The climber on the back wall has turned from green to red.
This is what I see from my home office window.
Today I decided to walk up close and take some photographs.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Red in my backyard
The climber on the back wall has turned from green to red.
This is what I see from my home office window.
Today I decided to walk up close and take some photographs.
63 years later, leaking in Moss harbor
This ship was built in Sweden, but shortly after it was finished in 1925, it became a Norwegian ship under the name of Nordvard. It was used as a civilian ship for transporting goods all over the world.
In September 1940 Nordvard was captured by the German auxilary cruiser Pinguin in the Indian Ocean.
From the Indian Ocean she was sent to Bordeaux in France.
There she was put into German military service.
Those taken prisoners from Nordvard in September 1940, were on May 3rd 1941 sent back to Norway with the German ship Donau after several months in German prison camps.
According to a website for divers, after her capture in September 1940, Nordvard was pinpointed as an mother ship for the German S- R and E- boats, and was loaded with torpedoes and depth charges when she was sunk on December 28th 1944 in an allied bomb raid in part of Moss harbor.
Different sources give different numbers for the German soldiers killed on board Norvard, ranging from 37 to 116, without anybody being able to confirm the exact number.
The ship is now to be found on a depth between twenty five to forty five meters.
Imagine , a ship sunk in part of Moss harbor from 1940 to 2007.
Now, 63 years later, the rust has come so far, the ship is leaking.
175 tons of crude oil is estimated to be inside the ship.
Birds and other wildlife are endangered.
Those living down in the harbor area, say the stink is terrible.
I will check myself this weekend. (Result: From the Jeloy part of the harbor, I could not smell anything special. Perhaps I should walk along the new apartments on the mainland? )
What will be the solution?
This will be interesting to find out.
For those reading Norwegian, an article from Moss Avis may be of interest
The website for divers mentioned
Friday, September 28, 2007
Fifty years ago my great-grandmother Selma died
Fifty years ago, during our summer vacation at the family farm in Sweden, my great-grandmother Selma died at home.
My grandparents lived downstairs in that house, and my Great-grandmother upstairs.
I remember going up those stairs to visit her or bring her something.
My grandparents lived downstairs in that house, and my Great-grandmother upstairs.
I remember going up those stairs to visit her or bring her something.
When Great-grandmother Selma died, some old traditions came out:
Her body stayed in the house that first night after her death, and all of us living persons (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and my mother, brother and I) should therefore not sleep in the house of a dead person. That night we all slept in the little house opposite the big house. For me, as a child this was like a summer camp for the whole clan!
Her body stayed in the house that first night after her death, and all of us living persons (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and my mother, brother and I) should therefore not sleep in the house of a dead person. That night we all slept in the little house opposite the big house. For me, as a child this was like a summer camp for the whole clan!
Only my grandfather stayed in the big house.
The next day all the children were taken to a little house next to the lake. This house was called the Bathing House (perhaps hinting to some former function), but for us it was the Play House. We stayed there for hours, the atmosphere was special, because we knew Great-grandmother Selma had died and would be put in a coffin and brought out of the house during our absence.
I have been told that in this area, there used to be a tradition that when a person died at home and was put in a coffin to be transported to the chapel (where the deceased would be kept till the funeral about a week later), the family had a little ceremony at home: they read some religious texts and sung some psalms.
The next day all the children were taken to a little house next to the lake. This house was called the Bathing House (perhaps hinting to some former function), but for us it was the Play House. We stayed there for hours, the atmosphere was special, because we knew Great-grandmother Selma had died and would be put in a coffin and brought out of the house during our absence.
I have been told that in this area, there used to be a tradition that when a person died at home and was put in a coffin to be transported to the chapel (where the deceased would be kept till the funeral about a week later), the family had a little ceremony at home: they read some religious texts and sung some psalms.
My mother said that this was not done for my Great-grandmother Selma. Probably this tradition was not so common any more then.
The old family farm - from a distance
I took this photo, from a distance, of the old family farm my maternal grandparents used to have.
I was there last time exactly 50 years ago.
It was a traumatic change for many of the family members when my grandparents had to move to another farm.
Since then the farm has been sold three times. Last time now in 2007.
These days such farms are so expensive, that only rich people buy them for their own pleasure.
Farming and making a living from agriculture are not the reasons for today's buyers.
So in order to attract those rich buyers, many photos of the farm were published on the internet.
In this case, that gave me a portofolio of professional photos for documenting family history.
A Swedish summer house
In 1974 my aunt built a summer house, a timber cottage, next to a beautiful lake in Sweden.
It is small – a small room for sleeping and a big room for cooking, eating, resting, relaxing. There is a cellar to keep food and a low attic where three beds give guests extra room.
Next to this cozy cottage is a small shed with an outdoor toilet and chopped wood for the oven.
Yeah, outdoor toilets may not be your dream and washing in the lake during the summer may also be a little too cold for more delicate souls.
But for me, this place is beautiful when I come for short visits.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Late hours, early hours
Originally I was a night person.
I liked to do my homework late at night.
I was a night person when I was on my own, for my own activities, not for any hectic social life.
I have never been the party girl.
On the other hand, the Norwegian proverb about the advantages of early mornings ("Morgenstund har gull i munn") never applied to me. Even now, in 2007, if it is possible, I prefer to do big projects late at night and till two or three in the morning.
But I did of course I always get up, whatever hour studies, work or life demanded. But it is a decision and not a choice.
Nearly always tired in the morning.
Too few hours of sleep, if you fall asleep late!
Here in Norway the light in the summer goes on and on. It does something to your brain. You feel awake, so when I g0t up at 5.40 in the morning for work, the morning light in the summer really helped me.
Now, in the end of September, days get shorter and shorter, and getting up in the morning is more difficult.
I remember last winter, it felt like I worked the night shift, because it was dark when I came to work and dark when when I left.
My attraction to those late hours and the darkness and quietness, is definitely the ultimate dream of spending time with myself - writing, reading, thinking.
In other words, for me that is doing research.
Late nights are good for research.
I liked to do my homework late at night.
I was a night person when I was on my own, for my own activities, not for any hectic social life.
I have never been the party girl.
On the other hand, the Norwegian proverb about the advantages of early mornings ("Morgenstund har gull i munn") never applied to me. Even now, in 2007, if it is possible, I prefer to do big projects late at night and till two or three in the morning.
But I did of course I always get up, whatever hour studies, work or life demanded. But it is a decision and not a choice.
Nearly always tired in the morning.
Too few hours of sleep, if you fall asleep late!
Here in Norway the light in the summer goes on and on. It does something to your brain. You feel awake, so when I g0t up at 5.40 in the morning for work, the morning light in the summer really helped me.
Now, in the end of September, days get shorter and shorter, and getting up in the morning is more difficult.
I remember last winter, it felt like I worked the night shift, because it was dark when I came to work and dark when when I left.
My attraction to those late hours and the darkness and quietness, is definitely the ultimate dream of spending time with myself - writing, reading, thinking.
In other words, for me that is doing research.
Late nights are good for research.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
My new home : the attic
On my first visit, when I thought I had seen my new apartment,
the landlady walked me up these stairs.
There was a door.
Behind that door, it turned out my apartment also had an attic. A BIG room.
There was one window, a little high up, and two small low closets.
A grey carpet, a little too worn in one place, covered the floor.
A guest room?
A storage room?
Something else?
Walking down from the attic, you better be steady on your feet!
My new home : the entrance
Time is ticking and so are my three clocks – showing the time in three places very close to my heart, with photos and postcards to make it more real.
I probably should have a world map with time zones too.
I probably should have a world map with time zones too.
Wireless internet
One disadvantage of being an older model like myself, is that I love using the internet, but the technical part is usually above my knowledge and ability.
Because the technician could not install my internet connection the day he was here, I can now use the internet - as long as I am connected to the modem with a cable.
Wish I knew how to solve this!
Phoning the customer service of the internet provider did not help.
The lady insisted they only had to get the internet to me and that the wireless internet was not their responsibility....
I may try another day to catch a more helpful soul.
Because the technician could not install my internet connection the day he was here, I can now use the internet - as long as I am connected to the modem with a cable.
Wish I knew how to solve this!
Phoning the customer service of the internet provider did not help.
The lady insisted they only had to get the internet to me and that the wireless internet was not their responsibility....
I may try another day to catch a more helpful soul.
My new home: the office
In my last apartment
Where I live now.
My brother located this office unit at FRETEX and I already used it where I lived before.
I bought the lamp, new, back then too.
The great feature of my new office (could have been spacious bedroom) is the big window and the view of the wellkept back garden and those climbers on the wall. Not so long ago they were green, now they are red.
I may buy roller blinds for the window, though they will have to be at least two meters wide.
I also need bookshelves in a nook to the right, and at least another chair, I think.
I also need bookshelves in a nook to the right, and at least another chair, I think.
Most important, I went out and bought a radiator to keep the room warm.
Another possibility: To buy a folded bed with a mattress - in case the attic is too cold or too empty in the winter.
Yeah - I was thinking about guests!
Married, widowed, married, divorced - with the same man in Sweden
In Sweden Gunilla Soederholm was married to Martin, a mother of a two year old son and pregnant.
One day she phoned her husband at work and asked if he was coming home for dinner.
He said maybe.
Then he disappeared, into thin air.
Gunilla not only had to face the birth of their second child and raising both children alone, but it turned out her husband Martin had big debts. Debts she had to pay back.
The bank forced her to sell the home and the summer house (for low prices, she says) and for seven years, she had to pay the bank part of her salary, living on a minimal sum of money.
A card she found among her husband’s belongings, sounded like a suicide note.
After ten years the Swedish authorities declared her husband dead.
Three years after being declared a widow, she discovered her husband was alive and kicking. He was back in Sweden. During his absence he had been running a disco in Berlin, Germany and started another family.
He had had no contact for thirteen years, but was furious he had been declared dead!
Gunilla feels his return to Sweden was too easy.
He did not owe any money any more. She had paid his debts.
She had raised their two children. He had not paid any money for his children’s upbringing and daily care.
She wrote a book, with the help of journalist Ulla-Lene Oesterholm, in the hope that a future law will force the person who disappeared and reappeared to take responsibilities for his debts to his family and to the society. The book is called “Gunillas man foersvann” (Gunilla’s husband disappeared) and was published by Ordupplaget.
Life is sometimes stranger than fiction.
(Read in the magazine "kupe" the Swedish Railways have on their trains)
One day she phoned her husband at work and asked if he was coming home for dinner.
He said maybe.
Then he disappeared, into thin air.
Gunilla not only had to face the birth of their second child and raising both children alone, but it turned out her husband Martin had big debts. Debts she had to pay back.
The bank forced her to sell the home and the summer house (for low prices, she says) and for seven years, she had to pay the bank part of her salary, living on a minimal sum of money.
A card she found among her husband’s belongings, sounded like a suicide note.
After ten years the Swedish authorities declared her husband dead.
Three years after being declared a widow, she discovered her husband was alive and kicking. He was back in Sweden. During his absence he had been running a disco in Berlin, Germany and started another family.
He had had no contact for thirteen years, but was furious he had been declared dead!
Gunilla feels his return to Sweden was too easy.
He did not owe any money any more. She had paid his debts.
She had raised their two children. He had not paid any money for his children’s upbringing and daily care.
She wrote a book, with the help of journalist Ulla-Lene Oesterholm, in the hope that a future law will force the person who disappeared and reappeared to take responsibilities for his debts to his family and to the society. The book is called “Gunillas man foersvann” (Gunilla’s husband disappeared) and was published by Ordupplaget.
Life is sometimes stranger than fiction.
(Read in the magazine "kupe" the Swedish Railways have on their trains)
My new home : the bathroom
My landlord wanted to paint and fix the apartment before renting it out.
He had plans for installing a new shower cabinet.
The bathroom has holes from hooks and shelves the former tenant made.
The color is perhaps not my personal choice either.
But when the landlord heard I can only promise to stay till the end of December 2007 ( that is when my present work contract ends) he wasn’t too excited about putting in the work and money for such a short period.
So we made an agreement: the apartment stays as it was till the end of the year, and if I stay on for 2008, then we will find the opportunity for him to renovate.
There is room for a washing machine next to the shower cabinet, but I am using my mother’s for now.
He had plans for installing a new shower cabinet.
The bathroom has holes from hooks and shelves the former tenant made.
The color is perhaps not my personal choice either.
But when the landlord heard I can only promise to stay till the end of December 2007 ( that is when my present work contract ends) he wasn’t too excited about putting in the work and money for such a short period.
So we made an agreement: the apartment stays as it was till the end of the year, and if I stay on for 2008, then we will find the opportunity for him to renovate.
There is room for a washing machine next to the shower cabinet, but I am using my mother’s for now.
My new home : the sitting room
My sitting room has two parts - one centered around a round coffee table and one around a folded dining table.
Before
The table had just been brought in
The table can both be bigger and smaller - this size is useful for me right now.
It cost me 16 US dollars!
Before
This whole corner is nearly all from FRETEX (The Salvation Army shop).
The round table: around 35 US dollars.
The skin sofa: around 90 US dollars.
The reclining armchair: around 50 US dollars.
The lamp: around 10 US dollars.
The little TV I got as a present from my former sister-in-law.
The table the TV stands on, my mother bought at a flea market for a dollar and a half!
The curtains are on loan from my mother. My parents once, in Poland, ters of linen for curtains. The curtains were made here in Norway and used in my parents’ big house on the countryside. My mother uses only some of those for her small apartment here in Moss, so for now I can use the rest.
The round table: around 35 US dollars.
The skin sofa: around 90 US dollars.
The reclining armchair: around 50 US dollars.
The lamp: around 10 US dollars.
The little TV I got as a present from my former sister-in-law.
The table the TV stands on, my mother bought at a flea market for a dollar and a half!
The curtains are on loan from my mother. My parents once, in Poland, ters of linen for curtains. The curtains were made here in Norway and used in my parents’ big house on the countryside. My mother uses only some of those for her small apartment here in Moss, so for now I can use the rest.
The table had just been brought in
The table can both be bigger and smaller - this size is useful for me right now.
It cost me 16 US dollars!
The two chairs I bought at another private secondhand shop in nearby Rygge.
Also around 16 US dollars for the two of them together!
My mother gave me the rug.
The floor lamp has its own story: My maternal uncle Olle (1924-1944) who died of polio, made the base of wood. Then my parents made it into a lamp, but the lampshade was old and thrown away when my mother moved in 2005. I bought another lampshade at MASVO for a dollar and a half.
Next project: Heating. I am buying two radiators tomorrow. ( Comment a few days later: Yes, that made a big difference!)
Thought: In my other country we use more general light (neons f.ex.) to light the whole room. Here – I think – the rooms are darker with many different light sources. I think Norwegians would define this as cozy, as opposed to ‘too much light’.
The floor lamp has its own story: My maternal uncle Olle (1924-1944) who died of polio, made the base of wood. Then my parents made it into a lamp, but the lampshade was old and thrown away when my mother moved in 2005. I bought another lampshade at MASVO for a dollar and a half.
Next project: Heating. I am buying two radiators tomorrow. ( Comment a few days later: Yes, that made a big difference!)
Thought: In my other country we use more general light (neons f.ex.) to light the whole room. Here – I think – the rooms are darker with many different light sources. I think Norwegians would define this as cozy, as opposed to ‘too much light’.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
My new home: where I sleep
First there was a long narrow room between the kitchen and the livingroom.
Being only one person with a single bed, I decided this would be my sleeping room.
Living in Norway with so much secondhand furniture available, it is cheap and simple to get established.
If I remember right, the bed, originally an IKEA model , cost me around 35 US dollars at the Salvation Army store FRETEX (previously mentioned).
I decided to buy two sets of new bedlinen at the HEMTEX store and that cost me around 50 US dollars. Textiles I find to be cheap here as there are so many bargains.
The nighttable cost around 15 US dollars.
The rug came from my mother.
The little table from friends of my mother.
The little curtain I bought in May in my other country.
The lamp from MASVO, a secondhand shop run by mentally handicapped grownups, cost me around 10 US dollars.
Closer to the camera I have some books on the floor as I am still looking for a bookshelf and a comfy chair - secondhand of course.
The window has blinds - a good thing, as the street lamp is right outside my window, though it is not a problem for falling asleep!
Internet
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
On September 17th I thought I was finally getting internet at home.
Looked forward to that very much!
First problem:
"Be available from eight in the morning till four in the afternoon.
You will get a phone call half an hour before the technician comes."
Yeah - imagine me leaving work in the middle of the day...
Solution: The key hidden in a secret place I told the technician about when he phoned me.
Second problem:
When I left home that morning at nine, the phone line was OK.
A few hours later "somebody" had been digging and this whole area was without telephone connection.
Solution: The technician did what he could, the telephone cable was repaired and today - two days later - I got my internet connection.
I am very happy!
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
On September 17th I thought I was finally getting internet at home.
Looked forward to that very much!
First problem:
"Be available from eight in the morning till four in the afternoon.
You will get a phone call half an hour before the technician comes."
Yeah - imagine me leaving work in the middle of the day...
Solution: The key hidden in a secret place I told the technician about when he phoned me.
Second problem:
When I left home that morning at nine, the phone line was OK.
A few hours later "somebody" had been digging and this whole area was without telephone connection.
Solution: The technician did what he could, the telephone cable was repaired and today - two days later - I got my internet connection.
I am very happy!
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Bobil from Sweden to Morocco
So what is a Bobil? Bo is Living and Bil is Car, so it is the Scandinavian word for the modern caravan cars.
I see that there are many of those here, both from Scandinavia, but also from Germany and Great Britain.
Today I saw a Swedish TV documentary about three Swedes (probably all in their eighties, the oldest was 87) who each had his or her own Bobil.
For the last few decades, they leave Sweden in the autumn and travel the 5000 km south to Morocco where they spend the winter till they return to the north in April.
In Morocco they often stay at the same camping sites where they visit each other. But they also like to travel around on their own. The general idea seemed to be that
after they had become older
after they had become widows and widowers
as they preferred the warmer Moroccan winter to the colder Swedish winter
as the Bobil offered them the freedom to move around when they want to
the nomadic life of Swedish summers and Moroccan winters is their preferred life style.
My impression was that an average senior citizen in Sweden could afford to do this.
Perhaps it even is cheaper than staying in Sweden?
I see that there are many of those here, both from Scandinavia, but also from Germany and Great Britain.
Today I saw a Swedish TV documentary about three Swedes (probably all in their eighties, the oldest was 87) who each had his or her own Bobil.
For the last few decades, they leave Sweden in the autumn and travel the 5000 km south to Morocco where they spend the winter till they return to the north in April.
In Morocco they often stay at the same camping sites where they visit each other. But they also like to travel around on their own. The general idea seemed to be that
after they had become older
after they had become widows and widowers
as they preferred the warmer Moroccan winter to the colder Swedish winter
as the Bobil offered them the freedom to move around when they want to
the nomadic life of Swedish summers and Moroccan winters is their preferred life style.
My impression was that an average senior citizen in Sweden could afford to do this.
Perhaps it even is cheaper than staying in Sweden?
Norwegian windows
As my new windows are completely naked - no curtains, no plants, no decorations etc. - I have been looking at other people's windows. How does a Norwegian window look like?
If you live on the first floor on a busy street, you may need more protection for privacy, though even here there is much openness in the window treatments. you can often look straight into the apartment.
The curtains are usually of some light color and are often caught on the sides to make the typical triangle opening. Some prefer two curtain lengths hanging straight down from the sides. Very many put plants in the windows - in my imagination both for making life inside a little more private, but also because people enjoy plants growing, particularly in the winter.
Some put a lamp hanging down in the middle. Some add to standing lamps.
Last part, some decorations like small sculptures.
Where I lived before in Moss, there were a few houses where the curtains were always drawn. There weren't really curtains, but actually big pieces of cloth completely covering the windows. This intrigued me. Who were hiding behind the curtains? I still don't know for sure.
The most likely explanation:
Persons from countries without the tradition of Norwegian window treatments.
My theory is that Norwegian criminals hiding their activities would know that such covered windows would draw unwanted attention to their apartments, because it is so unusual.
Mystery....
If you live on the first floor on a busy street, you may need more protection for privacy, though even here there is much openness in the window treatments. you can often look straight into the apartment.
The curtains are usually of some light color and are often caught on the sides to make the typical triangle opening. Some prefer two curtain lengths hanging straight down from the sides. Very many put plants in the windows - in my imagination both for making life inside a little more private, but also because people enjoy plants growing, particularly in the winter.
Some put a lamp hanging down in the middle. Some add to standing lamps.
Last part, some decorations like small sculptures.
Where I lived before in Moss, there were a few houses where the curtains were always drawn. There weren't really curtains, but actually big pieces of cloth completely covering the windows. This intrigued me. Who were hiding behind the curtains? I still don't know for sure.
The most likely explanation:
Persons from countries without the tradition of Norwegian window treatments.
My theory is that Norwegian criminals hiding their activities would know that such covered windows would draw unwanted attention to their apartments, because it is so unusual.
Mystery....
Bygdø kongsgård = Bygdoe royal farm
Going by bus to the Viking ships, Kon Tiki and Fram in Oslo, you pass the Royal Farm Bygdoe. To the left the red farm buildings with the symbol of the late king Olav V and to the right the white main building where the royal family lives in the summer.
This main building has just been renovated (from 2001 to 2007) for the cost of around 177 million Norwegian crowns (nearly 30 million US dollars)
This property has been in royal possession since King Haakon V bought it, around 700 years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haakon_V_of_Norway
Today's main building was hastily built in 1733 as the Danish King Christian VI and his wife Queen Sophie Magdalene were to visit Norway on their grand tour.
Later the Danish governors, representing the Danish kings, lived here.
After 1814 the Swedish Bernadotte kings stayed there when they visited Norway.
From 1905 King Haakon VII and his wife Queen Maude used this as their summer residence. Queen Maude, originally a British princess, was very interested in gardening, and helped renew the park. Her taste also influenced the interior design of the main building.
Their son, who later became King Olav V, spent all his summers here till he died in 1991. His official date for moving from the Royal Castle in the centre of Oslo out to Bygdø was always May 18th.
Source Dagbladet Aug 25th 2007
PS.The royal family has a website with an article in Norwegian about this property.
http://www.kongehuset.no/c26990/artikkel/vis.html?tid=27634
There are also a few photos .
This main building has just been renovated (from 2001 to 2007) for the cost of around 177 million Norwegian crowns (nearly 30 million US dollars)
This property has been in royal possession since King Haakon V bought it, around 700 years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haakon_V_of_Norway
Today's main building was hastily built in 1733 as the Danish King Christian VI and his wife Queen Sophie Magdalene were to visit Norway on their grand tour.
Later the Danish governors, representing the Danish kings, lived here.
After 1814 the Swedish Bernadotte kings stayed there when they visited Norway.
From 1905 King Haakon VII and his wife Queen Maude used this as their summer residence. Queen Maude, originally a British princess, was very interested in gardening, and helped renew the park. Her taste also influenced the interior design of the main building.
Their son, who later became King Olav V, spent all his summers here till he died in 1991. His official date for moving from the Royal Castle in the centre of Oslo out to Bygdø was always May 18th.
Source Dagbladet Aug 25th 2007
PS.The royal family has a website with an article in Norwegian about this property.
http://www.kongehuset.no/c26990/artikkel/vis.html?tid=27634
There are also a few photos .
Four kinds of fathers
Biscuits and living together (Kjeks og samliv) is a new book in Norwegian by Eduardo Doddo Andersen - a man described as a musician, author and father of two. Sociologist Sturle Naess has helped with the more theoretical background.
In this book there is an attempt to categorize Norwegian fathers into four groups.
THE MISSING FATHER
Talks much about quality time. There are only 24 hours and therefore he asks for understanding that he does not have the opportunity to help his kids with homework, play with them or read them a story before bedtime. When he finally gets home from work, he himself must rest. Also he believes the children must learn to be independent, and it is not healthy for them to get too much attention.
THE TIVOLI FATHER
To be physically present and take responsibility for his child's welfare, is not easy for the Tivoli Father, who seems to be a divorced father. On Friday afternoon he is handed his child with a bag of clean and folded clothes. On Sunday evening he returns his child with destroyed sleeping routines, doubtful eating habits and a bag of dirty clothes.
THE COWBOY
The Cowboy Father is not as engaged as the Engaged father, but he is more present than the Missing Father and the Tivoli Father. He has not always thought too much about what he is doing, and in particular not too much about child rearing , and therefore lets things develop on their own. He thinks children should play with other children and cannot understand fathers who lay down to play on the floor with their children.
THE ENGAGED FATHER
He waited to become a father till he had finished his education, and till he found the right person to be a parent with, and that was a woman not unlike himself. Fatherhood was not something that came to him, but something he chose. If his children have other children over for a visit, he will help them start plays and games. If he, for some strange reason has other things to attend to, the play tends to stops up.
In this book there is an attempt to categorize Norwegian fathers into four groups.
THE MISSING FATHER
Talks much about quality time. There are only 24 hours and therefore he asks for understanding that he does not have the opportunity to help his kids with homework, play with them or read them a story before bedtime. When he finally gets home from work, he himself must rest. Also he believes the children must learn to be independent, and it is not healthy for them to get too much attention.
THE TIVOLI FATHER
To be physically present and take responsibility for his child's welfare, is not easy for the Tivoli Father, who seems to be a divorced father. On Friday afternoon he is handed his child with a bag of clean and folded clothes. On Sunday evening he returns his child with destroyed sleeping routines, doubtful eating habits and a bag of dirty clothes.
THE COWBOY
The Cowboy Father is not as engaged as the Engaged father, but he is more present than the Missing Father and the Tivoli Father. He has not always thought too much about what he is doing, and in particular not too much about child rearing , and therefore lets things develop on their own. He thinks children should play with other children and cannot understand fathers who lay down to play on the floor with their children.
THE ENGAGED FATHER
He waited to become a father till he had finished his education, and till he found the right person to be a parent with, and that was a woman not unlike himself. Fatherhood was not something that came to him, but something he chose. If his children have other children over for a visit, he will help them start plays and games. If he, for some strange reason has other things to attend to, the play tends to stops up.
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