Back in Sweden

After one year I am back in Sweden, getting some X-mas feeling. Last week they still had storm and snow chaos, now that we are here Gothenburg shows it's usual grey winter side. Anyway who cares when you can hear Swedish X-mas songs all over the place.

Yesterday we went to 2 nice concerts right after we had checked out at the airport. And again it was awesome. I'm always blown away what musical skills Swedish kids have and how they are being developed in this country. 

We checked in in the hostel late and had a long sleep in morning today. After that we went to Freeport to do some X-mas shopping and even if my suitcase was full (and I mean full) already when we arrived I couldn't resist and bought more that has somehow to fit into my suitcase.  I will keep you updated on that part.

Anyway this trip is only lasting 4,5 days so on Wednesday I will be back again in Germany to get the last preparations for Christmas done.

Relaxing weekend or how to make Plätzchen

This weekend I was off .... no work ... no band ... just me. So I had big plans ... decorating my home (or how I call it dieckorating) ... doing the x-mas bakery ... going to IKEA to buy more cup boards ... going to Church and sing and going to the gym.

So Saturday I went first to buy the usual groceries even some stuff for the baking session I planned. After that my trip to IKEA. As usual I bought 4times as much as originally planned and I didn't even buy any sweets, can you believe that? The plan was to buy 2 cupboards ... I came out with additionally 4 candles a plate for the candles, another holder for candles, a pin board, another frame for my walls and tonz of cachepots for my flowers :) It took ages until I was home.

When that was done I started my x-mas bakery .... and here you will get a "how to make German Plätchen" :)

First the dough .... cut it out and put it on a baking tray...

Add the first decoration or bake them just as they are ....


Bake them just a couple of minutes ...


When they are cold you can continue decorating ...

Today I got up at 7 am since I went to Church today for the first advent singing. The Church was so crowded and we, the choir, sounded so awesome. I just love singing in Churches, it's so great. But x-mas singing is special, you get a feeling that lasts for the whole day :)

When I was back I started the decoration of my apartment. I'm far away from being ready and my flat is still a mess but I starts to take some shape. So here you can see my first achievments. I think I need to buy some fir branches to put them around the candles.

After that I went to the gym and spent 3 hours there. I visited my very first Pilates course there and still don't know what to think of .... well I will have a aching body tomorrow, that much is for sure :)

So happy first advent to all of you :)

day 2 ... with rain and a car crash

weather: rainy and cold; +13°C

location: Gothenburg

feeling: cold and tired

The 2nd day in Sweden started with rain, rain and more rain. We had decided to go to Freeport this day, so we did after breakfast. It was still raining so bad when we headed Freeport and suddenly when we wanted to enter the highway suddenly a car came from the right side driving into us. We were like wtf. great experience to start the holidays with. So we exchanged the addresses and I tried to reach Europcar where we hired the car from. No progress on that so far. So I made some pictures from the access to the highway and our car and the other car for the insurance.

After that we went to Freeport .... but not much to buy there. On the way back we did big shopping for the next days, so that we have enough food and sweets lol as you can see :)

all for now ... I gonna try to relax now, since this is the only thing you can do on a day like this.

hugs

/J.

New hair cut and shopping yesterday :)

Yesterday I was off ... no band, no rehearsals ... no singing at all. Perfect time for a date with the hairdresser :) I had an early appointment there ... and this is what I look now:

before the hairdresser:

and after:Going to the hairdresser is mostly followed by a shopping day :) So I bough some new sunglasses, some blouses, decided for a new videocam, which is now being ordered. I love shopping :) BUT I didn't buy any new dvds lol which is a pro since I still have so many I haven't watched :)

That's all for now.

Hugs
/J.

I confess I'm addicted to the internet

I was 3 days off and I felt like I was going crazy lol not able to read emails or worse get news. And when I finally had a connection today again I read all the messages Jenny Berggren had written while I was not able to be online and read this news lol so I confess I'm obviously addicted to the internet or at least to the information I get through it.

Well either way I was 3 days offline since I had to change my room and there was no connection I could use for free. After x-mas the big sale started in Sweden, like usual so I was busy with finding stuff, went to Freeport - outlet center, but didn't succeed so far to find some interesting stuff. The only thing I got there was a new nice dress. But now I'm missing suitable boots, which I wanted to get during the sale, but boots and men it's all the same I have the detailed preview and can't find anything that reaches my imagination ... lol so I will have to go on looking for them.

off for now,

/J.

2nd blog - shopping experience today

well the Media Markt turns 30 this year, so big deals can be made. On top of my list was besides a washing machine, which I really need a Macbook. Yesterday I saw the commercials and guess what MM had 19% (which is the percentage of VAT) of for equipment that costs more than 300 EURO.

So I decided yesterday to get me a Macbook and a washing machine. That was probably what the whole population of Berlin thought, since all Macbooks are sold out. Well at least the ones which are sold at the Media Markt. I left work early to get there as soon as possible and was even dreaming about useing my new Macbook lol. At least I got the washing machine, which will be delivered on Friday and was cheaper than the one I had in mind. So at least one success today!

Hipp Hurray!
/J.