Today Rosa and I were on a trip to Spjelkavik. We drove to the Red Cross club house and parked there. Then we walked the trail up in the mountain. It was cloudy and a bit could out so we had both dressed well. I thought we should try to find Bigton cabin, and so we went. After walking up the mountain side for 1 hour 40 min. we had still not found the cabin. So we walked and looked at the view to Ålesund instead. It was lovely. What a view! A pity it was such bad weather, it was hard to get a good photo with my mobile. The photos got so dark. My camera has been broken since the summer vacation and I can not afford a new one. So I have to use my mobile for all picture taking. And the picture quality is not as good as with a normal camera. I hope Rosa will send me some pictures we took with her camera so I get some pictures of better quality. Then I will put them here too.

 

But anyway. We were out walking for about 3,5 hours. But later it started raining and the wind blowed harder. It got colder. I hurried home to take a warm shower, put on some clean clothes. I feel refreshed.  Now I can relax on the sofa with a clean conscience.

 

Look for 2008 Spjelkavik in Ålesund Norway in my photo album.

 

/ Annelie

 

Ps. Rosa sent me some photos. I have added them to my photo album now. :)

This Saturday night I went to a party with my friend Elisabeth. I was invited along to Lindas Party. It was a very nice little gathering and we talked, had fun, drank and ate snacks. The others drank all kinds of nice drinks, but I only drank alcohol free Munkholm bear. But that is the way I like it. I do not fancy getting drunk. But I must say I felt a little envy when Elisabeth made one of hers vodka and lime drinks. They taste so good! I really wanted one. But I was driving this night so I could not have even one. I do drink one or two drinks occasionally (but very rarely), but never when I am driving.

I brought a box of chocolate for the hostess to put at the table. That was very preciated. At the party was Linda (hostess), Ania, Kurt, Elisabeth and I. It was very nice. At 01.30 the others went to club Metz, so I went home. I do not like being at such places. Everyone drinks so much and the volume is so loud. I was very happy with the evening so I went home. 

 

 

I love you

You did hurt me

 

I said - hi, with a frozen voice.

You said something back...

 

But I did not hear you,

the room was too noicy.

 

 

 

Friday at work I was driving bus as usual. Then at the bus station when I stopped a man entered the bus. His fingers were yellow and black at the fingertips. A heavy smoker, I thought to myself, even though I had not seen him smoking. He entered the bus and asked for a ticket to the city. After just some 20 seconds I felt my lung capasity drop, and this time I was about to have a bad asthma attack. I felt my throuht tighten. I felt it coming, so I held my breath to avoid breathe it in 'til I had given the man his ticket and change. Then I hurried to open the side window to get some fresh air. The attack stopped. 

 

You smokers. If you only knew what pain your pleasure is to other people. It is not only ordinary discomfort. It is not only that "others think smoking is a nasty habit". It is also a health problem to some. For me it can also be a hazard to my health. Everyone knows what happens if you can not breathe... right? For me the problem comes when smokers and people drowned in parfume standing close up in front of me. Some meters away, or seated in the back of the bus the smoker or parfumed is no problem. I have no problem when I am sitting alone in my drivers seat driving. Because then I am not in contact with the substanse that make me sick. And then I feel I am just as healthy as anyone.

 

It is not only the smoke that is a plague. For us with asthma it is enough to get in touch with the chemicals that stick to you. Smokers breath, smokers clothes, parfume a.s. For others it can also be animals, or just about anything else.

 

Well, mostly you can't help giving me trouble. And the passenger with the chemicals do not know I got asthma. Then I mean such people that give me asthma problems cause of their breath or parfume. So one can only forgive them. But those people that enters the bus or any other place and blow the smoke on other people. In this case me. They could really do something about it. Sometimes people smokes outside the bus, throws away the cig and enters the bus blowing the smoke out inside the bus. I get the smoke in my face, or in the air around me, and I get sick by it. It is rude and uncaring to others. Every day I have to tell some smokers not to smoke in front of the bus doors, and not to blow out smoke in the bus. I hate to be a nag. Nagging, actually that is not really me. I am not a nagging person. But they who smoke in a uncaring way make me become such a person.

 

As a bus driver I also have the responsibility for the passengers well-being and having a nice trip. Not all like smoking, and also there can be people with asthma onboard among the passengers. So what can you as a smoker do to help us?

 

You think I am a nag? Well, I am not. I just want to be able to do what everyone else takes for granted. To breathe easily.

 

/ Annelie

  (Other things that can make my asthma popup is when in contact with tobacco, parfume or other chemicals).

Yesterday the dishwashing machine was broken at work. Cups and plates covered the bench, and the cabinettes was empty. I thought I'd better do the dishes. Filled water and washing liquid and started dishwashing. It did not take long before I got trouble breathing. Can not even wash the dishes without getting trouble breathing. One can not really get clean plates and cups a.s without washing liquid, and that contains chemichals. And chemicals give me trouble breathing. Asthma sucks. But anyway, my co-workers can have their coffee now.

One persons pleasure is another persons pain.

You smoke around me,

I can not breathe then.

 

Your pleasure

Is my pain.

A week ago I called a friend in Sweden. I have known him for 41-42 years. I asked him when he will come to visit me? Now your children are older, so you can not use them for an excuse. It is 8 years ago I moved from Sweden to Norway and you have not visited me even once, I said. I got the reply: - No, it is to far. - To far? I said. I have visited you many times the last 8 years. It is just as far for me, I said. And you can park your caravan outside the house, I said. - No, it is to far, he said again. So I wonder, what kind of a friend he is. I told him he is lazy, sitting on his but waiting for a visit. He thinks it is really swell that I come visiting him "on a Thursday", as he said once i visited from Norway. But he will not visit me. Well, I think I will not bather visiting him the next time I go to Sweden. First I have to drive 1100 km to my sister where I usually stay, and then another 80 km to visit him. If he will ever complain I will just say: - It is to far. In his face.

 

I have friends that got friends that visit them from the USA. That is even more far from Norway. And here where I live we even got an airport. He can fly and it takes 2,5 hours.

 

Friend?

 

/ Annelie

Words are like a sword

If you are not careful

It can cut your loved one badly.

 

Think before you speak.

I feel a bit lonely

I love you,

I know you love me.

You're so far

You're so silent,

I miss you.

Today Rosa and I took a walk from Eikenos to Eikenos through the mountain and mors. A really good walk that we both liked very well. But this is not the walk for the physically impared. It is some hard and there are no prepared paths. You walk through mors, mountain and giant rocks, creeks, roots and steep hills. Some parts we even had to sit on our buts to be able to climb down. He he. We really got our spirits up, and the puls got high.

 

Also I got myself a big bag of mushroms.

 

We started at 14.30 in the afternoon and we were back at the car at 18.00 o' clock.

 

I took some pictures. Look for 2008 Eikenos Ålesund Norway in my photo album.

 

/ Annelie

Today I drove my first city siteseeing with an Italian and an English guide. There were 30 passengers (10 Italian and 20 english speaking). We drove first to Borgund Church, then to Sunnmøre Museum, forward on to the city and Fjellstua. From there I drove to Skanse port and from there to Ålesund Church and back to the cruise ship.

 

I have driven on orders before, people that order a bus to go places, but this was my very first siteseeing. It was very nice and the guide Kari was helpful to a newtimer. When at Skanse port we all heard a loud bang and people outside the buss jumped high. A hose for the airsystem broke and I had to drive very slow for the remaining time of the siteseeing. Luckily this was just 5 min. from ending the siteseeing so I did not have to end the trip. But the trip back home to the garage I had to drive 20 km/hour with emergency blinkers on. That was the downer. But three of the passengers came forward and told me I am a great driver and drives so nicely.  So now I am very happy.

 

/ Annelie

Today I wanted lamb shops for dinner. I started frying them in the frying pan. After just half a minute I got trouble breathing. I can not even make myself dinner anymore without getting sick. It has happened many times now since I got my illness. I had to take my meds, both Ventoline and Symbicort Turbohaler 160/4,5, and go outside to take some fresh air to bread better again. I have opened the windows in my apartment but still I feel the bad air from the frying. Will take some time before I get all well.

 

It is not fair. Life sucks sometimes.

 

/ Annelie

Today I had planned to walk from home, up to the Emblem mountain and follow the trail to Eikenos and walk the main road back home. It is approximately a 20 km walk. But it is raining out.  I had hoped for at least no rain. But it is no fun walking in the mountain when it is pouring outside. This will probably be a boring day on the sofa watching something, if not something fun happens that makes me get up from the sofa then.

 

And worse, all of my friends I usually meet with are buissy doing something.

 

So I just am here longing for something to do and my love.

 

I am bored.

 

/ Annelie

Today I met a work mate when getting off my shift. He said "Hei tuppa!" What is that I asked? Only a nickname, he said and went. I thought it meant "you are a bit crazy or wrong" or something like that, because there are a way of speach in Norwegian using that word "tuppa" that means just that ("Du er helt på tuppa."). It means about "you are wrong or a bit crazy like. Later I met him again and then I asked him what he really meant by calling me "tuppa"? I thought he called me something ugly.

 

Then he said that it means "Hello, dear friend." or "Hello, dear woman friend." About that.

 

That was a new word to me.

 

One learns every day.

 

Rather nice of him to say that.

 

 

/ Annelie

Today me and my friend Rosa went for a walk at Emblem mountain. It was very nice and the weather was superb!

 

Look for 2008 Emblem mountain, Ålesund Norway in my photo album.

 

/ Annelie

This has been a pretty good week. Last week I got my car back from the shop and now it works fine. And the engine sound is improved too , yammy! I have recieved many complements this week. Several has said I "look nice" or "very fine". Makes me happy to hear.  Today I have been to my friend Elisabeth. She thought I was only going to be a good company while she was going to paint the house. But I thought out a suprise for her. I brought my painting wears and helped her.  She thought that was a great surprise and was very happy to get help.

 

Have a nice day!

 

/ Annelie

Missing someone

who is lost

Keep em' in your heart

but not let em' be a burden on your shoulders.

Today I went to the shopping mall to buy a new belt and shift battery in my watch. At the clock shop she could not help me. It was something wrong with the clock so I bought a new one. I have to have a clock in my work. It was actually a little to expensive for me this month but I have to have one. Can not be without (the bus needs to be on time). I found a belt, nice black one with croc pattern (not real croc). Since the clock was so expensive I thought it would be better not to buy anything else today. I turned my car and went for home.

 

When in Blindheim tunnel I heard a loud banking noice louder than the stereo. I pressed mute, it was my car. I stopped to check. Filled oil in case that was the reason for the noice (rather unlikely, I new that, but did that anyway) but the car would not start. This is the fifth time this year I had to call for assistanse.

 

This is a car from hell.

 

I think I am going to name it Satan.

 

 

Luckily Øyvind at the garage was kind enough to lend me a car this time.

 

I might sell the damned car from hell.

 

  

 

Annelie

It is with love like with a cold.

It is not able to hide.

I went to Moldejazz to see Mary J Blige live. I have had heard her on the radio many, many times. First one song, then another, and so on. Until I thought to my self, Mary J Blige again! She is really splended! I just had to buy her records, so I went to the record store to buy her records they had. I found Growing pains and The Breakthrough. And they where all I expected and more. She has got a voice and a way to sing that strucks my soul completely. It hits right where the heart is. And I play it loud, just to get the most of it.

 

I was happy to read in the newspaper that Mary J Blige had desided to come to Molde. It is not far away from where I live, about 200 km. I did not wait to get the ticket, I bought it right away. Then I went on my holiday trip (all about that below if you like), and then work, waiting to go there.

 

I have always liked soul and R&B, but Ms. Blige is the absolute best. I think even better than Ms. Aretha Franklin. Maybe because I like Mary J Blige's songs better. Just like her stile better.

 

I asked many of my friends if they wanted to join me for the consert, but unluckily no one could. Most of them had their summer vacation this week and were to go travelling, and the only one that wanted to come did not have enough money to buy a ticket. I should have spent a ticket on her but I did not have enough money either, so there was nothing I could do about it. So I went alone.

 

  

I did not have to be alone for long. As it went I met two women that was really nice company, and we talked and had a nice time the whole consert through.

 

 

Mary J was even better live. She sings from the top of her lungs, and she gives it all. When she sings it comes all the way from the tip of her toe nails, there is a power in her voice that strucks right where the heart is. The music is strong and at the same time rythmic and sensitive. It moves me.

 

I absolutely love it.

 

 

  
Ms Blige in full action.

And also she has got a personal way to talk to the public, like we were her mates. She is a sensible, clever, and a right on woman, that is full of love and thoughtfullness to her next, and she is personal to. No Diva tendenses there. Very good.

 

When she sings from the top of her lungs, I can not help dancing, jumping up and down, holloring and clapping my hands in the air and waiving my arms high. Right in my ears, to my heart and mind, and out my lims.

 

 

 

When I left the consert I was even more of a fan than before. I felt very happy. I had the same cozy feeling as I sometimes get when a special friend of mine gives me one of his hugs, free and glad. A happy sigh left my lips.

 

I really hope for that You Ms. Blige will keep up the good work and give me many more pleasant moments with Your music.

 

I am full of admiration for you.

 

Love

 

/ Annelie

 (If you have never heard her music before you can visit her website www.maryjblige.com for som tunes.)