Day152, Words:152

Normality has been restored for the moment as the snow has retreated to the mountain tops where it belongs and the sun has finally released its warmth on the last day of May. Now those trampolines can be reassembled following this stretch of insane winter weirdness. Unfortunately, Øksfjord is not immune to the modern marketing miracle that is Justin Bieber. Like everywhere else in the western world, posters of the Canadian catch are adorning the walls of teenager girls' lockers and bedrooms. In Oslo, thousands queued for hours to catch a glimpse of their idol during a free concert. The beatlemania-esque atmosphere caused a concern for the local police and hospitals as fans pushed and shoved each other during the big squash. It must be those clever, creative lyrics that drives these kids so wild....'Baby, baby, baby oh, like baby baby baby no..... John Lennon would be rolling in his grave.

 

 

Day:151, Words:151

The outrageous weather continued overnight as motorists and cyclists endured a slippery start to the morning with winter conditions and summer tyres. As most of us complained that this was the worst start to the summer in the history of everything, some recalled the dreaded late June snow storm of '78. Then there are those who remain annoyingly optimistic with their weather prophecies that include some twaddle about a bad May translating to a warm summer.

Practise, practise, practise is the instruction from the talented organist, music teacher and choir leader from Bulgaria. Miloslav has a passion for the musical arts and will play a major part in the music evening next week. This afternoon, the trio of young cornet players went through their paces, while the choir girls gave their vocal chords a good workout. All musical acts are encouraged to participate in the amateur night at the town hall. Bravo!!

 

Day:150, Words:150

Øksfjordians woke up to a scene from a horror film.Thick fluffy snow lay on the ground, covering the car and flopping heavily from the sky onto confused residents who perhaps awoke, thinking they had slept for five months. June is in reach and yet the thermometer reads minus one. For me, this appauling situation was summed up by a unimpressed French tourist, shivering outside of his mobile home. I approached him with a greeting in English. He shook my hand, pointed to the mountain, shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and shuffled back into his vehicle...

In co-operation with the Øksfjord Football Club, the town hall welcomed the public in for a motivational and informative evening. A guest speaker from the Norwegian Football Association provided some useful and inspirational advice. As the village faces some challenges, economically, politically and meteorologically, some uplifting words could be the right tonic.

 

Day:149, Words:149

I don't really like to harp on about the weather...but seriously... According to the calendar, it is May 28th and even at 70 degrees north, this should be a time for singing birds, green grass and sunny afternoon garden parties. Instead Øksfjord is playing host to driving rain, slushy snow and winds that lift small dogs into midair. It all started last night, when a freak turn of wind wreaked havoc on outdoor furniture and trampolines. Despite being secured with ropes and pegs, one trampoline took off like a frisbee over fences and houses, leaving a trail of destruction before landing on a neighbour's car.

The Øksfjord boys football team played their first game on the home ground in shocking conditions. They fought hard, but were outclassed and went down 4-1 to the team from Hammerfest. If this weather continues, footballs will be soon replaced by skis.

 

 

Day:148, Words:148

The scandanavian music movement visited both ends of the spectrum last night during the Eurovision final in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Norwegian entry was considered a minor chance for victory, yet as the television viewing public watched the votes roll in via cheesy presenters from around the continent, there was no mention of La Norvege..

Meanwhile, the neighbours, Sweden were frequently collecting bags of 'douze points' In the end, Sweden's Loreen was victorious, while Norway's Tooji finished dead last with a paltry seven points. Other highlights included a group of cake baking Russian grandmothers, a wacky bunch of dancing Moldovans and an Albanian song, with lyrics so painful that the performer felt obligated to scream it throughout.

Confirmation ceremonies were held in the church this morning, before family gatherings in various venues. Those who had travelled far, returned during the afternoon via planes, trains and automobiles......and boats.

 

Day: 147, Words:147

It's the day after the political decision that rocked the local communities. The closing of a school does not bode well for the village across the fjord. Families have already spoken of leaving the area and without children, the future looks bleak.

It is confirmation week in Øksfjord. Tomorrow morning, the year 9 students will go through the traditional coming of age ceremony in church in front of their families. The village was bursting at the seams today with relatives both distant and close, arriving from all parts of the country. Following the church formalities, the families will move on to their respective venues to celebrate with glorious food, extravagant cakes, coffees and speeches. In short, the day is a big deal.

Norway did in fact reach the final of Eurovision to be staged tonight in Baku, Azerbaijan. It promises to be a night of cringeworthy performances.

 

Day:146, Words:146

Power to the people?


The traditional biannual strikes hit a range of services throughout the country yesterday. School and kindergarten closures meant that the second in line to the throne had to be dragged to work with his dad, the prince. Meanwhile, prisoners were given day passes to roam the streets as the guards also participated in industrial action. During the national weather forecast last night, the south western section of the map was left blank as meteorologists were also striking.

There was a demonstration march today involving the majority of high school kids in support of keeping the vulnerable schools open. The all important council board meeting started at ten and the peaceful protesters let their feelings known with posters and banners.

Then came the news...

Nuvsvåg school is to close in four weeks, Sandland school is to remain open.

There are many unanswered questions....

 

Day:145, Words:145

A minor scare in the village yesterday as a resident decided to celebrate the fine weather by building a camp fire a little too close to his house. The fire brigade took control of the situation just as the flames began to lick at the woodwork. A relative boom in the Øksfjord property market as another note has beed pinned to the supermarket noticeboard. The large, clean and centrally located home is sure to attract some interest. All eyes will be on the telly tonight as the Norwegian entry into the Eurovision contest will perform in the semi final in Baku, Azerbaijan. Fingers crossed that artist 'Tooji' can do his country proud. Whatever happens, most will be tuned in to the final on Saturday to view a frenzy of questionable costumes, dazzling lighting, songs of varying degrees of quality and a heap of biased voting.

 

Day:144, Words:144

At last the sunshine took out a map, asked for directions, switched on its G.P.S and found its way to Øksfjord. While the southern part of the country sweats, the northerners slip into gum boots and windproof jackets.

The first reindeer sighting was reported today as they make their way from the inland tundra to their summer home on the coast. Vassdalen dogs yelped in unison as the first large flock trampled freely over the road and into the scrub.

Late May is somewhat of a transitional period for those residing north of the polar circle. The 24 hour a day sunlight can be a tricky concept to adjust to and the yawn frequency has increased by 16%. With body clocks in a confused state, many find themselves taking a stroll, riding a bike or climbing a mountain in the middle of the night.

 

Day:143, Words:143

The council board will vote on Friday whether or not to close two schools. The issue is receiving increased media coverage and tensions are at breaking point.

The council can save a bundle of cash in the short term by closing the schools, yet the questions remain....Won't it cost money to ship the kids across the fjord? Is the road reliable enough to get the kids to the ferry to cross the fjord? Will the towns of Sandland and Nuvsvåg die if the schools close down? If the schools close and families leave the town, won't that also cost the council money?




Personally, I believe the anger is misdirected. More energy and effort needs to be put into building up what is here, enticing and inviting new families to the area, being positive and supportive.

If you build it, they will come.....

 

Day:142, Words:142

We are heading towards the end of May and most of Europe is heating up. Many are enjoying their alfresco dining, frappuccinos and multi flavoured sorbets. Today Øksfjord welcomed a new layer of snow on the mountains, while gusty winds blew slushy rain into unimpressed faces. Football training for the youngest devotees was a wet and cold affair for the second week running.

Tucked away inside the school classroom were eight students, completing their written maths exam. Students are required to sit one written and one oral exam and it is pure luck that determines which subject they receive. There were mixed opinions of today's exam paper as the mentally exhausted teenagers gradually stumbled out. The remaining eight who did not sit today will have to knuckle down and study in anticipation of their English exam next week.

Better them than me...

 

Day:141, Words:141

The wind played havoc with the football during the first games at Vassdalen stadium. After two postponements, the dry green field hosted two teams from Alta and one from Øksfjord in the little boys/ girls category. The local team put on a show for the small yet dedicated crowd, who had braved the chilly conditions and won their first game 6 - 2.

Yesterday, the lads, who play under the category of 'small boys', recorded a 15-0 away victory against small town Talvik, before going down 0-4 to traditional rivals Kautokeino.

As this school year heads towards its end, the controversial and emotional debate over the possible closure of two district schools, continues to rage. The local newspaper has reported the views of teachers and students and the social media has operated as a busy and not necessarily polite forum.

 

Day:139, Words:139

Today was the inaugural 'Øksfjord Mila', a 10 kilometre fun run through the hilly streets of Øksfjord. The locals are used to competing on skis and mountain peaks, yet the endevour was 100% across the board. The event, a brainchild of the physiotherapist, was considered a roaring success by spectators and supporters alike.

It looked ominous! as the winds arrived just prior to the start, but the sun came out and jackets were flung at family members as they passed the halfway mark. The atmosphere was one of solidarity and fun, from a pre race group warm up, to a cup of homemade soup at the finish. There were many impressive performances, including first timers attempting the challenging distance.

For the record, the Australian born Øksfjordian crossed the line first. We hope that today was the start of a tradition.

 

Day:139, Words:139

Like daffodils, trampolines are popping up all over the village. Weeks of nagging from the kids have proved effective as instructionless adults try to remember the procedure of assembly. Many of the Øksfjord trampolines are slightly damaged. These are not scars as a result of rowdy children but of various summer storms over the years. Unterhered trampolines have been known to be lifted up by hefty winds, thrown through the air like a giant frisbee and deposited into the river or amongst the trees.

After years of uncertainty and sporadic opening days, the owner of newly reopened (again) 'Kroa' pub has promised a more stable approach to the running of the local bar. Open everyday for meals and coffee and on Friday nights for a drink, the owner hopes that the good people of Øksfjord get behind it.

Cheers!!

 

Day:138, Words:138

A fantastic northern morning, perfect for a Norwegian national day. Blue sky, warm sun and smiles on everyone who assembled at the school at 11, ready to march to the town hall. There were however some mutterings regarding local myths and legend that favourable weather on 17th May means a drizzly, cold summer.

The parade was well attended and the enthusiasm was high, yet something was lacking. The marching band that had tradionally led the parade down the hill was conspiculously absent, making for a pleasant yet dissapointlingly low key event.

Norwegians are proud of their handsome flag and there were hundreds of them, big and small, being waved by toddlers and flying high from flagpoles. Ice creams, hot dogs, black coffee and an overwhelming selection of wonderfully homemade cakes rounded out a brilliant day.




Hip, Hip, Hurrah!

 

 

Day:137, Words:137

The flags have been ironed, shirts and suits have been pressed, cakes have been baked and houses have been dusted in anticipation of tomorrow, the 17th May, Norway's national day. The day will start with a parade, in which the majority of participants will be kindergarten and school aged children. The weather forecast looks promising, a balmy 15 degrees with bright sunshine for much of the day. Speaking of the sun, it will not set in Øksfjord for another two months. There are few better sights than a bright blue sky late at night, against the soundtrack of a waterfall, a rushing creek and the whizzing of a bicycle, on a midnight ride.Today's note of the day was pinned to the middle of the board. There was a local phone number and two words.........'Seagull Eggs'.

 

Day:136, Words:136

It was the traditional pre 17th May clean up today as the entire school group was spread around the village. The kids donned plastic gloves and carried garbage bags and cleared away rubbish in preparation for the national day of festivities on Thursday. During the winter, the snow tends to swallow up all kinds of junk and when it melts, the rotten treasures are uncovered and unsightly.

Apart from unwanted snow, May is also known for the school leavers' antics. Known as 'Russ' and dressed in orange overalls, the Øksfjord year 10s have engaged in a range of strange activities and dares in order to collect knots of string to attach to their funny hats.

An important notice from the board outside of the general store read 'the ATM will be filled with cash on Wednesday'.

 

Day:135, Words:135

The award winning Øksfjord library is open from 5 to 8 on Monday evenings and is a fine place to obtain all of your films, books, music and magazines. The building has a solarium in the basement, which for a wintery village, provides some much needed colour for the sun deprived bodies. There is also a curious sign on the front door..'No dogs allowed in the solarium'. Such notices shouldn't really be necessary and one has to wonder about the kind of incident that inspired this odd piece of signage.

Other interesting signs include the one on the front entrance to the bank. 'This bank is cash free'. What's next? A food free restaurant or a child free school? Well, depending on the results of a meeting, that might not be too far away...

 

Day:134, Words:134

Despite the best efforts of many volunteers, the football pitch remained scattered with patches of snow and the game due to be played yesterday was postponed. A typical May snowfall on a saturday morning put an end to any hope of a full field of green. Let's hope that we have seen the last of the falling white stuff and that the merury begins to rise. As I have mentioned previously, Øksfjordians love their English football and today marked the last day of the season. The exciting finish, provided some heart stopping entertainment for a large group of Manchester United supporters and one proud Manchester City fanatic. As it turned out the season result was decided by the last kick of the season. The proud Øksfjordian toasted himself champagne and hoisted the sky blue flag.

 

Day:133, Words:133

All the nerves that were there yesterday disappeared. All of the minor technical glitches had been rectified. The atmosphere among the audience was slightly more electric than yesterday. Oohs and aahs came as the northern lights scene came to life and the effects of the shadows during the opening scene really paved the way for another successful performance. Congratulations 'Team Tåkehavet' for a truly unique and inspirational experience. Next stop...London's West end?

In unrelated news, Øksfjordians travel to Alta to have any teeth work done. Eurodent in the shopping centre, is a Hungarian run dentistry and has received negative feedback in relation to a patient's bill. We all know teeth work is expensive business, but the lady was unimpressed when presented with an invoice of over 56,000 kroner or about 7,400 euro.

 

Day:132, Words:132

The mayor stood on the stage today and heaped praise upon everyone associated with Tåkehavet. He announced to a packed town hall that he was at a loss for words to describe the pride that he felt while enjoying the performance.

All of the elements came together wonderfully to portray the original story based on fact and legend set in 19th century Øksfjord.

The acting was superb from the young amateurs and the music from the live band, who also doubled as fishermen within the show, was excellent. The subtle lighting worked brilliantly with the creeping fog that slowly and stealthily engulfed the actors and the stage, creating an eerie and unique experience for the appreciative audience.

A short rest and a chance to recharge the batteries before the evening performance tomorrow.

Day:131, Words:131

Despite her devout loyalty to Norwegian glacial water, It appears unlikely that Madonna will invest heavily in a potential Nuvsvåg aqua factory, rescuing the town from a seemingly downhill spiral. Unfortunately, the writing is on the wall for the schools in both Sandland and Nuvsvåg. The final decision is yet to be made and there are protests from the children and parents who desperately want to keep their schools alive. The key element, however is the number of kids attending the schools, and these numbers are dwindling. Although the future is uncertain, no one has given up.

It was the all important dress rehearshal for 'Tåkehavet' today. Any last minute alterations, clarifications and unwanted situations were dealt with and all involved are ready for showtime tomorrow at 11am.

Break a leg!!

 

Day:130, Words:130

Power to the people! A working bee of enormous proportions ( relatively speaking) in operation 'free the green'. With the first home football game only 72 hours away, an army of volunteers, both big and small attacked the snow with weapons of mass destruction. Spades, snow shovels, ice breakers and heavy snow removal machinery were utilised in the war against snow in May. The end result is a thin layer of ice and snow and the only thing to do now is wait for the natural melting processes to finish the job. Following the outstanding efforts on the football pitch, many made their way down to the jetty for their weekly dose of interval training. The small, yet steep hill up to the kindergarten was testing, but afterall, pain is temporary.  

 

Day:129, Words:129

A full day of activities in the village. Flags were raised in memory of national liberation 67 years ago. The date brings a wave of emotions here as it represents the end of five years of continuous German occupation in 1945. None of the buildings are older than that date as in retreat, the Germans burnt everything to the ground in order to escape the pursuing Russian army. Despite the hardship, today is a celebration of the day Norway regained its freedom.

A spring clean was the order of the afternoon on the first of the free rubbish delivery days at the local tip. Vans full of rotting furniture, trailors packed full of rusty bikes and car boots overflowing with miscellaneous junk made their way to the awaiting containers.

Day:128, Words:128

Welcome to Tåkehavet week! After months of blood, sweat and tears, the biggest day in Øksfjord's showbiz history is nearly upon us. The original script incorporates local history, spookey tales and the surrounding environment. The talented on stage performers range from ages 6 to 16 along with a substantial backstage group, responsible for lighting, costumes, make up and music. The next few days will be spent fine tuning all aspects of this theatrical extravaganza before a matinee on Friday and an evening performance on Saturday.

It is a case of two steps forward, one step back in the fight for a green football pitch. The sprinklers have been in constant use in an attempt to remove the final layers of snow. The deadline is five short days away!

 

Day:127, Words:127

The dispute continues over the group of holiday cottages sharing the costs of snow removal during the winter. It was reported a while back that one gentlemen refused to contribute, explaining that on the rare occassions he was there, his four wheel drive allowed him to reach his property anyway. Now the snowplough driver has come out with his own take on the whole mess. He claims that he has been clearing the uncooperative resident's driveway regularily, unaware that he was not contributing to the costs. The driver also added that no four wheel drive vehicle could possibly make it up the unploughed road.

On the subject of snow, yesterday's sunshine was apparently nothing more than a false start to the summer. Anyone need their driveway ploughed?

 

Day:126, Words:126

A fantastic May Saturday in Øksfjord, perfect for plunging into the Norwegian sea. Those associated with the Doctor boat undertook an exercise today whereby they donned a floatation dry suit and jumped into the freezing waters.

The experience is to prepare them for any emergency situation where it is necessary to immediately leave the boat while on duty. The participants reported that they remained fully dry and that the temperature inside the suits was warm and cosy. In the event of such a situation, survivors could last several hours in the middle of the icy ocean.

The first trampoline has been reassembled after being packed away for the long winter. Bouncing up and down is a popular summer activity for kids of all ages in Øksfjord.

 

Day:125, Words:125

The opening football game of the season was transferred from Øksfjord to Alta because the pitch still had a metre of snow on it. Well it appears that losing the home ground advantage proved disasterous for the teenage boys from Loppa. The good news is that Øksfjord scored from a stunning free kick. The bad news is that the Alta team also scored...21 times. Øksfjordians love their snowmobiles, yet passionately disagree over which make is best. According to this year's sales, the Arctic Cat is the biggest seller in Alta but the worst in nearby reindeer roaming Kautokeino, where Lynx is the preferred brand. Lynx is the least popular brand in Alta, which proves the old saying...'horses for courses'.....or is it reindeer.

 

Day:124, Words:124

One of the volunteer organisations in Øksfjord arranged the annual 'Vårsleppen' today. The idea behind this event is that the Springtime is finally let loose so that everyone can celebrate the promise of warm sun, green grass and pretty flowers.

Unfortunately, the day brought a cloudy mixture of whispy rain and fat floaty snow and not a daffodil in sight. Those who braved the imperfect conditions walked and rode, answering questions along the way at different clue posts. The reward was in the form of hotdogs, cake and piping hot coffee.




The participants were generous in the purchasing of lottery tickets and the lucky winners were delighted with their prizes. Let's hope that the weather gods noticed the formailities and reward this patient village.

 

Day:123, Words:123

On inspection of the formerly frozen lake today, I am dubious of the responsible safety measures taken by those continuing to ski across the fragile blue surface. Decades of arctic experience and local knowledge cannont be underestimated, yet even the most accomplished have been known to crash through to an instant chilly bath. I wonder if their mothers ever told them "You are skating on thin ice young man!"

Wednesday afternoon and full steam ahead for the 'Tåkehavet' gang. The entire cast has been brought together for the first time to rehearse their songs, recite their lines and learn their dance steps. These performers range in age from 6 to 17 and there is plenty of small town talent waiting to be discovered.

 

Day:122, Words:122

A Happy Labour day to those celebrating today as they are in Øksfjord. It is a celebration of the worker's economic and social achievements, specifically the eight hour working day. In the U.S and Canada, it is celebrated in September and in Australia, different states host the public holiday in May, September and October. Like the rest of the country, the working conditions in Øksfjord couldn't be better. Minimal weekend work, good pay, short hours and the right to down 17 cups of coffee a day.

Despite the heroic efforts of volunteers to green up the football pitch, the opening game has been moved to the indoor stadium in Alta. Training, however will continue on the small patch of snow free field.