Midsummer madness

Living in the land of the midnight sun is confusing. Today the sun rose at 03.41 and will go down at 22.54 ( 10.54 pm to those of you that don't understand the 24 hour clock). We now have 12 hours and 58 minutes more daylight than we did on the shortest day. This means that it's not completely dark, and the birds sing all night. People sit out on their verandas all evening - well covered in insect repellent, because the mosquitoes are at their most active then.
So when the sun wakes me at 4 am I must remember how much cold and darkness we get in the winter, and how we long for this time of year - and put the pillow over my head and go back to sleep!

Getting to know you

This is my grandson Espen David North. Isn't he wonderful? We met for the first time in April, when we travelled halfway round the world to meet him. It was love at first sight. we spent three intense weeks in his company, and I wouldn't have missed a second of it. He is, of course, the most beautiful, intelligent, talented and witty baby in the world, and is destined to be great.

Thinking about our time together, I must admit I talked the most awful rubbish to him and he didn't seem to mind at all. It's a good thing he can't talk yet, or he'd make some cutting remark like;- "Get a grip on yourself, Granny! you're babbling again. People are looking at us!"

It was really, really hard to say goodbye to him, and I hunger for new pictures of him and reports of his progress. I miss Tam and Nick too, but I've known them for much longer. It's a bit like being in love, so I say;- "Thank goodness for Skype!"