I Scream For..

.. Ice Cream!

Early this morning Em and I were up at the crack of dawn to make ice cream! This one is of course from the wonderful B&J awesomeness. We had some left over Heath bars from our Boston trip so we thought we would use them up in an ice cream.. so we have made Coffee Heath Bar Crunch..

And this is how we did it..

Denmark Day!

Em and I decided that we needed a day out of the house.. and out of Hässleholm.. so we jumped on a train to Helsingborg and then jumped on a little big boat and headed over to the land of Danes!

 

First stop.. was Kronborg Castle! 

 

 

The weather was freezing.. but we got inside just in time to take advantage of being indoors with a tour.. an English one thankfully! We walked around listening to the stories from the guide, telling us all sorts of tidbits.. one that amused me so was the story of the cutlery. He showed us a mock set table.. and one thing that was missing was the cutlery! Why was this you ask? Well.. he went onto tell us that cutlery back in the day was considered a very very very personal item.. much like a toothbrush. People would carry their own cutlery around with them. However, they didn't use it like you and I would use cutlery.. it was only used to grab the food.. as in.. you would shove your fork into a big hunk of something.. then use your knife to slice off a hunk of something.. then you would use your hands to remove said hunk of something and proceed to stuff your face by eating with your hands. Nuts. What was even more nuts was the fact that after each course.. the table cloth was replaced.. why you ask? Well.. because these people used the table cloths as communal napkins.. coz as you can imagine your hands would be very dirty and greasy from all that eating with hands.. one does need to be able to wipe and wipe and wipe. I am not sure I would like to witness such things.

Moving onto the ballroom.. we were then told about how there were no loo's.. the men had it easy by just being able to nick off down a few steps to the outside to relieve themselves.. while the women.. in their big many layered dresses would just nick off into little areas by the windows.. and relieve themselves. They never actually left the room. It all sounds really disgusting if you ask me.. but it gets better! They would also eat in this room.. where people who were invited were served more food than they could possibly eat.. so to be able to get through it all, once you were full.. you would call for a servant to come and bring you a large silver bowl and a goose feather.. the goose feather was then used to put down your throat.. so that you could throw up everything you just ate.. so that you could then continue to eat the supplied food.. you know so nothing would be wasted. And you have to remember.. I am now talking about the very elite of people. I for one.. would not like to go to one of these parties.

All in all the tour was very interesting and I did quite enjoy it. Once it was over we headed down to the Casemates for a little look around.. it was cold down there too so I had to put on my jacket.. and you could see ones breath! So I was being all creepy.. and Em did not appreciate it one little bit! I'm 32.. I should act like a growned up right? Naaaaa!

Our bellehs were starting to growl.. so we headed off to have a selection of Smørrebrød.. and of course a beer, we were in Daneland afterall! Although, Em only had Coke.. and true to Daneland standards.. it cost more to simply have softdrink instead of beer! They do love their beer over there!

We wandered around a little.. and soon enough it was time to catch the boat back over and get back to our little man.. he would be o so lonely! We left with our prized Boysenbær jam! Yes! We found some boysenberry jam again in Daneland! It's been in hiding the last few times we have been over..  but this time we found it.. and a couple of varieties of it.. we got the normal one and one other one to try! We are well stocked on the boysenberry jam front! Choice as bro!

Birthday Bubbles!

Ok.. there were no bubbles.. I just needed a B word and bubbles was the chosen word! Now all hail bubbles!

Where do I begin.. the week leading up to my birthday was pretty ordinary and then the morning of my birthday my wonderful gf Emma Bo Bemma decided she would bake me fresh hönökaka.. and it was simply delicious!

The whole process took around 3 hours.. so by the time it was served I was well ready to tuck in! Still warm from the oven, I put a lashing of butter over it.. which melted nicely and then a nice layer of the creamiest cheese ever.. and then topped with a little tomato.. so simple! So delicious! Really OmNomNom worthy!

With our bellehs stuffed with warm bread we pottered about until it was time to get stuck into even more OmNomNom goodness.. 

This time it was sandwich cake. Parental Bo Bemmas came around for this course and afterwards we enjoyed a homemade brandy snap and a slice of princess cake with a coffee. Yums!

I gots me some flowers for my birthday.. which is always nice..

More pottering was done.. we had a few things to finish off for Christmas you see.. we were slowly but surely getting there. As we always do. We got the Peanut Butter Balls chocolated and set aside and then we headed over to the Parental Bo Bemmas for a little helping of more hönökaka, rice pudding & glögg! Afterwards we braced ourselves and headed home.. trying not to slip over on the icy ground! Brrr!

We made it home in one piece and then the next day it was Christmas.. we started the day off with some leftover sandwich cake! Lunch was also left over sandwich cake! Simply love the stuff! Before heading over to the Parental Bo Bemmas for the Christmas feastage! It was a pretty enjoyable night.. especially when Em's dad went to pass a piece of eel to Em's bro & dropped it just short of the plate and right into the drink! Eels have always been slippery little fuckers! It was one of those moments you really wish you had caught on film! But alas.. I still haven't managed to get my eyes to record everything they see.. yet!

Nemo & Chicken!

Mah Tattoo!

A little video of
mah tattoo!

You're welcome!

Hellish!

We arrived at the airport.. dropped off our luggage and went and took our spots on the chairs with leg rests and waited.. Logan airport isn't the most thrilling of places so we just people watched while waiting out. 

We had received an email prior to leaving the house that the plane was delayed, so we had arrived a little later than usual, which was quite handy.. I know I'd rather hang out at home than at a boring airport. Upon checking in, the lady advised us again that there was the delay but all was good.. nothing we could do but wait. Wait we did. There was free internet.. but that timed out and stuff so I couldn't really be bothered with it after the first login.

I went for a stroll around the terminal when my butt started to get a bit bored of sitting.. used the facilities and picked up a nice cold caramel frap.. and then parked said ass back in the seat until it was time to board.. things by this stage were pretty ok.. it felt like any other flight.. we board, we complain about the heat on the plane.. why is it they can never get the aircon right? It was like a freaken sauna! The captain greets us over the intercom and advises us that even though we are leaving late.. we will still arrive at the scheduled time.. around 5.5 hours later! Which made for a happy Jo.. coz it meant less time on that damn plane...

But... then...

Another announcement was made.. there were 'technicial difficulties' and there would be a short delay.

And another announcement was made.. and another.. and then they started serving drinks so you just knew at that point that we were gonna be stuck there for a good while. All the while the damn captain kept coming on to say that we would be on our way in a few and to just hang in there. He then proceeded to tell us after a couple of hours that it was just one of those things and there was nothing we can do about it.. I can't remember his exact words but those were the jist of what he was saying.. and it made me want to go and pop him in the nose.

2.5 hours after everyone had boarded the plane.. we were finally heading to the runway to take off.. when we look over and the lady.. sorry complete douchebag of a princess who think she is better than everyone so she should be allowed to.. was playing on her phone.. which she had been doing the entire time she was seated next to us during the delay.. making no attempt to turn her phone off at all, despite there being several announcements for all electronics to be switched the frak off! Emma finally had it and so decided I would just nark on her to the ladies and off behind the curtain I went.. and sure enough they came.. and the best bit.. the lady walked up to her and said.. "do you speak English?" Loved it! it made me giggle. She tried to say that she was just switching it off.. but she wasn't.. but she did after that! 

Soon enough.. we were up in the air.. finally and I was thinking that the worst was behind us... oh how wrong I was. I had a complete douche of a dude in front of me.. just before I was about to get my food.. he reclined as much as he could go. I had the tv screen in my face and once the tray arrived, I barely had room adjust anything.. I asked the lovely ladies if they could tell him to just move up a little.. she looked at him and said "he's fully asleep" I gave her a I don't give a fuck look, and she and another lady just moved him up as he slept.. which just so happened to happen as we hit a bit of turbulence.. which I guess was a blessing in a way coz he had no idea.. but sadly it wasn't such a blessing.. I had poured my wine and just got through my salad.. when he awoke slightly and realised he wasn't as reclined as he could be.. so he reclined again and knocked my glass of wine all the frak over me. I was covered in wine. My tray was covered in wine. I was pissed. I tried to clean up what I could.. with what little I had. Then went and told the ladies behind the curtain what had happened.. they cleaned up my seating area and got me new food while I was in the bathroom trying to dry off some more. I now stunk of wine. They offered me more wine when they brought back my food.. I declined. I didn't think it would be so safe with such an asshole in front of me. I am a firm believer that you should not be able to recline. ever. There is not enough space to recline. simple.

However.. as it turned out this trip I did recline.. because not only did we happen to have a douche in our window seat.. I also had an old lady who spent the entire flight staring at me on the other side of me. The recline douche in front of me.. and now I shall tell you about the complete frakkin tossknuckle who sat behind me.. who obviously had never used a touch screen before coz he for some reason thought you had to hit it as hard as you fucking could.. each and every time he wanted to do something. To the point where it would shake my entire chair. So, I reclined a little.. he kept going.. so I reclined a little more.. he. kept. going. so I reclined just a little bit more.. he then pressed even harder.. which I didn't think was possible so I went fuck it.. and reclined as far as I could go. He stopped. and I didn't feel him touch that screen for the rest of the flight.

When the flight was finally over.. we only had an hour to make our next connection.. we not only got our express tickets again.. but we got an escort.. which, well quite frankly was pointless coz he couldn't get us through the main part faster and we had to queue anyways.. we could have got to that point faster without him.. but I guess it meant that they really wouldn't leave without us coz we were being escorted. We got through on time.. boarded and once again got sat next to a cellphone using moron.. who was still checking emails as we were heading to the runway.. Emma, this time had truly had enough and just snapped at her. Moron obeyed. All was good until after take off when she needed to use the toilet, inside of being polite and asking for us to move.. she tried to climb over us. LOL amusing to say the least.

We were right at the front of the cattle class, so to amuse myself I would put my foot in business/first class to make out it was riding in style. It was one of the smaller planes where they only have a simple curtain between seats to separate between business and cattle. Same seats as cattle.. you just never have the middle one taken.. apparently. 

The flight was pretty painless.. we arrived all safe and sound in Copenhagen.. headed to the baggage claim.. waited.. waited.. waited.. and waited some more.. until it was quite clear, our luggage had not made the connection.. I guess they forgot to give our luggage the little express tickets! Silly! We filled out a form and off to the train we went.. with just our satchels! Which if I am honest.. was kinda blissful! I do know I was dreading carting those bags up my stairs. The train ride home was kinda peaceful and it was lovely to be home.. Nemo growled at me, I guess he was a little pissy.. once again. We showered and relaxed, had take away for dinner and fell asleep on the couch. It was good to be home!

The following day.. the luggage arrived all safe and sound, and carted up the stairs by a strapping Dane.

Previously I promised you a photo of my other badge, and seeing as I don't have any photos on this entry.. I shall add it here.. so here we have it, my other doctor who themed badge! Awesomesauce!

The Final Weekend!

After all the excitement of the turkeys early Friday morning.. I just knew today was going to be a good day! After all how could it not after finally seeing turkeys! Hank & Billy-Goat headed off to work and had left us with the silver bullet again.. Em and I pottered around the house, before heading off.. by foot to the post office to post a couple of packages and get some stamps! I mistakenly wore my new shoes.. by the time we arrived, my feet wanted to die.. but we got our groove on and got things all filled out and posted and off we went to stop by Starbucks for a little coffee and people watching.. we sat with our coffees before we discovered that one of the packages was being sent to French Polynesia instead of Australia! Gah! Plus we had forgotten the stamps so Em headed back to sort that shit out. I stayed at Starbucks and rested my dying foots while people watching. She arrived back with the package sorted.. but again stampless! Doh! Soon it was time to go.. I quickly discovered that the walking wasn't exactly going to work so goodly with my shoes on.. so I simply took them off and walked home in my socks. Now this is the second time I have walked the streets in lamericat.. in mah socks!

After a little more pottering at home, we headed off to the movies to catch a flick.. first however stopping by Target! Picking up a few items.. like Reese's PB cups! Essential! Then it was time to head into the movies.. with a quick detour via the snack bar to grab drink and popcorn.. which cost more than the tickets to the movies! Nuts.. but I am a girl that just has to have popcorn at the movies.. in Australia I'd also enjoy a boysenberry choc top but they didn't have them here.. they did however have pizza and hotdogs. Seriously. We grabbed our stuff and headed into the movie to grab some seats.. and we sat there and was put through 30... yes THREE ZERO! minutes of trailers! Overkill much? The movie begun.. and it was loud! Too loud. Overall it killed the experience for me.. but these things happen.. I guess I am just too sensitive. Despite the loudness I did enjoy The Muppets.. Em enjoyed it so very much that the second we got home she downloaded from iTunes a song.. what song?... THIS song! Which she proceeded to play and sing for much too long. I think you have to listen to it the whole way through at least once.. so go on.. LISTEN!

Friday night was pretty low key and soon enough Saturday arrived.. and this is where I talk about the something I never thought I would do! People.. Hank dragged me along wedding dress... hunting? So much hunting on this trip! 

 

We walked into this wedding dress place and I saw first hand just how ugly some wedding dresses can be! We walked the isles of dresses.. Hank looking at one after the other.. Em and I looking at the odd one.. Hank picked out 3 dresses to go and try on.. and off back to the fitting room we went where we witnessed other soon to be brides trying on their stuff.. out Hank came, one by one trying on the dresses she had picked.. there was one that she rather liked.. the sales assistant lady noted down the number for her and off we toddled.. I was impressed that Hank kept to her word and kept it all in a timely fashion.. I don't even think it took 45mins.. maybe only just if anything! Quite painless really.. all things considered. BUt it kinda turned out to be a waste of time anyways coz the silly sales assistant.. wrote.. down.. the.. wrong.. dress number! Gosh!

Now we were off to Boston to roam the streets and take in some Boston goodness before our trip concluded. Boston really is a lovely place.. I could see myself living quite easily.. if only it was actually easy to get a visa to live there! Alas.. it is not so I shall have to stick to just having holidays there from now until whenever. After roaming the streets, looking in stores.. we went to this place for a bite to eat, where.. lets just say I wasn't exactly happy with the service or anything. The food was quite average.. but it was what it was and then we headed home.. which is where I got to experience another thing I had never tried before... S'mores! Bill-Goat even went and collected real sticks to put the real marshmallows on to stick over the real fire! It was a real s'mores experience!

Sunday morning arrived quickly and off we went to brunch at a new diner that had opened up just a stones throw away.. we walked to the diner and had.. what felt like forever, but was I think around about an hours wait to get a table.. and then when we got a table, we got one where (which seemed to be half the diner) the main door opens and you get this gust of icy cold air. So we had to rug up a little just to have breakfast. The food came.. but the utensils didn't.. its always the little things that suffer when new places open up. The meal was ok, average.. not high on my go back to list that's for sure. Belleh's full we headed home. Last day hang outs are pretty relaxed.. we even managed a little snooze after a big feed of some left over turkey.. I think I ate too much turkey.. but when am I gonna eat roast turkey again? I made the most of it. 

All packed up, we were ready to depart and the time had come so off we went to the airport... with our just on weight luggage!

Finally! Frakkin Turkeys!

Friday morning.. the turkeys arrived! Billy-Goat went down for his usual morning smoko.. Em and I were in our jimmyjams on the couch.. when we heard the excitement of the turkeys.. I think he was just as excited to see them as I was.. coz I had built up the turkey experience so very much! Even Hanky Hanna got in on the excitement! It was all very thrilling!

Now for your viewing pleasure.. videos!

Let there be flight!

Now we get our watch on!

Ooooo it's a balancing act!
More watching!
&
Billy-Goat finally gets his smoko on!

Of course I tried to blend in and follow the pack..
however.. it didn't work so goodly!
They didn't accept me as one of their own! Bastards!

Now for the best video ever of the turkeys and I!
Watch it all the way through!
It is a MUST!

Bye bye turkeys..
until we meet again!
*blows kisses*

Now that concludes all the things that I really wanted from the trip! I got all three T's! Tattoo! Thanksgiving! Turkeys! Days of turkeys.. they were there morning and night for a couple of nights! It was awesome.. and then they were gone! But I didn't care coz I got my fix! And as you would have seen from the videos, a very good fix! Now could a holiday really be topped when you get everything you want? Apparently it could.. which you shall find out about in my next installment! I did something that I never thought I would ever do! It was rather enlightening!

Thanksgiving!

Thursday.. thanksgiving day arrived! This was another main reason to come to Boston this trip over.. Tattoo, Thanksgiving & Turkey! By this Thursday morning, I had got my tattoo.. it was now thanksgiving and we would be heading to Billy-Goats family home to enjoy a real family thanksgiving with lots of foodage! However the turkeys.. they were still playing hard to frakkin' get! I still have a few days so there was hope!

We bummed around the house for a bit and then it was time to start the full thanksgiving experience with a trip out to Plymouth.. 

Here I am on my way in the car to Plymouth, sporting one of my very awesome doctor who badges (the other you shall see in a later post) Yeah, I wear badges now. Badges are cool.

When we arrived in Plymouth, there was some kind of rally thing going on where someone waas speaking about something.. I didn't really pay much attention.. there were lots of people! & I am not so good with people so I just trucked on through and got to the areas I wanted to see.. and pose in front of signs!

We got to see the Plymouth Rock [click me for proof we did see it!] and the Mayflower II which was not too far away from said rock. And this is where they house/imprison said rock!

Once we finished the sightseeing, off we went to Billy-Goats parentals! Where I got to say hello to a kitty cat who was huge! She was beautiful!

and it wasn't too long before the turkey was served and this turkey! woah! it was huge! So now, the first turkey I see here.. is cooked! and wow, seeing a whole roasted turkey that big is quite impressive, and you really get a sense of just how huge these monster birds are! The turkey gets carved!

and then the feast begins...

I gobbled up a selection of turkey, gravy, beans, mashed spud, sweet potato with marshmallows, some green jelly thing that was made with pineapple and cream cheese, it was quite good, refreshing actually, a cranberry & orange relish, mashed pumpkin (which tasted a lot like the carrot & pumpkin mash I had as a youngen.) There was also cranberry sauce.. but I didn't bother with that!

and before we know it, its dessert time!

Where I have a little slice of  pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie & a pumpkin cupcake!

After dinner, another visitor arrived.. who kindly told a story about how she had 22 bloody turkeys in her bloody yard! Bragger much! I was still yet to see one live turkey.. the best I had done so far was a cooked turkey and a turkey tea candle..

After looking at some animal porn on Billy-Goat's sister's iPad from a recent trip away to lands of wild animals.. but no turkeys! We decided it was a good time to start the trek home and off into the darkness we went.. home, James!

Inking Jo!

Now this hairy bitch is getting shaved!

I'm getting drawn on!

Consider myself Sharpied!

Outline..done!
Iwi now has the start of some pretty Pohutukawa flowers on his head!

Checking out the very awesome weta, Irene!
Stoked!

Getting the colour on!

Waiting.. waiting.. waiting..
Emma is getting rather bored with the waiting..

Henry is looking like he has been in the wars upon completion..

Irene the weta complete!

Henry the tuatara complete!
with a touch of pohutukawa!

& that's a wrap!

Whooops! forgot the dots on the pohutukawa!
getting my dots on and then to be re-wrapped!

Now to get the TARDIS started!

Outline of the TARDIS complete!

Time to get the blue on!

TARDIS complete!