17th of May

In Mum's home cuntry, they have the 4th of July, even though what was to become the State of Washington did not exist when the United States proclaimed their independence on the 4th of July 1776. In Dad's home country, they have the 17th of May, celebrating the Constitution of 1814, even though Norway was about a thousand years old when this constitution was written. The Constitution of Norway is the oldest European constitution still in force.

Mum is not impressed by the Norwegian Constitution. The US Constitution is, off course, older - the oldest in the world which is still in force. Dad, on the other hand, is not impressed with the age of the United States, even less with that of Washington.

Be that as it may, we all know Japan is older.

Well, today is Dad's day, Norway's national day. He celebrates his country of birth. He made sure we got some mackerel in tomato sauce, his favourite dish since he was a little pup on the kennel in Bergen, Norway. (I have trouble picturing Dad as a pup, but I guess I have to believe him when he says he has been a pup. After all, as far as I have learned, every dog has been pup at first.) Mackerel tastes really good.