A while ago, my car wouldn’t start. Not enough juice.

I had to have start help from Falken. The guy tested the battery and said it was fine. But if the car was left standing for maybe a day or two, it wouldn’t start. There was some juice on it, but not enough to start.

We did various tests. The first prevailing theory was that something in the car was leaking electricity. So I took the lead off the positive pool when I left the car. Still, the car wouldn’t start.

Turns out one cell had died. Which means that there wasn’t enough to start the car unless I had help or it had run recently. But once the car was moving, it was working fine.

So I bought a new battery. One of those who won’t leak even if you turn it over (not that you would, of course). And there’s a big difference to how the car starts now compared to before, even before the old battery went bad. True, the new battery is stronger by type, but even so…

Just thought I’d put it out there. There are several ways a battery can turn bad. Of course, mine had been drained recently by the lights being left on by a thief who tried to steal the car and failed. I’m guessing that may have contributed to it going bad.

Today is Norway’s independence day. Independence from… that’s right - Sweden.

But Norway and Sweden will always be brothers. Sibling love and rivalry included.

Decades ago a lot of people moved to Sweden because there was work there, and little in Norway in their fields. Today a lot of young Swedes come to Norway to get jobs.

I know quite a few, and I was talking to one girl right after she came. I told her there was a lot of cultural difference, especially when it came to food. She almost got angry with me. Granted, Swedish culture has changed a lot over the years, and I know a lot about the culture from a ways back. But guess who had the last laugh. They complain bitterly about Norwegians not eating warm lunch! That’s just not a custom here. We eat our brødskive (almost like sandwich) instead. Many Swedes will make lunch late the day before and take it to work, cold. I just shake my head.

The language is pretty similar, and almost all Norwegians understand Swedish. But the reverse is not true. I’ve heard quite a few amusing stories, when one of the girls has been working in cafe’s and similar. She’s misunderstood SOOO many terms. It’s quite
funny.

You see, us Norwegians have watched Swedish television forever, but the reverse is not true!