One single word that makes me almost a miserable as rain. Ugh! I clearly live in the wrong country half of the year. It's cold, miserable and will get very wet at some time.
I dream about long summer days, blue sky and blue ocean. Just wearing flip plops, capris and a top. Sitting under a parasol watching people and drinking something cold. Looking at this photo I can almost feel the heat, hear the waves and smell the lavender filled air.
The travel bug hit me in my teens and hasn't really left since then. I'm can probably not be called globetrotter crossing the world over and over again, but I enjoy new experiences, cultures and people. If I had a the times and means I'm sure I would do it a lot more.
Nomadic Matt has come up with a great list with the top signs you're a travel addict. Many signs that are true even to me The Globetrotter Light. You start all your stories with "When I was in…"
You only TIVO the travelchannel.
You read guidebooks for fun.
You plan trips you will nevertake.
You always ask “where people are from?” even when you know.
Youwere flip flops in the shower.
You take toilet paper everywhere you go outof habit.
You have more than one currency in your wallet just in case.
You keep a packed suitcase handy.
Your Ipod only has songs related to traveling.
You run multiple travel websites.
You don’t have paintings on the wall, you have maps.
If you haven’t been anywhere in a few months, youget the shakes.
You spend two hours each day reading travel blogs and travelwebsites.
When you thinking of prices, you value things in terms how many
days in your next destination it costs. "That T.V. is 10 days in Paris! Let’s get this one- it’s only 5 days!"
You pretend you are a travel writer.
Some people voted for Barack Obama, you voted for Anthony Bourdain.
When people ask you about your hobbies, all your answers contain the word "travel." Some people cry when the leave home. You cry when you have to go back.
When people ask you your profession, you say vagabond.
You filled your first passport before the first year was over.
Boots N All is your homepage.
You plan trips for next decade.
You have Lonely Planet tattooed on yourlower back.
You write a travel addict post.
Another thing I like very much in England is the quirkiness. Quirky people and quirky things. Old traditions and old rules that never changes. Odd with another word.
In the February issue of Reader's Digest (yes, Reader's Digest...) there is a long list of odd laws that are still in place even though I doubt anyone care about them any longer. Under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 it is illegal to walk the streets with building materials and tools, the magazine found.
...
Under the same act, any person "who shall fly any kite or play at any game to the annoyance of the inhabitants or passengers" shall be liable for a fine of up to £500.
...
Under the Seamen’s and Soldiers’ False Characters Act of 1906, anyone going to a fancy dress party or stag night dressed as a sailor could be committing an offence of trying to pass themselves off as a member of the armed forces, or in the words of the act, trying to "personate the holder of a certificate of service or discharge." The maximum penalty is a month in prison or a £500 fine.
So be aware all DIYs who fly a kite and like to dress as a sailor at fancy dress parties. It could cost you as much as £500.
Someone said that you're either an Anglophile or a Francophile and I believe it's true. Even though I for the last decade or so have learnt to like Paris very much thanks to numerous business trip. I have even go on holiday to the Rivera and I adore French food and wine, but it's not London. Every time I come to London I just feel at home, and when it's time to leave I feel very sad. Although I know it's very likely I will be back soon again. Because being addicted to London means you have to came back again and again and again.
It really doesn't matter if the pound is high against the Swedish krona or low as now (thank you very much...) Or that it's cold, damp and rains a lot. Or that it's dirty and the tube is always late and crowded. And it absolutely doesn't matter that you have been there a million times before. You can go another million times.
I have never lived in London and now in my late 30's I still play with the thought of moving there. I somehow can't get rid of the thought that life might be more interesting and exciting if I only got to live in London.
I first visited London in the summer of 1986 and it was love at first sight. Only 14 I found the big city a bit overwhelming and stayed very close to my teacher and tour guide. But seeing all the things I had only heard about had me. I just knew I had to come back, and I did. Three summers in a row seeing and doing all the things you must do, and probably things you mustn't do...
Back home I nurtured the Anglophile with glossy magazines, pop-music and watching Emmerdale Farm with Grandma every Sunday night. (This was back when Emmerdale Farm was a weekly drama and not a daily soap.)
Being an Anglophile and London addict means your interests can sound rather peculiar for someone who doesn't get the love for all things English. Things like knowing the names of all four Teletubbies even if you don't have any children or knowing the names of B- and C-celebes that are not known outside the UK. On the other hand it means that you more or less daily read newspapers like The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian and many times get a lot more insights on current world affairs than in Swedish media.
Culture can be at its best and at its worse in London. It's an eclectic mix of old and new, but there is something for everyone. The same goes for food, shops and things to do. From the most luxurious to the simplest things.
I don't get people who don't get London, because really what is there not to love about this bustling cosmopolitan city?!
Finally something I've been needing for a long time – the SarcMark. Sarcasm in writing isn't my strongest thing and there has been occasion when I have had to apologize since it was all taken the wrong way. But with the SarcMark I will not have to any longer. The SarcMark, as it has been named, is designed to be used in the same way as an exclamation or question mark.
Anyone concerned that the irony of their email or text message might not be appreciated by its recipient can use the symbol to close their sentence, thereby avoiding awkward misunderstandings.
The symbol – a dot inside a single spiral line – can be installed onto any PC running Windows 7, XP or Vista, as well as Macs and Blackberry mobile devices.
The cost for downloading is $1,99 – a price that many may think deserves a SarcMark of its own.
I miss you and Summer.
With the Arctic cold now gone we are stuck with grey and bleak winter days. January seems endless (another week left) and it still dark in morning. In the evenings though you can really tell a different. That is if you leave the office by 4 pm...
Enough with winter now. I want spring, sunshine and eventually summer. I miss you guys!
Finishing In search of a beginning: My life with Graham Greene last night I realised I've become quite an autobiography or memoir junkie. I love to read about other people and their lives. A bit of voyeurism I guess...
My life with Graham Green is his partner Yvonne Cloetta's account of their 32 years together. Written in a quite unusual format of Q's and A's it feels a bit like reading an interview, but as soon as you get used to it the book is very fascinating. Cloetta tells us her own reflections on Greene's very complex character. A passionate lover, a man suffering from depression and love for danger. But also a man with a great sense of humour and talent for enjoyment. Something I believe is what made Graham Greene the outstanding author he still is almost 20 years after his death
It's a book behind the scenes of a great author and it gives you as a reader a new side to understand and become fascinated by.
I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
~ Pablo Picasso ~
I went back to the gym yesterday. First time since late October. Yes, it's that time of the year. To start over. Again. A new year, new start and all that. I would love my motivation to last forever or at least to the summer but have a feeling I will stray off as soon as I hit an obstacle. Again. I'm very good at repeating things aren't I?! Well, someone said it takes 7-8 times doing things before it turns into a habit. Would that work with falling off the wagon as well?
Seriously though, I felt rather good about myself last night and this morning my trousers felt loser already. Not possible I know, but it's the thought that counts... Happy and positive thoughts that keep me going. Happy and positive thoughts that makes me think working out is a habit I can't live without. Just like food and fresh air.
Happy thoughts and good habits for the new year. Let's try. Again.
Back at work now, but with sweet memories of my reading frenzy the last couple of weeks. There is especially one book I can't forget - The other hand by Chris Cleave.
A woman at Blackwell's bookshop in Oxford recommended it to me and I remember looking at the cover a bit suspicious as it looked just like one of those books I wouldn't read. Then I read the back page synopsis and got quite intrigued: We don't want to tell you what happens in the this book... This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice. Two years later, they meet again...
It's a rather bold statement to add to a back page, but it had me and still has me. The book makes you wonder how much a life is worth and what you and I can do to save a life, and when we can't. The book also tells you that most important things in life are usually the small things such as love and empathy. Give and you shall receive.
Turns out every woman's favourite the black dress might not be as flattering one might think. According to experts wearing black ages the face. In fact, it will age their skin tone dramatically. "Black gives the illusion of slimming down the wearer, and designers will have us believe that it's the colour of the season and you must not be seen in anything else. But it can also bring out dark circles under the eyes and lines. The effect can be as serious as making women feel drained, self-conscious and introverted."
Time to bring out the bright coloured clothes again until another expert tells us bright and colourful clothes will make us look like a peacock. It's hard work being a fashionista...
I like my toast to be rather dark which means from time to another that my toast get burnt instead. But now I don't have to worry any longer. The first transparent toaster has gone on sale at selected John Lewis stores. Engineers have spent 15 years perfecting the £160 Magimix Vision Toaster, which has double insulated clear glass on both sides giving a panoramic view of each slice as it cooks.
Very nice indeed, but first of all where do you put a toaster like that? Not in some corner in the kitchen, especially with the clear glass on both sides. This toaster has to be put on some breakfast bar where you can watch it from all angels, which really rules out me using it. I don't have enough space. Then we have the price. £160is still a bit too pricey for me. I can buy a lot of loaves for that and burn many, many slices.
I've spent the last couple of days reading. It usually takes me a week or so to totally wind down from work before I can spend days (and nights) just reading. And that's what I'm doing now and it's lovely. I just realised last night that reading is happiness for me. When I read feel happy and relaxed with an open and free mind.
I started my reading frenzy with finally finishing off Farewell to the East End. Jennifer Worth's last book about midwives in the East End and Docklands in the 50's. Amazing stories about amazing people.
Next in my big pile of books was The kill call by Stephen Booth. A crime story with detectives Fry and Cooper in the Peak District. I've read almost all of Booth's books about Fry and Cooper, but still somehow I can't decided if I like them or not. They are just indifferent.
Needing something more light I then continued with Sheila Hancook's Just me. I really liked her book about her life with John Thaw and this book about her life after Thaw's death was very good as well. A celebration to life. Life will never be the same when someone dies, but you learn to live with it and find new ways and interests. Because you can do it. By yourself or with friends.
I than went on to reading a book I've heard a lot about - Netherland by Jospeh O'Neill. I think even President Obama said in an interview that he was reading it. A Dutch man finds himself alone in New York post 9/11 when his wife and son move back to London. It all about finding yourself, being a lover, husband and father and to understand life and those things we can't do anything about.
Still in thoughts from Netherland I went on to reading The other hand by Chris Cleave last night. The design of the book (a child standing in the sunset on a beach as a wave roll in) and back page synopsis "We don't want to tell you what happens in the this book... This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day..." gives you you rather high expectations and the first chapters are mesmerizing. Little Bee from Nigeria and Sarah from Kingston-upon-Thames. Two different views on England and two stories that comes together very nicely.
Tonight (or maybe even sooner I hope) I will start reading the The elegance of the hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, which I hopefully will find as enchanting as everybody else. It might even generate a separate blog post. We'll see.
