Happy Midsummer!

View over lake Vättern and Visingsö from Brahehus

"...De fagra blomsterängar och åkerns ädla säd, de rika örtesängar och lundens gröna träd, de skola oss påminna Guds godhets rikedom, att vi den nåd besinna som räcker året om."

Sweden is quite beautiful at the moment with all the green trees and flowers...at least when the sun is shining from blue skies.

It's been a busy week. Early mornings and a lot of new impressions and information to take in at work. On two of the evenings I've been sightseeing a bit in the area around Linköping with J since I've borrowed mom's car this week. This has resulteted in that I've been absolutley knackered at night. But it's been worth it.
Monday afternoon/evening we drove to Söderköping to eat ice-cream and yesterday we took the car to Vadstena to take a look at the castle and convent/monatery and ate barbeque buffé. Two pretty little towns.

Söderköping and Ice-cream, Saffron-flavour is my new favourite!

Vadstena castle and the moat outflow to lake Vättern.


Barbecue buffé. ME LIKE!!!

Tomorrow I'm driving home to Halmstad to celebrate midsummer with friends. One whole and two half days at home, intens and busy as always...Hopefully I will get some rest as well. Next week is busy busy busy...and I need to be at my best.

Happy Midsummer!!!

Back in Sweden

Got back to Sweden Monday night again after a lovely weekend in the loveliest city of them all! Good friends, good shopping, not the worst weather (even some sunshine!), good food...everything was good, as always!
I can't help it but I love the mix between scruffy, old, new and perfect! It gives me so much energy and inspiration.
Sometimes Sweden is too organized, perfect and cute. Of course, I do appreciate that as well...but it is good with variation sometimes otherwise it's easy to g et stuck in old patterns.

Tuesday I spent half day i n Stockholm and had a nice sushi-lunch with my favourite: Mr. P!

I love the way the people who owns that balcony really tried to make it beautiful...

Now I'm back in Linköping and got a bit of the coming home blues...

London live

Old Spitafield market is on the schedule today. And of course my favourite store Caravan!

Yesterday we (me, sis and W) did Kings Road and then we (me, sis, W, C and S) had a nice dinner in Marylebone.

All is well. I might not be coming back home...x

London baby!

Tess and sis + Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and Monday = London!

Stainless steel

I've always said that stainless steel won't, under any circumstances, be a part of my future kitchen. But this picture makes me a bit more open to the possibility...A very good compromise between soft pink and hard steel.


I decided not to go to the course evaluation today. If they want my opinion they can read one of my 4 (or is it 5) completed evaluation forms. And hopefully they have been listening to me during the 10 verbal evaluations they've made me do this semester. It was nice with a sleep-in, and I believe I deserved it. Soon I'm off to the city centre. Need to pay my bank a visit and buy light bulbs and new black tights. But most importantly today I'm going to the city library to vote in the European parliament election since I'm not in the country on Sunday.

A never ending lovestory

October/November 1997. Our first meeting. I was young but it was still love at first sight.

After three years we met again, thanks to my sister. We met a lot during the following two years. I tried to visit as often as I could. We became friends, it was impossible to be more than that, so far apart and me still being young. But every time I left I knew I wanted more...

September 2005. I decided to give it a chance, give us a chance. At a venture I moved in. Three months became 10 months. It was not easy, sometimes it was hard and turbulent. But in spite of everything it was beautiful. The most caring and loving relationship. And I learned that love can never be anything but beautiful.

When June 2006 came I had to leave. I tried to explain, mostly to myself, that nothing can last forever...We decided to stay friends. Good friends. The best friends.

I got back in late December that same year. But things didn't go our way...and we got split apart again. It felt sad and so final back then, like it was over for good this time. But now I know that nothing can break us apart, what we have will always be...

We haven't met for quiet some time now. It's been 1 year and 5 months to be exact. But Friday this week it's time...finally we'll meet again!

Status

General condition: Happy r/t passing the big exam a few weeks ago.

Activity: Been working between 13.30-21.30, walked 6363 steps during that time.

Skin: Reddish-brown r/t 5 1/2 h in the sun yesterday.

Nutrition: Just ate 400 g milk chocolate r/t reward for being good.

Elimination: Need of taking a leak r/t way too much coffee at work.

Sunshine

I've just done my last exam for this semester!
Wonderful.
There is a lecture between 10.15 and 12...but me and I decided not to go. It's not about something important anyway and the sun is shining!! 20 degrees in the shade already.

You'll find me on a blanket in Trädgårdsföreningen...

Sommar

"En vänlig grönskas rika dräkt

har smyckat dal och ängar.
Nu smeker vindens ljumma fläkt
de fagra örtesängar.
Och solens ljus och lundens sus och vågens sorl bland viden
förkunna sommartiden.

Sin lycka och sin sommarro
de yra fåglar prisa.
Ur skogens snår,
ur stilla bo framklingar deras visa.
En hymn går opp av fröjd och hopp från deras glada kväden,
från blommorna och träden."
Carl David af Wirsén

My latest interior decorating purchase

I bought this old educational poster in my favourite store "Kult & co", that my former wood craft teacher owns, on my last visit in Halmstad. I had been thinking about buying it for quite some time and finally decided to do it. And I am so glad I did...I love it, and it makes me happy every time I look at it! The colours goes perfectly with the rest of my combined living-/bedroom. The coffetable and the lamp is bought in that store as well...They might have been too expensive for a student like me...but who cares? When I look at these things I feel at home, I feel love and I feel that this is me! A bit nerdy?! Yes indeed! :)

I am sure...

Hang in there darling!

First day

My first day at the new job is over. And there was, of course, nothing to be nervous about...Nice and friendly staff, and my classmate S had her 4th introduction day today as well. It's always nice to have a familiar face in unknown territory...=)

I'm working again tomorrow morning, then Friday night and Saturday morning. Thinking about it yesterday felt kind of hard, but today I'm glad. It's good with a change.Working make sense...studying doesn't....to be honest I can't stand anything that has something to do with school at the moment. So tonight I'm gonna finish an assignment and then I'm not thinking about school for the rest of the weekend!!

Now, if it doesn't rain, I'm taking a walk in the forest...the gym will have to wait until tomorrow. I've actually been good at this gym-thing the last couple of days...Step on Sunday and Afro and Core on Monday. Well done me!!!

Summer job begins..

Tomorrow morning I'm doing my first introduction shift at my summer job in the neurosurgeon care unit at the hospital. A bit nervous to be honest. I don't like being the newbie...

Now sleep...Wish me luck.

Time out

1. Why am I doing this?
2. What's the use of doing it?
3. Is it worth it?

I don't really feel regrets about doing this, but I do feel regrets about not doing the things I didn't chose. Tricky...

Song of the day - Not ready to make nice

Pep talk

Things might be oh so frustrating right now...but there is nothing to do about it. Focus focus focus. Do not explode, do not scream. Keep cool, take a deep breath, just smile, smile, smile (fake it till you make it)...

Song of the day - Fairytale

Different and charming. I like it! Extra plus for the amazing dancers.

Saturday

Tonight I'm watching Eurovision song contest even though I've lost a bit of interest in that competition in the last couple of years.
After wathcing the semi-final when Marlena got to final I actually got more excited reading about Måns Zelmerlöw playing Chicago, the musical, in London later this year.

Post exam

They will probably never stop surprising me...Some of the questions where so weird it's almost scary!!
For once in my life I am glad that I am a woman who have had a yeast infection...might have saved me this time...Time will tell!

Status

Pain: Headache r/t no glasses while studying and my ventilation/kitchen fan/electricity bill problem. VAS 4. Intervention: Analgesics

Nutrition: Pre-exam cravings for chocolate. At the moment hungry, but too tired to cook, have an almost empty fridge and no money. Risk for malnutrition.

If I could make a wish....

...then I would wish that I could go to an Elvis concert...

House cleaning

Effectiveness and creativity

I came to me at 8:15 this morning to study...and she just left. We got a lot of things done and it felt very efficient. Four days left to this semesters big exam...and I try to persuade myself that I have things under control and that I feel no stress...but my poor heart has start to beat irregularly again, not as bad as last time...My strategy for this stress related problem is that I will continue to pretend everything is cool...you know: Fake it, till you make it!

As always when it comes to serious studying I get all creative and with a million ideas (that unfortunately don't have anything to do with appendicitis, antibiotic treatment, Crohn's disease or cholesystitis). Not really a good thing when there is no time to act on these ideas. Instead I feed myself with some inspiring pictures and dream myself away...hoping that my creativity will last...

Utekravall

I don't like rain...especially not on a night when you are suppose to be outside and tonight it is Utekravallen.





<---- I have my wellies on!




Have to go...bye bye! xx

Hilarious

Song of the day - Är det här platsen

Peter Jöback and Eva Dahlgren

"...Är det här året då allting vänder? Steg för steg en dag i sänder..."

Something beautiful...

Evaluations and day dreaming...

Today I've done my last two evaluations of my clinical placement period. All together I've done 8 different (but still almost the same) about my 7 week placement period. Amazing. It might be a good idea for the University to coordinate things like this in some way...it would save us all a lot of work and most importantly a lot of TIME...and we all know time is precious... and time is money...

Speaking of money...did you know that you could buy this castle in Ukraine for only 1.8 million USD...

I need to stop day dreaming...and finish my studying for tonight...

Quote of the day

"I don't want to make money. I just want to be wonderful." -Marilyn Monroe

Lovely days and all grown up

I've had two wonderful days and nights. Lovely old friends and new acquaintances, sunshine from a blue sky, barbecue and rosé wine...mmm, sometimes life's really good.
Now I've had my fun for a week...tomorrow and Sunday will be devoted to studying.

I'm so tired right now...but had two cups of coffee at Å's place tonight so I probably won't be able to fall asleep. Caffeine affects me so much sometimes it's scary.
At the dinner at Å's place tonight I also ate onion, and did actually like it...MY GOD what is happening to me?????!!! (It might have been a ones in a lifetime thing so try not to get too excited ok?!)
It must be the fact that I'm 25 now and all (?!) grown up...

Last day in april

Time flies...it's already the the last day of April. My God...where did this month go?!

On the schedule for this "Valborgsmässoafton" is picnic and barbecue in the park with Å and some other friends of hers. The sun is shining just as it has been for the last two weeks, but it's a bit windy. I'm soon off to Systembolaget to buy some wine...

Yesterday I bought a new bikini and a skirt...The bikini I kind of needed but the skirt was just pretty and on sale...bad bad me...I need to save some shopping for London...

Back in school

Had class in school today. A bit weird, since it's about 7 weeks since last time, but nice to actually see some of the other students...

Now it's time for a walk with Å and maybe some ice-cream...yummy!

Pictures from Saturday on the beach

Song of the day - Som jag hade dig förut

Going back...

Helgen är över. Molnen har dragit sig in över Halmstad och jag får den där melankoliska känsla man får när sommaren börjar lida mot sitt slut...trots att sommaren inte ens har börjat på riktigt.

Går dagen bjöd på årets första dopp i havet. Det var varmt på stranden, när man låg i lä och kallt i vattnet. Men jag och F hade ju pratat om det redan kvällen innan så det var ju bara att ta tjuren vid hornen och traska i plurret. L förevigade det hela med kameran från säkert avstånd i strandkanten.

Kvällen bjöd på restaurangbesök med kära M och sedan en sväng till Morfars för att sedan avsluta på Mårtensson. En bra kväll överlag...mycket folk jag inte sett på länge. Memory lane var vackert igår!

Snart går bussen...

Halmstad

A weekend in Halmstad. The forecast predicts 18 degrees C and sun tomrrow, a few degrees cooler today, but sun as well! How lovely isn't that??!

Outside studying is on the schedule today...just because I'm in Halmstad doesn't mean I'm study free unfortunately.

Oh...I wish I could stay longer!!

In about a year I might be moving back...at least that's my plan. But you never know what the future bring.

All I know is that some of the most lovely people live here...and I miss them when I'm away!

Now breakfast on the balcony... xx

Luxury studying

Tonight I just had to do something to make the studying a bit more fun.

There was a little left of the sparkling Rosé wine from Saturday night and some dark chocolate with raspberries...Delicious...
Now it's time for bed and I only have 250 more words to write. That's tomorrow's project.

Good ending of a nice weekend, with nice company and nice, sunny, warm weather! Tell you more about this Easter weekend tomorrow...

Lunch at the balcony

Todays checklist

Sore throat: 1
Runny nose: 1
Fever: > 37,5 C
Body weight in kilos: 60 (Not OK! What the fuck happened?!)
Conversations with stupid teacher: 1
Things to do: 10 000 000
Motivation: - 5
London vacations booked: 1 (Thank God and sis!)

25 years old....oh my GOD!

More musicals to the people!!

Wednesday afternoon wisdom

The most beautiful bag in the world

Birthday gift to me from myself??? Well, yes maybe...
...Accessorize here I come!!!

Tired

13 hours of sleep...and I'm still tired. I've tried to study all day...but I've nodded at at least one time on every page.
It might be because of the fact that I'm tired after the Berlin trip...It might be because my brain and I is over stressed about the upcoming 4, 5, 6 weeks...it might be because of the weather (snow again...)

Berlin

I'm soon off to the airport. Being picked up at 4 am. The flight to Berlin is due at 6.30. Early start.
In Berlin we (me and I and some others from Uni) will attend an International forum for quality and safety in health care.

I'm excited, even tough there is something putting a shadow over it right now.

See you Saturday again.

Bad result

Oh! Fuck wank bugger shitting arse head and hole!

(I borrow this quote from Billy Mac in Love Actually tonight...kind of fits right now)

Baby dry your eyes - day

Today the sun is shining!!!

• I had an interview for a summer job at the hospital at 10 am.
  
• I had my new spring shoes on.

There is hope for changes!

On my way to the hospital, with the sun warming my face I got true spring feelings. And I got to think of Marit Bergman's album Baby dry your eyes. One of my favourite albums.

Spring and Marit Bergman goes hand in hand and it makes me think of that spring I spent in London. I listened to that album almost everyday in my CD-player on my way to work. I can still remember where I was walking to each particular song:

The intro played on my way down the elevator, I turned at the Café Nero corner in the beginning of Tomorrow is today, and when Let's just fall in love was playing I was usually somewhere around the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

I wish I could meet the spring in London...

Sunset over Hyde park

Song of the day - You're my world

A real feel-good song with Emilia from last nights Melodiefestival.

Spring shoes

The zipper on my black leather boots broke yesterday when I was about to go home from work. Luckily I had adhesive tape in my pocket and could get them on place under the jeans after some juggling.

This little mishap led me straight to town on a mission to buy a pair of new spring shoes! (Yeay! Me like!)

Here's the result! Very comfy, but a bit pale together with my winter skin at the moment... (that will of course change when spring and sun arrives!)

Today I Ioved it...

Life is a roller-coaster...

After a rather disappointing start of the week and my clinical placement period I finally had a really, really good day!
Me and C had a whole day together with the breast nurse at the hospitals breast surgery. The nurse was amazing with the patients...And the doctor as well.

I got the chance twice to be in the room (after the patients permission of course) when the doctor gave the woman her breast cancer diagnosis.
It was very valuable for me as a student to participate as an observer in this meeting between the doctor and the patient but it was also very physically challenging. It's hard not to get too emotional when the patient does.

I also participated in meetings between the nurse and patients after breast surgery/breast removal.
The most emotional moment was when a woman for the first time after the breast removal looked in the mirror together with the nurse.
Both me and C had a hard time keeping our tears away. But the nurse was so great at this moment and I'm so glad I got the chance to experience it.

...early night tonight, I'm exhausted!

Clinical Placement - Not my cup of tea

I'm sorry. But I don't think it's fun to be out on clinical placement.
I hate it.

I thought this second day would be better than the first, because the first is always a complete mess. But no, my tutor was sick...so who would take care of me??? No-one really knew...After half an hour I got a new tutor for the day...thank God I'll have the same tomorrow...otherwise I would have called in sick as well.

My schedule is still not completed, I'm missing two days...and I want to have it all clear. But it seems like a bit too much to ask at the moment.
I hate when I can't make up plans and I hate when I don't have things under control.

Now I need to do the dishes and have myself a good cry (I really need it) before I go to bed.

True happiness

March weather

It's snowing in Linköping today...tiny snowflakes that melts as soon as they touch the ground. Almost like rain...

I'm going to I's place later and I guess I will have to put my rainwears on.

Sunshine...give me sunshine!!!

Well, at least it hasn't been minus degrees for a few days now. Always something I guess.

It's funny how the weahter affects people...right now everyone is a bit touchy and grumpy. Including me. 

Everything feels hard, even the easiest task feels like a massive mountain to climb. 

   

Tomorrow afternoon I start this semesters clinical placement period. This time I will do my 7 weeks on KAVA (a surgical emergency treatment care unit) at Linköpings University Hospital. I will also spend four days at the surgical ward. Hopefully I will think of this as very exciting. It's always a little hard the day before you start because you now how much energy the placement period takes from you. So many new impressions. So much new knowledges to deal with, and you always have to be at your very best, at the top of you performance. It's a true challange.

Hopefully I will have a less stressful experience this time when I don't have to commute. And thank God I don't have to feel lonely and sad in a shabby room that belongs to the hospital of Motala. 

There's no place like home and your own bed!

Time to get some things done again...

xx

Sunday = study day

Goodmorning... or maybe it's a bit too late for that...

Anyhow...I've just finished breakfast.

So now it's time to get some schoolwork done. Boring on a Sunday...but in the world of a student there is no such thing as a completly studyfree weekend...and since I had some other things to do yesterday, like making a birthdaycard for S and working on mom's birthdaygift, today is the study day. 

I've placed myself in the sofa with the computer in my lap. I can't be bothered to take out the books so will do my research on the internet...Wikipedia here I come!

(Victor Charlie Charlie to Mike Sierra Foxtrot. When are you coming home? Over and out.)

New things

I am a little short of time at the moment. As always...so much to do and so few people to do it for me!
And most of the time I am wandering around wishing I was somewhere else...like in Australia where sis and E and W is at the moment. I envy you.
At the moment I make little trips in the snow to the tanning salon so that I can have my new purple dress on Thursday evening without looking like a dressed up ghost.

Two weekends ago mum and dad came up with the shelf I bought and to help me paint the walls in the flat. The result was very satisfying!

Song of the day - Hey there Delilah

Haven't put a song of the day in for long now...so here is a beautiful song that I really like listening too.
Plain white T's with the song Hey there Delilah. Enjoy it...

Just checking....

Beach 2009 ?!

Beach 2009 is coming up...sooner or later...so last week I renewed my membership at the gym.

Started this years training with Pilates yesterday and tonight I'm attending a BodyJam class...feels good!

Shoe-shopping!

On last weeks Friday I walked down to city to buy paper to my writer and some other stuff you need when you study. I bought all of the stuff I needed but I also happend to slip in to the store Din Sko to look at some shoes. As a happy surprise they had two tables with summer shoes on sale! And what a sale! When I got out of the store I was 3 pair of shoes richer but ONLY 297 kr poorer!

All that I need now is some sunshine on my legs. And there is hope for spring and sunshine since I had this years balcony premier this weekend. Cold but lovely!

Injured

I was cleaning last night and got injured!
I banged my thumb in to the microwave oven and the nail got bent backwards...and then there was blood...

Today the nail is a bit blue-ish and really sore...

Housework is evil and must be stopped!!

The law

February

This is the worst month of the year.
The weather is bad. Cold, cloudy, snow and ice...and after a long winter with no sun shine, it is the month where I have no energy what so ever left. I've emptied my supply...I need to refill...but how??

Give me spring...or a month in the Caribbean...or anything that will take me out of this tiredness and headache!