The good things in life

London 1927

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Continuing with my London theme. A 10 minutes colour clip of London back in 1927. Remarkable footage of a city that already back then was remarkable.

London tourist questions

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Missing and thinking about London tonight. The withdrawal symptoms are always the worse about a month after the last trip...

Couldn't help but laughing reading in The Times about the strangest and funniest questions asked at the City of London Information Centre. My favourites are number 5 and 14. And sorry all American friends, unfortunately I have a feeling that some of the most silly questions regarding the Eiffel Tower and Time Square comes from you fellow countrymen.

1. How can I have tea with the Queen?

2. Could you recommend a good plastic surgeon?

3. Are there guided tours of M15?

4. When do the clowns come on at Piccadilly Circus?

5. What number in Oxford Street is Oxford University?

6. Where can I buy paraffin for my lamp?

7. What time does “evil song” start at St Paul’s Cathedral?

8. Which side of the river is London Bridge on?

9. Where can I hire a banana boat?

10. Is it a long walk to Times Square?

11. Where abouts is the Eiffel Tower?

12. Which way to the beach?

13. When does Tower Bridge move?

14. Where can I see the buildings destroyed in the Second World War?

15. Where do the Spice Girls live?

The good things in life

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:58:00 +0000

When I started this blog a long time ago I thought I was only going to write about the good good thing sin life, such as food, wine, travel but that didn't last long. There were so many other things to write about, both good and bad things. James S. Huggins' Refrigerator Door has a great list of the best things in life,which is very much worth repeating. After all there are so many good things in life that we don't even think about.

Falling in love.

Laughing so hard your face hurts.

A hot shower.

No lines at the Super Wal-Mart.

A special glance.

Getting mail.

Taking a drive on a pretty road.

Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

Hot towels out of the dryer.

Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.

Chocolate milkshake.

A long distance phone call.

A bubble bath.

Giggling.

A good conversation.

The beach.

Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter.

Laughing at yourself.

Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

Running through sprinklers.

Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.

Laughing at an inside joke.

Friends.

Falling in love for the first time.

Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

Your first kiss.

Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

Playing with a new puppy.

Late night talks with your roommate that keep you from sleeping.

Having someone play with your hair.

Sweet dreams.

Hot chocolate.

Road trips with friends.

Swinging on swings.

Watching a good movie cuddled up on a couch with someone you love.

Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking eggnog.

Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid.

Going to a really good concert.

Getting butterflies in your stomach every time you see that one person.

Making eye contact with a cute stranger.

Winning a really competitive game.

Making chocolate chip cookies!

Having your friends send you homemade cookies!

Spending time with close friends!

Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends.

Holding hands with someone you care about.

Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

Discovering that love is unconditional and stronger than time.

Riding the best roller coasters over and over.

Hugging the person you love.

Watching the expression someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you.

Watching the sunrise.

Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.

Having friends you know you can cry on or talk to about your deepest problems

Quote of the day

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:08:00 +0000

It is what you read when you don't have to, that determines what you will be when you can't help it.

~ Oscar Wilde ~

Tartan Noir

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:55:00 +0000

I've never become a fan of Ian Rankin and his Inspector Rebus, instead I have loved reading Denise Minas's novels taking place in Glasgow. I read the Garnethill trilogy a long time ago and when I was in Glasgow two years ago and saw a sign saying Garnethill I just had to walk up that street and hill.

The last weeks or so I've been reading the novels about Paddy Meehan. Another one of Denise Mina's likeable female heroes working in a world dominated by men. Set in the 1980's and early 1990 the trilogy is also about the transition Glasgow went through during and after the Thatcher years. I'm too young to remember any if, or really I remember seeing Thatcher on TV but not what was going on. And it's actually only 25 years ago.

Tonight I will start reading the latest book of Denise Mina – Still midnight – which I hope is as good as the other ones. And again it's female hero, this time a police detective doing her best in a man's world. It's never easy...

It's dark again

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Turning back the clock last weekend and November starting today my lest favourite part of the year has started.

It's the same every year. The first couple of days I'm almost afraid of the dark until I realise that nothing has changed besides it getting dark early. Then I just want to stay inside. Find a safe spot on the sofa, curl up under a blanket and eat. Food, cookies and candy. Everything that's not good for you but makes you feel good (at least for a while). Plain comfort eating. I'm also constantly tired no matter how much I sleep. It's like the energy that I have collected over the year is used up and now I'm just making it day by day.

Four more weeks until the Christmas lights come out. As always I'll make it, but I can't help wondering if things would be easier if there was no November. But then I would probably hate October or December...

Like mother, like daughter

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:46:00 +0000

Researchers have now find the truth behind the saying - Like mother, like daughter.

Experts found that the faces of mothers and daughters wrinkle and sagging in exactly the same "pattern" as they get older.

They scanned the faces of mothers and daughters and saw that the skin and soft tissues-especially around the eyes – showed the same pattern of wasting away and loss of elasticity.

The similarity becomes most apparent when the daughter reaches their mid-30s claimed the researchers who presented their findings at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons conference in Seattle, Washington.

Quite fascinating I think. According to the researchers it has do with the fact that a woman's face changes form from oval to square as the skin sags. But also of course it has to do with genes. If you mother started to get wrinkles early then you will most likely too. Also if you skinny and your skin slowly is starting to sag it will show more than if you're curvy. So I guess I should be happy then. Good genes (Thank you Mum!) and curvy which means for a woman in her late 30's (Eek!) I don't have that many wrinkles. Something to think about the next time I try on something that doesn't fit well...

The secret of a happy marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:27:00 +0000

To most people having a happy marriages takes a lot of devotion, patience and true love. But to some statisticians there is more to it than that.

According to a study the couples with the best chance are those where a woman with a superior education marries a man who is five or more years older than herself. Neither should be a divorcee.

By comparison, a marriage where a woman partners an equally poorly educated male divorcee who is five or more years her junior is up to five times more likely to fail.

To me looking at those statistics it only shows one thing, Birds of a feather flock together. Either it's education or the lack of eduction. You chose something that's familiar to you and your background. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't... Somehow I stil do believe that love and respect for each other are the most important things for a happy marriage.

Two months till Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:44:00 +0000

And three months since my birthday. I really can't say I feel stressed that it's only two months left or happy, just very surprised over how fast time goes. Soon another year has passed. Again. So where does time go then? Maybe it is like my Gran used to say: The older you get the faster time goes. But I'm not old, am I?

Lot of philosophical questions this Sunday afternoon, I better go and back to my book and just let time pass on...

Oxford

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:16:00 +0000

Ever since I was a child have always wanted to go to Oxford. At some point I also dreamt about studying there, but since my academic career never turned out to be a very long one it never happened.

So finally last Saturday I decided to jump on the train and go to Oxford. I immediately feel in love with all the old colleges, cobblestone streets and the charm of a small city which have grown around their colleges. The term had just started so everywhere I went there was students wearing caps and gowns since there was some starting ceremony at Sheldonian Theatre. I couldn't believe how young there were, and then I realised that it's probably me getting old...

I was also able to visit Exeter College and Christ Church College, which were two very different colleges. Exeter small and right in the middle of everything and then Christ Church, the largest college of them all. Famous for its dining hall and church that actually is considered a cathedral. The porter at Christ Church made my day with saying that I looked like a student and charged me as one, i.e. nothing. Of course I also had to visit Blackwell's bookshop and stop by at one of Inspector Morse's favouite pubs next door.

Just being in Oxford for one day was almost too short so I'm very sure I'll go back again. There are plenty of other things to do and see and as usual the Anglophile in me wants to see it all.

Inherit the wind

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:57:00 +0000

Just wow! That's still all I can say after seeing Inherit the wind at the Old Vic last Thursday. I thought the ticket at £50 was rather expensive but now I know it was so totally worth it. The production was just phenomenal. In the end the performance by Kevin Spacey and David Troughton was so intense I got goosebumps, and people sitting on the balconies were standing up to be able to see what was going on.

I guess acting can't get any better than this and I'm so happy to been able to see what apparently is the talk of theatre London at the moment. It also made me think that I need to go to the theatre more often. Not musicals and stuff, but real theatre. Talk theatre, drama and acting at its best. To get blown away and think about the production for days afterwards. To feel some wow.

Home again

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:33:00 +0000

The last couple of days have just flown by and being home again feels almost unreal. It's so quiet here compared to the constant noise of a big city. It's also a lot colder and two of the three trees I have outside my kitchen window have gone completely yellow. I haven't been away that long, have I? Even though it feels so... A completely different world... Just 1½ hour flight. I will probably need a day a or two to get back into Swedish mode and sort all impressions and thoughts. Inherit the wind, Oxford, seeing old friends over curry and so many other things all have to go into the right boxes...

To London

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:27:00 +0000

Catching the early flight tomorrow to London. Business and pleasure as usual. Have to get up at 4:15 am. Ugh! But going to my favourite city in the world I can live with that. Ask me tomorrow night and I might have another opinion as I try to stay awake...

Besides the obvious shopping, catching up with friends and eating curry I have finally got tickets to the Old Vic and will see Kevin Spacey and David Troughton in Inherit the wind on Thursday night. There is also an exhibit at the V&A about Maharajas and the splendour of India's royal courts which I'm thinking about as well. I have a feeling it will be a couple of very busy days, but fun ones. Just like every time.

Dinner with Godparents

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:57:00 +0000

Growing up my Godparents were a big part of my life. Mum had been friends with them since she was 15 and she is also Godmother to both their daughters. Our families met more or less every or every other Friday night. The grown ups playing cards and putting money in a jar which were going to be used at our annual summer holiday. We kids watched TV, ate hot dogs and candy and eventually fell asleep on the sofa or in someone's bed.

Midsummer and New Year's Eve, the same thing. Always together and of course the two weeks every summer. Looking back it was a the best of times. Very happy and innocent time (the 70's and early 80's). After dad died we all grow apart. The adults were not two couples any more and we were becoming teenagers and starting to have our own lives.

We still met at big occasions such as birthday, graduations and so on and every time it felt like we hadn't been a part. We started talking right where we left off the last time even though it might been a year since the last time.

Yesterday we all met at Mum's for dinner and I realised walking over there that I hadn't seen my Godparents since I turned 30 which was quite some time ago (7 years to be exact). Then I almost cried when they surprisingly showed up. So yesterday when seeing them at the parking lot I choked up and felt such a joy and love that they have and still are part of my life.

The hours just went by and we all talked and talked. Old memories and stories of course, but also more serious things such as illness and that life isn't always fair. Today I can't stop smiling. Whenever I think about yesterday my heart fills with joy and I feel so happy and blessed. They will always be part of me and who I am.

Quote of the day

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:41:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I watched an interview with Jan Eliasson, former President of the United Nations General Assembly, former Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs and currently the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Darfur. In the interview he said something that went straight to my heart.

~ Live your life with passion and compassion ~

Yes, that is what life is all about. Passion and compassion.

I had the fortune to hear him speak at company event about a year and a half ago and afterwards say hello to him. A truly amazing person. Some people have an aurora or thing that make people around them feel special and inspired. Jan Eliasson is very much a person like that. I don't get impressed easily but he's one person I'm really impressed by. And inspired by.

Match point

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:16:00 +0000

I watched the film Match point on Sunday. A typical Woody Allen film contemplating the bigger things in life such as love, lust, deception and truth. As usual the the footage was fabulous. This time from London with views to die for.

Woody Allen films make you think and this one was no exception. Would you rather be lucky than good? A question asked in the beginning and in the end of the film. Would you? Because really, luck probably plays a bigger part in the events of our lives than we care to admit. Which refuting the comforting misconception that more of life is under our control than really is. It is all about luck, and which side the tennis ball lands on.

To feel beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:08:00 +0000

I found the blog RealDelia some time around Easter this year and every time I stop by I find interesting posts which makes me reflect on myself and adulthood. I mean, is this really what it was all about?!

In post earlier this week she talked about ways of feeling beautiful taken from Real Simple's August issue. 5 quite simple ways of feeling beautiful. My favourite is number 5 which makes me think about my father who embraced his quirks to the fullest and told me it just gives you character and individuality. Love your quirks.

1. Feel loved
Most of us know that someone – a sibling, a parent, a friend, a child – loves us unconditionally. Remind yourself of that.

2. Be active
It is all about the way in which staying active as we age makes us feel lively on the inside

3. Invest in your work and your kids
Work – especially writing – can be a way to simultaneously touch other people and discover more about yourself. Children do the same.

4. Drink A Glass Of Wine
In short, wine=freedom.

5. Embrace Your Quirks
Source of individuality, character and…yes, imperfection. Love it.

The wine flu

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:11:00 +0000

With the weekend soon coming up some of you might catch this - the common wine flu which has a tendency to occur on on Saturday and/or Sunday mornings... A friend of mine describes it like this:

I went to a dinner party last night, where I, and other guests, enjoyed copious amounts of alcohol.

I awoke this morning not feeling well, with what could be described as flu-like symptoms; headache, nausea, chills, sore eyes, etc

From the results of some initial testing, I have unfortunately tested positive for what experts are now calling Wine Flu.

This debilitating condition is very serious - and it appears this is not an isolated case.

Reports are flooding in from all around the neighbourhood of others diagnosed with Wine Flu.

To anyone that starts to exhibit the aforementioned tell-tale signs, experts are recommending a cup of tea and a bit of a lie down.

However, should your condition worsen, you should immediately hire a DVD and take some Nurofen (Nurofen seems to be the only drug available that has been proven to help combat this unusual type of flu). Others are reporting a McDonald's Happy Meal can also help in some cases.

Wine Flu does not need to be life threatening and, if treated early, can be eradicated within a 24-48 hour period.

If not, then further application of the original liquid in similar quantities to the original dose has been shown to do the trick.

I suffer from this so often, I never knew it was a real disease!

Cheers!

Did you know?

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:24:00 +0000

The latest version of "Did you know?" from the Economist is out. As usual amazing figures and mind-boggling stats.

What used to fit in a building now fits in your pocket, what fits in your pocket now will fit inside a blood cell in 25 years – Ray Kurzweil

How to NOT approach a woman

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Being single can sometimes be a touchy subject for me from time to time, but after hearing this voice mail I'm so happy I'm single and hardly date. What a loser! Way too much of a smooth talker.

According to rumours the voice mail is fake and just a viral for a film, but still I can't help wondering if any woman would like to have a man like this or even have him calling you. Women like confident men, but not cocky ones. The people behind it are totally going down the wrong road according to me, but they got people talking and that's what a viral is all about.

Autumn morning

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Woke up to a beautiful autumn day in Oslo this morning and this splendid view over the Oslofjord. I could actually lay in my bed and see all of this beautiful scenery. That's what I call a room with a view.

Slough and Oslo

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Yesterday I spent the day in Slough, today I've been at the office and tomorrow I'm off to Oslo. They don't call me road worrier for nothing...

Slough lived up to its reputation as a very boring town. The supplier we met with had a very nice office with great view over Windsor Castle, but the surroundings and buildings were just boring. Grey with no hope. At lunchtime we walked down the hight street and even the normal shops as TopShop, Debenhamn's and M & S looked boring. So yes Slough will unfortunately for me as well be "depressing industrial wasteland".

Oslo is probably the opposite of Slough. At least when it comes to buildings, people and hope, All Norwegians sound so happy when they speak. But I know I will moan about how incredible expensive is it. I'm paying a fortune for one night in a single room, but I do get a view over the Oslofjord. It's on those occasions you're very happy to have an expense account...

So off to packing it is, even though you don't need much for one night.

Skype

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:27:00 +0000

I know I'm very late when it comes to start using Skype, but boy was it cool or what?! I just talked to and saw my little darling Frida over the Internet. Her mum was there too and a few minutes later her dad as well. Three adults who found it very cool and were amazed how well both sound and video worked. Guess we are getting old... Frida on the contrary just found it very naturally that Cathy was talking to her through the computer.

Now I just need to found out which friends who use Skype. Especially those who live across the globe. It would be so cool to talk to them without thinking about running up a big phone bill.

Guess I've just entered the 21 century...

Nice evening with a bad ending

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Went to happy hour with colleague tonight. We ended up at quite swanky wine bar. The wine was fab so we decided to have some goat cheese salad as well. Very nice too. When we were going to pay my colleague showed a discount card from when the wine bar did lunch and said that when you did lunch and rather abruptly stopped doing it I was told that if I came back during the evening I would get a discount. The waitress didn't know what to do so she got her boss who just was plain rude to my colleague.

My colleague works with customer service so yes she likes to test and see how other companies do and act, but she's never rude. She's just one of those customers who ask questions, and if you work with customers you should learn who to handle that.

We both left the wine bar with a bad taste in our mouths and even though the food and wine were fab, and the waitress was very sweet we'll never go back there. So unfortunately a nice evening ended badly and that is what we'll remember.

Another teen idol dies

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:29:00 +0000

With Patrick Swayze passing this morning I realised that my teen idols are dying one by one. Maybe a sign that I'm getting old, but also that life isn't always fair being a star or not. Patrick Swayze put on a real good fight, but died. Sad!

But "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" will always have a special meaning to millions of women...