Welcome to the home pages of Finn living in Arendal Norway

These pages were made mainly during the years 1998 to to 2003. 
After that only minor updates has been done.  Like this line at the end of 2008 :-). 

"If the aborigine drafted an IQ test, all of Western civilization would presumably flunk it."

You may send me a mail if you like. - From the unstructured index below you will find information and links about :

Which Search Engine is the best for searching the web in Norway. - Which Starting Page I recommend for Norway. - My web pages about the local Swing Dance community (social dancing), and my page for the local Fitness studio where I exercise. I'm also doing Sea Kayaking on my own level. - I have a lot of Links but you will have to search the link file for what you are interested in, as it's rather large. I also have one more link file. - Once or twice a year I'm doing Hang Gliding. - And a few times during the summer I participate in Orienteering. - I'm born in 1962. I'm a scorpion, and I'm Single. - Here is why you shouldn't trust the electrical equipment you just bought with "CE" label. - You can watch my mini Photo Album if you like. - Or you could read my collection of Words of Wisdom. - Are you (like me) always having problems to tie your Neck-Tie / Slips ? :-) - Or are you interested in reading about what I Dream of Doing. - I am also looking for a companion for practicing some of my interests, that I'm currently doing on my own. - I also have a This and That / Altmulig page containing all sorts of minor issues not mentioned on this page. - And my Opinions page, containing more or less serious (suggested) opinions of my own (I must be brave or stupid, daring to publish that). - Books that has been of Help to Me. - I've made some short Statements of my own. - Here's what I like. - I have made a how to behave when sending Mail. - Maybe I have something For Sale. - I also have kept my Old Home Page just in case ?. - By the way, I work for Ericsson in Grimstad, and I live close to Arendal. - I also have a "Where/how to find a Bachelor page. - Want to Buy page. - A old LPG page. - And a Driving in Europe page. - And how to not Cath a Cold. - My page for people going to Lanzarote. - I got these optimistic words of wisdom from a colleague. - My experiences with maintaining and mending my old cars - Some realy crazy? thoughts about the universe, GUT and related stuff - Mine erfaringer med å legge på seg / oppblåsthet / forstoppelse.  I litt frustrasjon over dårlige produkter fra Clas Ohlson, så skrev jeg denne siden.  And now I’ve also made a page with my own thoughts around my case of Tinnitus, which seem to be plaguing a lot of people.  Here I recommend some net shops I have good experiences with. And I tell you about the costs you can expect in addition to the price you pay for a car, because of in designed faults. And here are some words about me as a person, and some thoughts of mine, much later in 2008 :-).

TIPS : Hvis du er plaget av Ugress i Innkjørselen så kan du jo prøve og vanne med diesel eller parafin. Det er sikkert ikke bra for miljøet, men tar rotta på det meste (har jeg blitt fortalt), skjønt effekten varer desverre ikke evig.  Lurer på om salt kan være bedre.  Er du plaga av Løvetann, så ta og strø en halv teskje med grovt salt på'n. Vent så og se en ukes tid. Løvetannen dør nå og også roten dør. Gresset vil dø i første omgang men kommer normalt igjen etter litt.

Perfection is reached, not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.

Svalbard: Det ryktes at isbjørnene kaller turistene for "bamse-mums" ...

Ungkarer vet mer om kvinner enn ektemenn.  Det er derfor de er ungkarer.

Regrettably many of the links above lead to pages in Norwegian. I try to write as much as possible in (Norw)English, because I think it's silly publishing anything in a language that only about 20,000,000 people can understand. However, much, and especially local stuff is in Norwegian only. Some pages are a mixture of English and Norwegian. Norwegian, Danish and Swedish are so much the same they understand each other. If you are to write to me I read Norwegian (Danish and Swedish), English and German. But regrettably I can't reply in German, as I don't write or speak the language (I've learned it by watching German TV :-).

This is the 

'th time this page is visited since 1/1-00.

Some animation's etc. from Kitty's

Mostly same as above, but structured version :

Sea Kayaking

Scroll further down if you want to see my LINKS :-)

I have a 6 meter long sea kayak. I'm a beginner when it comes to experience but I do have a one week sea kayaking course, and a paddle course. Both in 1999. My paddle technique is still not what it should be, but I am doing about 5 Km/h in average on a trip. My longest trip so far is around Tromøya outside Arendal (about 25 Km), with a couple of breaks included, and in nice weather. I made the trip on my own and used at least 6 hours on the whole trip including the breaks. As I have somewhat weak arms it's important for me to learn the proper technique, so I will continue exercising myself in year 2000 as well.

By the way, sea kayaking is a very good exercise for the upper body and back.

What I enjoy the most with sea kayaking is the closeness you get to the nature, the nice weather (Why paddle when it's not nice ?), and exploring new places. Though I don't mind the thrill with a bit waves, or the exercise, they are not my main motives for doing sea kayaking.

I'm mostly paddling on my own (whenever it suits me). If you live in the same area or come here on a visit I don't mind paddling along with somebody (at approximately my level), so feel free to get in touch if you like.

I do need a paddle pal for learning the roll, and for safety if paddling in waves etc.

The official paddle education teaches you to Never paddle alone, which is correct. When I break this rule I do compensate by always paddling in nice weather, never paddle in cold water, and wearing warm clothes (long john), and other safety equipment (and training). I also never paddle at sea if the wind is or could be blowing towards the sea. I never paddle far out into the sea. And currents in the area where I live are never strong at the sea side.

I can recommend the Sea Kayak Symposiums Arctic Sea Kayak Festival, and the one at Orust in Sweden.

Literature: I recommend the Norwegian language book "Havpadling" by Frank Jacobsen. You can order it by calling NIF in Oslo. - Also Nigel Foster's book "Sea Kayaking" by Fernhurst Books ISBN 1-898660-42-5 is nice I think. An then Nigel Foster also has "Kayaking A Beginner's Guide" ISBN 1 898660 52 2 which is more for the complete beginner, and covers not only sea kayaking but also basics for the wild water beginner. - Further the book "Deep trouble" from the "Sea Kayaker Magazine" is nice reading if you're a safety freak :-).

Here are the best links I've come across per 1/6-00 .... Happy Surfing :-)

Padlespesialisten Arendal (Recommended)

Sibir Expedition (My Kayak) (Recommended)

Ruuds Sea Kayaking Home Page

Maritimus's Seakayaking Home Page

NSWSKC News Letters

Another Norwegian Sea Kayaker's Home Page

Arctic Sea Kayak Race (Recommended)

Oslo Kajakk Klubb

Norges Padleforbund

Tidal Prediction Norway

Seekajak Links for Europe

Sea Kayak Links Directory

The Kayak Yak News Letters

Sea Kayaker Magazine (Recommended)

Pictures from Ruud M. 's Home Page

Articles on Safety ! (And more) (Recommended)

Magic Pictures from Ruud M. 's Home Page

Orust Kajak : Shop and Symposium etc. Sweden (Recommended)

How/where to find a bachelor (Ungkar) :-)

Since I'm a single and free male, I should know how and where to find such males :-).

First of all, don't go looking for the male that makes you feel right. He's already occupied or he's changing Girl friend at least twice a year. The ones that are more shy or special (not so atractive or not so happy) are much more likely to be "free".

Well, boys don't TALK together like girls do. They DO THINGS together. So you should try to behave like a boy and do things together with them, NOT talk to them.

Second. Boys don't like the same kind of colours/clothing as girls do, so if you want a boy to like you, you should dress like he does. Except you should still look like a girl with long hair and a visible (wide) rear if you have one. Don't look nice and tidy with lots of tiny things, boys don't fancy that.

Then the important stuff, where to find bachelors. First of all get a girlfriend or two along with you, it's not easy getting into a dominated male surrounding alone. And besides you need the girl-friends to have someboyd to talk to, because boys don't talk much (except about what they do together).

Boys like things like sea kayaking, wild water kayaking, computers, body building, cars, motorcycles, paragliding and hanggliding, hiking in the mountains, hunting, watching sports, and a lot of other tings that don't pop up in my mind at the moment.

I'm not telling you as a girl to like these things, but if you want to find a bachelor (or a married man), you have to do things together with them. That is, sharing their activities. You should also keep in mind that you can probably educate/train a "no good" bachelor into a good/attractive male if you have the guts :-).   (If he’s interested)

You already knew all of this ? ,..... Any comments are welcome :-)

21/4-00 

I'm Single and Free :-)

But why ? ..... Some times I'm actually quite happy with being single. At other times it feels a bit empty being just me. I have by now grown old enough to see how the relations of couples breaks apart or get their crises. And I've made myself a lot of thoughts around males versus females etc,.... And I do have become a lot wiser, even if I haven't experienced so much in the area.

But why then am I single ? Well, when it comes to social relations I'm quite shy I guess, About 70% introverted, and only about 30% extroverted (Normal is 50/50). As a child I was quite happy with my family, the school and my interests for electronics and computers, and never really got much social (playing with other kids) experience (Though I had one or two friends most of the time). Girls pay a lot of attention to the social behaviour of a man, maybe as much as the man pays attention to the look (clothing actually in my case) of a girl. And then I guess I've never really dared ask any. And now I'm grown so "old" I don't really know what I want any more. It's nice having a weekend (At least every second weekend) girlfriend though. But I do have second thoughts about having own children and a family. It takes a whole lot, and I don't think I want it that much. Because you really should want it a lot before going along with establishing a family like that. I do enjoy the children of others though. Especially when they (start to) get old enough to talk to. Well, what comes, comes, and if not, time flies any way, one can not always be 100% happy in all areas at the same time. Actually according to a test in magazine I'm about 70% happy,... And that's not bad after all I think :-) ....... This page has a description taken from a book, that I think fit my person quite well.

21/4-00 - Slightly updated 26/8-01.

"CE" marking on European Electronic Equipment

Don't trust equipment that only has a "CE" marking on it - At least that's my advice. And if there is a "CE" marking there should also be a paper with a statement of compliance to the requirements (or something like that) within the package. If there's only a "CE" marking and no further documentation, then my advice is : Don't buy or use it. This is my very private opinion ! It could and certainly should be safe to use the equipment even if it only has a "CE" marking, but I don't trust it. Actually I've experienced trouble with equipment approved by NEMKO ("N" marked) as well, but that's more rare, and could be because of the factory and not because of NEMKO. My advice is : Don't by electrical equipment for connecting to the mains, if it does not have an approval from one of the main European approval instances in one of the european countries like "N" "S" "FI" (for scandinavia), or "VDE" (I think it is) etc.

Below is from the magazine "ljud & bild nr 9 1999" :
In a test just done by the ElectricalSecurityInstance, 58% of all lighting equipment, and 30% of all household equipment, and 37% of all installation material, turned out NOT APPROVED. In spite of the equipment having the "CE" marking !
Also 50% of the equipment did not make the EMC directive.
End of reference from magazine.

"CE" means the manufacturer states the equipment is o.k. ... But as you can see from above, don't trust it ! .... Also don't trust the people in the shops (Is my opinion), many of them have no idea, even if they state everything is o.k. Look for the Old markings that were used in the old days. If you find such a marking from one of the major European countries then everything should be o.k. :-)

21/4-00 

What I dream of doing, but haven't yet done

Diving Up North and in the Read Sea

I have a (rather old) diver license. Though I don't normally do the diving any more, I'm dreaming about diving in the "read sea"? / "rødehavet", and up north in some real "sea tangle forest" / "tareskog". The later existed here in southern Norway many years ago, but not any more because of pollution. Both I want to see just to see/experience it. Not for hunting/excitement or anything like that. If you feel like doing the same, please get in touch with me :-).

21/4-00 

Living with children

I have this goal, that if I met a woman with young children, it would be a real nice experience to live with them for a while, to obtain the experience of living with children.  Without the responsibility of them being my own.

14/9-03

I Need companions for practicing some of my interests

Sea Kayaking

Please go to my other paragraph about sea kayaking.

21/4-00

Hiking

I love to go hiking high up in the mountains (And I normally drive by car at least a couple of hours to get there), for a whole day or two. In nice weather / conditions, and not when there are a lot of people around. I try to do so about once per year when the forecast is nice, and I have the time. I spend about the time estimated by the Norwegian association DNT, and I don't mind steep hillsides etc,. I always want to walk in a new area every time, because seeing new places / nature is what motivates me.

21/4-00

FORKJØLET ?

Her er min nåværende teori om hvordan unngå og bli forkjølet :

Jeg ble en gang fortalt at man ble ikke forkjølet når man bodde i telt. Der og da konstaterte jeg at det jo faktisk stemte. En uke I telt og ikke forkjølet.

Så hvis jeg nå merker antydning til en gryende forkjølelse i nesen, så tar jeg før jeg legger meg om kvelden og snyter nesen, og sprayer den med en dusj for å holde den åpen igjennom natta. Deretter går jeg til køys med vinduet på vidt gap og tuller meg godt inn i en god varm dyne (med hodet på utsiden).

Teorien min er at når nesen hele tiden blir gjennomstrømmet av ny frisk fuktig og kald luft, så er ikke betingelsene for utvikling av forkjølelse til stede. Men det må gjøres FØR man blir ordentlig tett i nesen, blir man først det, så er slaget tapt. Jeg bør vel nevne at jeg også øker C-vitamin (juice) inntaket og hvitløks inntaket samtidig, og at jeg tar min daglige skje med Tran.

Hvis jeg merker det i halsen og ikke i nesen er det bare to "vekk i morgen" til det gir seg. Men også det må
gjøres så fort en merker noe. Hvis en nøler er slaget tapt.

27/12-00

Books that has helped me living a better life

Please keep in mind that I'm a somewhat introverted and not exactly a very social male. If you are different, the chances that you will find these books helpful are significantly less, than if you're more like me.

"You can have it all" by "Arnold M. Patent", "You are not the target" by "Laura Huxley", "The Art of leading Yourself" by "Randi B. Noyes", “The Pathfinder” by “Nicholas Lore”.  The nice thing about these books, are that you don't really have to read them, just starting reading an realizing what the author is trying to tell you, has been the start of a significant leap forward for me.

6/8-01 updated 14/9-03

Info for people going to Lanzarote

I(we) have been to Lanzarote several times in order to practice hang gliding. But the Island is also suitable for ordinary tourism, diving, biking, exercising and just lying around on the beaches. I do recommend to rent a car, and Cabrera Medina is a nice company, though there are many others as well. If you have not driven a car at any of the Canary Islands before, then I recommend you go a bit by taxi and buss the first couple of days, as some of the driving patterns are somewhat unusual seen from a European point of  view (But o.k. once you realize how it works). Not renting a car means not seeing 90% of the Island, and missing the best beaches, which is a pity. Though you could go for some of the bus trips, but I my self don't like that way of seeing a new place. By the way, the car insurance is not valid for damage that occurs when driving off the asphalt roads / off road. Read the terms. If you are a older person rent a car with air condition and learn how to use it, and take care that the low sun and a layer of dust/sand on the windows may cause problems for your view. They often have just plain water for the windscreen washer, so suddenly using it might cause an even worse view. It is possible to take the boat to Fuerteventura and see that Island as well, but if you plan to do so, then rent another car there, as bringing the car is just as expensive as renting a new one, and the insurance would not be valid. Take care of the siesta from about 1400 to 1700 you don't get anything done during time, everything (almost) is closed. We've been there in the winter time and then the temperature is like a nice Scandinavian summer, and the water is usually about 17 above freezing. Always bring a mask and a snorkel. There are a lot of nice fishes to see, and I think you can actually feed them as well, but choose the more rocky parts for that. I've read there are currents that can be of danger but I've not noticed any myself. If you need medical assistance, always show your insurance card first thing, otherwise you don't get much help. If you like exercising or aerobics there's a real nice studio in the old (western) part of Puerto del Carmen below the main crossing (Roque Nublo 2). Don't order fish, the probability you will get ill is high ! Buy something in leather it's cheap, and you can bargain about the price quite a bit. When choosing a place to eat look for the ones that are hard to find. Either up stairs or just a few meters away from the main street. Those that are easy to spot always get enough people, no matter how bad the food is. Those that are hard to find however have to make good food to make you come back in order to survive. Regrettably we've noticed some of the best places to eat disappearing, probably because not enough people find and use them. Bring your own dish brush and towel for the kitchen, and maybe a bit of detergent. And check if you have your own water heather or if it's shared between several flats, and if shared, choose your shower time wisely. Also turn of the water while soaping, otherwise it will be very cold sooner than you expect. Water for drinking you must buy, don't drink from the spring. Choose one of the larger travel agencies, especially if you go on unspecified. You can save quite a bit on the car rent buy renting down there instead of ordering in advance. It's never been a problem in the  winter time. There are several places that offer diving and diving courses, but do NOT think you can go diving in Nordic waters after such a course, they're not good enough for Nordic conditions (with a few possible exceptions). The water in the pools is not heated so the temperature comes from the sun, and there's usually plenty of sun. At the south side of the Islands that is, but that's usually where the tourists go (and also where there are the least nature to see). Just renting a flat without having one in advance I do not recommend, unless you really know what you're doing. I suspect most places rent all their apartments to one or several travel agencies and are happy with that.  If you go for electronics shopping then keep in mind that they buy/get the goods from the same suppliers as any other shop in any other country, the only difference between there and home is the tax level.  They have a total tax level of about 5%, which is 20% less than in Norway.  I.E: a Norwegian should expect about 20% lower prices.  If you are offered even lower prices, they are fooling you !  Many smaller shops have a lot of products in their windows.  Those in the windows are not for sale, unless they have the box for it inside the shop.  A frequent method they use is to offer you a silly low price on a expensive model (the one you want, and for which they don’t have the box because it’s not really for sale), then after a while of talking they start saying that this model is not really any good, and that they have a much better model with just a little bit higher price (for which they have the box, because it’s actually for sale), and they talk a lot about how good that one is.  And when they have convinced you, and sold you the item, they ask you if you need this and that accessory.  And those accessories they charge some times three times what they are actually worth.  When you come back home, you then discover that the item you bought is actually a much cheaper model than the one you initially looked at, and that the price you gave for it is not more than about 20% below what it is at home, and when including the expensive accessories (if you bought them) (and which would possibly have been included if you bought the item back home), you have all together been charged the same, as you would have been back home, only with the exception that you don’t really have a dealer and a guarantee close to you.  Which is really fair !,.. because also the shops down there have to make a living.  And it’s the only way they can, when the tourists insist one doing a 50% discount bargain.  Which is not really possible.  I must add then, that the model they fool you to buy is usually a o.k. model, and working just fine.  Any way, never buy anything the last few days.  Buy in the beginning, then you have time to discover if anything is missing or not working, and time to complain about it, when you get back home that’s all really to late.  Have a nice vacation !! :-)

17/2-01 Updated 14/9-03

Optimisme, Lov deg selv:

Å være så sterk at ingenting kan forstyrre deg.

Å snakke om gode ting til alle du møter.

Å få alle dine venner til å føle at det er noe i dem.

Å se det positive i alt og få det til å bli sant.

Å bare tenke på det beste, arbeide for det beste og kun forvente det beste.

Å gi slipp på fortidens nederlag og konsentrere deg om framtidens seier.

Å gi så mye tid til forbedring av deg selv, at du ikke har tid til å kritisere andre.

Å være for stor for bekymring, for verdig for sinne, for sterk for frykt, og for lykkelig til å bli påvirker av problemer.

" Optimist International"

I must admit I'm having severe problems in following several of these, and tend to forget about them all to often.

Stuff I like / My Favorites

Please note that Radio & TV are German stuff by ASTRA

Radio channels               Bayern 1, because of the music.

TV Series                    Start Trek.

                             Star Gate.

                             ZDFinfokanal

Movies                       Star Trek and Star Wars

                             Everything by Steven Spielberg.

Tunes                        Don't cry for me Argentina with

                               Olivia Newton John.

                             Dr. Jones by Aqua

Artists/groups               Kari Bremnes

                             Anne Dorthe Michelsen

                             Roger Whittaker

                             Aqua

                             Boney M.

                             The Manhattan Transfer

Music                        All kinds of music that has a

                             tune/melody in it.

Car                          Something old and cheap that I

                             can mend myself.

Author                       Arthur C. Clarke.

Activities                   Sea kayaking in a new place in

                             nice weather.

                             Hiking up in the hills -"-.

                             Making my web pages.

                             Seeing new places

                             Social dancing

                             Aerobics

Motivations                  Learning/trying something new

TV Channel                   Most of the German TV channels

TV Program                   ZDFinfokanal wissenschaft

Internet shops I have good experiences with (when ordering from Norway) :

www.multicom.no is a local web shop here in Norway.  I have ordered computers and parts for computers from them several times for many years, and only have good experiences.  One reason to pick them instead of others is that you can "talk" to them by e-mail, and get proposals for components for a PC (usually good ones).  They are not among the large net shops though.

www.psdata.no has the edge on multicom because they accept pre payment using credit card, so you wont have to pay the COD charge, but you can't talk to them per mail like you can with multicom.  Psdata is also a local company, and is my second choice if multicom don't have what I want.

www.justmakeit.com I ordered lycra from them once and have received professional advice from them twice.  Takes a while overseas, but I got what I wanted, which was impossible for me here in little Norway.  I was never happy with the complete lack of suitable tights clothing for exercising for males in the shops.  They have a lot for girls, but probably no such market for males, so I ended up sewing my own, and justemakeit provided what I needed with advise.

www.amazon.com Has given me some nice books, but you do need to spend a lot of time on the reviews to pick the ones right for you.

www.satland.de Has been the source of my stand alone or PC satellite receiving equipment tree times.  No problems.    

When placing an overseas order with a company for the first time, I always initiate a communication with them per e-mail (some questions), and If they don't give a sensible reply, they don't get any order.  Also I inform them about how the customs procedures work here in Norway, so they don't mess things up for me with a incorrect invoice.  Only exception is large established companies like Amazon and Maplin that I know have professional procedures for handling overseas orders.