Summer is here

Finally got the chance to celebrate yesterday. Tim was in York all Friday, so I had to toast to myself that night (which I also did!), but Saturday we were invited to dinner by Peter and Elena in Beckton. It was quite a trip there and back (no DLR this weekend), but very nice. Super sunny summer weather, and we had prosecco and an Italian apertivo outside in the setting sun. Roasted aubergine with goat cheese, served with sparkling rosé, home made lasagna (Elena had even made the lasagna sheets herself), with excellent red wine, and finally pavlova were all part of an amazing dinner. We even got leftovers with us - and Tim and I had the pavlova for breakfast this morning (anything is allowed on Sundays).

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

Today's top list:
* 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

We've had Jim to ourselves for a week now. It has been brilliant, having our own baby. We've spoilt him rotten, serving him roast chicken and melon (his absolute favourite!). However, the little man is getting pretty old (17!) and has his own routines... Basically, he has his own sound, a sort of 'meep' sounding thing. It's used for most things. Like: 'meep' come here and serve me food asap. Or: 'meep' get out of bed, you lazy bastards. Or: 'meep' let me out, it's 4.30 and the birds are singing. Or: 'meep' give me some attention, you selfish cows. Or: 'meep' I need a stroke or two, or I'll report you to the RSPCA (also known as 'meep' in cat language). He's a very demanding cat, Jim...

Driving me crazy

I am still panicking a bit. No news from the Faculty yet, but I'm starting to come to terms with that. Slightly more stressful is finishing an online job application. I am supposed to attach CV and other documents as pdf-files, but the page refuses to recognize them! What do I do? I have even tried different pdf-coverters, but with the same result. After several hours, I am starting to despair and think that this was not meant to be. Am I cursed when it comes to these things?

News

I am absolutely terrified at the moment. I really don't know why I'm stressing out so much. I have been waiting for the results for over six months, but now when it is so close it's suddenly freaking me out completely. My stomach hurts, I can't eat, and my head is working on overload, thinking faster than the rest of me is capable of keeping up with (like what I imagine being on speed would be like). I better get the results soon, because I don't know how long I will be able to keep going like this.

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

Everything goes in circles. I thought about that today, when I bought some lipgloss in a small jar. It's from M&S and smell of raspberries - it's like eating chemical sweets - I love it! I haven't had one of those since the early 90s. I was 14, and it was a time when every girl walked around with a small jar in their pockets (we hadn't advanced to using handbags yet) and all girls in my class (except me) wore vanilla perfume from the Body Shop. And now it's back (and so is the fashion, I'm afraid) - but I still don't like the smell of vanilla... (And I fear oversized sweatshirts and bleached jeans would look incredibly stupid on me.)


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

I have the bestest friends. There's nothing better than a great surprise on a day when you really need a pick up. And it's especially good if it's followed by a sweet note. Thank you, Elise, for the CD. It really made my week! Everyone - check out the super cool Norwegian band the Vineyards.

Fear

Today, the committee will have sent in their judgement on my thesis. I'm scared. And nervous. And stressed, since I don't know how long it will take until I get to hear anything. I had ignored everything that has to do with the thesis, but now it's all very present again. Waiting for that letter in the mail, feels like an eternity...

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

Borrowed a book from R the other day: "The boy in the striped pyjamas" (or "The boy in the striped pajamas" if you are American), by John Boyne, an Irish writer. A very moving story about a German boy and his life during the second world war, and the friendship he develops with a boy who lives on the other side of a barbed wire fence. Apparently the book has been criticized for not being historically correct (e.g. an eight-year-old boy would not have been allowed to live in Auschwitz), but I actually don't think that matters in this case. The story is incredibly well written (and I especially liked some clever play with words - for instance the young boy calls Hitler 'the Fury', and Auschwitz 'Out with', and I wish I knew how translators have solved it in the different versions), and very, very emotional. I also liked the fact that there is no violence, or any other horrors outspoken in the book. Everything you read into it, you do because you already know what happened and what it is that the writer refers to. Very clever. If you haven't read it - do!


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

Those of you who are very observant (or happens to visit the blog very frequently) might have seen a very sweet entry a few days ago. It was an excerpt from an email Tim sent me years ago, when we were still dating, and he was in England and I in Norway. However, on Tim's demand I removed it. He thought it was too personal, and I respect that. But he has since then changed his mind (I will not post it again, though, sorry). He explained it: "I was sitting on the loo, thinking of you [cheers, exactly what I wanted to hear!], when I thought it might be good to keep the post up. Then all your girl friends will think I'm nice, and hit on me." So, there you are girls. Feel free to hit!

Aaaah!

Tim and I have just finished dinner (chicken and asparagus soup, served with cheap wine we got for free last time we ordered curry), in front of the TV. Watched a movie called "30 days of night" - incredibly scary vampire story. Tim has promised to never let go of my hand, and I have promised to sleep really close to him in bed. Possibly with the light on. We are such chickens! And now we are going zap and to try to find a film on fluffy fairies in lalaa land, who are trying to teach the baby squirrels to hug...

Retail therapy

Pretty good day, actually. Lunch with some of Tim's colleagues was a bit painful (only work talk and we were both a bit hungover, but the food was great), and then in to Oxford Street to spend my 'name day money' (it was my name day on Tuesday, thank you very much). Super happy with a pair of golden sandals and an irresistible pair of dark pink shoes, which also happen to super match the nail polish I bought yesterday. Perfect! But now it's noodles for the rest of the week. I'm about to do a little bit more work, and then it's movie night with wine gums and m&ms...

Norway won the Eurovision last night, which was well deserved, and not very surprising (it actually reduced some of the excitement when the results came in). I was at a pub in central town with the Icelandic society (!), and had a great time - especially good since Iceland came second (followed by Azerbaijan!) , so the atmosphere was at top! Was very tempted to go clubbing afterward, but luckily (I think) and felt too old and opted for going home with hubby. Today I have work to finish, but would kill for going back to bed...

Eurovision

Yes, it is that time of the year again! Last night was the first semifinal of the Eurovision song contest (a blog post in the New York Times about the phenomenon can be found here - especially entertaining is the discussion), and I spent it with my Icelandic friend Reynir, who also happens to be one of the 'reviewers' of the Eurovision contestants on the show 'Alla leið' on Icelandic TV (check him out here, and click on one of the links to the right if you are curious). It is brilliant to watch the show with someone who is so in to it! We watched, screamed, sang along, drank beer, were horrified, laughed, got goosebumps, the lot! The presenters were awful, but other than that it was a great show.

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

I haven't been the only sick note in the family this weekend. But in comparison to mum's problems mine have seemed very minor, and I didn't want to whinge and be pathetic when she (who turns 68 today - happy birthday mum!) was almost dying, or thereabout. But now there's no sick mum in the flat and I can fully complain about my pains. In fact, I have had problems with my right ear on and off for a few months now (whizzing sounds and clicking and stuff), but Friday it suddenly got a lot worse. Saturday I basically completely lost my hearing on the ear, and it was incredibly painful (but then, that cannot really be compared to mum's shingles...). It is now less painful, but the hearing still isn't great, but quite muffled (and if I listen on the other ear, the head sort of works like a sound box and makes everything very loud). So this morning Tim (and actually, also mum) made me go to the doctor's. My local clinic (I have a very lovely GP, whom I don't want to give up so I'm actually going to a clinic which is where we previously lived - I should probably have changed when we moved to a different borough) has an open door policy between 9 and 11, which is absolutely brilliant. Actually, the queue wasn't all that bad, and I was allowed in after only 40 mins. The doctor (who looked a lot younger than me - I felt ancient) had one quick look at my ears, told me it was a bit red, instructed me to take a few painkillers and come back Friday if it's not any better then. Sigh! Yes, of course I should be happy that it wasn't anything serious (I quite like being able to hear), but I felt so stupid for coming there just to hear that (pun not intended)! I was also a bit miffed that the doctor - when she asked what I had been taking - had never heard of Tylenol.* I thought that was a pretty commonly known drug, even here.


*For the Scandinavians: an American painkiller.

Weekend report

So, my parents have now gone back to Sweden. It has been very nice to have them here, but my poor, poor mum has been really ill! She was diagnosed with shingles ('the adult version of chickenpox') in her right eye (!) the day they left the country, but looked quite alright when they turned up late Thursday night. The morning after, however, was a completely different story. The eye had swollen up, and was all of a sudden fighting with her nose for being the center of attention. She could not open the eye at all! Tim was at work (which was probably good, because I would have freaked him out completely!), and there was just no way mum could leave the house. So dad and I had to be touristy on our own, which was fine but unexpected - and of course we also felt incredibly bad for mum, who hardly could get out of bed. Well, dad and I went to the London Movieum by the Royal Festival Hall (which was really, really poor. Don't ever go there!), then lunch at Wagamama (dad and I normally take the opportunity to eat pasta or noodles when mum's not around, since she doesn't eat it) and a walk up the Thames. Tube back from Borough. Dad and I cooked dinner, and forced mum to eat a little.

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!

Today, we sing Happy Birthday to dad. He got coffee and cake (!) in bed, but no gift other than a left over Christmas cracker. Tim and I had, however, decorated the living room with banners and balloons (one of them unfortunately popped, waking up the rest of the house). In a bit we are off on a boat trip to Greenwich.

Shopping

Purchase of the week:

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...

The weirdest vegetables of the week (a.k.a. the strange stuff you get when you go to a overly posh restaurant, and this is all true):
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

Tim's suggestion: "Went out to dinner at the Goring (NOT Göring, but that is so much more funny!), the queen mother's favourite restaurant, and now I'm too drunk to blog."

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

In reference to my earlier post on the swine flu, I found this in yesterday's the London paper (one of the free local papers) and thought it was pretty accurate:


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!