Happy Halloween!

It's foggy and wet outside at the moment which very much suits the day. Soon it will also be dark thanks to changing back the clock this morning. Growing up there was nothing called Halloween. We had All Saints Eve and still have. Sometimes you heard stories from people that had been to the US that they dressed up and went trick-or-treating on the last day of October. Later on when studying in Texas I was able to take part of the fun. Not trick-or-treat though. That's only for the kids. As a college student you dressed up, went to parties and drank strange coloured drinks.

Back in Sweden again I noticed that people more and more had started to celebrate Halloween (a great reason for a party when it's really starting to get cold and dark outside) but what they were mixing it up with All Saints Eve. All Saints Eve is the first Saturday in November which means it can be everything from one day to a full week between Halloween and All Saints Eve. And the kids are running amok during this time dressing up and trick-or-treating. I know I sound like an old grumpy lady, but why mix two holidays together when you can have them separately?

Anyhow, tonight I'm lightning both my ceramic pumpkin and ghost and putting them in the window. Today is Halloween. On Saturday I will celebrate All Saints Eve with visiting my grandparents and father's grave sites and light a candle for all of them.

Tonight I will also very likely dig into the candy that I'm keeping in case there will be some trick-or-treaters. Something I very much doubt since I live right in the middle of the city. But it is a great excuse to get some extra candy myself... And traditions should be kept, right?!

Happiness is...

After a 2-day workshop earlier this week I came to some, very obvious conclusion probably, but nevertheless some very important ones.

Happiness is to do what I love to do and is good at doing – creating solutions for businesses to thrive online. Happiness is to work with people who are smart, creative and passionate about what they are doing. Happiness is to feel needed, important and part of something big. Happiness is good for you.

Wines from South America

Last Wednesday it was time again to taste wines. This time from South America, i.e. Chile and Argentina.

Santa Carolina Reserva Semillon 2009
Pale, very light yellow colour. Nose is quite discreet with hints of melon, herbs and citrus. The palate is quite discreet as well with a freshness of melon and honey. The finish is short and almost a bit abrupt.

Catena Chardonnay 2008
Yellow colour. Nose is filled of oak, pineapple, vanilla and butterscotch. Palate is full of papaya, some bread and linger on for quite some time. A real old fashioned Chardonnay that I love and adore.

Errázuriz Estate Pinot Noir 2009
Ruby red colour with purple highlights. Nose displays raspberries, cherries and hints of tobacco. Plate is rather crisp with blueberries, cherries and some oak. I tried this wine at party a couple of weeks ago and for not liking Pinot Noir this wine was quite a surprise. I didn't get that watery-washy feeling that I usually get.

Misiones de Rengo Reserva 2009
Deep red bluish colour. Nose is filled of blackberries, herbs and artificial liquorice (wine gums). Palate is fruity, oaky and again filled of blackberries, herbs and vanilla. The finish quite tannic and you can almost feel how your lips and tongue is getting blue.

Quara Reserva Malbec 2008
Dark red full colour. Nose displays plums, herbs, oak, chocolate and hints of vanilla. The palate is rich of oak, dark berries, chocolate, herbs and some vanilla. In my book a very typical and very good Argentinian Malbec. This is craftsmanship at its best.

Not a "normal" 38-year-old

Lately I have realised that people in my surroundings find me different and that some of them is even having a hard time dealing with it because I'm not behaving as "normal" 38-year-old woman.

I'm single, don't have any children and I'm very independent (probably too much for my own good at some times). I love to travel and I do it a lot all by myself. I eat and drink a lot of good food and wine both with friends but also alone. I still live in the city in my 1 bedroom flat and the flat is not decorated by the latest trends. I like my flat to be comfortable and welcoming and that is what the place is. I'm happy there and it's my home, so what is the problem? Becoming a member of a wine club and getting my own cellar really was too much for some people. Apparently as a woman to have your own wine cellar is way too cocky.

I have also been told that my lifestyle is decadent since I spend money on myself and the things I like. I've written off that comment as jealousy, but still it makes me angry that people are so set in their opinions. Who gets to decide what's right or wrong for a 38-year-old woman? I'm happy most of the time, so what is the problem?!

Being my father's daughter I of course have to give them something more to talk about, instead of doing what they think is right. So last week I put in an order for my 40th birthday at the wine club. I would like them to find me a bottle of vintage wine from '72, '82, '92 and '02. I'm very excited and really looking forward to taste them. Yet again it gave people something to talk about, but really at the moment I'm just living up to my reputation. The decadent 38-year-old woman who spends money on herself and the good things in life...

A little bit of the 80's

A colleague at work was wondering about favourite Eurythmics songs. Without even blinking I said "There must be an angel". Then I started to wonder, which song was that really was. It obviously had to be a pretty good song since I remembered it so clearly. Thank God for the Internet and YouTube. Five minutes later I was back in the 80's and yes, "There must be an angle" is still very good song. Brought back tons of memories and I had to find Eurythmics on Spotify. Wow, those were the days...

Fly by visit to London

Spent the day in London yesterday, but never the night. Left the house at 05:30 in morning and was back home at 23:30. Talk about optimizing your day. Can't say I'm very bright today though. When I finally got into bed last night I couldn't turn off my brain and kept thinking about things at work over and over again. This morning when the alarm went off I just thought I can't do this I can't get up. So I reset the alarm for two more hours and felt somewhat human when I woke up later on, but boy will it be nice or what to go to bed tonight?! Early I might add.

When the meeting was over I was lucky to have two hours left before heading back to Paddington and on to Heathrow. So what to do? Shopping of course! For doorknobs in Notting Hill. Yes, I'm crazy. I've been to Chloe Alberry several times and every time I have gotten new ideas. Just changing door knobs actually changes a lot. And that comes from the woman who has hardly no interest at all in interior design. This time I got 6 new door knobs for the the cabinets in the hallway. When I got home last night I changed one immediately and it looks fabulous.

The original Hummingbird Bakery where the cupcake craze started in 2004 is just down the road from Chloe Alberry so of course I had to go there too. Being a Monday the place was empty besides three lovely women behind the counter and the amazing smell of cupcakes. So I decided to sit down and have some coffee and a Red Velvet cupcake. Total bliss! The cupcake of course but also the fact that I was in London, not in a hurry and was just sitting down for some me-time. It's those little things that makes it all worth while. Something to remember next Monday afternoon when the day is dragging on. Life is good.

Old friends

On Wednesday I met up with two of my oldest friends. From Kindergarten until 9th grade it was always the four of us. We did pretty much everything together. Living next to each other, playing together, being in the same class at school, belonging to the same football club and so on. We were the four musketeers and as we grow older I'm pretty sure our parents were rather refiled that we stuck together the way we did. Together we were safe and looked out for each other.

Our last summer was the the summer after 9th grade when we went to Gibraltar together for a month to study English. We did learn some English but most of all we had fun in the sun with other 16- and 17-year-old. Back home we all started different high schools and naturally started to drift away from each other. Over the years a post card here and there and Christmas cards have somewhat kept us up to date with what's been going on, but we haven't seen each other since the early 1990's. About a year ago the boys found me on Facebook and as you always do, we said that we really need to meet up. Then a couple of weeks go one of them said, OK lets do it. Now. And we did.

We met at a pub and when I walked in my first thought was that they both looked exactly like their fathers. Not that strange really since we are now at the same age our parents were when we grew up. For five hours we talked, talked and talked some more. It did not feel like it had been 20 years and we still laughed at the same silly jokes. I also loved the comment that I was still the chatty Cathy. Nothing had changed. We all also agreed on that we were not old. Age is just a number, but 10 minutes later we all moaned about not being able to read the menu because the light was so bad. I think we might have a become a bit old...

We were a bit sad though that the 4th musketeer was missing. All of us have tried to find her on Facebook, phone book and other online searches, but no luck. It's probably very likely that she has gotten married and changed her last name. So now we have a competition going on. The first one who finds her will get a bottle of bubblies, but of course the bottle has to be shared with all musketeers. Just like in the old days. All for one, one for all.

Quote of the day

It is easier to come up with an excuse to NOT pursue your dream than to put the effort to pursue it.

Size shouldn't matter

According to a 24-years study in Germany a woman’s weight has a greater effect on her spirits than her love life does. Quite upsetting I think.

Experts say that the stigma surrounding being overweight has become so great that it can affect almost every aspect of life.

Very sad. Why do we keep judging people on what 's on the outside when we all know that it is the inside that counts? Why is being overweight equal to being lazy and have no self-control? Why is society constantly talking about shape, size and attractiveness? When did a size 0 woman become better than a size 16 or size 18 woman? It's crazy, but unfortunately very hard to change.

Having been up and down in sizes over the years one thing is for sure and it is that as long as I don't like myself no matter size, no man will find me attractive. If I believe in myself and feel strong being size 20, the right man will find me attractive. If I feel miserable about myself at size 8 men will notice that too. It all comes down to self love. Some might think it's a cliché but it's important because you're important. So love thyself!

I'm going to end with some very wise words from Cakie Belle. An Aussie body image advocate and crusader for self love who I came across on the Internet a while back.

What men really want is thin women, curvy women, big women and small women.

Men want tall women and men want short women.

Men want women with blonde hair, with brown hair, with red hair, with short hair and with long hair.

Men want women with big boobs and women with small boobs.

Men want women who wear dresses and heels, and men want women women who are most comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt.

Men want women who are au naturel and men want women who are surgically enhanced.

Men want women who are glamorous and women who are ” the girl next door”.

Men want women who wears lots of makeup and men want women who wear no makeup.

Men want women who are athletic and men want women who hate working out.

Men want women who are good at math and women who are artistic.

Men want funny women and men want serious women.

Men want women who like to cook and men want women who like to eat out.

Men want women who can’t wait to have children and men want women who never want to have children.

Men want women who value tradition and men want women who prefer the unconventional.

Men want women who are feisty and women who are shy.

Men want women with lots of money and men want women with no money.

Men want women who are models, and women who are teachers, and women who are doctors, and women who are stay at home mamas.

Men want women like me and men want women like you.

The truth about what men really want is:

Men want women. Except the ones who want other men!

Grumpy old woman

Last night I really felt like a grumpy old woman. Next door neighbour was having a party and throughout the evening the music got louder and louder. Outside the building there were also plenty of people being quite loud.

As long as I was in the kitchen or living room it was sort of OK. You could tell a party was going on, but nothing more. It was a totally different story in the bedroom. My bedroom must be next to the living room or something. The base went straight through the wall and it felt like being next to a night club. Going to sleep I told myself that it wouldn't be a problem and it wasn't actually (sometimes it's good to be sleepy). But an hour later I woke up again because now they were having some sort of sing-along contest and unfortunately neither of them were very good at singing. Lying in bed thinking If I should get up or not I started to smell cigarette smoke. Apparently some guests were standing on the balcony next to mine smoking and the smoke went straight into my bedroom. And yes my bedroom window was closed.

That was it. At 1:30 in the morning I became the grumpy old woman and went out on my balcony (in dressing gown and all. No curlers though...) and told them that please could you turn down the music and blow the smoke somewhere else. First they just stared at me probably very surprised wondering were I came from and then they said something about it being a house warning party. Yes, that I understood but at 1:30 in the morning even though it's Saturday most people actually do sleep or would like to sleep. Um well, maybe I was right there... A bit sulky they decided to go inside again, and closing my own balcony door I could hear one of them saying that I was one incredible grumpy old woman. So yes, it's official I've become a grumpy old woman. At least to people in their 20's.

Peaceful London

Kyoto Gardens Holland Park
Originally uploaded by cathy257

For most people London is the hustle and bustle of busy streets and people everywhere. That is true and one reason why I love London so much. Another reason is places you just find around the corner that are both peaceful and beautiful.

Staying in Holland Park this summer I went walking a couple of times in the neighbourhood park Holland Park and found Kyoto Gardens. A beautiful peaceful Japanese garden right in the middle of London. The most amazing was that you could see how people changed while visiting. Suddenly they slowed down, talked with hushed voices and just felt very much at ease. Quite amazing!

A good day

One of my oldest and dearest fiends called last night. She was going to be in town today for meeting. Maybe we could meet up for a quick coffee/lunch. Checked my calendar and yes it was possible. Going to bed last night I was really excited. It had been 2 years since we last saw each other, but the amazing thing is that every time we meet we start right off were we left.

I think it's true what they say about friends you make at university. Some of them will be your friends for the rest of your life. J and I were room mates back in Texas (way too many years ago) and I guess we bounded for life. So different but so much alike. And whenever something important happens in our lives either it's good or bad we know that the other half is there to celebrate with you or catch you when you fall. True friendship at its best.

Our coffee/lunch today went all too quick. Too soon we had to rush off in different directions after saying we had to meet again. So much to catch up on (as usual). On my way back to the office I got a call from J. She had just found out that her meeting was cancelled. A letter had been sent to her home address and it had arrived today. Obviously that company hadn't heard about about phones or email...

It was at that moment when I heard how angry and upset she was that I decide to take the afternoon off. For once my calender was free so what better way to spend the afternoon than with J?!  An hour later we met again, took a walk in the park before sitting down for a snack and all the time we talked and talked. Time flew of course and very soon J had to catch her train. When saying goodbye at the railway station we both looked at each other and said this was just what we needed. Energy and strength that comes from everlasting friendship and unconditional love. A good day.

Couscous

I think I've fallen in love with couscous. Not a big deal you think, but it is. Probably about 10 years ago or even more I went to a Moroccan themed party and was served couscous. It was dry and tasteless and reminded me sawdust. That the man I had my heart set for left with another woman (they are now married and have 2 kids) that night is also a very vivid memory from that party, but most of all it is the boring couscous.

I've been offered couscous plenty of times over the years but I have always turned it down, thinking people are crazy eating that stuff. A while back though I was too hungry to say no thank you and I tried it again. To my big surprise it did not taste like sawdust, au contraire it was very filling and with a wasbi yoghurt dressing actually quite spicy.

A couple of days later I went through my recipes for something new to cook and found a recipe for grilled pineapple and sweet chilli chicken with couscous. Still a little bit hesitant I decided to make it and thought that if I didn't like it I had at least tried. But I was wrong. Very wrong. It was a lovley dish and the pineapple and sweet chilli glaze was perfect. So last night I tried another dish. Spicy tomato chicken with couscous. Again a lovely dish and I think I've fallen in love with couscous. It's such a nice complement instead of pasta or rice that I eat with more or less everything. Last week I also tried bulgur, another grain that I've been hesitant to try and that too was lovely. I just love when I try new food and it tastes so much better than I had expected.