Berit and Arvid moved to Gothenburg in 1964. The reason for the move was a beautiful plot with the most wonderful view they had bought just outside of Mandal where they lived. Because of building restrictions, they decided that they had to raise enough money to build a house the way they wanted to.
At that time salaries were much higher in Sweden than in Norway, especially if you worked as a hired man, then you could also get a tax free dietary allowance. The plan was to work for a year or two and go back and build the house. It turned out that in the meantime the local government decided that the sewer system was overloaded and no new houses were allowed to be connected. That set a stop for the house plans and to build on the plot. It’s still empty to this day.
Arvid came first alone and started to work at Götaverken in Gothenburg. When Berit joined a few months later she began working at Volvo in Torslanda. In the 60ties it was very easy to find work, people came from all over Europe to work at Volvo or in one of the three shipyards.
The first time in Gothenburg they lived in rooms quite a distance from work. The city was expanding and it was difficult to find places to rent. Finally, they got a room on Släggaregatan on Lindholmen. Arvid could walk to his job and Berit took the car to Torslanda some 15 minutes away.
After living at Släggaregatan 19 for about 2 years they were able to find a small apartment on Herkulesgatan, also på Hisingen in Gothenburg. The new place was on a very busy street. the traffic to and from the shipyards, Götaverken, Lindholmen and Eriksberg passed under their windows as well as much of the traffic to the Volvo factories.
Salaries were quite good, at least compared to what they had been paid in Norway. They began exploring Gothenburg, they found a restaurant, La Terrasa where they went for ”Tournedos”, a large beef at least once a week.
It was while staying on Herkulesgatan Berit and Arvid saw their first Borzoi. Strolling down the Avenue in central Gothenburg they suddenly saw two magnificent animals at a street restaurant. They understood at once that it was borzois or Russian Sighthounds.
They went to a Dogshow and saw more of the breed. Took contact with the official Kennel club and learned that there was a kennel In Kungsbacka not far from Gothenburg. They drove their little car to Valla in Kungsbacka and met Signe and Axel Hallqvist. They drove home that same day with a borzoi in the car and two lifelong friends at the kennel.
Ekhaga Irina, the four-month-old borzoi was very much an impulse act but it turned out quite well. Berit was not on Volvo any longer, she worked as a training instructor at a studio and across the street was a person, Helga Ljungberg an Afghan breeder who ran a small dog grooming business. She was a friend of Signe Hallqvist and agreed to keep Irina while Berit was working.