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Oktober 21, 2006
Return to Telemark
I've been out travelling in "real" Norway! Yes, I took another visit to Telemark, a part of Norway I've written about before. This time I was not with a busload of Americans, and I had a working camera. The mist prevented much in the way of photography, but here you can see an old wooden house that stands on my friend Ingebjørg's farm. It's either from the 1100s or 1300s - and, it's said, definitely not from the 1200s.
Continue reading "Return to Telemark"
Posted by barry at 5:27 EM
Oktober 15, 2006
Zero
I may be the poorest person you know! At least I was, in the tax year 2005.
In Norway, everyone's incomes and the amount of tax they have paid are made public on the revenue service's website. You can look up anybody. I think this is fantastic. Imagine the consternation this would cause in Ireland where everyone is vague about their true earnings! Ha.
Best of all, when you look me up, you just get zero! As a matter of fact I did do some work in 2005, and I paid tax on it, but the tax was returned to me this month. I earned so little that it was tax free, and so little it doesn't even register. Or, at least that's what I'm saying!
Instructions:
Posted by barry at 5:46 EM
Oktober 5, 2006
Is Bobby the Bird Dead or Alive?
It happened on Sunday. Bobby, an African grey parrot who lived with my friend Anne, flew away. Now, I lived with Bobby and Anne for about six months, and fondly remember his mimicking of ringtones, cats, dogs, fireworks, and the way he found human language boring by comparison. We were friends!
The tragedy occurred when Anne went to visit her brother in a remote country area. His small children had left a door open while Bobby was out of his cage. Curious, Bobby flew outside, and up, up into the blue sky above the forest, where other birds were also on the wing.
Continue reading "Is Bobby the Bird Dead or Alive?"
Posted by barry at 8:11 EM