An ill conceived preparation by one of the Scallywags left them surrounded by supermodels at Oslo Central Train Station as the Wizard of Aus tried to sort out what they were doing next. A borrowed phone from one of the models and the Wizard was talking to a Norwegian relative by the name of Else (Elsa). “It’s Nathan from Australia!” Four words of identification and we found ourselves watching the World Cup final in a Norwegian home in a suburb called Sandvika.

Norwegian relative? Yes. I somehow have a non-blood relation to Norwegians. When you’re in a country where petrol costs $2.40 and a beer will set you back a tenner, when people are nice enough to let you stay in their home, you don’t ask questions.

For those of you reading at home, you’d probably rather watch a game of lawn bowls than hear me attempt to explain my family tree so I won’t bother.

Meeting more relatives, the Scallywags were given a guided tour around town, visiting Frogner Park and a massive Olympic ski jump called Holmenkollen. Before I knew it, my scrotum was hugging my stomach and I was flying down a zip line toward the bottom of the jump. As is everything in life, the only scary thing was jumping.

Back in April, a Norwegian relative and his mate stayed at the Perks household. Stian greeted us at the front of his home with open arms as though we were long lost brothers that had been reunited. And in a sense, it felt like we were. He showed us more of Oslo before we went with him and his brother Erik and his girlfriend to a lake. It was 10pm and the sun was starting to make it’s way to bed as we were swimming and relaxing in freshwater luxury. I’ll let the photos do the rest of the explaining.

Packed up the car and the Scallywags were on the move again except this time with Stian and his family down to the summer cabin in Nevlunghavn. It was here that they met a bucket load of friendly and very family orientated Norwegians. The happiest and friendliest people to roam the earth, the boys learnt about the Norwegian family as well as the Perks family. It was pretty special knowing that my mother and father had stayed in the cabin and that I was able I enjoy the same landscape they did over two decades ago.

Plenty more talk, a couple of boat rides around the harbour, an 11pm sunset swim and a few beverages to accompany us as we looked over the water that was less than one hundred metres from the cabin. AND STILL, the sun wouldn’t bloody set. It left us in a trance that made us think Nor-freaking-way!

The Scallywags could not and still cannot believe their luck of the past three days. We’ve been saved in ‘norways’ than one and appreciate all the Norwegian relatives have done for us to make us feel so welcomed and treated as though we were celebrities. Both of us cannot wait to do it all again at some point in our lives!

A picture is worth a thousand words with the exception of these pictures which are invaluable to the Scallywags.

This is a poem I wrote in the cabin’s book of which all guests must leave a message. It’s title is completely unimaginative but at least the reader knows what they’re reading about.

Nevlunghavn.

Perfection by the sea,
Where else would you rather be?
A midnight sunset,
With family I have just met,
Nobody else would I rather with me.

Swimming in the bay,
On a ‘warm’ Norwegian day,
With cousins I have got to know,
Who live their lives in the snow,
I wouldn’t have my time any other way.

A big thanks to Brit,
Who is still almighty and fit,
For keeping this connection together,
And resisting to let it weather,
So the rest of us can enjoy every single bit.

I hope one day I can say,
“I’ve booked my ticket back to Norway”,
To enjoy the winter and the snow,
And to watch the Northern Lights glow,
Regards, Nathan Perks from Australia – hello, goodbye, g’day!