So what, I hear you ask (or maybe not), am I doing online on a Friday night when this is usually spent in the company of faithful travelling companion?
Two reasons: 1) FTC is not here tonight, he is over in Dublin staying with friends.
2) I'm not in Dublin, but here at EuropeCrazy HQ with paracetamol, Strepsils, hankies stuffed up my nose....yep, I have the cold. Again. So much for my fitness regime and daily multivitamin intake blah blah blah. Haven't even got over the last one and here we are again. I've had this cold since Tuesday. Wednesday was probably the worst day then it seemed to be going but now it came back with a vengeance this afternoon; am now feeling thoroughly miserable so am going to be a bit responsible (for a change) and get to bed early.
Normal blog service to be resumed (fingers crossed) soon....
Friday, 27 November 2009
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Happy days, in the real and virtual worlds
Haven't posted on here recently, not just because I'm busy with the other two blogs but mainly because it's been a very tense time of late - the last few months (and particularly the last few weeks) had brought a period of new uncertainty over my mum's health, and it's been a stressful and unsettled time. Today however, she got the all-clear. To say that we are both happy and relieved is probably an understatement, and it's just the best feeling in the world to know that she can now relax and go back to getting on with enjoying life.
Back in the virtual world of blog-land, it has also been an amazing week, thanks to some news from Sweden two days ago, which has been well documented at EuropeCrazy and Planet Salem. The Melodifestivalen announcement was particularly amazing as it was the moment when my two blog-worlds collided!!
Yes, once again, life is good :))))
Back in the virtual world of blog-land, it has also been an amazing week, thanks to some news from Sweden two days ago, which has been well documented at EuropeCrazy and Planet Salem. The Melodifestivalen announcement was particularly amazing as it was the moment when my two blog-worlds collided!!
Yes, once again, life is good :))))
Monday, 9 November 2009
Twenty years later...
If we need any proof that we're getting older and time is flying by faster than ever, then it's been brought into very sharp focus for me over the last few days as I've been watching various TV shows, video clips and radio shows reminiscing about the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today the 20th anniversary of the opening of the East German border is being commemorated, and I know this sounds like an old cliche but it feels so recent and fresh in the memory.
I was very interested to read recently that although 20 years have passed since the barriers were broken down and the subsequent reunification of the 'two Germanys', there is still a vast difference between the standard of living in the east and west sides of the country. A business has grown up around the idea of 'Ostalgie' - nostalgia for some aspects of the old East German way of life - not the surveillance by the Stasi, but anything from food brands to Trabant cars to TV shows.
It may seem like a retro-chic trend, but for those who have not been dealt a good hand by the arrival of capitalism, unemployment and seeing their country being wiped off the European map, you may begin to understand why there's a genuine nostalgia for what they remember as the positive aspects of day-to-day life in their 'old country' - full employment and community spirit to name two.
20 years ago today. I think about people who are just reaching, say, their 20th birthday. They have grown up in a world where Europe wasn't divided by the 'iron curtain', no Berlin Wall, no German Democratic Republic, no Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia, no Soviet Union....it will all feel like distant history for them. A city divided by a wall? A continent divided by opposing ideologies? Seems unthinkable now, but the post-war/'Cold War' period of history should never be forgotten, and that we should always learn lessons from history. There may be no physical 'walls' now,or 'Iron Curtains', but the walls of nationalism and extremism are being built higher and higher across our continent. They're the walls that need to be knocked down, before it's too late.
I was very interested to read recently that although 20 years have passed since the barriers were broken down and the subsequent reunification of the 'two Germanys', there is still a vast difference between the standard of living in the east and west sides of the country. A business has grown up around the idea of 'Ostalgie' - nostalgia for some aspects of the old East German way of life - not the surveillance by the Stasi, but anything from food brands to Trabant cars to TV shows.
It may seem like a retro-chic trend, but for those who have not been dealt a good hand by the arrival of capitalism, unemployment and seeing their country being wiped off the European map, you may begin to understand why there's a genuine nostalgia for what they remember as the positive aspects of day-to-day life in their 'old country' - full employment and community spirit to name two.
20 years ago today. I think about people who are just reaching, say, their 20th birthday. They have grown up in a world where Europe wasn't divided by the 'iron curtain', no Berlin Wall, no German Democratic Republic, no Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia, no Soviet Union....it will all feel like distant history for them. A city divided by a wall? A continent divided by opposing ideologies? Seems unthinkable now, but the post-war/'Cold War' period of history should never be forgotten, and that we should always learn lessons from history. There may be no physical 'walls' now,or 'Iron Curtains', but the walls of nationalism and extremism are being built higher and higher across our continent. They're the walls that need to be knocked down, before it's too late.
Saturday, 7 November 2009
07.11.09. That would be Sir Cliff then, singing Mistletoe and Wine.
It's here.
Just the other day I happened to mention that there hadn't been any Christmas songs on, during any recent bouts of retail therapy. Good.
Until today that is. I decided to head off to the big city on my own, as today was a bit of a research trip - checking out what's on offer a) to buy for Christmas presents and b) to suggest to Santa what I might like....anyway it was a bit of a marathon which took its toll, so I'll be having an early night and not blogging into 2am or thereabouts. It was a pretty successful and productive day: the Christmas shopping has officially begun.
Now I love Christmas, so don't think that you have a bah-humbug thing going on here, but I think there should be an embargo on Christmas songs being played in shops until, say, the beginning of December at least. At this time of the year I feel really sorry for those who work in the retail trade, being subjected to the same old musical classics/turkeys (delete where appropriate) year after year.
Anyway I went into BHS and was greeted by..."Christmas time, mistletoe and wine" and my heart immediately sank. That's it started now, there is no escape until 25.12.2009. There's a lot to be said for iPods.
Talking of which, I called mine into action on the bus home, as I had the world's loudest man sitting behind me, yelling into his mobile phone for the most part of the journey. The best part was that brief few moments of silence when he lost the signal..... :)))))
Just the other day I happened to mention that there hadn't been any Christmas songs on, during any recent bouts of retail therapy. Good.
Until today that is. I decided to head off to the big city on my own, as today was a bit of a research trip - checking out what's on offer a) to buy for Christmas presents and b) to suggest to Santa what I might like....anyway it was a bit of a marathon which took its toll, so I'll be having an early night and not blogging into 2am or thereabouts. It was a pretty successful and productive day: the Christmas shopping has officially begun.
Now I love Christmas, so don't think that you have a bah-humbug thing going on here, but I think there should be an embargo on Christmas songs being played in shops until, say, the beginning of December at least. At this time of the year I feel really sorry for those who work in the retail trade, being subjected to the same old musical classics/turkeys (delete where appropriate) year after year.
Anyway I went into BHS and was greeted by..."Christmas time, mistletoe and wine" and my heart immediately sank. That's it started now, there is no escape until 25.12.2009. There's a lot to be said for iPods.
Talking of which, I called mine into action on the bus home, as I had the world's loudest man sitting behind me, yelling into his mobile phone for the most part of the journey. The best part was that brief few moments of silence when he lost the signal..... :)))))
Monday, 2 November 2009
Yes the bath is full of seaweed, don't panic
I seem to be enjoying some little luxuries these days and why not? I've already developed an obsession with Yankee Candle wax tarts, which are highly fragranced blobs of wax which you put in the top of an oil burner, heat below with a tealight candle, the wax melts and your living space is suddenly filled with your aroma of choice. My favourites at the moment are too many to mention but I particularly love Cranberry Chutney. Home Sweet Home smells like cinnamon balls, if you remember them, Frosted Pumpkin smells like gingerbread, and tonight I'm trying out Black Cherry which also appeals to me as I love fruity/citrus smells.
Another thing I've recently got into: Lush bath ballistics, which are a very luxurious essential oil-filled alternative to bubble bath. However I probably won't buy the Big Blue again, purely for the fact that it's got seaweed through it, and leaves the bath in one great big seaweedy mess. At least Avobath and Blackberry are less messy. (I quite fancy some of their special edition Christmas range though, so watch this space) By the way, the Lush website tells us that it's only 53 sleeps to Christmas. A reassuring thought ....!
Another thing I've recently got into: Lush bath ballistics, which are a very luxurious essential oil-filled alternative to bubble bath. However I probably won't buy the Big Blue again, purely for the fact that it's got seaweed through it, and leaves the bath in one great big seaweedy mess. At least Avobath and Blackberry are less messy. (I quite fancy some of their special edition Christmas range though, so watch this space) By the way, the Lush website tells us that it's only 53 sleeps to Christmas. A reassuring thought ....!
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Something to look forward to!
My dream of making it back to Sweden to see Salem play live again next March has just got that little bit closer, as it looks as if there will be flights to and from Gothenburg from one of my local airports after all :)
I know it's tempting fate, mentioning and thinking about it so early when there could still be some obstacles in the way, but I want to make it happen the same way I did earlier this year.
And why not? Life's too short, and every day something happens to remind me of that, so I'm just going to do all the things I want to do, while I'm reasonably young and fit enough :)))
Five months to go till another dream comes true...... :)))))))))
I know it's tempting fate, mentioning and thinking about it so early when there could still be some obstacles in the way, but I want to make it happen the same way I did earlier this year.
And why not? Life's too short, and every day something happens to remind me of that, so I'm just going to do all the things I want to do, while I'm reasonably young and fit enough :)))
Five months to go till another dream comes true...... :)))))))))
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