ten reasons why I would rather be norwegian

1. Roald Dahl was of Norwegian decsent. Roald Dahl wrote about chocolate factories and giant peaches and a little and cute and super smart girl who could move things with her mind. I don't know what they put in the water in Norway (clearly something stronger than flouride) - but they rock.

2. Norway is the most liveable country in the world - Ok. So the cynical reporter in me knows that studies such as these pop up on the internet approximately every ooooooh ... two months. And let's face it - who's to believe surveys such as these when similar surveys say Sydney is the best city in the world. Pah!

3.One word: fjords. Just say that word again: fjords... Who isn't happy when they say the word fjord? Fjords are pretty, kind of like a visualisation of what those villi (fingery things in the small intestine that give it soooo much surface area). We don't have fjords in Australia. Nope. Something to do with not being near icebergs. But New Zealand has them. And sheep.

4. Isla Lund - Ok, so she's a fictional character who can't make up her mind whether she wants Rick or Victor in Casablanca. Because she's Norwegian. Ok... and it doesn't matter that the very Swedish Ingrid Bergman plays her because she's a very cool lady. Enough said.

5. Potatoes. I'm lead to believe Norwegians eat a lot of potatoes. I'm down with that.

6. It's cold. And by default that means there are no 45 degree days.

7. Norway has a motto. Yes. They have a motto. Two mottos, in fact. The Royal Motto (!) is "All for Norway! (I added the exclamation mark, as one would only exclaim such a thing). and the Eidsvoll Oath: United and loyal until the mountains of Dovre crumble. Mottos are fun. We need an Australian motto. And no, "Aussie, aussie, aussie, Oi, oi, oi!" Does not count.

8. It stays light for a long time in summer in Norway. And! They have Daylight Saving. That's forward thinking and awesome. I'm sure they have extended trading hours too.

9. Norwegians are coffee obsessed. In an average year they will drink 160 litres of the good stuff each. Norwegians are my friends.

10. Norway is equal first with Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden as far as press freedom is concerned. And Australia? 16th.