Norway

Hi
I thinks it's been a while since my last email. I have just started two days off after about eight days straight working since I got back from my holiday in Norway.
Norway was great. Camilla had some meetings with some charity organisations that went really well and might some day lead to some job oppourunties. I was wondering through town and managed to bump into no less than four good old friends within two mintues. This is very much in keeping with Bergens reputation as possibly the smallest city in a small world.
I discovered I was still good for a free coffee, I spent a long time catching up with old friends from the restaraunt industry, it was good to be remebered in Bergen, and good to catch up with all the latest. Many thanks to Jonathon and Joseph (although I didn't see Jonathon) your presence is always felt in Bergen.
The reason for the trip was Camillas grandparents having their 76th birhtday. We had an amazing seafood buffet with some shelled creatures that I'd never even seen before and plenty to drink. I made a decision to speak nothing but Norwegian all night (despite camillas view that I sound like a total loser in norwegian!). After a few beers this went down great (at least I think it did) and I think my norwegian is better than ever. I can't say everything I want to, but I can understand loads, and that feels great. In this vein I also bought a thrid norwegian book "Lemony Snickkets The Wide Window". These books are orginally written in english and are excellent fun. I'm reading the third in the series in Norwegian. It's a challenge but it feels good to get some jokes in a different languages, and to follow a story.
The book cost £17 in hardback (and it was only small). The bookstores there were selling harry Potter at a price around double to that it was in the UK (with the non-stop price wars). Althought the format of the bookstores is largely the same as it is in the UK I realised it would very tough, even with my new Norwegian knoweldge to successfully work in book retail in Norway. Still the plan remains that next year in Norway I'll be working again.
I may try and run the short story competition I was involved in here in Bergen, it would be a good way in to the industry and give me something interesting to be involved in. Hopefully of course, I won't need to work so much, hopefully I'll be writing!
I'm wating at home today because it is the deadline for The Chickenhouse to give me some feedback about the story Rooftops. It should be a yes/no descision. Either here are some tips- no thanks, or here is what we want you to do- yes please! I keep checking my inbox but nothing yet. It is also conceivable that they'll forget to do it but I've prepared for that as well. If they don't email me I'm going to call them tomorrow and hastle them (but in a nice way of course!)
I keep dreming about what they might say but honestly I have no idea which way it will go. You better believe that Ill let you know when I know!
All the best,
Alistair