Yepp, that's 9 am in the morning and the beginning of suggestion of sunrise out our windows.

We have been very busy of late with the holiday season and my birthday. Last night was the company julebord - direct translation is "christmas table". Of course, it is more than the table! This is the company office party, which served a full dinner to 400 people last night. We arrived at 7 pm to a bunch of speeches which we caught some of, then were hustled into one of the three seating areas where we were served pinnekjøtt ("peen-uh-chuhtt" - Ashley) (dried salted lamb ribs), ribbe (pork rib served with the fat and skin on), mor (sheep sausage) and all the fixins'. Of course the main topic of conversation was whether or not we liked julemat (christmas food), which Norwegians are rightly very proud of. Luckily we didn't have to fib because we do like it!

Other than that, observations of the holiday party was that like any other christmas party around the world, the booze was flowing. However, as a difference, about 25% were not drinking, I presume due to a combination of principles and the very strict drinking and driving laws (one drink here is too many to drive). People were quite dressed up, and as my father reported from London, black is THE colour this season. After dinner people started dancing to a random assortment of music, but you will have to wait until Ashley wakes up for details of that because at that point, I went home. I've been fighting a cold for what seems like forever and I really want to be well by Friday when we TRAVEL HOME!!! YAY!!

Talk to you later,
Kes