Terje and I celebrated our silver wedding in June. One of our gifts was a token to have dinner for two at one of the small and posh restaurants here in Trondheim, Emilie’s. We went there after work today, and had a wonderful dinner, just the two of us. Ingrid and Torgeir ate at home, Øystein took Marta to a burger restaurant and then to the movies, so Marta has had a very nice day too. After dinner Terje and I managed some Christmas shopping in town before meeting Øystein and Marta after the movie.
I plan to listen to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker tonight. During all this year I and Gabi in Germany have “co-listened” to one new opera or ballett every month, and of course Nutcracker is our choice for December. I have seen the performance a couple of times during earlier Decembers, but don’t have the opportunity this year. So instead I have the cd, and I also have a book by E.T.A. Hoffmann, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti. The story is beautifully written, and the illustrations are just marvellous. I love to read the book every year during December, and dream myself into the wonderful fantasy world of the wooden nutcracker and the other toys.
I would love, love, love to start a nutcracker collection, with nutcrackers like the one in the story. I have seen them in magazines, but unfortunately they are nowhere to be found here in Norway. The photo shows a quite special nutcracker I do have, though. A kind of bird, is it a duck or may be a swan? It was made by my father in law some few years ago. He is a very talented carpenter, and many of his makings fill our house. Well, my house is open tonight. You are welcome over – first to have some ice-cream with us while we watch the Norwegian women playing handball, then later, to have a mug of hot “gløgg and a couple of “pepperkaker” (gingerbread) while listening to The Nutcracker. Don’t forget to bring your knitting J