Summer is here
When we got back we watched the final of Britain's got talent online. I know, it's not the best of shows, but I have followed this season, and really wanted to watch the final episode. I was secretly happy that Susan Boyle didn't win (yes, she has talent, but it would very much be like Paul Potts all over again). My personal favourite was Stavros Flatley (I would have put up the video here, but all embedding seems to have been disabled). But obviously I realize that they are not the most talented people in the country, but they still put up a great show. The winners, Diversity, truly deserved it though.
Today, we have been playing Mario kart (which Tim happily picked up a second hand copy of last week), had lunch (Salmon salad - lovely!) at the Canton arms around the corner, and then walking round all of Clapham common. Incredibly sunny day - I enjoyed myself - Tim, however realized he needs to invest in some summer clothes. Dark jeans and black t-shirts will not do in this heat.
At the moment, I am eating humbugs, waiting for inspiration to hit me - I have two articles that are well overdue - and Tim is polishing on a publication of his. All in all, a very nice weekend.
Summary
* Worst thing: being woken up by mr Meep at 5.30, and then discovering that he had thrown up all over the kitchen (possibly because I forgot the melon out, and he had eaten the whole thing, but still).
* Best thing: my thesis has been accepted. I'm defending it in August! (Have been laughing and crying half the day.)
Now, all I have to do is to read through the thing and correct all the mistakes (559 pages...) and then lose 10 kg so that I will look great in the pictures in August, ha ha!
The life of Jim
Driving me crazy
News
But better news out there: Lena just got a healthy little baby boy, and Annlouise is getting married next summer. Congratulations!!!
The circle of liiiife
And, while I'm already down the memory lane: my friend L also reminded me the other day, on how we at the time had a girls' night with all the girls in our class, when we discussed boys, kisses, makeup and all other essential things. And how I, when everyone had to describe their facial cleaning routine (yes, very important indeed) and went through which L'Oreal, Nivea and Body Shop products they used, simply said I only used soap and water (which I definitely don't do anymore - hello wrinkles!). I can't believe I was so independent at the time!
Thanks
Fear
But tonight we're meeting both M and K - the Wakefield gang together again! M's brother is visiting, so we'll be exploring some of the pubs in Soho. Hopefully, that should take my mind off things.
A good read
PS. I have since discovered that the movie (which came out in 2008) can be seen online, on google video. I have watched bits of it, but it is not very good. All the subtle things get lost, and there's no room for your own interpretations and the story from the little boy's perspective is also lost. Read the book - it only took me 2,5 hours.
Regarding sweet things
Aaaah!
Retail therapy
Eurovision
So, what do I think this year? Well, for the first time ever (!) I actually called in and voted. Obviously I voted for Sweden (one must have some national pride!). The artist - Malena Ernman - is super talented. The song, well, you either love it or hate it. I'm the first category, but don't think it will win. Doesn't matter. She's doing a good job.
The best performance was, however, Iceland (and I'm not just saying that because Reynir is twice my size). The girl who sang it was really good, and the song very pretty. Probably the best ballad this year, and will definitely be among the top songs in the final.
Other than that, my favourite song in this seminfinal was Portugal. I discovered Portugal as a Eurovision nation last year, but they have a pretty poor history in the contest (no wins). This song was both happy and sweet, and I liked the fact that the girl was so moved after her performance.
Among the other semifinalists to make it there were no great surprises. Turkey will end up high (with the obligatory 12 points from Germany - now, that is immigration politics!) but don't deserve it this year. They've performed better earlier years. Israel must have been the jury's vote - that was just too much politics and too little music.
Tomorrow is the second semifinal, but there is no doubt that Norway will make it through to the final. It would not surprise me at all if good old Norway were to win it all (and very well deserved).
I love it!!!
Pathetic
*For the Scandinavians: an American painkiller.
Weekend report
Saturday morning, and mum was just as bad. Today also with a small swelling under the other eye, as well as lovely red scabs and rashes all over her forehead. She could open her right eye with some serious force, but that was about it. So Tim, dad and I had to go out on our own again. This time the Museum of London in Barbican (very good! Highly recommended!). It was the ideal museum since we are all interested in history. Walked around the exhibitions for a few hours, and then strolled down to St Paul's where we had a very late lunch in a pub, before going back home to entertain mum. I was supposed to have been singing with the choir in its annual spring concert, but decided I rather stayed with mum. Didn't want her to be alone all day. Ordered in food from our local Indians, the wonderful HotStuff.
Sunday and dad's birthday. Tim and I had bought loads of party accessories (see previous post) and an enormous Belgian chocolate cake, and did a Swedish birthday with singing and all. Mum could now open her right eye a bit - and as she didn't want to ruin dad's day/felt slightly stronger/was incredibly bored of our flat, she decided to come with us. We went for the easy option - a cruise on the Thames, from Westminster to Greenwich. It was an amazing trip. I had never done any of the tours before, but thoroughly enjoyed it! The old commentator was also very entertaining (very British humor). Strolled around in Greenwich for a bit (not too easy, since mum had to be supported by one of us at all times - but she had at least brought an enormous pair of sun glasses from the 70's, which covered most of her face) and had a bite to eat. Tim cooked the most amazing birthday dinner: roast pork, English roast potatoes and parsnip, and Yorkshire puddings, asparagus and all the good stuff. I think dad was happy with his birthday, after all.
Today mum had absolutely no energy left, poor thing. Tim, dad and I opted for going to St James's park to feed the squirrels. Ended up in a huge traffic jam - Tamil protesters had occupied Westminster bridge, and no traffic was allowed to pass. So our quick little bus ride turned in to quite an adventure, but was still nice enough since we got to walk along the river from Lambeth bridge up to Westminster. (Still not convinced this will give the Tamils any support though! Most people were very annoyed, and if I had been driving I would have too!) Walked through the park for an hour, and then decided it was wise to take the tube back home.
I have now put my parents on the tube. Mum, who has looked like an advertising board for an anti-violence campaign (we have made so many Mike Tyson jokes - and a few references to Quasimodo and Stevie Wonder as well this weekend), could open her right eye 2/3 now, but was probably pretty happy to get home. I don't blame her! But she has put up a good face all weekend, and I am really proud of her for that. I hope the can come back soon for a better experience...
Happy Birthday!
Shopping
Banana ketchup!
Oh, this is just wrong on so many levels!
(And I am a little bit suspicious, since it says best before 2011... nasty bananans by then, surely!)
Doubtful...
1) Alexanders (just plain strange - but the Swedish name for it (Skotsk Libbsticka) makes it even funnier)
2) Tonka beans (as in Tilly Tonka? the chocolatier? It really sounds like something Roald Dahl would come up with. It's alternative name - Crabwood - is just as good!)
3) Hogweed (surely, that must be stright from Harry Potter?!)
Maybe Tim and I should become vegetarians again, just because of all the great names!
More dinners
Well, almost true. Ah, I take it back: it is true. Went for a very swanky dinner in central town. (Yes, there was even a bust of the queen mother in the foyer.) Paid for by an Middle Eastern sheik and a French billionaire (here, think St Tropez again). I am - once again - incredibly stuffed, but had a great evening.
I would do anything at the moment to go to bed, but my parents will be showing up in the next 30 mins, so I should probably stay awake. (Edit: not away!) Loads of touristy stuff (not yet) planned for the weekend...
Flu again
It also nicely sneers at how dirty the city is and the poor housing (again: see earlier posts). More from this cartoonist can be found here.
Experimenting
Ok this is a test. I thought the blog was in great need of a visual makeover (not to mention the content of the entries, but that is quite a different and a far greater issue), but I am still experimenting. Have still not managed to get the search tool to work (so much for being an IT genious!), but am quite impressed (and proud of myself) for having inserted the London pictures from my flickr page in the footer (now, scroll down and have a look). What do you people think?
Dirty
Apparently, London has been voted the dirtiest city in Europe (which nicely adds to it also being the most expensive city)! And partly, I agree. You only have to blow your nose and establish that your snot is black, to know that you are in fact in London. These news come at the same time as Tim's company is making cut backs, and we are seriously wondering whether moving here was a wise decision...
Pink
There are two absolutely stunning cherry trees in front of our house. This is what it looked like two weeks ago:
Now all the blossoms have fallen off. But it is still pretty, because whenever we open our front door we are greeted by this amazing pink landscape:
It is just a girl's heaven!
Stuffed
Have just come back home. The morning was spent singing with the choir, and afterward I met up with Tim. We went to lunch with a few of his colleagues. They have had an intern in their department, and he and his parents had invited us for lunch. The food was absolutely amazing (and so was their enormous central London house, filled with antiquities) but there was just so much of it. So, I have just had a five hour Persian lunch! I. Will. Never. Need. To. Eat. Again.
Day in the garden
Spent today in the garden. A little bit less sunny than yesterday, but still a bit windy. Tim had loads of work to do, so he took the opportunity to work from home, and spread out all his papers in the garden (securely fastened under coke cans, glasses, shoes, glue, and sweaters). We are also cat sitting this weekend, so Tim got to have some company when I got cold and went inside. In a bit M is coming over for dinner, and then it's Britain's got talent on TV. Very relaxing day, indeed.
The boys in action
Someone had a really tough day...
Hottie
L went back home today. We've had a great time. Very little touristy stuff (went to the V&A), but loads of shopping (including me being naughty and buying a few t-shirts) and quite a number of pub visits. Discovered that my favourite pub in our neighbourhood has a special on food on Thursdays, which was a nice discovery, but quite a bummer since that is choir night. Today we did some last minute shopping before L had to get on the coach to the airport. Bought some sushi and had a mini picnic in Hyde Park. The wheater was gorgeous, although a bit windy, which made it slightly colder than it could have been. We rented deck chairs in the park, and sat there an chatted for an hour beforing heading to Victoria. And my, did I notice that tonight! I've gotten so burnt it's untrue! My face is all hot and my nose has the colour of a stop sign. Not very attractive. Tomorrow is definitely a day for sunscreen. However, the only one we have at home has SPF 30. I never thought I'd use that in England!