It's Tumble Time!

So it appears as tho I wasn't gonna see to the end of 2009 without a winter related tumble. Yesterday it happened. I tumbled. The snow had cleared.. it had rained a bit so the ground was still wet when it decided to get to freezing temps again.. and so there were icy patches.. which we managed to dodge on our way to the supermarket but then while we were in the supermarket.. the weather gods thought.. I'm gonna get you Jo! and it bloody snowed.. just enough to blanket the ground in a very fine silk like blanket.. so you couldn't see all the nasty little icy bits.. so careful I was.. walking along and then it happened.. a HUGE icy patch I stepped on and a tumble bumble down I went.. in my slow motion strange way that I do. It hurt. I didn't cry.. honest! I picked myself up and tried to walk it off. This morning I woke up worse than the day before.. all my joints ache so this is me giving the weather gods the big fuck you, I hate you and if I ever see you in a dark alley I will so kick you in the shins!! That's right weather gods.. the SHINS!

Now I can sense you thinking.. why weren't you wearing your o so wonderful Yaktrax! that you bragged about.. well smartypants.. that would be because there wasn't enough snow for me to be allowed to wear them coz those stupid weather gods made it all go away.

Oh and I have further proof that adults aren't smart cookies.. Emma has managed to throw away one of my birthday gift vouchers.. *poof* bye bye 300sek! but I'm just happy she didn't throw away the IKEA vouchers.. which were in the same envelope to start with.

And on an even brighter note.. Nemo farted me in the face today. I heard it before I smelt it. Maybe I should just go to bed and get up in 2010!

What Is It About Time?

Just the other day Em and I were having a convo about how time moves so slowly when you are young and as you get older.. time just slips on by and the years blend into each other. Why is it that we aren't warned by our loved ones about this? Or are we and coz we are young just choose to not believe anything that adults say.. coz afterall.. adults aren't smart cookies!

And I have proof that adults aren't smart cookies.. coz I am an adult and I did something so very silly! I got Emma the New Super Mario Bros Wii game for xmas and now that is about all she wants to bloody do! Play that bloody game.. the music is driving me insane! or well.. more insane!

See look how insane I look?

Attractive right?

Nemo has a hard life.. it seems the music doesn't drive him insane like me.. just to sleep.. lucky some! Altho he can look quite creepy when sleeping.

I can't say I have done much with my time over the last few days.. it has been wet and miserable. Seriously miserable. I have however gone and fed the duckies a couple of times.. there is so many of them and they seem so very hungry.. I sure do love feeding the ducks, I guess it makes me feel like I am doing something good and worthwhile. Anyways I shall leave you now with a pic of Em and I showing off our spunky.. really really warm new felted scarves.. that were made by our bunnie killer friend! I shudder to think how much time went into doing it.. with my own horror story experiences of needle felting.. never again shall I attempt any felting but yeah here is the photo.. us in the scarves, with new haircuts.. not that they change much from time to time being that we don't have much hair to start with.. in our tiny tiny.. inhumane bathroom! It is just not right making adults have such tiny bathrooms! I really do miss having a decent sized bathroom!

It's Xmas Time!

So this is christmas? Wet.. cold.. dark and not snowfilled!? How did this happen? Oh that's right.. I moved to bloody Swedeland! Gone are the days a summer filled christmas.. with BBQ goodness and well... sunshine! Not that I am complaining about the spread that we get.. coz I sure do love this mix of everything on the christmas table.. which I get to enjoy again today once we head around to the parentals to polish off some more goodness. I was sooo full and bloated when we got home last night from the christmas feast.. but I wouldn't change that for the world.. afterall that is what christmas is about.. right?

This morning I had some more of my birthday cake for breakfast and then again for lunch.. it wasn't really lunch but we haven't eaten anything for lunch so I'm calling it my lunch.. and it was grand! I sure do love me cake! Heavenly!

Nemo enjoyed his christmas.. first by tucking into the wrapping paper from my birthday presents.. he seriously thought he was in heaven and then he got to rip open his own present to discover a wonderful bone thingo inside.. nom nom nom says he! Then he got another dog candy log thingo.. and it was at that point that he knew that today was an extra special day lol and that was his breakfast while we tucked into my birthday breakfast.. that he also wanted a bit of! Cheeky!
So after the birthday morning I had to snap into christmas mode and head over to the parentals where we all sat around and watched donald duck reruns.. like total old school.. and drunk some lingon glögg.. which actually wasn't bad at all and I don't usually like glögg! Enjoyed the nibble of gingerbread and the yummy sweet santa lollies.. nom nom nom!

Then Emma got to be santa.. but she didn't wear the mask.. spoil sport! and the presents were handed out and Cato seemed to have the most fun.. hoping that each package belonged to him. He is a funny funny doggy! I often wish Nemo was as playful as him.

Once all the presents were opened.. Emma, her dad and I bundled them up in the.. new car and headed home to let Nemo out for a walk and drop off the presents, coz we were gonna walk home later that evening. While Emma walked Nemo.. coz I didn't have the right shoes for going out walking in that mess.. good plan with sticking on clogs I say! hahaha so anyways while Emma walked.. her dad and I sat in the car trying to figure out how to change the time and the language.. we couldn't work out the time but we got to the language to discover that Swedish wasn't even included.. I guess that is what you get for buying a jappa. So now I really think her dad is going to have to read the manual.. as much as he doesn't want to. Good news about the new car is.. so far it doesn't make me sick.

Now it is time for the spread and christmas beer! Gobble gobble gobble down the hatch.. I tried a couple new things this year and they weren't too bad at all.. I even re-tried the sill and I quite enjoyed it.. one more than the other two.. I like mustard but the mustard one was my least favourite.. but this is exactly why I continue to try things that I have previously tried and not liked.. like the bloody saffron buns.. I keep trying them and still my taste buds don't want a bar of them.. same goes for caviar of the proper variety as well as that tubed stuff. ick!

After all the food had settled we all got stuck into some of the home-made goodies that Em and I made.. but we didn't have any of the Brandy Snaps! why o why?! I must make sure we have some today after foodage! Anyways here is a pic of my very first attempt at making brandy snaps.. ..which everyone loved when we had some on little xmas eve.. that is what they call the 23rd. And anyways here is also a photo of the Dooley's Mocha Tops that I made all by myself and didn't break a single one! So I think the trick to making them is to have Emma nowhere near! hahah Thinking about them now just makes me want one!

Today.. I slept in until about 8am.. noice! got up and have been catching up on Dexter.. currently Em is playing her new Wii game and soon we shall be heading off.. and that pretty much sums it up. Once the stores open up again.. Em and I shall head off to spend spend spend..

It's Kylie Minogue Time!

My Birthday Card from Emma's parentals..

Fan-fucking-tastic and even more so coz I can't stand KM!

So I am 30 today and I got many wonderful things.. the best thing being the little coupon booklet that Emma made that gives me a selection of meals at different places.. including Boston! Now we just have to get the airfares together and get our asses to Boston lol

It's still only early but so far my birthday has been painless.. altho I am starting to feel a little itchy from my new necklace so I might not be able to wear it everyday.. but it is a very nice necklace.. damn my sensitive skin! Or maybe it is just coz I haven't worn a necklace in YEARS so it will take a little adjustment.. I ain't gonna give up!

Currently Emma is cooking me popovers and eggs for my birthday breaky.. I must say with this kind of treatment I would want to have a birthday everyday.. altho then I would be as big as a skyscraper rather than just a house lol

Oh.. and the snow didn't last for my birthday.. it has warmed up and rained, now we have a grey, brown, slushy mess.. typical right? Ah well.. win some lose some!

And lastly.. my birthday flowers.. aren;t they preeetty! Go Green!!

It's Photo Time!

Ok.. I'm not sure where to start so I will start on the movie Avatar. We went and saw it on Saturday.. late afternoon, not that that really tells you anything about the movie but yeah thats when we saw it.. went in at 4pm and come out just after 7pm and it was total darkness and felt like it was closer to 9pm! Nuts! But that is what our days are like these days dark dark dark! Like this morning it was still semi dark at 8am! Anyways moving back to the topic I started out on.. the movie. It was a good movie.. the CGI was ace and I did enjoy it and I even managed to follow the alien speak with the subtitles in Swedish! I'm not a huge fantasy movie fan but I did enjoy it but in saying that.. I feel they could have lost about an hour and still had a good movie overall.. but yeah if you want to see it then seeing it at the movies is a must otherwise I think the movie would just fall flat. They are also showing it in 3D.. but there is no way in hell I could see it without throwing up then.. there was loads of motion as it was.

Also on Saturday, we went out and fed the ducks and boy were they keen! I made them 2 fresh breads and chopped it up into nice managable pieces.. I dropped only a few bits on the floor while I was doing the chopping which seemed to upset Nemo.. he likes to stand under the chopping board, staring at the floor waiting for the goodness to fall.. but sadly for him I did a good job of not making them fall lol but yeah I do enjoy feeding the ducks and it makes me feel good.. just like it makes me feel good to bake the oldies (the old people where Emma's mum works) goodies.. Saturday morning, Emma and I baked up some saffron buns.. I still don't like them but everyone else in Sweden does.

It's like a little wintery wonderland and was snowing a little while we were out feeding the ducks, like proper snowflakes and it was AWESOME!!! Getting covered in little snowflakes makes everyone look pretty.. even Nemo.. see? lol
How pretty are snowflakes? Seriously! I was like a kid in a candystore.. meaning so happy! Could my grin be any bigger?
Because it was the weekend.. the roads and footpaths didn't get scraped at all so it was very snowy.. and people still continued to drive like morons.. I am surprised there are not more accidents with how stupid people drive in this weather.. yesterday we saw one dude doing handbreak skids around every corner.. seriously what are you thinking dude? & while I was standing outside the bakery in the middle of town waiting for Emma.. there was a dude in a huge 4wd.. he breaked hard to stop so that people could walk across the crossing.. and it caused him to skid.. and then when he went to go he spun his wheels hardcore.. the whole way down the main and around the corner.. stupid! I am starting to lose all hope for the human race.

However I am not losing hope in Nemo's snow eating abilities and the cute little snowbeard he gets from rushing along eating the snow.. and no I still have not made the motion picture of him eating the snow! It isnt that easy ya know.. especially when you have a camera shy dog.. I did try to do it once.. without Emma along and well it resulted in him actually behaving for the walk and my hand nearly freezing off coz I didn't bring gloves! Anyways here you can see Nemo's snowbeard.. cute right?

It's Yaktrax Time!

Yesterday the snow came and came and so Emma and I had the perfect opportunity to try out the yaktrax walker thingo's that Emma bought a while back.

This is them here.

I would just like to say that they have to be the best thing that Emma has bought.. this year! I actually felt like I had some control while walking in the snow and on the slippery areas.. you aren't 100% non-slip on the hard bad icy parts but you still feel in control and not all tense coz you are just waiting to fall on yo ass! It helped none of the snow had been cleared away.. there wasn't even an attempt.. today however is a different story.. they have attempted so now the footpaths have very dangerous slippage icy packed snow.. but still it was no match for my yaktrax! I stayed upright with not even the slightest hint of slippage.. and Nemo tried his hardest to get me off balance the little bugger! I <3 br="" my="" yaktrax="">
Today there is actually blue skies and sunshine to go with the snow.. simply beautiful! Still cold but it is a worthwhile cold. Currently -5.. Jealous much? lol

We have this table thing that hangs on the balcony, but it used to have cable ties that held it in place but I guess Emma didn't replace them when she removed the tattered thingo that went around the balcony so I could stand out there in my over sized, over worn boxers without anyone actually being able to see.. anyways.. I heard banging all morning and at first I couldn't work out what it could possibly be as the chain was adjusted so that it wouldn't move.. Emma was clever enough to do that! But then it dawned on me so I headed off to remove the table thingo from the balcony.. I didn't have to adust anything.. it just slid right off! I went out on the balcony with no shoes on and wow who knew snow was so damn cold! In just the few seconds my barefoot tootsie rolls were out there.. it felt like they were going to freeze off! but o my.. that soft powdery snow felt so wonderful between my toes.. for that split second that is! lol and anyways I am telling you this little story coz I am leading up to the photo.. of my foot imprint in the snow! Ace right?

What Time Is It?

It's Snow Eating Time!
According to Nemo anyways.. it had snowed a little so there was a very light covering of snow on the lunchtime walk.. but that was more than enough for Nemo to take every chance he could, a nip in the snow.. he thought he was in heaven when he came to a good white patch of the fluffy white stuff. It really.. really... really was the smallest amount.. really! LOL

But then.. this afternoon it snowed more.. and then snowed some more and soon enough there was a nice white fluffy blanket.. and that meant only one thing.. Nemo was going to eat as much snow as he possibly could and get all sidetracked and forget to do his business! Sure enough for the most part of the walk, Nemo would run along and nip at the snow.. nibble nibble nibble... mmmm nom nom nom! He doesn't eat the yellow snow.. just the fresh white stuff and he really likes it when it is light and fluffy. Luckily once we got to the church he realised that he had to do his business or have to hold on for the night walk coz I sure as heckles aint hanging around outside when all he is doing is eating snow. Maybe on one of the walks where Emma is along I will try to record him doing his snow eating thing coz it is actually rather cute.. no promises.

Sooo all this snow and cold might actually mean that I get to experience a white xmas for my birthday! How cool is that? It has been all I have wanted since coming to Sweden.. give me a white xmas already and if the weather holds up this way.. for my big 3 0 I am gonna get it! Fingers crossed!

It's Embarrassment Time

Ok so I wasn't going to blog about this but then I realised that it indeed is totally blog worthy.. Especially after seeing how much Emma laughed when we spoke about it at home.. So the story goes a little something like this..

There I was on the computer.. mucking around as one does. It was early.. or well it was just after 9am and I wasn't quite dressed.. I was dressed but just not in clothes that people are allowed to see me in.. or well no bra, a tee, my popeye one which is just awesome and everyone should see me in that one! oh and my over sized, over worn, refuse to actually stay up boxer shorts.. they are comfy alright! Also, I can't forget the state my hair was in.. after going to bed with wet hair the night before.. I'm sure you can imagine that crazy! Anyways.. Nemo was in his bed as he usually is after having breakfast and a good rug roll.. when we hear the flap of the mail slot go.. which instantly makes Nemo bark and so I get up to tell him off.. look over and there is no post! How strange right and then it happened the door bell rung so I told Nemo to stay and he had him sit by the hall cupboard and I try to flatten my hair some, one side is better than the other so I keep my head to the better side as I carefully opened the door so that the mailman could only see the top of me and the good side of my head.. he hands me the mail and tells me in Swedish that it didn't fit and then I thanked him and we said our good byes.. and just as I was about to close the door.. Nemo smashes on past and tries to run off with the mailman! His tail was a wagging.. he was sooo excited and down the stairs he tried to go with the mailman and I had to actually come OUT of the apartment and call for him and tell him off coz he wasn't listening to me.. as per usual! So there I was in the stairwell with crazy hair, no bra, over sized boxers and my awesome popeye tee.. that tee is prolly the only thing that stopped me from feeling like a complete loser! lol O How Embarrassment! Nemo finally listened to me and the mailman looked all shocked.. I'm hoping it was coz I was speaking English to Nemo after having a small exchange of words in Swedish with him.. I am really hoping that was what his shocked look was! So he sulked and growled his way inside, the mailman left and I went and made me a cuppa coffee to make myself feel betterer. Nemo stayed in his room until it was time to take him out for his walk.

Am I really that hard to live with that one must try to run away with the mailman?

And now coz I have learnt my lesson I must go and get properly attired just incase I need to open the door again.. which could happen today or tomorrow coz we have a pair of Camper shoes on the way via courier.. Camper shoes for Emma.. not me.. I don't like how they feel on my feet!

It's Vodka Time!

Of the Skittles variety!

It's Snow Time!

Where o where is December going? but in saying that I would like it to hurry on past and get birthday and xmas out of the way.. coz quite frankly it is the worst time of year.. or well apart from the yummy food that you get to eat and the great excuse to over do it and then the new years resolutions of being good that will only last a month or two if you are good.. which I am not.. or well I am gonna have to be coz it seems we are doing the now annual liver cleanse.. I suppose its a good thing and at least it is both Emma and I doing it.. always easier when you have someone to share the pain with.. right?

And speaking of pain.. I nearly slipped over while out walking Nemo this lunch time! Can you guess on what part of the walk I nearly came a crashing down to the ground like a wounded heffa? The freaken pedestrian crossing! That's right.. the thing that is supposed to keep me safe from being hit by a car is so freaken dangerous to walk across with just the slightest hint of snow.. or even rain for that matter.. it is not the easiest to walk on when it has rained either.. you have to wonder why this is? Why are they not smart enough to make it non slip or something.. because really the last place you wanna slip and fall on your ass is on the road where people are bloody crazy and drive like they are the only ones on the road. I need my own island already!

So anyways.. yesterday was the start of some pretty snowfall and I got to enjoy a softserve ice cream outside IKEA in the light trickle of snow.. what a way to spend my Sunday! It was all totally worth that sickly feeling I get from being in THE car.. and I say THE car coz it is quite frankly the only car that has ever made me sick and it doesn't matter where I sit in it. Anyways here is the pic Emma uploaded to her Facebook of me enjoying my ice cream outside of IKEA in the light trickle of snow.. best part of my day!

Moving onto a completely different topic.. and something that amused me ever so muchly. I was listening to an old 'this american life' podcast, it was about insurance.. first human insurance and then animal insurance and whether or not it was a good thing or not. There was this one lady who had her hedgehog on anti-psychotics.. she had insurance however that wasn't covered by the insurance. nuts. Not nuts that it wasn't covered but nuts that a hedgehog needs anti-psychotics.. I wonder if the hedgehog turned into some kinda of assassin when not on the druuuugs! Then it got me thinking.. maybe we should put Nemo on some kind of drugs to get his moods under control.. the cranky little shit that he is! These days when we leave we have to close him off in a small area in the kitchen coz he pissed.. not only on the xmas curtains but on his kitchen bed! What sort of dog pisses on their own bed? They say dogs don't know how to be spiteful.. well those people have not met Nemo!

He is really is one of a freaken kind.. for instance.. last night Emma took him for his before bed walkies.. after getting home he has wet ickly paws and he takes off.. and I mean takes off.. he puts everything he has into running that short distance from the hall to the couch.. anyways Emma yells no at him and he didn't have enough time to actually stop proper and he ran straight into the side of the couch and yelped coz he prolly hurt his already bung neck.. it was ever so funny but we did kinda feel sorry for him. He has this love affair with running and jumping on the couch.. also he seems to love to take a few pieces of his kibble and jump up on the couch to eat it before actually going to eat his dinner and it doesn't matter how many times I tell him off he will still bloody do it.. so yeah like I said he really is one of a freaken kind.

It's Ho Ho Ho Time!

So it is that time of the year again.. where people are in total chaos trying to buy the so called perfect gifts for their so called loved ones.. just chaos! I have done all my shopping and sent off all packages in the hope that they will arrive in time for xmas. I did however feel like a bit of a doof as we had sent off a package to Hanna in the US and I had forgotten to add the one thing that she actually asked for.. so off we toddled and sent that off. I wonder which will come first?

We decided this year we would not have a xmas tree, coz they are generally too big and too much hassle and then we are at the supermarket.. or well the one we don't usually go to and we see a large assortment of small xmas trees! typical right? So anyways.. we have decorated for the festive season.. with just a small amount of xmas things, a few ornaments, placemats, xmas curtains, the warm glow candle light things that go in the window and of course the stuffed angry santa.. he by far is my fave! oh and this thing.. the candle thing in the background.. you light one candle every sunday or something.. oh and the thing in front is something that we made on the weekend with the start of our xmas baking.. actually we managed to do all the baking for xmas so now all we have left to do is the candy.. which will be done on the week leading up to the feastage.

Speaking of feastage.. also on the weekend I purchased a big babybel cheese.. so there it sits.. in my fridge.. calling out for me to eat it! but I can't.. I have to be good and share it.. plus I think it would make me sick to eat that much cheese.. but still.. I just want to grab it and take a big bite out of it.. like its a little one!

yummy yummy yummy!

Now moving on to the not so yummy.. last night I tried Jul Svagdricka..
It was not really to my liking.. it was rather malty, not much fizz and rather beer like.. basically tasted like flat beer.. not really my cuppa tea but hey at least I tried something new and trying new things is rather fun.. and Hanna has agreed to try chocolate coated bacon with me the next time I am in the US! Noice! It is always more fun to try new things with someone and Emma just aint that willing..

Brunch Me!

Another wet weekend but all is good coz it was my Brunch weekend.. or well it was an early brunch on Sunday and it was fab! the new every 2 monthly tradition! This time we had popovers instead of bread rolls and they were FAB! Emma totally did a good job with that one.. and I totally love being spoilt! Good time good times.. altho I still had to do the dishes afterwards and I must say popovers + water = total grossness! Popovers and water? you ask.. well it was little bits of left over popover that we couldnt get out of the muffin tray.. to that I added water to loosen it up, coz I like to make things easier on myself when it comes time to cleaning.. but then when it came time to cleaning it was this puffy slimy mess.. kids would have loved playing with it.. but not me! But it was much easier to clean and that is the main thing.. anyways here are a couple of pics of my wonderful Sunday brunch..

Here it is in all its glory...All dished up and ready to eat!
and lets just end the post on Nemo posing as the Pillow king.. once again.. seriously what is his deal with pillows?

Socks!

I gots new socks! new spunky socks from Emma! YaY! how I love socks! So happy! The little things in life make me o so happy! I am wearing the socks now even!
What socks you say.. smartwool socks! I got the Chestnut pair.. and maybe.. just maybe I will get more for xmas.. namely the Wasabi pair *hint*

and lastly.. awww look at Nems and I.. how cute are we?

Avocado Cornbread Muffins

So I was foodporning it this morning when I came across a recipe for Avocado Cornbread Muffins and I thought to myself.. "how interesting".. and seeing as tho we had extra avo's in the fridge I also thought to myself.. "why not give it a go".. should go well with the pumpkin soup we have for dinner.. what's the worst that could happen right?

So I made them.. quick and mighty easy they were to make.
The texture.. a bit gritty but then I don't know what cornbread is actually meant to be like.. seeing as tho I have never had it.
The taste.. a bit bland but kinda fresh and sweet if that makes sense and I am glad that I decided to chop up some avo and keep it as chunks instead of mashing it all coz those little extra bits of avo really helped.. well I think so anyways..
The overall result is.. they are ok.. I will eat them, coz I don't want to be wasteful but I won't ever make them again..

Vent!

Ok that is it! I have to vent! Nigella Lawson should NOT be allowed to eat on TV! It makes me cringe each and every time she goes to stuff.. and I mean stuff! Take smaller amounts woman! You don't need to shove it in.. noone is going to steal your food.. it is ok to just take enough so you don't look like a pig and have to use your fingers to help stuff it into your mouth.. or like when you ate yorkshire pudd with maple syrup and took such a huge amount you had to turn your head away from the camera and wipe the syrup from your face! Which left a glossy smear so we all knew how much of a pig you were being! It doesn't make food look more appealing to have someone stuff their face.. seriously! Nigella angers me. Rawr! I am so saddened that she has now replaced my two fat ladies.. they were much more entertaining and well I didn't have to watch them be.. well gross.

I have woken up with a stiff neck this morning.. and as the morning goes on it seems to be getting stiffer and stiffer.. not cool! I bet Nigella did something to me coz I can't stand watching her eating and she can hear me bitching about it. lol

Well Nemo seems to want his breakfast so I best go and make that happen.. You wonder how I know he wants his breakfast? well.. it is coz he jumped off the couch.. went to the kitchen and looked in his bowl to discover nothing so he came back and has now parked his arse right in front of me and just looks at me.. so yeah I best go make it happen before he thinks my leg or something will do for breaky..

Snoozy Nemo!

Nemo and his love of sleeping like a real boy, aka human real boy.. you know with his head on a pillow.. Snoozy Nemo @ YouTube

T&S Jesus Candygram!

After a slow wet week there was finally a break and we actually got some sun! Just in time for the Tegan and Sara concert on Saturday night.. not that we get sun at night but it meant that it wasn't raining and miserable while we were standing in line with all the teens.. however I did manage to see a couple of people who were older than me so I didn't feel SO outta place.. just a little. It was pretty cold tho standing in line but I guess you can't win them all.

Anyways lets step back a little and start off with Saturday morning.. we figured seeing as it was quite nice and we were going to use the free card to go into the concert, we may as well get full use of the 22 hours of free public transport.. we have good ideas sometimes. So off we toddled.. and for the first time in ages we got to not only sit on the train but it wasn't a loud annoying trip but that might have something to do with the fact that we were in the quiet compartment haha however on the way home we got to sit too.. and it was quiet.. and we weren't in the quiet compartment! Ace!!

We arrive and head off to do our thing.. when this pops up!

Ok it didn't just pop up, coz well that would be a pretty amazing feat but it was already erected but sadly closed so I wasn't able to go and scare the crap outta myself.. maybe oneday I will go back and do just that tho and maybe I will be feeling extra brave and go in the VIP compartment that has a glass floor! haha

Moving along.. we went around the stores.. buying a few things here and there.. nothing of real importance.. or well actually we got a couple of things of GREAT importance from the American Store.. and that would be 2 packets of Tim Tams.. I know.. I know they are not as good as Chit Chats, but I don't have a shit show in hell of finding those here. O how I do miss some of the great biscuits of my homeland.. Chit Chats, Mallowpuffs, Toffee Pops, Gingernuts, Ginger Kisses, Swiss Cremes, Hokey Pokey Squiggles! O the list goes on! It is prolly a good thing that I can't have all these things readily available.. I might then become as big as a house rather than a truck. However I did find some fair trade cookies at the supermarket in Lund.. it was a new supermarket so I had to check it out.. and by new I mean it was new to me but prolly quite old to Lund.. so umm anyways I found some ginger fair trade cookies.. which were quite nice, they had little candy chunks of ginger which got stuck in my teeth and so every time I ran my tongue over it I would get a little ginger sizzle.. it was quite ace! haha

In the cold, in the line, surrounded by teens and the odd oldie.. we waited for the doors to open.. which seemed to take for freaken ever but once we were in, checked in our jackets with.. I swear the slowest and most useless jacket checker inner in the world.. we then headed to the merch table to get Em a hoodie before going to try and find our spot for the evening and we ended up with a decent spot against the rail on the next level.. which is always nice and means you don't have to contend with tall people.. which is always a bonus. It wasn't long before the opening act came on..

Astronautalis

He was quite funny and I didn't mind his songs.. live but that was coz of the whole act more than anything.. he was very very good and I for one would like to know how many years practice it took to be able to get one's leg to shake like his did and not fall off.. however he did manage to spit a big one at someone along with falling over and getting a gash on his arm.. but the show must go on!

I must say he really pumped the place up for a good show.. someone in the audience even made him a little paper.. well I assume it was paper.. table! Kinda cute really.

His set seemed to go reasonably quickly and soon enough T&S were out and doing their thang.

A good selection of older songs along with the new ones.. and of course I got to hear my all time fave 'Living Room' which I wanted to record but alas I didn't realise that the memory card would fill up so swiftly so I barely got any of it recorded on the little camera.. but poop happens. There was lots of banter, here are a couple that I managed to record.. Jesus & Candygram sadly I managed to miss the last moments coz well like I said my memory card got all filled real quick.. anyways there were good sounds and not many morons.. it was all much better than I thought it was going to be.. so I was quite happy with it all indeed, even tho I did have a couple of moron girls behind me but that was nothing to really write home about and I stomped really hard on one of their feet. Nice. Maybe.. just maybe I could be convinced to go next year when they return.

After the concert.. you have that long wait to get your jacket as everyone pushes and prods ya.. but we got there in the end and then headed off back out into the cold and off to a pub to meet up with one of Em's work buds for a beer to kill time before catching the last train home.. which again we got to sit and it wasn't crazy noisy and we weren't in the quiet compartment.. it was one very good day for the train for us it seems.. and also for once we didn't get a new free card when using the free card.

All in all I had a very good day and it was nice to be out and about in the little bit of sun we got.. I sure do love it when things go nicely.

Sunday was an at home recovery day.. we had pancakes. It was grand. I was tired.. late nights and me don't seem to mix well.. I guess I really am getting old.. after all I will be 30 in like a month.. argh! Happy days.

It's moments like these...

...you need "woooot" 's!
Actually I don't quite recall the last time I even had any minties.. not that I am a huge mint fan but the odd mint thing.. like minties or even oddfellows do go down a treat.. After Eight's after dinner mints are by far my fave mint thing.. nom nom nom

Anyways back to "woooot" moments, Emma was away for the weekend and while Nemo was sad he had his first "woooot" moment when he saw Emma's dad at the station, then another when he saw Emma's mum.. all the while not even realising that Emma was right there.. I bet at that moment.. Emma knew just how I feel when Nemo ignores me.. but he finally saw she was there and had another small "woooot" moment but nanny&pop were there.. special for him.. so he thought anyways lol And after seeing only my mug for an entire weekend.. it is no wonder he got so excited!

Now my "woooot" moment didn't come from seeing anyone.. as happy as I was to have Em home.. mine came as I was laying in bed playing my nightly game of word solitaire.. I am back at number one! WOOOOOOOOOOOT! I have been number four for far too long so it was nice to be back on top.. I wonder how long it will be until some little snot nosed bastard knocks me off my perch but until then I am woooting it up! lol

Emma had her "woooot" moment when she finally got santa in the bath! Yes it is as dirty as it sounds! hahaha.. ok maybe not.. but I am all about the dirt!

Well anyways.. my weekend was packed with rain, mist, cold and a sad Nemo, who cried for an hour by the door on Friday evening when he realised that Emma wasn't coming home.. I felt bad for him but hey way to make me feel loved dog! Then he was up and down all night.. driving me insane.. he just wouldn't go to sleep! Luckily Saturday was a little better.. even tho he did have a few moments where he would leave the room if I came in it.. but overall I think he loved me.. or at least I hope he did! Sunday was much the same as Saturday.. which consisted much of this..
Emma took the Monday off work to recover from her wild weekend and I made my first attempt at making Pumpkin Risotto.. which turned out ok.. I think I could have done better but it was a first attempt and I have never really been zen at anything rice.. I also whipped up a quick batch of Vanilla & Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Creamcheese Frosting! I especially took a bite out of this one this morning just so I could post this pic..I know I know.. the things I do for my blog.. such a hard life I lead! lol

I also tried my hand at making Carrot Soft Pretzels and they weren't too bad.. altho we didn't finish them but it was nice to eat a pretzel with no added sugar as the carrot made them just sweet enough! I was happy with the result and that is the main thing.. just wish that they had a longer shelf life...

Well I am back to the usual grind of things.. Nemo is on his spot on the couch all curled up in a blanket and Emma is of course back at work.. but at least it is a short week so the weekend will creep up quickly.. which means I have to gear up for the T&S concert.. hopefully we have some sort of plan of attack for that day.. before that day is upon us.

This is the Life!

Well Nemo's life anyways...

Cake & Cheeeeeese!

The weekend that was.. weather wise it wasn't too shabby but the darkness has really kicked in and it is now full of night time outside at 5pm.. maybe sooner but whenever I seem to notice it is really dark out and look at the time it is around 5pm.. and things go bump in the night!

We went foodage shopping at our usual time of 8am Saturday this week.. coz I never again want to venture off that path! Last week coz Em was home, we went shopping on the Friday and it was pure freaken chaos! People are just complete morons.. with or without the trolley! I even had one lady who I very kindly waited for.. so she could go past and then I could get thru... and instead of allowing it she parked her cart right by me and then walked off! *shakes head* some people!! and then that is not to mention the countless people who just cut you off and then go really freaken slow.. it stresses me out.. I want to get in and get out before the mass of morons come so from now on no matter what.. I am sticking to doing the weekly shop on Saturday mornings.. which isn't always free of morons.. but at least there are less. I was happy with shopping mainly coz we walked out of there with.. Julmust! One of my most favourite drinks here in swedeland.

Sunday was father's day so we headed over to the parentals for a feast.. roast chook! nom nom nom and I baked a cake.. Espresso cake with kahlua frosting.. could have done with more of a coffee flavour in the cake tho.. so if I even make it again I might just use instant coffee powder rather than fresh strong espresso from my machine.. but it was nice all the same.. coz the frosting was quite fab!Emma was being a smartass with the camera on Sunday and decided to really kick start my head/eyeache for the day and surprise me by taking a pic.. with the flash! Very funny.. but I paid for it all freaken day.. but still thinking about it now I giggle.. here is the outcome.. the photo she took that is.. not the outcome of my aches.. that is a little harder to illustrate.. altho I do still love the wiki pic.. it sure is brilliant! Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!

Two Fat Ladies!

The first inkling of snow has begun.. it started yesterday with mini snow like balls hitting me in the eyes while out walking Nemo and Em said that there were actual snow flakes in Lund.. lucky some! but this morning it appears to have actually given a little snow.. the tops of cars and grassy areas are white while the roads and footpaths are just wet and prolly sludge like.. I haven't yet ventured out into that mess but my time will come.

I guess it really is winter and there is no escaping it.. sadly.

Speaking of winter.. we tried the new winter limited edition chocolate from marabou last night.. it personally was not to my liking.. but Em liked it a little. What's in this winter chocolate you ask.. well let me tell you! It is just a normal lush marabou chocoate bar with added spice extracts.. cardamom, clove, pepper, ginger, cinnamon and vanilla. I preferred the summer limited edition chocolate.. which I didn't like all that much but it just had dried strawberries in it and that was very manageable and didn't leave a lump in my throat.

Lately I have been watching 'Two Fat Ladies' .. now now get ya heads out of the gutters.. it is a cooking show which has two older ladies cooking things I wouldn't usually want to eat but they are highly entertaining, odd banter, breaking out into song and literary quotes. It is from 1997.. dark ages I know.. but they just have this fun about them that makes me want to tune in each night.. sometimes that's the best thing about swedish tv.. all the re-runs of shows.

Pumpkin Galore!

Here we are at the start of November.. and it started with a total yawn fest! I hope it doesn't mean that this is going to be as good as November gets.. oh wait I do actually have something to look forward to.. I am going to a Tegan and Sara concert.. on a cold night in Lund and probably surrounded by stupid teens who don't know how to behave in real life let alone at a concert.. yup I am really looking forward to it alright.. I just hope in the next 3 weeks I can force myself to like their new album so the night wont be a complete stresstest. Ok by 'look forward' I really didn't mean it and I am only going coz I am nice and agreed to go with Emma coz she wanted me to.. but the following weekend is my Sunday brunch and now that IS something I am looking forward to.. nom nom nom!

Speaking of nom.. I have pumpkin coming out of my ears! ok not really but we have soooo much pumpkin its seriously not funny! Emma went a little crazy with the buyage of pumpkins and now we have 6 double serves of pumpkin soup and 9 cans woth of puree in the freezer just asking to be baked with.. chocokin cake here we come.. or well as long as we can find people to help eat it that is! Pumpkin pumpkin everywhere! Even Nemo is gonna get pumpkin doggy treats for xmas.. which I might just have to try myself.. once I have made them that is. Any other pumpkin suggestions?

Emma and I completely forgot that Saturday was a 'public holiday' and off we toddled to town to do a spot of shopping.. I wanted to try and find some gloves for these cold cold days.. but alas sweet eff all was open.. it was o so sad! We headed over to the supermarket we don't usually go to coz there is a sports store where I have a voucher.. we took a chance and it didn't really pay off.. the sport store was closed so we decided to look in the supermarket for the sake of it.. and we came across nooodles! not 2min noodles or anything like that but noodles that came very close to udon.. in their vacuum sealed goodness.. so score! not a wasted trip after all.. we snapped up a packet to give them a go.. but nothing will ever compare to the little noodle shop that Em and I would frequent in Clayton.. all those years ago. Ahhh memories! So many good food memories from living in a land where it didn't cost the earth for simple pleasures.. but at least I cook and bake more now so that has to be good right?

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month, no returns!

*giggles* simply the best!

When Emma Bo Bemma got home from work..

..she was greeted with this awesome style...

..and much laughing was done!

**Sorry about the quality of the photo but it shows what it needs to right?

This morning it is still intact.. even tho I had no product to hold it in place.. yes my hair is THAT good! Oh you know you want it!

& for my troubles.. Emma gave me 2 more Butternut Pumpkins...

*click* photo time!

Once again Nemo was throwing spanners and I believe he just does not want us to see 'Up' so maybe we should just buy the DVD when it comes out.. plus it would be cheaper. Nemo is that what you were up to? So anyways the weekend was spent at home with a puking dog feeling sorry for himself and of course us feeling sorry for him and Emma feeling sorry for herself coz she couldn't go and buy a new jacket.. Awwwww's all around! Emma did get some online xmas shopping out of the way tho.. and spending mula always makes her.. well usually happy when she is spending mula on herself.. I'm not so sure about on others.. but then there will be wrapping to be done and that makes her overly happy.. it's like her crack! Me I made soft pretzels so I was happy.. they are like my crack! not ass crack :|

But now to get to the heart of my post and give you a little picture show.. I shall start off with a sweet looking Nemo.. don't you just love how he sleeps on his paw? totally awwww right?
Then we move onto Emma being a good mummy and laying on the floor with a sleeping Nemo.. so sweet! like candy!
And now moving away from any kind of aww and onto some very cool hairstyling.. people would pay for this style.. but not me.. this is just get up and go style! Actually it was more.. get up, potter around and go lay on the couch style. It's like pancakes.. American style! thick and puffy!
And lastly I have nothing to say of this one other than.. Nemo is that really you? How alien are you looking right now?

*crunch* bone time it is!

Nemo has managed to somehow injure himself and as a result we have to carry him up and down the stairs and shower him with all kinds of love and it seems goodies.. and Emma even goes as far as holding his 'we pity you nemo bone' for him as he munches.. end result = She-Ra showing her strength as the claws dig in and even a little nip happens as Nemo gets right into the heart of munching when the bone is a bit smaller.. sadly I don't have that bit on video.. I only have the very start.. but some is better than nothing.. and you can see a couple of the early claw marks..

[click me to of course watch the video] Nom Nom Nom says he!

Here is Emma's handy work in the Photoshop Mobile application on the iPhone of Nemo after he finished the bone all up..

..it really was the happiest we saw him all weekend.. noice!

Another noice thing.. mini lemon meringue pies! Oh you know you want one... or two.. ok who am I kidding, four is a good number! muahahahahaha

In this photo they are still a little.. ok a LOT on the oozy side.. but its all good in the hood and all you need to do to eat them is tilt ya head back some.. like Emma in the insert! Perfect! So we all know what I will be having for afternoon tea this afternoon.. Jealous much?

The weekend was pretty low key with Nemo not feeling the best.. we stayed home and pampered him instead of taking off to see 'Up'. Maybe this weekend.. and we even get an extra hour to recover from the crowded day in Malmo.. Score! lol However gaining that extra hour means even more darkness! You can't win them all I guess..

*rubs belly* Mmm Tasty!

Lemon Cream Pot!

My Friday night dessert!

...Need I say more?

*rustling* Freaken Birds!

This morning.. it is cold.. -1 cold! and dark.. headlights required dark! Nems and I had just left Emma at the station.. when we are walking minding our own business and I hear the rustle of the tree above and then I can only just make out the mass of birds exiting the tree.. it was like a blanket of dark black on a sheet of light black! and all I could think of was... "please no little white pillows!" and the worst thing was.. it continued on the whole stretch as I walked past each freaken tree.. I could hear the rustling, the fluttering and the dropping.. the dropping of the little white pillows.. but I made it.. no white pillows upon me.. the only white was the white that comes with fear. I really don't like birds and they really don't like me.. I leave them alone.. why can't they leave me in peace? Coz it just is not how they roll! Birds = Evil! but some can be o so pretty.. like Polly but she is evil.. that bird hates me with a vengeance!

*brrrr* it is TOO cold!

The week has begun and it has begun cold.. it was freezing while out walking Nems this morning.. I think it is about time I broke out the thermals and even wore my wind proof hiking pants for the walks with Nems.. and to think it is only going to get COLDER! You would think after 3 years I would be used to the cold that comes with living here.. but at least I don't live further up the country coz it gets even colder than here.. so should I just count my lucky stars?

My weekend was filled with coldness, cakes, a bit of booze.. some walkage of Nemo who was feeling a little under the weather.. must have been all the goodies and excitement. Oh and lots of catching up on tv shows.. it is always nice to be up to date.. now all we have to do is make sure we dont have a whole weeks worth to watch on a weekend.. coz that makes for some serious square eyes.. but at the same time is a wicked good excuse for tucking up in the warmth.

Is it bad that after a weekend cakefest.. I look at a cheesecake and go.. "I could do with some of that!" at 7:30 in the morning I might add! Shocking.. but really it has been a while since I had one.. I think I might make one specially for me on my dreaded 30th.. yuck.. it is like 10 weeks away.. maybe I can sleep the whole tenth week and pretend it didn't happen and I can stay 29 forever?? Birthday's.. what are they really?

Anyways on a much nicer and brighter note.. She-Ra saved a little toady from getting all squished! We were out walking Nems and I totally nearly stood on it.. but kept walking until something in my head went.. "was that really a little toady?" so we stopped and went back to have a nosy and sure enough it was a little toady so She-Ra picked it up and put it on the grass area.. hopefully it will find a good place to go and hibernate the colder times aways.. if not.. we at least stopped it from getting squished!

*riiiip* Nemo at his best!

Making a mess... [Click me to watch the video]

Nemo says: Oh the shame!