Surprise news report on poverty in Bergen.

Norway is the richest country in western Europe. It was not always so. Until the discovery of oil and gas off Norway's coast, the country was actually quite poor. Now, however, the average Norwegian enjoys a high standard of living - well you would think so. Actually, though it would appear that there are many whose standard of living is far below that which many Norwegians would find only just acceptable. According to a survey carried out by Bergen Kommune published today, in certain areas of Greater Bergen every fourth child is living below the poverty line (defined by the OECD as earning under 50% of the average salary in Bergen). That means their families are earning less than NOK164,000 per year - about £16,500. Considering the average shopping basket here costs 2.5 times as much here as it does in the UK, it means the poorer families here really are poor. It is quite shocking to see those kind of figures. Strictly speaking, no-one here should be living on or beneath the poverty line at all. The average shelf stacker and kindergarden assistant earn around £29,000 a year, so I wonder why there is this difference in living standards? Maybe it is families where the parents are unable to work and are dependent upon state support. If so, there shoukd be a better system, which ensures that children do not suffer because of their parents problems. Hopefully, the results of the survey will be used to improve how resources are distributed, and break the cycle of poverty that exists even here.

The old curiosity shop!

It hides away behind Bryggen in the centre of town. Opening hours are flexible, i.e. do not reckon on it being open much before midday, and it is certainly closed by 5 pm. This shop is an absolute treasure trove for those who did not realise they had not mised what they had never had!

It is crammed full with an eclectic collection of items from goodness knows where. There are four rooms absolutely crammed full of stuff. This is the shop whose owner really does not know how to say 'No!' Do you need a stuffed boar's head to hang on the wall - there is one there with your name on it! There are plates, cups (none matching of course!), old photos, picture frames, brass kettles, warming pans, army boots, pewter mugs, books, fox furs, lamp fittings, spoons, boxes, turkish holiday mementos - you name it I bet you could find it there. But - is it anything you really need!?

Summer soltice and Sankt Hans

Well, technically Wednesday the 20th June was the longest day of the year this year. Apparently it hovers around the 20th/21st depending on the calendar. That means we are in for a celebratory weekend up here in Norway - that's if the weather holds! Sankt Hans is traditionally a time for bonfires, barbecues, letting off fireworks and having fun. Last year, it rained so much even the Bergenese couldn't get the fireworks to work. This year the weather looks a tad better! Some rain is forecast but not much, and temperatures will ne hovering around 10 degrees celcius come the evening! Half-way tropical! Like most festivals, Sankt Hans is rooted deep in pre-Christian traditions, and is celebrated throughout Scandinavia in different ways. The Swedes for example like to dance around a maypole, and weave flower garlands, the Danes burn an effigy of a witch, and the Norwegians just seem to make huge bomfires. Oh and there is often quite alot of alcohol consumed, and also alot of the Norwegian national dish, hotdogs in potato pancakes (pølse i lompe)! A culinary delicacy that challenges me on so many levels (visually, nutritionally and digestively!) Anyway, why burn a witch on the bonfire? Well, according to ancient Scandinavian tradition, at mid-summer, all the witches fly off either to Hekla in Iceland or Bloksbjerg (Brocken mountain) in Harzen, Germany to renew their pact with the devil. In Germany, they say that the witches gather there on Valpurgis night, which is actually the 1st of May - I guess the socialist parties up here must be happy that they have a different date! First of May here is a public holiday and big union day - it would be a bit strange if it was also associated with witches! By burning a witch on the bonfire you are apparently helping them on their way, and presumeably hoping they will not come back! At the moment here in Bergen, the evenings are so light that you can still easily read a book at midnight. It is really difficult going to bed! You are tired, but it is still broad daylight out there at 11pm! I feel like I'm a little kid again! It is far too light outside! I half expect to hear someone mowing the lawn, which I know is daft as here most people do not need a lawn mower. Few houses have any garden to speak of as they are built up steep mountainsides, and gardens are either compact areas of rhododendron and scrub or just plain rock. Lawns are a rarity! Happy Sankt Hans to everyone! If I see a witch, I'll try and get a photo!