Happy Advent!

Today is First of Advent here in Sweden, which more or less starts the festive season. The lights are up along with the candlesticks with four candles. One for each Sunday until Christmas. Gingerbread cookies is also a must and so is mulled wine. Being a gingerbread cookie addict I finished off one box (yes one big box) already two weeks ago so I haven't got a new one. What's out of the house is of the mind. Or almost out of the mind...

In a perfect world the weather should be clear, cold and crisp, but here it is as usual mild, wet and rainy. But no wind for a change. Seeing all the lights though, makes such a change and in only three weeks the days will get longer again. I made it through November this year too.

Coffee or drink?

For a long time the question has been if you should ask someone out for coffee or for a drink. According to psychologists it's more likely to think warmly of someone if you're holding something warm in your hand.

The experimenters, Lawrence Williams of the University of Colorado and John Bargh of Yale, gave cups of either hot or iced coffee to people and asked them to rate someone’s personality based on a packet of information. The ones who held the hot cup rated that individual significantly higher for “warmth” than did the subjects holding the iced coffee.

The researchers say there is a connection between heat and emotion going back to our childhood. Recent brain imaging studies also show that the experience of hot or cold stimulus triggers activity in the insular cortex, the same area that can make people uncooperative and distrustful. So it appears like the effect of physical temperature is not just on how we see others, it affects our own behaviour as well.

Interesting stuff, so maybe asking someone out for coffee isn't that bad at all?

And action...

Not that many Swedish major motion pictures are set and made in Gothenburg. But right now one police film, with a rather good looking main character I might add, is done here and it seems like where ever I go I end up right in the middle of the set.

Coming home from work two weeks ago major spotlights were facing the apartment building. Outside the front door there were trucks, more spotlights and crew people. One person asked if I lived there and when I said yes they told me to go straight in – they were "just" making the new Johan Falk film. Walking up the stairs I ran into main character who very happily said hi. Turned out that they were using one of my neighbours' flat so my landing was quite crowded. The next morning they were back and did scenes outside the building.

Then last week finally making it to the gym, they were filming just outside and when I left later one of the camera guys waved at me. We used to work at the same production company about 4 years ago and I was so surprised he recognised me. He was on the floor and I was in the IT-department, but he did and it was nice talking to him.

On my lunch walk today it was time again. This time plenty of other people and I got to witness a high speed car chase down the street and the main character running into my favourite coffee shop. So there is not doubt about it – I have to see this film when it comes out next autumn.

Dead parrot 1600 years old

The famous Dead parrot sketch by Monty Python is actually 1600 years old. William Berg, an American classics professor has proved the point, by unearthing a Greek version of the world-famous piece.

A comedy duo called Hierocles and Philagrius told the original version, only rather than a parrot they used a slave.

It concerns a man who complains to his friend that he was sold a slave who dies in his service.

His companion replies: "When he was with me, he never did any such thing!"

The joke was discovered in a collection of 265 jokes called Philogelos: The Laugh Addict, which dates from the fourth century AD.

Never less the sketch is hilarious and only shows the the Monty Python crew was quite well educated.

Modern women revealed

A study for The Sunday Telegraph has revealed values, habits and role models of the modern women. Considering myself a modern woman it's accurately scary. Feminist, preferring male bosses, living together before getting married, worrying for putting on weight, have been on a diet in the past, not settling for a man who's good enough, balancing work and home life, admiring Baroness Thatcher and thinking that George Clooney is attractive.

Almost two out of five women now see themselves as feminists

Nearly three out of four women would rather have a man, than a woman, as their boss.

Nearly half of women (46 per cent) think a couple should live together before they marry.

Four in five (80 per cent) say losing their health is their greatest concern, followed by putting on weight (52 per cent) and losing their job (24 per cent).

Nearly one woman in four (23 per cent) is currently on a diet and nearly three women in five (58 per cent) has dieted in the past.

More than one in five women (21 per cent) take no exercise during a week and less than one woman in 20 (4 per cent) takes seven hours or more of exercise a week (an average of an hour a day or more).

Two thirds (67 per cent) would rather hold out for the perfect, romantic partner than settle for a man who's "good enough".

One in five women (20 per cent) smokes, but nearly one in three (31 per cent) does not drink.

Fifty per cent of women are "very unhappy" or "fairly unhappy" with their body: virtually the same number (49 per cent) are either "very happy" or "fairly happy" with it.

Less than one woman in 200 (0.3 per cent) has had Botox.

Balancing work and home life was the main challenge (82 per cent) followed by raising happy children (56 per cent) and finding time for yourself (52 per cent).

Almost half of women (49 per cent) think that between 25 and 29 is the best age to get married, and an identical per cent believe that between 25 and 29 is also the best age to have children.

Nearly three out of five women (59 per cent) think fathers should take more responsibility for their children and two thirds of women (66 per cent) think it is better to divorce than to stay in an unhappy marriage for the sake of the children.

More than half of women (51 per cent) think it is best for a couple to marry before having children, while nearly two out of five women (38 per cent) think a woman should stay at home until her child goes to school. More than half of women with partners (51 per cent) say they currently do three quarters of household chores.

Baroness Thatcher is the most admired women (7 per cent) followed by the Queen (5.5 per cent) and Jordan/Katie Price (4.6 per cent).

The most admired man is Nelson Mandela (5.6 per cent) followed by Winston Churchill (4.2 per cent) and David Beckham (3.1 per cent).

The famous man that women find most attractive is George Clooney (8.9 per cent) followed by fellow actors Brad Pitt (6.1 per cent) and Johnny Depp (5.5 per cent).

Actress Angelina Jolie (9.4 per cent) tops the list of famous women that fellow females find attractive, followed by singer Cheryl Cole (3.9 per cent) and actress Catherine Zeta Jones (2.6 per cent).

Digital excuses

Long gone are the days when a student used to say "The dog at my homework". The more computer savvy the kids get the more extravagant excuses for not finishing school assignment on time.

According to a study in the UK, 68% of all students submit homework typed on a PC and teachers get to hear the craziest thing why technology failed.

Worst tech-related excuses:
My dad's computer was hacked by the Russians and they stole my homework;

A burglar stole my printed-out homework along with the computer;

The PC exploded when our dog went to the toilet on it;

I accidentally tipped a bottle of cider over the computer and it broke.

Worst non-tech excuses:
My mum put my homework in the washing machine, and then burnt it as she tried to iron it dry;

The wind blew my homework into a pond, and then a swan ate it;

My brother drove off with my homework in his lorry, and then he lost it in France.

I think the Russian-excuse is quite good and as a teacher I would at lest give the kid some credit for being imaginative.

Old time adverts

Let's just say that I'm happy times have changed...

Subscribing to wine

I'm just back from a wine testing and now I'm also a subscriber of wine. Every 6th week I will get 6 bottles delivered to my door. To start with a friend of mine and I will share this delivery to see if it's worth it or not. Just having it delivered to my doorstep is a big plus, but still I'm a little concerned since I can't decided on what sort of wine it is. Half red half white, but other than that it's up to the sommelier to decided. Which I guess is part of the fun, getting new wines to test. First delivery is in two week. I'll be back with the result.

A visit to the gym

I managed to go to the gym today. Last time I was there it was probably early April before the weather got good. Then I started running outside again and more or less did until September when I came down with a cold and after that I got busy travelling. Time fly when you're happy as my old Gran used to day... It felt rather good even though I only walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes and then did some push ups and sit ups.

I'm planning on going on Wednesday again but still take it rather slow. Better slow than I get all worn out the first week and quit. Again. With six weeks to Christmas my goal is to visit the gym at least once a week until then. Can't be that hard, or?!

November

Just the word makes me want to cringe, and two weeks into the month I have definitely had enough already. It's dark when I get up and dark when I get home from work. The rain is constantly pouring and the wind is icy cold. Even though there has been some blue sky and sunshine both today and yesterday I have had enough. Really, what is the meaning of a month that just make you feel miserable? Sorry all you people with birthdays this month... Bring on December with the parties, presents and festive mood, I'm ready.

Quote of the day

Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, stop deciding exactly what we want, and just see what happens.

~Carrie Bradshaw ~

Love letter on the tram

Like so many other people I use public transportation every day. First bus and than tram on my way to work. There are lot of people I see every day, but you never really think about them. They are just there as part of your daily route. I can't say I'm very talkative in the morning either so I'm just happy to listen to my iPod and mind my own business.

Yesterday one stop before work when people were getting off suddenly a man handled me an envelope. Not having noticed him or heard what he was saying I felt rather startled. "This is is for you", he said. "What? Why?" was my rather surprised response. "It's OK, just read what it says" he said, squeezed my shoulder and left. I was so sure it was going to be some ridiculous advert trick, but when I opened it I realised it was sort of a love letter from him asking me out.

It was very sweet card saying that he had seen me so many mornings and he thought I looked like a very nice and sweet woman so now he would like to get to know me. Totally stunned I walked into the office and straight into my new boss. His comments was: "OMG, he just did what every man just dream about doing, but never dare to".

I think most of all I got shocked and then very surprised. Things like this only happen in films and not in real life, and most definitely not to me. I'm still not sure what to do. He left both his mobile and work phone number and email address in the card, so one part of me is thinking about just writing a nice email saying thanks, but no thanks. The other part of me thinks what the heck, having coffee in public place can't be that bad.

He's probably 10 years older than me and wears big and very thick glasses. I remember the glasses was the first thing I noticed the first time I saw him on the tram. Being blind as bat myself I tend to notice people who wear thick glasses. It's another member of the club...

Hm, I guess I just have to ponder about it for another day. It still feels rather schocking and unreal, but of course a bit flattering too.

Gorgeous autumn weather

Never did I think that I would need sunglasses in November in Dublin, but on both Friday and Saturday the weather was amazing. Clear blue sky, sunshine and lovely colours.

Pravda, rugby and waltzing

Back from an adventurous weekend in Dublin, or maybe not so adventures but it seems like whenever my friend Cia and I do stuff together things just happens. And we just laugh.

Thursday night coming back from dinner and the pub the fire alarm in the hotel went off. Thankfully we were still dressed and just had to grab our coats on again. We couldn't feel any smoke or see any people so we went down to the reception where the concierge and Fred Flintstone were talking to two firemen. Outside there was also two fire trucks and more firemen looking at bit lost. When we got back to the hotel we had noticed that a fancy dress party was going on including Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. Turned out that some candles or similar in the ballroom had turned off the alarm, so Fred had some explaining to do...

On Friday night we did a bit of bar hopping like the rest of Dublin and managed to visit two of Dublin's better bars. The Church and Pravda. Both very different styles, but still just what you need on a Friday after work or in our case after a day of walking and sightseeing. The places were packed with people so as usual we made up stories about them and watched people. Not very grown up maybe, but very fun...

If Friday was bar hopping Saturday was pub walking. After a gorgeous weather both Friday and Saturday heavy rain and gusty winds moved in Saturday afternoon so what was better then going to the pub and watch rugby. Yes, rugby, ie American football without any protection. All I know of rugby is that the Australian team is called The Wallabies (thank you Michael) and that the Irish team is one the better teams. I haven't got a clue about the rules beside that it looks like they are all in one big pile trying to catch a ball, and sometimes they score by kicking the ball across the goal line and sometimes running with the ball across the goal line. 90 minutes and a Guinness later I still didn't know more, other than that Ireland had won over Canada with 55-0 and the Green boys were a lot better at running. But I had had a great time and so did Cia. And yes two Swedish women in pub cheering for Ireland gets some attention...

As the last stop on our pub walk we stopped at a pub we had passed by the other days which looked really nice. Probably bit nicer than your normal pub and with both young and old people. Soon some live Irish music started and a little bit later both Cia and I were asked if we would like to waltz by two Irish gentlemen in their mid 50's. For a second or two we felt terrified, but then what the heck. When in Ireland do as the Irish... It's been ages since I waltzed (probably at some wedding) but somehow I managed not to step on the man's toes. Two dances later we very polite said thank you and and very much left the pub laughing. Again we had had a very good time.

And to be honest you usually have in Ireland. The Irish are ten times more laid back than their British cousins across the sea.

To Dublin

I'm off to Ireland and Dublin tomorrow. First for a day long meeting and then catching up with some friends over the weekend. According to the weather it's going to rain which isn't very surprising. It always rains in Ireland. At least when I'm there... But with plenty of shops, museums and pubs I'm pretty sure we will be able to stay out of the rain if we want to. Otherwise there is always raincoats and umbrella and coming from Gothenburg I know how to use them as well.

The weekend is really something I'm looking forward to. To get away and have a bit of fun and at the same time recharge the batteries. And of course to have full Irish breakfast and drink Guinness. Something I only do when in Ireland. Guinness that is. It really is an acquired taste. And after three trips to Ireland in a year, well I like it. But still only in small quantities.

One down, two to go

The first of three projects I've been very involved with a work was launched today. Of course with some minor hiccups, but nothing serious. After lunch I think we all let out a sigh of relief realising that we fixed this. Too.

The other two project will be released by the end of January, but before that we have tons of work to do. Again. But one down and two to go is a lot better than three to go. So tonight I'm celebrating with a night in front of the telly. I think I deserve that...

Mamma Mia - The movie

A friend and I finally made it to the cinema on Thursday to watch Mamma Mia. With the film coming out on DVD in only three weeks one would think the theatre would be empty. On contrary, the theatre was more or less full and this was even one of the largest room at the cinema. Amazing! But then I guess we Swedes have a very special relationship with Abba...

I think I liked the film better than the musical. I saw the musical last summer here in Sweden and had a bit of a problem hearing the songs in Swedish. They should be in English as they always have been, and in English I know every word of the lyrics. It is what I grew up with being a child of the 70's.

Meryl Streep's singing was quite impressive The singing of Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan were not as impressive but what they lacked in singing they made up in charm. That went for Stellan Skarsgård as well.

The two hours and 10 minutes just disappeared and when we were leaving I think everybody had a smile on their face and were humming on an Abba tune. It's quite incredible that pop music which was written for more than 35 years ago still has effect on people. Good working Björn and Benny.