Submitted by Kaare Askildt, former Preeceville area farmer in training. This one of a series on getting settled in Hazel Dell.
Somebody started without me! I am the one that share publicly our private life through my newspaper articles, but someone decided to start up the "jungle drums" to inform those that listens to such gibberish that my dear Marion has moved out of our house, as in we have split up! Nobody asked us or checked with us before making such a statement. We classify that as a very nasty rumour, as it could not be further from the truth! Our relationship is more solid than the Dovre Mountain in Norway, or the rock of Gibraltar! We might not partake in many of the local functions including the coffee klatches, as we are for the most part very private persons that enjoy each other's company immensely! We only share a part of our personal life to the amusement of the readers, and we have a very enjoyable life together. So, just to be clear! Marion and I are very much in love with each other! It is a vicious rumour that is far, far removed from reality!
"Wasn't that a party?" We had a Ball - literally! The 2014 Edmonton Consular Ball is now history, and will live in our memories for years to come. We drove from Hazel Dell to Edmonton and return with overnight stops in Wilkie to play with little Casey. We decided long ago that we don't need a GPS as Marion is always riding along as a self-appointed co-pilot. Getting to Edmonton was not a problem, but getting into Edmonton and our hotel was a different story. I have lived in Saskatchewan away from Edmonton for many years now, and without asking me, the City of Champions decided to construct an elaborate intersection system with over and under passes that looked like a Gordian knot! When Marion said left, I turned right and when she said right I went straight. She picked up on that and successfully guided me to the Crown Plaza Chateaux Lacombe. Then we had to park the truck. We came to the conclusion that the truck was too high to fit into the underground parking area, so we had to park in a public lot across the street behind the Edmonton Journal building. I finally got turned around in front of the hotel and to Marion's dismay took a chance that I had a green light to cross the five street intersection! Then of course there are all the one way streets in downtown that makes driving there very interesting.
The Ball was a very dignified affair, where all the guests were dressed in long gowns and tuxedos. Honorary Consul of Norway Roar Tungland and his wife Marilyn were our hosts, and their daughter Sarah, their two sons Ben and Eric together with their spouses livened up the Norwegian section. We were very concerned if the Russian and Ukrainian Consuls would get along during the Ball, but we didn't have to worry. There was no Ukrainian Consul at the Ball, however, the attending Edmonton Honorary Russian Consul is a Ukrainian born Canadian! That should solve the problem.
The food was great, as was the young Icelandic woman that entertained us with traditional Icelandic songs. After supper and all the speeches, a big band started up with familiar dance tunes for everyone's enjoyment. I was hampered with my sore leg and had to use my cane to get around. However, the young Tungland families urged us on to the dance floor to partake in a group dance. Ben borrowed my cane setting up a dance where everybody (except me) had to ride the cane like a horse around the circle. Ben wasn't bad, but his mother Marilyn took first prize! Marion and I danced a couple of numbers together; however, I did it as a three legged dance, what with my cane and all.
Marilyn and Roar introduced a very old dance called the Politician, which they wanted to teach us. They told us that this dance actually originated in both the old Roman Empire and Greece and also in Norway after they ratified their constitution in 1814. We all lined up and watched as they took three steps forward, followed immediately with two steps backward, then they side-stepped and turned around.
Lena was visiting with her friend Kari, who explained how her husband Hjalmar had courted her with a rather unusual marriage proposal. Hjalmar told Kari that if she married him, he would churn 10 pounds of butter or write her a poem. "I see," said Lena, "You obviously married him for butter or verse."
Hjalmar was filling out a survey. To the question regarding church preference, Hjalmar put down: "White with a steeple and brass bell."
When Lena tried to give the telephone operator her phone number on a long distance call, the operator inquired: "Do you have an area code?" - "No," said Lena. "Yust a little sinus trouble."
