Lots happening AGAIN.....

Since last I blogged we have been busy, busy, busy!!

Near the end of May we had some friends visit from Ireland. They arrived on a Thursday afternoon and went home again the following Tuesday. We had a fantastic time with them. Lots of catching up with each other and loads of laughing.You just can´t beat the Irish sense of humour! Kristian fits right in with it too and is just as happy to have people visiting from Ireland as I am. (With the accent he has you would think he was born and reared over there!! haha)

A few days after they left I headed to Ireland. It was time to go back and face visiting my homeland for the first time without dad.  It was hard. I landed in Dublin and it was raining.....lashing down! Just how I love it and all I could think about was getting home to Dad´s place to sit on his sofa and make some hot soup. Even though it was hard it felt sooo good to be back. I haven´t been back for over a year and I felt sooo at home again, like I´d never been gone.

Getting off the plane I took the bus to Banbridge were some of our good friends picked me up. I spent the night with them in Dromore. They spoiled me rotten and it was lovely to spend the day relaxing with them. On the Friday morning I was given a real treat - an Ulster Fry just like my mums. Sooo delicious! Then it was time to head up to Belfast. I wanted to visit the area where I grew up. I wanted to pop in and visit some of mum and dads old friends, and some "old" neighbours too. It was sooo wonderful to surprise them. 

I was especially glad to see dads old neighbour Ellen. It was hard going past dad´s house again and seeing it look so different. I was so emotional I was thankful that Ellen was home and I could pull myself together in her kitchen over a wee cup of tea. 

By Friday, early afternoon, I was ready to head into the centre of Belfast and check into my hotel. I was staying at the Europa!! (Got a "Deal of the Day" that I couldn´t refuse!)  I couldn´t wait to check it out and I wasn´t disappointed. It was one of the basic rooms but very comfortable. 

I had a wonderful trip to Ireland. The long weekend went by too quickly. I got to relax a tiny, tiny, wee bit but mostly I got to catch up with friends and family. If I didn´t get to see you this time I am sorry. The next time I am over I will try to stay longer and hopefully get to see more people. 

We went on a tour of the city hall. It was sooo interesting and fun. 

 Got to see loads of friends....

And I got to wear the Belfast City Councillors robes when we went on our tour of the City Hall.  They cost 4000 pounds each. All hand made.  I have never had such an expensive piece of clothing on me in my life! 

It was raining when I arrived in Dublin and raining when I left. It was a wonderful trip and I have so many good memories from it. Next time Kristian will have to come along too! 

Talking of Kristian.....he went and bought himself a new car while I was away!! Well not new, new. It´s 3 years old but a better one than he has. He had talked to me about it before I left so I knew he was interested and since he knows all about cars and the financing of them, I left it all up to him. 

I came home from Ireland late Tuesday evening and on the Thursday we went to pick up the car. We were off work and since the car was over on the other side of Denmark we took the bus to Århus - a 3½ hour journey. Sara collected us at the station and we had a cosy afternoon with her and Christian before we went to pick up the car and head home. 

I must say it really is a nice car. Kristian did well there - Automatic gear and built in navigation system....all very posh! 

 At the minute Kristian is on his way to France in his new car. He is going to Le Mans to be a flag man again. So he and his friends should be arriving there this evening - June 9th. The pre-race events start on Wednesday and then Le Mans on Saturday. He should be home again this time next Monday.

Meanwhile we are having a cosy time enjoying the good weather and more holidays. Denmark has so many bank holidays in May and June so we get a lot of long weekends. Today has been one of them and what a glorious day its been - warm and sunny. In fact all weekend has been like that and we have enjoyed sitting out playing games, chatting and drinking hot chocolate. I am so not in the mood to go to work tomorrow.......but in 2½ weeks time I am off again for 4 weeks so I can´t complain.

Half way to 90!!!!

Last week I turned 45!!!  I am middle aged! I have gray hair!!! I am starting to get aches and pains!!! I´m depressed!!! (well actually I´m not depressed. My life is good and they say you´re only are as old as you feel and I feel about 28 - sometimes!)

So for my birthday Kristian had bought me tickets to go and see "Les Miserable." It was in Århus a town about 3½ hours away, the town where Sara lives. On the day of my birthday (7th May)  we both left work at lunchtime and headed out on our roadtrip to Århus. We both love going on a long drive. Kristian loves to drive and I love to talk to him while he drives. We love our roadtrips and this one was NOT a disappointment. We had a lovely 3½ hour journey to Sara´s place. 

Sara´s Christian cooked us dinner, a delicious chicken curry with rice. Then Kristian and I headed to the theater. I just loved the show! The singing was fantastic. It was all  a bit much for Kristian though. He is not really a musical/theatre person but he sat through a 2½ hour show were all the lines were sung. Just shows me how much he really loves me! 

When we got back from the theater, Sara had made pancakes and hot chocolate. She had decorated the table with sweets, flags and streamers and it was then I got my present from her and Christian. A couple bottles of cola, some chocolates and 2 tickets to the cinema. She knows me well! All things that I love!

We had a cosy evening.

We stayed the night in Århus as we had taken the next day off work. Christian and Sara had done the same. So the next day we headed out together for a day of shopping in Århus. We had a great time! We had a delicious lunch together and then did a bit more shopping. Around 4.30pm Kristian and I said good-bye and got on the road for the journey home. It was so wonderful to be in Århus with them. I really wish we all lived a little closer to each other. 

The drive home was fantastic. The nature and the lighting was so special that we stopped a few times to take pictures. The sky was just soooo beautiful. 

April......

April has come and gone soooo quickly with loads of things happening.

At the start of April I took my friend Rhona out for brunch. She had a birthday way back in December and as part of her gift I had made a gift card for brunch with me, at one of my favourite cafes. I thought it was about time we used that gift card, plus I was dying to see her and catch up on life with her . We had a great day together.

Then I had a visit to Ikea with my friend Audry. We didn´t buy anything but just had fun walking around dreaming and planning. We ended our evening in McDonalds, like we always do. When we had finished eating she said "OH I can´t wait any longer, here you have to open this." She gave me a bag with a small box inside. It was an early birthday present. When I opened it I coudn´t believe my eyes. She had gotten me a beautiful bracelet that I had admired a few months back. I was soooo touched by this. I love my bracelet and it hasn´t been off my arm since I got it. Thanks Audry!

The highlight of the month of April was our trip to London. Leah has always wanted to see London so her Christmas present from us was a ticket to the big smoke for a girlie few days away. Just me and her.  She then had a few months to save up her own money to help pay for some of the entertainment we would have while there. 

We had a brilliant time. We arrived Sunday lunch time and went home Wednesday evening. It was the week up to Easter so we both were off school and work! 

Sunday afternoon I met up with an "old" friend from Ireland. She lives in London and I haven´t seen her for about 16 years. We had a wonderful afternoon together with her and her two boys. It was like we had never been apart. It just all ended too quickly!

The rest of the time in London was spent walking! We walked, walked and walked. We saw all the sights...Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Covet Gardens. We also vistied the British Museum and The National Gallery. The rest of the time we spent shopping, mostly in Primark!! :-)  

The highlight of the trip was going to see the musical Wicked. It was absolutely fantastic. We loved it so much and ended up buying the CD which I haven´t stopped playing in the car! It was a really great trip, one we will remember for a long time! :-)

Thursday before Good Friday is a holy day here and so Kristian was asked to go and play at a Gospel service in a church about an hour from here, along with two of our friends. They would be playing and singing along with Kristian. I went along too and it was a really lovely service. We were invited to join the congregation afterwards for lamb and potatoes. We then headed home to us for coffee and cake. We had such a great evening with them. (Press the link below if you want a taste of Kristian playing his sax...)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202227942314757&l=6494956803635802178

Since Easter the weather has been fantastic. Easter Sunday Camilla (Andrew´s girlfriend) came to lunch and we sat outside and ate a delicious meal together, then we all headed into church in Copenhagen to celebrate the resurrection. It was a lovely Sunday. 

April has also allowed us to work a little in the garden but we have also had time to go exploring in the area. We are finding new roads and paths about the place that lead to some fantastic places. The other evening a few of the us got together for a bread, cheese and wine dinner down by the lake. It was absolutely beautiful.

Across from us is an old quarry which has been made into a nature spot. We call it The Big Moutain. While we were out walking we were trying to find our house from the top of the hill. We managed to find it! Kristian is making sure everyone knows where it is! :-)

We really do feel blessed to live in such a beautiful part of Denmark with fields, lakes and forest right on our doorstep. The last few evenings as we have been out walking Kristian and I have talked about how much my dad would have loved this place. He would have been out with his camera and we wouldn´t have seen him for hours. I really wish he would have had the chance to visit, even just one time, to experience it. We still miss him. <3 font="">

March 2014

Once again it has been a while. Maybe this time I am back in the land of  blogging for good!! Time will tell.:-)

I have missed blogging. I have also missed being able to go back and read about the things that have filled my days - the memories Kristian and I  have created together, the memories we have created together as a family and I have also missed a place to be able to just write down my thoughts on things. So here I go again...... starting with things that happened in March.

At the start of March Sara and Christian came for a visit - in fact they came twice. The first weekend was to attend a special event. All the grandchildren had planned a day out with Kristian´s mum. So Sara and Christian came over to be a part of that.  

The day started with brunch, then a visit to Granddad Rasmussen´s grave with some flowers. Then it was of to the Zoo. 

 Sara and her cousin Sigrid

 All the grandkids and Kristian´s mum. Group hug! 

It was then home to one of the grandkids apartment to make dinner and just hang out and be cosy. 

 Sara and Emma making pizzas. Andrew having fun playing table tennis...

They had a great day together.

The weekend after this Sara and Christian were over here again, this time they had Sara´s friend Louisa with them. Sara and Louisa were going to a Backstreet boys concert in Copenhagen on the Saturday evening and so they came to spend the weekend together in Copenhagen. While the girls had fun shopping and seeing the sights of the city. Christian hung out here at home with Kristian and me. It was a lovely weekend.

That weekend my old lady friend was not doing so well so I went to visit her. She was really feeling poorly and had not been out of bed in two days. Monday 17th March the old peoples home rang me at work to say that she was being admitted to hospital. I went after work to see her but there was no contact with her. I stayed with her till early evening. I then headed home but told the hospital to contact me, even in the middle of the night, if they thought she wouldn´t make it. 

The pictures above and below are from Christmas Eve. We bought her a coffee machine that made cappuccino or hot chocolate. She was over the moon! 

Just after 10pm on the Monday evening the phone rang and it was the hospital. She had passed away peacefully in her sleep. I was so sad. I had known her for nearly 11 years. I had visited her every Tuesday for the last 6-7 years and we always celebrated her Birthday and Christmas together. I felt the lost. Just the week before we had sat and talked, laughed and ate cream buns together. She had cancer, so in a way it was good that she went quickly without suffering too much. She passed away on St Patricks day. 

The next week before the funeral was very emotional for me. I was fine one minute and crying the next.  We held a lovely funeral service for her and after the service Kristian´s mum came to visit. I bought one of Gerda´s (my old lady friend) favourite cakes and we ate that, drank coffee and Krisitan and I shared stories with his mum about her. We ended it by going a walk. I miss her. It is so strange not going to see her on a Tuesday. 

Near the end of March I had a date night with my crazy friend Anne. We went out for dinner at our favourite Italian restaurant where the waiter sang to us every time he came to serve us some food! Such fun! We talked for 8 hours solid without stopping!!! We always have sooo much to talk about. I am so blessed to have so many great friends in my life. Anne is one of them.

My other friend Laura had a birthday at the end of March. I was invited to a girly lunch along with a few of her other friends. We had a great afternoon celebrating her. Lots of chatter and laughter.

So that was March!! Where has the time gone?! I will save April for another evening and then hopefully update from week to week or day to day.:-) 

I´m back......I think! :-)

Happy New Year everyone!  I know it´s already half way through January so I am a little late at saying Happy New Year - but better late than never!

If you have been checking the blog out you will notice that I haven´t been blogging very much! Sorry about that. I just lost it for a while.....but now I`m back, at least I think I am......let me see if I can keep at it this time. :-)

So what has been happening with me???!!!! Lots actually....where do I begin? 

The last time I blogged was the middle of October! I really do not know where the time has gone. Let me recap a little....

October: 

I had a week off school and spent most of the time around the house relaxing. Leah and I went to Sweden one of the days together with our neighbour Laura and her daughter Mia, we had a great day out shopping.

Sara and her Christian came to visit in October and we had a cosy evening out painting. Not often Sara gets all arty on me! 

November: 

In November we changed our living room around a bit. We got a new tv and a corner sofa. We were tired of never being able to see the TV properly so we got ourselves a sofa with room for all and where everyone could see the TV. We LOVE the new look! 

I also ended up going to London for a weekend in November. My niece wrote to me and asked if I wanted to meet up with her in London as she wanted to go see a show and concert but had no one to go with. We checked out flights and they were cheap so we went for it. It was a fanastic weekend. 

We flew out early on the Saturday morning. she from Belfast, me from Copenhagen and we met up in Gatwick. We already had a show to see on the Saturday afternoon. The Lion King! It was fantastic. Saturday evening saw us at the musical Mathilda. It was double fantastic!!! 

 On Sunday we visited Oxford Street and ended the day with a concert. 

Monday it was  up early and on the road again. We were once again heading home. We had a lovely breakfast at the airport before going our separate ways again. A really wonderful weekend, one I will remember for a very long time! Thanks Lauren:-)

December: 

A busy month for all I think! We had a lovely December. Sara and Christian came to visit again. This time they brought Schumi, the most adorable little dog. Sara has been wanting a dog for years and finally her wish came true!! We enjoyed having them here for the weekend....but I sure am glad I don´t have a puppy to train!! 

One of the things on my bucket list (the list of things I want to do before I kick the bucket!) came true on the 19th December. I have always wanted to see Don Moen live in concert. He is a worship leader from the States and I just love his songs. Well I never thought I would get to experience him live as he lives in the States but  he came to Denmark and so Kristian´s sister Hanne and I, along with one of my nieces, went to see him. I was not disappointed. It was a great evening of praise! It started at 6pm and was first finished at 10pm!!! I could have stayed all night! 

We decided to hold Christmas at home on the 24th  and so we invited Kristian´s sister Hanne and her family to join us. We had a wonderful evening. Then we held our own "English" Christmas on the 25th. Sara was home for all the celebrations but had to head back on the evening of the 25th. It was great having her home for a while.

We were both very happy with the pressies we got! 

On the 26th we held another Christmas morning this time with our neighbour. We had a great day together!

Between Christmas and New Year we visited my friend Anne and her family and had a great family evening there. Kristian´s mum also had a birthday so the whole family were gathered together at her house. She got a special present from the family. Tickets to go and see André Rieu in May when he comes to Denmark to give a concert and guess which family members get to go with her? ME and my sister-in-law Lis!! I can hardly wait! Another wish on my bucket list coming true.

In between all this I have had a few visits to Ikea with my friend Audry. Also a few strawberry cake dates with my friend Rhona. 

I feel blessed. I have so much to be thankful for!  

New Year´s Eve was spent at home with Kristian, Andrew and Camilla. We had a delicious dinner and then just relaxed and watched TV. At minute we headed out to see the fireworks and to welcome in 2014. Wonder what sort of year this is going to be?!!!