Where is te blue door?

I almost tread on a dead mouse this morning, the cats are becoming real hunters and our neighbor (with previous mouse problems) has got themselves a cat to rid the problem and it looks like its working. I hope the mouse community are quick learners and realize this is no mouse friendly house either as I don't want to keep stepping on dead mice first thing in the morning.
A really bad day in the shop, not a single sale! But who has energy to go shopping in this heat. However I had some interesting tourists coming in asking for directions tho. I found out Screen Face (professional make-up shop) is just around the corner and an American couple asked where the blue door was (from the film Notting Hill). I knew the door was no longer blue but apperenly all the neighbouring doors are blue so its easy to spot the 'original' blue door, which is now black.

Photo of the day

A very quiet Nancy Pop

Start of the heatwave

Very hot today!! must be around 30 degrees. Spent most of the day at different playgrounds (and the rest of the day indoors. Too hot to be in the garden until very late afternoon (no shade what so ever). Still keeping clear of the childrens center playground, cant quite bring myself to go there after the murder.

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Mina has taken her brave pills

Back at Nancy Pop

1st day of my holiday cover in Nancy Pop, Notting Hill. Getting used to the stock now so its going really smooth, whenever there are customers....not a busy shop but nice to get out and be a in touch with the fashion world again.

Photo sequence of the day





Daddy and Mina doing Judo in the bedroom

I waiting and I waiting, still waiting......

My make-up counter is set up (the breakfast bar and bar stool that is) and waiting - 1 1/2 hr later my college friend turns up and that only gives us time to do either of us. With Mina in front of the box and 2 'days late' its not more than fair that I get to be the artist. 30 min was the target for a day make-up and I did it in 40 min so not too bad (next time I'll do in 30) and she was very happy with the end result.
Next waiting game is for the keys to the shop. I cant believe Narrinder can't cut an extra key! In Sofia's absence I am trying to catch up with Danny but he is working and can't give me a specific time. In the end it works out rather good. I get the call, just after Mina has fallen asleep and I cycle through the marshes in to Springfield park to meet him in the cafe. After another 30min of waiting he calls, he is at the other cafe, at the bottom of the park and now its starting to rain...
In the end, apart from waiting around all day I had a successful make-up session and a lovely cycle ride through the park and the real thunder storm didnt start until I was safely back home.

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A serious game of cricket in Springfield park, Clapton E5

At home with sick husband

We're taking it in turns, now its Paul's turn to be ill (Mina has got a pretty snotty nose too). Limbs are much improved and now only with a sore throat. Spending most of the day tidying and cleaning so its not such a bob site when Surita comes over for some make-up practice later.

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Mina is helping hanging up the washing

OMG I cant believe Michel Jackson is dead

Another shopping day - this time without a buggy, so much easier. I had so much I wanted to get done today and as always, I only get started on a fraction of it. However, I did managed to do some work in my make-up folder and made a few calls to some Swedish employment agencies, annoyingly you have to registrar / upload your CV on to their database before you can start any job hunting and its not just your word doc CV, no no its their own 'cv bank' where you have to tick boxes and record all your schools and your employment history, special skills and other personal information - it takes forever........
Went to bed early and got woken up by a text from Karin telling me to turn on the news to hear about Michel Jackson's heart attack. So surreal, and he was just about to do his comeback tour, playing in London only next month. Rest in peace!

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My bridesmaid outfit and Mina's wedding changing bag....

Shirt hunting

Today's task is rather an enjoyable one - filling up Paul summer wardrobe. Yes, I like these kind of 'house chore', if you can call it that. On a small budget its even more of a challenge. As always I head straight to TK for some quality bargains and I am also on the look out for a ivory bridesmaid dress, for both me and Mina.
Well in the end I found the perfect shirts, I know he'll love them (and a few plain ones for work too).
Found out on the course today that we have 3 lesions LEFT and these are to be used for our assessments!!! I don't know how I am gonna be able to fit it all in, all the homework that needs to be done as we don't have the time to do it in class. This course just gets shorter and shorter. So glad I haven't gone out and bought all the expensive equipment. I have been a real kitchen witch and used what I have had at home plus a few trips to the £-shop.

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How can you NOT admire these classic Hawaiian motifs

Still wobbly

Still feeling a bit weird. Paul took the day off, just in case....Woke up and the numbness had moved down the into the hip and leg - but what was I going to do? All the results were fine and the chest wasn't any worse than yesterday. It was reassuring talking to Ulf in the evening (especially after mom had told my we had heart problems in the family, well a few generations down and all on the male side so I wasn't too worried). Anyway I was well enough to go over to Lisa's and do another make-up case study.

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Mina is not wanting to go to bed, getting up to all sorts of tricks to get our attention. It worked!

Knickers in the post

I spent the majority of today at Whipps cross A&E department after calling the NHS direct for some reassurance that my numb arm and tight chest was a just a trapped nerve, or so Paul told me. Being a bit of a hypochondriac I thought I might have created the symphtoms from purely worrying, but oh no. I was told to get straight to hospital and even call an ambulace if it got any worse. It didn't really make me feel any better. Well at the hospital I had time to finish the Style suppliment cover to cove. I learnt everything from restaurant etiqettes, strawberry receipes and glastenburry dress codes to Stoke newington's Olive and Rosie's boutique owners kitchen and Kate Perry's religoues background and all in between ECGs, blood tests and X-Rays - was sent home later in the afternoon with a letter for my GP and some stong painkiller but no wiser where this weired numb sensation came from. I must say, that even tho I spent most of my day waiting for various results and doctors I was well looked after with nursers checking up on my regularly and offered both drinks and sandwiches. Mina aslo had a good day as her late Midsummer present from Mormor arrived today. A new DVD (Lilla Spöket Laban) and Pippi knickers and socks. Already from the end of today Laban is the new favorite.

Photo of the day

My very normal ECG result

Father's day

The best thing about Swedish traditions are that you always end up with a great leftovers. However as it is Father's day today there are more British things on the menu such as bacon butty for breakfast and steak sandwich for lunch (I'll stick to the Swedish food thank you very much and Mina wasn't keen on beef either which did surprise me). The TV listing couldn't have been more dad favorable if they tried. Grand prix qualifying (watched in bed on the laptop accompanied by a bacon butty ), 4 hrs of racing in the Silverstone Grand prix. Then the start of the new season of Top Gear, James May on the moon to finish the day with an episode of BSG (and a with a bbq spatchcocked chicken in between). Sounds like a pretty good father's day to me. Happy father's day daddy - you're an amazing!

Photos of the day

A midsummer take on the Sunday roast with new potato salad and garden radishes

Daddy is enjoying a day off

Beware - Mad Swedes in Hyde park

A little rain and some sunshine - the weather couldn't be more typical midsummer weather.We set of for our annual traditional celebration in Hyde Park where hundreds up on hundreds gather on this day. And this year we were going to be there from the start (which is a first). Traveling with Lisa and Christan taking the tube to Marble arch me and Lisa couldn't stop bitching about the bastards stairs (this particular route is extra bad, so it was good we had our strong husbands with us). Once inside the park you just have to follow the dressed up girls wearing flower garlands or the group of obvious looking Swedes carrying an Ikea bag, or just know where you're going because you've been doing this for the last 10 years (that'll be me).

Plenty of homemade Swedish food such as meatballs, potato salad, feta and olive muffins and the Swedish take on English cucumber sandwich - salmon, cucumber wraps

Hell and gore.....no midsummer without schnapps and luckily you can get a 10 miniature selection from Ikea or go for the big bottle like Sofia. We had a perfect spot under a big tree just in case of another shower, (and a it did rain oh...for about 5 min). The Swedish chambers of commers, who organize this event every year handed out song sheets in their traditional Swedish flolk costumes. Then it was time for the first round of 'the little frog dance'...

We had forgotten to practice but there was no need

More and more people kept turning up and in the end all of Mina's Swedish friends were there and some new ones too.


It was a wicked party and I don't know who enjoyed it the most, us or the kids. They were running round all day and it was nice to be able to take turns looking after them. At one point me and Lisa were laughing about Christian having a handful with 4 of them before realizing that he was actually trying to prevent a Kubb disaster where the kids were pulling up poles from the Kubb pitch (this is a Swedish game were you throw sticks on blocks of wood).

Finally got them to sit still for a min - using bribery tools. An ice lolly, a sandwich and a dummy

Have been trying all day to get a decent picture of Mina wearing her garland which I stayed up til late to make last night. It turned out pretty good with small spray carnations from ASDA and some bloom from Lisa's garden including prästkrage and lavender.


Got y'a!

Glad Midsommar

Have celebrated in Lisa's garden. Was suppose to bake a summer cake but after all the shopping this morning (couldn't find the maxi dress I had in mind so had to compromise for a pair of ear rings instead) I didn't have time to make it (or we wouldn't have turned up until this evening) so I packed up all ingredients went over to Lisa's and she ended up making the cake and I looked after the children.

Photo of the day

Mmmmm what a delicious cake! We ate almost all of it, Mina was pretty keen on it too.

Nancy Pop

A new job, well, holiday cover really but a job never-the-less. I was a bit nervous about the area as its not my favorite part of town but it went OK. Sofia and Helen must have spoken highly about me for the boss to trust me with opening and closing the shop all by my self after only have spent half an afternoon in the shop. But I did all right, sold for a decent amount and I got to wear the shops expensive clothes too.

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Me in the changing room

Bargain hunter

I spent most of the morning finding make-up bargains for this evenings course. We've only got a few lessons left and no way am I paying over £100 for a student make-up kit case - what are the chances I get a job as a make-up artist after this course, it has been quite disappointing. Saying that, I do have some flair so who knows...(ha ha see end of paragraph).
Found some awesome stuff in the £ shop of good professional standard - I am so good! Well I have been living frugally way before the recession. I Was pretty pleased with my make-up until I brushed off the excess eyeshadow under the eyes and didn't hold the brush correctly or have enough powder for that matter, so the end result looked more like she had walked into a door then ready for a night out where as half the face was now blue!

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My first eye

park life

Spent all day in the little park next to Brooks farm. We have a lot to catch up on before Elohor moves to Brighton - where do you get those fantastically cheap tickets from at £3?? The kids were happy playing in the big adventure playground and then a quick visit to the farm to feed the goats and guinea pigs (just did a quick gooogle search and didn't expect roasted guinea pigs coming up as a top result....poor little ones).

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First nappy free day out - potty training in the wild

Summer thunder storms and safety regulations

Mina is getting the hang of using the potty again (thank god). Finally got a confirmation of last lesson on my make-up course and also found out that my current health and safety certificate does not cover for my make-up course I have to do it again because its with a different body. It is ridicules! Worst of all, all the classes are fully booked and you can't do the exam without it- so am I gonna get my certificate?
Summers first thunder storm and with some good lightening too.

Spike has taken a brave pill and is looking out of the open back door

Fabulous weekend

What a lovely weekend! Sunshine, Pims and BBQ all weekend long.
Saturday
I managed to polish off this weeks Sunday paper (in the the shade) while Paul did the weekly shop - this is the last time we're doing the weekly shop on a Saturday, its such a waste, back to online shopping - Well, they do predict we've seen the worst of the recession so lets start spending.

No British summer without Pims and lemonade, while we wait for our delicious salmon kebabs.

Sunday
I have landed myself a new temporary job! In Notting Hill of all places, haven't really been there for 10 years! . Well, that will see Mina through nursery for another month....
I ran into 2 friends today. So pleased to see them. I am slowly filling up my address book again.
Another bbq awaits me when I get home - it's the way to eat this time of the year and we just love our new garden furniture's! Spider is now loving being outside and Spike was brave enough to step all four paws outside the conservatory .

Harvest of the day - our very first radishes.

Entering a new job market

I applied for my first Swedish job today so fingers x:ed (especially as Swedish writing is pretty rusty right now).
Then spent rest of the afternoon over at Lisa's.

Thought for today
When something goes wrong....Ask yourself: 'what am I learning?' or 'how does this help me grow?' Then you will feel, whatever has happened is good, what is happening is better and what is to happen is even better. - I'll try to keep this in mind when I'm job hunting....

A special day

Paul is working from home today and Mina is at nursery so its a pretty special day....
Celebrating with Bucks fizz and a salmon omelet for an early lunch.
A day of doing noting just hanging out, how lovely! Finally got to watch 300 - very sexy and very gay, the CGI is awesome but god would I have a spartan any day.

Photo of the day

Another tube strike

Do they have to put on a 3day strike? the underground workers I am talking about. Not only does it fuck up everyone working and living in London for these 3 whole days but some of us would just be happy to have a job, not asking for more money in this current climate (oh don't I sound bitter).
Catching up in Ikea's restaurant with my Swedish friends, our favorite hangout. We had two seating's that's 2 hotdogs and 2 kanelbullar in the first round than a quick tour of the showroom

and back for another kanelbulle and drink for the 2nd seating (not so much sitting down as running after the kids this time).

A new bath...not a day too early

So its finally here, the new bath. I didn't realize it was gonna take 2 days to install it tho. I was looking forward to a long soak without having to fill up the tub every 5 min because the plughole is an awkward size and no plugs will fit ggrrr....Anyway no soak for me this evening or shower either for that matter or tomorrow (waste pipe is still not connected). Hopefully the bathroom should be back in order by tomorrow evening. I really hope so!

Our old leaking bath have left its mark

5am is way too early to wake up

Not much to say about today. Its been a pretty dull day and we've stayed in all day apart from a quick trip to the corner shop so I could make my infamous moussaka. Have felt a bit like a zombie after being woken up at 5am. But I shouldn't complain, it was a luxury to have an whole evening to our selves as someone fell asleep on the floor at 7.30pm.

My very own Tank girl

Happy birthday cats!

In their prime years, 5 years today. Can't believe it was so long ago we picked them up and then traveled back on the train, both of them scratching desperately to get out of of their cardboard travel compartment. Spider wasn't much bigger than my then current camera case - look at him now, a big hansom chick hunter (and 2 mice). And Spike was almost white, with piercing blue eyes - the eyes are still blue but his coat has turned into a gorgeous Siamese seal point.
Oh and on a quick nappy training note, Mina only had one accident all day (Hurray!) and she pooped in the potty too (which was a welcomed change to yesterdays 7 insentient). Hurray for Mina and lets hear it one more time for the cats.

Photo of the day

Spider and Spike with their kill

Chicken meatballs vs meat feast pizza

A day of cooking. In our cook off who is the tastiest? My chicken and apple meatballs or Paul's homemade meat feast pizza?
vs

Extended opening hours - when did that happen

The house is falling to bits! I am glad we're only renting. We've finally got a go ahead to get our bath replaced and hopefully stop the ceiling falling in in the kitchen. And now the cold water tap in the kitchen broke 0ff so no drinking water for us this weekend (luckily the plumber was in the area).
Oh my god I am having a night out! Catching up with another mum friend - we will do our very best not just to talk about our children.

Photo of the day

1am and 2 bottle of ciders later...what happened to the normal pub opening hours, have I really been away from the scene for that long.

Murder in the playground

Oh my god! As if finding a rifle in the village playground wasn't bad enough now my other local playground (next door to the children center) are investigating a murder! It makes me feel really safe.
Mina's first nappy free day at nursery. It was more like a half day-we didn't get there until 11am after have had quite a few accident in the morning and then stopped off at the shop to top up on more pants.
A second chance? Another reply (asking for my CV) after being turned down yesterday, maybe this job is meant for me after all. Well, I changed the layout slightly, took out one surname and a touch of magic. One can only try, its a tough market.

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Unsatisfied customer?

Pants and make up

Yep the good weather is gone. Feels like the rain has been hanging in the air all day but luckily for us it hasn't rain. We must have been going through about at least 10 pair of knickers, not as successful a day as yesterday. Well, they say it can take up to 6 month! I certainly hope not.
And Finally! we have started our make-up training, more than 1/2 way into the course. I'm very pleased the teacher took me up on skipping the facial routine next week so we can dive straight into the next part of the make-up as we are already so behind schedule. I also did well on my salon display, especially as I only brought in my old Tonica flyers, some rose pettals from the garden and my ipod + speakers. 1st time we had a relaxing atmosphere and everyone loved it.

Photo of the day

More than just pants....rugs, shoes, books

Last of the good weather and another bbq

On full nappy training pursuit, and what better place to be than the garden. Spent most of the day outside and I even managed to get my legs out - they haven't seen the sun for years. Towards the end of the afternoon I was sitting in a bikini top eating ice cream (thank you Elohor)! Then schlepping of to the shops (clothes back on of course) for purchase of Mina's 1st knickers and a potty training book (again thank you Elohor) and for this evenings bbq -phew that's hard work in this heat.

Photo of the day

Mina is enjoying the shade under the rotary washing line clad in MY old nautical jacket

And the party continues

The heatwave continues and so does the socializing (and eating for that matter).
A family breakfast in the garden this time and a some time to skim through the Sunday paper.


Elohor and Ruben comes over at lunch and we compare money saving tips over the leftover bbq. A little later Sofia and Chanel turns up with homemade kanelbullar. Then ice cream...and now I cant stop eating from the bag of swedish sweet Sofia left behind.

Counting numbers

Mina actually weed in the potty and Spider is brave enough to cross the concrete and step onto the grass.
Finally got around to colour my fringe again.