Category Archives: Sports

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St. Patrick’s day Weekend

This weekend was quite a busy and started with payday drinks at work on Friday. One of our colleges had a concert with his band, and a few of us went there to listen to them play and keep the party going. It was a really good evening out, but it did not make Saturday morning the best one. I lack the ability to recover that I used to have.

Snapchat gave me a Paddy’s day outfit

But after a very slow morning it was time to visit the Irish pub for the rugby game. It was very full and the mood was on top. The combination of St. Patrick’s Day and the fact that Ireland won the Grand Slam at the rugby, made this a very enjoyable afternoon. There was a lot of people out in a lot of weird green clothes and read beards.

Wonderful chicken gordita

After this we went out to a lovely meal at the restaurant called Harry Pepper where we also ate last year for Paddy’s day. This year they have moved their venue, but the food was at least as nice as last year. We went for a three course meal and I had a lovely Gordita, magical ribs and a finish of Churros. I can really recommend this place for eating and drinking. I decided not to go with any of their nice tequila or cocktails.

Pineapple and chipotle matinated ribs

As the night before was a bit later that planned and because we had a lot of food we just went home quite early. Today I made a nice big breakfast and had a lovely lazy morning, before going for a lovely walk in the crisp winter sunshine. And then it was time for a family dinner at my brother’s new place to celebrate the fact that he has a new apartment and that he had his birthday this week.

Churros with cinnamon ice cream and chocolate chilli sauce

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Norway in the Olympics

The Olympics are now over and with Norwegian eyes it has been a great one. We beat our previous record when it commes to medals and ended up with 39 medals. 14 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze!

In ice skating we won quite a few medals even if the Nederlands got most of the medals. One of our guys Håvard Lorentzen won 2 gold and one silver medals. He became the first person from Bergen to get a gold in the winter Olympics. And only a year ago he got so injured when he got an ice skate in his calf, that they feared for his career. One of the gold medals was in team with another Norwegian.

Norway’ s cross country relay teams did really good and got us a few gold medals. Both teams won their relays and they put in a great effort. All in all our cross country boys and girls won 14 medals.

Our mixed curling team got a bronze medal and had to come back to get it. The reason for this was that a Russian athlethe was caught in a doping control and had to give back the medal he took. This is probably not the best way to get your medal for an athlethe, and it is always sad when people cheat. The media was saying that there is a chance someone put the melodium in his drink because they wanted his wife, who is on is team and quite beautiful. I have no idea if this is anywhere near correct, but it’s all quite sad.

On a non Norway subject, I was very impressed by Esther Ledecka who got a gold medal in both alpine skiing and snowboard. That is a huge achievement, two medals in two different sports.

To sum up little Norway did really well in the winter Olympics in Peyongchang. Now it is only 4 years till next time.

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Norway in the Olympics so far

As many of you may know, from following my blog, I like to watch winter sports on TV. And as you may have noticed it’s now time for the winter Olympics in Peyongchang in South-Korea. Norway went in to the games with a goal of getting as many as 28 medals. This seems like an extreme amount for a country with only around 5 million people, but even if it is very ambitious we are quite good at winter sports here up north.

This first week we have proven that our goal might not have been too unrealistic. After a week we now have 20 medals, 7 gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze. And there is still a lot of chances left.

Norway’s best day in the Olympics ever came Thursday 15th of February with 6 medals in one day. Our alpine boys Aksel Lund Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud started by taking gold and silver medals in the downhill. The alpine women proved that they are good to by Ragnhild Mowinkel taking silver in the giant slalom. In cross country skiing the Swedish favorite had a bad day, but our largest hope Marit Bjørgen only managed a shared bronze. But Norway has more good skiers and the to and coming Ragnhild Haga got the gold. After that the biathlon boys were tasked with trying to fix a bad start to the competition. And Johannes Tingnes Bø got his gold medal and touched the nation when he hugged his brother who didn’t do so well as him after the race.

Maren Lundby took Norway’s first god medal in ski jumping for women in the Olympics and she became the 100th Norwegian to get a gold medal in the Olympics.

Today was the Norwegian women’s relay. Last Olympics our ski prepping team was very unlucky with their prepping and the Norwegian’s, that was the favorites for the gold ended up without a medal at all. This year they where favorites together with the Swedish and as always there was a lot of discussion in Norway over who got a spot on the team. Our girl on the 2nd round had a terrible day and was so stiff and tired we all just hoped she would manage to get to the next girl and send her off. She used all her last powers to try to not loose to many seconds and the girl she sent off was none other than gold winner Ragnhild Haga, who took us so close to the Swedish team that Marit Bjørgen managed to get the gold for Norway!

In addition to this we started of the Olympics by getting gold, silver and bronze in the first cross country competition for men. We also have gotten medals in ski jump for men, Super-G for men, biathlon for women, cross country sprint for men and women and 5000 meter ice skating for men.

The Olympics brings out all the feelings, from extreme happiness to huge disappointments. The outsiders that surpasses everyone’s expectations, the favorites who finally get their medals, or fail. Watching how happy or disappointed the athletes are after their performances and listening the interviews with them is just wonderful. Here, they really engage the nation.

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Almost time for National Championship again

It is almost time for me to pack my bags and hop on a plane to the lovely city of Bergen. Every year in February I go there with my band to participate in the National Brass Band Championship. And I try to meet up with some friends when I am there. This time I’m leaving at Thursday morning and I’m very much looking forward to it. I have already made arrangements to be a part of some really nice things in my extended weekend.

Morning, sun coming out and all quiet

So this weekend has mostly been spent rehearsing for the competition next weekend. Rehearsals took care of Friday evening, most of Saturday and today. After rehearsals on Saturday I went out to watch the rugby match between Ireland and France, as a friend of mine had her birthday we went out for some pizza and beers and luckily I ended the evening early enough to not suffer lack of sleep today. As I have a busy week ahead the last thing I wanted to was to start the week very tired and wiped out.

Out to watch rugby it the pub

Today there is a concert after the rehearsals, with four other bands that are also getting ready for next weekend. Among these is my old band and it will be nice to hear them play and to talk to the nice people there. And then I have been so lucky that I have been invited to my mother for Sunday dinner, and she has said she might be serving komla (potato balls) and I’m very much looking forward to it. And as a bonus we don’t start to early today, so I got some time to enjoy working on my blog and reading others.

The weather this weekend has been wonderful and it has not been the best weekend to spend indoors. The sun has been out and it has been quite crisp and cold. I hope this weather will continue for some time, because the bright winter sun is very good for getting energy.

Hope you’re all doing great!

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Handball again

Our handball boys unexpectedly got to the finals of the World Championship! They are playing against France who has been by far the best team in the tournament, and they have the home advantage. We absolutely don’t except to win, but with this team who knows. 

The semi finals on friday was a real thriller. I was lucky to watch the game with great colleagues. After our keeper saved a penalty in the last minute securing us a tie leading to extra time. Where we had most to give. 

Everybody loves an underdog and as Norway was the last team to not make the qualifiers they only got the spot in the Championship when a nation from Oseania did not have a team. We got the wild card and got to play . And the frustration from losing in the last game turned to happiness when we got a chance. Then to go all the way to the finals is just amazing! 

Hope you’re all enjoying your Sunday!

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Go Norways Handball Men

Had the lazy day I hoped I would have today. Slept for 12 hours and woke up refreshed. I read a bit and made sure my home looked a bit nicer. Went for a walk in the fog and did some shopping.

Now I’m ready to watch Norway play Macedonia in the handball world championship. I really hope our boys win this game and take us to the next round. They really are quite likable and well liked here in Norway. So I’ve found some popcorn and a beer.

So Go Norway – or Heia Norge as we say here.

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Biathlon and Cleaning Weekend

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This weekend I will use to get ready for easter. And my apartment is in dire need of a good clean up. I got off to a good start yesterday and hope I won’t give up any time soon.

There is a World Championship in biathlon going on in Oslo and my parents and brother is there to watch, but I’m happy to just watch on tv. Yesterday Norway ‘ s team in the women ‘ s relay got the gold medal. They were outsiders to the gold and everyone was really happy for them. They are a very sympathetic and still very young group. We have high hopes for the men today. Where the women has done better than expected many of the men has had a worse Championship then was thought in advance, but if they all have a great day a new gold might be within reach.

There is also a Ski Tour in Canada to end the cross country skiing season. Here the Norwegian women have done much better than the competition, but there is still exititement as to whom will get what medal. In the mens competition there are two Norwegians chasing the russian in the lead before the last leg of the tour.

I hope you will all have a great weekend. What are your plans?