Mondays it is

Now it has actually been proven in studies that Monday is the best day to start a new get healthy regime. So all of us who have said let's start on Monday have been right all the time. Why?

It’s a fresh start
Just like Friday always begs the question: what will I do this weekend? (i.e., eat, drink and be merry), Monday just naturally lends itself to a more practical point of view—it’s the day you assess your workload, appointments, grocery shopping. Take stock of the week ahead with your new healthy habits in mind and plan accordingly.

It’s a "trigger" day
Studies actually show that when it comes to embarking on any healthy activity, if you have a so-called trigger day—a set date or reminder—you’re more likely to follow through. Even better? Monday rolls around every 7 days, as opposed to say, once year, like Jan 1st, so even if you get off track, another Monday is just around the corner.

It’s preceded by 48 hours of free(ish) time
This matters because you have two free days to prepare, and launching into a new healthy routine without planning sets you up for failure—how can you eat healthier if there’s nothing healthier in the house to eat? Use these days to grocery shop, dig out your workout clothes, write up a schedule, give your junk food to the neighbors. Whatever it take to get you into the healthy living mindset.

So Monday it is then... Or maybe not...

Hot, hot, hot

After a hot and humid (but fun if course) weekend in London I got home to a very hot and dry city. We don't get that many days with extreme heat, so no complaining is allowed. My only complain is that I have to work. Sitting in the shadow reading and sipping something cold would be so much nicer. Not slave in an office with no proper AC.

Also could someone fix me a nice chicken salad for supper and maybe a glass rose. That would be perfect...

London again

Off to London again tomorrow morning. This time for the annual shopping weekend with the girls. Unfortunately the group has decreased to only two of us, but I still think we'll have good time. I mean shopping, laughter, wine drinking and more shopping, laughter and wine drinking. What can go wrong?! And we are in London, which as usual makes me very happy. What remains to be seen though is if we find any bargains. The summer sale is going on and is the only purpose of the trip.

Summer traditions

During the year I usually don't watch that much TV. Maybe a two or three series (now with ER gone I'm really sure what I'm going to watch) and half the time I miss them because I end up falling asleep on the sofa.

During the summer at least Swedish television becomes rather dull and boring. They expect most people to be out and enjoy the lovely long days. But there are a couple of things on TV that comes on every summer. Crime and detective stories. Especially British who's-done-it stories that I just love. Nothing really happens and halfway through the show you've figured out who the murder is, which is some sort of comforting.

So last night it was time for the season première of Midsummer Murders and true to my own traditions I fell asleep. Some guy got murder at a golf club that all I know... The same on Monday when an Italian detective story was on. Some traditions really need to change.

The world at war

My step-father has always been a WWII buff and as retired he has now even more time on his hands to read and watch series and films about his favourite subject.

I find it rather interesting too, especially since both my sets of grandparents now are gone and can't tell stories any longer. But what they did tell was truly amazing and heroic in many ways and it makes me realize how good things have become in only about 60 years. In the 1930's people were fighting for jobs and bread. Today we complain if the bread is one day old in the shop...

My step-father's latest finding is the full DVD-set of The world at war series. An 11 discs documentary narrated by Laurence Oliver made in the early 1970's. I borrowed discs 1-3 this weekend and so far I've seen the first one. Very interesting and for me also a lot of new information. This series really goes down deep to explain why things happend in a certain way. It's also quite fascinating to listen to real persons who where right there. Just like my grandparents, even though I think these people saw a lot more action and misery.

So with 10 more discs to go I think I will be busy the rest of the summer. Perfect for a rainy day or two during my holiday.

Adrian Mole's latest diary

With an extra long weekend I managed to do a bit of reading. Always nice and especially when it's pouring outside.

Last time in London I picked up The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001. I was probably about 10 or 11 the first time I read Sue Townsend's first book about Adrian Mole. Then I didn't pick up on the cynicism and critics of Thatcher's England, but I loved to read about him, his big love Pandora and his very dysfunctional family.

Over the years, which probably is 25 years by now, I've read all his diaries over and over again. Laughing out loud and as an adult understanding the sarcasms which are hilarious.

This book has been published in a British newspaper before, but for me it's totally new and Adrian is the same. His yearning for Pandora, his attempts at wring fiction and his dysfunctional family now including his two sons as well.

A new book which most likely takse Adrian in to his 40's will be out during the autumn. I can't hardly wait to see what he has to say about mid-life.

Happy Midsummer!

Probably the most Swedish of holidays is here. And so is the typical Midsummer weather. Cold, windy and dark clouds just waiting to pour down rain. Clothes today will therefore be both warm and rainproof.

Soon off to the annual family affair at mum's. With no children this year it will probably be a rather quiet day, but I don't mind. Eating, drinking and having a conversation without getting disturbed is rather nice too. But I do love my little nephews and nieces and I will miss the frog dance and picking flowers with them.

Becks and a rope

I have to admit that footballers in underwear are usually very hot. Who doesn't remember Freddie Ljungberg in his Calvin Klein's?!

But this time I think Emporio Armani might have taken it a bit too far with David Beckham. OK Becks has a lovely body and those underwear leave next to nothing for your imagination, but that oily look and rope are just silly. Makes me think about "Me Tarzan. You Jane". And not that my lover would look wonderful and hot in those underwear.

Dinner with old boss

When going to London the last time I ran into several old colleagues at the gate. I know they go to London a lot too and I have run into them separately before but not all at the same time. We decided to talk later on in London and see if it was possible to meet up for a drink. It was and we met up on Thursday night for a drink and curry, which was very nice.

That same Wednesday on my way out to dinner with some colleagues my phone rang and it was my old boss from the same place as the old colleagues I've met in the morning. What are the odds for this happening? First running into some colleagues I haven't talked to since I left the company, or really got laid off 5 years ago, and then the same evening getting a phone call from the old boss. We have kept in touch over the years, with a lunch maybe once a year. But having all this happening in one day is quite a coincidence. We talked just briefly and decided that I was going to call him when I got back home again.

So on Thursday last week I called him. After talking for a while he asked if I had any plans for dinner. If not maybe we should meet somewhere to catch up. Lunch is always so stressed. Why not? 30 minutes later we met at a steak house and ended up having a great evening. Lovely steak, baked potato, Crème Brulé and Italian wine.

Just before leaving we realized that it almost to the day was 5 years since he had told me and 15 other people that unfortunately we were laid off. Never in my wildest imagination would I think we would meet up and have dinner 5 years later. Things have certainly changed. And to the better I might add.

At home weekend

As much as I love to travel and be out and about doing things, I also love being home and just be by myself. That's more or less what I've been doing this weekend. A bit of laundry and tidying up yesterday, but other than that I've been reading, watching telly, sleeping, tried a new salmon recipe and have just messed around at home. I guess it's one way of recharging the batteries. I mean there are plenty of other things I should or could be doing, but doing nothing is very nice too.

My mojo is still somewhat gone and despite doing nothing this weekend plenty of thoughts are still back in my mind. Asking who, where, when, and why.

Playing for change

Very cool idea and don't we all wish it was this easy. Music brings people together.

In a rut

Or something else. I'm just tired and seem to have lost my mojo. Everything is just same old things. I was suppose to go to the gym tonight but almost there I felt like I couldn't go in. I just wanted to go home and curl up on the sofa. At home I felt restless and now I really don't know what to do. Cook supper? Nah, I don't feel like it. Watch telly? Nothing good on this early.

I want to do something. Go somewhere. Get excited. Have fun. Feel careless and not having to think about tomorrow. I'm clearly in a rut or something else is missing or wrong. Sigh!

To Stockholm and back

Got home yesterday from London after a fab weekend, despite not very good weather and yes I went to Windsor Castle.

Then this morning it was time to take the train up to Stockholm for meeting with yet another supplier. The meeting went OK even though I had hoped for more. But still it was an important meeting and it ended in favour for the company.

After a late lunch at a coffee shop it was time to jump on the train again. 12 hours back and forth and I have to admit I feel rather drained now. Busy last week, busy weekend, busy today and a busy week coming up. Like usual everybody wants things to be done before the summer holidays. Only one month to go. Or for me 5 weeks. The countdown has begun....

Time for London again

I'm off to London again tomorrow morning. Two days of meetings with suppliers and two days of seeing friends and just spend time in my favourite city.

Going to Windsor Castle is still on my list of things to do. So far every time I've planed on going the castle has either been closed or it has been pouring. According to the weathermen it's going to rain on Saturday too, but this time I'm bringing both raincoat and umbrella. Hey, I've spent the last two summer holidays in Ireland and Scotland and have learned to be a tourist in pouring rain. With the right clothes everything is possible...

If not Windsor Castle I still haven't visit the natural history museum and the science museum. Dali universe on Southbank is also something I have thought about for a long time. It's not like I'm worried that won't have anything to do. I'm in London after all...

What a man, what a mighty man

Desmond Hatchett from Knoxville, Tennessee has managed to father 21 children by 11 women before turning 30. That's what I call a man... Twice he has managed to have four children in a single year.

The remarkable story emerged when Hatchett was due in court because failing to keep up with maintenance payments.

Mr Hatchett, who works in a minimum wage job, said that he was not trying to break a record and has no plans to have any more children.

He insists that he knows all of their names, ages and birthdays.

"I'm done. I'll say I'm done," he told WVLT local television.

"I didn't intend to have this many. It just happened."

It just happened... Hm, lame excuse. Ever heard about condoms?! Excuse me for saying so, but some people are just stupid.