Text and images Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland
The entrance and the hallway are now both finished. Terje has done a marvellous job with the handwork, the walls, the floor, all the small details.
The 100 years old dresser has been standing in the garage for years, exposed to heath, cold, dryness and humidity, and it took Terje days to work on the drawers to make them glide smothly in and out. The old mirror was broken, but we have had a new one made in the old artful way. One of the handles was broken as well.
At first we didn't quite know what to do with the broken handle, but then I remembered - down at Bakklandet, the old part of Trondheim, there is a small basement shop selling bric-a-bracs, nothing and everything. "You know Den gamle krambod" I told Terje, "I've never been in there, but I often pass the charming entrance and widows on my photo walks. If we shall be able to find a "new" old handle at all, it must be there"
The first time I came there, Den gamle krambod was closed, a sign on the door announcing its opening hours to be on Wednesdays from 16 till 19.
The coming Wednesday I was on the road somewhere. Terje went down to order a handle, and came home with charming stories to tell about this amazing basement. He had ordered two handles, to have one extra. They would be ready in a week, for me to pick up.
The next week I was there at the correct time, and could hardly get out again. Too much to see, too many stories to read, too many dreams to dream :-)
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At last, at long, long last, I came home with the handle.......and the memories of histories told in a small bric-a-brac basement shop.
And now the hallway is complete.........
......and my handyman is busy with other projects.
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Writing this post took me down Memory Lane, to Prague in November 2009:
"Hey, what is she up to now?" I guess you are asking. "This can't be Britt-Arnhild's Prague?????"
No, it is not. It really isn't. It is Prague though, but not the Prague I know.
It was during the rainy day. I was starting to get wet, I felt cold. I had spent time among Alphons Mucha's art, I had sat for a long time in an oldfashined coffee house. It was time to do something new. Something different.
"Why don't you surprise yourself" I thought. I looked around to see if I could get any ideas.....
And there it was. A huge, glittering shopping mall. Thousands of sparkling lightbulbs. I had never rested my eyes on them before, as this is not what I watch for when I travel. But now I wanted to do something new. I walked in. It felt like walking into an alien world. Out in space. Glamour, lights, windows and mirrors everywhere. I walked around, up and down escalators, afraid to get lost.......No map to help me if I did.
Believe me, this is really not where I go if I have time at hand. But travelling is about exploring new territory, isn't it. As I walked on I knew that the other ladies in my group would have been thrilled to visit this shopping heaven. But I was alone and I felt lost. Though I did enjoyed the expedition.
I didn't go into one single store though, well, at least not untill I found:
L'Occitane.....this wonderful chain which sells cosmetics from Provence. Cosmetics which even I can use without any allergic reactions. Suddenly I remembered that I needed a handcream.
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For me the visit to the mall turned out like a surprise, like a treat. I loved it, though I am not sure if I'll feel the need to visit again if I ever go back to Prague. If I do it must be to show Ingrid and Marta :-)
Have you surprised yourself lately?
Done something unexpected?
