My New Baby

No, before you think anything, I've not ditched Johanna for some obese, ugly thing of a woman in England....Johanna knows all about this one, she's a pretty thing, not very tall, like 155cm, got a slim waist and a bright personality. She openly tells me what she wants me to do........ride.

Ok, I'm really just a geek, but say hello to the newest addition of my 'other babies':

Pictured above for those who don't know anything about boarding, is the base. Ride boards all have a crazily bright design, probably for the old 'hi I'm sponsored by..' once in the air. I'm not going to bore you with the specifics, but it's a freestyle, twin board. All you need to know is it's new, wants to be taken out now, but has to sit and wait eagerly at the end of my bed.

To give you a little peak of the top sheet graphics, check this out:

This is my first non-Burton board too, well kinda, as I now own a Rossignol Mini too, but I digress. As the so called Summer is still yet to be close to the weather we enjoyed in the final weeks during Sweden before coming over, I can be a little optimistic and pray that winter is early, brings truck loads of snow and I get to ride every day....well two out of three won't be bad.....or just one.

2 and a 1/2 weeks of chav

We've been back a little over 2 weeks and surprise surprise there isn't a whole lot to say really. All I can say, although not overly interesting is that our legs are practically shot to bits, with all the friggin' walking we've been doing.

Our latest (or one of them) adventure was set in the picturesque setting of Worth Matravers, based metres (a fair few) from the sea, on a warm Summer's day, albeit with approximately 55-60kph winds.....

Fresh faced (erm....I worked til 2.30am the day before- well technically the same day isn't it?), so actually looking rough as hell but ready for a mission, we set out towards a place called Chapmans Pool (notable from a week ago, where some muppet drove his car off the 200ft cliff face...and survived-just out of picture above). At times, I was almost falling over, as we strolled dangerously close to the cliff edge (ok, not really, but you've got to make it sound good right?!).

To put a long, boring story short, we walked around 11km, had an awesome little picnic (courtesy of M & S....oh my god, immense in a word- duck wraps, oh how I've missed you my little beauties) and was a fab day.

It's strange, again, as I'm not a huge fan by any means of this horrid place (England as a whole, generally not where I live in Poole) but if there's one thing that can put my mind at ease over here (if anything) it's the beach, the coast and beyond. It's potential pure relaxation to walk up and over, next to the pounding sea, not a car in sight, not a sound apart from the birds and the water lashing against the rocks.

It's one thing I can bet that not many people (including locals) have been up there, but it's one thing this god forsaken place has to offer. There are no drunks, no chavs, no teenage pregnant mothers, none of it. It's a little slice of what this country should be, what it has to offer, but what we are all forgetting. We are bombarded with images of death, stabbings, drugs, crime, everything really in this country and to a large extent it's true. I'm not quite at that stage where I lock my car door when driving on my own (yet I'd probably feel more comfortable doing so) or fear what might happen passing a couple of teens (with all this stabbing fear), but I'm thinking of such things.

There are a couple of things making me happy here, of course Johanna is indescribably amazing, my job and the golf is awesome. I have the chance to kayak in a beautiful surrounding, can occasionally play squash still; I feel better for helping my old man out (as much as I can); the fact that Sweden is not far away...that I really appreciate that wonderful place; the fact that we can stroll just down the road to watch the sunset; Marks and Sparks food (you think I'm joking), Starbucks White Caffe Mocha (no cream, get in), the future of snowboarding just around the corner, again Johanna (as always).....erm....I've probably missed some out, but it's just to say there are some things that I enjoy/look forward too!!

In the meantime, now I have wireless broadband, I can be back on the computer (oh joy). One thing thats happened is a role reversal: I am now the not so proud son, of a teenage acting father. He's always on the f**king phone, first thing to look at when he's in or out. He sneaks away in to his room when his new ladyfriend comes round and is forgetting that there are other people in this world. Yes, it was me at 16-18 or whatever, but come on, he's a Grandad for god's sake!!!

Update of the quickest variety

Well I'm back in England (yes, oh great) and am having some issues with staying online/in touch mainly due to this net connection, which is one of those dongles (in this case Orange) and frankly is bloody awful.

So news in brief: I'm back. I got my grade for my last course (Molecular Infection Biology)....a 5, yey. I got paid for the first time in 10 months, so I now can buy nice food etc, haha.

Been out kayaking, played squash, golf and all that. I don't really have any emotions about coming back. I do miss Sweden though, not just the studying, but the lifestyle, the fika and our own space/apartment. Not that I'm complaining coz my Dad's put me on the car insurance and putting us up: It's probably as good as it's going to get really. The main thing for me is to get some cash flow going, that's about the only thing I do miss from England.

That's it for now. Apparently broadband is coming on Tuesday, so I can write more then. No pic sorry, ciao for now.

I know the weekend's long gone.....

....but I thought I'd briefly mention the happening on Sunday: We (well actually Johanna) impulsively decided to buy some tickets to watch Sweden vs Ukraine in Solna. Now thinking, wow, I get to see some 'World class' footballers, was something I'm not going to turn down. (Ok, the real reason was it was a better choice than revising right?)

All kitted up in our Sweden tops, we eagerly arrived in the scorching heat, to a sea of yellow. To cut a very long story short, Sweden lost 1-0, played averagely ok and should have won. My discussion is aimed at a couple of players: namely cockface...I mean Zlatan, predator minus the dreadlocks: Henrik, pretty nancy boy 'Chippen' and the Viking himself, 60 year old Olof Mellberg.

Now, most Swedes will probably disagree with me on this one, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic must share the same blood as Mr. Beckham, Rooney, Lampard etc because they are all friggin scarily over-rated. For some weird reason, Zlatan appears to be some sort of God over here. Honestly, I can't see why....in any way, shape or form.

He ended up winning man of the match in this particular game: but you do have to question one thing- was the nobhead who decided this actually watching the same game?!

I think his name grossely salvages his performance all the time. I mean he did ABSOLUTELY nothing. Being 6ft 5, you would think he could be like old sparky himself (the great Mark Hughes for those who don't know), that is to say, be able to hold up the ball. Oh no....

He missed two, potentially three absolute sitters, that even a retarded midget with a broken leg could have put in the net. Every time he had the ball fed in to him, he decides to randomly flick it to anyone. I mean Christ alive you are retarded: someone needs to tell him he's the furthest player up the pitch and unless he can backheel the ball from about 40 yards in to the top corner, then don't bother!!

One of my real 'beefs' with him is his sheer laziness. He waits for the ball, creates absolutely no space for anyone or himself and never ever chases it down. So frustrating.....ahem, mentioning no names (lets just say it's the whole England team).

Who's next....erm, the so called Chippen or Christian Wilhelmsson. What to say oh what to say. Considering this guy is supposed to be like shit off a shovel, he's pretty lame. Someone needs to punch his pretty little face and tell him to pass to a guy wearing a yellow shirt....I'm sure he just had a bad day.....

Well I'm not going to moan about everything. Two players who were very good were Edward and Eric. You think I'm joking but Edward Henrik Larsson and Eric Olof Mellberg, were the optimy of hard work.

Larsson it has to be said is a legend. This prehistoric striker (ok I'm kidding, he's 36) has a marvellous ability to not only chase the ball, score goals (ok, not today) and work like a horse (or something). Zlatan needs a lesson or twelve off this boy: he actually has a brain and uses it to create space- one thing that is vitally important for a striker. Although his pace might be a touch slower, his awareness and determination are second to none. I joked that he'll need a zimmer frame to play in Euro 2008 but I eat my words. I hope he starts, I really do. Sweden NEED him.

Another lege is Olof Mellberg: After buying the travelling away Villa fans 3000 T-shirts as a farewell present, he buggers off to Juve. At the ripe old age of 30, he's showing no signs of tiring: def a sturdy rock at the back. If only he wasn't ugly, uneducated, shite and overpaid (well kinda) then I'm sure him and Rio would get on like a house on fire and Capello would be eating out of his arse. This boys got composure too, several times calmly taking it round the Ukraine strikers.....he needs to give Zlatan a tip or two also.

Well this post is far too long, I've had my moan and my appraisal. If I was Sweden manager (yes it could happen, I've picked up a lot of friendly banter from the AIK match....you know, 'you're mothers a whore' and all that: perfect for my abuse towards the other teams) I'd get rid of Zlatan, put in ugly bastard old man, Marcus Allback (no not nancy Elmander- he goes down like he's been shot), tell them to constantly give the ball to Henrik and Olof and wait for the resulting victories........job done I say.