Last Thursday I went with the rest of the people in Soffa to Calella to be part of the Oktoberfest that is arranged there. Apparently this is on of the largest Oktoberfests there is. It runs for three weeks so I guess that might be true.

We went there both to enjoy the festivities and to participate with our music in the beer tent. I guess both on and off stage.

We left Norway early Thursday morning on a direct flight to Barcelona, where we eventually got all our luggage and found the bus that would take us the 50 km north to Calella.

After checking into the hotel we had a while before dinner and the first concert.  I guess there was a bit of mix up with the times because it looked like we would not be able to have dinner as our dinnertime was set almost at the same time as the concert.

But the hotel arranged it so that we got dinner a bit earlier, but then on a tight schedule.

In Calella we staid at the Hotel Internacional. This is a two star hotel which for the most was good enough. The beds are weird, some rock hard, some really soft, some squeaking and so one. So you might get lucky or not.

The dining at the hotel is a story in it’s own right. The food, although not bad, is plain and uninspiring.  I had hoped to get more flavor being in Spain and all. And you cannot visit this place without a comment on the restaurant manager.

I guess he would be ex military or something, because he kept the place running on a short leach. Don’t even think about getting there later for a meal, when meal time is over it’s over and you’ll have to leave. Finished or not. And don’t try grabbing your food on the way out. What you haven’t eaten stays behind. And oh .. please remember to pick up a tray for your plate or he’ll come running after you with one.

I read some reviews on the hotel before I left for Spain and it seems everyone has the same experience

Our first concert in the beer tent wasn’t the best, the tent fits around 3000 people and it was quite full in evening. I guess the first half of the tent might have heard us playing since we didn’t use microphones. But I had fun on stage, even though it was really hot and the sweat was pouring.

Since we had no plans for Friday we got stuck into the beer right after the concert and continued until they closed down the tent around 2 on Friday morning. The bar at the hotel was still open and everyone thought it was a good idea to have a few Caipirinhas and Mojitos. We played some pool and was promptly thrown out of the bar at three. When they close, they close .. ready or not.

On Friday everyone did what they wanted, some went to Barcelona, got drunk and came back the following morning. But most stayed in Calella. A few of us ended up on the beach where people were bathing in the sea and the rest of us just relaxed and had a few beers.

The beach in Calella is not the best, the sand is quite coarse, and the surf can be dangerous. We had a yellow flag for the whole time there and those that went swimming came back quite tired from battling the waves.

In the evening we went back to the beer tent to drink some more and listen to the other bands

The quality of music at the tent is very varied. From the most horrible of tune to some really good bands.

Saturday was the first day of the last week of the Oktoberfest. The whole thing lasts for three weeks where they start over very Saturday. And it all starts of with a parade in the streets of Calella.

We ended up leading the parade, but I’m not sure that was the plan. I saw the lady who led us trying desperately to get the attention of the band lined up besides us in the street but it seems she gave up. And we were ready to go so off we went.

The streets of Calella are narrow with lots of dividers and poles around, which makes it a bit hard for the people walking on the left and right hand side of the band. I kept stumbling in stuff and  guy walking behind me playing the euphonium actually walked right into a light pole.

When we came to the end of the parade we were greeted by people in a bar right by where we stopped and were served beer. Which works fine after having played and walked like we did.

Sunday was the last full day, I went to bed reasonably early on Saturday since we were to go to Barcelona on a guided tour in Sunday. So we got up somewhat early and drove together with another Norwegian band to Barcelona.

We had a Danish lady as our guide which worked out good.

The first stop was the Sagrada Familia, we didn’t have the time to go inside but were able to have a walk around looking at the fantastic façades. The only thing ruining the view, apart from the construction cranes, was huge posters with images of the pope and advertisement for the event that soon is to be. The pope will make a visit to Spain in November, to consecrate the famed Sagrada Familia church.

It’s great that they advertise, but keeping it of the church would be great.

After the church we went to the second “church” in Barcelona, the stadium of FC Barcelona. If it was up to me, and I guess most of the other people in our group we could have skipped that. I’ve got no interest in the world in looking at a piece of turf.  And a few other felt the same so we were stuck there outside in the rain.

Our last guide stop took us up to a lookout point above the city, on the way up you pass a lot of the Olympic arenas and museums which would be worth a look at, but no time for that on our trip. The lookout would have been great if it wasn’t for the grey weather.  But at least we seems to be able to walk of the bus without getting robbed. Apparently that lookout has a lot of pickpockets lurking around.

After the lookout we drove down to the Plaça de la Porta de Pau (Square of the Gate of Peace) where we were let of the bus to have a wander on our own. A few of us went to get some lunch and I guess we used most of our time there on that hunt

We did however manage to walk around a bit and found the Santa Maria del Mar. Another old Gothic church.

When we got back to Calella we had some time off before dinner and our last concert in the beer tent. I feel this one went a lot better than the first one. We had a better selection of tunes and we used microphones so I guess the sound travelled a bit further.

Since this was the last night in Calella and we were to leave quite early the next day I took it easy on the beer and didn’t regret it.

On Monday it was time to go back home, out bus left from Calella around 9 and we were at the airport about 1.5 hours later.

Getting checked in at the airport in Barcelona was a pain in the ass. In Oslo we just did a self check in using a self service check in. And the just dropped of our luggage. Of course the instruments were special luggage and had to be handed in at another drop point, but we had no problems.

In Barcelona however it wasn’t that easy. There was only one check in counter. Or there was three, but one was only for business class, and the other was waiting for passengers to Copenhagen on an earlier flight. And of course the guys who was to check us in wasn’t sure what to do with us and all those bags and cases.

But eventually we got through and the rest was plain sailing. And this time my Trombone came to Gardermoen in one piece and with no damage.

Not everyone was that lucky however, one of the French horns got a nasty ding in the bell.

Where people get out no matter if the rain is pouring or we got a bit of snow in the air. People dress up, are happy and celebrate our independence day.

I’ve hopefully been able to get up by now and is heading into town dressed in my marching band uniform and with my trombone ready.

Or at least that’s the plan.

And for those that don’t know it. Her is the lyrics for the Norwegian National hymn if you come across some Norwegians abroad. I know this one played a lot in Sydney when I was there

Ja vi elsker.

1.
Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem.
Elsker, elsker det og tenker
på vår far og mor
og den saganatt som senker
drømme på vår jord.
Og den saganatt som senker,
senker drømme på vår jord.

2.
Dette landet Harald berget
med sin kjemperad,
dette landet Håkon verget
medens Øyvind kvad;
Olav på det landet malte
korset med sitt blod,
fra dets høye Sverre talte
Roma midt imot.

3.
Bønder sine økser brynte
hvor en hær dro frem,
Tordenskiold langs kysten lynte,
så den lystes hjem.
Kvinner selv stod opp og strede
som de vare menn;
andre kunne bare grede,
men det kom igjen!

4.
Visstnok var vi ikke mange,
men vi strakk dog til,
da vi prøvdes noen gange,
og det stod på spill;
ti vi heller landet brente
enn det kom til fall;
husker bare hva som hendte
ned på Fredrikshald![3]

5.
Hårde tider har vi døyet,
ble til sist forstøtt;
men i verste nød blåøyet
frihet ble oss født.
Det gav faderkraft å bære
hungersnød og krig,
det gav døden selv sin ære –
og det gav forlik.

6.
Fienden sitt våpen kastet,
opp visiret for,
vi med undren mot ham hastet,
ti han var vår bror.
Drevne frem på stand av skammen
gikk vi søderpå;
nu vi står tre brødre sammen,
og skal sådan stå!

7.
Norske mann i hus og hytte,
takk din store Gud!
Landet ville han beskytte,
skjønt det mørkt så ut.
Alt hva fedrene har kjempet,
mødrene har grett,
har den Herre stille lempet
så vi vant vår rett.

8.
Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem.
Og som fedres kamp har hevet
det av nød til seir,
også vi, når det blir krevet,
for dets fred slår leir.

And another song that you might get to hear

Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått (Norway in red, white and blue )

Hvor hen du går i li og i fjell,
en vinterdag, en sommerkveld blant fjord og fossevell.
Fra eng og mo med furutrær,
fra havets bryn med fiskevær og til de hvite skjær.
Møter du landet i trefarget drakt,
svøpt i et gjenskinn av flaggets fargeprakt.
Se, en hvitstammet bjerk oppi heien
rammer stripen av blåklokker inn.
Mot den rødmalte stuen ved veien,
det er flagget som vaier i vind.
Ja, så hvitt som det hvite er sneen,
og det røde har kveldssolen fått,
Og det blå ga sin farge til breen,
Det er Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått!

En vårdag i en solskinnstund
på benken i Studenterlund der sitter han og hun
To unge nyutsprungne russ,
to ganske nylig tente bluss i tyve grader pluss.
Hun er som en gryende forsommerdag,
som farves av gjenskinnet fra det norske flagg.
Ja, så hvitt som det hvite er kjolen
og så rødt som det rø hennes kinn.
Hennes øyne er blå som fiolen,
hun er flagget som vaier i vind.
Han har freidig og hvitlugget panne,
og en lue i rødt har han fått.
Med en lyseblå tiltro til landet,
står vår ungdom i rødt, hvitt og blått!

De kjempet både hun og han!
Nå lyser seirens baunebrann, utover Norges land.
Mot himlen stiger flagg ved flagg
som tusen gledesbål i dag, for alle vunne slag.
Det knitrer som før over hytte og slott,
et flammende merke i rødt og hvitt og blått.
Som en regnbuens tegn under skyen,
skal det evig i fremtiden stå.
Se, det glitrer på ny over byen,
i det røde og hvite og blå.
La det runge fra gaten og torget,
over landet som nordmenn har fått:
Du er vårt, du er vårt, gamle Norge!
Vi vil kle deg i rødt, hvitt og blått!

Two weeks ago I spent the weekend at Årvoll skole where we were part of something I really enjoy.

Bands Crossing Borders is a cooperation between NMF in Norway and the Field Band Foundation in South Africa. Since 2001 there has been an exchange of musicians between Norway and South Africa. Four or five South Africans come to Norway and some Norwegian go to South Africa to teach and learn music.

In Norway the South Africans travel around the country having seminars with different band where they teach South African songs and dance to Norwegians. Or try to

The playing of music usually works out good, but getting stiff Norwegians to move is another matter At least when it comes to the older generation like us. I guess the kids are easier to get moving.

But still it’s a lot of fun, you learn some new tunes by ear and play beats and rhythms that are a bit different from what we are used to.

This is the second time I’m part of it and I’m hoping it’s not the last.

I guess this picture sums up a bit of how it can be

After Muskeldundermarsjen to Verdal I had a great time  with all my friends from Sørkedalen. The week after my trip to Verdal I went to Tallinn for a few days. Working. But still got some time to have a look around and find some GeoCaches. Yes I just got my self a new hobby. I guess Geocaching is the nerds way to get fresh air, or perhaps not.

Geocaching is a way to find places and read stories that you might have missed if you were just passing by. All over the world people hide geocaches, containers which at least contain a logbook that you can sign when you find it. You then get the GPS coordinates of the hiding place and post it in the Geocaching website other people can the locate the cache, and learn a bit of local history. Bigger caches can contain track able items that you can pick up and drop in another cache somewhere else, leaving a trail across the world on the Internet.

I guess it might fit just as well as a family hobby as a nerds hobby

The week after I came back from Tallinn I went to London for a few days to do some Blackberry training, and since the training was set for Thursday and Friday I got the weekend in London. Doing some more caching while seeing the sites and did a bit of photography. I’ll see if I can upload some more photos soon to. I’ve been experimenting with HDR images.

And the finally last weekend I went to Gothenburg with Lilleaker Janitsjar which was fun to. I guess that was the last of my concerts before summer

I guess that’s it for tonight, I better start writing a bit more often.

Det ble en flying start på årets store internasjonale muskeldundermarsj. Rett fra
barnefødsel kom Lommedalens store datter Leahmus Agrolica svevende over startstreken
med den nyfødte hengende i brystet. Fra Sørkedalen brus og edruskap stiller
hurtigkar og supersjarmør Speed Date Rennafart. Verdalen stiller med skistjerna
Hjørdis Rappen fra Fishølet turn og idrettsforening. Ingen internasjonal turmarsj
uten innslag fra vår nabo i øst; Søtabror Svensson har funnet toppformen etter lang
tids gangsperre.

Med på marsjen følger Oppmuntringskorpset Sørkedalen Homp & Blæs som vil bidra med
oppmuntrende toner i hilldur og valsetakt. De vil også fungere som notelesere for
sin sambygding Speed Date Rennafart, som er kjent for å hoppe av i svingen.

Turmarsjen følger Pilegrimsleden som for anledningen er forlenget til Verdalen
Folkepark. De konkurrerende har allerede passert Krokskogen og er rapportert i godt
driv mot Hønefoss. I tet ligger Søtabror Svensson etter at Leahmus Agrolica rotet
seg bort i ammetåka. Speed Date Rennafart skar over krøn, men håper å nype seg
tilbake rundt en stein på ytter. Vi følger spent med på den videre utviklingen i
marsjen.

Den store målgangen vil foregå i folkeparken i Verdalen, sånn rundt regnet klokka
etter lunsj lørdag 30. mai. Ryktet vil ha det til at Vømmølfestivalen arrangeres i
samme tidsrom, og deltakerne satser derfor på å bli feiret med et stort og vømlende
opptog.

Med vennlig hilsen markedssjef Sigfrid Sainndøla Svingtrapp