fourteen

Snow! Kris was just commenting this morning on how it hadn’t snowed for last day here when I pointed out the first flakes falling outside the window. By the time I’d finished breakfast there was already a covering on rooftops and cars.

People have talked to me about the strange weather, Oslo doesn’t expect snow until at least December and the weather we’ve had over the last two weeks has been just like summer. I’ve noticed something similar in Scotland, it’s been far too warm for October and we’ve been told to expect an unusually hard winter. Is it just a freak year or is this because of climate change? Either way I think we’ve screwed up. Only now are people beginning to take climate change seriously but still we don’t change our habits. We’ve been on this road too long and we’re to stuck in our tracks to change now. I think that all that remains is to see what the consequences are.

Anyhow. I pranced along in the snow to the Nobel Peace Centre. It’s very interesting. I don’t think I agree with the slant of some displays (almost like a reverse "Daily hate") but it is very interesting. One display in particular is really great. It’s about Alfred Noble’s life. It’s displayed as a book where the content is projected onto the pages from above. Touching elements on a page or turning pages triggers audiovisual events on the page and within the room. It’s very imaginative.

Trekked up to the Munch Museum next. Good collection but a little small. I found the airport-like security amusing – it only takes the most famous painting in the collection to be stolen twice before they get their act together.

Spent the rest of the afternoon at the National Gallery. I think "Puberty" is my favourite Munch piece.

It’s been snowing pretty continuously all day. There was a few inches lying by the time I left the National Gallery. Snow does amazing things to a city. Everything becomes quiet. It makes people stop and look around, as though they can’t quite believe these are the same streets that they walk everyday. And there’s the charged smell – cold, wet and clean. It’s beautiful.

I was walking up the hill toward the palace on the way home and took the steps up into the garden grounds. Listening to Sigur Ros again. There was a crescendo in the music so I stopped and closed my eyes to focus. Opening them again I saw the trees, dark branches and white snow, music, the piano, the drums, the smell, the quiet and the snow. Snow is being above the clouds. This is perfect.

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