The jump was scheduled at 18:00 that Sunday, and Kjell, Sindre and I drove almost two hours to Trøgstad in Wolvoline (that would be Kjell’s Volvo). After some minor troubles finding the place, we found the people and I got dressed and prepared. I met my tandem partner, and another guy was also scheduled to do a tandem jump in the same ride. When we were dressed and ready we all drove a couple of minutes to someone’s garden (!), where the helicopter was ready. A few more instructions about the jump and landing was given and the four of us, and the pilot, were placed in the helicopter and we flew off.

We flew for only a few minutes in the helicopter which was fine by me since my ankles’ naked skin were completely exposed and got pretty cold. I couldn’t see much either because I had the other tandem couple between my legs. Suddenly the two of them started to irk forwards, and disappear completely. My tandem partner and I started to irk forwards, but I couldn’t see anything else except for the helicopter roof, since I had to maintain a certain position when jumping out. I felt a slight movement, we tipped over and suddenly we were in free fall, looking at the world far far below me. And we dropped fast. Very fast. After a few seconds the parachute was pulled out, and things got way more comfortable.

We had maybe a couple of minutes flying around. I got to steer some, and my tandem partner had fun going in circles making me feel like I was in a rollercoaster. But the view was the most amazing thing. There was nothing between you and the world, and everywhere you look, you can see land far far away. It’s quiet and there’s nothing to distract you from enjoying the view.

Suddenly we were approaching the ground pretty fast and just like that we had our feet on the ground again. And that was it. I couldn’t stop smiling until some hours later when I was in the car on the way back home, too exhausted to keep my eyes open. But I don’t think I’d dive in a parachute again – once was enough, really. But riding a helicopter again, without the cold ankles and blocked view? Yes please!

Photos from the jump:

The jump was planned October 10th in the morning and we told our friends, a chauffeur was arranged, my parents calmed and my excitement built up. When the big day arrived, it rained. The jump was thus postponed to October 17th. Cue arranging, telling friends, calming down my folks and building up a greater load of excitement. To my delight that Saturday morning was a beautiful, sunny day with no visible clouds in the sky. I got up early (I hate that), did my morning routine, got dressed in warm clothes and a permanent grin started to develop on my face. Sindre made coffee to bring and packed his backpack with his camera to take pictures. About 20 minutes before our chauffeur, Kjell, was arriving we got a call. The jump was cancelled again because of too strong wind. *sigh*

Sad couple: Parachute jump cancelled again

We came to the conclusion that we had to postpone the jump to Spring next year, sometime during March or April. The winter’s coming in fast (well, it’s Norway) and it gets too cold to mess around at 10 000ft in November. But I am gonna get my jump!

People say a picture is saying more than 1 000 words. So here it is.

Sindre is so excited
by my gift

After my vacation early September in Spain, it was head on starting my second semester of my Master’s degree of computer science at the University of Oslo. Last semester I was on sick leave because of my Cochlea Implant-operation. It was both good to have something to do again, but it was tough to start studying again. Next to studies, I’m making graphics to computer games at Pong, a student union at the University of Oslo (Read my post here about Pong).

It’s a lake outside our home!

Weather was fine enough (as expected from living in Norway) except some days with extreme rain and thunder. The rain water flows down from Pilestredet/Bislett and fills up at the crossroad outside where Sindre lives, forming a lake. It’s fun watching people stepping in knee-deep water, the cars plowing their way and the tram having problems turning the intersection tracks under all the water.

I’m about to butcher a cake with Kim and Kristina

As October drew closer, so did my 25th birthday. Sindre made me a chocolate cake the day before, and then Kim & Kristina made me another chocolate cake at the end of the week. Thank god I love chocolate cake, we had chocolate cake remains for weeks! xD Following the “tradition” as of Kim and me the last few years, we put on silly childish party stuff while enjoying our freshly baked chocolate cake.

Because I’ve practically lived with Sindre since June, we decided to “officially” move in together. At the end of November, I’m moving my stuff out of my dear apartment over the last few years and into Sindre’s apartment.

Magda-Lill, me and Janne

Four deaf people I (partly) know all celebrated 25 years this year joined in together and rented a whole pub for a night, celebrating 100 years. At October 24th, the Roxy bar in Oslo was filled with over a hundred specifically invited people, all deaf or hard of hearing. A friend of mine, Magda-Lill, who I went to primary school with and I met among others people we knew from our old school.

It’s snowing in October!

And so, the last days of October in Oslo was covered with snow. The winter is truly coming >.< Dammit!

I had two major trips in 2006, Egypt in Easter and Paris during the summer.

Click the links above or Photo gallery in the menu bar at the top to see the photos.

My 23rd birthday

Chocolate cake!

Kim and me
featuring silly party stuff

I was determined to not celebrate my birthday this fall, but Kim didn’t listen. One night I was eating dinner at his place, knowing nothing when he came in with a chocolate cake and threw lots of silly partystuff at me.

We ate chocolate cake and had fun with childish party toys. As Kim’s birthday drew closer, I got my revenge by doing the same to him. xD

Snowboarding

So yeah.. winter.. M-L and I both like snowboarding during the winter, and the Feb 3rd we brought a camera with us. After a few pictures though, the poor camera got too cold and shut down completely. >.<

M-L coming down

I’m grinning to
the camera

We tried to start early, M-L drove us about one hour up to Kongsberg and we spent hour after hour snowboarding the hills . We had great fun, and coming inside a warm car after several hours outside was lovely. I’m sure the camera agrees.