awesome

Another field site is close to Voss, the place to do extrem sports. We had no time to try river rafting or paraglide, but extrem weather conditions from sunshine to hail.

I spent the whole week in the mountains exploring my new field sites. This is one of them, Høgsete. In the background is Flåm and the Aurlandfjorden.

Today was my first day in Bergen. I was shown the university and went for a stroll in the area. I found a lake, ideal for swimming in summer and a stave church.

The weather is very nice at the moment, but I am still used to 25°C. I need to adapt to colder summer temperatures.

My bike found the way to the house as well today and only one screw was missing. Tomorrow, I am going to the mountains to have a look at my new field sites.

I safely arrived in Bergen on the longest day of the year. From now on the days are getting shorter… Luckily, we don’t really notice before late August.

Last week we got up at 4 am, drove out to the countryside, where a hot-air ballon was waiting for us. It was misty and we saw the sunrise from the air. Thanks guys for the wonderful gift we managed to postpone for such a long time… The waiting was worth it all the same.

In a bit less than 2 weeks I will go to Bergen in Norway for 1.5 years. Sometimes, I still don’t believe it myself. My SNF proposal was granted and now I can study how alpine plants and pollinators respond to climate change.

I am both scared and very excited for what will come. New city, new job, new people, being far away from Mr. K, family and friends. But I am also looking forward to long summer nights, field work in the mountains, snow in winter and the ocean.

My new address is Paradisehill, which sounds promising.

I made the first harvest in our garden yesterday! The salad was delicious.

I am taking a bird course at the moment. Every day at six in the morning I start to listen to the birds (while I am still in bed), trying to figure out who is singing. Common blackbird (Turdus merula), House sparrow (Passer domesticus), Great tit (Parus major) and Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) are the most common guests. Others are singing but I don’t know them yet…

The birds inspired me to make a new stamp collection. I decided to carve all birds from Switzerland. (And some cool once like the puffin). It’s the perfect way to learn them, because I have to study each bird in detail before carving. They will be available in my shop soon.

Any suggestions what bird I should carve next?

I just spent 4 days in Paris. And I brought my brand new Yogo travel mat. It’s very thin, light and can be packed in almost every bag. And I even used it once.

Finally I managed to finish the easter stamp set. Have a look at it here.