Phew.....

...it´s been a busy day! Glad to say that I have achieved everything I set out to do....at least I think I have!


I went shopping for my old lady friend and had a quick visit with her. I then went shopping to get food in for my family so they don´t strave, while I am over on the Emerald Isle. I did some washing, made the dinner, packed and tidied up. I am now about to literally drop into bed. Tired but feeling good!


This time tomorrow I should be in Ireland. I leave Copenhagen tomorrow afternoon at 5pm. I fly to London Stansted and have a few hours there before heading to Belfast. I am soooo looking forward to going home. It has just sort of hit me that I am going home - TOMORROW!!! It´s been almost a year since I last was home.  I am also looking forward to the flights. I love flying and getting to spend 3 hours in London is a treat. I just hope there are no delays!  I am flying with one of those cheap airlines that is often delayed!! Need I say more?! 


Ok goodnight all - I´m off to bed. Watch this space for updates from home:-) (Where exactly is home? I say home for Denmark and home for Ireland!?!!)

So tired

I am soooo tired today. I didn´t get to bed early last night, and Saturday night we were at the wedding until the wee hours of the morning, so today I could really feel the tiredness. 


My boss arrived back at work today. He`s was off all last week doing something crazy. He biked from Paris to Brest and back to Paris again. That´s 1200km and he biked it in 78 hours. Another teacher at our school did the same thing, he completed it in 63 hours. Crazy or what?!! But they were both back in one piece today. 


Today after work I took my old lady friend to a hospital near Copenhagen for a check up. What a fun afternoon it turned out to be. 


At the hospital there were a few steps going down to the entrance. My old lady friend is in a wheel chair but we didn´t have to worry, there was a manual lift that we could put the wheel chair unto and then manually move it down the steps. Very smart. It went well going down, but after the hospital visit it was another story. 


When we came outside we noticed that the lift was all packed together, we seemed to be the last patients of the day. Well you should have seen me trying to work out how to pack the lift out so we could use it. After about 5 minutes of struggling and pushing different buttons I finally worked it out. (It was acutally really simple!)

The next task was to get the wheel chair up the ramp and unto the lift. What a job that was! I struggled with the wheel chair while my old lady friend sat laughing. This did not make the task any easier as that made me laugh and before we knew it we were having a laughing fit. (I am sure the doctor was sitting inside shaking his head at the two of us!) Finally I got the stupid chair up the ramp, unto the lift and we were ready to go. Slowly the lift went up the steps. 


When we got to the top I realised that I had put the chair on the wrong way and it was impossible to wheel it of without me having to turn the chair around. I didn´t dare turn it as my old lady friend was high up and if I made a wrong move she would have a mighty fall. So down we went with the lift again to the bottom of the steps. More laughter and struggling. Finally I managed to get her chair on the right way and we once again made our way up the steps. 


This whole ordeal took about 15 minutes. Most of it was spent struggling and laughing. What a sight it must have been. (I wish I had of filmed it!) 


By the end of all that struggling and laugher the tiredness had left me - amazing what a good laugh can do for one.


Even so,  tonight I am going to bed early!! 


This Wednesday after work I head to Ireland to visit dad .I have 6 days to clear out his house and pack a load of stuff for the house move. Hopefully he will have the keys to his new place too and we can get some furniture moved.


It´s going to be a busy few days so I need to get all the rest I can now. Unfortunately I will not have to time to visit and see a whole lot of my friends while there, but hopefully I will get back over again in October for some fun!

A big day...

for the whole Rasmussen clan but especially for our niece Gitte. She was getting married. Who would have thought that Gitte would be the first of the next generation to tie the knot. She has always been the tomboy of the family but yesterday that changed, she was transformed into a princess. She was beautiful.

It was a lovely ceremony. During it her dad (Kristian´s brother) played a special song for her on his trumpet. Her sister Sigrid sang a beautiful song along with her aunt Signe (Kristian´s sister) and her soon to be father-in-law preformed the marriage ceremony. I had a few tears at times in my eyes. It was all rather emotional.

If you want to listen to the song Sigrid and Signe sang click the video below. Believe me it is well worth the click.......they sing beautifully together:-)

All too quickly the ceremony was over and Gitte had got her man. Andreas had got his princess. They were so cute and watching them made me all romantic. I was wishing I could get married all over again (to the same man off course! haha)

The Rasmussen clan got all scrumbed up for the day. I think my hubby looks very hunky in his new suit.

The three kids don´t look too bad either....

It was lovely to be together with the whole Rasmussen family again. 

The reception went well and at one stage a crazy Scottish man turned up giving the newly wed couple some advice......

And a dance lesson. See how it went.....

A really great day for Gitte and Andreas. We arrived home at the wee hours of the morning, tired but happy and content. I wonder who will be the next of my nieces and nephews to get married?

A quiet weekend...

It has been a quiet weekend. 


On Friday afternoon and evening  it was just Andrew, Kristian and me at home. Leah was off at the church youth group (Sara is still in England)so Andrew, Kristian and I  had a really cosy evening together, especially because it was like a cold winters night outside.It was cold, windy and rainy and we were inside cosy and warm watching TV.


Saturday found us at home again. Some time was spent cleaning, and then I got to do some reading and played some word games via my smart phone against my brother, it is such fun, I am getting addicted!! haha  I then spent the last part of the afternoon preparing my Sunday School lesson. Everyone was home Saturday evening (except Sara again) and so I made dinner and we sat in the living room eating while watching a film.  It was just sooo cosy.


Today we were at church. I had Sunday School which totally exhausted me! (We have a lively bunch of boys who can´t seem to sit still or keep quiet! I really wonder if I should be doing this anymore?!!! seriously!! ) I came home with a bit of a headache and spent the afternoon lying on the sofa. I had a wee sleep which helped. Now it is soon time for bed....and that is that weekend gone. 


It has been a lovely relaxing weekend (for the most! - today is not counted in on that!! haha) Now I am ready for another busy week. I have a full schedule this week. Something on everyday after work. We have a wedding next Saturday so I have some things to prepare and organise......sooooo looking forward to that. It´s my niece Gitte who is getting married! I still remember the day she was born so it´s hard to get my head around the fact that she is getting married! Next weekend will be anything but restful but I am soooo looking forward to it!!! 

Loads happening....

Monday:-  Cleopatra moved in........

Leah´s friend`s mum is a hairdresser so she went to get a trim and came home with a whole new hairstyle! Very nice Leah!

 Tuesday:- Cafe with Jette. It was time for our girlie chat night. Lovely evening.


Wednesday:- Wednesday afternoon saw me with my own personal stylist! I am not at all interested in clothes and fashion and have no idea what to buy and not buy for myself. Well, in a few weeks time we are going to a wedding and I had bought an outfit for that. I wasn´t sure if it was really me so I asked my good friend Rhona to give me her honest opinion. She did. The outfit is going back!! Need I say more! hahaha 


Then on Wednesday evening I drove Sara to the airport. She was going to England for a long weekend to see another go-kart race! Meanwhile Kristian was at the race track in Copenhagen racing. 


After leavning Sara at the airport I wondered if I should surprise him and drive by the go-kart place. I never go there mainly because I refuse to drive through the centre of Copenhagen. There are too many lanes, too many cars, and hundreds of bikes, but Sara told me that I would avoid the centre because I was driving from the airport. She plotted the address into the GPS and of I went. I was a nervous wreck....but I did it!!! I got there, eventually, in one piece. Even with a GPS, I will admit, I got lost once!! 


Kristian was racing along with his sister´s husband Flemming. (They are like two wee boys out there!!) I was actually looking through some of Kristian´s go-kart photos on facebook and in nearly every one (and I am talking about the photos where he doesn´t know he is getting his picture taken) he has a huge smile on his face. He just loves that go-kart track and racing. It makes him happy!

Well Kristian and Flemming did really well. Kristian won the race and Flemming came 3rd!! Well done boys! 


Then to top the evening off, I took up a challenge from Kristian to drive home through the centre of Copenhagen. I would follow him and he promised not to race ahead! 


It was acutally easier driving through there than being a passenger in the car with Kristian driving. When I am a passenger I am a nervous wreck. I see all these cars and bikes and I have no control over when to brake, or at what speed to go. So the experience of driving in Copenhagen was not as bad as I had expectced! I made it out in one piece and to celebrate we stopped at McDonalds for a burger before heading home. (I know, any excuse for a burger!!)


Thursday:- Tonight we decided to go see a movie. It´s been a while since we had a date night so off we went to our local cinema to have a date. I just love going there. It is run by a volunteer group made up of mostly old age pensioners. They are so warm and friendly and can´t do enough for you. We went to see "Unknown Identity." A really good film. We both really enjoyed it, very exciting, full of action.I was on the edge of my seat half the time! 


So that was my week - busy but good. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday and the weekend awaits. I need a long sleep:-)

Where did that week go?

It´s been another busy week!

The big news of the week being that my dad got himself a new house. It´s all very exciting! (I am now in my interior designer mood and have been planning and drawing how his new place is going to look since Wednesday.)

For those who know the area, he has got a house across  from where the City Mission Hall used to be, just on the opposite side of the road from where the hall was (and down a bit.)  He is very happy. He has good neighours around him and it´s close to everything that he needs. 

We are all now happy about the move!! He is not sure when he can move  as some work needs done on the place. But probably in a few weeks time. So hopefully soon I will be going home to help him decorate and move! Now that´s a job I am really looking forward too!

Then on Friday my old lady friend had a birthday. She turned 84 years old. After work I went by to visit and celebrated the day with her. It was a lovely. Then I had to do some food shopping before I finally arrived home at 7pm! I was exhausted! I had left the house that morning at 7.30am and had been on my feet all day long. I headed into bed early on Friday evening and slept 10½hours!! Boy did I need that!

Meanwhile Kristian and Sara left early Friday morning to go to Jytland (the other side of Denmark) for a go-kart race. It was Kristian who was racing this time. He was so excited to be going to a race. He spent hours getting his cart ready and getting everything packed and ready to go. He was like a wee boy waiting for Christmas!

I´m looking forward to hearing how he got on. I wonder if he will bring home a trophy? (They are such ugly things! haha)  Anyway, as long as he doesn´t bring home smelly feet like the other evening! They were so bad that we all banished him to the bathroom to take a footbath!! haha They should be home late this evening!

On Saturday I was helping at a wedding. My bosses daughter got married and so I was asked to help serve at the reception. I LOVE weddings so I didn´t mind doing that. The bride was beautiful!

The reception was from 2.30pm - 5pm for everyone. Then from 5.30pm - ???? there was dinner for the invited guests only. 

They had the place decorated lovely with real trees set up all over the room where the dinner would be held. (My boss owns loads of ground with forest as well as Christmas trees, so there was no problem getting a supply!)  

The reception went over great! But we didn´t sit down for 7 hours!! We were busy from 11am until 6pm when we finally had everything cleared up.  The guests ate like they had never seen food!! We were constantly bringing in more bread, cheese, salami, coffee, cake etc. 

Thank goodness we were only helping at the reception. A new group of helpers were there to help with the dinner party! By the time I got home last night I could hardly walk!! Literally!! My feet were throbbing and my legs ached!! I couldn´t even think about making dinner so I picked up a McDonalds on the way home for Leah, Andrew and myself. It was a great day but once again I was exhausted so once again I got an early night! Another 10½ hours sleep!! I could get used to this! 

 This morning it was back to church again. There was a group of young people from Youth with a Mission visiting so part of the service I spent translating for them. Thankfully someone else was translating the preaching! I could relax and enjoy that!

Quick update....

It´s been all go again in the Rasmussen household. 

Kristian was away all weekend at Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix. He was an offical, standing at one of the posts. He loves doing this every year - its become a tradition. He has been doing this for the last 10 or 11 years! (And I´m sure he will be doing it for another 10 or 11 years!!) Sara also went in to see the race. (The apple doesn´t fall far from the tree.)

Meanwhile I was at home cleaning, food shopping, washing and making meals!! It actually wasn´t as bad as it sounds. I had a really lovely day at home. After doing all the chores I just spent time reading.

Then on Sunday afternoon some of the girls from our church were going to a Zumba event and invited me along. It was in the instructors garden. It was sooo much fun. 

We had 45 minutes of dancing, then a 15 minute break to hear about Aloe Vera products, then another 45 minutes of dance. I was literally dead by the time I got home!! I lay on the sofa and slept for an hour! It was worth it though. The teacher was great fun and it rubbed off on the rest of it. We had a good afternoon of laughter and dance.

Monday it was back to work for both Kristian and me. Oh it´s hard getting to bed early again especially since the kids are still off for another few days. Sara starts school tomorrow (Wednesday) Leah starts Thursday and Andrew starts on Monday. I´m looking forward to everyone getting back so we all get into a routine.

Tonight I was meant to go meet my friend Jette at "our" cafe. When we have our date night we always meet at 8pm and have a hot chocolate, a smoothie or a coke zero and a natter. Today when we texted each other to see if everything was still on, Jette informed me she was going to be bad and buy a banana split. I am trying to diet again and I knew I would be tempted to do the same so I decided I wouldn´t eat dinner, then I would order a tiger prawn salad and eat that. (Great idea Laura! Much healthier choice than a banana split!)

I made dinner for Kristian and the kids. Sara had her friend Nanna here and she stayed for dinner. Half an hour before going out Jette rang to see if we could change it to next Tuesday as she wasn´t feeling the best. Off course we could - no problem there BUT then I realised I had not eaten dinner. Kristian and the kids had eaten everything, no food for old mums! So I decided I needed to do something, I told Kristian I would go get petrol in the car and grab something to eat. I then went and filled the car with petrol (cheap petrol for a change!) and then headed to McDonalds. (I know, I know all my good intentions of being good suddenly went out the window!) 

Well let me tell you I had a blast!!! There were hardly any people at McDonalds so I went in, ordered my menu and found myself a lovely wee table in the corner. I got out my phone and opened the Kindle on it and started to read my book. It was just sooo cosy. 

In the middle of it all we had a thunder storm. It poured down with rain and the lightening flashed while the thunder roared. I was in my element. I decided to check the time - it was 9.15pm!! I had been there an hour and 15 minutes! I wondered why no one at home had called, didn´t they miss me? I had no sooner thought that when the phone rang - it was Kristian! "Eh how big is your petrol tank?" he asked "What?" I replied. "Well you left here over an hour ago to go and put petrol in the car, it must be a pretty big tank to take sooo long to fill!" was his answer. (haha Kristian- he hadn´t heard the part about a trip to grab some food!) 

Well his call made me smile - at least he missed me - a least little bit!! (I mean he waited an hour and a half  before ringing to find out where I was!!)

I felt so content driving home. I had had a wonderful 1½ hours alone - just me, my food and a book! What a wonderful combination! Ah life is good!

18 years ago.....

he looked like this.....

Today he looks like this.....

Yes, Andrew turned 18 today!

He didn´t want a party. Andrew likes a quiet life with not too much focus on him. (Unlike our two girls!) He just wanted us to celebrate his birthday together as a family. So that is what we did. 

Kristian and the kids are still on holiday and they like to sleep looooong. So we decided that we would first start the celebration when I got home from work. I left work a few hours early, but not too early, they still needed their lie in, but as soon as I was home it was party time.

 Pressie time.....

 He got a new gaming mouse, a few dvd´s, some clothes, a new bag for school and......

 his greatest wish - a new telephone. His old phone was years old and was literally falling apart. It was taped together at the back and the number pad was hanging of at the front. We had a very happy boy (who has now got his own smartphone and is just as cool and trendy as his old mum!! haha)

It was then time for some birthday cake before we all headed to town.


I had to go to the hairdressers (I know, bad timing!) but while I was there the kids and Kristian went shopping. An hour later I met up with them and we all had a cosy time going around the shops. Then Andrew got to pick the place where we should eat. He picked a really lovely cafe and we had a delicious meal.


We then headed over to the cinema to see "Super 8" - great family movie. We all really enjoyed it (well except Sara who thought it was bit unrealistic - honestly, she has no imagination!!)


It was then home to relax and investigate the new phone! I think he really enjoyed his day!


So even though he is now18 years old, he is NEVER too old for a kiss from his mum! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW!!

Painting...

I spent the afternoon painting. I had planned to paint loads of pictures this holiday, but somehow never got around to it. With only 2 days left until I start back to work I decided that today I NEEDED to paint, just so I had done it!!

A week ago I got a new smartphone. I LOVE my new phone, it can do sooo many things!! So I am constantly playing around with it and learning new things about it.  

The other day I downloaded "Kindle" for my smartphone. I wanted to try it out and see what it was like. Well I love it!! I downloaded a few free books and already have them read. I then went on yesterday and bought my first book for 5 dollars!! How cheap is that!! I am now half way through that! So I really, really want to get a proper Kindle as I think the bigger screen will be perfect.  

Usually when I finish a book I have to wait a week before I get the next one from Amazon - now I just go on - download and there it is. I love this new age of technology!!

Leah arrived home from camp with some guests - LICE!! Yuk horrible little creatures. You want to scratch your head just talking about them. 

One of the girls at camp had them and kindly passed them on to Leah.  Since coming home from camp we have, each evening, been fine combing her hair. It has been years since we have had to do that! This is the third night of fine tooth combing - bed clothes changed again....hair brushes boiled etc. What a job! 

So tomorrow is my last day of holiday. I am actually looking forward to getting back into a routine again, although Kristian and the kids still have holiday until next week. I am also looking forward to September and the darker nights coming. I love the Autumn and the best thing is that it is getting closer!