Not very cheerful

Been a bit tough to write for a while since most of what I type at the moment is just depressing. How did I end up here? Oh, right, I remember. I fcked up. Worked too much and spent too little time thinking about the important things and now here I am. Made my own bed, and yes sir, I will sleep in it, thank you very much.

So what did I learn? Well, I suspect quite a lot. As always. And what can I change? Quite a lot as well, but not what I want to change right now. Patience is a virtue... I will just have to suck it up and keep moving. And I can always change myself. (Yeah, easy in theory...)

The apartment swap collapsed. So I've spent part of the day trying to think happy thoughts about my current apartment. It is great. It is big. It is conveniently located next to my kids school...

And work starts in 1,5 weeks. Oh joy!
Not.
Won't go there now. Be gone evil thought!

So, where were we. Oh yeah, boring shite. Fck it. Moving on to happier things:

Had a great evening with my ex-could-have-been-mother-in-laws as they are visiting Stockholm. They had been on a boat trip the whole day and had decent weather all the way.

Where I live the weather was beautiful at nine o'clock this morning. I noticed there was not a cloud in the sky and hot already as I drove off to change my winter tires for my summer tires. (Tbh, I *had* them changed while I enjoyed a nice cup of coffee chatting away with the car tire shop owner telling me about his trip to India with his Indian wife). So *finally* I have the summer tires on! ...and can drive on them for 3 whole months as I was clever enough to book a change-to-winter-tires appointment in late October today. (Last year we had a crazy snow storm in early November and I spent the night in a hotel instead of trying to go home. It took people 5-6 hours to drive what normally takes 1 hour. Was nice to stay in a hotel, but I prefer my own bed.)

Anyhow, dinner in the city... Fanastic weather again. Warm, a bit humid, but sunny. I was surprised as at 11 o'clock, back home in my lovely flat, the sky opened and it was raining so hard it was just like watching a grey wall outside. Very cool. Thunder and lightning! I spent half an hour on my balcony having coffee and just watching the crazy rain. But during the day, it cleared up and during the evening it was a marvelous late summer evening. We had great food, nice strolls in the city and then ended up at a photo exhibition (which I will have to go back to cause it was amazing).

So all in all I've had a good day. I'm not ill. My kids are happy. I'm very proud that my teenager worked up the courage and secretly pierced another hole in her ear using a needle and not telling anyone she was going to do it!

Blah blah blah. Time for a cup of tea. Here's a picture from the restaurant.
Yes it is dark. I wanted it this way.

Might be moving to new flat!

Today a couple was here and had a look at my flat. They are expecting a baby around Christmas and want to move in together. Today they have two smaller flats. Should this couple decide they like mine, then another couple will check if they are interested in moving in to those two smaller apartments (they are separating). And if yes, then I will go over to see that second couples flat. Which is just a formality as I've already been in one of those houses and I know I like them. So a nice little triangle swap, which means it is quite unlikely to happen - but that's how we got this flat so might be cool.

The good thing about this is that we'd move away from this neighbourhood which I never really liked that much. The other area is just five minutes away, but the house is older and I like the style better. The flat is also much closer to the commuters train meaning I could leave my car at home and use that in order to get to work. I'd like that. Reading on the train och getting a nice (and needed) 15 minute walk to and from work every day.

Another good thing is that this too is a 4 bedroom flat and yet €200 cheaper per month. Adding the saving on not driving to work it adds up to €300/month. Oh, I hope!

Bad thing is it is still not in the city, but I've sort of let that idea go for now. I can't justify the 40 minute trip my kids would have to do in order to go to school both in the morning, and then again coming back home... Not much fun for a kid having to do that.

But. But. But. When they stepped out of my door I started to look around my flat. It is big. 131 square meters and I've lived here for over 4 years. There is just sooooo much stuff in here! I only need a fraction of it all, yet it still is here. So, regardless of this flat swap happening or not I must get started cleaning up this mess. Oh joy...

Technology - I'm addicted (which is bad, right?)

Sitting on a train on my way home. By now you might know that I love trains. And I especially love this one! Getting on the train in Copenhagen, Denmark knowing that 5 hours later I'll be in the very center of Stockholm, Sweden. Having travelled 650 kilometers! Driving this route takes 7 hours (if you're speeding). Flying takes 4 hours (get to the airport, check-in, security... you know the drill). And here I sit in a craft doing way over 200 km/h between the many stations we stop at. The train leans in every curve so the drink on your table hardly tilts when you're in a curve.

Hydraulics! You've got to love it.

Oh, getting on the train was a bit interesting. Very Harry Potterish as platform 26 is found via platform 3 & 4. I suppose expanding an old and existing station means you usually make it wider, i.e. you add new platforms next to the old ones. But if you're out of space - which is the case in Copenhagen, where there just is no more room on the sides of the existing platforms (unless they start knocking down buildings) - you'll simply have to add the new platforms further *out* from the main central building. Brilliant.

Anyhow, back to my train. And back to my seat. Which is a very comfortable seat! It is of course adjustable so I'm half sitting here with my laptop, surfing away on the free internet connection they have onboard.

So without thinking much about what my main objective is (travelling 650 km to get home) I have now:

• Paid some bills
• Checked my emails
• Started hunting for a ToDo List gadget for the Vista Sidebar (no luck yet)
• Imported music from PC to Phone and then set up a new playlist on the phone.
• Charged my phone
• Charged my laptop
• Had coffee and fruit
• Seen some of the TV programs I've missed (available on the swedish TV site)
• Acted on some of the apartment ads I've had some positive responses to (we really need to move to some other area)
• Had some great wine and snacks

Amazing time to live in. And I truly enjoy it. I know I take it some what for granted by now (e.g. was a bit surprised none of the hostels/hotels I've stayed in didn't have WiFi), but all this is energy consuming. VERY energy consuming. And I seriously wonder how long we can keep this up. Will we leave *all* these problems for the next (or even the one after the next) generation to sort out? If yes, then we are bastards. But I'm addicted.

Also made me think about how come so many advance civilisations have vanished or faded in to nothing. Look at Iran/Iraq for instance. Once a highly advanced and admired center of skills and knowledge. What happened? I've got to look it up. So ttfn. I'll be back.

Darkness in people

I rarely meet people that I do not feel comfortable around. At least I usually somehow understand them in some way, but during this trip I've met quite a lot of people that I would avoid should I have a second chance.

Like "Grumpy" on the train to Copenhagen today. Whenever he was offered any kind of help, or if someone asked him a question he would pretend he didn't hear or that he heard but wanted to ignore the question or offer. This one guy from Australia tried so hard to be nice to this (Danish) man, but he just would not be charmed or even decent. The decent thing to do is at least not to be rude, right? I can only guess he felt superiour for being old and not interested in making new friends. To me he just feels poor. And silly. But I can't understand why you'd chose to be rude for no reason.

Another fellow I met on the trip was a good looking guy. He was also funny and seemed alright for most parts, but every now and then he sort of showed another part of himself. Scary as hell. Complete darkness. Like pure evil. And then he'd snap out of it and be nice again.

What does it take to change these type of people in to nice(r) people? They must be able to change. Right?

Edinburgh (#2) and Inverness

Still in Edinburgh. Only have my mobile pics for now, but hope that some of the ones on my camera are better. Here are some random ones:

Surprisingly good weather. I expected it to rain constantly. Still is fkng cold though. I don't understand why everyone is walking around in T-shirts. I'm wearing a sweater and a coat...

Thursday I went up to Inverness. Train ride started 06.53 (gasp) and was a good one. I enjoy sitting in the BusinessClass section of the train except for the business *people* constantly on the phone going "What? What? Hello? Can you hear me? I'm in a tunnel. Oh, you're back! Right. I was just saying - hello? ..." Amazing how they ignore the signal bar in the phone display showing there just isn't a good enough signal for having a phone call.

Anyway, the trip as such was great. There is a part just north of Edinburgh which is beautiful! It stretches from Pitlochry up over Blair Atholl. Hilly, lush and dramatic landscape. I want to come back with a car and drive around. Especially Pitlochry looked like a one-pub-only kind of place.

Inverness as a city wasn't that impressive though. They've knocked down too many of the original buildings and the modern ones are plain ugly. The atmosphere so present in Edinburgh is no where to be found in Inverness. There is a nice walk to do, following the river and then passing over two small islands. There were a couple of trout fishers standing in the river, but none of them had any luck catching one. Overall the day in Inverness was a bit disappointing: The castle allows no visitors (but it is possible to walk around it), the town tour bus was out of service, the cathedral had a wedding dress show (and wouldn't pay to see the church), the cathedral tea room looked like a waiting hall, the pub didn't have any salt&vinegar crisps... Ah well. At least I've seen the city now.

Coming back to Edinburgh I had a very nice meal at a Fish & Seafood restaurant. And not only was the food good, I also had an excellent time watching French people coming in there and not speaking english. They seemed very upset too when the waitress couldn't understand what they wanted. Good fun. I'm thinking about ordering in Swedish from now on. I did like the waitress though, she went over to the bar and fetched the barman who spoke french. Then she took their orders while he translated.

Friday I "did" Edinburgh:

• Glanced at the Castle (too many tourists there for my liking)
• Had a quick tour inside of the Tartan Weaving Mill (soooo many nice wool stuff)
• Had really nice whiskies and a tour at the Scotch Whisky Heritage Center
• Knocked over a few tourists on my way down the Royal Mile (what is it with people? why do they just stop in the middle of the road instead of on the side?)
• Visited the Queens Gallery which had an amazing show on called "Amazing Rare Things". Leonardo da Vinci sketches, and other beautiful pics
• Walked up the *wrong* path on Arthur's Seat so didn't get all the way up to the top (duh)
• Had me some nice pints in one of the most comfortable chairs I've ever sat in. Sitting there I realized how much more fun the Scottish, English and Irish papers are compared to the boring Swedish papers.
• Oh, and at the Whisky center I had a Macallan 18 yrs old (heaven). I like the Whisky center, and might go back just to visit their bar. Amazing assortment!

Yesterday I visited 4 (four) museums... Art mostly, but they are all cool, and with free shuttle buses going in between them it is very easy and comfortable getting around. In the evening I joined one of the many ghost tours. The terror tour. Excellent tour. Lots of Edinburgh history and scary as you go in to a torture museum and then you visit some of the vaults going under the houses. Scary places.

Today I'll be packing up my stuff as I am heading for Copenhagen tomorrow. First train to London and then on from there over to mainland europe. I'll be in Denmark 26 hours later.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Arrived here just yesterday evening. Got to the hostel fine (only one wrong turn) and then I had the great pleasure of having to stand around in the reception, where I was building up an urge to punch the receptionist in his (american) face for taking *forever* to find my reservation. But of course he found it, after deciding that it probably was quicker if he spent time looking at the screen instead of asking me questions like "was I sure I was in the right hostel?", "had I really booked via their website?" and "what do you mean you had the reservation from yesterday, but you only arrived today?". Yeah, well, anyhow... Got the keys...

Hostel is located in a good spot. It is in the Old Town and it is only a hostel during the summer period, as it is a student home other times of the year. This means the rooms are big, lockable and best of all - very clean!

So having made my way to my own nice single room I decided to have a little nap. Just for 5 minutes. Turned out to be an almost 2 hour nap, and I really had to force my self to get out of bed. Looking back it was both good and bad I went out. Bad thing is I got home 5 o'clock in the morning... Good thing was I enjoyed the company of bunch of Newcastle people, working here and just popped out for a pint. I'm not sure they went in to work this morning.

Bonus from the evening: I now have a much better idea on how construction cranes are errected! These guys knew what they were talking about! 3 were iron construction guys and 1 was a chef (with bonus skills: car theft).

Well, I got to go now. More from this beautiful city later on.

Beccas 1st Birthday

So the first year went down very fast, didn't it? And today is the big day. Balloons all over the house. Kitchen filled with fairy cakes, jelly and pies (and mom is going out to get more food?!).

The first birthday gifts have already been played with. (Making a lot of noice one of them is). Mom is trying to get all things done before the guests arrive and dad's having fun with the new toys. Becca is doing alright despite the cold she's got. So not 100% but doing fine.

The toys were fun, but the balloons - man, they are so much fun! Was walking around with one of them for a good 20 minutes! Mom's not as excited as it means she has to be on her knees supporting the wee one "walking around" and also struggling a bit as she is terrified of balloons herself. But being the excellent mom she hardly even blinks when the balloon is bounced in her face or gripped tightly but little kiddy fingers.

(Sorry about the blurry pics, but she is not really in the mood for posing today.Can't blame her.)

Ireland and animals

So, I've arrived in Ireland, where it was of course raining, and are now happily seated in a nice couch in Bray. And what do I hear but complaints regarding the frequency of updates to my blog?! So this one's for you, John!

Coming over to Ireland today was OK. Part from the stupid cow sitting in the seat next to mine. I had a nice looking guy sitting in the aisle seat, and me at the window so seemed good until the cow came and filled up the mid seat. The cow title was earned by (1) smelling of beer then (2) falling asleep breathing my way (probably to really allow me to smell that fine beer breath of hers) and then finally when waking up (3) she read her news paper holding it over my space while I was trying to eat my sandwhich, and when asking her - kindly - to remove her paper she just snorted and did NOT move it. Interesting lady. She is not invited to my next party.

I read an evening news paper on the plane over. I usually don't read them as they are filled with crap, but today they were right at the gate and free so I had one. Jeeeeeeezus! They ARE filled with crap, but there was one story I really liked. A seal escaped from the stockholm zoo yesterday. It jumped out(!) of the little pool, then made its way to the real sea 500 meters away!!! But the little rascal was not clever enough. After a bit of swimming around, it got lonely, found some kids out sailing and was caught.

A more sad story was about a kitten some New York girls found and decided to have some fun with. By pouring gazoline over it and then set it on fire. Yeah, go girls. What fun...

Made me think of the camel found in a ditch in Sweden this summer. Yes, in Sweden. Big news of course. It lay there dead by the side of the road. Story behind it was it somehow was dragged after some vehicle, hurt badly the owner (some circus) put it out of its misery by the side of the road and then went to find the local police.

Ha, and that makes me think of the odd things I saw the other day. Was driving from mom's summer house out on the country side, and I passed a field with horses. Common. Then a field with cows. Yeah, right, country side. Then a field of camels. What? And then a field of elephants! Aaah, and then the circus tents were spotted. I hate circuses, but I'll leave that to another day. Now I'll go see if there is any wine I can help my nice hosts to finish, and then I might help hanging the balloons even!

Tagged

I've been tagged. Thx a bunch John... But as I do blog, and have enjoyed reading the other victim's blogs, I don't mind pouring out some random facts and habits about myself. However, I will not follow rule #3 (and obviously 4).
Will I be unfortunate for life breaking that rule? Let's see.

OK first the RULES
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

So, you know the rules - then here we go:

1. Not surprisingly the first random thing up on my list is about sex... I just realized yesterday that I have never had sex with someone with brown eyes. Seemed a bit odd as only 10% of the worlds population have blue or green eyes. Then again, I haven't had that many partners.
   
   
2. I get on peoples nerves. People get on my nerves.
   
   
3. I love making people laugh. I love people that make me laugh. I laugh every day. And I love a lot of people.
   
   
4. I like drugs. I am addicted to nicotine and caffein, have seriously considered to cut down on alcohol and am glad I no longer hang out with people who frequently uses other drugs.
   
   
5. If I could meet anyone in the world I'd pick Jesus. If I could take only one person to a desert island he'd definitely be my choice: fantastic conversations, seems he was not in to celibacy and when bored (or hungry) he could walk off to get help.
   
   
6. Once I was convinced I finally had had my first one night stand. But then I ended up having a one-year long relationship with the guy. (And yes, he had blue eyes.)
   
   
7. I look up words and then I rarely remember what it said 5 minutes after. I have a distinct feeling of getting more and more stupid.
   
   
8. I am sorry I couldn't stay awake until 07:07 yesterday. Now I have to wait until 08:08 August 8, next year.

Erase and re-wind

So much to say, and so little time. Anyhow. I'm here - obviousloy - and have just left another cheerful message to dave, who seem to have fallen off the face of earth. John posted a great series of shots today which made me remember it is my youngest daughter's birthday today. Congrats Isa! Unfortunately she is away on vacation so I'll just have to hold on untill she's back again.

Some of you know that I've been working working working working a lot for a very long time now, and as I am typing, we are deploying *the* last release in production, meaning the project (in which I have spent 2 years) is now ready to close.
And, for all of you who out there who can relate to (too long) SW dev projects, the complete irony is that today is also the day when it was confirmed that the company, for which all of this has been done, is being sold. Ha!

Well, I'm looking forward to the project "kick-out" next week. Purpose: Re-boot. Goal: Erase all traces of project related memory. Budget: What ever it takes to achieve the goal.