The House of Ole

Nautical dreams, grinding beans and a warm fire

Yesterday I arrived at a seaside house on the coastal shores of Kristiansand, Norway. A four story white house, set in the tiered hills behind a vast array of docks filled with all sorts of boats (ships?). Well, I almost arrived.

More accurately, I tried to enter a house that I thought was the AirBnB I had booked. Before, a scared looking woman opened the door that I was fumbling with in an effort to enter the house.

After, slurring in an Australian accent something about ArghBB and OHle, she directed me upstairs to the second floor. Wearing my broad rimmed Australian hat definitely made this situation weirder than it needed to be.

A doorbell later, Ole let me in. A tall norwegian man in his 50s, he was an investigative journalist. Ole owned this house. All four floors. It was one of a few houses surrounded by an ever increasing apartment block. With his sons moved out of home, Ole rents the rooms occasionally for some extra money and a bit of company.

Inside a network of rooms; 2 living rooms, a fireplace, covered in wooden floor boards. Every, nook and cranny filled with books, hiking equipment, maps, sailing pictures and the like. Ole was definitely an outdoors person.

My bedroom for the next few days was stop a narrow spindly staircase, the bannister made of pale fine Scandinavian wood. Ole, had owned this house since around 1990 with his now divorced wife. After a career in journalism he’s turned to writing his first book and spends his mornings with fresh coffee and an ocean view.

In new morning, I was awoken by the sound of the freshly ground coffee beans that Ole buys from a secret supplier. I had a cup of the heavenly black coffee the night before made in his 20 year old Mocca Master Coffee machine; it was old but still some of the best coffee I had had in Norway.

With fresh hot coffee, we both settled in on a productive hour before breakfast. Him on his book (to be released next week), myself on a plan for a new product.

Yesterday, a friend had been kind enough to give Ole some American pancake batter. He invited me too join for breakfast. I was more than happy to agree.

With candles lit on the table (no idea why) fresh coffee and pancakes complete with Date Syrup, Blueberry Jam and Whipped Cream. We dug into the food.

Ole had been working on his Yacht the day before, it was the new love of his life. As a journalist he was used to travelling all over the world and enjoyed the freedom that came with sailing your own boat.

The house had this warm, homely vibe. A place well lived in with many memories from a life well lived. He was especially a fan of playing music from around the world through a network of speakers throughout the house.

Now, with breakfast done. The fire is smouldering; the house warm and quiet. Ole has left to fix up his yacht after receiving word from a friend that they are keen to go on a sailing journey together to Poland in the year to come. I spent the past hour googling “cost of living on a sailboat” and “how to buy a boat cheap”. I also met his son who stopped in to say Hi.

I’ll be hear a few days and I’m sure Ole has a journey to prepare for. One on top of so many that has come before. Shared AirBnBs are a great way to encounter so many interesting people and learn things you never knew before.

Now it’s time to get to work. The wind his howling outside, but I hear that’s good for sailing.

Peace.

Ben.

I’ve been travelling a bit around. And I’m experimenting with writing. if you liked this comment below and let me know. I love hearing about people.