Meat free monday

This is the sign I saw in a cafe in Richmond. I think it's a great idea and am just excited to see if they can get the same thing going in Norway.
For more information checkout Meat free Monday or Kjøttfri Mandag. And then it's just a matter of convincing your local businesses to get on board.

Day trip to Windsor and Eton part II

After having explored Eton (I really needed to find a shop for blister plasters!!), I wandered back over the bridge to Windsor. The first thing that struck me was that Windsor Castle was bloody huge! I didn't actually go into the castle but am sure it's well worth the trip if you have time. I did sit myself down at a pub and had a nice glass of shandy, a great plate of steak and ale pie and plastered my feet.


Windsor is full of beautiful houses and lovely buildings to see, although they're not always that easy to see behind the shop fasades. Shopping possibilities are rife in Windsor. I think a group of friends needing a place suitable for some who like to see the sights and some who like to shop would find Windsor perfect. And no problem with getting lost!
And I found a sort of modern real old fashion sweet shop that sold my once favourite sweets, sugar mice.
Windsor is under one of the busiest flightpaths in and around London and as Icelandic ash had closed down Heathrow the town was blessedly quiet while I was there. Apparently an American tourist had wondered why on earth someone had been so shortsighted as to build a castle directly under such a busy flight path!! Wonder whether I should have taken the tour after all, just on the off chance I could have heard another pearl like that.

Daytrip to Windsor and Eton part I

Hop on a train at Waterloo and just under an hour later you're at Windsor and Eton riverside station. The day I went I wandered straight over the little bridge separating the college town of Eton from the castle town of Windsor. There was a conspicuous lack of students in tailcoats and stripey trousers that day. It was probably a school holiday and I was actually relieved. Wandering the streets Eton somehow gave me the feeling of sneaking around a film set and hoping nobody would chuck me out for trespassing. If I for a moment forgot where I was, a sign would appear to remind me.
The buildings of Eton are varied and obviously very old, the oldest being from 1420! I think it would be a good idea to either buy a guide book or take one of the bustrips offered to get a bit more information about the buildings and architecture.
Picture courtesy of www.etoncollege.com
For anyone with a penchanct for colourful socks this is the place for you! I saw a sign in one of the local shops selling the Eton uniform that said there were 110 different designs today.

Walking along memory lane....story of a daytrip.

A heron by Richmond Bridge
Recently I wandered across Richmond bridge to St Margarets side and walked along the river towards Twickenham. It's nice to see everyone lying in the sun on the other side and I realise that one thing I probably never appreciated, or even noticed, walking along here as a child , was the beauty of peace! For someone who doesn't really crave isolation and country living, this is the perfect combination. A step away from the shopping joys of Richmond there you are - listening to wood pigeons coo, swans snarl, water lapping and the satisfied murmurs coming from people lazing in the sun or wandering along the river. I love it.
And I like that the relatively short walk to Twickenham can be as brief or long, as eventful or uneventful as you want to make it.
Marble Hill House
Marble Hill park is so inviting with it's long green lawns. Perfect for a picnic and I remember playing in the adventure playground there when I was little. But what I loved most was going to see Shakespeare in the park with the beautiful Marble Hill House as a back drop. Marble Hill house was built as a house for the mistress of King George II. Now that's not a bad incentive for being the other woman!! The house is open to the public and there is of course a cafe!!
Ham HouseHammertons Ferry
Across the river from Marble Hill House you can see another large house partially hidden behind some trees. This is Ham House. A 400 year old house with beautiful gardens open to the public. Just between Marble hill House and Ham house you come to Hammertons Ferry. This ferry has been operating here since 1908 and today, as then, you can let yourself be ferried from one beautiful side of the river to another.
If you carry on past Marble hill park you come to Orleans House Gallery. They have several exhibitions every year in the main house and the adjacent Stables Gallery. And, inevitably, a cafe!
There is, on the whole, never a great problem finding somewhere to eat or drink along the river. Just carry on past Orleans house you will come to the White Swan pub where you can sit in their garden right on the riverfront and enjoy the sun and watch the life on the river.

If you wander on a little bit more you can sit at The Barmy Arms pub. I used to love this pub when I was a kid because of the upsidedown pub sign and the reversed his and hers pictures on the loos. It is unfortunately not nearly as nice as I remembered (no fun loo signs!) but you can't knock a shandy in the sun there anyway! Eel Pie Island
You can also look across to Eel Pie Island, once home to the notorious Eel Pie Island Hotel and dancehall. This place was famous in the 60's for concerts with the likes of David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, the Yardbirds..... After closing in the late sixties it was taken over and turned into what became the UK's largest hippie colony. It burnt down in 1971.
From the Barmy Arms you can wander up the lane into Twickenham, stopping for an ice cream on the way, and either do some more shopping or get the bus back into Richmond.
Richmond is the last stop on the district line. From Richmond to Twickenham, (or back) you can take any of these buses - 33, R68, R70, 290 or 490

Battersea Park

When you see this you know you´re nearly there. What´s missing?!!

I remember as a very young child being taken to Battersea Park, to the funfair, I also remember seeing my first flasher there!! The funfair in the park was closed in 1977 after a 1972 accident on the rollercoaster, killing five children and injuring 13 others, understandably led to a severe decline in visitors. Flashers, unfortunately, probably still enjoy the park.
Today I went back to Battersea Park.
It´s a lovely park to visit, nice walks, enough cafes and icecream vans. There´s a little lake where you can rent a pedal boat and it´s even got a childrens zoo.Funny moustache monkey at the zoo.
Battersea Park is also the home to the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order of Japan! They erected a peace pagoda in the park in 1984 and are in charge of it´s upkeep. It is a beautifully peaceful place and I love the story behind how it came to be just there.There is an art gallery in the park and there´s a lovely walk along the river between Chelsea Bridge and Albert Bridge. Playgrounds for kids as well. All in all a great place for all the family in the middle of London. You can get to Battersea Park by the Southern Line from Victoria to Battersea Park then walk. All in all about 20 mins.

Not what it seems....

Last autumn I was in Siena. After a while I started noticing what I thought was the famous statue of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, suckling on the she wolf. I finally asked someone why this famous symbol of Rome was spread all over Siena.
It turns out that this wasn´t the famous sons of Mars at all! It was his grandsons.
Story has it that Romulus and Remus had a falling out that ended with Remus being slain by his brother. Remus´ sons, Senius and Aschius, ran away taking the statue of the she wolf from the Apollo temple with them.
Their journey ended up in what is now known as, you guessed it, Siena!
I was also told one thing that should help to differentiate between the statues you see in Rome and those in Siena. The wolf in Rome will always be looking over it´s shoulder whereas the one in Siena is looking forward. According to the, Sienese, person who told me this story this is because the Romans are always looking to their past and the Sienese to the future!
If nothing else this should be an encouragement for everyone to go and visit Rome and Siena to check this for themselves, as if you need an excuse!

Ask Rhona for hotels.

Just thought I would let you know that I have travel agent access to a hotel booking system with hundreds of hotels around the world!
If anyone needs help booking a hotel rest assured that I will do my very best to find you a hotel that suits your needs and budget. Romantic weekend, dirty weekend, very wet weekend with friends or just for work - let me know.
For a price (I am cheap but there are limits to how many bottles of wine I should drink) I will aslo throw in a mini guide to where you´re going based on your wishlist!
Or are you stuck abroad and just need help? Mail me or phone me and I will be your friend in need :-)
References galore!
Bon Voyage!

The tears of Christ and orange cake

I needed to buy a nice, not too expensive, red wine for easter so I phoned Lene from Kraftbyraa.
She suggested Vesevus Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio 2008. I didn't just get a wine suggestion though, I got a whole story! Story has it that when Lucifer was thrown out of heaven he landed on earth creating what is now called the bay of Naples. He had nicked a piece of heaven as he left and, you guessed it, that is now Naples!! Christ wept as he realised his loss and where his tears fell to earth the first grapevines grew. Lacryma Christi means Christ's tears and is one the oldest wines from Italys Campania region.
Did I mention that it was DELICIOUS!!
All day before dinner I had been thinking that I wanted to make an orange cake. But I wanted a really compact and juicy orange cake. So after googling for a good while I found a perfect recipe on a this food blog
I think this is one of the greatest cakes I've eaten for ages and ages and unfortunately for my waistline I just want to make it again straight away.
Here's the recipe
For the cake -
2 large oranges
115g butter
340g sugar
2 eggs
190g flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
50 grams shredded coconut
Put the oranges in a pan of cold water and bring to the boil. Pour off the water and repeat twice more. When the oranges have been boiled three times remove any pips and then mince the oranges, peel and all, in a food processor (if you haven't got one you can use a hand blender and if you haven't got a hand blender you can chop and chop and chop..)
Mix the butter, eggs and sugar well and then add the orange pulp and mix in. Blend in the flour and coconut. Put in a greased 22cm cake tin and bake for 45min at 180° or until a tester comes out clean.
While the cake is in the oven make the syrup -
Mix these things in a small saucepan.
Zest of one orange
160ml orange juice
80ml water
225gm sugar
Bring everything to the boil and let boil for 3-4 minutes.
When the cake is finished leave to cool slightly on a rack ,transfer to a deep cake dish and pour the syrup over it. Decorate with orange slices, zest or whatever you want! EAT AND ENJOY, but preferably while still warm.
P.S for all the coconut haters out there, you can't taste coconut at all really, I think it just makes the consistency great and helps keep the cake juicy.

Christopher is nostalgic!

My lovely brother-in-law Christopher has been digging in Lista. (He's an archaelogist not a dog or a meany!) In Lista there's a shop called Trunken where you can buy all things american, not surprising that it's there, considering all the Norwegians from there that emigrated to 'Uniten' and came back with all their children called Robert, Stanley, Yvonne, Alf and Arnold, their beds with radios in and their humungous tv cabinets!!!
Now he wants to know where he can get stuff like that in Oslo.
Well I assume that he mostly wants food so with that in mind I suggest these places that stock a good assortment.
Otherwise, and Christopher knows this but others might not, there is a big 4th of July celebration in the Frogner Park each year on the nearest Saturday. You can enjoy muffins, Sloppy Joes and hot dogs all day! (Sorry Topher, not Oscar Meyer Wieners but here's a consolation prize!)

Left hand driving and London Bridge

Why do the English drive on the left? People had a tendency to walk and ride their horses on the left hand side of paths and roads to ensure that they had their weapon hand closest to potential enemies they met on their way.
They did this all over the world!
As for driving, when carriage drivers in England sat on their carriages and carts with their horses in front, they sat on the right side so their whips were free to push forward the horses without getting caught up in their loads. The first time left hand driving was legislated in Great Britain was in 1756, on London Bridge!! The traffic on London bridge was getting so busy that they felt the need to make rules to avoid complete chaos on the bridge. Don't forget that London Bridge was at the time a busy little bridge! With shops and houses lining it's sides.

flowers on a sunday

Lovely flowers, Daffodils from Andersens flowershop in Thorvald Meyersgate 32 in Grünerløkka. Martin and his nephews serve you with a smile and if you love Elvis you'll be happy there! Confetti flowers from Pelino of Italy, sweetmakers since 1793! These lovely flowers are handmade sugar coated Pizzuta almonds. You can buy them at Cafe Vespa in Københavngate 2 in Grünerløkka, Oslo.

Sunday afternoon tea.

Today I had a friend visiting and we went for a walk down to wander on the roof of the new Opera. Afterwards we went for tea at the Winter garden at the Hotel Bristol. Not a usual haunt for this eastside girl but I love this place. Big old Chesterfields, nice and dark, dulled voices mumbling over prawn sandwiches and tea and coffee served in proper pots! The service isn't great but I don't really mind waiting here, it's comfortable and I know they aren't going to rush me off. Nice place to sit in the warmth after being out in the rain and I like to checkout the diversity amongst the other guests while I sit and feel a bit like a cuckoo in their nest in my engineer boots and naff old mac!

Keep this cup...

I just bought this cup - a Keep Cup.
I don't even drink coffee so probably won't be running around with it from coffee shop to coffee shop but I'll use it on picnics. And I'm going to encourage everyone else to buy one!
In Oslo you can get them at Hunting Lodge in Torggate. They've got lot's of other cool stuff too.
Thanks Tereza for the tip.

arrows, spoons, strings and jobs!!

In the last couple of weeks I've fixed a little bit of this and a little bit of that!

- A friend phoned needing 40 big spoons a couple of hours before their restaurant opened.......SORTED!
- Had to find somewhere another friend could practice shooting his bow and arrow. He'd been trying to find somewhere for ages without luck. He is now happily hooked up with the bow and arrow group of the sports club Vidar and can practice to his hearts content inside in winter and outside in the spring and summer........SORTED!

- Yet another person appeared in my office after having being told that I was the one to ask when in need of work. (Mysteriously I rarely find out who send people to me!) Anyway, she is now in gainful employment at The Nighthawk Diner, Oslo's new IT place. She is also being courted by other potential employees I have been trying to 'sell' her to..........SORTED!



- Yesterday I got a mail from yet another friend asking if I could hook him up with
people for a string quartet!! Have passed on several numbers and will sit back and wait and see what pans out - keep you posted :-)

Bring it on ;-)

Early morning London

Lack of sleep has made me check out what I can do in the early hours while visiting London. I definitely want to go to the 'new' Covent Garden market. From 3am on weekdays and 4am at weekends you can visit the market, fill your arms with flowers, have a great breakfast at one of the markets cafes and stock up on fruit and veg before you're kicked out at 11am and wander happy (or knackered) home again! You can also stock up on fish, cheese or maybe even an ice sculpture ot two :-)
Take the Victoria line to Vauxhall or buses 156 or 354. £4 entry fee.
Have a nice morning!

A great little place has sisters...............

in Glasgow and...... Barcelona
Have a peek at the tips or add one yourself.Bon Voyage!!

one a penny ........

My sister just reminded me that we're getting close to easter and Hot cross bun day,more commonly known as Good friday in Britain and Long friday here in Norway! (here is a link with name explanations for all you etymology boffs Good Friday)
When I was little we used to sing the hot cross buns nursery rhyme and I think everyone should check out this great song here Hot cross buns with indian accent! Just to get you in the mood :-)
And here is a recipe for what looks like a really cool version that I think we need to practice a lot before April 2nd!!
Hot cross buns with stout And thank you Claire for reminding me how I can enter even more calories into my life.

Shoes and restaurants for Anna

Anna is going to London for a weekend of sun, relaxation and self-indulgence. I hope you get a little of all that anyway! Just you and the love of your life and no kids, every working mum out there is envious.
You want to get max shoe shopping coverage in the smallest possible geographical radius (shoe shopping is a serious matter that not all men see as a holiday necessity!) and need eating tips in Soho.
Well, Anna, here are some suggestions. For shoes you could start with Office in Carnaby street. They have a selection of lots of brands like Dr Martens, Converse, Campers and more. Try Jones' In Foubert street, also Soho. I usually go to Clarks and they have shops all over London. This is a link I found with someother suggestions: London shoe shops. But it's going to be hard to limit yourself with all the shops in London I think your man's just got to be patient while you shop til he drops. Or just dump him in one of many great little bars, pubs or cafes and buy him a newspaper. With all the weekend supplements in English papers you'll have bought yourself half a day!!
I love Bar Italia in Frith street. Straight across the road from the legendary jazz club Ronnie Scotts. And if you're in London on a Sunday they have started doing Sunday jazz lunches.You can enjoy a traditional sunday roast and some great jazz. I know British food hasn't got the best reputation in the world but I think everybody should try a good plate of bangers and mash at least once!
When you're in Soho you should try Mother Mash,bangers, mash and pies - lovely gravy!
Or try The Stockpot, 18 Old Compton street, Soho. My friends Richard and Karen say I have to try the Liver and onion there, dubious but I do know it is a real old caff that's been there for decades and must have some of the cheapest meals in Soho. And Karen says you can't not eat the Spotted Dick at the school dinner price of £1.99!!!
For candlelight, romance and evening eating you could try any of these restaurants that my trusty informants have recommended -Bocca di Lupo for italian, The French house for,guess what? French. Above the pub by the same name so you can start or finish with a drink there. For Thai food you can try Busaba. You can't book in advance here but the if there is a queue it generally doesn't mean a long wait. It's in Wardour st. where there are lots of bars and clubs if you want to stay out painting the town red! In case you want a vegeterian alternative my friend Maya says Mildreds is a Soho institution famed for their veggie burgers.
Here are some useful restaurant links for London
The Sneaky Magpie cool blog.
Squaremeal
London eating

Question time..

Well I got a question today.........from my sister, but a question nonetheless!
Q:What can I decorate tables with? - end of school party - cheap and colourful.....
A:how about buying cheap white paper tablecloths and jackson pollocking them? In the meantime you can practice here paint like Jackson Pollock Or just 'Jackson Pollock' a broad band down the middle. Maybe you could use cans for vases or you can gluegun on paper flowers to branches that you put in vases/bottles for centrepieces. Or you could always do a repeat of your big party when we made hundreds of origami flowers in all colours and covered the tables in vines with flowers on?

Introducing -

If you like to eat and drink this may be the blog for you. Two friends who work with food and wine. In addition writing for newpapers and magazines they also have wine and food courses on themes ranging from 'basic wine knowledge' and 'cheese and wine' to more specialised courses such as 'risotto and barolo'.
Lovely pics and great wine, beer and spirit tips. Check out their site here Kraftbyraa For those of you who don't read norwegian, you can probably still pick up wine tips thanks to the dice system :-) Otherwise look for the google translate button!