Did you know?

The latest version of "Did you know?" from the Economist is out. As usual amazing figures and mind-boggling stats.

What used to fit in a building now fits in your pocket, what fits in your pocket now will fit inside a blood cell in 25 years – Ray Kurzweil

How to NOT approach a woman

Being single can sometimes be a touchy subject for me from time to time, but after hearing this voice mail I'm so happy I'm single and hardly date. What a loser! Way too much of a smooth talker.

According to rumours the voice mail is fake and just a viral for a film, but still I can't help wondering if any woman would like to have a man like this or even have him calling you. Women like confident men, but not cocky ones. The people behind it are totally going down the wrong road according to me, but they got people talking and that's what a viral is all about.

Autumn morning

Woke up to a beautiful autumn day in Oslo this morning and this splendid view over the Oslofjord. I could actually lay in my bed and see all of this beautiful scenery. That's what I call a room with a view.

Slough and Oslo

Yesterday I spent the day in Slough, today I've been at the office and tomorrow I'm off to Oslo. They don't call me road worrier for nothing...

Slough lived up to its reputation as a very boring town. The supplier we met with had a very nice office with great view over Windsor Castle, but the surroundings and buildings were just boring. Grey with no hope. At lunchtime we walked down the hight street and even the normal shops as TopShop, Debenhamn's and M & S looked boring. So yes Slough will unfortunately for me as well be "depressing industrial wasteland".

Oslo is probably the opposite of Slough. At least when it comes to buildings, people and hope, All Norwegians sound so happy when they speak. But I know I will moan about how incredible expensive is it. I'm paying a fortune for one night in a single room, but I do get a view over the Oslofjord. It's on those occasions you're very happy to have an expense account...

So off to packing it is, even though you don't need much for one night.

Skype

I know I'm very late when it comes to start using Skype, but boy was it cool or what?! I just talked to and saw my little darling Frida over the Internet. Her mum was there too and a few minutes later her dad as well. Three adults who found it very cool and were amazed how well both sound and video worked. Guess we are getting old... Frida on the contrary just found it very naturally that Cathy was talking to her through the computer.

Now I just need to found out which friends who use Skype. Especially those who live across the globe. It would be so cool to talk to them without thinking about running up a big phone bill.

Guess I've just entered the 21 century...

Nice evening with a bad ending

Went to happy hour with colleague tonight. We ended up at quite swanky wine bar. The wine was fab so we decided to have some goat cheese salad as well. Very nice too. When we were going to pay my colleague showed a discount card from when the wine bar did lunch and said that when you did lunch and rather abruptly stopped doing it I was told that if I came back during the evening I would get a discount. The waitress didn't know what to do so she got her boss who just was plain rude to my colleague.

My colleague works with customer service so yes she likes to test and see how other companies do and act, but she's never rude. She's just one of those customers who ask questions, and if you work with customers you should learn who to handle that.

We both left the wine bar with a bad taste in our mouths and even though the food and wine were fab, and the waitress was very sweet we'll never go back there. So unfortunately a nice evening ended badly and that is what we'll remember.

Another teen idol dies

With Patrick Swayze passing this morning I realised that my teen idols are dying one by one. Maybe a sign that I'm getting old, but also that life isn't always fair being a star or not. Patrick Swayze put on a real good fight, but died. Sad!

But "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" will always have a special meaning to millions of women...

A weekend in the countryside

Just back from a weekend in the country visiting my little darling Frida and her parents. It feels like I've been to another planet. People up there are so laid back and just laugh at us city folks and can't understand why we are so stressed. Life is here and now so enjoy it! Makes you wonder what this rat race is all about...

Autumn is probably about 2-3 weeks ahead of down here and the foliage was beautiful and the air so clear and crisp. Yesterday it took a while before the sun came out and then it was actually chilly, so things are going the wrong direction so to speak.

As a last homage to the summer we decided fired up the BBQ last night and it has been a long time since I had such a nice evening. Perfect food, perfect wine and perfect company. With evenings like that it is very easy to enjoy the moment and forget what might come and what has been. Life is indeed here and now so enjoy it! Add a bit of gold to your everyday life as Frida's mum like to put. I can't agree more.

Quote of the day

An old favourite of mine and a very important one

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

Autumn

One week into September and the leaves have really started to change colour. It's dark when I get up at 5:45 the morning, the evenings are getting chilly and I'm back to wearing socks. A major sign that autumn is here. So far I like it and think it's OK, but I'm already dreading what's coming.

It was raining, windy and foggy last night when I got home from the gym and realizing that this is what it's going to be like until March-April really made me sad. That's when I need to look at my photos from the French Rivera and remember how wonderful it was down there. I can also dream about and plan new wonderful adventures in the sun. Blue sea, blue sky and bright sunshine. Mmm...

The 1000th post

Yes, since March 2006 I have now written 1000 posts on this blog. Wow! Feels like a lifetime and it almost is a lifetime. Or at least what has been going on in I my life for the last three and a half year. A lot I would say. A lot about work, a lot about London, a lot about wine and of course a lot of the good things in life.

Here's to more posts and the good things in life!

To Mum

Who I almost lost 24 hours ago, but she's a tough old bird. Love you!

Expensive hotels

Some people tease me and call me a hotel junkie as I have a thing for nice hotels and sometimes tend to splash out just because it's a nice place. But yet again, some people collect cars or model trains, then I think I can collect nice stays at hotels. And nice meals and wine...

WSJ just published a list of the most expensive hotels in the world. Somehow I have feeling I'll not be able to stay there, at least not in the near future. Need to win the lottery or marry a millionaire first.

1. The Royal Penthouse Suite, President Wilson Hotel, Geneva -- $65,000 per night

2. Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel, New York -- $35,000 per night

3. The Presidential Suite, Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia -- $34,000 per night

4. Villa La Cupola Suite, Westin Excelsior, Rome -- $31,000 per night

5. The Presidential Suite, Ritz-Carlton Tokyo -- $25,000 per night

6. The Bridge Suite, The Atlantis, Bahamas -- $22,000 per night

7. The Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt Vendôme, Paris -- $20,000 per night

8. Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai -- $19,600 per night

9. Royal Armleder Suite, Le Richemond, Geneva -- $18,900 per night

10. The Ritz-Carlton Suite, The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow -- $16,500 per night

But one can always dream. I wouldn't mind staying in The Presidential Suite at Hotel Cala di Volpe in Sardinia (number 3) where you get your own private wine cellar. Or in The Imperial Suite at Park Hyatt Vendôme in Paris (number 7) where you get your own spa in-suite.