Day:316, Words:316

Sundays are a challenge during this time of year in Øksfjord. We are fortunate that the snow came with a sudden burst and it remained cold enough so that the option of skiing was available before the crazy Christmas season. The sun has left our fair village but if you look closely, you can briefly see yellow light touch the highest mountain peaks in the distance.

The closing of the kiosk was the final blow for kids who needed a Sunday afternoon hang out joint or a Sunday afternoon giant can of energy drink. The kiosk also provided the rare opportunity for Øksfjordians to get their fast food fix. Given that the nearest McDonalds is in Russia, the hamburgers, chips and nuggets from the Mix kiosk was an offer that the Øksfjordians at least had at their disposal on a slow Sunday arvo.

The streets are now filled with bored teenagers, wandering like lost souls, resorting to writing 'wash me' on the cars' dirty windshields. There is however a Norwegian variation on this activity. When there is fresh snow, a few talented youngters like to use their creative talents in producing a type of car window graffiti that can bring a smile to your face.

Although there might be appear to be little to do, the kids are creative. The initial snowfalls in late October have become large clumps of dirty snow that the snow ploughs had shoved to the end of the road. Today a team of boys from ages 4 to 10 were furiously digging with shovels in order to make a mini village of snow caves. Dressed in the compulsory fluorescent orange, green and yellow vests, the child workers kept on for several hours, moulding and sculpturing their icy dwellings . By the afternoon, long after the twilight had faded, the diligent lads had constructed the Øksfjord kid equivalent to the Taj Mahal.

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