I hate being cold. Yet here I am in Norway, in January. [Finse station, 1222m above sea level, truly in the middle of snowy nowhere] This is the first time I’ve written this newsletter whilst on the move. We are taking the seven-hour train from Bergen to Oslo - one of the best in Europe, I’d read. I’ve just jumped down from the train to take a photograph at Finse station which is the highest in Norway, and the place where real would-be explorers and service personnel go to practice being in the cold and snow for longer than the two minutes I spent there.
Reading your blog took me straight back to my Gap year and time in Norway as an au pair girl in Modum Bad near Drammen, 52 years ago. I took the same train but from Oslo to Bergen in December. I stayed a night in Finse in one of the houses in your photo, in a blizzard, with the snow up high enough in drifts to block some of the windows. Then came down towards Bergen and the lovely Sognefjord staying a night in Flam (I think). I hadn't booked accommodation but heard someone playing beautiful piano music which drifted over the snow - I knocked on the door asking about accommodation - the family put me up. I was knitting a Norwegian jersey on circular needles at the time. Thankyou for the memory. I read your blog on the recommendation of our dear friend Emma Bradford who sadly passed recently. I knew her since she was born. very best wishes Judith Yarrow
How lovely! It so fleshes out my current studies with Patricia Fortune at Knitography farm. She’s hosting a year long Selbu (Norway) farm wheel online guild. We are following the makings of the traditional farm through the seasons — so much wool! Seeing the landscape reinforces why there is the need for perpetual knitting and those amazing sweaters (koftes and gensers). Definitely you must see the museum and, if possible, find a husflidrom to see where makers can go for help or to learn a new skill! My understanding is that they are magical! Enjoy!!!
I hate being cold too but love the sound of Norway in winter you portray here. Have you read Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sanction. It is about a ship stuck in the ice in Antarctica in 1897. On board is Amundsen. Described as a ‘riveting true-life horror story’. It is next on my to read list so I can say what I think of it though it comes highly recommended by my husband.
You have brought back memories of a wonderful 5 day April break to meet a dear American friend in Oslo. I discovered a brimful wool shop just by our airbnb. Seriously liking your dock pattern.
Check out Ewe & Ply (Shropshire) wool fiddlers. I am knitting with their own hand-dyed ‘Down by the Sea’ Legend sock yarn. My next pair is in ‘Juliet of the Balcony’... The names they baptise their Monday dyes is enough reason to knit them up.
Ooh, the Persephone Festival. I shall be booking in at my daughter’s & attending a few. Hopefully I might get to see my favourite Sunday emailer in person. I wish you were leading the Dorothy Whipple one. My favourite!
So much to love about your Sunday & Persephone Posts. Thank you!
Thank you for this wonderful post! I too love the "culture of the cold" and, like you, found solace in it during Covid. First, I was introduced to Norwegian author Roy Jacobsen's The Barrøy Chronicles set in the Lofoten area. (from pre to post WWII). A great saga. Next was the discovery of Cecilia Blomdahl's YouTube posts from Longyearbyen on Svalbard with such great videography of that special, amazing place, and most recently read A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter, published in 1938. She joined her husband on Spitsbergen (aka Svalbard) in 1934, their lives so remote, harrowing, and COLD! Still in print after all these years and rightly so. Again, I delighted in your post today. As always, evocative descriptions and beautiful photos.
Than you Jane! The train ride sounds so fun! This post brought back vivid memories of our visit to Norway. Among many things it is where I discovered the art of Christian Krohg (and others like Munch who was his student, Harriet Backer.....) who painted everyday conditions of ordinary people, the working class and the poor. Their work is like the snippets of time observed before photography but sooooo much more beautiful. Can’t wait to read about what yarns you found in Norway....the land of gorgeous warm sweaters.
Gorgeous photos - I can’t think of anything more magical than taking a long train through a snowy Norwegian landscape. Choosing a knitting project for a train journey is one of my favorite things to do and I love the pattern on that sock!
Majestic...reminds me of Northern Minnesota where I lived for a while. There is a youtube channel called Arne and Carlos devoted to Scandi knitting you might really enjoy. They hae some information in their series on yarn shops in Oslo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on4KavqQLoo Have a good trip!
What an amazing trek you are taking — thank you for allowing me the sense of tagging along with your words and images, both inspiring! And not least, love the socks!
Thanks so much for sharing your travels! I love the idea of a yarn store in the station! In Milwaukee (Wisconsin) there was a swell used bookstore in the airport. Tons of art books! Perfect location— I never minded a late flight!!
Im due to go to Bergen over the coming months Jane so you have utterly inspired me!!! Have fun in Oslo!!
Reading your blog took me straight back to my Gap year and time in Norway as an au pair girl in Modum Bad near Drammen, 52 years ago. I took the same train but from Oslo to Bergen in December. I stayed a night in Finse in one of the houses in your photo, in a blizzard, with the snow up high enough in drifts to block some of the windows. Then came down towards Bergen and the lovely Sognefjord staying a night in Flam (I think). I hadn't booked accommodation but heard someone playing beautiful piano music which drifted over the snow - I knocked on the door asking about accommodation - the family put me up. I was knitting a Norwegian jersey on circular needles at the time. Thankyou for the memory. I read your blog on the recommendation of our dear friend Emma Bradford who sadly passed recently. I knew her since she was born. very best wishes Judith Yarrow
How lovely! It so fleshes out my current studies with Patricia Fortune at Knitography farm. She’s hosting a year long Selbu (Norway) farm wheel online guild. We are following the makings of the traditional farm through the seasons — so much wool! Seeing the landscape reinforces why there is the need for perpetual knitting and those amazing sweaters (koftes and gensers). Definitely you must see the museum and, if possible, find a husflidrom to see where makers can go for help or to learn a new skill! My understanding is that they are magical! Enjoy!!!
I hate being cold too but love the sound of Norway in winter you portray here. Have you read Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sanction. It is about a ship stuck in the ice in Antarctica in 1897. On board is Amundsen. Described as a ‘riveting true-life horror story’. It is next on my to read list so I can say what I think of it though it comes highly recommended by my husband.
You have brought back memories of a wonderful 5 day April break to meet a dear American friend in Oslo. I discovered a brimful wool shop just by our airbnb. Seriously liking your dock pattern.
Check out Ewe & Ply (Shropshire) wool fiddlers. I am knitting with their own hand-dyed ‘Down by the Sea’ Legend sock yarn. My next pair is in ‘Juliet of the Balcony’... The names they baptise their Monday dyes is enough reason to knit them up.
Ooh, the Persephone Festival. I shall be booking in at my daughter’s & attending a few. Hopefully I might get to see my favourite Sunday emailer in person. I wish you were leading the Dorothy Whipple one. My favourite!
So much to love about your Sunday & Persephone Posts. Thank you!
Thank you for this wonderful post! I too love the "culture of the cold" and, like you, found solace in it during Covid. First, I was introduced to Norwegian author Roy Jacobsen's The Barrøy Chronicles set in the Lofoten area. (from pre to post WWII). A great saga. Next was the discovery of Cecilia Blomdahl's YouTube posts from Longyearbyen on Svalbard with such great videography of that special, amazing place, and most recently read A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter, published in 1938. She joined her husband on Spitsbergen (aka Svalbard) in 1934, their lives so remote, harrowing, and COLD! Still in print after all these years and rightly so. Again, I delighted in your post today. As always, evocative descriptions and beautiful photos.
Have you listened to The Vault by Fool and Scholar wherever you get your podcasts?
There’s also Station 151 which is totally and adorably different. Adventures in snow and ice both at both poles.
Than you Jane! The train ride sounds so fun! This post brought back vivid memories of our visit to Norway. Among many things it is where I discovered the art of Christian Krohg (and others like Munch who was his student, Harriet Backer.....) who painted everyday conditions of ordinary people, the working class and the poor. Their work is like the snippets of time observed before photography but sooooo much more beautiful. Can’t wait to read about what yarns you found in Norway....the land of gorgeous warm sweaters.
Gorgeous photos - I can’t think of anything more magical than taking a long train through a snowy Norwegian landscape. Choosing a knitting project for a train journey is one of my favorite things to do and I love the pattern on that sock!
Looking forward to attending one of your Persephone events in April.
Thank you for your Sunday morning input; something I eagerly anticipate each week!
Majestic...reminds me of Northern Minnesota where I lived for a while. There is a youtube channel called Arne and Carlos devoted to Scandi knitting you might really enjoy. They hae some information in their series on yarn shops in Oslo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on4KavqQLoo Have a good trip!
What an amazing trek you are taking — thank you for allowing me the sense of tagging along with your words and images, both inspiring! And not least, love the socks!
A great post, I’m teaching in Oslo in March, after reading your newsletter I can’t wait. Thank you.
Thanks so much for sharing your travels! I love the idea of a yarn store in the station! In Milwaukee (Wisconsin) there was a swell used bookstore in the airport. Tons of art books! Perfect location— I never minded a late flight!!
I think northern friends refer to their regions' languages as Scandiwegian!
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your posts. I really look forward to them, like having a chat with a friend. Enjoy the rest of your trip.