SWEDE ABROAD

Time for a change

2011-11-05T08:55:00.003Z

It has taken me 3 years but today, I have made a decision: I am getting my hair cut. Radical, I know.

Last time I had my hair cut properly was in August-September 2008, before I went to India.

Since then, the only person who has been allowed near my hair is M. With a pair of kitchen scissors. In her kitchen. And only the end bits to straighten it out. That was once, a couple of month ago.

The reason for the lack of hair dressing is simply that I don't trust hair dressers. They normally give me a crap cut. Since 1996, there have been 3 hairdressers I have trusted:

Donna - she cut my hair in Sydney. She was fantastic.

Majsan - she cut my hair back in Sweden. She was awesome. But expensive hair cut as have to factor in the flights.

Emma The Australian - she cut my hair in London but as live outside of London could only get appointments on a Saturday. Which was fine until Emma managed to call in sick every single time I had made an appointment. So, I did what every person would do - I fired her. I have since then been searching and searching.

During my searching, I have met some gawdaweful hair dressers. Especially the junior stylists. They cannot ever be let near my hair ever again.

Apologies

2011-11-02T19:59:00.002Z

Have you missed me? Fear not, I will be brightening up your dark days with my wit and sassyness.

Not my purdy!

2009-08-31T11:07:00.002+01:00

Accidentally dropped my iPhone in the middle of the street on Friday night. Instant reaction was the want to cry like a 3-year-old when discovered cracked screen. Fortunately only tiny crack and can still use beloved phone. It is either that or use a Nokia for the next 4 week while phone in being repaired. Came to conclusion cannot live without iPhone. Especially not for a Nokia. How would I sync to MoileMe? Get my calendar? Know what I was doing, and where? Get emails? Nope, iPhone = Life. Not willing to negotiate.

Morning glory

2009-08-23T07:49:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I did some clearing out of handbags as here are some that I just don't use, or have actually never used. Shall be eBaying them shortly once I figure out how. Am really quite amazed at this. The handbags sorting, not the lack of eBaying-skills, naturally.

Atm Hubby is fast asleep, I am wake early again. This usually happens. Am trying to find out the best way of cleaning my yoga mat. It stinks of toe jam. Thank goodness for the Internet, I am sure it has answers to all my questions.

Shall also go and bake bread - it is a beautiful day.

Long time no see

2009-08-22T17:18:00.002+01:00

Thought I'd give this blogging malarkey another go. Hopefully, I'll keep up with it. It is just so hard when I seem to be Facebooking all the time but now that Hubby has bought me a new spangly shiny silver MacBook Pro, I shall indeed give it a bash.

I am still doing the yoga thing. I am still partial to Cosmopolitans, Mojitos and Manolo Blahniks. Have still got a weird fetish about glasses (as in drinks glasses, not eye sight correction devices - now *THAT* would be weird) as one has to match the glass to the drink. This is not a weird obsession. Have also developed a love for baking cupcakes. Amazing just how much cupcake paraphernalia one can buy...

Still have a Hubby and two cats. I am trying to get a third but feel it might be a losing battle. We still live in the same house but exciting things are happening! We are building a kitchen extension. Well, we have submitted the plans anyway. But we get to go and look for news toys! Cookers(s), hob, fridge/freezer etc etc. All exciting! Will keep you up-to-date.

As if one thing was not enough

2009-01-30T16:49:00.002Z

I have also gone and ruined my Bvlgari sunglasses. Fecking Goa sand has scratched them to smitherenes.

You want more?

2009-01-28T13:26:00.002Z

Apparently blogging once a quarter is not acceptable. It makes for bad blog-ettiquette (blogquette?). Shall therefore make an attempt to be less offensive.

To sun up the last few months: It has been dark. It has been rainiy. It has been kind of like it always have been in the UK. Kind of depressing. And apparently we are in recession now. So what has there been to blog about?

Let's start with my India trip. Apart from David Swenson being the Ashtanga yoga god that he is, we did not have the best time. Not due to the hot, smelly, filthy country we vistited (India) but due to the dystentry we contracted. Twice. Not one round of, but two. TWO rounds of dysentry. Two rounds of jabs in the bum, two rounds of antibiotics. 3 doctor call-outs and 3 missed classes.

And M lost her suitcase on the way there. Becasue they had to put on on a different flight. Because we had not checked in on-line and the plane had something wrong with it and they had to get a smaller plane. So off to Dubai we were. To then connect to Hydrabad. To then connect to Goa. Will never, ever, ever not fly direct again. Could have taken 10 hours, instead it took over 24.

Got suitbase back about a week later though, that's some good news.

What else? Hmmm...my car is in the garage. My car is not working. Probably an expensive job. Think I might have to drink a bottle of wine as a result. Oh, need to figure out how to get home first. Bit tricky not having a car. One does not do public transport.

A bit like home

2008-10-29T13:06:00.003Z

Leaving work last night it started to rain. Not a lot but still. Once I reached my car (a massive walk of 15 minutes) it has started to rain LOTS. Suddently, I my Swedish Brain which has been slightly neutralised came to life. Swedish Brain reminded me that cold weather and rain is not a good combination. Like say if the temperature drops. But it wouldn't because this is the UK and it is only October. It norally only snows in let's say APRIL. Swedish Brain was still rather concerned. It might just snow if the temerature drops, it insisted.

Upon reaching home, Swedisn Brain took a back-seat. Neutralised Brain had to do some cooking to prevent Cats and Hubby from being eaten. Hubby left for some crazy-in-the-rain mountainbikingwhich Swedish Brain was not keen on. It reminded Hubby about listening to Swedish Wife. If you have no waterproofs and it rains Hubby will get cold. In NY Hubby got pneumonia because he did not listen to Swedish Wife. Hubby ought to listen. Hubby didn't. Hubby left. Not permanently in a Guy Ritchie-style. He went mountain biking.

Whilst cooking all alone in the house, Neutralised Brain glanced out the window as Smallest Cat was kind of staring an a bewildered fasion from his safe seat in the sofa. He was seing something totally new and unfamiliar.

Swedish Brain got excited. It snowed! And lots of. It brought on starting out the window for ages and singing Swedish children's songs about snow.

Then came the realisation - car does not handle well in snow or ice. The combinaiton of heavy rain, snow and freezing cold was enought for Swedish Brain to get rather concerned about getting to work this morning. Let's just say it was an interesting ride. A bit like home, but with no grit or snow ploughs...

Lazy days

2008-10-18T18:48:00.002+01:00

Hubby has been away for the past week. Yup, sometimes he has to do work! However, this has left little old me all alone in the house. So, what does one do when one is home alone? Not a lot actually. Today, I got woken up Kitten at 7, just in time to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix Qualifying. Later, I went to the shops and made a huge pasta bake which I have been nibbling on all day long. Needless to say, I am not really hungry now. Having said that, I quote fancy a glass o wine and maybe some popcorn later.

Bad times

2008-10-08T13:50:00.004+01:00

Nevermind the currect global economic global crisis. I have larger concerns: I am falling apart. Not in an "I-am-so-sad way" but my body is starting to fall apart. Having said that, I do tend to worry about nothing sometimes but these are my cause for concern:

1. My right foot. For a few months now it has been painful just by the big toe joint and now my foot has started to look differently. I told my colleague H about it the other day who informed me it is a "bunion". Not knowing that this was, I looked it up. I wish I hadn't. I am now convinced I am suffering from an Hallux Valgus and have booked an appointment with the doctor. He is not a podiatrist but will be able to refer me. It is times like these I am happy we have private medical care and aren't just relying on the NHS.

2. My right shoulder. It is raised constantly and it hurts. It is not due to yoga, I don't think. I have had it off and on for the last..erm..8 years. At the same time as I am shoving my foot in my doctor's face, he will also be instructed to take a look at my shoulder to advice whether I need a physiotherapist or a chiropractor. My colleague B says I should go to the chiropractor regardless as my posture is bad. Here's to thinking my bad posture and my bad shoulder might be connected... Again, I am very grateful for the private medical health care R has through his company, I might finally get some use out of it.

NYC

2008-09-29T20:39:00.002+01:00

I am very tired. Have had a fantastic 4 days in NYC but all I want to do now is sleep. Am trying my best to stay awake. Landed at 7.50 this morning and Hubby fetched from airport before having to shoot off to Bristol for work. This left me with entertaining myself as to not fall asleep. Having watched a lot of recorded things on Sky+ (kind of like TiVO for you Americans) my eyelids gave up in the middle of an episode of Desperate Housewives. Had a little nap for 3 hours and have since managed to stay awake for about another 3 hours. Tiredness (or exhaustion) is now setting in.

I didn't spent too much money in NYC. It was more of a comfortable amount. I also brought a small suitcase for a reason. Nevertheless, I managed 3 new handbags, two coats, one top, some earrings (which I had just had to tear my office apart for as I thought I had lost them) and a crap load of alcohol and food. NYC ain't cheap but it is a fantastic city and I would quite like to move there. How to convince Hubby?

It was L and C's first time in the City so we did some of the tourist things i.e. Statue of Liberty, bus tours, water taxi etc... As it was foggy (we blame tropical hurricane Luke) I didn't got to the Empire State building with them as there was no view whatsoever. Not sure if L and C made it there after I left though.

Need to crash now. More will follow tomorrow.

Lack of exercise

2008-09-10T13:10:00.005+01:00

Sunday: Did Ashtanga yoga and nearly twisted my hip out of its joint. Was good but ikkle bit painful.
Monday: No exercise as had to work late. Also slight suffering from hip-twisting
Tuesday: Missed lunch-time pilates class (still not very sure about pilates, feels like there is something missing) as was busy working (fancy that) and had not switched on my outlook automated reminder. Note to self - Must set it.
Wednesday: Will be enjoying the cinema with L and E (it is monthly Ladies Night) thus not exercising. Will be eating popcorn for dinner.

So, this means rest of week will be as follows:
Thursday: Lunch-time yoga and then Ashtanga yoga after work
Friday: Will have to do some running. I need to.
Saturday: Day off
Sunday: Ashtanga yo..shock, horror! Just remembered Matt won't be there. Wonder if we will get a sub?

It's not like me

2008-09-07T11:56:00.002+01:00

There were two things I swore I would never do again: Have O2 as mobile phone provider and bank with Barclays.

I am now with O2 and I bank with Barclays. How??? What happened??? I was so adamant. I feel like a cheat.

Christmas in Goa

2008-09-03T22:26:00.002+01:00

The new me (slightly slimmer version who can actually run on the thread mill for more than 1 minute) is finally going to India to practise some yoga. It wasn't actually my idea, it was M's. She told me what she was doing for her 30th and I could not NOT go. Two weeks in Goa over Christmas and New Years practising Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson - one of the world's best teachers. I have about 3 months to get fit and very good at yoga. Is doable. The one thing that bothers me slightly is the vegetarian cuisine. I quite like vegetarian food but... What? Not even a little turkey on Christmas day??? No Christmas ham? I will have to drown my sorrows in pints of Kingfisher and dance around a palm tree.

I also have to sort my visa for India but I cannot do so until we have returned from NYC. Oh, did I not tell you? Off for a girlie weekend in New York with L, L and C at the end of the month. There will be Cosmopolitans and Manolo Blahniks galore. Hooray!

I finally did it

2008-08-23T14:28:00.004+01:00

Ta-dah! I have gotten myself a new blog, a new phone and I am finally starting my yoga practice again. It's been a long time coming. Is this the new me?