First week back....

It´s been a good first week back at work after the holidays. The week went by rather quickly for us.

Monday I was at training again. Boy was it hard!!! After not being there for about 10 days it felt like starting all over again!! But I did it!!

On Tuesday my hubby came home again from Italy with a van full of go-karts and motors!! He was a happy man. It was great to have him home again. He was exhausted though. He had had a busy programme down in Italy and then he had driven all night (Monday to Tuesday) with only one stop for a couple of hours sleep. He arrived home late Tuesday afternoon. He tried soooo hard to stay awake until bedtime, however at 8pm he lost the fight and headed into bed. He slept through until 9am the next day. He really needed that sleep!!

Wednesday he was off work but was heading down to the go-kart shop, so his day was spent there unloading go-karts. He was first home late Wednesday evening. I went training again on Wednesday, this time it was a little easier.

Since Kristian and I  hadn´t seen too much of each other since he had gotten back, we decided that Thursday night would be our date night. Leah was out with Lasse and his family, as it was Lasse´s 20th birthday, so Kristian and I were home alone. We made some good food and we spent the evening eating, talking and catching up with each others lives. I got to hear all about Italy and Kristian got to hear about what I had been up to while he was gone.

 On Friday evening the whole community was invited over to the local farm to eat Gullash together. This is a tradition that we have been attending since we moved out here. I love it!! It really gives you a sense of community. We get to know our neighbours that we otherwise don´t see so often. New neighbours that have moved into the area are also invited. We got to meet two new couples that are moving into homes close to us.

We ended the night with a sing-a-long. Kristian was playing his sax.

Saturday evening I was home at my colleagues for dinner along with a few other women. It was a real girly night out. Meanwhile Kristian and Leah had a cosy night at home.

Now there are only three weeks till Easter holiday - but who´s counting??!! :-)

A great week off.....

It has been a really great holiday! (for me - Kristian had to work.)

Monday: When I woke on Monday I wasn´t sure what I wanted to do. Should I go to Copenhagen? Should I stay home? Should I go exploring somewhere I didn´t know? Leah was going to the dentist at lunchtime so I thought I would drive with her into town, then I could make up my mind there. If I wanted to go to Copenhagen I would jump on the train, or I could stay and shop in our old town till Leah was finished in the dentist. I went with the latter.

It was fun spending some time in our old town, it has been a while since I went shopping there. The sun was out and it was a beautiful day but really cold - there was a cold wind blowing! After an hour walking around the place I was totally frozen and ready for home. Leah picked up an old frozen woman and we headed home. The afternoon was spent with my neighbour Laura who came over for a chat and a cuppa. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, watching TV and reading.

Tuesday: Another beautiful day. There were blue skies and sun again, this time without the wind, so it didn´t feel so cold. I decided I was heading out, I was going to go on a picnic date with myself!! I decided I would drive up north and see what I could find. I packed a picnic and away I went. I had a blast!!!

First stop was at a lake that we went to a lot with the kids, when they were small. I ate my picnic lunch there in the sun. It was beautiful and not too cold. I sure LOVE me food!! haha

From here I tried to find a place that I used to go with the kids, where you could park the car so that it overlooked the lake. The plan was for me to sit and enjoy the scenery while reading in the warmth of my car. I never did find the place, however I did discover some new places.

I went to see the ruins of an old castle. I followed the sign up these narrow country roads in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. It made me think of my mum who would have said "Oh Laura don´t go up that road, you could be murdered up there and no one would know!" I survived!!

I visited an old monastery and loved the nature about the place.

I then drove further North and saw a sign for Rudolph Tegners Museum and Statue Park. I had heard of that place but had never been there, so I followed the road. The Museum was closed for the winter and first opened in April but I had a lovely walk through the Statue Park. What beautiful nature there was all around me.

It was then time to head home. Leah was borrowing the car to go out with her old school friend and so I had promised to be home around 4pm.

On the way home I stopped at the forest and found the bench we used to sit at when we went out for family picnics. Good memories!

In the evening I hung out at home with Kristian. We had a cosy evening on the sofa watching some DVDs we had gotten at Christmas.

Wednesday: I was meeting my friend Rhona for lunch. We were going to the local cafe and I was sooooo looking forward to seeing my good friend. We had the most delicious food - and ate far too much, but we also had a great afternoon of chatting and catching up with each other. After a few hours in the restaurant we headed over to the cafe in our supermarket for dessert. We got cream cakes and stuffed ourselves again!! HOW BAD AM I!!!!?? Although it really was Rhona´s fault, she made me do it!! haha. It was a wonderful afternoon that made me, once again, feel so grateful for the friends I have in my life.

At 4.30pm I said goodbye to Rhona and headed home to feed the cats before heading out again. There was a film showing in the next town that I really wanted to see. (Plus I had promised Leah she could have the house so she and Lasse could make dinner for her friend Mia and her boyfriend, so I needed to be out of the house!)

The film was called Brooklyn. It started at 6pm so I only had a short time at home before I had to head out again. The film was set in the 1950s and it was about an young Irish girl that immigrated to America and settled down to life in Brooklyn. She was so homesick at first (and boy did that take me back to my early days in Denmark. I could identify with her. ) She then falls in love (now this part of the film was sooo sweet and lovely, I love a good romance!) but then she has to head back to Ireland (I wont tell you why). She finds herself having to choose between the two countries and the lives that exist within those countries for her.

I loved it and went through a lot of different emotions as I sat and watched and I will admit, I had a good cry! That means it was a good film in my world!! :-)

It was 8pm when it finished and I was starting to feel a little hungry. I decided that I would go and get myself a couple of cheeseburgers and sit in McDonalds and read my book. I then texted my neighbour Laura to see if she wanted any cheeseburgers, for then I would just bring them home to her place and eat there. Laura said yes to some cheeseburgers (she is sooo easy to tempt!! haha) and before long I was at her place with two cheeseburgers for us each.

We are a bit crazy when we get together and so you often will find us doing crazy things. It was Laura´s daughter that was over eating at our place so we decided to have a bit of fun. We knew the kids were going to see a film after dinner so we found some bits and pieces in Laura´s cupboard and dressed up to go over and scare them by knocking on the window.

We thought we were hilarious - the kids didn´t!!

Kristian was at his go-kart shop and first came home around 9.30pm. He found the house taken over by young people so he came over to Laura´s knowing I was there. We three oldies sat on the sofa and saw a film that was on TV. At 11pm the kids came over and said they were now finished with their cosy evening and we oldies were allowed back in again.

Thursday: It was my day out in Copenhagen. My friend Laura, Pernille and I were going to Copenhagen. We would meet Pernille´s friend Nina there. I didn´t know Nina but she will be going with us to the Ladies Conference in England so we all got together so I could meet Nina and the other Laura and I  could get to know her better, and she us.

We had such a wonderful day out in Copenhagen. We visited Art Galleries, shopped, and found wonderful passage ways with beautiful courtyards. We ate delicious food and got to chat alot with each other. The day went by too quickly. We left home early in the morning yet before we knew it, it was 3pm and time to once again head home. It was lovely meeting Nina and I am looking forward to getting to know her more.  Another great day out with friends.

Thursday evening I actually cooked dinner - for a change! haha  After dinner Kristian was busy getting things ready for his big trip. He was of to Italy on Friday morning. While Kristian was running around packing Leah and I decided to have a cosy evening on the sofa watching a film. I was feeling tired after my day out in Copenhagen so a night lying on the sofa sounded perfect to me.

Friday: We were up early - well Kristian and I were, Leah was not at all interested in getting up early on her holiday, even to say goodbye to her dad. Kristian was heading off to Italy. He and his friend were going to collect go-karts for their go-kart business.

A few months back Kristian became a partner in his friend´s go-kart business. He has helped out with things in the gokart shop for a few years now. A few months ago he was offered the chance to own half of the business. He decided to go for it. (It is only a small business that he runs in his free time. He still has his full time job as there isn´t enough money in it to live on.) He loves it and has all these plans and ideas for the place. He left early Friday morning and will first be home on Tuesday of next week.

When Kristian left I got stuck into cleaning the house. At lunchtime Laura came over for cheese sandwiches and a natter.

Friday evening I headed down to Kristian´s sister house for dinner. She was having Mark Thomas from Capernwray Bible School visiting. He is an old family friend and so when he is in Denmark the family get together to catch up with him. We had such a lovely evening with Mark, he never seems to change.

Saturday: I was up early on Saturday morning as Laura and I were going shopping for a new sofa for her. We decided that we would treat ourselves to breakfast at McDonalds and we were like two small kids excited for Christmas. We couldn´t wait to get an Egg muffin!! We arrived at McDonalds at 10.22am to be told that they stopped making breakfast at 10am!!! WHAT??!! No egg muffins for us, we were sooo disappointed. 

Anyway we went to a few furniture shops and we found a sofa for Laura´s place.  We were straving after all our shopping and so decided to head to my favourite restaurant for Brunch. They were serving a Brunch Buffet and we enjoyed the feast that was laid before us!!

After Brunch we did a little shopping and it was there that Laura met the man of her dreams. He was in the line behind us at the check out. He was about Laura´s age and had a lovely smile. He just seemed like a friendly, nice guy. Laura noticed him and since I was through the line before Laura I noticed how much he was looking at Laura and smiling. 
So Laura and I became like a couple of teenagers and decided to follow him just to see where he went.  It was hilarious. However we were not very good at being detectives, we lost track of him very quickly. It gave us such a laugh though. We are soooo silly together. We should not be allowed out together in public!! 

I often say to Laura - "God made us friends because he knew our parents couldn´t handle us as sisters." I think this is very true! haha

The rest of Saturday was spent helping Laura clean out her cupboards. Then I went home and had a relaxing afternoon lying on the sofa reading. In the evening Laura came over and we watched TV together. 

Yes - it has been a lovely relaxing holiday. I have had time for myself, time with family, and time with friends. A great combination!! 

Work starts again on Monday and then on Tuesday my hubby should be home. I miss him and can´t wait to have him home again.

Bad, bad, bad.....

I was bad all last week!!!

I started out good on Monday. I went to training after work but was feeling soooo hungry!! All I wanted was a Big Mac! So while I went around the circle training I was just thinking of Big Macs. I couldn´t wait to finish and get to McDonalds. However once I finished all the hard work I decided I wouldn´t spoil it all with a trip to McDonalds and I turned the car in the opposite direction and headed home. I was feeling good about myself until I got home.

 At home there was a parcel for me from my sister-in-law Gillian. (Thanks Gill!) She had sent me my favourite chocolate - a couple of boxes of Walnut Whips along with a Christmas DVD that was set in Northern Ireland. I could hardly wait to get dinner over, change into my PJ´s and snuggle down to see my film and eat my chocolate.

I had a wonderful evening! Again I over did it. I ate 3 Walnut Whips, one after another!! Why can´t I just eat one and leave it at that. But I did soooo enjoy them and the film. 

Tuesday was a big day for Leah. She was doing her driving test and she passed!!! She was over the moon. After work I was meeting my friend Jette for dinner so I arranged to meet Leah too, she could have my car for the afternoon and evening and I would just stay in town until I had to meet Jette.

 Leah went out and celebrated with Lasse and a few friends. She played taxi for them all. After she  picked them all up they went to McDonalds. When I was finished my evening with Jette she came and picked me up. 

I had a great evening out with Jette. She is always so much fun to hang out with and we always have sooo much to talk about.

Wednesday I didn´t go to training. I was not in the mood!! How bad am I??!!! Once again I ate too much rubbish!! 

Thursday I was out again. This time I was meeting my friend Audry. We were going to our local cafe. They had 20% off their food so we were going to make the most of it!!! We had a great night catching up with each other.

Friday was my last day at work before our winter holidays!! (Well really just mine as Kristian still has to work.) Just as I was finishing work, Kristian sent me a text saying we should meet in town because he had a wee surprise for me. He wanted to buy me a new phone. Have I got the best hubby ever?!!! My phone has not been working properly since October and over the last month the camera had stopped working and it had to be restarted 3-4 times a day. 

So on Friday Kristian bought me a Huawai P8 lite. I chose this one as it seemed to get a good review and it was at such a great price. (A special winter deal!) So I came home a happy mama!! A phone that actually works again. I am soooo pleased with it. 

Another week.....

...gone!!

I can´t believe how fast this week went by! Only one week to go and then I have holiday! I am counting down the days!

Monday I was at LOOP training again. Amazingly I am still enjoying it! 

Tuesday I was at my favourite place - IKEA. This time I was there with my colleague Inge. She wanted to go and have a look at what they had. Since she doesn´t have a car,  I volunteered to take her there after work.  We ate dinner in their restaurant and after that had a lovely evening walking about checking out everything. I got a few great bargins! I calculated everything I had picked up and it came to 197kr (about 20 pounds) but I only had to pay 27kr (£2.70) for the lot! I was a happy mamma!! 

Wednesday morning I left for work early, with two small cats in the car - Zoey and Maisey Rose, our neighbours cat.  They were going to the vet to get sterilised. I dropped them off at 8am and had to pick them up again at 5pm! My stomach was churning all day thinking about what they had to go through. 

After work I went to LOOP and trained for half an hour before heading over to collect the poor wee pets. They were both a little dozy. 

The vet gave me this collar thing to put on them to stop them licking the wound. What a job that was.....

I put it on Zoey and 10 minutes later she had it off. 

 I put it on again, this time tighter, but 5 minutes later it was off. I did it again but still she managed to get it off.  I got it on her again and this time she kept it on for the rest of the evening. However in the middle of the night I woke up to the sound of her fighting with something - it was the collar thing. She had ripped the thing of herself. It was all ripped in different places!  I gave up! Maisey Rose did the same thing on Laura. 

On Thursday we had Neighbour Night with our friends in the neighbourhood. We do this every so often - meet to eat dinner together, everybody brings something for the table.  We had such a cosy evening with the most delicious food. 

On Friday evening Sara arrived home again. She had been working in Copenhagen since Tuesday. (She ended up turning down the job as a Stewardess. She had been unsure about the Stewardess job ever since saying yes. Long story short - She actually liked working for the company she was with, she was just wanting new challenges. So after some soul searching she decided to stay where she was.) 

So Friday after work she came to us to stay. I collected her at the train station and since it was only her and me at home, (Kristian was on a boys night out with his go-kart club - they were racing scalextric cars and Leah was on a date with Lasse) we decided to order some Chinese and just flop on the sofa and watch X-factor. That´s exactly what we did. 

Saturday morning we all had a long sleep!! When Sara woke, she came into us and we had a cosy time lying in bed, under the warm duvet, chatting. Saturday was just spent relaxing. I played a little violin (sounded awful! haha) and piano (that didn´t sound as bad as the violin). Sara was exhausted from her busy week, working long hours into the evening that she just collapsed on the sofa and saw TV. Saturday night she headed home again to Århus. 

Sunday afternoon we went to visit Andrew and Camilla. We picked Kristian´s mum up on the way. We had all been invited to afternoon coffee with Waffles and ice-cream. Leah and Lasse also came along. We had a really cosy afternoon at their place. 

Leah was going to Lasses to eat dinner so Kristian´s mum invited Kristian and I back to her place for soup. We got to chat a little more, just us three. It´s been a really lovely Sunday.