The general synopsis at 0600 UTC - Cyclonic 5 or 6, decreasing 4 at times.

I don't want to speak too soon, but the postal system here in Norway seems to have gotten a lot better this year, Mothers little food parcels are arriving within a couple of days, Izzys iPad came in 3 and my new coffee machine got here quicker than I did! Who knows how and why but lets no knock it. On that note, I'm trying to organise some rubber fendering for the boat, My best mate Wayne has found some from a company in Cambridgeshire but the fun and games he is having getting it to France is beyond a joke, Firstly I ordered a courier to collect it from their warehouse, when he turned up it wasn't ready (how long does it take to cut 9M of rubber) the 2nd attempt there was no label attached so he left again and the 3rd he was told it had already been dispatched! - I'll keep you posted if it ever turns up.

I need some fendering for Isabella as she is getting a little bashed up now, yesterday for instance, we experienced some crazy winds here in Ulvik, the drive over to the hotel was scary enough as she was flying out of the water at the crest of the wave and crashing down again as though I was riding a jet ski! After my hotel visits I noticed a ton of debris floating outside the green cafe, as I approached it turns out to be thousands of pounds worth of patio furniture that had blown into the fjord. I tried the best I could to rescue as much as possible but can you imagine trying to haul a chair with one hand whilst steering with the other and using your knee to control the throttle and your head the gears! - I guess some would see the funny side, especially with 3 foot waves chucking me around like a rag doll! Well after 5 chairs and a table safely ashore and the 6th chair falling back on top of me, smashing the windscreen, it was time to give up and go home! Even that was futile, the waves were crashing the boat against the quay so I decided to go back to the Brakanes Hotel and leave her there for the day. At least she could bob about in the open water until it all calmed down. And as if by magic the winds dropped and the water calmed just as the football finished, nice little ride home, even if Germany had just destroyed Greece.

I have discovered that the bar in the Ulvik hotel not only has the football on wide screen but I get staff prices too, meaning the beer is only twice the price of the UK and not 4X. It also has a better type of clientele even if they all support the 'other team' no matter who is playing.

Well thats about it for now, I'm preparing and looking forward to Sundays match against Italy, Who knows, we might make another stage of the game....