Yes, I spent most of the day writing. So how come I show only 1,678 more words than at the end of the day yesterday! Ok, this is a slow process with research, citations, rewriting, making adjustments to strengthen the logical progression, and making a few tweaks to earlier content to make things work better.
Though if I have 60 days like today, I would have 100,000 words–the magic number for a dissertation–in quantity. The other issue is quality. I actually am at 38,000+ words, but these words include some known relatively minor revisions for chapters 1-3. Chapter 4 may have some more significant revisions. We’ll see.
Anya wasn’t feeling well, so I took a break and made some biscuits; good comfort food. We had tomato soup for supper–more comfort food–but the stuff here comes in a packet instead of a can. I miss Campbell’s.
I did a bit more work after dinner, folded the laundry, and then Anya and I watched the musical Mama Mia. We thought the singing and dancing parts were like a series of music videos, but the music is fun and good medicine for Anya. We are preparing for our trip to Stockholm!
Since not much to write about to you folks, here’s the highlights of our first day in Bergen. We arrived safely! This was my first time driving in unknown regions. (I did drive the car the previous night from the airport, ending up taking the bus routes! I know bus routes!
What was amazing was that on our first of two ferry rides, we were getting into the car, and I hear, “Beth!?!” Knut and his wife, Berly, were in the car immediately behind us! So, Karen and Erin got to meet Knut, though it was a very short meeting.
Anya said, “We know three families in Norway, and what’s the chances that one is right behind us on the ferry!” Erin was joking that Knut was keeping an eye on me and wondering why I wasn’t working on my dissertation. I thought, “Knut is my shepherd…” He turned off before the next ferry, to go and visit his grandchildren, including a set of triplets who are 2.5 years old!
We checked into our hotel, and walked to the end of the harbor for a 3.5 hour fjord cruise. It was beautiful, then hail, then beautiful, then hail, then beautiful!
We got up close to a beautiful waterfall.
We had dinner at Pepe’s Pizza, with Karen offering that her husband, Ralph, pick up the tab (who wasn’t there). What a nice man! Then we walked around to see the city.
And see our ancestors!
We visited the grocery store too, as we realized that the stores would be closed for the next two days for Maunday Thursday and Good Friday. So, we would have some food for our lunches on the ferry home the next day.
Our hotel was just down a bit from the beautiful old water front buildings.
If I could, I would just want to travel the world and visit as many UNESCO World Heritage sites as I could!
We headed to bed after a great day, and grateful that my first day of driving in Norway went safely. As we were getting ready for bed, Karen surprised us with “Spa Night,” at least for our feet! She brought four foot spa packages. It was hilarious. It was a jolly holiday with Karen!
Bergen Day 2 to come later–on another slow day
With blessings,
Beth