Christmas greetings 2008

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Dear friends!

Before starting to write, we thought there was not much to tell this year; none of our children got married, no grandchildren in sight, and we did not make any travels during our summer vacation.

However, we managed to arrange one trip where the entire family was together: In August we hiked the Besseggen mountain together with Astrid’s mother, sisters, some nephews and nieces. The youngest was 8, the oldest 72! We had a great trip. In the picture you see Astrid and part of the “egg” (edge) we walked along.

In May Astrid, Magne and Ingrid visited Magnar in Alta (Øytun) where he is a ”social worker”. We were quite impressed by his school, and had a good time with bird watching, mountain hiking, and camp fires.

The young generation have a great urge to travel. At times we have a hard time knowing their whereabouts on this planet!

Solbjørg is busy with her medicine studies. In her spare time she is a guide at a local technology museum, and she practices her dancing.

Solbjørg, Magnar and Ingrid all participated in the Norwegian championship in swing and rock’n roll. They even danced together in “boy with two girls”!

Magnar and Solbjørg both come home for Christmas. Next year Magnar plans to start his University studies here in Bergen.

Ingrid still lives with mom and dad. It is such a joy to have her in the house. She will finish high school next year. In order to make some money on her own, she is a guard at the local swimming pool now and then. Once each week she goes to Bergen to practice her swing dancing, and she stays over night with her big sister. Today she is in the local newspaper; she had the seremon at the traditional church service arranged by the high school before Chrismas.

As a token of her great concern for her parents, Ingrid has bought a bowl with two gold fishes so mom and dad can have company when all the kids have left the nest.

I, Magne, have got the image that I am a dedicated sports enthusiast, running and biking whenever the opportunity is there. However, I must admit that my active life style is a necessity to balance out the effects of the wonderful cooking Astrid is doing. My biking season was spoiled this year, due to a fall in one of the first races. It took three months before I was back on two wheels. At work the days are quite long, as it is a great challenge to build up a new company from scratch. However, things are going fine with Dynaplan, and my colleagues are great to work with.

Last summer Astrid and I prioritized to work in our garden instead of going away on vacation. Weather was beautiful, and we enjoyed swimming and spading for several weeks.

I (Astrid) enjoy most to work in the house and the garden. But there is so much to do as a teacher that I normally come home between 6 and 9 pm. I seriously consider reducing my position to a part-time position, if possible, next year.

Now we are looking forward to Christmas. This year we will be 14 people around the table Christmas Eve, both young and old together. Astrid’s parents will be here, and some of her sisters with their families.

Warm wishes for the Christmas and the New Year!

Magne, Astrid, Solbjørg, Magnar and Ingrid.