Semi nostalgia

Ok, not really, more of a Caroline music moment (with the lyrics etc). A song about not appreciating life, well sort of. May be that we don't even realize what's around us.

Just to clarify

For those Swedes (mentioning no names ahem, Johanna) 'snaps' are pictures NOT snaps as in schnapps (in English). You cannot drink what the camera produces Johanna.

Camera

We've got a new toy (me and J this time). No funny story, and no it's not a sex toy. It's a Canon Eos 1000D and it's awesome. I'm new to the SLR market, now this isn't the top one, but not half bad. It's better than any standard digital camera and we've been playing around with it tonight. Off to Stockholm this weekend for some snaps and will post some soon : )

Boarding

Don't ask me why but I'm in the mood right now. Check out a semi inspiring vid: the riders are ok, some of the tricks are pretty smooth. Johanna can do most now : )

Gymin' it

Ahh yes, back to the gym. Having not gone to the gym in England, more content with other bits, we've literally just caned it. Straight after an hour sesh of running and weights, my groin has decided to tighten up, probably comparable to an anaconda squeezing the life from its prey. In other words walking has suddenly become a non-natural phenomenon and I look like I've got a severe case of retardation.

Ok, so it's not that bad, all part of the training for our little marathon : ) It feels good to push the envelope and all that. I'll be back on the squash court in no time too. Bring it on.......well after my groin has decided to relax a bit- could be a while......

Here's a video of me earlier today. Yes I've changed a bit over the summer. Please ignore the title screen, it's meant to say Mike Thorpe not Gene Rychlak and it wasn't in 2006- don't believe everything you read on the internet

Spoke too soon

Apparently there is a postage problem so it could be that the whole order has been cancelled. Trying to contact the sender, hmmm.....

Creative Mozaic

It's that time again when technology faulters and you have to dip in to your pocket to buy the next new thing.

With a limited budget and a need for a new MP3 player I had a look at some in the shops here in Uppsala. Needless to say the prices are relatively high, so had a look on the usual (www.play.com etc) and found a bargain on ebay. Now to be perfectly honest, ebay can be as safe as US friendly fire in Iraq, but as long as there isn't such things as I' only accept cash 'etc, you can find a bargain.

I've bought new snowboards for absolute peanuts, and now I've found a new toy, a 2GB Creative Mozaic:

My reasoning for this purchase? Well my computer to which my Ipod is/was registered is dead, which means I can no longer add songs to the bloody thing (only bought ones from Itunes, as you can't register an old Ipod twice-all very complicated). I've got some 4500 songs on my Ipod, but can't be bothered to move them on to a new Ipod or big memory player (both time and money). So for 30 quid (instead of 50 rrp) I've got this little beast so can just add new albums but more likely my fave songs (I have a huge hard drive- not sexual in any way, with all the songs on).

Providing I haven't been robbed blind, I should have it in a few days: we shall see.......

Back in action

Well the good news- we're back in the land of the blonde, we're unpacked and I have a few days to chill. The bad......well none really.

As boring as it to talk about, the weather is fantastic (as in you don't need swimming shorts when you go out), we've done some fodda shopping and it honestly doesn't feel like we've been away.

There is no aprehension, no anxiety, no such things at all. We've come fresh off the back of a trip to Ireland, Dublin to be precise. My thoughts on this?

For starters, being a tight arsed grumpy Englishman- it was expensive. It's a complete rarity to get back to England and think Marks and Sparks is cheap. Ok, it was comparable to London say. Pints were over 5 euro, food was a tad on the millionaires side, but still I'm not complaining really.

Although not a particularly attractive place: I mean it still feels a bit rough and ready, like it's still heavily based on industry- the industry of drinking I mean. The Guinness factory dominates the grey, Georgian terraced places. The main bar area 'Temple Bar' is very nice, cosy and full of some classic pubs, Irish dancing and black stuff is found at every drinking establishment.

The Irish accent was obscure enough to put Johanna in a state of confusion, while a kind gentleman asking 'Are you lost?' in more a 'R ya's lawst' type fashion, momentarily shocked me thinking he was asking us for a car wash.

I would love to post some photos of the place: We had a pint in the Guinness Storehouse, where it's brewed and manufactured, we tried proper pints of Kilkenny, Smithwick's, Bulmers cider, whilst dabbling in Bailey's coffee (Johanna obviously) and some local brews. The slight problem is our camera managed to lose itself (or it got stolen, we don't know). We have no pics I'm afraid, the memories lay in our head.

So yes, if you don't drink then this place probably isn't for you. It's definitely not a Prague (in terms of beauty) or a Stockholm, but does have some Irish charm.

Next on the list is Helsingfors or Helsinki to the untrained linguist (no jokes here you sick puppies).

On a slightly different note, I've got the new Trapt album and what a little gem it is. Check out 'Black Rose'. (The video hasn't been made, so just listen to the song!)



That's it for now, I've already had some proper homemade meatballs courtesy of Johanna's mum so can cross that off the list, think that Swedish massage is just around the corner : )

Home

The shortest post ever, will update tomorrow, but we are home in Uppsala : )

Home, sweet home

But a week until my return (well with Johanna too) to Sweden. Am I excited? Oh yes.

There isn't actually much to say, partly boredom that I write this, may be the fact that I'm working at 3pm until lock later, that I have a couple of hours to chill out.

And chill out I must: after yesterdays marathon sessions of tennis at 7.30am (I ran there too!), followed by squash, swimming, jacuzzi and 9 holes of wet golf in the evening. I guess it all helps in preparation for the marathon (the real one I mean) next year.

It won't be a week (just 4 more days) until I'm off to Dublin to witness the goings on of those crazy Irish people. Then, in just over a month, we're off for a cheeky excursion to the land of the Fin (that's Finland for people who can't put Fin and land together). These little trips and experiences are what makes life; gathering little pieces of countries and seeing what else there is to offer is definitely the way forward.

Well what else? As soon as we're are back in my fiancees home country we're staying in Gothenburg for some fun: There is an Alton Towers type theme park (before you say anything, no it's not as chavtastic, lame, crap, pants as Alton Towers, which is potentially the worst theme park ever. To the MD of Alton Towers: take a look at Florida, California, Vegas attractions and parks), named Liseberg.

We've got the potential of moving apartment when we are back; literally just down the road. No, it isn't because we're fed up with what we've got. It's because we are sub-letting off someone, who potentially at any time in the near future could say 'I want to move back in', meaning that's us done- there isn't too much security apart from 3 months notice. We shall see.

Apologies for no funnies, no stories, not a terribly exciting post I know. I'm watching some of the Olympics, but it's actually quite boring at times: The BBC coverage only shows GB athletes, which are few and far between as we all know. What's more impressive: the Chinese squads (both male and female) winning the gymnastics competition or team GB getting a third in horse riding, where ultimately the horse does all the work- lets see those posh twats jump over 2m hurdles with a person on their back....I think not.

We seem to reward mediocracy (yes I know they are in the Olympics). Isn't the Olympics supposed to highlight the global state of these sports, not just another British athlete coming 4th?

I think it's hilarious that when we do well the athlete is 'British' (or 'English' if indeed they are), when we lose they then become 'Northern Irish, Scottish or Welsh', haha. Man does this country take what it can get....

Just a thought

Don't ask me why I suddenly thought of this. Am reading The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy and interestingly this popped up:

"The argument goes something like this: "I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."

If this was the case, and God did exist, would he/she/it/whatever be classed as a dictator? It's a matter of opinion what constitutes right and wrong, so all these battles, wars of the passed (not involving Nazi's etc, but throughout even English history say) based on religion, would these Kings etc (God representatives) not be dictators in the same way as Mussolini or Hitler: providing God was proven to be real? Being that he/she/it/whatever doesn't (in terms of proof) it seems like it's justification to fight etc.

Or if there was this God character is real form, would many people follow them? Faith is a funny thing.