was quite loud), I got back up and went through all my Bacefook "friends" and clean up house.  That felt strangely good.


• What better way to close this chapter of our lives, than do it in the rain!  It's been raining for the past two days, in Bodø.  Why change now, when it's been shitty weather most of our time here?  From hard rain to tiny drizzle, but no matter what it's wet.  And this after I've packed my rain boots, grrr.
  
• Went to the post office, one last time, and on my way back stopped for my Take-Away moca. I did manage, through their loyalty take-away card, get a free pastry and today a free coffee, yay me, never even done that back home!
  
• Did all our laundry, every is on the rack drying, and that closes another load for Bodø.
  
• Tonight, a first, having dinner with locals - air traffic controllers - what an evening out.

Scandinavian Traveller: Likki the Trimmed Beaver - Chapter Nine

Well, today is our last Sunday in Bodø; I've realized that as I was showering.  And, I had not shown Likki our little town yet.  On weekends, we tend to go for fikka either next door at the Bodø Bakeri or at Café City Nord.  The Bakeri has good sandwiches, good pastries and coffee. The Café is more like a cafeteria, but they serve some local food and they're not opened on Sunday.  So, we walked over to the Bakeri, and introducing Likki to it all.

After that, we finally made our way to The Nordland Museum.  We've been walking by often (it's next to the Post office), and until June it was always closed on weekends.  Since, once again, it's cloudy again, we thought it would be our last chance to actually see it, given their schedule and Hubby's don't match.

That museum was founded in 1888 and the building was raised in 1903 and was not destroyed in the 1940 bombing of Bodø.  It shows the Lofoten Fisheries, the Sami exhibit, the bird mountain, where I realized that Puffins are little birds.  I thought they were penguins size, was I wrong!  The seagulls are actually bigger than them, at least in Bodø.

Likki in front of the Bird Mountain

The section which interested us most was Bodø through time and how the city evolved.  It went from being a tiny huddle of houses in 1816  to a city which also went through a lot from being bombed by the Germans in 1940 and almost completely destroyed.  I thought it was strange not to say funny that the town was actually taken over by German soldiers on bicycles!  They've always had public activity, a hospital and health service and of course fisheries, canning industries and a brewery.

Bodø, now...

The NATO invested lots in Bodø, due to its location and being this far North, it would have a role as the airport in a possible reprisal attack on the Soviets (or others).  The military presence is significant in Bodø, 10% of people here are related to the aviation industry, either military or civilian.

Likki playing Godzilla over the Bodø model

It was an interesting little museum, nothing like museums I've seen before.  Everything was in Norwegian, only a few items on display had English translation.  The little leaflet we got when we came in was somewhat helpful, but most of the valuable information we've got (other than what we've decrypted ourselves along the way) was during the little movie showing the history of Bodø, in Norwegian with English subtitles.  A nice way to close our little adventure in Nordland was to find out more about this little town where we could live, if only it was sunnier!!

Many postcards later...

A month before coming to Norway I put my Postcrossing account to inactive, I had four hundred eight cards received and sent at the time.  Being set to inactive allowed me to send postcards but I couldn't receive any.  I didn't want to chance any getting lost between Norway and Canada, so I went that way.  It wasn't easy.   I know I'm addicted, what can I say, it could be to worst things, right?

As of today, eighty-five official cards were received/registered since I've been in Norway.  Yes, I've been sending lots.  According to my Flickr album, I've sent (as of today) one hundred thirty six cards.  That includes officials (for Postcrossing), RAS (Random Act of Smileness for fellow Postcrossers) and personal (for friends and relatives).

Since we've been here (March 30th) I did give our address to some friends who asked for it and some postcards friends.  Because Bodø is so far North, when I thought I could maybe "explore" outside of Bodø - I didn't know at the time that Oslo was actually thirteen + hours drive - I wouldn't be seeing that much of Norway. So, I've contacted, through Postcrossing, members in Norway.  I wanted to visit Norway through postcards.  A few of them answered and we started swapping cards since most of them were from Southern Norway.  They wanted cards from Arctic Norway in exchange for the cards of their areas. Fifty-four cards later, through current and vintage cards, I've seen Norway.  Along the way I've also made friends, and that is priceless.

Norwegian cards received

Because of very thoughtful friends, cards from all over the world started coming in, eighty-nine of them to be exact. 

Worldwide cards received

It was Hubby's idea to put them on display when they started coming in.  I took him up on his offer and started covering a wall on our living area.  It not only brought colors to our room, it also brought smiles to our faces.  The power of postcards.

All the cards received...

Today, after being inactive for many months, I've made my Postcrossing profile active again.  Here's to hoping I will have at least one or two official cards waiting for me when I will get back home.  I already know there are lots of other awaiting my return, as well as some goods...  Until then, I will most likely will write a few more cards here and there...

Scandinavian Traveller: Likki the Trimmed Beaver - Chapter Eight

A while back, looking at a local magazine, I saw excursions being advertised leaving from Bodø, most were by boats (cruise like excursion, those were not for me), but one was on land to a glacier. Said glacier outing was a whole day adventure, and was quite pricey (no big surprise there, we are in Norway after all!). Hubby looked it up on the Google and thought we could make it.

Sunday was a nice day for a drive, so we headed South (yep, the glacier is SOUTH of where we've been for the past thirteen weeks! crazy!). Part of the way we had been to, like Saltstraumen but then continued on in a direction we hadn't been towards yet. Every time we go out and the sun is out I can't get over how different everything looks. The sky is so blue, which is, according to Wikiman (read Hubby), due to being at a higher latitude or closer to the Pole.  The water is so clear, I've seen water that clear before down in the Caribbeans, every time it gets me. It is so pretty.

The first stop we've made, not long after Saltstraumen, was on a geology trail, where traces of the Ice Age were marked.  We didn't follow that trail, we just stop to test the water, which was friggin' cold!

Åselistraumen

We kept going on road 17 - which I just found out is a County Road - lots of road. We did roughly over 300 km in six to seven hours including detours, stops here and there.

Nothing but blues and greens and the further we drove, the more snow we would see in the mountains.

We took a little detour off road 17, to route 838 to see if there was anything left over from a local market, on Saturday, Hubby had been told about by a local, in Inndyr

Inndyr, in the Gildeskål Kommune

We (read I) had a bite to eat - a delicious white cake, super moist, and a coffee before continuing on our way, at the one hotel/restaurant in the village.

The scenery was beautiful, following the coast, so seeing different fjords, the sea, forest and farms.  We also saw many cyclists, a little buggy being pulled by a pony and some reindeer on our way back.

in Ørnes

As we were heading closer to the glacier, we went through a series of tunnels - I like their tunnels here, I don't feel like some chunks is about to fall off, imagine that! - one of which, the Svartistunnelen, is eight kilometers long.

It was quite the drive.  We didn't quite make it to the location where the tour was starting to get to a ferry to access the glacier, but after that much time on road, the Svartisen Glacier was (we think) what we were seeing and figured it would be as close as we were getting that day.  We turned around and headed back towards Bodø.  We had to go back the same way we came.  The view was just as nice.

Later that night, since we had a somewhat clear sky, we made our way to a local lookout and caught the Midnight Sun.  That is a sight for sore eyes...  Despite the sun shinning, the wind was/is still cold.  You can feel the warmth of the sun, but the wind's bite takes over.  No matter what, let's just say we weren't the only one out past midnight to look at this beautiful view.  That is one thing I'm truly happy to have seen and experienced myself...

Midnight Sun over Landegode

Talk about a way to close one pretty good day...

Souvenir as in not forgetting

Our Norwegian adventure will be coming to an end soon.  I will miss this place, the being away, the being unknown and the not knowing anyone as well.  I like this anonymity, not having to put on a brave or a smiling face on because someone you know might see you.  It's easy to keep to oneself when you don't really know anyone.  And that is the one main thing I did enjoy during our time here.

If there would have been more sunny days, our stay here would have been great.  Yes it was cold, and windy almost all of the time, but the cloudiness of the place did get to me.  I need to see the sun, and blue sky, not just gray and clouds.

We did see things we wouldn't have back home, experienced a few Norwegian things.  We did explore on weekends, took nice (long) drives, and this despite the rain. The one thing that I'm really happy to have seen is the Midnight Sun.  It is really strange to actually have to wear sunglasses at midnight.  The other night driving back from a view point, where we could see Landegode, a big island off the coast and behind it some part of Lofoten, I thought it was strange that the town was so quiet, when Hubby reminded me it was past midnight, on a week night...  It is strange to look out at any time and there's light, we can no longer tell time by looking out, we need a watch.

Overlooking Bodø

Landegode

You must admit, it looks pretty darn good.  One day, an air traffic controller invited Hubby and me to accompany him to his cottage on an island near by.  We had to take a ferry for about 10-15 minutes.  It was worth it.  The place is really more "country", the scenery was also gorgeous. I got to see stockfish up close.

Stockfish

Kjerringøy used to be a fishermen trading post

The island was beautiful.  So peaceful.  Whenever we've traveled to an island,we've brought back a picture of the place, something that reminded us of our trip.  There was a little art shop not far from here that had some interesting pieces, and some of it looked like things we've seen.  Today we went in.  We looked around and there was one artist that we both liked.  We went for fikka (coffee and something to eat), talked about it, and went back to get this cutie... that is so Norwegian.

by Lars Erik Karlsen

I love it! Whenever I will look at it, it will remind me of our time in Bodø, in Norway.  That and all the pictures I've taken during our drives around Bodø.

Lest We Forget

As I sat with my laptop on my knees, I knew I wanted to write.  I had ideas I wanted to put on the web.  I've look for some images, and now I feel jammed... Weird.

Before coming here, I had never thought the Germans (as in Nazi) made it this far North.  Then a few weeks back, when the kid came and stayed with us over a weekend, we visited this little fishing camp area not far from here which also turned out to  be next to bunkers and others left behind by the Germans after the Second World War.  To think that some place as remote as Bodø could be of interest is flabbergasting to me.  One of Hubby's co-worker had mentioned this place, a few hours away from Bodø, called Rognan where they have cemeteries for German soldiers, Yugoslav and Russians war prisoners.  Prisoners who were "used" to dig tunnels in massive rocks, slaves of the Germans.  Saturday we drove to Rognan.

German Memorial

Memorial stating that 2,732 German soldiers were buried there.

The grounds were well maintained, especially considering how remote that was. It wasn't really well indicated, only a few little signs here and there. The German part was pretty. It has a nice monument, and as I walked around the graves, actually saw one that had a picture. The thing that struck me there was how young those men were. Most were in their early twenties. Sad.

Across the way, was another stone fenced area, this one dedicated to Yugoslav prisoners of was, who died in captivity of German.

1,657 Yugoslav prisoners of war were buried there.

And behind it all, stood a one stone memorial dedicated to the Russian prisoners of war, who had been buried in a mass grave.

111 Russian prisoners.

On our drive back, we saw not one but three rainbows, because yes, again, we were visiting while it rained...

Could have been worst, like it must have been for those poor cyclists doing this Tour or Rally, not only was it raining, it was cold, windy and oh so hilly!

When we got back I started writing postcards. I've been touched by the compassion I've experienced this past week.  As I've written, a dear friend, back home, lost her son suddenly.  I felt that I had to do something for her, to bring her some type of comfort.  I thought of sending her flowers, you know the typical thing, when it dawn on me that one thing that brought a smile to my face was finding a nice postcard in the mailbox.  So, I've asked my Postcrossing friends if they would be kind enough to send my friend, a complete stranger, who needed some kind of human compassion a nice postcard.  I've received twenty-two answers.  As a thank you, I've sent a card back to each one.  I have no clue how my friend will react to this idea of mine, I'm sure I will find out soon enough.

Human compassion is a darn strange thing.  It will surprise you in some people, and just like the opposite is true, people whom you thought would show some empathy are nowhere to be seen.  I guess deep down, I always hope  to see the good in people, and yet, it often isn't the case.  I do know better than to expect anything of others.  Compassion, empathy, sympathy whatever you want to call it, when you're on the receiving end of it all it feels damn good. 

Where did it all go?

Since we will be heading back home soon (which makes me sad, and yes even if it's cloudy every friggin' day here!), we started thinking about things we'd want to bring back with us.  Also, we've talked about those things we had to get here (like a toaster!) that we don't really want to bring back with us.

Little details to cover.  The joy of planning before and after making a move like we've made.  In a month from today we will be home.  The three months zoomed by relatively fast.  There were things I wanted to explore and do which I have not, due to how remote we are.  Overall, I'm quite happy with our stay abroad.  Being an expat hasn't been that bad!

Among the things I'll be bringing back, there will be postcards.  Coming here I had brought about twenty of them, in case they didn't have.  Yeah right!! 

Carterie in Grenoble

They don't have shops like I've seen in Grenoble, my heaven on earth, and yet, despite Hubby's expectations I didn't buy that many - especially compared to what I've bought thus far here.

Since we've been in Norway, I've sent out about 300 cards - yes, that is a lot.  I love to write and writing postcards is always fun.  At least for me.  It has allowed me to "see" the world, to meet new people, some of which I'm keeping in contact with, by letters and cards.  In Bodø most cards are about ''Arctic Norway", the typical touristic cards, which is fine and dandy, because I love sending and receiving those since they give you a fair idea of the area.  Coming here I was hoping to see more artistic cards, non-touristic if you will, since those are practically non-existent in Montréal.  We have lots of touristic ones, and some are pretty old image of town, but other than that, the postcards are not that present on Montréal's racks, sadly enough.  I have a few envelops waiting for me back home, full of cards I've ordered on line on different sites from Asia, Poland, Russia... plus some from exchanges.  I've sent a lot, but I'm also receiving a lot too.  As far as Postcrossing is concerned I chose to put my account to inactive (didn't feel like dealing with the address change for three months only and then after some cards might not get to me), so I couldn't receive any official cards, but I could send, and I did!  I've actually sent 72 officials cards, from Bodø and the area, including one of Montréal I had bought on our way here, at PET airport, and only 11 were "artistic" ones, i.e. non-touristic cards from those I've brought from home.  Whoa, that means that I've sent about 225 cards to friends and relatives. Having the friends I do (and I write I here, because I'm talking about my addiction), they made sure I wouldn't go cold turkey on my postcard addiction.  I've given my address to a few and started receiving cards.  Plus given that we were so far North I made contact with a few Norwegian (through Postcrossing) from different areas of the country asking them if they wanted to trade cards of their area with some of "mine".  The responses were good.  I'm even going to meet up with one of them in Oslo, on our way home.  She's been so kind and generous with not only the cards she's sent but with her explanations, I felt I had to meet her; and I will.
 

Cards received in Bodø, as of June 9, 2015

When the first card arrived, I put it away, then when a few others followed, Hubby suggested to display them.  Our walls were all white so I took him up on his offer, and look at how it looks now!  All the blue cards on the right, are those from Norway, all from different areas, and only two showing snow, one that I've sent myself from the Arctic Circle and one I've received today from the kid who slept over for a weekend.  The two Québécois see and show the snow, ah!  As you may be able to see, there are lots of different types of cards, not all are touristic, and many are cats related - wonder why! ;-)

On another note, I don't know about you, but I really enjoy Bugles, you know those little can't eat just one cones/chips like?  A few weeks ago a little girl was passing around some treats to try at the Big Coop where we go for our main grocery.  They have items which stores around here (read as in walking distance, like across the street, since everything is walking distance in Bodø), don't carry.  It's like a big Wal-Mart in a way, mixed with a Canadian Tire and Reno Depot.  Anyway, that kid had this sampler that I tasted and enjoyed.  It tasted like Bugles wrapped in chocolate.  I didn't see the name, bag or anything that would tell me what it was, the kid didn't understand English or was super shy because I couldn't get any information our of her.  Since then I've been on the lookout, you know, in case I'd see something like that.

Yesterday while doing our grocery run, I saw this bag of goodies.

Darn, these babies are good!  Too good for my own good! Really.  Salt and chocolate, you can't go wrong, right? Right!  Glad you agree with me!  Wonder how bad traveling to Canada would affect those babies?  Of the things I, uh, we'll bring back from Nordland, I don't think these will be among the pile...  So better enjoy them here, while I can!