Holiday - again!

Tomorrow Scotland and the festival, yey!!

For those how you that have never been, Fringe Festival is the biggest arts festival in the world - and also the number-one tourist attraction in the whole of Britain! All according to www.edfringe.com; check it out!

Really looking forward to it, gonna have a blast with Jess! Just keeping fingers crossed for the weather, every time I've been Edinburgh it's been like taking a shower every time you step outside the door..... Wish us luck this time! ;)

L x

Good news!

It's finally settled - I'm keeping my job! Hurrah!

How to celebrate.... hmmm... shopping?! ;)

L x

Andalucia -09.

This was the route:
Malaga - Ronda - Sevilla - Cadiz - Estepona - Nerja - Granada - Malaga.

This was the weather:
Hot, hot, hot, hoooooot. And sunny - absolutely gorgeous!

This was the mission:
Beach, culture, food, chill, fun!

Jojo took charge of the driving, I of the navigation. Considering that we had no road map and guided our little car through a quite substantial part of Andalucia using only a Top 10 Guidebook and mobile photos of Google Earth, I think we did very well indeed.

Short summary in photos:


On the road.


Gorgeous Ronda.


Seville Cathedral - magnificent.


Cadiz.


Nerja - pretty close to paradise.


View over Alhambra & Granada.

Long time, no write...

Hi guys,

It's been ages, I know - mainly because this whole job thing is still dragging on - yes, seriously, i still don't know the answer. Could be another month now apparently. Love my job, so still hoping for the best. Am hopeful all will work out!

So, what else has happened since April? Well normal stuff really; hanging with friends, working hard, having random crushes on cute boys, going to the gym, shopping far too much.... You know, the usual.

And - I've been to Spain with Johanna. It was lovely lovely lovely! Will write a belated travel diary in my next post! (And no, it won't take 3 months between posts anymore... ;))

More fun is coming up; Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August with Jessi - gonna be brilliant fun. Plus mum really really wants me to come over to Fagersta one weekend sooooooon so I'll do my best!

Watch out for the Spain post, coming up shortly!

Over and out,

L x

En månad kvar...

...innan någon annan, inte jag, bestämmer vilken riktning mitt liv kommer ta den närmsta framtiden. Håller tummarna. Hoppas på det bästa.

Förändring är inte önskeordet just nu - längre fram ja, men låt mig välja när. Snälla.

L x

Kära Sverige.

Vad trevligt det var att träffa dig i all din vårvintriga glans! Som vårdande balsam för själen att vandra längs istäckt sjö med världens lyckligaste hund bredvid sig; att känna vinden bita lite sådär lagom i kinderna medan solen långsamt går ner över lila och rosafärgade grantoppar.

Ibland längtar jag.

L x

PS. Det var hemskt fruktansvärt underbart ljuvligt trevligt att träffa er också - Claudi, Jojo, Roubis, Lollo, Salmis, Axel, mamma, Bosse, lillebror. DS.

Sunshine outside - and inside.

It's been a lovely weekend. Sunny, unusually warm for March, gloriously blue skies.

Yest walked both sides of Thames; south with A & C, north lost in my own thoughts. Later went out with the ViaS girls; weird slash amusing tiny tiny basement club which gave me an almost irresistible impulse to burst out in song: "Let's do the time-warp agaaaaain"... Incredible outfits: full on Austin Power girls mixed with indie/60s/etc. Shame had to leave-with-the-last-tube as per always... well, well; fun while it lasted!

Today has been one of those homely days. Launderette-ing/hoovering/cleaning/sorting/fixing. Hate cleaning but looooove it when all done.

Now; relax.

L x

Two crazy weeks.

It's been two crazy weeks at work - as in lots and lots and lots and lots of things to do. Hopefully the bulk of it is now done, wehey!! It better be actually, cuz I'm off on hols most of next week - to Sweeeeden!! Brill, can't wait! :)

Today is a glorious sunny day and I'm off to meet some friends for a loooong walk by the Thames. Life is good.

L x

TGIW.

It's been a crazy crazy week at work - not gonna go into detail cuz that would be very boring indeed - but let's just say that everything that in any way shape or form whatsoever could go wrong has done so. Either you tear you hair out or you laugh. So I've laughed a lot! ;)

So yeah, TGIW. Weekends rock! Just chilling at Starbucks now, drinking Chai Tea Latte (skinny, extra Chai) and fighting off the remains of my slight hangover from yesterday.

Went out with the blondes around Hoxton, ate Moroccan mezze, danced to silly tunes (yes, the famous microwave-soup-dance made an appearance), looked at cute boys, drank far too much red wine. Plus found the most delicious espresso-honey-Kahlua-chocolate-ish cocktail ever.

Now; chill.

L x

It's work....

...that's keeping me from writing once again. Sorry!

Letting go..?

If you know me, you know I like to have things controlled/planned/organized. Not everything of course, I don't care much about small silly things like which movie to see/where to have lunch/which bar to go to/etc. But when it comes to my own life I like to feel that I'm in control, not being controlled.

I'm having a lot of difficulty at the moment accepting that in "the current economic climate" etc etc; I really don't have much say at all in what's happening in my life. No one does, of course - I'm not stupid, I realise that. But I'm used to having choices, to be able to steer my life where I want it to go. And so far - in a very broad sense - wherever I've wanted to be, that's where I've ended up.

All of a sudden I'm not in control of anything - life/living/work... it's really scaring me.

But I have to learn to take a deep breath and let go for once. Otherwise I'll worry myself sick. So here we go, deep breaths, closed eyes, counting slowly to ten....

....letting go.

L x

Marley & Me.

Yesterday, me and Cissi went to a free preview screening of Marley & Me, starring Jennifer Aniston & Owen Wilson - plus an adorable cast of various dogs of course.

I would really recommend this film; especially to anyone who ever have had the privilege of sharing their life with one of those glorious creatures called dogs. The movie is funny, sweet, sad at times - mainly lighthearted admittedly, but also with darker moments. It doesn't get too fluffy. And don't worry; it's not all about dog-human relationships; there's quite a bit of the human-human variety too.

I can't speak for Cissi, but I certainly had a tear in my eye at the end.

L x

Worries & Chocolate.

Everyday you read about thousands and thousands more people being made redundant/unemployed/not needed. In all countries, in all cities, in all types of businesses. Even in little Fagersta hundreds and hundreds, out of a total workforce of a few thousand, are now - or will soon - be unemployed. Scary.

I don't like uncertainty. So I've been eating a lot of chocolate recently.

I don't really think chocolate will solve any major world crises. But oh my good does it taste good. Mmm. And a bag of Maltesers can surely keep your mind occupied for, like, 10 whole minutes. I guess that means I would have to eat, like, 96 bags per day to keep my mind completely off the state of the world... Honestly, I wouldn't mind.

More chocolate to the people, y'all.

L x

My useless body.

Here I am, trying to get into the routine of going to the gym regularly. Trying hard to make my body healthier, fitter, stronger.

And how does my body thank me? By completely malfunctioning at every opportunity it gets!!

This year, I've had constant colds, one after another, like, totally, the whole year so far. A few weeks ago my neck nearly killed me after yoga; all last week I was limping after the treadmill; this week my left knee stopped working after the cross trainer. Pain pain pain!

I'm trying to be good here, body. Cooperate!!

Tomorrow is payday.

Hurray!!!!!!!

You have no idea how much I wanna shop. Shop, shop, SHOP! the more I hear of doom and gloom and redundancies and cut backs and recruitment stops, the more I want to shop shop shop and spend spend spend.

Not ideal.

What i should be doing is nesting, saving, planning, budgeting, preparing.

What i want to do is shopping - new clothes, furniture, a digital SLR, and shoes shoes shoes.

My empty wallet is itching. Tomorrow it will be replenished - but for how long....?

To shop or not to shop - that is the question.

L x

The realities of war...

Three British soldiers were killed in Afghanistan today.

One of them was the little brother of someone I know. Only 21 years old. He had but a few weeks of service left before he was due back on British soil. Now he's gone.

The pain in his big sisters eyes was indescribable.

A sad day.

I just had waaaaaaay to much chocolate.

I feel sick.

L x

I'm not picky...

...any of these will do quite fine, thank you.

One
Two
Three

L x

Bye bye Bobby.

The Zoo with Cissi & MJ yest was lovely, as always.

Was very sad to hear though that the male silverback gorilla, Bobby, had past away on December 5th last year. I had no idea so it was a bit of a shock...

Might sound silly to be sad over the death of an animal you've never even had physical contact with, but I have seen a lot of Bobby and his girls during my time as a volunteer - and he really did have a very strong personality. Very strange to know that he's gone.

Read more about Bobby here.

L x

The Chiswick way of life.

Just had another one of those lovely weekend days in Chiswick.

Woke up late, had Starbucks breakfast, met Cissi, walked for two hours by the sunny Thames, talked about life, love and all that other stuff. Peeped into luxurious riverside houses, discussed what-ifs and what-nots, philosophized about the future, had a drink at the pub.

Then home, tired but happy, eating nice food and far too much chocolate. Feels good.

Tomorrow; the Zoo.

L x

The Walkmen.

On Friday, after a "quick" work drink, me and Cissi finally managed to get on the tube to Kings X/Scala. The aim was to see our lovely indie fanatic friends - and, as a sort of byproduct - quite a few bands of the indie rock/pop/etc variety. But, as per usual, we ended up being so late that we only managed to see the headliners; the Walkmen. They were actually pretty good. Even I liked them in my own sort of slightly-indifferent-to-music-kind of way; amazingly even enough so to locate one of their songs on YouTube for your listening pleasure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpNbpNp87jA&feature=PlayList&p=552494DB7CC21B34&playnext=1&index=37

Do enjoy.

After a frantic search for a cardigan - which we after much ado found - and an equally frantic rush to the Picadilly line - which we of course missed - followed by another frantic headless-chicken-sort of sprint to the very very last Hammersmith & City train - which we caught, hurray! - i finally ended up in bed at around 1.30 am. I'm so Rock'n'Roll. Yeah.

L x

He's Just Not That Into You - SPOILER.

So was it a good anti-Valentine's film? Yes and no. It was funny, and about bad dating/relationship experiences - I think we all recognised situations from our own love life - so that was suitable. But it was also very Hollywood. Happy endings all around/love conquers all/etc etc. So that was unsuitable.

The weird thing for me was which one of the characters I "got" the most - the wife who was willing to (try to) forgive her cheating husband when he came clean out of the blue about his affair; BUT who then immediately kicked him out and filed for divorce when she caught him lying to her face about smoking.

That's so me, and I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. And no no no - I don't mean that I think lying about smoking is worse than cheating; or even that I would be able to forgive anyone cheating on me - I just mean that the deciding factor for me would be the lying. Everyone messes up and make mistakes - it's how you handle them that matter. Fess up, come clean, give people the choice to forgive you. I can forgive almost anything - but I find it very hard to forgive people lying to my face.

Agree/disagree?

L x

Woooooooooooooooork.

So much work. Work work work. When it eases up I'll write again... :)

Friday chill.

Just had a lovely pre-Valentine's date with Tove - and two almost illegally tasty waffles. Mmmm.

Tomorrow it's a night of pure looooooooooove starring a bunch of Scandi femmes, some girly drinks and the aptly named movie "He's Just Not That Into You".

Bring on anti-Valentine's!

L x

I'm at home. AND online. Legally!!

Just wanted to say that! :P

Internet IS coming!

...so yeah - from tomorrow, in theory, I can be found online at home!! Yehey!

L x

Life and that.

Monday again. Time just flies by. Woooooooom. Thursday, Sunday, March, May, December, 2010... It goes so quickly.

Thinking a lot about The Future lately. It's a spring thing I think. You know; cleaning out the old to give room to the new. Or keeping the old because you really really like it and don't need the new. Etc.

Things are good though; it's not a sad thing, just a reflective thing. Like directions, choices, plans. I'm good at those things... Maybe too good? Sometimes I wish I could just shut off that forward thinking, always-in-motion side of my brain. But it's also what keeps me going.

Anyways, enough for today.

L x

Internet is coming... maybe.

Today I have finally done what I've been saying I would do for like the last 2 1/2 years. I've ordered my very own mobile broadband! Tadaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Pending their weird credit assessments (it doesn't seem to matter what I earn, that I have no debts and a perfect credit history - all that matters seem to be if i have been registered as living on a specific address for over 3 years...), my internet should be up and running next week! It's a triumph for mankind!

After all this excitement - have a good weekend now, y'all.

L x

How cool is this?!

Picture from Aquahobby.com.

Missing a home.

Sitting in my wardrobe/flat yest eve sewing buttons onto my coat it hit me again how much I miss having a home. I don't necessarily mean to own a home, more to live somewhere that feels like a home.

For three years now I've lived in places that have been "temporary solutions"; time might have dragged on and "temporary" might have turned into "long term" - but the feeling has always been the same. It's just for a little while; It's just until I get a pay rise; It's just until I've settled into my new job. And still; when I have moved on, for whatever reason - it's been straight into another "temporary solution".

I miss my flat in Kalmar; I miss decorating; I miss spending a whole day making sorry excuses for pies; I miss having friends over for drinks; I miss having proper storage; I miss the feeling that this is my home.

In Sweden I bought furniture that I wanted, if I thought I could afford them. In London I buy furniture that are as cheap as possible, if I think I can stand them.

And no, I'm not saying I'm moving back to Sweden - or even that I would want to at this stage. I just wish I could get that feeling of my home over here.

It's just until the economic climate changes.

L x

Radio Ga Ga?

Have listened back to the interview - not as embarassing as i thought it would be but yeah, radio is prob not a viable career choice for moi. I sort of sound like i'm teaching a masterclass in heavy phone breathing.

Starts at 19 min 20s in.
http://www.sr.se/webbradio/webbradio.asp?type=broadcast&id=1580869

L x

Snowing on the radio.

Today, I will be a radio star.

Or to be precise - I will be interviewed live on P4 Västmanland about the past days snow "chaos" here in LDN. Very nervous; will most likely say something really really stupid, plus will prob sound like a three year old child over the phone. Might try to get some stammering in there somewhere too... :P

The things you do for your mates, huh? P4 Västmanland; 15.15-ish Swedish time. Yeah!

L x

Snowed in - but not under.

Very strange day. Seems like people all over London have been given a free Snowman-making-day because of the "severe" (allow me to laugh into the face of London) weather conditions. It's only a little snow!!!

For us lucky people actually at work, it's hard to get anything done. All the people you need around - to get tapes/material/gfx advice - are for obvious reasons out of office, and as a result things sort of grind to a standstill.

It's beautiful outside. All the grime and graffiti, the dog poo and the ditched take away wrappings, are snowed under and everything looks so clean and pure. Even the sky is white. Surreal.

London is in standstill.

It's been snowing for like 5 minutes and all of London have been cancelled. No trains no tubes no buses. It's not even a lot of snow for goodness sake. They are mad i tell you. Completely mad.

I, of course, have no excuses. Only time so far have regretted living within walking distance to work. Department is empty - only me and the boss is in; the Chiswick crew. Yeah!

L x

Revolutionary Road.

Yest was this year's first free preview - Revolutionary Road. Loved it - and hated it... Was very painful viewing; a brilliant film but oh so gut wrenching. I rarely get emotional watching movies, but this one almost made me cry. Kate Winslet definitely deserved her Golden Globe. See it!

L x

I still want all of these things.

- A one bed flat in NH
- A blue striped Mini Cooper
- An English Toy Terrier puppy
- A Chloe Paddington bag in light brown
- An aquarium made of a vintage Television Set
- A bag of crisps - any flavour really. Except BBQ.

Hmmm.... a year and a half later and not a single item off the list!?
Think i'm gonna have to at least go buy some crisps....

L x

Oh weekend, how i adore you.

It's Friday and the countdown has started. How much as i like my job, i love my weekends. And this should be a good one. Date tonight - dinner and cinema; tomorrow some shopping, maybe girly night in/out in the East; on Sunday Starbucks, yoga, sauna, relaaaaaaaaax.

Lovely.
L x

Thursday.

Pokémon is dead, long live Galactik Football.

L x

2008 was really really bad - and really really good.

A lot of shit happened last year. But that's all I'm gonna say about it.

A lot of pretty wonderful stuff happened last year. And that's a lot more fun to talk about!

Highlights from 2008:
- Getting my new job
- Moving to Chiswick
- Realizing how many brilliant friends I have

And for 2009:
Maybe the much dreamed/talked/fantasised about road trip actually will happen this year...? So many things that need to fit in and happen/not happen respectively for it to work; but hey - the preliminary plans def exist. We'll see.

Flat wise something bigger would be nice. There is no more room for shoes. I need more shoes.

Work is brill; oh-so-ridiculously-busy so far this year - but it is fun. I like coming to work in the mornings. Hopefully it will stay this way; more shoots, more big projects, more trips. But please try to avoid mentioning the word "Pokémon" in my presence for at least a month.

Conclusion:
Cheers for 2009!
L xx