To celebrate or not to celebrate

If someone asks you to make a toast to celebrate something in your life, there is always at least one thing worth celebrating. We may feel a bit embarrassed to share it there and then, which by the way is not very helpful for creating a positive lifestyle, but there will definitely be something worth mentioning. And this was the theme of Little B's champagne bonanza. An evening filled with bubbles and babbles and then the cheering interventions when one of us was asked to make a toast to something we wanted to celebrate in our lives. A lovely evening with high spirits.

Unwanted

What's the correct way to greet somebody whose death we've been plotting? May be not as bad as that, but pretty close.

The unacceptable way things happened, the betrayal, the grief and the contiuous unhappiness this person causes. All of this to one of my dearest friends. After years of hearing about one incident worse than the other, but happily spared his presence, we were all of a sudden face to face. There was no way to look other than straight into his eyes. So what do you say? The only thing that came to mind was a harsh 'what are you doing here?'. No smile, but I didn't cause a scene either. My body language probably gave it all away anyhow.

Analyse this

A back of the envelope analysis of blog posts resulted in some food for thought. I have fifteen blog posts labeled 'Dating' versus nineteen labeled 'Shopping'. That's an unfavourable ratio as there is a negative correlation between dating and shopping. Less dating, more shopping.

So there are two options to improve the ratio: start a shopping ban for the rest of the year or create some action on the dating scene.

Mirror mirror on the wall, tell me which of the two options I should go for?

Sign, skills and charm

When the highlight of the workday is a sales pitch meeting with a headhunter, then something isn't quite right. Time to speed up the change. Tomorrow's meeting hopefully provides a big step in the right direction. This is when I put all my skills and charm to use when presenting The Way Forward.

Never turn back

This memorable metaphor concludes the self study part of the yoga instructor training:

'Turning back is almost like trying to eat what you have vomited. No sensible person would do that. Sometimes, people are tempted to go back to their old ways. They should just stay a little while and think:
"What will I get that's new that I haven't tasted before? Anything? No, the same rotten stuff that once was bitter to me. How can it be tasty now?"
The mind has simply forgotten the bitterness. Now it looks a little tasty. That's the trick of the mind. So, let us never look back, but march on and on until we reach the goal.'
The Living Gita, Sri Swami Satchidananda

Reassurance - unnecessary comfort?

You know that it is right. Intuition, gut feel and every sign in the universe is pointing in the same direction. And if there is some logic to it as well, then it's a done deal. Almost. Sometimes you just need that final reassurance from someone else. Someone you trust and someone who knows something you don't. My reassurance comes from different sources depending on if it's the intuition that needs to be reassured or the logic. I guess that the fact that I know where to go for different kind of reassurances should be enough to know that it's not really necessary...

Blog anniversary

Three hundred and sixty five days later - and it is still alive. A glass of champagne would have been in order to celebrate but may have to wait until next Saturday when Little B is having a champagne bonanza.

Compulsory shopping and contrasts

Bond Street, Conduit Street and Regent Street one day; IKEA et al. in the industrial outskirts of Stockholm on the next. Contrasts in life when it comes to shopping. The compulsory shopping behaviour to alleviate unwelcome broken expectations seems to work in both worlds. The good thing is that I can stop whenever I want to. But I don't want to. The beauty of making your own money and not having to defend your extravagances to anyone who may have a different view on what you really really need (or just feel like getting because you can...).

How does this fit into the yogic life style? Well, it doesn't. Yet another contrast in life. And perhaps an evidence of the complexity we face when being part of a modern society. It would be much simpler to avoid compulsory shopping in a monastery in Nepal.

Here we go

Coincidence or what?

Certainly in need of recharging and thought a glass of wine would be a step in the right direction. And here I am in the free recharge zone trying to figure out what the point of the last couple of months dating was. I'm sure there was one, but my batteries are running flat in the process of finding it.

London on my wall

The latest addition to my collection of London items. Found by Adorable at an auction this weekend. A mirror of my self image could it be? Strolling around the streets of London in a swaying dress and pittoresque bonnet accompanied by Dalmatians. Why not? The only reservation I have is the angry man in the corner.

Learning from Tolle

In our consumer society and economic structures there is only one measure of progress. It is always more. The endless growth desease. A dysfunction from the alter ego who wants more; obsession and attachment. Like Eckhart Tolle puts it in a very black and white way, it's the same dysfunction the cancerous cell manifests, whose only goal is to multiply itself, unaware that it is bringing about its own destruction by destroying the organism of which it is part.

Learning? In the attempt to improve our quality of life and to give our next of kin a better life than we had ourselves, we choose to define better in materialistic terms unaware of the fact that we are walking down the road of self destruction.

But there is hope. I'm only on page 37 so I'm reading on to find the eye openers to enable a deviation from the road with only one end goal.

How do you become an angel?

By feeding your mind a diet of elevated thoughts.

Borrowed from 'thought for today'.

Words of sweet wisdom.

Belstaff continued...

Here it is. The Belstaff I would like on my hanger!

My favourite yoga teacher

I believe the feeling of being in a uterus could be similar to the yoga shala during a yin class. Such a soothing and peaceful sensation. An oasis where time stops for a moment. Time to land, time to breathe and focus. Everything else is left outside. A flow of consciousness and life force running through the stimulated nadis. All for well-being, presence and female energy.

You can always say stop rambling and do something

Three museums later I gave up. Didn't make it to the other side of the entrance of anyone of them. The queues were just unacceptable not to mention the number of pushchairs and rude Swedes. So I thought I'd lick my wounds and treat myself for trying to be cultural on a Saturday. A simple but delicious hot dog outside the posh department store. Guess what; there was a queue that could easily have been mistaken for the queue to a rock concert. No hotdog. Back to the couch. Back to the Californication DVD box.

This pretty much sums up my Saturday in Stockholm. And my London longing. As if I haven't spelled it out loud and clear already.

At least there is a dinner party to look forward to. May be no sequins or Manolos to be seen (well, if so that would be me slightly OTT for the Swedish liking), but let's hope there is champagne!

Just to make winter agreeable

Kate and Belstaff at the same time. English fashion it is. And Belstaff is my new wintercoat. I have made some space for it in my wardrobe and the hanger is waiting. Just the little detail of getting it from the shop at Conduit Street. And the purse that is put to rest for the rest of the month may have to make an exception.

? instead of ! or ...

There I was. Left as a question mark. When I'd rather be an exclamation point. Or if I could choose, may be a dot dot dot...

Life of a commuter

I'm trying to pretend I'm on the Arlanda express and that I'm soon about to board a BA flight, but somehow it's not quite working. London in my dreams; Gothenburg, here I come.

Meeting with the Power of Now

Eckhart Tolle that is. The author of the book that marks one of my personal milestones, a real turning point. To see a modern spiritual leader live is going to be very interesting. How is he going to convey his messages using more than just words? My favourite coach has organised tickets to this inspirational seminar next Friday night. In London. It's like in the old days; commuting between London and Stockholm. Lovely.

In charge of the remote control

Exactly what is it with Desperate Housewives that makes it an attractive TV option?
The uncensored evilness and complete lack of loyalty to anyone but themselves (and they are not afraid of admitting it)?
The aspiration to one day become a houswife and join the ladies who lunch team?
The fact that there is very little competition on Swedish telly on a Tuesday evening (or any other evening for that matter)?

Tonight any male company would have been at the expense of giving up the exclusive charge of the remote control, resulting in an evening of watching the Sweden-Holland match. But right now there is no one between me and Desperate Housewives.

Different levels of dieting

Cosmopolitan, splendid and energising. After a weekend full of eating à la British cuisine and shopping like we were in possession of no wearable outfits, a diet control feels rather relaxing.

Purse is put to rest for the rest of the week (month/season?!). Body is being treated with fish, vegetables and exercise. And as far as the mind is concerned this is the tip of the day, said before and worth repeating:

Pure thoughts are the healthy diet for the mind.
Creative thoughts are like vitamins.
Positive thoughts provide proteins that build will power.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Long lunch after productive shopping with my best shopping companions. God we're good together!

Pret break

Going back to old favourites

"...Fourth year running, the Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide 2010 Green Man Recognition for Excellence..." The Admiral Codrington, the Chelsea pub with a bright but cosy restaurant...

The place where we will be hanging out tomorrow night.

Followed by E&O on Saturday night...

"Seemingly immune to the ravages of time or fashion, E&O continues to garner praise from all quarters; ‘fun, fresh & friendly’ is how one reader sums it up. The sparse dining room looks as on-trend as ever – just like its endlessly socialising occupants. For those who can divert themselves from eyeballing their celeb neighbours, there’s surprisingly good pan-Asian food." (Square Meal review)

Collection of fruits

Imagine a room with 150 people. Imagine a podium occupied by the inland revenue, the company registration office, the social security administration and a number of different authoritites. All there to give a small taster of how to navigate in the jungle of requirements and admin you need to consider to set up your own company. Conclusion: you have to be so convinced that this is what you want to do! The number of obstacles the authorities put up is endless. Having a basic understanding of company law, book keeping and taxes obviously helps. When one of the participants wanted a more detailed walkthrough of a simple book keeping example I felt really sorry for her. This is just the beginning...

Today I continue my public service study tour with a day at the Police Academy; at least as far as the venue is concerned. Probably no police officers involved. In a far-fetched way, the fruit of today is connected with the fruit of yesterday. I'm collecting all sorts of fruit to create my complete fruit bowl!

Sparkle deficit

Cocktail parties, high heels, sequined tops, big bracelets and red lipsticks. That's it. What's missing right now. I'm in need of sparkles! I have an idea of something else that could result in sparkles but it seems as far away as a sequined top right now.

Mobile mobile on the wall, what is the sparkliest text message of all?

Letter from T

I recognise the handwriting as if it was my own. A long, lovely letter from my dearest English friend arrived in the mail today. A special moment in the favourite armchair, a cup of tea and reading the letter is almost as if I was sitting in her lounge chatting. We have known each other for more than twenty years. Who would have thought that our first uncomfortable meeting, when I dreaded speaking English, would grow into a lifelong friendship? And her daughter is my lovely god daughter who is now a teenager. I miss my English family.

Sunday afternoon

Can you enjoy Toy Story three if you missed one and two? I'm just about to find out, but I'm pretty sure my entertainment will be based on my niece and nephew and not the film.

Champagne learning nugget

Veuve Clicquot was a real woman, a real widow. 200 years ago she produced the very first vintage champagne. A young, single mother who was widowed at the age of 27. Wow, what a woman and role model. Respect.

The art of texting

Writing text messages with the correct tone and the right words to achieve the desired reaction from the recipient and a positive sequel is an art. The number of hours we (it normally takes at least two people) have spent on analysing these short messages that seem to be such an important communication channel these days. The old fashioned letters are long gone. Landlines are under threat of extermination. Emails are getting rusty. Somehow texting seems to be the ultimate way to communicate. Short, efficient messages that can easily be interpreted to our advantage (or disadvantage). We still like.