One glorious week in Stavanger where we kick started the Neighbourhood Challenge project which is being promoted by Shahrazad where Norwegian artists and non-Norwegian artists collaborate on a project.

Anita and I didn’t really have Shahrazad in mind when we planned to make foto-poem books on the ICORN cities in Norway. But when it got serious, in the sense that we started to tell people about it, Sharahzad came forward to say that they would sponsor us partially.

So last week was the beginning of what looks like a very exciting work. We stopped strangers on the streets and asked if we could take their photos, explaining that it was for a book on Stavanger. Ninety seven percent happily posed for us. When we bumped into some of them the next days, we were like old friends, greeting each other, exchanging addresses or parting with the words, “We’ll talk on Facebook!” What a rich experience this has been. If the other cities are going to be half as friendly, wow, we could do this for a lifetime.

Ah well, elsewhere are people called the Australians complaining about hot summers. At least Northern Norway has its blue hour..those hours after the arctic sun sets..from about 5.00 pm till about 8 or 9 pm when it is elf-blue and magic…and stars come out reluctantly…sit back, stay in the blueness and write more poetry…no point in stressing..Spring will come when it will…I guess there’s a lesson in there…be patient or be more patient?

The presence of the oral narrators meant that it had to be a bilingual launch. Which was quite alright. Nagas are adept at code-switching so the first part of the launch began in English and then we rounded it off in Tenyidie. Signing of autographs took place in English, I think.

The response from the local press was heartening. Next morning at breakfast, my sister pushed the papers to me saying, “Well you and David Beckham made it to the front page.” Indeed there we were, Dave on one side of the four-columner and yours truly on the other. Hope Victoria doesn’t subscribe to Naga newspapers.

Bright blues, Reds and Oranges - colours even in the midst of the overwhelming grey fog that is so typical of Delhi winters, colourful pashmina shawls and silk bags and woollen, neo-persian carpets at the Delhi Haat market. We stopped our shopping and watched an impromptu dance by street performers, a young boy and an older man who donned a horse costume and swayed appropriately to the compelling beat of drums.

Nan, paneer, butter chicken and real yoghurt…nothing tastes like Indian food in India…

Then we did the library and we did the barnamuseet, the children’s museum, where I donned a raincoat and hat to read a rain story of a wet crow to four year olds. They loved it! Saturday was exciting with more poetry reads broadcast to a live audience at St Andrews, Scotland. Hats off to ICORN and Sharahzad for all those memorable days!

It’s not the best film you’ll ever see but there is a man dressed as a giraffe and a room full of keen listeners. My iphone captures some of the book launch as I enjoy it with my daughter! Just click the above link!