Another tag, which is way overdue, but better late than never. (And yes, I promise that HK photos are coming soon!)
Three Things That Scare Me
* Being subjected to some sort of violence (although I think the risk is pretty small and I try to eliminate it as well by not walking alone in the middle of the night or similar)
* Dying young
* The rate at which we are destroying the planet
Three People Who Make Me Laugh
* Peter (boyfriend)
* My British colleagues when they get going (or set of people)
* My cousins when they get going
Three Things I Love
* The appetite and search for knowledge in myself and in others
* Spending time with friends and family
* Travelling, and then coming back to beautiful Stockholm
Three Things I Hate
* War and violence of all kinds
* Intolerance and narrow-mindedness
* "Unsolidarity"
Three Things I Don't Understand
* All of the above under what I hate
* Cynicism
* The new Swedish government
Three Things On My Desk
I don't have a desk but next to me on the couch are:
* Pile of post from my other flat
* New beautiful pillows
* My embroidery that I pick up when I need to relax (sort of meditation)
Three Things I'm Doing Right Now
* Watching an old episode of "House"
* Boiling eggs
* Waiting for a delivery of a new grill for the balcony
Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die
* Have children
* Have a interesting, successful career, allowing me to work with something I really love and think is important
* See Africa and South America
Three Things I Can Do
* Talk constantly
* Bake cheesecake
* Spell (as opposed to many Swedes these days it seems)
Three Things I Can't Do
* Parallel park (I can manage but I don't like it!)
* Speak Mandarin or Arabic, two useful languages
* Play an instrument
Three Things I Think You Should Listen To
* Salem al Fakir
* Sofia Talvik
* Yourself
Three Things I'd Like To Learn
* Arabic or Mandarin
* More cooking (though I think I am okay)
* Anything and everything
Three Favourite Foods
* Chicken korma
* Most vegetarian
* Haloumi cheese
Three Wonderful People to Inflict My Meme On
* Nonna
* Tora
* Skolfröken
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
Home Sweet Home
I'm back (on Friday, but didn't get around to blogging over the weekend because the weather was so sunny and nice!). A blog challenge and posting photos from HK await!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Made in Hong Kong
Sitting at Arlanda waiting for my flight to start boarding. Was supposed to go via Zurich at 19.35 but it was delayed so they re-booked me for Helsinki. I feel very lucky, since the layover in Zurich was only 45 mins and I would have missed my connecting flight to Hong Kong otherwise. Now I will only be arriving in HK 2 hours later than planned.
I expect a lot of sight-seeing and shopping but I'm also excited about 22 degrees instead of the recent chill in Stockholm. And most of all, to see Peter again after ten days! :)
I expect a lot of sight-seeing and shopping but I'm also excited about 22 degrees instead of the recent chill in Stockholm. And most of all, to see Peter again after ten days! :)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Days of Our Lives
I've been challenged (what would I blog about if people didn't keep challenging me I wonder?!) by Skolfröken to write about the years that I have experienced that end with a 2 or a 7.
1977 - I was 1 and don't remember too much. I do have a memory of standing in a big field (I know now that it is Öland) and getting afraid because my parents were ahead of me (they were probably not very far away but at that age even 10 metres is probably an abyss). This must have been in the summer of 1977 so I was a year and a half.
1982 - I was 6 years old, in pre-school and longing to start school. We had Kindergarten classes once a week but I mostly remember learning how to light matches (some sort of safety lesson I guess) and drinking coffee with lots of sugar and milk (some sort of becoming-an-adult lesson?). My parents contemplated putting me in school one year early but decided against it as they wanted me to stay with the friends I already had and let me play for another year. I started school in 1983 instead, which is perfectly fine with me now because otherwise I wouldn't have the same friends I have now.
1987 - A highlight this year was that I got a new cousin and was able to play with her instead of my dolls (now she's 20 and wild!) We had a caravan in the yard of our little country house that I pretended was my own home (much bigger than my little playhouse) - mostly playing with my friend Malin who used to spend a lot of time with us there.
1992 - I finished compulsory school. I think the end-of-year party both at the end of eight and ninth grade was at Folkets Park, where we tried - unsuccessfully - to get in for free. I had been madly in love with the same guy for the last three years of school but nothing never happened between us, not a few years later when he was interested in me either. By that time I had moved on.
1997 - I started university in January that year, after having been an au pair in the USA for a year and worked at a pre-school for a few months. I spent one term at Stockholm University before moving on to Uppsala in the autumn of 1997. At Uppsala I met two girls, Jenny and Lena, who talked about studying in the UK, an idea that really appealed to me. In an interesting twist Lena ended up staying only for six months or so and Jenny went to the US instead, while I remained in the UK for four years.
2002 - I finished my MPhil at Oxford and did an internship at the European Commission - two really important milestones in the beginning of my career. After the period in Brussels, in March 2003, I moved back to Sweden, something that took a while to get used to. It probably wasn't until 2004 I felt that Sweden was truly my home again.
2007 - The best time is always the present. I am madly in love with a guy who seems equally in love with me, so I think this is the beginning of the rest of my life!
I challenge Johanna and Karin!
1977 - I was 1 and don't remember too much. I do have a memory of standing in a big field (I know now that it is Öland) and getting afraid because my parents were ahead of me (they were probably not very far away but at that age even 10 metres is probably an abyss). This must have been in the summer of 1977 so I was a year and a half.
1982 - I was 6 years old, in pre-school and longing to start school. We had Kindergarten classes once a week but I mostly remember learning how to light matches (some sort of safety lesson I guess) and drinking coffee with lots of sugar and milk (some sort of becoming-an-adult lesson?). My parents contemplated putting me in school one year early but decided against it as they wanted me to stay with the friends I already had and let me play for another year. I started school in 1983 instead, which is perfectly fine with me now because otherwise I wouldn't have the same friends I have now.
1987 - A highlight this year was that I got a new cousin and was able to play with her instead of my dolls (now she's 20 and wild!) We had a caravan in the yard of our little country house that I pretended was my own home (much bigger than my little playhouse) - mostly playing with my friend Malin who used to spend a lot of time with us there.
1992 - I finished compulsory school. I think the end-of-year party both at the end of eight and ninth grade was at Folkets Park, where we tried - unsuccessfully - to get in for free. I had been madly in love with the same guy for the last three years of school but nothing never happened between us, not a few years later when he was interested in me either. By that time I had moved on.
1997 - I started university in January that year, after having been an au pair in the USA for a year and worked at a pre-school for a few months. I spent one term at Stockholm University before moving on to Uppsala in the autumn of 1997. At Uppsala I met two girls, Jenny and Lena, who talked about studying in the UK, an idea that really appealed to me. In an interesting twist Lena ended up staying only for six months or so and Jenny went to the US instead, while I remained in the UK for four years.
2002 - I finished my MPhil at Oxford and did an internship at the European Commission - two really important milestones in the beginning of my career. After the period in Brussels, in March 2003, I moved back to Sweden, something that took a while to get used to. It probably wasn't until 2004 I felt that Sweden was truly my home again.
2007 - The best time is always the present. I am madly in love with a guy who seems equally in love with me, so I think this is the beginning of the rest of my life!
I challenge Johanna and Karin!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
That Explains It
I may have misheard - I really hope I did - but it sure sounded like Göran Persson said (in the documentary about him on TV tonight) that Helmut Kohl used to eat butter. Plain butter. Not plenty of butter on bread, but just butter. With a spoon. Especially when he was nervous.
Yuck!
No wonder he was so fat.
Yuck!
No wonder he was so fat.
New Times
The Social Democrats selected their new leader this past weekend, the first woman chair in its history. Eric Sundström has written very well about Mona Sahlin here. Let's hope she becomes Sweden's first female Prime Minister (yes, for some peculiar reason we haven't had a woman leader yet) in 2010! We also said goodbye to Göran Persson after almost eleven years at the post (and as prime minister for over ten).
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The European Story
One of the professors from my Masters programme at Oxford, Timothy Garton Ash, has started an interesting web project ahead of the EU's 50th anniversary encouraging people to contribute to the "story of Europe". Garton Ash has written a first draft around six goals that he thinks most Europeans aspire to: Freedom, Peace, Law, Prosperity, Diversity and Solidarity.
Join in the debate or vote for your favourite story!
Join in the debate or vote for your favourite story!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Challenge
Rules - Each player starts by listing six weird/curious things about themselves. S/he must write down the rules of the game and choose six new bloggers to challenge by listing them here and posting a comment on the challengees' blogs so that they know that they are being tasked.
1. My boyfriend says I'm the least loyal employee there is, the reason being that I'm always looking for a new job (though only applying for the occasional one) even though I'm perfectly happy with the one I have (for now at least).
2. I like embroidery. In fact, I've been taking it up again after two years' break. It's a really relaxing pastime while watching TV or keeping Peter company while he has to work from home at night. I hear knitting is in but I'm really bad at that.
3. I like paying taxes. I actually don't mind at all, even if I pay 50 %. I figure that if I earn that much that I'm required to pay over 50 % tax, I probably have enough to share it with the less fortunate. And I feel I get pretty good stuff for my money: education, healthcare, aid to the world, etc.
4. When I was little I used to have a recurring dream when I was sick (usually when I had a fever) that I was in a hospital in 19th century (or early 20th century; don't think I knew too much about different time eras to be accurate) England (hadn't been to England back then but I must have watched the Forsythe saga too much or something) and that my mum was a nurse at the hospital but since she was working she wasn't able to take care of me. I think it was probably dealing with having a little brother that competed with me for her attention.
5. I'm afraid of the dark even though I'm an adult. I often sleep with the lights on if I'm at home by myself (like now and for another 9 days).
6. I cannot count to 6 so I will only list 5 things...
Challengees
Aunty Marianne, Nonnka, Perfume girl, Beverly, Johanna and Karin.
1. My boyfriend says I'm the least loyal employee there is, the reason being that I'm always looking for a new job (though only applying for the occasional one) even though I'm perfectly happy with the one I have (for now at least).
2. I like embroidery. In fact, I've been taking it up again after two years' break. It's a really relaxing pastime while watching TV or keeping Peter company while he has to work from home at night. I hear knitting is in but I'm really bad at that.
3. I like paying taxes. I actually don't mind at all, even if I pay 50 %. I figure that if I earn that much that I'm required to pay over 50 % tax, I probably have enough to share it with the less fortunate. And I feel I get pretty good stuff for my money: education, healthcare, aid to the world, etc.
4. When I was little I used to have a recurring dream when I was sick (usually when I had a fever) that I was in a hospital in 19th century (or early 20th century; don't think I knew too much about different time eras to be accurate) England (hadn't been to England back then but I must have watched the Forsythe saga too much or something) and that my mum was a nurse at the hospital but since she was working she wasn't able to take care of me. I think it was probably dealing with having a little brother that competed with me for her attention.
5. I'm afraid of the dark even though I'm an adult. I often sleep with the lights on if I'm at home by myself (like now and for another 9 days).
6. I cannot count to 6 so I will only list 5 things...
Challengees
Aunty Marianne, Nonnka, Perfume girl, Beverly, Johanna and Karin.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Broody
No, not me. But there seems to be no end to Brangelina's baby-making, eh, baby-acquiring (don't want to say buying). Do they even have time for the three they already have? Maddox was all alone for over three years and then a new dad and two sisters in less than a year's time. I wonder how he will look back on that as an adult. I'm not saying that they are bad parents, just that I hope that they have time for each individual child. It's difficult to be adopted in the first place, and having über famous parents is probably not easy-peasy either.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Sick Memories
I stayed home from work today. I've had this terrible cough for about a week and over the weekend it got worse and even though it feels a bit better now I decided I needed some extra rest. I should probably have stayed at home already last week but there you go.
Laying in my bed this morning I remembered that when I was sick as a child I used to always do the same jigsaw puzzle. I used to sit in bed and do the puzzle on a big tray while drinking tea or hot chocolate and eating sandwiches. The puzzle was a three-in-one set and featured animated scenes from the life of a cat family (animals in clothes, living in houses, you know the type). I remember that the pieces were really thin and soft. I liked doing (and still do) puzzles a lot but when I was sick I particularly liked this one.
I also remember hearing the radio somewhere in the distance in an otherwise quiet flat/house. I couldn't hear any distinct voices, just a sort of buzzing or humming noice. To this day I associate very low radio or TV sounds with being sick or home from school/work for some other reason. I think there's something special about silence during daytime when most people are at work.
Laying in my bed this morning I remembered that when I was sick as a child I used to always do the same jigsaw puzzle. I used to sit in bed and do the puzzle on a big tray while drinking tea or hot chocolate and eating sandwiches. The puzzle was a three-in-one set and featured animated scenes from the life of a cat family (animals in clothes, living in houses, you know the type). I remember that the pieces were really thin and soft. I liked doing (and still do) puzzles a lot but when I was sick I particularly liked this one.
I also remember hearing the radio somewhere in the distance in an otherwise quiet flat/house. I couldn't hear any distinct voices, just a sort of buzzing or humming noice. To this day I associate very low radio or TV sounds with being sick or home from school/work for some other reason. I think there's something special about silence during daytime when most people are at work.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Book Frenzy
With the yearly book sale having started this week it's seems very fitting with a book challenge (thanks to Skolfröken)!
Favourite book as a child: I read a lot as a child (I wish I did now too) so I really can't choose one favourite. The books that I re-read the most are probably Astrid Lindgren's. My mum tells me that when I was very little I liked "Lisen cannot sleep", "Grandpa and me" and lots of nurseries rhymes and music (I used to sing all the time!). Also, and this I remember myself, I had this favourite book about a boy whose dog died and he was so sad. My dad used to cry when he read this too me and I used to make him read it to me for this particular reason. My dad has always been a soft guy but apparently I wanted him to be even softer! :) In general I liked when my parents read to me even though I learnt how to read myself quite early.
Favourite genre today: For fiction, mostly crime novels or just regular drama/fiction (not romantic Danielle Steele crap and I don't read too much chick lit either). For non-fiction I like books about science, society, language, etc. (e.g. Bill Bryson, Jared Diamond).
Types of books I don't like: Science fiction or fantasy, or romance (I have to admit to having read some Harlequin crap in my youth). Never read Lord of the Rings but I would like to read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Underestimated genre: Maybe non-fiction in general
Authors that have meant something special to me: Astrid Lindgren for writing about really independent, go-get-it girls.
New authors I would like to read more of: Swedish new authors in general
Favourite character in a book: Going with the above team, I guess I would have to say Pippi Longstocking or Ronja then.
Character in a book that resembles me most: I hope my friends and reader will answer this one! Probably some studious and rational character :)
If I wrote a book, what would it be about: Well, I tell you. I would write about my lovely but crazy host family (from my aupair year) in the US. Highlights are deceit, infidelity, bigamy... can't tell you more now.
Favourite blog with a literature connection: Well, none with that focus specifically. But I like when people do reviews or list the books that they are currently reading.
Favourite book as a child: I read a lot as a child (I wish I did now too) so I really can't choose one favourite. The books that I re-read the most are probably Astrid Lindgren's. My mum tells me that when I was very little I liked "Lisen cannot sleep", "Grandpa and me" and lots of nurseries rhymes and music (I used to sing all the time!). Also, and this I remember myself, I had this favourite book about a boy whose dog died and he was so sad. My dad used to cry when he read this too me and I used to make him read it to me for this particular reason. My dad has always been a soft guy but apparently I wanted him to be even softer! :) In general I liked when my parents read to me even though I learnt how to read myself quite early.
Favourite genre today: For fiction, mostly crime novels or just regular drama/fiction (not romantic Danielle Steele crap and I don't read too much chick lit either). For non-fiction I like books about science, society, language, etc. (e.g. Bill Bryson, Jared Diamond).
Types of books I don't like: Science fiction or fantasy, or romance (I have to admit to having read some Harlequin crap in my youth). Never read Lord of the Rings but I would like to read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Underestimated genre: Maybe non-fiction in general
Authors that have meant something special to me: Astrid Lindgren for writing about really independent, go-get-it girls.
New authors I would like to read more of: Swedish new authors in general
Favourite character in a book: Going with the above team, I guess I would have to say Pippi Longstocking or Ronja then.
Character in a book that resembles me most: I hope my friends and reader will answer this one! Probably some studious and rational character :)
If I wrote a book, what would it be about: Well, I tell you. I would write about my lovely but crazy host family (from my aupair year) in the US. Highlights are deceit, infidelity, bigamy... can't tell you more now.
Favourite blog with a literature connection: Well, none with that focus specifically. But I like when people do reviews or list the books that they are currently reading.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
New Concepts
Apparently the EU is talking about older people's contribution to economic and social development as the so-called silver economy. Maybe it's an old concept and it's probably not the EU that coined it but was new to me! I like it!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Good Ratings for Sweden
Some good news about Sweden in a new study by the European Commission. The report, a collection of statistics and comparisons of the different EU countries' results when it comes to poverty, employment, lifelength and healthcare, forms the basis for a discussion on European social policy in March.
A sixth of Europeans live below the EU's poverty line, that is, they have an income less than 60 % of the median income in their country of residence. In Sweden 10 % are considered poor by this definition, the lowest share in Europe, to be compared to 20 % of the population in Latvia and Poland respectively.
The number of elderly who works has increased in the whole of the EU - very positive considering the demography with ageing populations across the EU. Sweden has with full measure fulfilled the EU's target that half of the citizens between 55-64-year-olds should be employed by 2010 - 70 % of 55-64-year-old Swedes work. In Italy this figure is less than 33 %.
Sweden is also the country where men are expected to live the longest: c. 78 years, which can be compared with Latvia or Lithuania where the average lenght of life is 65-66 years. The average life span has increased across the EU with three years for men and two years for women between 1995 and 2005. When it comes to women Spain leads and the differences between the EU countries are not as big.
Many of the 16 % poor in the EU are persons and families that do not work - 10 % live in households where no one works, a problem especially prevalent in the UK where this figure is 16 %. 19 % of the children risk living in poverty, also as adults. That is however not true for the Nordic countries, where the poverty rate for children and adults are the same.
Update - A new study by the Swedish Save the Children has found that although within the figures given above child poverty in Sweden has in fact increased. Children of non-Swedish backgrounds living in single parent households have the highest risk to end up poor. In reality they also feel poorer than their poorer friends in other parts of the world - see my earlier post on the status syndrome.
A sixth of Europeans live below the EU's poverty line, that is, they have an income less than 60 % of the median income in their country of residence. In Sweden 10 % are considered poor by this definition, the lowest share in Europe, to be compared to 20 % of the population in Latvia and Poland respectively.
The number of elderly who works has increased in the whole of the EU - very positive considering the demography with ageing populations across the EU. Sweden has with full measure fulfilled the EU's target that half of the citizens between 55-64-year-olds should be employed by 2010 - 70 % of 55-64-year-old Swedes work. In Italy this figure is less than 33 %.
Sweden is also the country where men are expected to live the longest: c. 78 years, which can be compared with Latvia or Lithuania where the average lenght of life is 65-66 years. The average life span has increased across the EU with three years for men and two years for women between 1995 and 2005. When it comes to women Spain leads and the differences between the EU countries are not as big.
Many of the 16 % poor in the EU are persons and families that do not work - 10 % live in households where no one works, a problem especially prevalent in the UK where this figure is 16 %. 19 % of the children risk living in poverty, also as adults. That is however not true for the Nordic countries, where the poverty rate for children and adults are the same.
Update - A new study by the Swedish Save the Children has found that although within the figures given above child poverty in Sweden has in fact increased. Children of non-Swedish backgrounds living in single parent households have the highest risk to end up poor. In reality they also feel poorer than their poorer friends in other parts of the world - see my earlier post on the status syndrome.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
New Look!
Need to fine-tune it a bit but I think I'm pretty happy with it. I wanted to keep the pinkish theme.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Friday Four: Motion
Theme: Travelling & Trips
1) If you could go at least 100 km in any direction, where would you go and what is so good with that place?
At the moment I really want to visit China and am hoping that our trip (through Peter's work) will actually materalise! China has such history and is also entering a new phase as (hopefully) a benign superpower so I really want to go there!
2) Do you any favourite route that you take by foot, bicycle or car?
I like talking walks around Årsta (and Årstaviken) and Djurgården. As for driving I like taking the country roads instead of the motorways, time permitting, for the breath-taking views.
3) What mode of transport is most fun? Bicycle, car, bus, train, boat, plane or your own legs?
Well, it depends where I'm doing of course. If I'm on a plane I'm probably going somewhere fun (and sometimes new) (unless it's on business). Train is nice because it's green and also allows you to see much more than a plane.
4) What's more fun: to go somewhere or to go home?
Both. I love travelling but coming home is also nice, sometimes just to get rid of those creased clothes in the suitcase. Home sweet home or "borta bra men hemma bäst" as we say in Sweden. (Having lived in four countries home can mean different things at different times though.)
1) If you could go at least 100 km in any direction, where would you go and what is so good with that place?
At the moment I really want to visit China and am hoping that our trip (through Peter's work) will actually materalise! China has such history and is also entering a new phase as (hopefully) a benign superpower so I really want to go there!
2) Do you any favourite route that you take by foot, bicycle or car?
I like talking walks around Årsta (and Årstaviken) and Djurgården. As for driving I like taking the country roads instead of the motorways, time permitting, for the breath-taking views.
3) What mode of transport is most fun? Bicycle, car, bus, train, boat, plane or your own legs?
Well, it depends where I'm doing of course. If I'm on a plane I'm probably going somewhere fun (and sometimes new) (unless it's on business). Train is nice because it's green and also allows you to see much more than a plane.
4) What's more fun: to go somewhere or to go home?
Both. I love travelling but coming home is also nice, sometimes just to get rid of those creased clothes in the suitcase. Home sweet home or "borta bra men hemma bäst" as we say in Sweden. (Having lived in four countries home can mean different things at different times though.)
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Feminine and Masculine
I have to reiterate Skolfröken: This type of categorisation and stereotyping can be seriously questioned, but tests are always fun so... :)
My female side
[x] Bought a hairdryer?
[x] Put on make-up for other purposes than to look funny?
[x] Accompanied as fashion advisor on a shopping trip?
[x] Talked feelings?
[x] Thought to match my clothes?
[x] Praised a man for his looks?
[x] Called a person without a specific aim? Well, I'm not really a "phone person" but it happens that I just call for a chat
[x] Thought about names for my children?
[ ] Realised Barbra Streisand's greatness?
[x] Had a Cosmopolitan? I think so, but probably just once or twice
[x] Watched an episode of "Sex and the City"?
[x] Seen two episodes of "Sex and the City"? But not that many more
[x] Felt like a cup of tea? I'm a major tea drinker!
[x] Felt happiness over being given flowers as a present?
[x] Done something romantic at own initiative? Nothing major, but little things
[x] Got angry without reason? Probably
[x] Cried beyond the age of 9?
[ ] Cared about H&M's choice of model? Unless you count from a feminist perspective
[x] Gossiped?
[x] Been angry without letting the person know? Sometimes it's not worth it, but when it's about a close relation I cannot keep it in for long
[x] Hugged a guy?
[x] Danced?
Total: 20 points
My male side
[x] Lied about how much I have drunk?
[x] Eaten a bloody steak? But not necessarily by choice
[x] Read a car magazine?
[x] Successfully used a drill, hammer and various other tools? Not often, but I have
[ ] Promised to call the next day and then haven't? If the question means after a one night stand, no, because I don't do those, but I have been given a guy's number in a bar and then never called.
[x] Been responsible for the barbeque at a party? Occasionally
[x] Read a book by John Grisham?
[x] Read a men's magazine? The Swedish men's magazine King is excellent!
[x] Pounded someone on the back to make him/her to feel appreciated? Well, more for fun
[ ] Felt hungry after having eaten a whole pizza?
[ ] Been to a Bob Dylan concert ?
[ ] Used your hands to hit someone in the aim to hurt this person?
[ ] Seen all Die Hard and Rocky films? Die Hard, yes, but not Rocky
[x] Discussed breasts?
[ ] Did military service? No, but spent a week on a school workplace internship in the military at age 15
[x] Read Nick Hornby?
[x] Felt compelled to beat someone in arm wrestling?
[x] Felt cool by going very fast in a car?
[ ] Only stared up when visiting a urinal?
[x] Repaired something by yourself?
[x] Yelled "go guys!" on a footbll field?
[ ] Partipated in a beer-drinking contest?
Total: 14 points
My female side
[x] Bought a hairdryer?
[x] Put on make-up for other purposes than to look funny?
[x] Accompanied as fashion advisor on a shopping trip?
[x] Talked feelings?
[x] Thought to match my clothes?
[x] Praised a man for his looks?
[x] Called a person without a specific aim? Well, I'm not really a "phone person" but it happens that I just call for a chat
[x] Thought about names for my children?
[ ] Realised Barbra Streisand's greatness?
[x] Had a Cosmopolitan? I think so, but probably just once or twice
[x] Watched an episode of "Sex and the City"?
[x] Seen two episodes of "Sex and the City"? But not that many more
[x] Felt like a cup of tea? I'm a major tea drinker!
[x] Felt happiness over being given flowers as a present?
[x] Done something romantic at own initiative? Nothing major, but little things
[x] Got angry without reason? Probably
[x] Cried beyond the age of 9?
[ ] Cared about H&M's choice of model? Unless you count from a feminist perspective
[x] Gossiped?
[x] Been angry without letting the person know? Sometimes it's not worth it, but when it's about a close relation I cannot keep it in for long
[x] Hugged a guy?
[x] Danced?
Total: 20 points
My male side
[x] Lied about how much I have drunk?
[x] Eaten a bloody steak? But not necessarily by choice
[x] Read a car magazine?
[x] Successfully used a drill, hammer and various other tools? Not often, but I have
[ ] Promised to call the next day and then haven't? If the question means after a one night stand, no, because I don't do those, but I have been given a guy's number in a bar and then never called.
[x] Been responsible for the barbeque at a party? Occasionally
[x] Read a book by John Grisham?
[x] Read a men's magazine? The Swedish men's magazine King is excellent!
[x] Pounded someone on the back to make him/her to feel appreciated? Well, more for fun
[ ] Felt hungry after having eaten a whole pizza?
[ ] Been to a Bob Dylan concert ?
[ ] Used your hands to hit someone in the aim to hurt this person?
[ ] Seen all Die Hard and Rocky films? Die Hard, yes, but not Rocky
[x] Discussed breasts?
[ ] Did military service? No, but spent a week on a school workplace internship in the military at age 15
[x] Read Nick Hornby?
[x] Felt compelled to beat someone in arm wrestling?
[x] Felt cool by going very fast in a car?
[ ] Only stared up when visiting a urinal?
[x] Repaired something by yourself?
[x] Yelled "go guys!" on a footbll field?
[ ] Partipated in a beer-drinking contest?
Total: 14 points
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Picture Time!
At the beginning of January Peter and I spent a short weekend on an island in the Swedish archipelago, Sandhamn. It's one of only two sand islands in the Baltic Sea. Admittedly most people go there in the summer but it was both cozy and interesting to go their in the winter. It's such a pittoresque little village - see for yourself! I wouldn't want to live there - it's a 2 hour-ferry ride from the centre of Stockholm - but I really recommend it for a winter weekend excursion or a summer trip to the beach.
Last weekend Peter had his housewarming party - pictures here!
Last weekend Peter had his housewarming party - pictures here!
Friday, February 09, 2007
Friday Four: Meet the Family
This week's theme: Family ties
1. How far back can you trace your family?
I haven't actually conducted any serious searches but I can at least go back to my grandparents' parents.
2. What is the most interesting or weird you've heard about your family?
Maybe that my (maternal) grandmother's mother (I think, or even a further generation back) was the result of a extramarital relationship with a nobleman. I also think it's pretty cool that my (paternal) grandmother played football in her youth (1940s)!
3. Does your family get together often?
Pretty often. Mostly with my aunt and uncle and my cousins on my dad's side. My cousins have started families of their own now as well, so there are quite many birthdays to celebrate. And we usually have some sort of Christmas lunch or similar together too and sometimes we just socialise without any special reason. But I don't even remember the names of all my second cousins on either side as I hardly ever see them.
4. Does your family have any traditions that you don't want to pass on to your children?
Nothing that springs to mind right now so I guess it can't be that serious.
1. How far back can you trace your family?
I haven't actually conducted any serious searches but I can at least go back to my grandparents' parents.
2. What is the most interesting or weird you've heard about your family?
Maybe that my (maternal) grandmother's mother (I think, or even a further generation back) was the result of a extramarital relationship with a nobleman. I also think it's pretty cool that my (paternal) grandmother played football in her youth (1940s)!
3. Does your family get together often?
Pretty often. Mostly with my aunt and uncle and my cousins on my dad's side. My cousins have started families of their own now as well, so there are quite many birthdays to celebrate. And we usually have some sort of Christmas lunch or similar together too and sometimes we just socialise without any special reason. But I don't even remember the names of all my second cousins on either side as I hardly ever see them.
4. Does your family have any traditions that you don't want to pass on to your children?
Nothing that springs to mind right now so I guess it can't be that serious.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
The Answer You've All Been Waiting For
A few weeks ago I challenged my readers to pick the odd one out from my past. I will now reveal the truth:
Yes, I did go to the same school as Björn Borg, not at the same time though.
I used to iron my underwear during a period of my teens (I know, I was a bit weird).
I have indeed been to (a work) dinner with the Swedish Crown Princess. We were not seated at the same table but there were only about 25 people there so I did meet her, albeit very briefly.
It was very painful so I will never forget when that nail went through my foot!
But, no, I have never met the King but he did help my boyfriend get up after he had fallen on his skis - he was 5 years old when it happened (my boyfriend, not the King).
Yes, I did go to the same school as Björn Borg, not at the same time though.
I used to iron my underwear during a period of my teens (I know, I was a bit weird).
I have indeed been to (a work) dinner with the Swedish Crown Princess. We were not seated at the same table but there were only about 25 people there so I did meet her, albeit very briefly.
It was very painful so I will never forget when that nail went through my foot!
But, no, I have never met the King but he did help my boyfriend get up after he had fallen on his skis - he was 5 years old when it happened (my boyfriend, not the King).
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