More Flexible Holidays Please!!

Quite recently I read about some multi religious country, it might have been Bosnia, where students in schools and employees can choose a certain number of days off from school or work, due to religious celebrations. I think that is a great idea for any modern society. We need more flexible holidays. Not only because of different religions, but maybe also due to how much value you put on different holidays and different traditions.

I must say that I find Christmas a terrible waste of days off from work. I don’t mind having days off from work, don’t get me wrong, but I would prefer to place them at a time of my choice, not in the middle of winter when travels to the sun is double the price as the weeks before and after. I actually offered to work these days, but at my normal job there is really nothing to do these days.

I would have preferred to have more days off at around midsummer or Easter or any other time of the year. I have promised myself this must be the last time I spend Christmas like this, but on the other side I think I said that last year too. I wonder how much in advance it is possible to book a trip for next December…

Merry Whatever

Christmas is indeed a weird holiday. Not for why it is celebrated, although that is weird enough, but for what it does to people. Normally I would say I kind of like the concept of the celebrations, I mean I do enjoy seeing my family and spend time with them and as December in Sweden is cold and dark it is nice to make it cosy at home and light candles etc, but sometimes it just gets too much. This year definitely so. I really just would have liked to stay at home, sleeping a lot and reading my books. But somehow that is not socially acceptable only because it is a certain day of the year!! Weird!!! So many people have told me “no, you can not be home alone on Christmas! You must not!” I don’t get it at all! Why not now if I want to?! It is never a problem any other time. Of course it is sad for people who would like to celebrate with someone, but don’t have anyone and therefore are alone. I do have people to celebrate with, but why can I not choose to be on my own?! None of these people would be on their own, involuntarily, if I would not be with them so that is not a reason.

Well well, now I have decided to go home to the family anyhow and I guess it will be ok, that is, it will be as every year. And quite unsurprisingly I have caught a cold just in time, but nevertheless I wish you all a very merry what ever you are doing…

A Good Day

Today was a rather good day. Not only because I had taken the day off, but just generally good. Before lunch I had already had two saffron-buns, coffee with a good friend, two gorgeous twin babies smiling at me, played with a cute dog, a hair cut and being called “principessa” by an Italian street vendor. Not bad! That would never happen in The Small Town! After that I had lunch with another good friend, a meeting that felt quite ok as well as some time for shopping before getting on the train back in time for boxing.

On the train back there was even a man sitting opposite me who said I was very beautiful and the kind of woman every man wants. Unfortunately the man was a completely stoned professional alcoholic, probably also on other drugs and a criminal, very likely on the run from one of the major prisons, wearing two pairs of jeans and two coats, all smelly and he was taken off the train by the police two stations later…. If that is the kind of men that fall for me, no wonder I am single… and maybe I should be happy.

Anti-Climax and a Dilemma

I am still in chock or at least somewhat confused. Today was the day when all of us working in the office on a time limited contract would get to know if we would have a job in january or not. I felt very sure I would not and was prepared for that. Ok, I admit I was not happy about the possibility to be the only one not getting anything and see all the colleagues get new jobs, but still I was prepared for it.

I did not really realise how prepared I was for it until everything changed. I was offered a job. Albeit a job I applied for, but not my first hand choice and I only applied for it as I assumed it would be in Stockholm. Now the job I was offered is in The Next Somewhat Bigger Town!! That basically made my whole world tumble down!!

I might be stupid, maybe mad and for sure a bit crazy, but still I realise I can not turn down an offer of a permanent job in times of financial crises and recession. And I know I should be happy as many of my colleagues did not get a job at all. And this position might develope into something rather interesting and this position is also exists in the Stockholm office and my new boss knows I would prefer to work there and there might be a chance to be transfered in the future and and and.... Yes!! I know I should be happy and grateful, but still I had to go into the restroom and cry several times during the day and I felt like throwing up at times. I was so disappointed!! The only thing that has kept me going for the last couple of months was the prospect of getting out of here. What ever happened I would not be here anymore. Now I am stuck!

Not only stuck! I have to make decisions on where to live. Should I move to The Next Somewhat Bigger Town altough I don't want to live there either and have no plans to stay there very long?? Should I stay here and commute and hope to be transfered to Sthlm as soon as possibel?! But still, it is 45 km to TNSBT, one way, with poor public transport and this job also has on-duty service. I don't know!! And I really don't feel like moving one single time more than neccessary.

I really was so prepared for not getting a job and getting ready to leave and move away from here. I had even started to plan my dinners and my eating so I would not have to buy more food but finish as much as possible of what I already have! And now, here I am!!