Haha

Most people who are alive have seen stupid videos on the net. Sites like youtube have made this really easy- you just type whatever you want in and job done. The following video is a crappy US soccer match: the technique used for this particular throw in has been used many years ago, but not many people use it nowadays. A crap team in the Premiership, Stoke City, employ a similar long throw in tactic, mainly because their players are shite and can't kick the ball that far, but useless defenders seem to get confused by the balls trajectory or something. Anyway, the so called flip throw in when it goes wrong, has funny consequences:

p.s. This is why in football you don't mark the throw in taker, you dumb ass.

Kungsberget

As we've not had an official Xmas holiday planned this year, mainly because of me I might add, we decided to hit the slopes of Kungsberget for 4 days. After an awesome Xmas meal, again no thanks to me, it prepared us beautifully for the days ahead. We took with us some new snowboard gear (yup, mainly mine) and some new Xmas beers: together with the help of some Swedish ladies (thanks for the apartment borrowing) and some perfect riding temperatures, we hit the slopes.

The first few turns were a little rough shall we say....Johanna nearly dived off the side of the run....after 5 metres. We soon found our boarding legs though and it felt good. It's always a semi frustrating situation to be in, having taught boarding: I know mine and Johannas goals are different with riding- I mean I've been riding 10 years (on paper) and have two seasons under my belt. Johanna has had 2 years riding and no seasons. Im not putting her down as to me, she's picked it up incredibly fast and is riding at a very good level. I look with a critical eye of nearly every rider there (forcive habit) and from an unbiased perspective she is easily one of less than a handful of good riders: I would say she's number 2 but that would be assuming something slightly, erm....massively up my own arse.

The thing you learn about teaching is this: if you still want your friend to be a friend after the boarding trip, then don't teach them. This applies to family as well. This is tricky when there is only 2 of you, one of which is an opinionated arsehole who just wants you to get better and the other is well, your fiancee. I don't want to teach Johanna, it's more guidance and small tips: to pick something about her riding and make her aware of it, to improve it.

You see I feel obliged to do so: otherwise it's that 'don't get your thought out' type feeling, where you really want to say something but don't get the courage or whatever, but this case it's to preserve my balls from being chopped off and because I really do want her to get better, almost as much as she wants for herself. So I did indeed go down that path, gave her some advice and so we continued to ride.

Later, no arguments, my balls in tact and again, more improvement in Johanna's riding. We have no video, but took a few pics, check this little snap out (it might not be the best pic. but her stance is near perfection):

So my opinion may be biased, but Johanna's riding is getting ever better. When you see instructors who I just know can't do what Johanna is doing, you know something good is happening.

Well anyway, we arrived back today to our lovely little apartment. It's such a nice feeling to come home to your own, not rented, not stolen, not well anything else you can imagine. The Xmas bit is over for another year. Our tree shall remain while it becomes bloody hard, almost knive like needles then drops them all. The Santa's shall go away for another 11 or so months, then re-emerge from the layers of dust.

Only days remaining from 2008: Today was probably the last Ikea meatballs of the year and thank God for that- you don't have to live with Johanna's farts...........

Xmas

It's that time of year again, much like a birthday, where hurrendous amounts of money are spent on presents to puts smiles on the faces of people. Xmas is some what of an enigma for me: since 'growing up' the meaning of Xmas is not explained, especially for an atheist, it's hard to know why the hell we're celebrating anything.

Don't get me wrong, I do like this time of year: the lights, the trees, the decoration and what not are very nice. Generally people are more relaxed and appreciate peoples company, which is a good thing. More for my situation it's all happening now.

We've just moved in to our new pad, which is just awesome. I've been snowboarding last weekend and will be going for a few days from Xmas onwards. I've got my first own Xmas tree, complete with Julbock guarding it (oh yes). For non-Swedes, they celebrate today as Brits do Xmas day. Yes, don't ask me why: a fair few EU countries do indeed celebrate the 24th, even though (I wasn't there of course) I'm sure Jesus was born on the 25th, so it does seem a little premature to celebrate 1 day too early. However I don't really care as I said before-I'm not religious so I couldn't give two shiny shits what day this Jesus fellow was born.

So today is effectively Xmas day for me, yes it's quite fantastic: it's snowing, have been for a long stroll in to town and am getting ready to eat Xmas ham. No, no turkey for me this year. Ham, sausages, fish bakes, the works really. Also, supposedly Swedish schnapps, but not this year (thank the proverbial God), so just Xmas beers, which are truelly amazing. We tried 'Brother Thelonious' yesterday, which was pretty sweet- a 9.4% little beauty. These Xmas beers are something we don't do in England, but it's just another level of Xmasness (I'm sure Jesus wasn't a drinker).

In 20 or so minutes I get to watch the infamous Kalle Anka or for those not so hot with the lingo, Donald Duck!! It's one of those rights of passage to Xmas over here. Not sure what our equivalent is, but it's one of those that adults have watched every year at 3pm since they were kids and still continue to do so.

It's kind of like those Xmas films you just have to watch.Whether it's to get in the mood or what, but we recently spoke about which films this includes. I've no doubt forgotten a lot of them (well the list isn't that long) but to mention but a few, such as Home Alone, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and I think personally (it was on yesterday) Elf should be included. Some obscure ones may be Die Hard's etc, I guess at home we have the Snowman, some other Xmas films, including Santa Claus the movie (etc etc), Muppet Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, Frosty the Snowman, possibly the Grinch Stole Xmas and the list goes on.

This time of the year I guess can be percieved as depressing or amazing. Self pity, the cold, the dark, the lack of family/friends, the sometimes awful TV (yeah right, 'sometimes'), the Xmas songs, the hangovers, the lack of money, the well....the highlight of everything that is missing in your life comes to the forefront, or does it?

Again, perception is a powerful 'skill'. My 'family' is Johanna (in that sense), it snows here, I get to spend my Xmas abroad, in a wonderful place in wonderful company. The cold is cold indeed, but it's a 'proper' temperature- there's nothing a coat, gloves and hat can't tame. I get to go boarding, I get to drink lovely beers, the list goes on. However if my perception is a positive one, well then that's exactly what is going to happen, the whole experience is an enjoyable one.

To finish, we all have goals in life and setting yearly ones is part of it. New years resolutions are partly a joke, but not always. I'm starting a new protein expression system when I get back, I'm living in a new flat, I've got a new snowboard yadda yadda yadda. I've set and will set goals all the time for myself and whatever you're situation, 2009 is another year.

It's a new start, to improve on positives just as much as negatives. The cliche, start as you mean to go on, is a nice little statement. For me, if 2009 is even half as good as 2008, I know it's going to be one crazy, one fun year.

Shifty Shifty

For anyone that's seen a snowboard competition, ridden themselves or thinks they are a bit cool, they will know what a shifty is. Forever will I remember the stereotypical Scandinavian commentator at Sälen last Easter....every trick seemed to contain a 'shifty shifty'....despite not being present at all (another classic comment was 'here comes ladies man').

I picked something else (from youtube of course) that reminded me of some riding I did in Sunday River (out of uniform!!), involving 'bonking': no it has absolutely nothing to do with sex, dyslexic spelling of 'banking' or anything else. It was indeed 'tree bonking' (God that sounds even worse) that involved riding close to trees, whenever noticing a little stump or a ridable branch tapping the nose/tail of the board to 'bonk' it. Although here, the trick is somewhat harder, because they throw in a 360 too....so I've got to improve my 360 bonking.....haha, Christ this could be a bad porno.

Anyways have a gaze at these......

While I remember, Johanna at the Alter Bridge concert said something very funny- it might be a 'you had to be there' moment but upon seeing the lead singer come onstage, in a kind of kiddies English accent, comes out with 'he looks like Jesus'......Yes he has long hair.....erm, that was about it....well I laughed anyway.

I forgot (again)

Well it wasn't really a case of forgetting so much, as not bothering to check what grade I got on the exam: usually when people mark exams they write on there the total points, percentage or at least something. Well not surprisingly they didn't write anything, so I just added up all the marks and turns out I got 88% (67.5/77). Sorted!!

Just to mention, my project results haven't gone so much to my master plan (no pun intended), in monkeys terms: I need to produce a reasonable amount of soluble protein (i.e. one that is active and works), however this is harder than expected and most of what I'm producing is insoluble (i.e. one that sucks balls). Meaning I can't carry on as yet. It's not the end of the world as I'll be changing expression systems after Xmas, all very exciting.

Not much more to report, boarding and moving (in that order and that priority) on Saturday. It feels really good down there, a completely biased thing to say of course, but it really does. Xmas is 1 week away- as most old people tend to say, 'oh it's gone so quick'. Well in this instance, I'd have to agree. The last few years have gone quick, let alone 2008: in the blink of an eye it's frigging 2009, so apparently we have 3 more years until the end of the World and all that, so enjoy it while you can.

I know I will.

I forgot

I forgot to mention I finally got the 2nd exam result back yesterday. Unlike the last one, some did fail, apparently 89% passed and 10% didn't....not sure where the other percent went, but it sums the whole course up- useless.

Now, I just have to wait to see if I pass the course, as they haven't mentioned anything about the seminars, mini-review and lab work. May be if I ask Santa nicely he might go find out what the hells going on........or just dump shit loads of coal in their stockings (Remember Lena has some big ones too : )).

Mini Update

It's been a few days since last time: we rocked out to Alter Bridge in Stockholm last Wednesday. After a slight problem with my bladder control, Lina took over the driving (you can ask if you really want to know) and we arrived safely, not quite on time (we prob missed like 3 songs from support group Logan).

It's a potential shame that these guys don't get the kudos they deserve- Well not entirely true, as with most things, they are big in the states. However there probably werent more than 1000ish people so it was a kind of personal concert. I could go on for a while about how great they are but I won't. Just check them out on you tube or whatever: Myles Kennedy has a fantastic voice and Mark Tremonti could be considered a God in human form (as well as Terje Haakonsen, Al Bundy and Homer Simpson).

Well apart from the concert, the main focus is finishing off the pad downstairs: it's potentially like 98% done- we need an electrician to give us a few more sockets and put some new light switches on (as my physics isn't what it used to be). Most of our clothes etc are now down there, yawn yawn etc.

On a food related note, I had my departments Julbord last night. Contrary to a real Julbord, we had from a set menu: I munched on cheescake (with actual cheese) for starters, awesomly tender lamb for main and a citrus pie with white choc mousse.....mmm mmm mmm. We had a kind of table divide with 2 tables: 1 with Professors, 1 with Post-docs and PhDs (and me of course), which probably saved the evening as us poor students didn't take a Prof bashing (you know, 'back in my day we had to do......' Yes, we are useless, get over it).

Right now my noggin is struggling (need food!) so will be quiet very soon. Have to mention that Kungsberget is now open! Get in. I'll be on the white stuff soon: if all goes smoothly with timing this weekend (moving day 21st), could be out rippin on Saturday.

No jokes, sayings, anything good to finish this off. Brain no work if no food (don't use this sentence for grammar purposes- you get my point though.)

Sorted

Uber quick update: we have put the wallpaper up. Laugh all you want, but the word 'mission' is an understatement!! No more f*****g scraping, spraying, sanding, filling, pasting, cutting, smoothing, crying.......

It's getting exciting

Just a quick update with the progress- Bo has worked his butt off today, getting up at 6am, continuing right through until 9pm, whilst being productive too!! The usual you would think would be to have coffee breaks every 10 mins and even though this is only partially true (Johanna told me when I got in at 4ish they'd had 4 cups, then put some on for me and yes themselves again, so total of 5 up till about 4.30pm) nearly everything is done (well major things at least).

I was surprised to see a transformation as big as I saw when I strolled in, late afternoon. Needless to say, I won't bore you with my mini emotional experience (okay, really not the case, but whatever, I'm excited by it all), but I'll eventually take some pics, to show you the beauty of it all (haha).

To top the next day or two (as in finishing time!) we have Alter Bridge on Wednesday- whether we fall asleep standing (yes we are that bolloxed) is another question, but it's going to be a cracking evening. If I was a rampant homo I'd probably have Mr. Tremonti's kids (for Swedes it's an English phrase...sort of.....).

Need I say more.

When time flies and yes Jim'll definitely fix it

This weekend has been a blur. No not because I've been intoxicated in any way shape or form. The fact that it's crunch time for work in our new flat: Bo (Johanna's Dad) has come up from Tibro for a few days to sort out almost everything in apartment. So me and tvättbjörn have been doing our bit too: We finally managed to scrape all 6 layers of previous wallpaper (some painted too, just to annoy us), filled the holes and power sanded the whole room!! It took a while and we nearly drowned in the dust from the walls- you think I'm joking but I kid you not, my hair feels like a wig it has so much crap in it.

Anyway, we've wallpapered over half the room and it's been challenging. I mean it's very difficult to explain in an interesting way about wallpapering. It could be comparable to watching paint dry, however, the trials and tribulations of us wallpaper virgins is actually quite exciting.

It's not just like you get some paste, get some paper, put the two together and job done. When the ceiling is friggin wonky, when the walls have chunks of plaster here and there, when the walls are rougher than lets say Sarah Jessica Parkers mug, when there are pipes, sockets and shite in the way, when Johanna tries to cut her fingers off, when you use a blunt blade to cut wallpaper, when, well when you potentially have no idea what you are doing, it's actually kind of exciting.

I do take a lot of pride in what I do: I want to impress myself (if that makes any sense) so however crap my decorating skills are, I still expect a good result- why you ask? Well I don't know: it's that level of expectation from myself, regardless if it's new or old. So far, though I am very impressed: I am very proud to see what the walls and room taking shape. Only me and J know the shite that was up before and the effort we've both spent getting it right. I'm not going to have my own design programme anytime soon (probably more because I'm not some raving homo, eccentric weirdo) but seriously, take my word for it: the living room so far looks damn good. A very professional job indeed!!

Well Bosse has already done the kitchen floor: bear in mind he's been doing this since he was 16 or so (he's no spring chicken now!!), so he knows his stuff. It's tremendously exciting seeing it all unfold in front of your eyes- hopefully in 3 days, pretty much everything is going to be done. Only time will tell.......

Boring

Well I usually post a bit of everything, so here's a quick update with my studying: I recieved my first exam from the last course last week- only 2 months after I sat it: yep, absolute disgrace! Never ever study Molecular Genetics of Cancer under Lena Åslund, she is f*****g useless. Needless to say, I passed, well actually everyone did- she lowered the grade boundaries (I would have passed anyway) to make her seem fantastic no doubt. They aren't supposed to do it over here, but I guess lots would have failed, which ultimately looks bad on her. You can't miss this woman: short and how should I put it? erm.....athletically challenged?! When you get out of breath from standing up, you know there is something wrong.....yesvery much my chinese friend Sum Ting Wong.

p.s. 3 c is very applicable

Åre

All plans for holidays have good intentions, especially when it's a trip organised including others. Now, it's getting to decision time to what form a bigger snowboard trip takes: can we afford it (always the biggy and the answer is always no!!), can we get time off to go, will everyone who says they'll go cough up the money, etc etc.

Well the initial plan is looking at going to Åre. No, not because it has the 'highest cafe in Sweden' or the fact it's bloody miles away: more I've heard good things, it looks pretty sweet and I've never been there before- enough said.

The date's going to be around Easter, there's apparently going to be around 8 of us, that's about it for now. I'm looking in to transport to get there including planes, trains and automobiles (!): from bus to car rental, its all much of a much. Accomodation should be cheap and all the rest, so we shall see.

If you are potentially interested for a few days of shreddin' the gnar (yes, Yanks are weird), give me an email or something.