a new chapter

Yesterday, I returned from Bergen (Norway). I accompanied Annie to help her settle in her new student home. She will study in Bergen until Christmas.

The trip to Bergen was frazzled. All started fine, we boarded our plane in Edinburgh on time, taxied, increased speed for take-off, but the pilot abruptly aborted due to a fault. Better before take-off than later I suppose. We were returned to the terminal to wait for a new plane, which arrived in due course. Upon arriving in Bergen, we were fatigued and decided to take a taxi to Annie's student accommodation. At the service centre, she was asked for identification. Which was in her backpack. Which was in the taxi, now departed. In her backpack was also her wallet, her iPad, her AirPods and laptop... and a bottle of vodka and some books. The people in the student service were super helpful and called the taxi company for us but of course I didn't note down the taxi number, nor did I ask for a receipt so that was no good. After the first panic was over, Annie activated the lost iPad function, which told us where the taxi went. Back to the airport. We followed by public transport, it was a nail biting 25 minutes. The iPad dot did quiver a bit from time to time but did not significantly move. Remembering the length of the taxi line, we hoped to make it there in time before the driver picked up another ride. As it turned out, the taxi was actually at the heliport, which is just next to the airport, separated by a motorway. This nearly defeated us but there was well hidden underpass and we go eventually go there, out of breath. I recognised the taxi driver who was on break.  He was surprised to see us and we were overjoyed to see him. Bag retrieved, we took the tram back to the student place. The driver didn't seem that bothered that we took public transport, he probably understood that I didn't want to spend another £56 on a second cab ride (but I took his number for future rides and gave him my last cash as a tip). 

Annie had no bedding so she spent the first night at my hotel. After a hearty breakfast, we took the bus out of town to go to Ikea to get bedding and bedlinen and other assorted bits and bobs that are not provided at the student accommodation. Then we went back to Annie's flat with a blue bag full of essentials. Next up was a grocery shop. Then Annie wanted to unpack and I went back to the hotel for a wee rest. We had argued earlier and we both needed a break from each other. We met for dinner later but Annie decided to sleep in her new digs as she had met the flatmates and wanted to hangout with them. This made me happy, I had worried about her feeling all lonely.

The following day, we went on a boat tour around the fjords, which was beautiful. The weather was perfect right until we returned to port. Then we wandered around town for a bit, had another argument and went for an absolutely beautiful dinner at a small restaurant near my hotel. The food was divine, I enjoyed every bite and Annie, did, too. We shared a bottle of fizz for good measure. After dinner I accompanied Annie back to her flat, then took the tram back into the centre of town. It was hard to say good bye and I was a bit tearful on the tram. For distraction, I did some more exploring. It stays light long in the north and I wandered through some beautiful neighbourhoods and the old town, which is all wooden and a bit rickety.

On my way to the airport the next morning, I felt a bit tearful again as I was passing Annie's neighbourhood. I also had a thundering headache and I spent some time trying to find a shop that sells paracetamol at the airport. Here in the UK, every corner shop stocks over the counter medicines but it looks like Norway is maybe more cautious (and rightly so).

This morning, I felt like someone hit me on the head with a spade, repeatedly. My throat was on fire and my nose blocked. I tested positive for the Covid, which was a surprise. I felt pretty much invincible after more than three years of not succumbing to it. Ah well.

Thanks for visiting 😊