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In Which I Meet A Future Prime Minister (Of Norway)
September 27, 2006 by Mike
Høvik
Rise up! Rise up, people of Norway!!
Your taxes aren't going on healthcare and social security. (They certainly aren't going on road repairs in Finnmark.) Instead they are being diverted to subsidise the staff canteen at the Stortinget -- Norway's Parliament.
And how do I know this? Because I went for a very decent lunch there with my very decent cousin Nikolai Astrup -- who has already appeared, albeit obliquely, in this bl--- diary.
This is Nikolai the politico rather than Nikolai the painter. He may be a member of Høyre, Norway's Conservative Party -- he's speechwriter for the party leader -- but we have a worrying tendency to agree on things. Figure that out!
Not on everything, mind. Not on David Cameron, for example. Perhaps it's less obvious that he's wearing the Emperor's new clothes if seen from abroad?
Though I have a sneaking suspicion that Nikolai himself is Norway's David Cameron. In the sense that a young, presentable leader with a clear mind and moderate policies can modernise a moribund political dinosaur and make it electable.
The difference between the two of them is simple: I trust Nikolai. Even if he wears a beard.
(Pictured in the chamber itself. I hope he was allowed to take me in there!)
(PS this picture included for all the readers who kindly pointed out how good-looking another cousin, Fredrik, is. They're also younger and richer than me. *sigh*)
Of course, Nikolai isn't even a member of Parliament, let alone the leader of the party - yet. Emphasis on the word yet. Watch this space.
--
Before I left, I asked Nikolai about Norway's rejection of EU membership. After all, I'm travelling round Europe and trying to understand what makes it tick.
Norway has voted 'No' not once but twice. Today, it seems, the No lobby is growing even bigger, especially amongst the young.
"They all travel abroad," Nikolai moaned. "They see that life outside the country has so much to offer, so why don't they want to be a part of it?"
Oil. Oil money.
They have a conscience and play a vital role in conflict resolution and human rights around the world, but the bottom line is that Norwegians have more money than they know how to spend -- (the latest craze is holidays homes. In Brazil) -- and don't want to have to share it.
--
Here are some of the things I haven't done in Oslo:
-- go back to the Munch Museum to see Scream and Madonna, damaged but undaunted after being stolen and returned;
-- go to the Folkemuseum where my sister used to work;
-- catch up with uncles Sigurd and Eivind (though we nearly met), aunts Vibeke and Bjørg, great aunt Nini, cousins Camilla, Harald, Mikkel (whose excuse was a reasonable "but I'm in Japan this week") or Henning; or visit my grandparents' graves;
-- see the Vigeland statues in Frogner Park;
-- look for old, old friends like Steinar Wisløff;
-- or potential new ones like Marianne Astrup's sister, contributers to the Horizons Unlimited message board who live here, such as Wheelie, who's riding a Vespa the length of Africa; or John from Berlevåg, who I was told about at the other end of the country;
-- find the replacement part that will make my helmet cam work again;
-- get a decent BesideTheSeaside logo on the back of the bike (though Nick is working on it as I type).
Now, there won't be family everywhere (even though it must seem like it if you've been reading my updates from Norway) but I'm aware that these are some of the things I'm missing from one of hundreds of places I'll be seeing, or at least passing through, on my journey.
And this is a place I'm supposed to know well.
Comments
By Misha BB | May 12, 2007 2:33 PM
I just wanted to slip you a note of appreciation: My girlfriend and me are following your videos and keep checking this page to see what your up to. Being an Oslo-exiled North Norwegian who has lived in Russia, your vids and diaries bring back a lot of memories. Those videos from North Norway made me as homesick as I've rarely been.
Love your project, keep it up.
- Misha
PS: If you really want to know why Norway isn't a member of the EU even though most of us feel European and love to travel in Europe: Well, for me and most people I know, it's just that the EU ain't all that democratic, makes having a good welfare system difficult and there are issues with workers' rights too. It's not that we don't wanna share our money.
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By Nikolai | December 7, 2006 2:05 PM
Mike,
Thanks for the kind(?) words...:-)
By the way - you need to make more videopieces! The ones you have are great, but as far as I can see the last one is from September.
I hope you are enjoying Denmark. Hav you reached Skagen yet?
Nikolai