The good things in life

365 wines

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:49:00 +0000

Well, not really. Inspired by my friend KangaRue’s lovely 365 photo blog I’ve decided to take of photo of the label of all the wines I will try throughout the year. Many new I’m sure but also some old trustworthy favourites that never let you down.

Already at the end of January I’ll start with the wines from New Year’s Eve, even though they officially belong to last year.

Palmer & Co Blanc de Blancs Brut 2004
Palmer & Co has recently become a favorite of mine when it comes to Champagne. A dry, crisp with fresh taste of green apples, bread and minerals. And with Swedish Kalix löjrom (roe) it was a match made in heaven.

Bourgogne Les Sétilles 2006
Yet another favourite of mine. Golden colour. Taste of yellow plums, a lot of butter and some oak. Matched with almost steak sized pieces of Atlantic halibut, asparagus, pommes duchess and a mild white wine sauce it couldn’t go wrong.

Louis Roederer Carte Blanche Demi-sec
Demi-sec means sweet and yes, it was very sweet. Yellow colour with taste of yellow apples and cream. Matching with ice-cream and chocolate fondant it worked well, but too sweet for my taste. Rare since I normally love stickies.

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:08:00 +0000

Yet another year has passed by with warp speed. I’m really starting to believe that the older you get the faster time goes by.

It has been a year of many changes, but mostly good ones and hopefully lasting ones as well. As usual it has been a year with lots of travelling, mostly to my beloved London, but also to Denmark, Germany, Poland and Norway.

Looking at my Facebook timeline I can tell there has been a lot of wine as well. Learning about, drinking and enjoying. My cellar hasn’t grown as much I wished it should have, but on the other hand wine is for drinking and enjoying... The best wine memory of the year has to be drinking Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 underneath the stars in Chelsea a very warm Sunday night in October. Incredible wine and incredible weather. Another memorable wine has to be Chateau Mont Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2005. The perfect end to a perfect day out by the sea in September.

Peeking into 2012, the big 4-0 is around the corner (Eek!) and at least one trip to London. I also wish and hope for continuing love, blessings and friends in my life. It all makes life a lot easier and most of all life a lot happier.

Happy New 2012!

11-11-11

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:09:00 +0000

A nerdy binary combination for a techie, but also a perfect day for a blog post and great autumn day here in Gothenburg. Outside all trees have dropped their leaves and colder weather is definitely around the corner.

Another whirlwind month has passed by and I have managed to visit London twice, visit Copenhagen once, had a visitor from London, been to dinner at high table in Cambridge and tried some excellent wines and champagnes. A sign that life is very good at the moment, although very busy. Also not to forget the best 5 year-old in the world has become a big sister to a baby brother so now I have the best 1 month-old to spoil as well.

6 weeks from today it will be December 23 are we are starting to gear up for Christmas. Unbelievable, where did 2011 go? Must be the quickest year in history.

Mermaid vs Whale

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:58:00 +0000

Again I've been very busy as life marches on with incredible speed. A friend sent me this a couple a weeks ago. It made me smile and giggle but it is also a great reminder that we are all amazing and beautiful.

A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.

They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia. They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish? They would have no sex life and could not bear children. Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad. And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies. We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated. Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?!"

Photo of the day

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:35:00 +0000

Yesterday a friends came up with the idea that we were going to meet in the afternoon for a long walk by the sea. At first I was a bit apprehensive after having had a very long week at work, and all I really wanted was to take a nap on the sofa in the sun. But after having been promised dinner after the walk I was definitely on.

For almost 3 hours we walked along the sea and climbed the rocks. The weather was just perfect. Sunny, clear and with a hint of autumn in the air. And along with the blowing wind both our busy minds got cleared and we just felt very refreshed instead.

I love the sea, but unfortunately don't take the time to enjoy it often enough. And I live in a harbour town...Hm...

As usual I snapped tons of photos. This is my favourite and it shows everything that was perfect with that walk.

What a difference a book...

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:13:00 +0000

Again I've been reminded that reading is relaxation. One month into my new job I'm still pretty much winded up and think about a lot of things that need to be done and/or planned. When Friday rolls around I'm beat and almost asleep after one glass of wine. I've noticed though that it takes me to Saturday afternoon before I'm really relaxed. It bathers me a bit, even though I'm pretty sure it will change as time goes by. Everything is still very new to me...

Anyhow, reading... With absolutely nothing on TV last night I decided to read. To curl up in bed with a big cup of tea and a Swedish crime story/thriller. Two hours just disappeared in no time and by then I also realised that I was totally relaxed. My thoughts were on Stockholm and the people in the book, not work. I read some more before turning out the lights and probably for the first time in a week I didn't think or dream about work when sleeping. I woke up this morning feeling both happy and relaxed. The last chapters I finished off this morning with my second cup of coffee. An excellent start to the day.

So again I need to remember to read or really take time to read, because reading is relaxation.

Busy

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:35:00 +0000

I hate to admit it, but lately this blog has taken the hit for me being busy and focusing on other things such a my new job and going to the gym on a regular basis. Those things should fit into any normal lifestyle I know, but during the day I talk to and see so many new people that I'm just beat when I get home.

Also I don't think I have anything to write about. My life isn't very exciting at the moment. No amazing wine tastings, visits to fabulous restaurants or fun trips. Just everyday things that everyone experience themselves. Off to London in three weeks which will probably give me something to write about. Hopefully my energy level will also be back to where is used to be, i.e. full speed ahead in all areas.

PT session

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:41:00 +0000

Changing gym a while back meant that I got a PT session for free. Real good since it had been quite some time since I had someone telling me what to do with the different machines.

So last Sunday it was time for my session. A short, but extremely toned woman greeted me with the words –Let's see what we can do with you. When she told me I was her licensing test I probably got more nervous than she was. An older man with a clipboard was going to follow us everywhere and take notes.

She being short and me being well, tall, meant that I felt like a giant throughout the session. Or an Amazon which I prefer to call myself in situations like that. And I usually don't think I'm tall at 1,75m (5'8ft)... When it was time for free weights and you stand in front of a mirror I just took one look of myself and felt –Oh my God. Not only was I a head taller than the trainer, but my clothes. Too big, too old and too worn out. I bought new shoes and bras earlier this spring, but no tops or pants. Doing a quick count in my head I realized that the clothes I was wearing was about 6 or 7 years old. Ooops!

Anyhow she showed me both old and new things to do, especially how to use an exercise ball. The full program takes about 30-40 minutes, which I will try to do at least once a week and then go running at least once a week. Twice a week might not sound as much, but it's a start. I know myself that if I overdo it I will stop doing it all together.

And yes, on Monday lunch I went and got both new pants and two new tops. Felt amazing at the gym, and I'm surprised I haven't thought about new clothes earlier. But that's me and clothes shopping. Not always a very good match...

Working in the city

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:09:00 +0000

One and half week into my new job and I'm still very fascinated by the fact that I now work right in the middle of the city. When I step outside the door there is people everywhere, and of course shops. Actually my office is located on the 4th floor of a department store. Yes, I can take the lift down and end up right in the middle of shoes, clothes, bags, make up or kitchenware. A big atrium also means I can stand by the office window looking at people going shopping. So far I haven't shouted at them for buying the wrong things, but you never know...

When it comes to my new job I'm currently suffering from information overload and my head is so tired when it's time to go home. At bedtime I start thinking again and I have woken up several times thinking about things and in what column they should go. Not really sure what that last thing means, other than I'm probably sorting the information without even thinking about it. I love the products the company sells and the aim to create global people. They did it with me 25 years ago so I know it works. I remember how amazing it was but also how it felt to be homesick or suffer from massive culture chock. I've been there too.

There is one thing I miss though and that's my "old partner in crime" whom I've tested ideas on for the last 5 years. At the moment I can only ask myself if it's right or wrong and then go with my instinct. But I'm sure the more I get to know people and they get to know me I'll find a new partner. One always does, and it's very good to broaden your horizons. Even when just playing with ideas. And it has only been a week and a half. Need to remind myself that Rome wasn't built in a day...

So much for that

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:29:00 +0000

Having read several books by Lionel Shriver before I was very happy to see that her latest So much for that was out in paperback when I was in London last month.

All of his working life Shep Knacker has saved up for an one-way ticket to a warmer place. By selling his business he actually becomes a millionaire, at least on the paper. The day he tells his wife he's going with or without her and their son, she tells him he can't because she needs his health insurance. She has been diagnosed with incurable cancer and their life is about to be turned upside down.

Not everyone can write a book about cancer and what happens to a family when a family member gets ill, but Shriver does it very well. With a lot of wit, intelligence and observations on illness and death it actually becomes a book about life and what makes us humans. I laughed, I cried and loved the end. It's a book that makes you think, but not in the way you think. Life is precious and it's up to you to what you make of it. Do what you think is right.

Vivat Bacchus

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:08:00 +0000

Still having a bit of a "thing" about South African wines my South African friend and acclaimed food-blogger Jeanne decided last month in London to show me once and for all that South Africa makes fabulous wines.

Jeanne took me to Vivat Bacchus in Farringdon whose motto is "Life is too short to drink bad wine". Owned by South Africans with great passion for food and wine it was totally the right place to go.

First we started out with trying some Whites before ordering food.

Lourensford Chardonnay 2010
Light yellow colour with a good concentration of grapefruit and fresh peaches.

Reyneke Chenin Blanc 2008
Deep yellow almost straw colour. Nose of green citrus,pears, peaches and flint.

Two fabulous wines just the way I want them. Can you tell I'm getting closer and closer to admit that South Africa make great wines?

It was then time for a starter. We decided to share a Champagne platter with Jesus de Lyon Saussicon, terrine, smoked duck breast, Montbriac, thymegoat's cheese ball and baguette. The cheese was of course to die for and I'm pretty sure both Jeanne and I were sighing with delight when eating every last bit of it.

After the starter we went on with trying some Reds.

Paul Cluver Pinot Noir 2009
Red garnet colour. Lots of wild berry fruits and some mushroom A long, lingering, velvety finish.

Springfield Whole Berry, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Red orangey colour. Fruit and berries mixed with green peppers.

Catherine Marshall Syrah/Grenache/Mouvedre 2008
Light red colour. Classic taste of black pepper, cumin, cardamom and ripe black plums.

Again, most amazing wines. Especially the Whole Berry which really wiped out all my thoughts about Cabernet Sauvignon being a boring and dull wine. To go with our reds wine we decided to go with a classic Springbok burger and sweet potato chips.

And to finish off a Sticky of course.

Paul Cluver Weisser Reisling, Nobel Late Harvest 2010
Golden colour. Packed with apricot, spice and honey.

So I hereby admit that South Africa make excellent wines. I'm very happy that Jeanne took the time to show me what South Africa has to offer both in wine and food. It's was an evening to remember. The only downside though it that I can only get two of those wines in Sweden and they need to be ordered on request. But that means of course that next time in London I need to try more excellent South African wines.

Fry Chronicles

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 15:20:00 +0000

One of my last memories of dad is him watching Fry & Laurie on Sunday night television. Mum and I watched it with him, but I don't think we got it as much as dad did. He really loved it and laughed very loud About 10 years later I finally got to understand the greatness of Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and I'm sure dad, in his heaven, let out a sigh of relief thinking that I sure took my time. But since then I've been hooked, especially Stephen Fry who I find highly intelligent, witty and oh so British.

The second instalment of his autobiography called Fry's Chronicles covers the years 1979 to 1987 starting with Cambridge and ending with cocaine. Years with Oxbridge friends Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, Ben Elton, Robbie Coltrane, Rowan Atkinson and many other now famous household names. What started as student theatre and comedy got them into television, the West End and now world-famous celebrity status. Throughout the book there is also a streak of darkness. Fry's constant battle with not thinking he's good enough and hence overdoing things from time to time, something that he's very honest about.

It's a witty and funny book, with touches of gossip and plenty of intelligent observations. A most enjoyable read.

The Savoy Grill

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:55:00 +0000

There are hotels and there are hotels. The Savoy for example. The Strand's Grand Old Lady for the last 122 years. In October last year she opened her doors again after a three year facelift.

Back in 2006 I dared to walk into the reception holding my head high pretending that I belonged there. Since I obviously didn’t I just took a quick peak before skulking out again, but one thing was for sure The Savoy is not only a hotel it's an institution.

Just as the hotel the restaurants and bars at The Savoy are classical grounds for fun and food. At the reopening last year The Savoy Grill (where Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra had their own tables) was taken over by Gordon Ramsay Holdings and Chef Patron Stuart Gillie.

Being a foodie and lover of fine dining The Savoy Grill then of course went on my list of places I want to go. When a friend told me that if I came to London for my birthday we would go to The Savoy Grill I could of course not resist.

This time entering through the revolving doors I felt like I belonged there, or at least I had a reason to be there. Wearing a dress but trainers (no one sane walk around in high heels in London) I found a quiet corner of the reception to change shoes. Immediately there was a man asking me if I need anything. Well, no... But yes... A toilet would be nice. This way Madam.

The toilet was not only a toilet but also rest room, powder room and almost changing room for the busy woman of today. Back in the reception I again felt a bit lost since there was no signs, and there he was again. The polite man in the grey suit. And of course the Savoy Grill was just in front of me next to the main entrance. Oh well...

My friend had already arrived so I was quickly showed to the table and the first question was - What would you like to drink, Madam? Champagne maybe? Haven woken up with a tad bit of a headache (to put it nicely) from the BBQ party the night before I hesitated for second or two, but then I thought it's my birthday. You only turn 39 once. The waiter went through a long list of lovely champagnes and vintages, before I simply decided to go with the house Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur.

Catching up on things with my friend it took a while before we had decided on what to eat. And of course the menu had so many things to chose from. After much going back and forth I decided to have the sirloin steak with hand-cut chips. My friend went with roasted saddle of lamb from the lunch trolley. Since it was birthday I got to decide the wine, and of course I picked a bottle of Australian Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre blend - Butcher's Block from Turkey Flat. Just perfect!

The food arrived quickly and of course the chips came in a silver jar and the Béarnaise sauce in a silver gravy boat. But should I have expected anything else, really?! My sirloin steak was just perfect and the right colour of pink in the middle. Along with the wine, the company and the ambience this was turning into a birthday to remember.

It was then time for dessert, at least for me. And hey, I didn't have a starter... For once I didn't feel like chocolate, but still wanted to have something sweet and there it was - Strawberry soufflé with passion fruit and coconut sorbet. Sounded like a dream and tasted like one too. The inside of the soufflé pan had been coved with chocolate so I still got that perfect taste of chocolate.

As an end to our fabulous lunch we had espresso and of course excellent truffles and mini apricot gateaux as an extra treat. After two and half hours we forced ourselves to leave. Back on the Strand the hustle and bustle was almost too much so we quickly found refuge in Embankment Gardens where we spent the rest of the afternoon talking and having more coffee.

I guess one can say as well that there are birthdays and there are birthdays. Celebrating my 39th was definitely one of the better ones, especially since I got to do it for two days with all my very dear friends in my favourite city.

Touch of autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:37:00 +0000

For the last couple of days (or is it last week?) the weathermen have banged on about that autumn is around the corner. In the north there is even talks about frost. I don't want it to be true, but there are signs of autumn everywhere. The leaves in the trees have another sound when the wind is blowing. The sound is harder as from drier leaves. Still no yellow leaves, but another month or so... Eeek!

Another sign is the light in the evenings. It's now getting dark around 9pm. For some of you that is still very late I know, but not here. We know what awaits – darkness, and a lots of it. But since I'm still on leave (just a few days left) I still think it's summer and refusing trousers or shoes without an open toe or heel. Let's come back in a month and talk autumn, not now.

Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:52:00 +0000

With a few days left before starting my new job I feel ready as much as I can be and well-rested too. Yes, well-rested. It's almost a strange feeling to wake up feeling great and not having to drag yourself out of bed. Wonder how long it will last though... Well, shouldn't go there. Yet.

I also feel ready for work and autumn (Eek, I just said one of the things I dread most – autumn) with a full freezer, a full pantry and cleaned out closets. Silly, I know but being a bit of a planner and control freak it means I need to have some things in order to be able to go back to being busy.

There is one thing I'm not fully in control of yet – being back on the health wagon. Being home all day it's so easy to nibble on things and when cooking dinner it's so nice to do it along with a glass of wine. I've been out running twice in the last month and a half. A course not very good runs, but I've felt great afterwards. Just need to do it again, but very conveniently there is book to read or a dish to cook instead of putting on my trainers. I also need to find a new gym that's close to my new office or on the way home. Going half cross town to my current one will not work. Tried it before, and failed miserable. So tomorrow, time to go gym hunting.

Sleepless

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:49:00 +0000

Well not in Seattle, but in Sweden. For the second night in a row I've gone to sleep around 23:00-23:30 and then woken up by 2 am and been awake for about 2 hours. This is incredible rare for me. I actually don't know if it have ever happened before. Of course I have had restless nights tossing and turning, but not fully awake wondering if I should get up or not.

The first night I blamed it on having had popcorn right before bed and being thirsty. Also that I had had wine, which has never been a problem before. Another reason could simply be that I'm on my 5th week of leave and is becoming rather well rested.

Rather surprising I didn't feel tired yesterday and was therefore expecting a good night's sleep when going to bed, but no. During the evening I started getting texts and tweets from friends all over London about looting, robbing and arson. As the footage also came in and watching BBC news I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. Just horrid and unbelievable! By bedtime I had thankfully heard from all friends and they were safe and sound, even though some of them had or was definitely too close to where the riots were going on.

What broke my heart the most was probably the lawlessness and lack of respect for people and property. Why trashing your own community (and others as well) just so you can get new trainers and TVs? I don't get it. I'm not surprised though that it's happening. Somewhere along the road it seems like Britain has forgotten about its youth and the people being lesser off (yes, it's social liberal in me talking) We have it here too. Kids growing up in areas where both parents (if you still live both your parents) live on well-fare and from a young age you know that there is no future for you. I don't know any solutions, but the problem will not go away and from time to time I'm sure we will see riots like this. Unfortunately. Anyhow, this article from The Independent explains a lot better what I'm thinking about.

So what about my good night's sleep? Not so good. Right after falling asleep I had a text from a London friend saying he was fine, but London was burning. So again, awake between between 2 and 4 am with all kind of thoughts. Sigh! Catching up with friends tonight. Hopefully a night of laughter, food and drinks will make me both relaxed and sleepy when time comes.

London then and now

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:35:00 +0000

I love London and have for the last 25 years. Hopefully I will for the rest of my life as well. Endless are the hours spent walking with friends and by myself looking at buildings, sites and landmarks. It's not just the big things I find interesting. Au contraire, it's the little things I find most interesting and how the city has changed over the years.

Last week having some time over before meeting a friend for lunch I wandered into the National Gallery. I hadn’t been there for ages, and it was just so nice and relaxing to walk around watching paintings without a real plan on what to see. Leaving I of course had to stop by the museum shop. Shops at big museums are usually very good and you can find so many interesting things there and of course the National Gallery was no exception.

One area was dedicated to London with colouring books and tiny Paddingtons for the little ones, guidebooks for the tourists and history books for the real London buffs. It was there I found London then and now. A photo book with photos from late 1890's-1920's and photos from exact same spot today. Quite a little gem for the London lover. So for the last couple of days I've been comparing the then and now pictures and sometimes even I have looked at the map to make sure I know exactly where that spot/building is located. Probably a bit crazy or maybe a lot crazy, but that's what you do when you love things...

Birthday BBQ

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:17:00 +0000

I'm a summer child. Born right in the middle of summer. Apparently if I hadn’t been so eager to make an appearance into the world I would have been born late August instead of late July. Oh well, I've always been in a bit of a hurry...

But being born in the middle of the summer means that birthdays have always been a bit of a miss. Growing up I was always away on holiday with my parents when it was time for birthday. During my teens I was usually away in the UK or US, with my parents being home in Sweden. The people I stayed with usually did their best to make it a great birthday, but quite early I learnt to don't think about it too much. It was just another day. Now as an adult if I'm home on my birthday all my friends are gone and if they are home I'm gone somewhere. It just doesn't work out very well... So to be honest the last couple of years I haven't cared very much. The last birthday I celebrated properly was probably my 30th and that's been a while...

In April a London friend told me in that if came over for my birthday in July we would go to the Savoy. A very good reason to start celebrate my birthday again. When I told the Rivington Lobster Massacre Ladies that I was in town for my birthday it only meant one thing – a birthday BBQ in E & G's back garden.

When I finally arrived on Sunday, both late and bothered after flying in on the worse low-cost airlines of them all (Ryan Air), they were all there waiting for me. The Rivington Lobster Massacre Ladies, the Other Gal Pals, Husbands and Kid. I was proclaimed the birthday girl which I also now have a button to prove it with.

There was Champagne, there was chips and dip, there was food en masse. Of course there was cake, there was birthday presents and there were lots of Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc. The sun also decided to joins us after many days of absence. Just perfect! I couldn’t have had better (a day before) birthday BBQ .

So a big thank you Rivington Lobster Massacre Ladies, the Other Gal Pals, Husbands and Kid for making my birthday something to celebrate and remember again. You're the best!

When I lived in Modern Times

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:50:00 +0000

The only way to survive a Ryan Air flight is to hide in a book and turn up the sound on your iPod, and that is exactly what I did last week going over to London. It has to be a pretty interesting book so you keep reading and turn out everything around you. Linda Grant’s book When I lived in Modern Times, which she won the Orange Prize for, definitely sounded like the perfect book for the flight, and it was.

In April 1946 Everlyn Sert sets off to Palestine to start a new life in a brand new country. A country filled with Jewish refugees and idealists, but at least on the paper everything seems possible. After spending the first couple of months at a Kibbutz she realises that this wasn’t what she had expected. Instead she moves to the Bauhouse city of Tel Aviv, where she quickly becomes a new woman, a new Jew and totally reinvents herself. Then she meets Johnny, an idealist who is part of the movement wanting the Brits to leave and suddenly she right in the middle of historical and life threatening events – the birth of the Israeli state.

I really liked the story. It’s a historical book, but at the same time a story about wanting to be part of something bigger, being young and falling in love. It’s a story about culture clashes and following a dream. But most of all it’s a story about becoming of age and realizing what it is to be a Jew in a non-Jewish world.

Galvin at Windows

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:42:00 +0000

For four years now the weekend after Midsummer my wine tasting gals and I have gone to London. What started as a shopping weekend where everything including the trip and hotel stay had to be a barging has now turned into a weekend where we indulge on most everything. Hotel, food, wine and shopping. It has become an annual event we start talking about right after the holidays. Needless to say, I guess, I’m in charge of the whole planning and being in charge also means I get to decide where we do lunch.

This year I decided on Galvin at Windows which I had only heard good things about. Also the view over London from the 28th is rather hard to beat. After a morning of shopping and lots of bags showing it, we arrived to Park Lane in a taxi as one should. Just having the doorman opening the taxi door for you and great you with a “Madam” make you feel very far from the real world and special. Clearly something to remember a rainy and grey November day when your haul your shopping home and no one gives a toss about you.

After freshening up at the bathroom and leaving the bags at the cloakroom we entered the restaurant where a nice Maitre d' showed us to our table and introduced us to our waiter. I had not asked especially to be seated by the window, but we did and the view was spectacular. Our waiter was cute guy with a French accent and when he explained the menu options we very quickly decided on the 3 course set lunch including half a bottle of wine, water and coffee. The menu was quite impressive being a set menu with at least 4 different choices to choose from for each course. The wine list was also quite impressive and when I found a Reserve Chardonnay from Xanadu, Margaret River on the list I got very happy. All their wines are excellent, but hard to get in Sweden. According to the Sommelier it was an excellent choice to go with our meal, and hopefully he was just not being polite saying that…

While we were looking at the menu and wine list a wooden board arrived with two different kinds of breads still being hot. Nibbling away all of us decided to go with grilled sea bream for main course and pâté for everybody else besides me for a starter. Since there was fresh asparagus on the menu I of course had to have that instead. Unfortunately they had run out of asparagus and I was offered a green pea soup. Not being a soup person my first feeling was disappointment, but when the waiter explained how it was made and what was in it I decided to live dangerously and broaden my horizons, i.e. give it a try.

When the starters arrived the wooden broad with bread and butter was replaced with fresh and new one. A very nice gesture since we hadn’t even had half of bred on the first board. The starters arrived and my green pea soup looked spectacular with a poached egg in the middle and croutons and pancetta bits as toppings. And of course it tasted as good as it looked. The soup was very smooth and the croutons and pancetta bits added the right crunchiness to the texture. A perfect runny egg yolk also added to its greatness. From what understood from my friends the pâté was also amazing and for a while we just got quiet eating and enjoying the food.

Two bus-boys carried in the sea bream and then waited for our waiter to arrive so he could server all of us at the exact same time. The sea bream was of course perfect and served with a new potato tart with cherry tomatoes and olives in pesto sauce. Again more ah:s and oh:s from of us while we savoured the food and very much understood why Galwin at Windows has one star in the Michelin Guide.

We were sharing ice bucket with another table and in the corner of my eye I suddenly noticed how the Sommelier took our bottle and went to the other table. When he started pouring he looked at me and then it hit him what he was doing. A simple nod and he went away and came back with a new bottle to our table. Very classy and impressive, and the exact right thing to do. When one of my friends commented "I can’t believe we still have wine left" he and I just shared a secret smile.

For dessert we all decided on having the same thing again – Tonka bean panacotta with strawberries. Neither of us had heard about Tonka beans before but we were told it was an aromatic bean tasting a bit like toffee. It was a delight, tasting somewhere in-between toffee and vanilla and both the fresh strawberries and tiny cubes of strawberry jelly removed that too sweet taste you sometimes can get eating panacotta.

We had now been having lunch for two hours and there was still coffee and truffles to come. Our waiter suggested that we should move to the bar while having coffee so we could enjoy the view from another direction. With big panorama windows the view in the bar was even more spectacular than before and I was able to point out several landmarks and my London office. Our Sommelier also came around and gave us one more glass of wine.

The time was now getting close to 16:30 and the visitors in the restaurant/bar had changed over to a younger and more hip crowd. Next to us were some South Africans who added ice into their Chablis. Obviously money doesn’t always come with style… For a while we were debating if we should stay and order in some more wine, but we decided that more wine would just spoil that perfect feeling of food, wine and excellent service. Instead we took the lift down (where my ears actually popped) and took a nice stroll through Hyde Park back to the hotel.

Less than an hour later I got a message from a London friend asking if we are all right: Of course we are. What do you mean? There is a fire on Park Lane Hilton and the whole building has been evacuated - Oh My God, if we had decided to have that another bottle of wine we would have been there and would have been evacuated from the 28th floor probably walking down some spiral staircase. Something I would not like to do sober and nevertheless in high heels and tipsy after a nice long lunch. Also I’m sure there was probably smoke as well when you got down to the floors 1-4 where the fire was. So needless to say it was an afternoon we will remember for a long time. First a superb lunch and then how we just had left the hotel before a big fire broke out.

The post that wasn't

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:48:00 +0000

I started to write this post yesterday afternoon. It was suppose to be about my lunch at Galwin at Windows a couple of weeks ago. Before I started I checked Facebook, just like I do so many times during the day when I'm at home. A colleague at the Oslo office had just posted a comment saying - There has been a big explosion of some sort in central Oslo. The whole office building shook.

The office building is very much central Oslo so I immediately checked out the big new sites. Nothing. Reuters was first out 5 minutes later saying that there had been an explosion close to the PM's office and the office of the Oil and Energy Minister. I then turned to the Norwegian newspapers and was totally shocked from the photos coming in. This couldn't be down-town Oslo. It looked like a war-zone.

Suddenly eyewitness reports, photos and videos poured in via Twitter, Facebook and all the news sites. I turned on BBC on the TV, but otherwise I couldn't move. As the events unfolded and more information came in it just felt surreal. Norway is our western neighbour and Oslo only 3 hours away. A small but very proud country. A country that take great pride in freedom and democracy. A country where "gå på tur" (hiking or cross-country skiing in the mountains ) is a national past-time and having a "hytte" (cabin) in the mountains is a must. Bombs are not part of how we see Norway.

When the news started to come in about the shooting at Utøya my heart broke. Reading tweets about people asking those who lived closed to the island to go out and pick up the kids who were fleeing the island by swimming. Tweets that said there is someone here shooting. He's dressed like a policeman.

I cried because I couldn’t and still can't understand how someone very cold-blooded can kill innocent teenagers at a camp, although a political camp. It doesn't matter if your skin is white, black, yellow or purple and whether you're a Christian, Jew, Muslim or Hindu you do not kill innocent people. There is no God saying that killing people is all right.

I watched a DVD during the evening just to get away from it all, but in my stomach there was and still is a big knot that won't go away. All of me say it's it's so wrong and unfair. The last thing I heard before going to bed was that there was probably a lot more dead people at Utøya than they had said in the beginning. And yes after a restless night I woke up to the news that 84 people had been killed there. Not the way you want to start your morning.

Sweden is quite sombre today. We all think about friends and families in Norway and how life can totally change in a heartbeat just because someone takes the right to bomb and kill innocent people.

Staycation

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:41:00 +0000

I'm already on my second week of what sounded as an extremely long 6 week leave in-between jobs. Last week I just enjoyed being off work and winding down. On Wednesday I went to a meeting at my new job for 2 hours and it was almost amazing how my pulse started racing in a more "at work" pace. Of course also being totally new means you have to concentrate a lot more which probably raises the pulse too, but I could very much tell the different between work and not working. When you don't work for a while you get into a special pace and really don't care if if you do things today or tomorrow.

Several friends have asked me what I will do with all this time off, but it's really not a problem. Finally I have time to read, try out new recipes both cooking and baking. I can spend and hour or two at the gym without feeling stressed or take along walk around the neighbourhood. I can catch up with friends both in person and on the phone. Next week I'm off to London again. Just because I can and want to. Friends and food en masse as usual. And some shopping I'm sure...

Needless to say all this makes me wonder what sort of life I usually live. I don't think I'm short of time, but I obliviously am. You probably don't think about it when you're right in the middle of things. But it sure makes you wonder.

To make my staycation complete I'm going sight-seeing in my own city tomorrow. My aunt who is born and raised here, but hasn't lived here for 35 years, is visiting and she said she wanted to do some of the sights she did back in school. The sights I also did back in school, so I have a feeling it will be a fun day. And this time there will be no teachers telling us what to do and not to do. And in the end of the day there will be drinks all around. Definitely nothing the days in school ended with.

I dreamt about you

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:09:00 +0000

I dreamt about you last night. We were watching TV late at night curled up on the sofa. The only light was the flickering from the TV. Your head was resting in my lap and we were both almost at sleep. I was playing mindlessly with your hair at the same time as Stephen Fry said something funny on QI. You laughed too and said that we really needed to go to bed. Really I said. Can't we just stay like this? I'm too tired to get up. Sure you said and closed your eyes. For a moment or two I watched your sleeping and felt so safe and secure. I was finally home.

The next second the after-texts to QI was roaring, the dream was gone and I realized that what I had thought was your hair was the corner of a pillow. I got up, turned off the TV and went to bed hoping that you were dreaming about me too.

Devaux Champagne tasting

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:56:00 +0000

At the end of June it was time for the last tasting in the cellar before the summer, and what better grand final than to taste Devaux Champagne.

Devaux Grand Reserve Brut
Wonderful fruity maturity from the Pinot Noir grapes and and from the Chardonnay grapes a fresh and lacy edge

Devaux Blanc de Noirs Brut
Butterscotch and almond in the nose with a powerful palate mature pears, baked apples, aniseed and spice on the finish. An old favourite of mine and still as good as I remembered it.

Devaux Millésimé Brut 2002
Quite a powerful nose of quince paste and ripe figs. The palate is simultaneously full, fine, smooth and perfumed, following through to a long finish.

L'Ultra D de Devaux Brut
On the nose still fresh, with notes of hazelnuts and spice. On the palate the Pinot Noir fruit shine through with hints of ripe pear and more hazelnut. A long and very fresh finish. Almost too fresh for my taste.

La Cuvée D de Devaux Brut
The nose recalls candied orange zest with spicy, buttery notes. Tiny red fruit nuances appear on the palate with toasted bread, coffee and vanilla notes. The finish is long and complex.

La Rosé D de Devaux Brut
The nose is very fresh with some red fruit notes and a few aniseed aromas followed by hazelnut. On the palate it combines elegance and roundness while remaining fresh. There are also notes of apricot, orange and liquorice notes. A new favourite perfect for celebrating an afternoon wedding.

The End

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:54:00 +0000

Friday was my last day in the company. A day that I had been thinking about a lot. I've never been good at saying goodbye and after five years, one month, one week and two days in the same company there are quite a few people you know. But I had also been thinking about the day as closing one door and opening another. For the first time in my life I had decided to leave a company, and to top of things I hadn't looked for another job – I had been head-hunted. I also felt some sort of relief the day finally had arrive. An end to the last chapter that started the day I told my boss I was resigning. So needless to say it was a day with mixed emotions.

Taking part in the annual sailing event where the company is the main sponsor I was busy all morning talking to people about match racing, grinding and "Yes,the company is a rather big company with about 20 000 employees world wide. I'm sure you didn't know that." As the rain clouds moved in and people stopped by the tent to say goodbye I realized that this was it. It was over.

With one hour left and the rain really pouring down there was one person I hadn't said goodbye to. Considering the rain I was so sure he had left the island but after a quick text message I found out that he was on the other side of the island. So I ran in the rain and mud and when I saw him I started crying like a baby. Grinning the way only he can do he commented – "I told you so, you were going to cry". And indeed I did. "What a way to end", he said. "In the pouring rain here at the island". By then I couldn't help but smiling. And letting out a sigh of relif. I had been able to say goodbye to a person who had meant a lot to me over the years and always been a great supporter of what I've been doing.

An hour later I was back at the hotel trying to get warm, changing clothes and working on finding some sort of party mood. It was time for dinner and what I had heard boats were going to be involved. Still poring outside I opted out wearing a dress and went with jeans and wind-breaker instead.

I love the ocean even though the sky and sea more or less had the same colour it felt rather comforting to be out at sea. Soon we arrived at Åstol Rökeri where we had starters. Beautiful smoked shrimps, mackerel and salmon along with home-made aioli dressing, horseradish dressing and warm bread. And of course a perfectly oaked Bourgogne.

Leaving Åstol the rain had stopped and when we arrived at Klädesholmen about 10 minutes later the sun broke though the clouds. At Salt and Sill it was time for main course and dessert. For main there was a choice between mixed grill and Torbay sole, which for me was real easy. Torbay sole with potato cake and lobster sauce of course. To drink we went with Bouchard Aîne & Fils Chablis 2008. A great match with mineral aromas and a somewhat peachy finish.

Dessert was of course strawberries, can't get much more summer than that. Strawberries with Arrack-flavoured ice cream, meringue and toasted vanilla oats. As always food and wine makes me very happy (it's hard not to) and my mood improved throughout the evening. Even though a short speech and toast from boss got me all weepy again.

By midnight we got picked up and driven back to the main island again. Being at sea in the middle of summer's night is quite amazing. It's dark, but still not dark outside. Far away you see lighthouses and other spots of lights. It's just you and the sea.

Back at the island we all headed to Societetshuset, an old classical seaside restaurant and hotel from 1886, which in the summer turns into a nightclub and a bit of a hotspot for everybody in their early 20's. I'm sure all of us increased the average age that night with at least 10 years... Myself I hadn't been there in 20 years which was back in the days when I sailed every summer.

Suddenly it was 3am and when we left it had started to get light outside again. Thinking about the evening before going the sleep one word came to my mind – perfect. The perfect end.

Thank you all who were part of this. You gave me a wonderful send off.