That˙s today, the 17th of May. Not much of a celebration here in Hong Kong, but back in Norway it˙s huge! This is me with my mum in 1970. All dressed up and ready to to go wave the flag and watch the kids procession – which happens in every single town all around the country. The largest one is in Oslo and all the kids from all the schools walk past the palace and wave their flags at the royal family. We sing the national anthem. The high school graduates of that year also have their own particular procession – a culmination of months of drunken, silly antics before having to sit final exams. (I did that too…not the drunken part, but I did eat 1kg of bananas in 10 minutes, stay up for 24 hrs, walk through town in only underwear…all worthy of merit stars at the time!)
17 May 2012, 10:48
When we first found Jeffrey, he didn˙t really know how to play. He would look at the string that we swung in front of him with a look on his face that said: “What on earth are you silly humans doing!!!” But now. Now he loves to play! And he does this really strange thing…he keeps kicking his face with his back leg – and his mouth is constantly open. I suppose so that if something enters, he˙s ready!
15 May 2012, 12:53
H&M has come out with this super cool and colourful bathing suit. It˙s a perfect mix between pool chic and diving gear without breaking the bank. Hopefully the fit is as good as it looks. Want one! Will have to go and try it on first though…
6 May 2012, 11:52
She says she˙s a mathmusician. She makes sense of mathematical ideas by using art and doodling. If this doesn˙t tweak your interest in numbers and maths, I don˙t know what… You can find more videos on her website .
1 May 2012, 07:21
It˙s been a while… Bad internet connection on my computer (so sucky actually that I might have to invest in a new computer soon. My current iMac is from 2005 – almost a relic these days!). Image via void() .
24 April 2012, 08:21
Amazing aerial view of “Kowloon Walled City”: that was here in Hong Kong. It˙s incredible to read about the stories of this place and to think that it existed not that long ago. It was finally fully demolished in April of 1994 – and today there is a lovely park in the same place.
5 April 2012, 05:34
A couple of weeks ago we went to Singapore. Took quite a few photos, but here are some of the people in Little India at work. By far my favourite is the grey haired man standing at the rail just contemplating (something) and the 83 year old lady still cleaning tables at Komala Vilas.
25 March 2012, 10:49
Despite being sick with the flu for the past 10 days, I have noticed that spring has arrived. It˙s a lovely feeling to think about different and more summery clothes. Sandals and nail polish (Rebel Blue from Chanel), skirts and dresses are on my mind. I˙m sure we˙ll still have a couple of chilly days, but I think there˙s no going back now. (Photo via my friend Jessica˙s blog .)
20 March 2012, 13:03
13 years today since my dad died. It still makes me cry when I think of how much I miss him. Missing out on having parents when you are older yourself is hard. I don˙t always feel that I have someone to back up my memories. But I have some photos that I love looking at. Here we are in Johannesburg 1970. Me and my dad hanging out on our balcony of our Twist Street apartment. (An area which today is very very very run down.) Sweet memories of my dad. Pappa, jeg elsker deg.
9 March 2012, 03:45
There is. Really. Every season there˙s something new and exciting. It˙s intellectual fashion if you like… Muccia Prada seems to have her finger on the pulse every season. I may not be able to buy all the things I want there, and I wouldn˙t necessarily chose to wear it all either, but at least I can drool. Drool over the beautiful fabrics, the amazing cut of the clothes – the details. I have loved Prada ever since my Mum brought back a Prada bag and sandals for me from Italy way back in 1986. I don˙t think I will ever stop. And really – why should I?
24 February 2012, 07:25
…just when we are about to catch the bus…One of the poorest areas of Hong Kong. But the best place to buy fabric and any materials for any type of craft.
27 January 2012, 06:01
Another new year, yet in the same one! This time it˙s Chinese New Year. And here in Hong Kong that˙s a very big celebration. It means little red envelopes with money, new clothes, clean houses, lots of flowers, kumquat trees, dragon dances to ward off bad characters, fireworks and of course the cherry blossom. So Happy New Chinese Lunar Dragon Year to all! Or Gong Hey Fat Choy (in Cantonese)!
22 January 2012, 08:49
I know we˙re already 10 days into 2012, but it˙s been so busy lately that it has taken me this long to get here. The image says it all – so will just say Happy New Year and hope your year will be…
10 January 2012, 06:33
It´s getting closer. Christmas. This year, as last year and the ones before that, will be a quiet one. I like that. No fuss. No presents – except for our 13 year old. Good food, time off for my busy husband , some trips to the cinema maybe and hopefully tons of reading. Just the way I like it.
18 December 2011, 08:54
Well, then I would love one of these! Stylish utility suitcases from Rimowa . Ok, maybe I˙d want one with wheels…but the same design!
9 December 2011, 06:34
We˙ve been watching the documentary from BBC called the Human Planet recently. It´s a fascinating and amazing look into how our species all around the world interacts with our planet. Amongst the people filmed for the series was the Mursi Tribe from Ethiopia , like the beautiful girls in this photo.
22 November 2011, 08:13
A couple of weeks ago the view from the ferry pier looked like this. My husband called me and said “You have to take a photo today”. So I did.
19 November 2011, 05:59
I think I have posted a photo of these before, but they deserve another posting. They really are the most beautiful axes I have ever seen. (And I know someone who would love one!) They are indeed the best made by Best Made Company.
11 November 2011, 09:28
There is much excitement here at our house today. The decorations are up, a party is planned and we will have sleepover guests tonight to make sure that the fun can go on and on and on… Obviously (!) we have pumpkins, because what would Halloween be without pumkins! Unfortunately no pumpkin patches here in Hong Kong – all the pumpkins were bought at the supermarket. This photo though is from a lovely pumpkin patch we visited before Halloween in 2009 in the Hamptons, New York.
31 October 2011, 05:15
Tivoli iPal. I really want one. It´s almost like the old music system playing cd’s is a relic now. The cats use it to sleep on and to get a better view of the outside. The cd’s are in the cupboard and are hardly ever brought out. Music nowadays seem to come directly from the computer or the iPod/iPhone. I kind of miss the old days though…hence the iPal – a combination of new and old.
30 October 2011, 08:07
That bright yellow together with the clear blue is just so energetic. Don´t think I´d wear it myself, but I do like looking at it! Not sure who to credit this photo to. Sorry.
28 October 2011, 11:53
Last week I finally watched the documentary on Bill Cunningham. (One of the first to photograph street fashion.) And how lovely that was! I have been following him in the New York Times for years, and have just loved his photos. But getting a glimpse behind the scenes was just…well…in Bill’s words “mah’velous”! He is one cool dude. Here’s a guy who frequently mingles with fashion celebrities, yet completely shuns celebrity-ism (or what you may call it); he lives a simple life and absolutely loves what he does. He’s funny, smart, talented, charming, energetic. Just watch it if you can!
27 October 2011, 04:23
Just the fact that the name includes my surname is reason enough, don’t you think (I’ve been Petterson Stubbs since I got married in 1997)! But the message is what really got me though… Sassy slippers from Stubbs and Wootton . Hereby added to the wishlist.
18 October 2011, 06:00
Berenson, wearing a white dress by Valentino, sitting with a parrot in the Roman apartment of Cy Twombly. Vogue.
13 October 2011, 12:29
American Nobel laureate scientist Richard Feynman 1918 – 1988: “There are all kinds of interesting questions that come from a knowledge of science, which only adds to the excitement and mystery and awe of a flower. It only adds. I don’t understand how it subtracts.”
Ps. Keep watching…there are 3 videos in the Feynman Series, as well as The Sagan Series. All worthwhile!
10 October 2011, 12:58
Waking up to very sad news this morning. Steve Jobs is dead . How he influenced us with his computers, iPhones, iPads, iPods is just mind-boggling. He´s changed everything for me. Thinking back to when my husband had a boring grey computer that I refused to touch or be interested in… Then one day in 1999 he brought home an iMac! Oh yeah – show me how to use that one!!!! Please!!! Now!!! Yes, it changed everything.
My Mac greets me every morning with a welcoming deep ding and is what is helping me right now. My iPhone travels with me far and near, takes photos for me, plays music for me, helps me keep in touch with friends and shows me the way when I don´t know how to get somewhere. The iPad lets me carry many many books without being burdened by the physical weight of them.
He spoke of way of living that I think is important for all… I just love this quote from one of his speeches at Stanford University , so I will end with that. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Thank you, thank you, thank you Steve Jobs. You changed my life. May you rest in peace.
