![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Cabin-3.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
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Odd Jomer’s Cabin<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Odd-Jomers-Cabin.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter spending the night there, we headed to Oppdal\u2014but not before enjoying a breakfast of bread, cheese, fruit jams, and two types of sausage. As you do on holiday, I sampled everything and found I preferred the spicier sausage of the two on offer so I said this to Odd Jomer and asked what it was made from, he informed me it was minke whale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oppdal is where Hans Iver grew up and where the youth exchange participants of the outdoor activities exchange stayed in 2003. The area is mountainous and transforms into a ski haven in winter. I lost count of the ski runs and cable cars dotting the hills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After coffee and a delicious cake from a local confectioner, we visited a small scale ski manufacturer. The owner, who produces bespoke skis, was clearly passionate about crafting the perfect pair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Skis3.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Skis.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Skis2.jpg?resize=640%2C853&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe lingered longer than expected at the workshop, making us late for a visit to Hans Iver\u2019s school friend, who runs a small museum in what was once his family\u2019s shop. The shop had closed many years ago\u2014its doors locked, shelves still stocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Museum.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nHe gave us free rein to explore and pointed out some quirky items, including a man\u2019s all-in-one long johns with its own emergency trapdoor in the rear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After more coffee and cake, we headed to our accommodation for the night\u2014coincidentally, the venue for the 2003 Outdoor Exchange, though we stayed in a different cabin. We had the entire outdoor centre to ourselves, including the dining room. That evening, we were served a traditional Norwegian dinner of lamb, potatoes, with a fruit sauce by a lovely waitress who had earlier checked us in. Finishing the evening off by watching Scotland defeat Greece 3-1. How did that happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Digs.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
We had this whole building to ourselves<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Digs2.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
The view<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Digs7.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
The view<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Digs6.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
Breakfast but no whale meat for me.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a> <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe next morning, after breakfast we set off along the coast road to Kristiansund, the main town in the Nordm\u00f8re region. The town spans several islands connected by tunnels and bridges\u2014one of which featured in Mission: Impossible \u2013 The Final Reckoning<\/em>. Unfortunately, we arrived during the tail end of Hurricane Amy, making photography nearly impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bridge.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLater when booking into our hotel I could see our Norwegian hosts were a bit put out when booking us in and there was much discussion between them and the hotel receptionist. I would find out the reason very quickly when going to the room I was to share with Dave. On entering the room I was taken aback to find we\u2019d been booked into a double room with one double bed. Each bed had two single duvets, so I told Mr Manderson, my bedmate, to stick to his own side of the bed and stay under his own duvet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For dinner that evening, we tried Bacalao\u2014a traditional dish made from dried and salted cod, cooked with tomatoes, potatoes, olives, and onions. It was surprisingly delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Bacalao-dinner.jpg?resize=640%2C853&ssl=1\")
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Bacalau<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The next morning after a cooked breakfast that resembled a British fry up we returned to Trondheim, specifically the Heimdal district, via a free 20-minute ferry ride. Heimdal is where Odd Jomer lives, having built his own home in his parents\u2019 garden many years previous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ferry.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Ferry-2.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe purpose of our trip was a reunion with staff and young people who participated in the 2003 exchanges. Before those exchanges, I\u2019d visited Trondheim twice\u2014once as part of a fact-finding group, and again for a contact-making seminar with representatives from Norway, Spain, Ireland, Latvia, Estonia, and Scotland to explore youth exchange opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ten years ago, I returned to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dunfermline\u2013Trondheim link. Now, more than 20 years after the last exchange, we were back\u2014eager to reconnect with those who could attend the reunion. Since the school had closed in 2009, we met at a local restaurant, and\u2014true to form\u2014food was involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reunion.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
Former staff with Emma, a young person who took part in an exchange. Head teacher Age is seated at the far end of the table<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reunion2.jpg?resize=640%2C853&ssl=1\")
Hans Iver & Hege who was 1 of the young people who took part in 2003 outdoor exchange<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reunion3.jpg?resize=640%2C853&ssl=1\")
Christian and Runar from the Kolstad area of Trodnheim <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reunion4.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reunion5.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
Catching up on 20+ years<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reunion6.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reunion7.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
Grub is up<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Reunion8.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1\")
Jon Anders who took a shine to Dave in 2003<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/a><\/a><\/a> <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnd just like that, our five days in Norway were over. We had a fantastic time reconnecting with old friends and revisiting familiar places. Some were new, some were old, but all were memorable. Then it was time to fly back to Aberdeen and drive home to Fife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somehow, I don\u2019t think this will be the last time the Budalen boys are together..<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tadhal.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_0560.jpg?resize=640%2C484&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLeft to right, me, Hans Iver, Dave Manderson, Odd Jomer Hov, Per Erling Tilset Larsen, Tom Philips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"