29 November 2016
26 November 2016
23 November 2016
21 November 2016
9 November 2016
Oh America, what have you done?
Brexit suddenly doesn't seem as big a deal anymore. Can we please fast forward four years?
2 November 2016
30 October 2016
Stereotype
When I went on the scrambling weekend a while ago, there were two instructors - a chatty, charming one, and a quiet, earnest one. First, I liked the charmer better, but then the quiet one grew on me. He didn't say much but when he did it was useful. There was one thing he said to me that keeps popping up in my head, even now, weeks later.
A couple of guys were taking pictures of each other on the ridge. I was in the field of view, so I offered to look scared to make them look more badass by contrast. To this, the quiet instructor said to me "Don't be the stereotype."
I'd hate to be the stereotype, that's the last thing I want to be!
A couple of guys were taking pictures of each other on the ridge. I was in the field of view, so I offered to look scared to make them look more badass by contrast. To this, the quiet instructor said to me "Don't be the stereotype."
I'd hate to be the stereotype, that's the last thing I want to be!
26 October 2016
Hallowe'en
We did a cute song at Ukulele class on the occasion of Hallowe'en coming up - Mysterious Mose. Enjoy!
Hope you can open it wherever you are!
Hope you can open it wherever you are!
23 October 2016
19 October 2016
Yoga binge
When I feel sad I go on binges. Nothing seriously bad, no booze, only something to distract me from thinking about it and feeling the sadness.
In the past few weeks since my recent breakup, while being mostly fine (honest!), I've developed another bout of binge-watching my favourite TV show, Doctor Who. There have been 122 new episodes since they revamped the show in 2005 and I had watched them all before. Three times I think. I'm now through 45 of them or so for the fourth time. Having to stay in and study for the Open University course I'm doing isn't helping either, it's enabling my procrastination. My flatmate's partner, who is staying with us these days, likes to mock me and hum the Doctor Who theme whenever he sees me.
The other thing to drown my sorrow in is hot chocolate. Both, the doctor and hot chocolate, make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Temporary and superficial it may be, but hey, I'll take it. Still better than compulsive online shopping. I need to watch myself there - it's the new season for all my favourite brands of outdoors gear - check out the new North Face Summit Series, and Icebreaker's new colours!
At the same time I've (re-)started yoga. I'd meant to take it up again for years and I finally took up the introductory offer of a yoga studio near where I live. Two weeks of unlimited yoga classes for a fixed price. And as I like to save money I went six times during these two weeks - yoga binge! It was great, I now hardly remember my back issues. It is also hot yoga, which means yoga in a room heated to 30 or 40 degree Celsius, depending on the class. This is meant to make you stretch better.
I tried three different types of yoga there. A more dynamic kind with flowing movements, called vinyasa, or power, cardio- or flow yoga. Lots of fluid movements, like variations of sun salutations. Lots of downward and upward dogs and - my favourite (not) - planks. Not really my thing, too much effort. Also, I'm not doing yoga for the exercise, I get enough of that from cycling.
Then there was the other extreme, yin, where I didn't even work up a sweat - in 40 degrees! This one was more about stretching "the deep tissue", whatever that means. Apparently, not the muscles are getting stretched but the tendons and joints. For this one we went into quite uncomfortable, but not strenuous, poses sitting or lying down and tried to relax into them for minutes. Interesting, but it didn't feel like it was doing much. Maybe it would grow on me.
And finally there was the "classic" type where there were poses standing up, sitting and lying down, usually needing a lot of balance, which were to be held for a few breaths. Definitely made me sweaty, but this was more about building flexibility and strength than cardio fitness. Maybe I should stick with this for a while.
Yoga definitely makes me warm - if not fuzzy - inside and out.
In the past few weeks since my recent breakup, while being mostly fine (honest!), I've developed another bout of binge-watching my favourite TV show, Doctor Who. There have been 122 new episodes since they revamped the show in 2005 and I had watched them all before. Three times I think. I'm now through 45 of them or so for the fourth time. Having to stay in and study for the Open University course I'm doing isn't helping either, it's enabling my procrastination. My flatmate's partner, who is staying with us these days, likes to mock me and hum the Doctor Who theme whenever he sees me.
The other thing to drown my sorrow in is hot chocolate. Both, the doctor and hot chocolate, make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Temporary and superficial it may be, but hey, I'll take it. Still better than compulsive online shopping. I need to watch myself there - it's the new season for all my favourite brands of outdoors gear - check out the new North Face Summit Series, and Icebreaker's new colours!
At the same time I've (re-)started yoga. I'd meant to take it up again for years and I finally took up the introductory offer of a yoga studio near where I live. Two weeks of unlimited yoga classes for a fixed price. And as I like to save money I went six times during these two weeks - yoga binge! It was great, I now hardly remember my back issues. It is also hot yoga, which means yoga in a room heated to 30 or 40 degree Celsius, depending on the class. This is meant to make you stretch better.
I tried three different types of yoga there. A more dynamic kind with flowing movements, called vinyasa, or power, cardio- or flow yoga. Lots of fluid movements, like variations of sun salutations. Lots of downward and upward dogs and - my favourite (not) - planks. Not really my thing, too much effort. Also, I'm not doing yoga for the exercise, I get enough of that from cycling.
Then there was the other extreme, yin, where I didn't even work up a sweat - in 40 degrees! This one was more about stretching "the deep tissue", whatever that means. Apparently, not the muscles are getting stretched but the tendons and joints. For this one we went into quite uncomfortable, but not strenuous, poses sitting or lying down and tried to relax into them for minutes. Interesting, but it didn't feel like it was doing much. Maybe it would grow on me.
And finally there was the "classic" type where there were poses standing up, sitting and lying down, usually needing a lot of balance, which were to be held for a few breaths. Definitely made me sweaty, but this was more about building flexibility and strength than cardio fitness. Maybe I should stick with this for a while.
Yoga definitely makes me warm - if not fuzzy - inside and out.
12 October 2016
Reindeer and Ptarmigans
I discussed my recent breakup with Kat and where to find eligible young men if not on the internet and how about fun group trips such as skiing holidays etc. That turned into talking about future trips which generally makes for more interesting conversation anyway.
She once did a navigation course in the Cairngorms at Glenmore Lodge, an outdoor training centre near Aviemore. So just for fun I looked them up and saw that they had an Introduction to Scrambling course on this upcoming weekend.
The weather forecast looked good so I signed up.
I came back with bruises and scratches all over from hugging the rocks while slowly sliding them down, but it was a brilliant weekend and below are a few pictures. I saw reindeers and ptarmigans!
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| Fiacall Ridge - we scrambled it up. |
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| The gear: helmets and ropes - that's it. |
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| Fiacall Ridge |
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| A great day for views |
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| Getting tready for Christmas. |
9 October 2016
Princess2
After the princess incident last week, today was another memorable cycling day. Most of my commute is on cycle paths, but there are a few short bits on the road. On one of those, a car turned in front of me, cut me off, and made me brake sharpish. Not great, but I think the driver realised how close it had been and will surely watch out for bikes next time. And I would have forgotten about the incident right away had not a taxi driver, who had witnessed everything, slowed down right next to me and asked me if I was alright. Awwww. Made my day.
5 October 2016
Princess!
On my daily commute to and from work on the cycle paths, I usually have to navigate slow cyclists, dog walkers and their dogs, passive-aggressive pedestrians, angry mums, children, dog poo - which is all preferable to cycling in car traffic.
But occasionally, my timing is bad and I have to share the cycle path with high school children on their way home. Some ignore me, some make space, some jump in front of me or shout abuse after me. One boy once stuck a stick between my spokes - I don't think he meant to hurt me, he was just curious. Fortunately, the stick broke.
Today, I passed a group of adolescents who had made space for me, so I said thank you. And one of them said you're welcome. And then he shouted "Princess" after me!
But occasionally, my timing is bad and I have to share the cycle path with high school children on their way home. Some ignore me, some make space, some jump in front of me or shout abuse after me. One boy once stuck a stick between my spokes - I don't think he meant to hurt me, he was just curious. Fortunately, the stick broke.
Today, I passed a group of adolescents who had made space for me, so I said thank you. And one of them said you're welcome. And then he shouted "Princess" after me!
2 October 2016
The end (for real this time)
Five months after the first date we have now come full circle. My man and I are done, over and out.
What went wrong? Hard to say, many things. Liking each other and having similar values was not enough. Maybe our personalities and interests were too different, maybe our personal issues weren't compatible. I wasn't myself around him a lot of the time, and at first I thought that was just because we didn't know each other well yet, and I just went along with it, but then I got used to it and stopped noticing it. Not ideal.
I would prefer it if I knew exactly what went wrong and how to fix it, but I don't and he doesn't, so I'll go with that sometimes things just don't work out.
So I talked things through with friends and did a bit of wallowing, and strangely, now I'm fine. So, going forward, I need a new strategy. Here's the best plan I currently have: I'll buy a cottage in the highlands and get kittens!
What went wrong? Hard to say, many things. Liking each other and having similar values was not enough. Maybe our personalities and interests were too different, maybe our personal issues weren't compatible. I wasn't myself around him a lot of the time, and at first I thought that was just because we didn't know each other well yet, and I just went along with it, but then I got used to it and stopped noticing it. Not ideal.
I would prefer it if I knew exactly what went wrong and how to fix it, but I don't and he doesn't, so I'll go with that sometimes things just don't work out.
So I talked things through with friends and did a bit of wallowing, and strangely, now I'm fine. So, going forward, I need a new strategy. Here's the best plan I currently have: I'll buy a cottage in the highlands and get kittens!
28 September 2016
Isle of Mull
The best part of my Mull trip was the walk around the Treshnish peninsula in the north of Mull (*click*). Beautiful, remote, varied. Not a hard walk, but long enough to make a day of it at a leisurely pace, especially since the weather allowed for many scenic breaks.
The place everyone recommended us to visit on the other hand, the island Iona, was underwhelming. Busloads of tourists come over to Mull from Oban on the mainland several times every day, only to be driven across the island, ferried from Fionnphort over to Iona, visit Iona Abbey, spend some money, and go back to Oban. We still found some nice spots there, but next time on Mull I'd rather visit the island Ulva, which seems touristically less exploited.
A few miles south of Fionnphort, a farm road leads to another island, Erraid. Erraid is a tidal island, which excited me a great deal because you can walk over at low tide on what looks like a beach, only that it has two coasts. And you might get stuck if you don't make it back in time. By the time we found the island, we could still walk over, but it had got too late for a proper exploration. Another one for my next Mull visit.
25 September 2016
Rose
Today, I'm writing about Rose.
I first encontered Rose when I saw her flat advertised on Airbnb, a vacation rental website. The flat looked beautiful in the pictures, nicely decorated, and situated on the main street in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, overlooking Tobermory Bay. Rose lives there in principle, but was staying somehwere else on the island for a while.
My man and I booked it for four nights, and during our stay we learned a lot about Rose. Looking at the artwork in her flat, she must have spent some time in Africa where she worked as a photographer and journalist. There are paintings, photographs, pieces of furniture, rugs and blankets that seem to have a connection with that time. She reads The New Yorker magazine. She has impeccable taste in music and a wide-ranging selection of vinyls. We felt so classy, listening to Bach's cello suites on the record player while drinking whisky in front of a nice (if poorly lit) woodfire and looking out to the sea. I was glad I had brought along a 16 year old Lagavulin - anything less would have felt out of place in Rose's flat.
Rose is musical too. A mandolin is hanging on the wall, and there are folders of sheet music and songs. She also cuts her own wood for the burner. Her kitchen is connected to the living room so you can look out to the sea from the dining table. All the kitchen equipment is beautiful, unique and of high quality. I wanted to meet Rose.
And then, I did meet her when she dropped in to see if we were doing ok, and to change into dry clothes, since she'd spent the day sea kayaking. Seriously, how cool is she?! She was also super nice, and told me that she was staying with her mum's while she is studying. I wanted her to be my best friend.
The next morning a surfer type guy visited to see if Rose was about and to go out for breakfast with her. Who still does this sort of thing? I think it's lovely to have friends who do just show up spontaneously for a chat. It reminds me of the olden days before mobile phones. Actually, my parents still live like that, with friends spontaneously dropping by. Maybe that's just what life is like when you live in a small community. Or when you live in an area with poor mobile phone signal.
Rose seems to have it all, a life full of travel and adventure, reading, writing and music, and a beautiful, cosy flat near friends and family in one of the most scenic places in Scotland. I want to be Rose.
I first encontered Rose when I saw her flat advertised on Airbnb, a vacation rental website. The flat looked beautiful in the pictures, nicely decorated, and situated on the main street in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, overlooking Tobermory Bay. Rose lives there in principle, but was staying somehwere else on the island for a while.
My man and I booked it for four nights, and during our stay we learned a lot about Rose. Looking at the artwork in her flat, she must have spent some time in Africa where she worked as a photographer and journalist. There are paintings, photographs, pieces of furniture, rugs and blankets that seem to have a connection with that time. She reads The New Yorker magazine. She has impeccable taste in music and a wide-ranging selection of vinyls. We felt so classy, listening to Bach's cello suites on the record player while drinking whisky in front of a nice (if poorly lit) woodfire and looking out to the sea. I was glad I had brought along a 16 year old Lagavulin - anything less would have felt out of place in Rose's flat.
Rose is musical too. A mandolin is hanging on the wall, and there are folders of sheet music and songs. She also cuts her own wood for the burner. Her kitchen is connected to the living room so you can look out to the sea from the dining table. All the kitchen equipment is beautiful, unique and of high quality. I wanted to meet Rose.
And then, I did meet her when she dropped in to see if we were doing ok, and to change into dry clothes, since she'd spent the day sea kayaking. Seriously, how cool is she?! She was also super nice, and told me that she was staying with her mum's while she is studying. I wanted her to be my best friend.
The next morning a surfer type guy visited to see if Rose was about and to go out for breakfast with her. Who still does this sort of thing? I think it's lovely to have friends who do just show up spontaneously for a chat. It reminds me of the olden days before mobile phones. Actually, my parents still live like that, with friends spontaneously dropping by. Maybe that's just what life is like when you live in a small community. Or when you live in an area with poor mobile phone signal.
Rose seems to have it all, a life full of travel and adventure, reading, writing and music, and a beautiful, cosy flat near friends and family in one of the most scenic places in Scotland. I want to be Rose.
21 September 2016
Sweden adventures #10
Friday - leaving Herrang.
I get up at half five and pack up my tent. Ali's still up and comes over to say goodbye again. Lovely guy.
Of course I'm at the bus stop twenty minutes early. I have two apples for breakfast and then it's two buses, the subway, a train, a bus, a ferry, a walk, another ferry, and I'm on my island, Grötö, porridge island. The toilet on the train was the nicest bathroom I've seen in a week. Now to find the hotel. It shouldn't be too hard, there is only one on this island.
I find it, I'm the first to check into my cabin which I'm sharing with friends I know from when I lived in the States. Turns out later that they would have been here already had they not boarded the wrong ferry and as a result ended up spending three hours on boats... I put out my tent to dry and start working on my speech. The speech will reveal the truth about how the happy couple met.
It was spring 2011. I lived in a flat in Princeton with Parween and Sally. Sally lived in the attic, illegally. It was Saturday night and I was going to go to the Princeton University Spring Formal, a party where everyone dresses up nicely. I was going with a Princeton graduate student - my toy boy at the time - and Sally joined us.
When we got there, we first went to a pre-party - the purpose of which was to get drunk quickly and avoid the formal part of the evening, the ballroom dancing. Arriving at the pre-party, Sally pointed out to me that there were only couples, and I looked around and it was true. Apart from that one guy. I said "I think the guy in the top hat over there is single." And the rest is history. I don't remember many details from the party. Sally and the guy in the top hat got drunk, he came home with us, left thirteen hours later, and now they are getting married.
I get up at half five and pack up my tent. Ali's still up and comes over to say goodbye again. Lovely guy.
Of course I'm at the bus stop twenty minutes early. I have two apples for breakfast and then it's two buses, the subway, a train, a bus, a ferry, a walk, another ferry, and I'm on my island, Grötö, porridge island. The toilet on the train was the nicest bathroom I've seen in a week. Now to find the hotel. It shouldn't be too hard, there is only one on this island.
I find it, I'm the first to check into my cabin which I'm sharing with friends I know from when I lived in the States. Turns out later that they would have been here already had they not boarded the wrong ferry and as a result ended up spending three hours on boats... I put out my tent to dry and start working on my speech. The speech will reveal the truth about how the happy couple met.
It was spring 2011. I lived in a flat in Princeton with Parween and Sally. Sally lived in the attic, illegally. It was Saturday night and I was going to go to the Princeton University Spring Formal, a party where everyone dresses up nicely. I was going with a Princeton graduate student - my toy boy at the time - and Sally joined us.
When we got there, we first went to a pre-party - the purpose of which was to get drunk quickly and avoid the formal part of the evening, the ballroom dancing. Arriving at the pre-party, Sally pointed out to me that there were only couples, and I looked around and it was true. Apart from that one guy. I said "I think the guy in the top hat over there is single." And the rest is history. I don't remember many details from the party. Sally and the guy in the top hat got drunk, he came home with us, left thirteen hours later, and now they are getting married.
18 September 2016
Sweden adventures #9
Thursday at Herrang.
I get up at noon and pick up my laundry. Today is not a good day for drying clothes. I miss breakfast again, so go and have lunch and end up chatting for hours. I have a good meditation session by the lake. I try and get my tent organised for my early departure tomorrow morning.
I run into Jack and Carolin, his German housemate in Herrang, have a chat and then buy bus tickets for my travels, so I won't have to worry about that tomorrow morning.
I run into Ali who has turned out to be my favourite person at camp this year, we have a coffee in the bar. Ali has recently started to play the trombone. He has even brought it along to Herrang. One day here, he decided to practise, so he took his trombone and cycled into the fields for some privacy and to not to disturb anyone. He played for a bit when suddenly three moose appeared out of nowhere - a male with big antlers and two females. I wonder if the trombone playing attracted or offended them.
I stay for the daily meeting but then say goodbye to Ali and go to bed. I'm giving today's party a miss. I don't want to feel terrible tomorrow when I cross Sweden on public transport and meet old friends in the evening.
I get up at noon and pick up my laundry. Today is not a good day for drying clothes. I miss breakfast again, so go and have lunch and end up chatting for hours. I have a good meditation session by the lake. I try and get my tent organised for my early departure tomorrow morning.
I run into Jack and Carolin, his German housemate in Herrang, have a chat and then buy bus tickets for my travels, so I won't have to worry about that tomorrow morning.
I run into Ali who has turned out to be my favourite person at camp this year, we have a coffee in the bar. Ali has recently started to play the trombone. He has even brought it along to Herrang. One day here, he decided to practise, so he took his trombone and cycled into the fields for some privacy and to not to disturb anyone. He played for a bit when suddenly three moose appeared out of nowhere - a male with big antlers and two females. I wonder if the trombone playing attracted or offended them.
I stay for the daily meeting but then say goodbye to Ali and go to bed. I'm giving today's party a miss. I don't want to feel terrible tomorrow when I cross Sweden on public transport and meet old friends in the evening.
14 September 2016
Sweden adventures #8
Wednesday at Herrang.
I get up early and have breakfast in Heaven's Kitchen, the camp restaurant. Today, there are no morning classes so people have a lie-in and the breakfast room is empty.
I chat with a Swiss guy and then walk over to the lake for meditation practice. Meditation practice gets thwarted by a group of dressed up people clearly aiming for the float in the lake, but too many of them to fit into the one boat left on the shore. They somehow manage. Later, I find out that two of them just got married and are one of two couples this week at Herrang who are spending their honeymoon here.
I make a mask at the mask-making workshop. The theme of tonight's party is masquerade and dressing up is mandatory. My Swiss army knife is very popular at the workshop so I leave it when I'm done.
I get my dancing shoes and get a backie on someone's bike to the blues class. Blues class is fun, and I consider taking a private lesson with the teachers, but then they are too busy and I'm not actually sure what I want to learn. I'm loving the blues class though. It's a beginner's class, and I've been dancing blues for many years. I feel like Monica in the show 'Friends' must have felt when she took a beginners' cooking class even though she was a professional chef. She just really liked being top of the class and getting loads of praise from the teacher.
I'm trying to fulfil today's mission to make it a productive day: Find stamps. The Lindy Hop Shop is closed so I suspend my mission and get a coffee in Bar Bedlam instead. When I try again they are open but don't have stamps. However, I'm right in time for the Herrang Week 5 Group Picture.
I then go to Kuggen, the village store, for stamps and offend the cashier when I say that all the Swedish coins look the same (they really don't). It actually is a productive day: I drop off laundry - my hand washing with regular hand soap wasn't that successful. I also charge my phone.
I take a long nap and go to the daily meeting, then change and dance a bit with a mask on - masquerade night. I go to the blues music jam session, drink wine, have a few more drunken lindy dances and go back to my tent, but on the way stop for a shisha with people I know, and it's half five and proper daylight when I finally go to bed.
I get up early and have breakfast in Heaven's Kitchen, the camp restaurant. Today, there are no morning classes so people have a lie-in and the breakfast room is empty.
I chat with a Swiss guy and then walk over to the lake for meditation practice. Meditation practice gets thwarted by a group of dressed up people clearly aiming for the float in the lake, but too many of them to fit into the one boat left on the shore. They somehow manage. Later, I find out that two of them just got married and are one of two couples this week at Herrang who are spending their honeymoon here.
I make a mask at the mask-making workshop. The theme of tonight's party is masquerade and dressing up is mandatory. My Swiss army knife is very popular at the workshop so I leave it when I'm done.
I get my dancing shoes and get a backie on someone's bike to the blues class. Blues class is fun, and I consider taking a private lesson with the teachers, but then they are too busy and I'm not actually sure what I want to learn. I'm loving the blues class though. It's a beginner's class, and I've been dancing blues for many years. I feel like Monica in the show 'Friends' must have felt when she took a beginners' cooking class even though she was a professional chef. She just really liked being top of the class and getting loads of praise from the teacher.
I'm trying to fulfil today's mission to make it a productive day: Find stamps. The Lindy Hop Shop is closed so I suspend my mission and get a coffee in Bar Bedlam instead. When I try again they are open but don't have stamps. However, I'm right in time for the Herrang Week 5 Group Picture.
I then go to Kuggen, the village store, for stamps and offend the cashier when I say that all the Swedish coins look the same (they really don't). It actually is a productive day: I drop off laundry - my hand washing with regular hand soap wasn't that successful. I also charge my phone.
I take a long nap and go to the daily meeting, then change and dance a bit with a mask on - masquerade night. I go to the blues music jam session, drink wine, have a few more drunken lindy dances and go back to my tent, but on the way stop for a shisha with people I know, and it's half five and proper daylight when I finally go to bed.
11 September 2016
Sweden adventures #7
Tuesday at Herrang.
I get up at noon, have breakfast at the Ice Cream Parlour - yoghurt and banana - and hang out here for many hours. I seem to be hosting a salon with various people passing through, staying for a while and then moving on. We discuss the Swing Patrol empire in London, which seems to push other swing dance providers out of the market. We have a Swedish language lesson, and a pop-up shoe repair workshop. At five, I practice some balboa and then have dinner in Bar Bedlam.
I attend the daily meeting and go back to the tent for a nap but don't properly wake up until half three at night. Now I can't be bothered getting up and being all sleepy - even though it would have worked with tonight's theme of the party - Slow Drag.
I get up at noon, have breakfast at the Ice Cream Parlour - yoghurt and banana - and hang out here for many hours. I seem to be hosting a salon with various people passing through, staying for a while and then moving on. We discuss the Swing Patrol empire in London, which seems to push other swing dance providers out of the market. We have a Swedish language lesson, and a pop-up shoe repair workshop. At five, I practice some balboa and then have dinner in Bar Bedlam.
I attend the daily meeting and go back to the tent for a nap but don't properly wake up until half three at night. Now I can't be bothered getting up and being all sleepy - even though it would have worked with tonight's theme of the party - Slow Drag.
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