[Arne Solås adds: The picture [on the 1st page of the letter] shows the Husum hotel in the Laerdal valley, a few kilometres above the Borgund stave church. It is still in use as a hotel in the summer months. Originally, several of similar hotels were built mostly for English noblemen, who came to catch salmon in the Laerdal river. They even got their own nickname, "Lakselord" which can be translated as "Salmonlord". The river is one of the best for salmon fishing in Norway, and today there is even a ‘Salmon museum' there.]

Gode Alert,

Yes, now is it a long time since I have written or spoke to you, because I have not got your address until now [Ed. Note: By then the address was wrong -- Alert had already moved from Lodi to Dogtooth], a few days before Christmas, so it is so late. I am healthy, and I like it here, but, by the way, I have got the worst work, because I have to drive the post every day, and some days it is coming very late at night, and then I have to go to Blaaflat, a long way, but it is bad everywhere, so one have to accept different things.

It was fun driving this summer, and to see the big cars passing quite often, then it was...... JOHANNES like it here, too, but I do not know if we will stay here during the summer. Last summer we were six "drenger" [working men or boys] and this winter we are three. It is awful weather here sometimes, and very cold, too, here is a different weather than it was at Foss.

On this farm is a hotel, called Husum Hotel, and the owner is named OLA HUSUM. I do not know any news to tell you, I would like to be able to talk to you but it will be a long time until we can talk together now. You must write after a while, so I can hear how you are, I hear ANNA is telling that you like it quite well, and it is good that you do not dislike it when you have paid to get so far. You must write how you managed the journey over the ocean,

I was very ill from Aofjorden to Laerdal, because it was a strong wind on the Sognefjord , so I was very seasick, so I did not manage well.

[Ed. note: Aofjorden is the fjord near Skor valley with 2 'fingers' pointing SE. Look at views #3 & #4 on the map. Laerdal is 4 kommuner east of Hyllestad -- one would go west out of Aofjorden, south to Sognefjord and then east to Laerdal] Yes, now it is Christmas, so now we have brewed beer, so we will have a good time during Christmas Between Christmas and New Year JOHANNES and I will go up in the mountains for grouse shooting, because it is a lot of grouse here. In the end, you must live, well, have a good christmas, with some brandy to drink (??)

Greetings from me and Johnannes
Yours sincerely,
SIVERT E LOLAND,
postadress Windhellen, Laerdal, Sogn

The picture you see on the page is from the farm I am working at.