{"id":9489,"date":"2025-12-06T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T11:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/?p=9489"},"modified":"2025-11-13T14:55:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T13:55:57","slug":"soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/","title":{"rendered":"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\" data-start=\"421\" data-end=\"488\"><div class=\"simplePullQuote right\"><p><em data-start=\"193\" data-end=\"212\">Soothing Saturday<\/em> \u2014 is my little corner for slowing down and stepping away from my usual genealogy deep dives. Think of it as a gentle exhale at the end of the week \u2014 a space for reflections, small joys, and simple stories written just for the pleasure of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>It\u2019s that time of year again \u2014 when the festive spirit meets parking rage, and the Christmas shopping centre turns into a full-contact sport.<br data-start=\"4999\" data-end=\"5002\" \/>Join me for this week\u2019s <em data-start=\"5028\" data-end=\"5047\">Soothing Saturday<\/em>, live from the front lines of the Christmas Shopping Derby.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"490\" data-end=\"652\">Saturday mornings are meant for peace. Coffee. Maybe a lazy scroll through news I\u2019ll forget in ten minutes.<br data-start=\"597\" data-end=\"600\" \/>Not for putting on shoes and braving the elements.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"654\" data-end=\"778\">But this morning, just as I was settling into that second cup of calm, I heard the words no man wants to hear in December:<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"780\" data-end=\"848\">\n<p data-start=\"782\" data-end=\"848\"><strong data-start=\"782\" data-end=\"848\">\u201cWe should go into town and get some Christmas shopping done.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"850\" data-end=\"915\">Ah yes. The annual test of endurance and marriage coordination. If anything can test the strength of our marriage bond, it\u2019s navigating a Christmas mall together while sharing one shopping list and zero patience.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"917\" data-end=\"1009\">I tried a few diversion tactics.<br data-start=\"949\" data-end=\"952\" \/>\u201cCouldn\u2019t we just order everything online?\u201d I ventured.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1011\" data-end=\"1092\">She smiled \u2014 the kind of smile that said, <em data-start=\"1053\" data-end=\"1090\">\u201cThat\u2019s adorable. Get your jacket.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"1094\" data-end=\"1097\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"1099\" data-end=\"1247\">The weather was in full Norwegian December mode \u2014 a blend of drizzle, sideways wind, and just enough sleet to make you question your life choices.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1249\" data-end=\"1424\">By the time we reached the mall, the parking lot already looked like a post-apocalyptic car park.<br data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1349\" \/>I circled twice before we found a space that might technically be a bush.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1426\" data-end=\"1557\">As we stepped inside, the noise hit \u2014 a wall of jingling bells, chatter, and something that made me think Mariah Carey had decided to visit our small Norwegian town, bringing all her Christmas spirit with her.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1559\" data-end=\"1640\">And that\u2019s when it happened. My brain switched into <strong data-start=\"1611\" data-end=\"1637\">radio commentator mode<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"1642\" data-end=\"1872\">\n<p data-start=\"1644\" data-end=\"1872\">&#x1f399;&#xfe0f; <em data-start=\"1648\" data-end=\"1870\">\u201cAnd we\u2019re live from the Christmas Shopping Arena here in downtown Molde, where the crowds are thick, the patience is thin, and there\u2019s been an incident involving a trolley and a misplaced sense of Christmas spirit!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr data-start=\"1874\" data-end=\"1877\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"1879\" data-end=\"2148\">Inside, it was pure chaos.<br data-start=\"1905\" data-end=\"1908\" \/>Shoppers darted around like midfielders on a muddy pitch, all chasing the same discounted candle set.<br data-start=\"2009\" data-end=\"2012\" \/>Somewhere in the distance, a child was crying \u2014 possibly in despair, possibly because they\u2019d been denied their fifth chocolate sample.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2150\" data-end=\"2364\">I turn a corner and \u2014 <strong data-start=\"2172\" data-end=\"2181\">bang!<\/strong> \u2014 collide headfirst with a man pushing a trolley stacked higher than a Norwegian snowdrift.<br data-start=\"2273\" data-end=\"2276\" \/>The impact sends a roll of wrapping paper flying through the air like a rogue javelin.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2366\" data-end=\"2651\">\n<p data-start=\"2368\" data-end=\"2651\">&#x1f399;&#xfe0f; <em data-start=\"2372\" data-end=\"2649\">\u201cOh, and there\u2019s a flag on the play! We\u2019ve got a trolley foul in aisle three \u2014 wrapping paper interference and a possible verbal warning for unsportsmanlike muttering. The referee\u2019s pretending not to notice, folks, but tensions are high here at the Christmas Shopping Derby!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"2653\" data-end=\"2838\">The other shopper gives me a knowing nod \u2014 the kind that says, <em data-start=\"2716\" data-end=\"2745\">\u201cWe\u2019ve both seen too much.\u201d<\/em><br data-start=\"2745\" data-end=\"2748\" \/>I retrieve the runaway wrapping paper, straighten my jacket, and limp heroically onward.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"2840\" data-end=\"2843\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"2845\" data-end=\"3194\">I try to keep up with Inger Lise, who moves through the crowd with the precision of a seasoned striker. She\u2019s not particularly tall, so every now and then I lose sight of her between puffer jackets and shopping bags.\u00a0 But like a determined midfielder, she reappears three aisles over, triumphantly holding something wrapped in tissue paper.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3196\" data-end=\"3336\">At one point, I stop to take in the madness \u2014 the flashing lights, the queues, the smell of Julegl\u00f8gg (mulled non-alcoholic wine) mingling with perfume samples.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"3338\" data-end=\"3540\">\n<p data-start=\"3340\" data-end=\"3540\">&#x1f399;&#xfe0f; <em data-start=\"3344\" data-end=\"3538\">\u201cAnd here comes Martin, looking uncertain. He\u2019s entered the gift shop section \u2014 bold move! Oh, but what\u2019s this? He\u2019s picked up a snow globe and immediately regretted it. Classic rookie error!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr data-start=\"3542\" data-end=\"3545\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"3547\" data-end=\"3703\">The electronics store is my downfall.<br data-start=\"3584\" data-end=\"3587\" \/>A thousand flashing screens, sale signs everywhere, and a soundtrack that could be used for psychological warfare.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"3705\" data-end=\"3898\">\n<p data-start=\"3707\" data-end=\"3898\">&#x1f399;&#xfe0f; <em data-start=\"3711\" data-end=\"3896\">\u201cAnd there\u2019s a substitution on the field \u2014 Martin\u2019s been replaced by a confused man holding a coffee and staring blankly at Bluetooth speakers. We\u2019re deep into extra time now, folks!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"3900\" data-end=\"4128\">Three hours later, I\u2019m running on fumes and one half-eaten gingerbread man.<br data-start=\"3975\" data-end=\"3978\" \/>Inger Lise announces cheerfully that she\u2019s \u201calmost done,\u201d which, as any married man knows, means <em data-start=\"4075\" data-end=\"4126\">\u201cWe\u2019ve still got at least four more shops to go.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4130\" data-end=\"4311\">Finally, we stagger back to the car \u2014 bags everywhere, both of us steaming slightly like overworked reindeer.<br data-start=\"4239\" data-end=\"4242\" \/>I feel like I\u2019ve just played a full match in heavy snow \u2014 and lost.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"4313\" data-end=\"4316\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"4318\" data-end=\"4582\">But then, as we drive home through twinkling lights and the smell of Christmas fills the air, I can\u2019t help but smile.<br data-start=\"4435\" data-end=\"4438\" \/>The chaos, the crowds, the commentary \u2014 it\u2019s all part of the season.<br data-start=\"4506\" data-end=\"4509\" \/>And soon, we\u2019ll be home with coffee and slippers, the world quiet again.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"4584\" data-end=\"4794\">\n<p data-start=\"4586\" data-end=\"4794\">&#x1f399;&#xfe0f; <em data-start=\"4590\" data-end=\"4792\">\u201cAnd that\u2019s full-time here at the Christmas Shopping Derby. Martin survives with his dignity mostly intact, his wallet slightly lighter, and his marriage still in the lead. Back to you in the studio.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9495\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9495\" style=\"width: 457px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"9495\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/inger-lise-and-martin-shopping\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Inger-Lise-and-Martin-Shopping.jpg?fit=457%2C457&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"457,457\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Inger Lise and Martin Shopping\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Inger-Lise-and-Martin-Shopping.jpg?fit=457%2C457&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-9495 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Inger-Lise-and-Martin-Shopping.jpg?resize=457%2C457&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"457\" height=\"457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Inger-Lise-and-Martin-Shopping.jpg?w=457&amp;ssl=1 457w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Inger-Lise-and-Martin-Shopping.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Inger-Lise-and-Martin-Shopping.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 457px) 100vw, 457px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9495\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inger Lise and Martin shopping as ChatGPT sees us.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<p data-start=\"1971\" data-end=\"2065\"><em data-start=\"3024\" data-end=\"3135\">Until next time \u2014 may your coffee be warm, your records be legible, and your heart find a reason to smile. Have a great weekend!<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p data-start=\"1971\" data-end=\"2065\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s that time of year again \u2014 when the festive spirit meets parking rage, and the Christmas shopping centre turns<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9493,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[150],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soothing-saturday"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby - Norwegian Genealogy and then some<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s that time of year again \u2014 when the festive spirit meets parking rage, and the Christmas shopping centre turns\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Norwegian Genealogy and then some\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MartinRoeEidhammer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MartinRoeEidhammer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-06T11:00:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"616\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"588\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Martin Roe Eidhammer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/MEidhammer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@MEidhammer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Martin Roe Eidhammer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Martin Roe Eidhammer\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c88ba0bf75121593e21bc58cfda26790\"},\"headline\":\"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-06T11:00:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":917,\"commentCount\":4,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c88ba0bf75121593e21bc58cfda26790\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1\",\"articleSection\":[\"Soothing Saturday\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/\",\"name\":\"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby - Norwegian Genealogy and then some\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-06T11:00:13+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1\",\"width\":616,\"height\":588},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Norwegian Genealogy and then some\",\"description\":\"Norwegian genealogy guidance for English-speaking descendants\u2014sources, methods, and real case work.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c88ba0bf75121593e21bc58cfda26790\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c88ba0bf75121593e21bc58cfda26790\",\"name\":\"Martin Roe Eidhammer\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/05\\\/Intro-to-the-blog.jpg?fit=861%2C589&ssl=1\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/05\\\/Intro-to-the-blog.jpg?fit=861%2C589&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/05\\\/Intro-to-the-blog.jpg?fit=861%2C589&ssl=1\",\"width\":861,\"height\":589,\"caption\":\"Martin Roe Eidhammer\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/05\\\/Intro-to-the-blog.jpg?fit=861%2C589&ssl=1\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MartinRoeEidhammer\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/martin_roe_eidhammer\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/MEidhammer\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UC95EzpOVGkMmJIgiI99ZTtA\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/martinroe.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/martin\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby - Norwegian Genealogy and then some","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby","og_description":"It\u2019s that time of year again \u2014 when the festive spirit meets parking rage, and the Christmas shopping centre turns","og_url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/","og_site_name":"Norwegian Genealogy and then some","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MartinRoeEidhammer","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MartinRoeEidhammer","article_published_time":"2025-12-06T11:00:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":616,"height":588,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/MEidhammer","twitter_site":"@MEidhammer","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/"},"author":{"name":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c88ba0bf75121593e21bc58cfda26790"},"headline":"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby","datePublished":"2025-12-06T11:00:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/"},"wordCount":917,"commentCount":4,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c88ba0bf75121593e21bc58cfda26790"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1","articleSection":["Soothing Saturday"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/","url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/","name":"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby - Norwegian Genealogy and then some","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1","datePublished":"2025-12-06T11:00:13+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1","width":616,"height":588},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-live-from-the-christmas-shopping-derby\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Soothing Saturday: Live from the Christmas Shopping Derby"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/","name":"Norwegian Genealogy and then some","description":"Norwegian genealogy guidance for English-speaking descendants\u2014sources, methods, and real case work.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c88ba0bf75121593e21bc58cfda26790"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c88ba0bf75121593e21bc58cfda26790","name":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Intro-to-the-blog.jpg?fit=861%2C589&ssl=1","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Intro-to-the-blog.jpg?fit=861%2C589&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Intro-to-the-blog.jpg?fit=861%2C589&ssl=1","width":861,"height":589,"caption":"Martin Roe Eidhammer"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Intro-to-the-blog.jpg?fit=861%2C589&ssl=1"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MartinRoeEidhammer","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/martin_roe_eidhammer\/","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/twitter.com\/MEidhammer","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC95EzpOVGkMmJIgiI99ZTtA"],"url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/author\/martin\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Referee-in-mall-kopi.jpg?fit=616%2C588&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p79KEH-2t3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10112,"url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-the-day-the-fish-turned-to-jelly\/","url_meta":{"origin":9489,"position":0},"title":"Soothing Saturday: The Day the Fish Turned to Jelly","author":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","date":"December 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2074Every time I think about lutefisk, I don\u2019t picture a cosy Christmas table with candlelight and rosy cheeks. I\u2019m right back in a childhood kitchen, eyes watering, wondering if someone had boiled a fish and a cleaning product in the same pot. And yet, I\u2019m Norwegian. I love tradition. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Soothing Saturday&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Soothing Saturday","link":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/category\/life-in-general\/soothing-saturday\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Martin-Lutefisk.jpg?fit=457%2C685&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9475,"url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-the-great-christmas-movie-takeover\/","url_meta":{"origin":9489,"position":1},"title":"Soothing Saturday: The Great Christmas Movie Takeover","author":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","date":"November 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"You know that feeling when the rain is hammering the windows, the wind\u2019s howling like a pack of wolves that missed their dinner, and you think, \u201cPerfect day to stay in and relax\u201d? Yeah, that was me this morning. Mug of coffee in hand, slippers on, ready to spend a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Soothing Saturday&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Soothing Saturday","link":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/category\/life-in-general\/soothing-saturday\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Soothing-Saturday-Christmas-movie-kopi.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Soothing-Saturday-Christmas-movie-kopi.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Soothing-Saturday-Christmas-movie-kopi.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9674,"url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-a-gentle-prelude-to-december\/","url_meta":{"origin":9489,"position":2},"title":"Soothing Saturday \u2013 A Gentle Prelude to December","author":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","date":"November 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Tomorrow is the early Christmas concert for our little community band, and already the house carries that familiar hum \u2014 instrument cases leaning by the door, sheet music tucked in folders, and the quiet, steady promise of tradition. It happens every year, this gathering of neighbours and friends, yet it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Soothing Saturday&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Soothing Saturday","link":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/category\/life-in-general\/soothing-saturday\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Soothing-Saturday.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Soothing-Saturday.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Soothing-Saturday.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9465,"url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-finding-my-roots-and-my-core\/","url_meta":{"origin":9489,"position":3},"title":"Soothing Saturday: Finding My Roots\u2026 and My Core","author":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","date":"November 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Ah, Saturday \u2014 that glorious day when my alarm clock gets ignored, my coffee tastes like peace, and I can pretend I have my life together for at least the first two hours. Ah, Saturday \u2014 that beautiful pause button in the week when the alarm clock gets to sleep\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Soothing Saturday&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Soothing Saturday","link":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/category\/life-in-general\/soothing-saturday\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Soothing-Saturday-4-kopi.jpg?fit=457%2C457&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10815,"url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-when-the-light-comes-back-and\/","url_meta":{"origin":9489,"position":4},"title":"Soothing Saturday: When the Light Comes Back (And We All Pretend We\u2019re Fine)","author":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","date":"January 31, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"If you live in Norway, winter teaches you a very specific kind of patience. Not the heroic, mountain-trek patience. More the everyday kind where you put on your jacket, look out the window, and think, \u201cAh. Darkness again. How original.\u201d And yet\u2014every year\u2014something small happens that lifts the whole country\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Soothing Saturday&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Soothing Saturday","link":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/category\/life-in-general\/soothing-saturday\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/When-the-light-comes-back.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/When-the-light-comes-back.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/When-the-light-comes-back.jpg?fit=685%2C457&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9424,"url":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/soothing-saturday-two-new-leaves-on-the-family-tree\/","url_meta":{"origin":9489,"position":5},"title":"Soothing Saturday: Two New Leaves on the Family Tree","author":"Martin Roe Eidhammer","date":"October 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Last November, my family tree sprouted two beautiful new leaves \u2014 twin grandchildren, Safina Cora and Cayde Roe. Becoming \u201cGrandpa\u201d (times two!) has me reflecting on love, lineage, and the surprising joy of parenting\u2019s second act. Well, friends, life handed me a brand-new title last November \u2014 one that doesn\u2019t\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life in general......&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life in general......","link":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/category\/life-in-general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Soothing-Saturday-1-e1760807962746.png?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Soothing-Saturday-1-e1760807962746.png?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Soothing-Saturday-1-e1760807962746.png?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9489"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9816,"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9489\/revisions\/9816"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinroe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}