Yeah, yeah, that's not the proper name.... but it's how I pronounce it! :)
The holiday plans are made; plane ticket booked, weekend in County Clare sorted. I'm even excited about loading a trailer full of turf in the midlands :)
It'll be the regular trip with the added excursion to the west. I've never been to the west coast before and I'm really looking forward to it! .... The only downside is that the puffins won't be around so late in the summer. I may have to have a separate puffin-tour next year :)
Whenever I go to Ireland I pack my best clothes and I dress up as much as I can. I make the airport my fashion runway and I stop and stare at everything even though it's not particularly new to me anymore. I'm really looking forward to my holiday! I can't wait for it to start :)
I got a new video game a week ago or so.
Well, new to me anyway… :)
I bought Skyrim as I had heard it is a good
game and because I usually play Dragon Age and from what I could understand the
two are quite similar. They’re both RPGs set in a fantasy world and you can
choose if you want to play as a warrior, rogue or mage.
On my first hour of playing Skyrim I got the
bright idea to pickpocket someone. You can do so in Dragon Age no problem, if it
fails it fails and that’s all that happens. I figured there was nothing to lose
so I did the same in Skyrim – and before I knew it everyone was attacking me. I
managed to kill the one I pickpocketed and that’s when more people showed up in
an angry mob. I didn’t know how to use the controls properly and thus got killed
by an angry man with a frying pan.
Playing as a rogue is easy in Dragon Age.
You just be opportunist whenever you get a chance. In Skyrim, however,
everything is illegal and they will kill you for it. You can’t trespass, pick
locks or steal without consequences (unless you’re really good at it and don’t
get caught!).
I torched a random chicken with my fire
magic because I was quite bored - and got killed because of it. One teeny tiny chicken, caused the death of four people.
Overall, this game is much too complicated
for me.
Sellingpoint vs my reality
You can go anywhere! I get lost
Visit loads of places! I can’t find them
So many side missions! Over-flooded with scrap
You can steal anything Someone will kill you
Daytime/nighttime It gets dark a lot.
Weather changes It mostly snows or rains
Make a character Y U NO pretty?
The main thing is miss in Skyrim is that
in Dragon Age I have funny companions. In Skyrim I’m allowed one at the time (if I’m
not mistaken) and in Dragon Age I can have three and they all make funny remarks
that make me chuckle :)
I'm not done playing Skyrim, but I have no clue what the hay I'm doing.
The title menu song is scaring the bejesus out of Schmoosie...
As it seems our little tiger is recruiting
another member to the herd. Mr Chuckles and I spotted the very furry cat in our
garden yesterday. Schmoosie was sitting calmly nearby looking at it. Normally
he’d go all fluffy and upset someone’s coming close to his territory (he loves
being territorial and macho), but this time he kept quiet. He even went chasing
a butterfly instead of telling the strange cat off.
I’m not sure if this new buddy of his is a
stray or if he has a home. It was rather thin, had long, dark fur and didn’t
seem afraid at all. He even went for a lie down on one of the garden chairs.
When we let Schmoosie in, the strange cat went after and popped his head in
through the terrace door and that’s when Schmoosie came to chase him away.
Schmoosie wasn’t really upset by it – it was more of a too-much-too-soon kind of
thing.
I do hope this cat has a home already;
partly because it really angers me when people kick out their cats and partly
because I’m not sure if we have room for two.
… And I’m certainly not sure if I’d be able
to convince Mr Chuckles that having two cats would be a good
idea.
Time to celebrate Sweden's most beloved holiday! :)
Looks like the weather is traditionally overcast and it'll most likely rain before the day is over. As per usual. I'm off to herring lunch with my sister and parents in a couple of hours, so I'm just going to make myself pretty and hop up on my bicycle.
I was going to explain more about what Midsummer is and how we celebrate it, but I found this video - which is far better than anything I could possibly say about it :)
I felt the need to write this post because
every time I open my mouth to talk about my everyday life “Mr Chuckles this
and Mr Chuckles that” pops out and I can’t help it. I’m really proud of him :)
The things I’d mention vary, but as I was
asked about my plans for the upcoming Swedish holiday I told my bosses about his
Midsummer traditions :)
Mr Chuckles is a fussy eater, but every
Midsummer the brave man gulps a small piece of pickled herring and washes it
down with vodka (as we do in Sweden). It looks absolutely horrible and I suffer
with him every year, but he has no plans of stopping as far as I can tell. It’s
tradition, he says.
He also teaches me things, especially things
about Ireland (political, cultural, linguistic, random) and technology. The
latter is an interest of his; the former is mainly because I ask too many
questions :)
I love listening to his techy stuff, though
I’m not sure if he knows that. Admittedly, it’s too nerdy for me to grasp fully
at times, but it’s intriguing me all the same.
Of course we have our ups and downs just
like any other couple. Despite being quite alike, we are also each other’s polar
opposites. I can be terribly disgruntled, annoyed or overly emotional … but at
the end of the day there’s no one else I’d rather be with :)
In 2005 when I was in high school Schnappi the baby crocodile made his way from Germany to Sweden. My friends and I adored him! :)
He was the cutest little thing ever, singing songs about his red bike, the llama from Yokohama and chasing dinner. I have the album somewhere so I remember... Do you? :)
It's funny how some nice things stick with you forever.
I know bad things stick as well. I, like many other people, have a hard time letting go of badness and meanies you'd come across from time to time. But really, isn't it just swell to forget about all that and focus on things that make your days golden instead? Simple things, like the right word at the right time, a smile when you needed it the most or treasured friendship :)
I deal with a big meanie on a daily basis, I even shed a tear because of it the other day. But what I find - and this is quite intriguing - is that it doesn't matter so much. I'm sad for maybe half an hour tops, but the truly good times I remember with sweet friends or wonderful new aquaintances last for much longer than half an hour.
For instance, a couple of years ago, I went to a wedding. I got myself dolled up (I LOVE being stylish!) but ended up feeling quite miserable due to many different things, however what I remember to this day is that a young woman came up to me, solely to let me know she thought I was very beautiful. To this day I have no idea who she is! I wish I could tell her how she made my day back then and how that one, short coversation is still making my days.
It meant a lot coming from a complete stranger and a woman at that. Women aren't very good at giving each other compliments, at least not in my experience, and that's why this mattered so much.
This occasion made me decide to spread the love and share compliments where ever I find them :)
... Sure, most people think I'm insane - but I don't care :D
It dawned on me a few days ago, although
it's not precisely news. For me, it's a little confusing as well because I'm not patriotic when it comes to only one country. I have two.
I
am Swedish but for some reason I've always felt very connected to
Ireland (at least since I was 12 years old), and the more I learn the
more Irish I feel. Sometimes I'm convinced that, in a former life, I
must've been fighting in the Easter Rising! :D .... Needless to say, I
feel very strongly about the country :)
I would never want to dismiss
my Swedishness though. When I did my army training I was so proud to
carry the Yellow and Blue on my uniform. It was the idea of protecting
my country and her citizens that made me join in the first place, and I
think to a certain degree you'd have to be patriotic to choose such a
career. Otherwise there'd be no meaning to it.
But I don't think I could ever choose between the two. Luckily I don't have to! I get to enjoy the best of both :)
I've gone on a big shopping spree lately..... a video game, lots of hair pins, a visit to the beautician, meals in restaurants - and I'm already looking to spend some more.
I was talking to my mother and sister today and they told me how they've come across a painting that I've been dying to own for a while, at the local gallery. I already own a piece of this very artist and would love to have at least one more creation of hers :)
In order to justify a potential purchase and not feel terrible about it, I've had to promise myself to refrain from buying new clothes and having fancy facials. Buying the lithography and having it framed may very well be the equivalent of a few hundered euros.
I do want it all the same, so I've asked my mother to please make sure to hurry to the gallery when they open on Tuesday (I'll be at work, so I can't do it myself) to make sure that no one will buy the picture before I do.
I've always wanted to collect something and finally I think I know what I'll collect :)
Last night I was so tired when I dragged myself to bed. It must've been a little past 10 o' clock at night and I was exhausted! ... and oh, how lovely it was to rest my weary head on my pillow (which, by the way, is covered by my favourite pillow case in the world! - a pink one with zebras on it. As it happens my grandma made that for me a few years ago and I've loved it ever since ... but enough about my zebra pillow - I could go on forever!)
So this morning I woke up, all by myself, which is rare as I usually need help from the alarm clock. It was bright outside and I wondered how long I had left to sleep before the alarm would start. Upon reaching my phone and noticing the time 07:44.
Oh fudge! Oh scrap! What the hay? (I actually say these things for real)
I was meant to get up at six. It takes me around 40 minutes to drive to work and I start at half past seven at the very latest. Surprisingly enough, it doesn't bother me so much. What did bother me was that there was a meeting on at eight I would've loved to go to - and I usually hate meetings.
I have the coolest bosses in the world. I rang them and said I'll slurp down some yoghurt and I'll be right over. During coffee break when I explained to my vice chief what had happened he laughed at me and taught me that I could set my alarm to ring weekdays so I wouldn't have to set it every night.
I had no idea this was even possible! .... The things they come up with nowadays!! :)
Today when I went to have my eyebrows sorted out at the local beautician, I found myself strutting there in a cute red top, a stylish trench coat and.... snuggly pants.
I'd never go out in public in snuggly pants so this was a new experience to me. Maybe it's because I work in uniform (at least that's what I'd like to blame for such a fashion faux pas) and therefore want something snuggly to wear when I travel to and from work. I must say, the snuggly pants were lovely! Light and soft. The total opposite to what I wear at work.
I actually reflected on my weird outfit as I was walking from the car, conveniently parked a few 100 metres away from town. But it didn't bother me. Instead I had a lovely walk. I stopped and waved at the pizza-man when I passed by the pizzeria, I lingered outside a gallery where there were painting by my favourite artist and I glanced wistfully at all the instruments in music shop display window. It was pretty swell! :)
I had never been to this very beautician before so it was a new experience, but I reckon I'll go back there soon enough. I love being pampered (....as you do) :)
She even put on some make-up on me when the brows were sorted and I made no secret of me definitely wanting to come back.
Afterwards I went for a walk across town, in my dark grey snuggly pants, to buy some nailpolish.
- and now that I am home, I intend to have a nice bath and make my nails pretty :)
It's Sunday again and after being off since last Thursday I'm dreading going back to work!
It puzzles me a little because I really like my job and I love all of my colleagues (with one mutual exception). I love having coffee with everyone and listening to stories from back in the day and I enjoy solving what ever new problem will come my way. Yet, as it feels right now, I'd rather stay at home forever (if only I could get paid for hanging about) :)
Is that the long-weekend-lazy talking? Or would you feel the same about your job?
I suppose, upon thinking some more about it, I reckon the thing I dislike the most is getting up early in the morning. Everything kinda sucks until I get in the car and start driving. Once I arrive I jump into my uniform, run up the stairs (.... or probably dragging my feet a little - there's an awful lot of stairs) and happily greet everyone I meet on my way to my office. Maybe there'd still be a tired yawn or two before I get my 9 'o clock coffee, but generally I'm pretty happy out.
In an ideal world, I guess one should be allowed to show up and go home when ever it pleases and all the chores magically done in that space of time :)
