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.
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.
