Day 15 - NRK Rogaland TV Interview, including Slogvik Mill, Nils Stakland & Quaker Meeting House - Lunch & Shopping at Haugesund - Ebne Home on Karmøy for dinner - Fri., Dec. 28, 2001

Why had the Slogviks been getting phone calls from a national TV reporter? A little detective work indicated that it might have something to do with Keith's Norway List friend, Knut Hildal from Odda, who had visited us in California and had come here to Slogvik to visit us before Christmas. It seems that there are family and vacation house connections between Knut and Sigmund Hansen of NRK Rogaland TV. A little intimidated, we did not know what to expect and Peg was ready to hide somewhere. To our pleasant surprise, both Sigmund and his cameraman, Arne Gunnar Olsen, were warm and friendly professionals that immediately put us at ease. The main theme of this interview related to the religious beliefs of Keith's Slooper ancestors that led to their early emigration from Norway.

They came just as we were
sitting down for breakfast and
they were invited to join us.
As Sigmund untangles his
cords, his instruction to
Keith was to "just act
natural" - sure!   He also
recommended just short
simple answers. 

In response to that last
recommendation, Keith got
them both laughing when he
told them that he used to be a
college professor and "didn't
do" short simple answers! 

After also interviewing
Rotraud for a radio segment
and coming outside for some
more photo ops, it was time to
pack the gear in the NRK car
and move to our next location.

Here Arne & Einar get a
laugh as PC decides there is
room in the back for him to go
along too.

Our next stop for some TV
footage was a short drive
north - the restored historic
Slogvik water powered grain
grinding mill.

This is a small building and
rather difficult to photograph
inside. It is unique in that it is
the only mill in Norway with an adjustable lower millstone.

Our next stop was the
Stakland home. The original
plan was for Keith to meet
Tysvær Quaker, Nils
Stakland, at the old Quaker
Meeting House on the
Stakland farm. As Nils was just recovering from a bad cold, it was decided that it would be best for Keith to meet Nils in the warm comfort of his own home.

With the camera rolling, Keith greets Nils and remarks that it is indeed an honor to meet him again. Keith presents Nils with a pewter ornament representing the sloop Restoration that took the historic group of religious dissidents to America in 1825. This ornament was commissioned by the Vesterheim Museum in Iowa.

While Keith stands back, Sigmund continues to interview Nils. Arne Gunnar gets a different camera angle. Nils comes from a long and historic line of Quakers from this part of Norway. Like some of Keith's distant relatives, members of Nils' family received some harsh treatment many years ago because of their beliefs. At present, he is the only Quaker resident in Tysvær kommune.

We are invited to make our entries in the Stakland home guest book. Keith waits his turn here while Sigmund records his visit. Keith & Peg reflect on their previous visit to this genuinely friendly home in the summer of 2000.  [Photos from our earlier visit.]

We then travel the short distance to the small, plain, but historic Quaker Meeting House of Stakland. Sigmund stands back while the camera documents that Keith was unable to open the door. It was frozen shut.

With Keith wired for sound the interview concludes here. He gives one of his theories as to why his ancestor, Jacob Slogvik, changed religion several times after emigrating. Keith used the analogy of a "kid in a candy store" after growing up in Lutheran Norway. 

Einar and Nils' daughter, Synnøve Stakland, have a final discussion with Sigmund before we part. [Apparently both the radio and TV segments were aired in the early part of January after we had returned home. We were told it would be on the Internet, but we never found it. A video tape has been promised and is in the works.]

With the TV interview now over and done with, our next adventure was a drive to Haugesund. Here Rotraud, Einar and Peg stand at one of our favorite spots - on the Haugesund quay near the bridge to Risøy. 

We will soon meet the young folks for lunch at the restaurant near the express boat terminal. This is the very same place where we had dinner with the Slogviks just after we met them in person for the first time in the summer of 2000.

The restaurant has changed somewhat and is now an Italian restaurant. Our old table with a view of the waterfront is now in the smoking section.

After some shopping in Haugesund we happen to pass the trendy "Café X." Here Ellen comes out for a short visit and brother Terje graciously parts with us "old folks." (Photo by Einar.)

With still some late shopping needed, we find this shopping center in the southern outskirts of Haugesund still open.

Inside Einar waits patiently while Keith has Peg pose with the large Santas that greet folks as they enter this shopping center.

We cross over the bridge to Karmøy and are soon in the charmingly large and fine Ebne home. As we go up their stairs, Keith gets a photo of the traditional holiday Nisse dolls. 

Time for a group photo with the Ebne family before we sit down at the table. From left: Rotraud (partially hidden), daughter Ingrid, father Kjell, Einar, daughter Kristin (kneeling), Peg and mother Sigrun.

With another very lovely table setting, we all pose for this photo taken by Kristin. Topics of conversation this evening included reflections on our previous meeting, their daughter's recent trip to Africa and Kjell & Einar's mutual teacher college experiences.

Ingrid gets made up and dressed to attend another (& we suppose, younger) holiday party. Before she left, she shared her photos and tales of her Africa experience.

We adjourn to the coffee table for conversation and a fantastic spread of Norwegian Christmas desserts.  There is the touch of the true herb gardener in the unique botanical images on the cups and plates.

Everyone admires the superb spread that Sigrun and Kjell provided for us.  Knowing Sigrun's interest in weaving Peg had to ask if she wove the beautiful table cloth.  She did.  

After a round of the fine cookies, we all agreed that the marzipan cake was too pretty to cut into, but here Einar takes the plunge.  

Wow! The first piece reveals the berries and cream center which tasted every bit as grand as it looked. Another great Norwegian holiday tradition!

Return to Photo Index Page

Visitor Hit Counter since 1/26/2002