Well darn

All this snow does negate the fact that I forgot my umbrella again. I don't actually think it's acceptable for people in countries that are part arctic to use umbrellas against snow. It's silly, silly, silly and I would never do it. If snow falls somewhere like the UK or Germany and they use umbrellas, that's forgivable. They don't know any better! Sleet, on the other hand, is of course tricky. How wet must the sleet be for people not to stare at you funny when you use an umbrella? Can be tricky, especially for Danes. They're kind of borderline there. But if you're Swedish, you just know.

In other news, I managed to somehow pick a chic-lit book that takes place in North Carolina. This is not helping travel-yearnings, I'm trying to remember where I've been, everything sounds so familiar! I should perhaps note that the book is in German - I wouldn't borrow chic-lit or at least not own up to reading any kind of chic-lit other than Ms Keyes. But I find reading proper books in German, at least before and after work, is just too difficult and instead I fall asleep. So my compromise is: chic-lit!
Right, I've just installed Google-Earth, and apparently the book does take place in a town where I've been several times, as I was suspecting. Darn. As soon as I've finished the book, I'm going to start a US-detox. No CNN, no Starbucks, although I can't avoid Facebook no looking at pics taking by any friends living there and... OK, bound to fail, crap.

A study in human pettiness

So. It's lovely for Planet Earth that Obama is dropping by Hopenhagen this week. Endorsement, bla bla bla. Personally I'm already dreading the day. Last time he stopped by it took 3,5h to get home. This time it's not even a Friday.

That's pettiness for you!!

In other news, today I ordered a math book. Like, I paid for it, so that I can study maths. For no particular reason but my own enjoyment. I've gotten this sad idea in my head that if I'd ever gotten some encouragement in maths I would have been much better at it. I recall it being quite fun at times. So I'm thinking that taking a crack at some C-level math on my own is either going to shatter this silly illusion or confirm my hypothesis that I'm some kind of dormant genius (or, at least, someone who could potentially actually do something for a living involving thinking in a science that is not entirely soft).

Also, xmas cheer levels rising steadily. Bought a CD this weekend that you can kind of sing along to. So if my math career goes bust I might follow up on the equally realistic notion that I'm actually a world-class soprano in the making.

Celeb spotting on the clock

Copenhagen is all the rage this week, what with the IOC voting for the 2016 olympics coming up. Today I saw Michelle Obama's head through a car window (I would have seen her outfit if this huge van hadn't parked in front of us - I didn't manage to push through the crowds fast enough to see her during those few seconds she was visible on the steps). I also saw the Danish queen, and well, Oprah drove past us but I was not at street level so I didn't actually see her (I was on street level for Mrs Obama so I did get a fairly good look). Oh, and the heads of states of Brazil, Denmark, and Japan. But men in suits are very difficult to distinguish from a 100 meters away. So, blaha. Margrethe had it spot on with a very pink suit - it was very easy to tell her apart from the various creti and pleti assistants and commissioners!

Me and my boss stood outside for 45 minutes waiting and the crowd was very cheerful, we chatted with a few people actually (highly unusual in Scandinavia). Freezing, and alternating light rain and sunshine. At least I got my Vitamin D for today!
By far the most exciting castle event so far. The others have only involved the Royal Family themselves. Today they were just an added bonus.

Now there's only the dubious excitement of the train traffic (and motor traffic and airport traffic) being stopped during rush hour tomorrow so President Obama can land his Air Force One securely. So at some point I will be stuck in a tunnel, and a few hundred meters away he will be setting foot on Danish ground.

Yes, I know. I said it was dubious!

no shit sherlock

Still going strong with the LCHF. I did have a bit of a break, I was down with the flue for almost a week and I was so nauseous the whole time. I stuck to it pretty good but then I bought some ice cream. I don't actually like ice cream much, I eat it in the summer because it's the thing to do but I'd rather have a piece of cake. But when I have a fever, I crave ice cream. So I had one pint of Häägen Daaz Caramel Mocha (heavenly), and bread at two occasions (I couldn't actually go to the shop because I had a fever and most LCHF food is refrigerated stuff and I was runnning out). Anyway, I'm back at it now. I don't mind it much but I can't really imagine eating like this for the rest of my life. I think once you're at a good weight you can eat some carbs, the main thing is not to be afraid of fat (like everyone is, it really is crazy).

Anyway. I missed the choire performance on Walpurgis night because I had the flue, and the final rehersal when we were also due to perform somewhere locally. It really wasn't fun, I wasn't like near death or anything but very dizzy and sick apart from the fever, and it was sooo sunny and apparently mediterranean outside. I wouldn't know, it's not like you want to go into the sunshine when you have a fever. Like how water hurts and you don't want to shower. I didn't, for 5 days - my hair was so shiny when I finally broke that dry spell...

Anyway. Not quite sure what else to write! It's been raining all week but I don't mind and it smells really nice from all the flowers and geez. I'm boring myself here! Eh. Later.

Today, btw, is Friday for me - tomorrow is Danish 'Prayer Day' = long weekend! It's not a holiday in Sweden = shopping.

I need a rain coat.

Picture perfect

I've been thinking how I should post more pics here, mostly because it's so much fun to read other people's blogs when they have pictures. So, well, I don't know if these first pics are very amusing but I've been thinking for some time that I should take some pics at my fairly astounding surroundings at work. So, today I played tourist and walked around snapping shots like your regular German or Pole or Korean chap.

I have to say this one turned out quite well. The proper name of the guard escapes me, but in any case to me they mean: food!!

















Their first turn around the square is at 11.50am which is when I go to the loo and gather me things to go down to the canteen.

I hope this doesn't turn into a pavlovlian response though, I could hear marching music during other circumstances and drooling might be a bit awkward then. I don't find a man in uniform abhorrant or anything I suppose but outright drooling - well that'd be a bit extreme.

~~~oOo~~~

Now, in case you didn't know? I like sci-fi. I read it, I watch some (but not as much as I read because, frankly, the best movie sets and the biggest budgets and the best programmers in the world still have a hard time living up to the imagination of the human mind). And I am absolutely fascinated by these sculptures? poles? land marks? near the castle, not only because they contrast so drastically with the pretty-as-a-picture castle gardens but because, well, look at them!!

























I haven't actually read any of the signs so it's possible there is some explanation of these works but to me it's just Resistance Is Futile cyborg-technology-gone-wrong and can we call in SG-1 because mutant organisms are melting the walls and soon they're gonna start hacking their way into people's brains and turn us all into mindless drones and take over the world!!!

So. Awesome.

rain, rain, rain, and tax

The rain is like a wall outside the open windows, it's actually quite fascinating (as I type, the other two in the office are just staring and exclaming in astonishment, making noas ark references - it's that kind of rain).
Incidentally, today is the start of Roskilde, Scandinavia's biggest rock festival taking place a few miles away (in the outdoor's, of course...). It's also the day when most high school kid's in Copenhagen graduate and are riding around in open cars and trucks around the city.

Moahaha that's the only thing cheering me up this awfully slow Friday afternoon, life is not fair!! and you'd better learn it soon and get used to it...
It's also the day after I decided to wash my rain jacket after 4 weeks of on-off rain (but not this kind of rain), which I consequently didn't bring with me today. An umbrella really isn't going to help much if it's still raining like this in an hour. Oh well. TGIF.

My sister has been home this week and my mum and dad have vacation as well, so they've been on outings and bbq:ing and sipping wine till late in the evenings, while I've been getting up at 5.40am like usual. I also have a cold, and after a few shorter weekend trips I'm now gagging for a longer vacation.

Today we got paid and my 5 days of unpaid holiday really made it's mark. In July I'm taking two weeks... but I can't imagine not taking any holiday. Still, this part of the Scandinavian system really sucks. Even when I worked for slave wage in Spain and also in the UK I never had to earn my holiday compensation. Granted, we had fewer days, but still. So far, the famously fair and wonderful Sweden appears to be quite crap in comparison to where I've been with regards to the labour market:
-higher taxes
-despite higher taxes going to the doctor/health centre costs you a standard fee (free in UK, in Denmark, in Spain we had co doctor = free as well)
-'karensdagar' ie the first day each time you're sick you don't get paid (gov currently aiming to make it 2!!)
-the first year of your employment you don't get paid holidays

I'm lucky I work in Denmark, and not. Tax in Denmark is the highest in Europe, including Sweden. So, I'm being taxed to finance healthcare which I am not recieving, and have to pay in Sweden. Still, we only work 35h/week compared to 40 in Sweden. And then wages are higher than in Sweden. So basically, if I ever started working in Sweden, I would get:
- fewer paid days due to unpaid sick days
- lower wage
- work more hours per week
+ slightly lower tax

(notice how I wrote 'if I ever work in Sweden'? ha)

On an unrelated note I've decided to start tagging my entries - it's really quite spectacular I haven't done it before, even if no-one else reads this. I'm a librarian for heaven's sake! Classifying is what I do, all day (not books, but still). So. I might make that a project this weekend, tomorrow is supposed to be equally dull before weather prospects improve slightly...
bye for now
/grumpy