Back in Oslo

Got back from Amsterdam yesterday, and this was my first wander through the centre of town since the bomb blast on the 22nd. The atmosphere was very calm and quietly determined. The response to the bombing and shootings - or what I've seen of it personally - has been very defiant but very peaceful.

I had to go into the other side of this building to sort out some banking matters. Quite strange doing something so mundane in a building with blown-out windows. Much respect to the staff at the bank, who seemed totally unruffled despite the fact that they must have had quite a scare on Friday when the bomb went off so close to them.

A friend of mine took part in a vigil last night, and a person behind her foolishly grumbled about how long it was taking to get into the cathedral (it took about two and a half hours). Hanne is person who always speaks her mind, and she told the person behind her that it must have seemed like forever waiting to be rescued on Utøya. They didn't have a response to that.

Another friend, Jan, was in his office on Friday when the window blew out from the force of a window on the other side blowing in. He was alright, but understandably shocked. He said of the bombing and shootings: "It's like when I watched my mother die. You can pretend that life goes on and things stay the same, but they don't."