Freezing cold

It really shouldn't come as a surprise, but it does every year. The first cold weather and I start to wonder why I live in northern Europe.

It's been raining on and off all day today and when I was out for lunch I couldn't believe how cold it was. Back in the office it was even colder which is another sign it's getting cold. In the summer we fry and in the winter we freeze. That's what you get for having your office on the second floor I guess...

The weather had cleared up a bit when I left the office so I decided to walk home. It sounded like a great idea, but about half way home my hands had turned into to popsicles and I envied those people who actually wore a scarf and gloves. But at the same time I kept thinking it's too early. It's just September. OK, October tomorrow...

Finally home I looked at the temperature and it said 8 degrees (or 47 degrees for you Yanks). That's freaking cold!!! It's not going to get any warmer so I guess it's time to dig out that autumn coat, and the scarf and the gloves. I simply hate it! Looks like it's going to be another long, cold and wet autumn/winter. Ugh!

Monday, Monday

Today has been a typical Monday. Extremely long and just plain dull. When I got up at six o'clock it was dark and cold outside. Opening the blinds an hour later there was some daylight, but still too dark for my taste. When waiting for the bus I very sadly realised that it will not get any better, only worse. Dark and cold.

The morning at work dragged along. By lunch it had started to rain, but I still took my lunch walk just to get out of the building and get some air. The afternoon dragged on just like the morning and I got so sleepy. My colleagues were yawning as much as I and in the end we just had to laugh. We just had the weekend off and now it looked like we hadn't had any rest in weeks. With about an hour to go we all decided that we had had enough for today. Myself I was looking forward to go home and curl up on the sofa when mum called and asked I wanted to stop by since they were having meatballs for dinner.

So here I am now all filled up on meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy and for desert home made brownies. Mmm, comfort food. I actually brought some of the brownies with me home so in a while I'm going to have them with milk. Totally needed and deserved on a dull Monday, which thanks to mum's cooking ended on a lot brighter note.

Facebook behaviour

Spending Wednesday and Thursday at AdTech London several people talked about social networks and how Facebook and other networks have changed our behaviour. We seem to keep in touch must with those people who are the furtherest away and when when we meet in real life we don't catch up on things since we know already what's been going on.

I've heard about that behaviour and last week showed that I'm doing it too. On Tuesday night I met with Philip who hadn't seen since February and Michael who I hadn't seen since May and when we started talking it all sounded like we had met the week before. We all knew exactly what had been going on in our lives .

The same thing on Thursday. At AdTech I ran into Marike who I used to work with in Paris almost three years ago. We thought it was lovely to see each other and when catching up over coffee we more or less knew what had been going on in our lives the last year or so. All because of Facebook. The theory was tested again at Heathrow when I ran into Peter, a consultant from my days at the production company, which was more than four years ago. And again it was so easy to start talking since we already knew what had been going on lately.

At the same time as it's fascinating I find it a bit scary. People really know what goes one in my life, but on the other hand they only know what I tell them...

To London

It's been six weeks since I last went to London, so this afternoon it's time again. Tomorrow a meeting and some free time to catch up with friends and of course hit the shops if I have enough time. Wednesday and Thursday I'm attending AdTech, which I'm looking forward to very much. Hopefully I'll pick up many interesting ideas and meet new people in the business.

Celerity rehab

I'm ashamed to admit it, but for the last three Saturdays I've been watching Celebrity rehab on TV. Yes I know, I've said before that reality TV is bad television and I still stand by it. It is. I more or less feel liker a voyeur while watching and I mute the sound every five minutes or so. It is a too much, but still I'm glued. Scary...

As a defence for the series it actually shows you what drugs do to you and how it mess up your life. Regardless if you're a celebrity or not. But will it make teenagers and young people stay away from drugs? Nope, the show is too much reality TV and only touches the surface of the disease. And I'm watching... Ashamed and guilty for taking pleasure in other people's misery.

Did we really eat this?

A friend in Louisiana sent me this link to pictures and recipes from of out of print cookbooks. Did we really eat this stuff? Vegetable Supper Salad anyone? Or how about Jellied bouillon with Frankfurters?

But on the other hand what will people think about today's food in 40-50 years? They will probably laugh at everything non-fat, low carb and artificial sweeteners. As my wise Gran used to say: There is a time for everything. And coming from me: There seem to be foods for every time.

Officially old

I'm officially old. A girl I babysat a couple of times back in Texas 16 years ago, just found me on Facebook. She's now older than I was back then and graduated from university this spring. I felt old when she was graduating from high school, but now... I'm not old, am I?!

But it was very nice seeing her again and pictures of her family. Her dear Grandma, her parents and little brother. They were all part of my Texas family and it was lovely to see that life has been treating them well.

Observing people

I've spent most of the day, and will spend most of the week, observing people how they interact with a new booking dialogue we are launching in a month.

I've been an observer in usability tests before, and it's always fun and interesting to hear what people say. Our company has a brand recognition of 96-97% which means everybody has an opinion. We have also been around for more than 40 years so people expect things as well. Even though times have changed they expect things or some products to be exactly like they were back in the good old days.

Then we have the new generation who see us as any other company which are starting to have a rather decent homepage. For them booking on-line is normal and when telling them that this and this are new features they just wonder what planet we come from. Features like that are expected.

So today's conclusion is that it's a thin line to walk to not be too cool and new, or not to be too old and boring.

Stubborn cold

It has now been a week since I started coming down with a cold. Even though I feel I lot better I can't help wondering when the cold will go away totally. My nose is still stuffed and probably my sinuses by now as well, which means my taste buds are gone or at least not working. Some curry last night and chorizo on Friday night tasted some, but food that's not spicy is just blend. Sigh!

I've been dying for some wine all weekend, but since I can't feel what it tastes like it would just be waist on me. I tried some Martini Rouge on Friday, but I could have had washing up liquid instead. But one doesn't get loopy form washing up liquid, right? At least Friday night in front of the telly got a bit fun. Before I fell asleep.

Quote of the day

From a long time favourite

Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart.

~ Alan Alda ~

Another Palin

I really like Michael Palin. He's hilarious in Monty Python, but also for his BBC series the last 15 years. Always curious on new things and people, still very respectful and so very British.

I have no doubt that Sarah Palin is very competent, even thought I don't agree with everything she says. The video is just a bit of humour. The first time I heard her name my actual thought was - Palin that's the same last name as Michael Palin?! So no offence to anybody. Remember, No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Gordon – the vandal

The cleaners as the House of Commons are used to finding graffiti on the priceless fittings and repair damages done by tourists. But they did not expect the PM to be one of the vandals. Recently the cleaners have found strange black pen marks at the government Dispatch Box. At the next Prime Ministers Questions they stood watch, and caught the culprit in the act

As Gordon Brown gesticulated wildly with his black marker pen, stabbing at the papers in front of him and missing to hit the wood beneath, the awful truth was clear. The PM was the vandal.

The PM has now been warned, but as he is called Zorro because getting his sweeping black pen everywhere no one can't really be sure where he will strike the next time.

Autumn

The rain poured all day yesterday and with gusty winds. This morning the rain was replaced by heavy fog and when that cleared up it started to rain again. Definitive signs that autumn is here. Ugh! I don't like it one bit and when I get up at 6 o'clock in the morning it almost dark. The same in the evening. By 8 pm it's now dark and it's just getting worse. On top of that I have a soar throat and can feel a cold coming on. Another sign of autumn and darker time. I hate it!

Samantha quote

I found this quote last night which suited me perfectly, and it suites perfectly today as well.

Yeah, I am harsh. I'm also demanding, stubborn, self-sufficient, and always right.
~ Samantha Jones ~

Thank God the week is almost over, but being harsh, demanding and stubborn has its sides sometimes. And yes, it feels so very good to be right...

Lights out in City of Light

By next month the Eiffel Tower will lose its sparkle when thousands of twinkling light bulbs are cut. All in a green initiative to make the Eiffel Tower and other monuments more environmentally friendly.

This latest green initiative comes just after the "city of light" completed a massive five-year energy saving plan to replace the standard incandescent light bulbs with metal iodide light bulbs on 125 of its monuments.

The new bulbs have five times more energy efficiency and last much longer.

Now, just 218 kilowatts are necessary to power the floodlights on the 280 Paris monuments, down 927 kilowatts from what was needed before to make the city glow. The city's power bill has been divided by four as a result.

Seeing the the Eiffel Tower dressed in diamonds every night is one of my fondest memories of my time in Paris. There she was, every night sparkling just like the the grand old lady she is. But every little bit counts and to be honest it is waist of electricity and not necessary like Mother Earth is.

Cheesiest chat-up lines

The cheesiest chat-up lines has been announced in the UK. Along with the celebrity most likely to use the line. Be prepared to cringe, it's going to very cheesy...

• Your dad must be a thief because he stole the stars and put them in your eyes – Calum Best
  
  
• If I were to rearrange the alphabet I would put U and I together – Carol Vorderman
  
  
• I must be in heaven because I can see an angel – Mario Marconi
  
  
• Did it hurt when you fell from heaven? – Cristiano Ronaldo
  
  
• Here's 10p – go phone your mum and tell her you won't be coming home tonight – Jodie Marsh
  
  
• You're under arrest. The charge – trespassing in my dreams - Rhys Ifans
  
  
• Is that a ladder in your tights or a stairway to heaven? – Jonathan Ross
  
  
• You must be tired because you've been running through my mind all day – Lee Sharpe
  
  
• If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me? – Peter Andre
  
  
• Do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes – Darius Danesh

Delete Cookies?!

Cookie Monster Delete Cookies
Originally uploaded by andyfox1979

A friend sent me this picture earlier today. Being a big fan of the Cookie Monster and loving cookies myself I can totally understand how it would feel to delete one of the best things in life...

The picture also made my Monday morning a lot more bearable, even though I started to think about cookies instead. Cookies with big chunks of chocolate. Mmm...