Yes, plenty of hrs spent clearing snow but it's a job I enjoy :-)

Footwear is generally the same... snow boots or hiking boots - gortex and all that.

The climate is a BIG plus when I considered moving back but in my honest opinion, there is so much more as to why I wanted to return. In my younger days, snow was top of the list and arguably, the only reason for coming here if I was honest. However, as the years passed, I grew to love the lifestyle. The people. The way of life is so very different and everything is so much slower.... and calmer. There is so much less red tape, it is business-friendly and there aren't the hassles which go hand-in-hand with UK cities. Some of the benefits appear trivial but they all add up to swing the pendulum heavily in Norway's favour..... for me. I totally understand that it isn't for everyone and I long gave up on persuading some of my close UK friends to move here too.

No school runs help. No traffic. No roadworks. No parking metres. No traffic wardens. No queues in the supermarket. No squeeny, snotty-nosed runts being sworn at or smacked in the supermarkets. No Jeremy Kyle. No EastEnders. No Corrie. No Emmerdale. No Hollyoaks. No police, fire, ambulance sirens every 60 seconds. No youths publicy swearing in the parks, streets. No bullying in schools.

Sounds all small things but all of these things mean a lot in a small, clean and friendly village where all the locals look out for each other.

I will end with another example of the hospitality shown to me and my family. My wife, as you may or may not know,, suffered a brain aneurysm rupture back in 2009. Now fully disabled. Upon our return, we were inundated with invitations. For Christmas, the Kommune (like a city council), actually got our 11 year old son a brand new pair of skis. We received many Christmas presents from the locals and only today, whilst I was at the gym, my son's former teacher came round and bought a season ski pass for him. The Kommune also bought him brand new ski boots. I'd imagine the total cost of all of this would be close to £500+. Oh.... and the man at Bjorli Ski Centre (who has always loved my weather reports and info..... to which I still provided to him whilst I was back in Portsmouth), got my son a ski helmet today. This is most definitely home and the support we had with friends and locals rallying around me after my wife's stroke, was simply incredible and to be never forgotten.

Originally Posted by: Nordic Snowman 

Yes, plenty of hrs spent clearing snow but it's a job I enjoy :-)

Footwear is generally the same... snow boots or hiking boots - gortex and all that.

The climate is a BIG plus when I considered moving back but in my honest opinion, there is so much more as to why I wanted to return. In my younger days, snow was top of the list and arguably, the only reason for coming here if I was honest. However, as the years passed, I grew to love the lifestyle. The people. The way of life is so very different and everything is so much slower.... and calmer. There is so much less red tape, it is business-friendly and there aren't the hassles which go hand-in-hand with UK cities. Some of the benefits appear trivial but they all add up to swing the pendulum heavily in Norway's favour..... for me. I totally understand that it isn't for everyone and I long gave up on persuading some of my close UK friends to move here too.

No school runs help. No traffic. No roadworks. No parking metres. No traffic wardens. No queues in the supermarket. No squeeny, snotty-nosed runts being sworn at or smacked in the supermarkets. No Jeremy Kyle. No EastEnders. No Corrie. No Emmerdale. No Hollyoaks. No police, fire, ambulance sirens every 60 seconds. No youths publicy swearing in the parks, streets. No bullying in schools.

Sounds all small things but all of these things mean a lot in a small, clean and friendly village where all the locals look out for each other.

I will end with another example of the hospitality shown to me and my family. My wife, as you may or may not know,, suffered a brain aneurysm rupture back in 2009. Now fully disabled. Upon our return, we were inundated with invitations. For Christmas, the Kommune (like a city council), actually got our 11 year old son a brand new pair of skis. We received many Christmas presents from the locals and only today, whilst I was at the gym, my son's former teacher came round and bought a season ski pass for him. The Kommune also bought him brand new ski boots. I'd imagine the total cost of all of this would be close to £500+. Oh.... and the man at Bjorli Ski Centre (who has always loved my weather reports and info..... to which I still provided to him whilst I was back in Portsmouth), got my son a ski helmet today. This is most definitely home and the support we had with friends and locals rallying around me after my wife's stroke, was simply incredible and to be never forgotten.

Originally Posted by: Nordic Snowman 

Yes, plenty of hrs spent clearing snow but it's a job I enjoy :-)

Footwear is generally the same... snow boots or hiking boots - gortex and all that.

The climate is a BIG plus when I considered moving back but in my honest opinion, there is so much more as to why I wanted to return. In my younger days, snow was top of the list and arguably, the only reason for coming here if I was honest. However, as the years passed, I grew to love the lifestyle. The people. The way of life is so very different and everything is so much slower.... and calmer. There is so much less red tape, it is business-friendly and there aren't the hassles which go hand-in-hand with UK cities. Some of the benefits appear trivial but they all add up to swing the pendulum heavily in Norway's favour..... for me. I totally understand that it isn't for everyone and I long gave up on persuading some of my close UK friends to move here too.

No school runs help. No traffic. No roadworks. No parking metres. No traffic wardens. No queues in the supermarket. No squeeny, snotty-nosed runts being sworn at or smacked in the supermarkets. No Jeremy Kyle. No EastEnders. No Corrie. No Emmerdale. No Hollyoaks. No police, fire, ambulance sirens every 60 seconds. No youths publicy swearing in the parks, streets. No bullying in schools.

Sounds all small things but all of these things mean a lot in a small, clean and friendly village where all the locals look out for each other.

I will end with another example of the hospitality shown to me and my family. My wife, as you may or may not know,, suffered a brain aneurysm rupture back in 2009. Now fully disabled. Upon our return, we were inundated with invitations. For Christmas, the Kommune (like a city council), actually got our 11 year old son a brand new pair of skis. We received many Christmas presents from the locals and only today, whilst I was at the gym, my son's former teacher came round and bought a season ski pass for him. The Kommune also bought him brand new ski boots. I'd imagine the total cost of all of this would be close to £500+. Oh.... and the man at Bjorli Ski Centre (who has always loved my weather reports and info..... to which I still provided to him whilst I was back in Portsmouth), got my son a ski helmet today. This is most definitely home and the support we had with friends and locals rallying around me after my wife's stroke, was simply incredible and to be never forgotten.

Originally Posted by: Nordic Snowman 

Yes, plenty of hrs spent clearing snow but it's a job I enjoy :-)

Footwear is generally the same... snow boots or hiking boots - gortex and all that.

The climate is a BIG plus when I considered moving back but in my honest opinion, there is so much more as to why I wanted to return. In my younger days, snow was top of the list and arguably, the only reason for coming here if I was honest. However, as the years passed, I grew to love the lifestyle. The people. The way of life is so very different and everything is so much slower.... and calmer. There is so much less red tape, it is business-friendly and there aren't the hassles which go hand-in-hand with UK cities. Some of the benefits appear trivial but they all add up to swing the pendulum heavily in Norway's favour..... for me. I totally understand that it isn't for everyone and I long gave up on persuading some of my close UK friends to move here too.

No school runs help. No traffic. No roadworks. No parking metres. No traffic wardens. No queues in the supermarket. No squeeny, snotty-nosed runts being sworn at or smacked in the supermarkets. No Jeremy Kyle. No EastEnders. No Corrie. No Emmerdale. No Hollyoaks. No police, fire, ambulance sirens every 60 seconds. No youths publicy swearing in the parks, streets. No bullying in schools.

Sounds all small things but all of these things mean a lot in a small, clean and friendly village where all the locals look out for each other.

I will end with another example of the hospitality shown to me and my family. My wife, as you may or may not know,, suffered a brain aneurysm rupture back in 2009. Now fully disabled. Upon our return, we were inundated with invitations. For Christmas, the Kommune (like a city council), actually got our 11 year old son a brand new pair of skis. We received many Christmas presents from the locals and only today, whilst I was at the gym, my son's former teacher came round and bought a season ski pass for him. The Kommune also bought him brand new ski boots. I'd imagine the total cost of all of this would be close to £500+. Oh.... and the man at Bjorli Ski Centre (who has always loved my weather reports and info..... to which I still provided to him whilst I was back in Portsmouth), got my son a ski helmet today. This is most definitely home and the support we had with friends and locals rallying around me after my wife's stroke, was simply incredible and to be never forgotten.

Originally Posted by: Nordic Snowman