Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Julbock


Ahh the Gävle Julbock, now in the form of a beer......very nice if I say so myself

Here's the 'real' one below.....a few people have tried to set fire to this little badboy, but luckily it's covered in a flame retardent....oh those clever Swedes......

A forgotten quickie


Here is a pic of South Uppsala, where there's a lake that is connected to Lake Mälaren (the third largest lake in Sweden)...we went for a stroll the other day, didn't realize the waters so close.

Just remembered in the news last week a yank woman said she's gunna sue an Aussie bloke who threw a snowball at them at Copper Mountain, Colorado.....oh what is happening in this World?!?!

What a week


It's been some 10 days since my last post....probably for a few reasons, mainly too friggin busy and posting isn't exactly top priority!! Besides, I think about 3 people read this!!

There's a lot of little bits happened etc but the main one, which to me is pretty mind blowing is that I saw the Nobel Prize Winners (obviously the Biology ones) from this year. I went on Lucia day to an hour lecture on their work....is quite mind blowing really. I mean throughout the years there has been some pretty amazing stuff that is considered 'normal' nowadays....the X-ray, PCR for DNA amplification and loads more. Think its ironic that the whole concept of this Nobel malarkey, was orchestrated by (Swede) Alfred Nobel, who won the award for nearly every category and the 'peace' prize after inventing dynamite!! Erm....think we have our definition of ironic

What else....erm on the way to the Nobel lecture, it was at BMC in Uppsala for those that don't know.....this lovely 1960's looking County Council type building found everywhere in England...anyway, I was on my usual route to this place, e.g. via some woods and it was bloody cold, kinda creepy as it was absolutely silent....all the hallmarks of a potential Blair Witch Project 7 (or whatever number they are up to).....when suddenly just ahead of me, some random bits of bark and branches were cascading down a tree....hmmm...slightly bizarre, so the natural thing....keep walking like nothings happening....then more and more tree stuff starts falling to the floor. This time I look up.....to my amusement I see a cat, frantically clinging on to the top of this tree, a smile comes to my face, especially when this tree is probably 25m tall, haha.....don't they say cats always land on their feet right?

Hmm...erm boring 'yawn' stuff...had one of my microbiology exams.....lets just say it's going to be close...the pass/fail thing I mean.

What else....going to spend Xmas (well the bit before Xmas) with Johanna and her friends/family, should be good......just tried some more festive drinks, Ok....mostly just beer, some fab Shipyard imports, found a 14% Austrian lager....tried (not by choice mind you) some Julmust....oh dear.

So Sälen is only a week away.....been checking the updates, it's bloody cold and looking sweet, they've built a shed load of jumps etc, nice warm up for my bro in law to kill himself on. My sister is coming over, having somewhat of a sheltered life (as in been to US too many times....yes it's exactly like England, but with guns) thinks Sweden doesn't have nappies, washing machines, baths, cars or running water: that Sweden is the most expensive place to live, that it costs a months salary just to eat pasta and cheese, that it costs the same to fly to Mexico than buy a bottle of wine....

I hate to say it, but she has got a shock coming.....the only thing I've found 'backward' here is the fact that a 'normal' tin opener is one of the old school, stab the tin, then give it a bit of arm pumping- I'm more used to the snap on and wind type thing (even though they do have them too).....so that means everything else is sooo much better over here. It's not like I have a personal vendetta against England, I mean two of the Nobel Prize Winners (out of 3) were British, the pound is one of the strongest currencies in the world (so great for travelling) and I was born there.....but it doesn't mean there aren't better things. I'm def not 'proud' to be English....yes I conveniently speak the right language, but that's about it. I mean we win the squash World Champs, which is about the only time I support my home country....but nowadays what are we playing at? I'm not going to go on about it, but man some things royally suck!!

Back to Sälen, looking superb and can't wait. We are just packing stuff as we speak...really gets in the mood to see my baby (not Johanna, my board...kidding)...whatever your plans are for Xmas, enjoy, I get a 3 week break from uni even though I prob have more work to do now, than before!! Another irony.....

Sunday, December 9, 2007

A nice weekend

Not long until Xmas...ish. Got the first Microbiology exam before Xmas, then some other bits to do...lab seminar work, enrichment reports, symposium preparation and the second exam....all prepared over Xmas, so not all peas and carrots after all. No I'm not complaining, I guess my mind will be stimulated over Xmas more than I care for, but a challenge is a challenge, the technical words for it: 'tough shit'....

I'm praying (to the snowboard God) for my knee to behave itself so I can ride at least a little! My little beast (no not that) is lying there in the corner waiting to get itself to Salen.....shum on.

Spent Fri and Sat with my lady, was amazing as normal, now trying to do some sort of reading....again the operative word is 'some'. But now I'm relaxed (again thank you Johanna) I can think a little more clearly (as much as a bloke can I guess), I now have most of Johanna's stuff in my room as it's not long til we move in together.

So New Years resolutions....not sure if the Swedes do such things, yes they are normally bollocks anyway, but my top 5 in no particular order:

1.Drink more coffee/fika more
2.Join a gym (I miss Esporta)
3.Get Johanna to clean the car (at least once during the year)
4.Speak the lingo at home (not England, at my home in Eriksberg)
5.Be able to pull cab 5's without breaking a sweat (then 7's, then pigs might fly)

In the meantime, not trying to be Scrooge, but as I have no Xmas tree etc, I tried Xmas tea, you know to get in to the 'mood' (think I tried it last year here but can't remember it)......yep, probably why I can't remember tasting the tea before, or rather I selectively forgot I did....lets just say, 'it's not my cup of tea' (literally for a change, haha). Johanna found some Easter tea and it rocks, so much better!! At least I eat gingerbread....that counts as being festive right?!

On a totally non related topic.....(like news in brief), Sweden came 6th in the first biathlon relay of this seasons World Cup (GB...who knew we had a team, came last...), England are doing well in the Squash World Team games, erm...Sweden, not so good. Ricky Hatton shouldn't have gone up a weight division....he lost to that complete nobhead.....England's top jockey is a coke fiend......Arsenal lost to Middlesborough, haha.....my Dad has a dog.....(well sort of not really, but yeah)

Say hello to Levi (yes as in the Jeans)....


Thursday, December 6, 2007

Why am I thinking of this?!

Just checking out the Sunday River website (where I taught boarding for those that don't know) and looking at the cost of private lessons for 2 hours (of which I had a few)....bloody $159.....admittedly we got (some) tips, but only got like $9 an hour base pay....talk about getting shafted!! Fun definitely = no money!!

Just enough time for a quickie!!!


I'm sitting here, finally have a minute to relax (ish), so feel like I should write something at least. Nothing too deep I guess. I think I'm gradually getting in to the Xmas spirit, again, I'm not religious, but Xmas to 'non believers' (Oh I believe....Terje Haakonsen, you are my God) is a time of family 'happiness', of unwrapping ridiculously overpriced gifts, eating that spare turkey leg, drinking that extra beer. I'm not going to bore people to death over the 'true' meaning of Xmas, we all have our own opinions, so be it. But I think we should see Xmas as a means of how to live our life. I mean I don't quite understand why it takes a 'special' event for us to put that extra bit of effort in, whether its visiting someone we haven't seen for a while, or sending someone a token of our appreciation. I had a conversation earlier today about living your life like everyday was your birthday, or indeed Xmas. I don't believe the motivation for 1 day should create such 'hype'....I'm not saying it's a bad thing of course, it's good if 1 or 2 days a year we are extra happy for example, but I think we should all live everyday to the fullest extent we can. If only it was that easy to 'pretend' everyday was Xmas (or a holiday day).....I guess I'm subtly moaning again...about not having a 'positive' lifestyle (oh irony if ever I saw it) but may be there is some truth in it...who knows?!

One thing I can say, if I here f**king Slade one more time, I swear I'm gunna freak out.....check out this video.....I don't think I've ever seen Slade actually sing live/play guitar properly (check out the guitar actually changes notes and everything even when they take their hands off it...amazing this modern technology) etc etc. Ironically (again) this is the year of my birth....thank f**k times have changed......well sort of.....