I really like my new apartment and love the area. The only things that really annoys me is that smoke from my neighbours cigarettes comes into my apartment. I think I could live with getting smoke on the balcony when they are smoking on their balconies, but when it gets into the apartment it is really disturbing. I have spoken to the landlord about it in case there was something you could do to the ventilation to prevent this, but obviously it isn't. Instead they sent out a note to everyone in the house to respect the neighbours and avoid smoking on the balcony. I can't say it has been working very well. Ok, on the one hand I admit I am a strong anti-smoker and would not mind if smoking was totally banned. On the other hand I realise the unrealistic in this and I don't want to forbid my neighbours to smoke on their balconies as I am generally not in favour of banning things (eventhough I do think it is equivavelnt to the general ban on grilling on balconies in Sweden.
However I got particlarly pissed off this morning when I found ashes and a cigarett butt on my balcony. I mean smoke is one thing, it is difficult to stop it from spreading, but if you smoke or have smoking guests at least you can use an ashtray!! Angrily I threw the butt off from my balcony down to the yard. The moment after the thought struck me that I ought to have thrown it down on my downstairs neighbours' balcony!! Their smoke is the one that bothers me the most. Of course I realise the butt can hardly come from them, but this would have been a (small) way of getting back on them. To show them that smoking on the balcony affects the neighbours and that it is pretty disgusting. Some kind of revenge by proxy.
I regretted I got this idea too late. But on the other hand, maybe I should be glad things like this is not the first thing that hits my mind. That I am above this kind of petty revenge...
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sceptical Net-shopper
ha ha, I just did something I never thought I would do! I bought make-up on internet!
I don't really know why I find that so funny, I do buy other things over the net, like books, music and tickets, but buying make-up over the net seems something teenagers or housewives in the province do, I mean I have access to all the fancy stores and even travel quite frequently hence can buy a lot on tax free.
But for some time now I have been looking for my favourite lipgloss from Clinique and everywhere they told me that this specific product and this specific colour is no longer available, that they simply stopped making it. As I really liked it I started looking for the similar colour by other brands, unsuccessful.
I had almost given up on it as I just thougt I might give it a try o search for it on the net. And voila!! There it was!! Not very cheap, but at least it existed. I was not familiar with the site as such and did not feel very comfortable giving all the personal details required and not at all giving my credit card number, but there were ways around that. So, now I will just have to wait and see if it lands in my post box. I am still a bit sceptical. Might be too good to be true... Let's wait and see...
I don't really know why I find that so funny, I do buy other things over the net, like books, music and tickets, but buying make-up over the net seems something teenagers or housewives in the province do, I mean I have access to all the fancy stores and even travel quite frequently hence can buy a lot on tax free.
But for some time now I have been looking for my favourite lipgloss from Clinique and everywhere they told me that this specific product and this specific colour is no longer available, that they simply stopped making it. As I really liked it I started looking for the similar colour by other brands, unsuccessful.
I had almost given up on it as I just thougt I might give it a try o search for it on the net. And voila!! There it was!! Not very cheap, but at least it existed. I was not familiar with the site as such and did not feel very comfortable giving all the personal details required and not at all giving my credit card number, but there were ways around that. So, now I will just have to wait and see if it lands in my post box. I am still a bit sceptical. Might be too good to be true... Let's wait and see...
Sunday, July 05, 2009
As I don't have that much to write at the time I might at least post some pictures from my Normal life, from my home and my work.
My neighbourhood. You don't see my house though, it is just one block up from the quay. You can swim here.
The view from my office. Just opposite the royal castle!! The bridge looks a bit messy right now. I suppose they have to work hard on it to make it ready for the royal wedding next year.
My neighbourhood. You don't see my house though, it is just one block up from the quay. You can swim here.
The view from my office. Just opposite the royal castle!! The bridge looks a bit messy right now. I suppose they have to work hard on it to make it ready for the royal wedding next year.
Blog pause
I am sorry for not writing so much on the blog at the time. I just don't seem to havet the time.
New job takes a lot of time. Being in Stockholm and having a social life again takes the rest of my time. :-) And as long as the weather is ok, sitting at home in front of the computer is not the most temtping activity. Maybe next time there is a rain period...
New job takes a lot of time. Being in Stockholm and having a social life again takes the rest of my time. :-) And as long as the weather is ok, sitting at home in front of the computer is not the most temtping activity. Maybe next time there is a rain period...
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
My Cool Friend
One of the absolutely best things about Stockholm is that people pass by. Everyone living in Sweden or dealing with Sweden one way or the other, sooner or later comes to Stockholm. That means that by living here you get the chance to catch up with people every now and then. Today I met a good old friend that I haven’t seen in a long time. It was soo great!!
He was very important to me when I was a teenager. Then he was the coolest person I knew. In many ways he still is. I thing you might say he is as close to having a big brother as I ever get and today he said I am pretty much the younger sister he never had.
Before we met I wondered if I would still recognise him, but then I saw him on a long distance and there was no doubt. He still looks extremely cool and like no one else in the very posh area of Stockholm where we met. As I was coming straight from the office I did not feel very cool in my office outfit, but he was cool enough for both of us. After a while and a couple of beers and a whole lot of old memories later I almost started feeling cool too. It was so good to be reminded of that although I might now seem to be a boring bureaucrat I actually used to be cool once. We were talking about all the cool rock concerts that we went to, about when we saw The Sugarcubes at Brixton Academy in London or New Model Army on Gamle Port in Gothenburg (one of the guys in the band recently called on my friend and agreed on that that was one of their best gigs ever) etc etc…
We were talking about photography and movies and although I don’t do photo the way I used to and it was a long time I last went to the cinema, it was still good to have someone to talk about these things with. One of the reasons I don’t go to rock concerts anymore is that I don’t have anyone to go with. Anyway we agreed on that the most important thing is that one is still curious and that we both are.
One funny thing that happened was when a woman who had been sitting at the table next to us, together with two other women, came up to us just before they were leaving. She said that she thought we just looked so great, “the two of you are just sooo cool, you look great, your hair, your clothes, everything, you just got The Look.!! Are you from Stockholm??”. We were very surprised about this and had a great deal of fun about it afterwards, wondering if she had been serious or ironic. Maybe she thought us being the nerds of the place. And what was this question about if we were from Stockholm?! Did she actually mean what she said and thought maybe we were from London, New York or some other cool place?? Or was it obvious to her that we were from the province?! Anyway; we had a good laugh about it and a great evening!!
He was very important to me when I was a teenager. Then he was the coolest person I knew. In many ways he still is. I thing you might say he is as close to having a big brother as I ever get and today he said I am pretty much the younger sister he never had.
Before we met I wondered if I would still recognise him, but then I saw him on a long distance and there was no doubt. He still looks extremely cool and like no one else in the very posh area of Stockholm where we met. As I was coming straight from the office I did not feel very cool in my office outfit, but he was cool enough for both of us. After a while and a couple of beers and a whole lot of old memories later I almost started feeling cool too. It was so good to be reminded of that although I might now seem to be a boring bureaucrat I actually used to be cool once. We were talking about all the cool rock concerts that we went to, about when we saw The Sugarcubes at Brixton Academy in London or New Model Army on Gamle Port in Gothenburg (one of the guys in the band recently called on my friend and agreed on that that was one of their best gigs ever) etc etc…
We were talking about photography and movies and although I don’t do photo the way I used to and it was a long time I last went to the cinema, it was still good to have someone to talk about these things with. One of the reasons I don’t go to rock concerts anymore is that I don’t have anyone to go with. Anyway we agreed on that the most important thing is that one is still curious and that we both are.
One funny thing that happened was when a woman who had been sitting at the table next to us, together with two other women, came up to us just before they were leaving. She said that she thought we just looked so great, “the two of you are just sooo cool, you look great, your hair, your clothes, everything, you just got The Look.!! Are you from Stockholm??”. We were very surprised about this and had a great deal of fun about it afterwards, wondering if she had been serious or ironic. Maybe she thought us being the nerds of the place. And what was this question about if we were from Stockholm?! Did she actually mean what she said and thought maybe we were from London, New York or some other cool place?? Or was it obvious to her that we were from the province?! Anyway; we had a good laugh about it and a great evening!!
Monday, June 08, 2009
Disappointment at the gym
Today I was attending a spinning class at the gym, a class where you are connected to a pulse metre and can see your result on a screen at the front. I have a pulse metre and a pulse-watch of my own and use it sometimes, but have always had a feeling that there is something fishy about it. I haven’t measured my max-pulse only used the recommended estimate. According to the recommendations one should exercise at medium intensity of 70-80% of max-pulse most of the time and over that one can only work out very short periods. My problem is that I almost always exceed that limit. It is not at all unusual that I work out long periods on over 90%.
I have asked about this but never got a good explanation and therefore I of course came up with an explanation of my own, or rather two explanations. Either it must mean that I am extremely fit; or that my real age is actually at least ten years less that what’s written in my passport…
Today’s exercise showed the same result, i.e. I work out at a very high pulse level. Afterwards the leader of the class noted that some had of us had very high levels which could mean that the level was not correctly set. Maybe the max-pulse needed to be adjusted. Then she added that the level given is really only an estimate and that some people simply have a higher max-pulse and that this is genetically motivated, it doesn’t have anything to do with how fit you are or not. I am very disappointed…
I have asked about this but never got a good explanation and therefore I of course came up with an explanation of my own, or rather two explanations. Either it must mean that I am extremely fit; or that my real age is actually at least ten years less that what’s written in my passport…
Today’s exercise showed the same result, i.e. I work out at a very high pulse level. Afterwards the leader of the class noted that some had of us had very high levels which could mean that the level was not correctly set. Maybe the max-pulse needed to be adjusted. Then she added that the level given is really only an estimate and that some people simply have a higher max-pulse and that this is genetically motivated, it doesn’t have anything to do with how fit you are or not. I am very disappointed…
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Summer in Stockholm
Sometimes Stockholm is indeed an amazing city. Especially in summer. And I must say I really like the area where I live. It is not really in the city centre, but a very pleasant 20 minutes bicycle-ride takes me straight into the city where my work is.
50 metres from my flat you can swim in the lake or just sit at the bistro looking out over the water.
5 minutes away along my jogging path by the lake I could collect a boquet of lillies of the valley today.
And all over it all the hot-air balloons fly silently. It is great!
50 metres from my flat you can swim in the lake or just sit at the bistro looking out over the water.
5 minutes away along my jogging path by the lake I could collect a boquet of lillies of the valley today.
And all over it all the hot-air balloons fly silently. It is great!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Potami beach
Had a wonderful holiday on Samos. One day I rented a car and travelled around the island and came to Potami beach. As it is still the beginning of the season the beach was almost empty. Lovely! Clear (and cooling) water in the hot sun. Wouldn't have minded staying longer.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Change - again
Today was kind of the last day at work, at least for a while. Ok, I am working tomorrow as well, but will spend the whole day out of office on a seminar. I will have to go back on Monday as well to finish some things but I do actually start my holiday on Monday and then June 1 I start my other job.
I am really looking forward to start my new work, but the funny thing is I have looked forward to it so much now, I haven’t really thought about that it also means changing colleagues again. It struck me just this Tuesday when we came back from a two days conference with our whole unit, i.e. both my old and current colleagues. After a month and a half at the new office I have started to get to know the colleagues there better and like them as well. But now I will have to change again. It is actually rather energy consuming. It is the third time I change colleagues (and work in a way) in six months. I really look forward to my holiday and the new job and hope I will be able to focus and give 100%. I am fed up with the limbo-situation I have been in for quite some time.
I am really looking forward to start my new work, but the funny thing is I have looked forward to it so much now, I haven’t really thought about that it also means changing colleagues again. It struck me just this Tuesday when we came back from a two days conference with our whole unit, i.e. both my old and current colleagues. After a month and a half at the new office I have started to get to know the colleagues there better and like them as well. But now I will have to change again. It is actually rather energy consuming. It is the third time I change colleagues (and work in a way) in six months. I really look forward to my holiday and the new job and hope I will be able to focus and give 100%. I am fed up with the limbo-situation I have been in for quite some time.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Holiday plans
After some back and forth on what to do on my holiday I finally booked a trip to Greece yesterday. So after planning for Jerusalem, Addis Abeba, Italy, Belgrade and Crete it finally was Samos. I don’t know anything about the place, but it looked nice. And since I am travelling on my own and don’t have either much time nor money there was not so much to choose between. But I think it will be fine. I have a small apartment on my own and I am looking forward to just lay on the beach or by the pool and read my books. I don’t really have much need for social stimuli or action. I think it will be just what I need before I start my new job. Just to delete and reset.
What's a bit funny however, is the fact that I; who until this year never had been on a charter-trip, am going on my second in matter of four months. Eventhough I was not so very impressed by the concept th first time. Ok, I am not really taking part in the social part of it, to me it is just an easy and cheep way to get somewhere on a short notice without having to thing too much. With good books ans good music on my ipod I think I will survive.
If anyone of you have been to Samos and have some good tips on the island, please let me know.
What's a bit funny however, is the fact that I; who until this year never had been on a charter-trip, am going on my second in matter of four months. Eventhough I was not so very impressed by the concept th first time. Ok, I am not really taking part in the social part of it, to me it is just an easy and cheep way to get somewhere on a short notice without having to thing too much. With good books ans good music on my ipod I think I will survive.
If anyone of you have been to Samos and have some good tips on the island, please let me know.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Luxury Problem
I have something of a luxury-problem. At the same time it is sort of tragic. I don’t know what to do on my holiday!
Because I am about to change jobs I have no real summer holiday, but have two weeks now at the end of May. I would like to go somewhere and really relax. The thing is only that none of my friends have holiday then, so I have no-one to travel with. Travelling alone is not a problem for me, I have done it quite a lot, but it is terribly boring to plan a week’s holiday on your own. Therefore I thought about go and visit someone of my friends living abroad. I had plans for Jerusalem and Addis Abeba, but that did not work out for different reasons. Left are still the options Italy and Belgrade. There are things happening in both places that would be nice to take part in. At the same time I would really like just to take a last minute trip to some Greek island or Spain or Egypt or something and just lay on the beach or by the pool and read my books.
I need to make plans and book soon, but I am just too tired to think and make any decision about it. The last week work has been very draining. It has been very intense and I have worked late every day. After work I have either worked out or had some social thing meaning I have come home very late every day and with the very slow internet connection I am just too tired to start looking for suitable tickets. Maybe I will just do it the old-fashioned way and contact a travel agency.
Because I am about to change jobs I have no real summer holiday, but have two weeks now at the end of May. I would like to go somewhere and really relax. The thing is only that none of my friends have holiday then, so I have no-one to travel with. Travelling alone is not a problem for me, I have done it quite a lot, but it is terribly boring to plan a week’s holiday on your own. Therefore I thought about go and visit someone of my friends living abroad. I had plans for Jerusalem and Addis Abeba, but that did not work out for different reasons. Left are still the options Italy and Belgrade. There are things happening in both places that would be nice to take part in. At the same time I would really like just to take a last minute trip to some Greek island or Spain or Egypt or something and just lay on the beach or by the pool and read my books.
I need to make plans and book soon, but I am just too tired to think and make any decision about it. The last week work has been very draining. It has been very intense and I have worked late every day. After work I have either worked out or had some social thing meaning I have come home very late every day and with the very slow internet connection I am just too tired to start looking for suitable tickets. Maybe I will just do it the old-fashioned way and contact a travel agency.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Getting used
Now I am happy and I realise I did the right thing when I decided to have an inauguration party of my new flat the very first day I had access to it. Of course it was very minimalist and simple, but it was most likely the very first party in this building ever. More important I realise that if I would have waited until the place as completely furnished and decorated before I would have a real house warming party, I would have to wait long.
I am getting used to the place only semi-finished. And seriously; I start to think cardboard boxes are badly underestimated as furniture and decoration details. I mean; what is wrong with having a cardboard box as a bedside table?! Especially as it is a combined storage for things like my riding helmet, sleeping bag and mosquito net!? And with a nice table cloth it can look really nice.
And why should I have to find a place to stuff all my winter coats and boots away as long as I can still enter the apartment even if I have to step over a heap of them just inside the door.
Well I guess I am getting used to it…
I am getting used to the place only semi-finished. And seriously; I start to think cardboard boxes are badly underestimated as furniture and decoration details. I mean; what is wrong with having a cardboard box as a bedside table?! Especially as it is a combined storage for things like my riding helmet, sleeping bag and mosquito net!? And with a nice table cloth it can look really nice.
And why should I have to find a place to stuff all my winter coats and boots away as long as I can still enter the apartment even if I have to step over a heap of them just inside the door.
Well I guess I am getting used to it…
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Flu, The Media and The People
Today I got involved in the preparedness work for the possibly pandemic swine flu. This is completely new to me, but it is quite interesting to see how these things work. It is also quite interesting to see how the media work from this perspective.
Ok, it was a very long time since I trusted what media reported, not since I worked with migration matters. But still this is new! The whole day I sat in conferenses with the responsible authorities and in our situation room. Still I get to hear a completely different story in the evening news on tv. Although they were referring to the same authorities and the information basically the same, the angle was quite different and it gave quite a different picture. But of course; if they would have just said what the authorities said and only talked about the confirmed cases it would not have been that spectacular and sensational...
However, I might not be the most suitable person to work with these matters. I might just be "too cool", I am just not the worrying kind. What I worry most about right now is that I might have to work this weekend. Instead of having a real long weekend. :-(
But on the other had there are persons who just worry too much. One of my colleagies got a call today from a person who wanted to know where he could find the hoarding lists. It took my colleague quite some time to figure out what the person meant, bt obviously he thought there were lists on things one might need to hoard in case one would get isolated. It took her even longer time to explain that there are no such lists and there is no reason for such lists and there will be no such lists nor reason to get isolated etc etc...
Ok, it was a very long time since I trusted what media reported, not since I worked with migration matters. But still this is new! The whole day I sat in conferenses with the responsible authorities and in our situation room. Still I get to hear a completely different story in the evening news on tv. Although they were referring to the same authorities and the information basically the same, the angle was quite different and it gave quite a different picture. But of course; if they would have just said what the authorities said and only talked about the confirmed cases it would not have been that spectacular and sensational...
However, I might not be the most suitable person to work with these matters. I might just be "too cool", I am just not the worrying kind. What I worry most about right now is that I might have to work this weekend. Instead of having a real long weekend. :-(
But on the other had there are persons who just worry too much. One of my colleagies got a call today from a person who wanted to know where he could find the hoarding lists. It took my colleague quite some time to figure out what the person meant, bt obviously he thought there were lists on things one might need to hoard in case one would get isolated. It took her even longer time to explain that there are no such lists and there is no reason for such lists and there will be no such lists nor reason to get isolated etc etc...
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Haväng
Had a lovely walk along the sea this morning in Haväng in south Sweden.
I need to find a way to get a house by the sea!! This is the way I want to live.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Spring in the City
Today was the first really warm and sunny day of spring this year. And as today was also the day of the month when most employees in Sweden get their pay, all bars and especially the ones with some kind of terrass or garden, were completely crowded. The whole city was enjoying itself in the sun.
I had made plans with a friend of mine to go for an after work drink. Later I was offered the opportunity to also join some colleagues for a drink, but as I had decided with my friend first I stood by that plan. While on the way to see her, another friend called as well as my sister and they both joined for a drink. I also got another offer to join another friend for a drink, that I had to reject.
I still can't believe my joy of having all those choises! It is such a difference from life in The Small Town, I can not believe it.
I had made plans with a friend of mine to go for an after work drink. Later I was offered the opportunity to also join some colleagues for a drink, but as I had decided with my friend first I stood by that plan. While on the way to see her, another friend called as well as my sister and they both joined for a drink. I also got another offer to join another friend for a drink, that I had to reject.
I still can't believe my joy of having all those choises! It is such a difference from life in The Small Town, I can not believe it.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Too Old for the New Media??
I admit my technological ignorance; or as someone said today “I fully realise I am standing with all feet in the world of dying media”.
Even though I do occasionally blog and I am present on Facebook I am a rookie on social digital media. Therefore it is quite funny that I, who only had heard about something called twitter, but had no real idea what it is really about, in one day both attended a seminar and later followed a debate on TV about twitter (and other similar media). The seminar was called Facebook – in face of disaster and was about the roll these new media play and could play in disaster/crisis management. It was actually very interesting and opened the eyes on many, if not all of us, attending. I never thought about it as something professionally useful. Maybe that is the real sign of what generation one belongs to, not if you use it or not, but the matter of importance or meaning it has to you. For me, these things never seem really serious or trustworthy, it’s only for fun.
On the other hand; the lecturer showed some rather interesting statistics. According to those figures it is not mostly the young – teenagers- that use twitter. The largest group of users was the group 25-49. I don’t really know how to interpret that. Does it mean I am unusually old-fashioned even in my own age group?!
Even though I do occasionally blog and I am present on Facebook I am a rookie on social digital media. Therefore it is quite funny that I, who only had heard about something called twitter, but had no real idea what it is really about, in one day both attended a seminar and later followed a debate on TV about twitter (and other similar media). The seminar was called Facebook – in face of disaster and was about the roll these new media play and could play in disaster/crisis management. It was actually very interesting and opened the eyes on many, if not all of us, attending. I never thought about it as something professionally useful. Maybe that is the real sign of what generation one belongs to, not if you use it or not, but the matter of importance or meaning it has to you. For me, these things never seem really serious or trustworthy, it’s only for fun.
On the other hand; the lecturer showed some rather interesting statistics. According to those figures it is not mostly the young – teenagers- that use twitter. The largest group of users was the group 25-49. I don’t really know how to interpret that. Does it mean I am unusually old-fashioned even in my own age group?!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Disaster Management at the Office
As my job is connected to disaster/crisis management it seems logical that there is a disaster-film-club at the office. The films shown by the club should be disasters in double meaning, i.e. be about disaster and be disastrously bad, i.e. real turkeys. Today they showed Rymdinvasion i Lappland (Space invasion in Lappland) from 1959. The film is Swedish but the dialogue is in (bad) English as it is a Swedish-American production. However I am not surprised it did not make it in Hollywood. In fact I don’t think it made it anywhere. The film is disastrously bad and hilariously funny! If you like turkey-films. It made me think of Plan 9 from outer space. The story, in case you can call it a story is incredibly thin and there are plenty of long scenes of skiing on the mountain and some completely unmotivated scenes of skating and a lady in the shower. It is just funny and simply impossible to describe.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0053232
www.vujer.com/filmer/rymdinvasion_i_lappland_1958
www.russin.nu/filmview.php?filmid=1151
To add to the somewhat surreal atmosphere at our show the sound only worked the first three minutes on our copy. There was no way we could make it work, but since we had all gathered and started drinking some wine and as the film had subtitles we decided to watch it anyway. When we got tired of the silence one of my colleagues started adding music that he streamed from Spotify. I must say he did a terrific job. He started out with some Bond-music, which worked splendidly! We realised this must be the original Bond!! Then he changed into such different tunes as Thriller, Fly me to the moon and Det är så hälsosamt och stärkande i fjällen. It was a long time since I laughed that much. The comments from the audience also added some extra touch as we interpreted it all from a crisis management perspective with jokes that maybe only we could understand.
There was also a somewhat funny interlude to the show. The film club had promised some drinks and popcorn. I don’t know exactly what they did when they wanted to pop the popcorn, but all of a sudden the fire alarm went off and there was a terrible stench in our corridor. It seems they had burned the popcorn so badly all three microwave ovens were completely destroyed. As we very rapidly could establish the reason for the alarm and the smell we did not evacuate but continued working. Someone called back to SOS Alarm to inform them about the reason and say they did not have to send the fire brigade. But obviously it was too late or rather they had to come as it was an automatically generated alarm and we all had to evacuate. This was actually a bit embarrassing but also funny. Our office is really right in the centre of Stockholm and it is rather big so when all the people gathered in the street and then of course when the fire brigade came, it caused quite some attention. I can imagine people would find it quite amusing if they knew what happened and who caused it.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0053232
www.vujer.com/filmer/rymdinvasion_i_lappland_1958
www.russin.nu/filmview.php?filmid=1151
To add to the somewhat surreal atmosphere at our show the sound only worked the first three minutes on our copy. There was no way we could make it work, but since we had all gathered and started drinking some wine and as the film had subtitles we decided to watch it anyway. When we got tired of the silence one of my colleagues started adding music that he streamed from Spotify. I must say he did a terrific job. He started out with some Bond-music, which worked splendidly! We realised this must be the original Bond!! Then he changed into such different tunes as Thriller, Fly me to the moon and Det är så hälsosamt och stärkande i fjällen. It was a long time since I laughed that much. The comments from the audience also added some extra touch as we interpreted it all from a crisis management perspective with jokes that maybe only we could understand.
There was also a somewhat funny interlude to the show. The film club had promised some drinks and popcorn. I don’t know exactly what they did when they wanted to pop the popcorn, but all of a sudden the fire alarm went off and there was a terrible stench in our corridor. It seems they had burned the popcorn so badly all three microwave ovens were completely destroyed. As we very rapidly could establish the reason for the alarm and the smell we did not evacuate but continued working. Someone called back to SOS Alarm to inform them about the reason and say they did not have to send the fire brigade. But obviously it was too late or rather they had to come as it was an automatically generated alarm and we all had to evacuate. This was actually a bit embarrassing but also funny. Our office is really right in the centre of Stockholm and it is rather big so when all the people gathered in the street and then of course when the fire brigade came, it caused quite some attention. I can imagine people would find it quite amusing if they knew what happened and who caused it.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Hard Times in Fashion and Beauty
Today I went to the hairdresser to have a haircut and some new highlights. While waiting for the highlights go get ready I was reading an issue of Vogue. I hardly ever read this kind of magazines to it was a rather new and interesting experience. Are there really people who find it worth spending time and money on this kind of shit?! And are there really people living like those described there!? And I am not really thinking about the stars and starlets written about.
Most of it was of course “the usual” fashion and beauty tips, most of it for astronomical prices, but it was the articles that fascinated me most. There was among other one article on how to save on beauty in times of financial crisis. The article noted that some people cut down on cosmetical surgery and noted that at least some choose not to make the bigger operations but only lesser corrections. One woman could just not think of stopping having her botox, she only asked the surgeon not to tell her husband and paid in cash. One saved on manicure and let it go twice the time between the sessions, another went from going to the hairdresser every third week to have it done only every fifth week. Wow, just imagine what hard times these ladies must be going through!!
Most of it was of course “the usual” fashion and beauty tips, most of it for astronomical prices, but it was the articles that fascinated me most. There was among other one article on how to save on beauty in times of financial crisis. The article noted that some people cut down on cosmetical surgery and noted that at least some choose not to make the bigger operations but only lesser corrections. One woman could just not think of stopping having her botox, she only asked the surgeon not to tell her husband and paid in cash. One saved on manicure and let it go twice the time between the sessions, another went from going to the hairdresser every third week to have it done only every fifth week. Wow, just imagine what hard times these ladies must be going through!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Spring Dilemma
I am feeling caught in a dilemma! With the arrival of spring and sun I feel full of energy and inspiration. I would like to go jogging again as I have now found a very nice 9 km round. I would like to get started going to the gym again, or find a golf club, or go for after work, or cinema or or or…. At the same time I have caught a cold again and feel completely exhausted and just want to drop dead on the sofa straight after work. That is very frustrating!
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Simply Happy!
I haven’t been blogging for quite some time, simply because I haven’t had the time! Since I moved to Stockholm I have a life in the real world and less time to spend behind the computer after work. That is good!!
It is so great to have a life and have friends outside the office. I do miss my old colleagues but it feels great to catch up with my “normal friends”. Last week I worked four days and went for after work three days and had a wonderful social weekend. I really like my new apartment and my new neighbourhood. I love to ride my bike to and from work and I simply feel happy just to be here. It almost feels a bit ridiculous to walk around with a stupid smile on my face. I wonder when it will end. But not too much! Right now I just enjoy!
It is so great to have a life and have friends outside the office. I do miss my old colleagues but it feels great to catch up with my “normal friends”. Last week I worked four days and went for after work three days and had a wonderful social weekend. I really like my new apartment and my new neighbourhood. I love to ride my bike to and from work and I simply feel happy just to be here. It almost feels a bit ridiculous to walk around with a stupid smile on my face. I wonder when it will end. But not too much! Right now I just enjoy!
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