Triathlon supporter

Dead serious. I'm very pleased I didn't have to go in. Swedish summer is still providing a challenging weather.

Out again

I'm getting used to this, being out for the third day in a row. Day one: red, day two: rose, day three: white.

Tonight there is no work involved. Tonight it's all about planning the coming holiday to Spain; my new friend and I.

Holiday approaching

The closer I get to the holiday, the slower I seem to move. The few things I promised myself would be done before taking time off are taking forever. The workshops, the team events, the meetings are all happening as planned of course, but the planning and research for future events, the strategy work and the writing are not. Part of me is thinking "let's save this for a rainy day in July when I need to engage the brain". However, considering all the rain we have had in June, there really shouldn't be a rainy day in July.

My whole system is crying for time off and time to be spontaneous. Imagine a week without being directed by a calendar.

Today is the last yoga class before the holiday, the last meeting with partner of a new company, the last "have to be in the office" day. So holiday is really just around the corner. It just feels like a very big corner.

Lack of integrity

In the team get together with a purpose to discuss strengths, weaknesses and values, it became obvious to everyone that one in the team has a different set of values from the others. What do you do? In a small team of seven it becomes difficult.

He and I will never have the same view on intergrity. I will never trust him. Nothing will change that. Too many times he has let the word spread in an unprofessional way, claiming there were business reasons stronger than the consideration of the people involved. Too many times he has made a difference between who (in his mind) matters and who doesn't. I don't know how many times I have been told about his behaviour from different parts of the organisation, from people who have been subjected to his plump manner, with a question "Is this in line with our values?".

No. It is not. There will come a day when he is uncovered to the "people who matter".

Dinner with favourite business partner

Trying out a new restaurant in the bohemian parts of the city. Review: many stars.

On the subject shopping

 

One day posh shop and something you think you really need. Next day, cheap shop and something you can't be without.With the rain pooring down, today's purchase is worth more than twice its cost. But cheap shop didn't make use of the business opportunity they had. The rain coat sold out in every single branch.

The Westbourne

Done shopping with average but alright result. Now in need for a rest at a waterhole from the past, which is also a favourite in the present. Friend on his way to make the afternoon even more enjoyable. There is something about the pub in the afternoon. Just hanging out.

Bangers and mash

Instead of the traditional Midsummer herring and snaps, a traditional pub lunch. Love love loving it.

Ready for a ride

Wimbledon coffee

True to English summer, it's wet and windy. True to British banking systems, nothing is straight forward. And true to London transports you can never be sure they work as intended. But I still love it. London is London and everything is coming back to me.

Bye bye Stockholm

This is a first

Dinner out in my home city. Without company. I've done it so many times abroad, but somehow it's different here. Different but nice.

The best Monday night you can have

A surprise visit from Little B, lasting less than thirtysix hours. Still there was time for a spontaneous dinner and a much longed for catch up. We covered a little bit of everything; unexpected lovers, arbitrary employers, unhappy friends and human behaviours at large. Soon she will be around the corner again. Simply lovely.

Prettiest cake buffet

At Lovely L's.

Questions of life

Important conversations about life and death and everything in between. Favourite yoga instructor, sweet new friends and midwife. Questions we don't really talk about at dinner or over coffee. Somehow there is a need for a different set up to allow these kind of conversations to happen.

When was the last time you felt the passion of a midwife talking about her job? When was the last time you talked about the fact that we enter the world on an inbreath and leave on an outbreath? Who puts words on how you can manifest your energy and stay with it without being disrupted by negative energy from people in a group?

We could have continued for hours. Or may be we stopped just at the right moment.

Me, my tummy and I

Yoga for pregnant woment is probably as useful for fat men. The same kind of adaptations apply, the same kind of asanas are useful to strengthen the back and the pelvic floor I'm sure.

However, there will be an awkward moment when ... "Now bring your hands to your tummy and turn your focus to how it feels. This is your moment together on the mat. Remember that you are sharing your body with somebody else."

One of many laughs at tonight's teacher training.

Under thirty

There I was, talking about things I rarely talk to anyone about. Like my fear of deep open water, which is my recurring nightmare if I have one. A feeling of being surrounded by something so immense and uncontrollable and only a piece of draft wood to hold on to. And what that nightmare really represents. Supressed emotions etc etc.

Moving on, describing my last couple of relationships to leaven: you keep it in the fridge, feed it with flour and water once in a while. Until you stop feeding it and wait for it to die. And just before it's completely dead, you sprinkle some flour on it and hep! it's alive. Just so that you can kill it slowly again. An option would of course be to use the leaven the way it's intended, i.e. to make the perfect bread over and over again. But no, I still keep it in the fridge.

The point is that this twenty eight year old (!!) actually asked some pretty interesting questions, otherwise I wouldn't have volunteered this kind of information about myself. Especially not in a work environment. The other point is that he actually listened.

Is this a question of a new generation I wonder. Men fifteen years his senior rarely seem to grasp the basics of dialogues as they are too caught up by their own agenda and making their voices heard. And if they ask questions for good measure, to pretend they are interested, they forget to listen to the answers.

This sweet young man even sent an email this morning to say thank you for a good evening. No, I don't think he was flirting as we also talked about his coming wedding. But I do believe he was being authentic in his interest of what we were talking about. Which also, by the way, included clubbing in Ibiza!

Today's text

From a dear friend:
"Women are Angels. And when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly... On a broomstick. We're flexible like that."

Today I relied on my wings. Still working I think, but always good to have a fall back plan. Or when variation is required.

Checking in on Kate

The June issue. Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. Same same but different. I know which look I prefer.

Susan said

Vegging on the couch, watching reruns on the telly, somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. All of a sudden, hidden in the middle of Desperate Housewives, the following line is delivered: "You know you are middle aged when your memories become more important than your dreams." 

It became clear as crystal that I'm not included in the middle aged group yet.

 

Getting ready for high heels

If I can pick and choose from a number of favourite activities to do on a Saturday...

• Potter about - mental relaxation at the same time as washing gets ironed, biscuits get baked and shoes get polished.
• Yoga for me and not for anybody else - just doing, not instructing.
• Some kind of treatment - could be a pedicure, could be a stop at the hairdresser's, could be a gentle massage. I'm not hard to please.
• Look forward to a party.

... are all pretty high on the list. So far my Saturday is looking rather good!

More favourites?

• Getting the heels out for a spin.
• Going to a party with fabulous friend.
• Meeting new and interesting people. 
• Enjoying drinks, dancing and sparkles. 

Time to get ready.

 

A visit to Cow

There was something in her appearance that invited trust. A dialect (not from the capital), a warm face (not only caused by blush and lipstick) and a curious look in her eyes (could she actually be interested for real?). She listened. She wasn't just after selling.  Now, if sales people went to her for training I think GNP would hit the sky. 

She wanted to find the perfect colour for my skin, for my lips and for my eyes. She didn't judge my previous choices, i.e. my standard make up for lets say the last twenty years (going back further I probably had a period of blue eyeliner, hot pink lip gloss and fake tan). She gently just moved on and showed me a few tricks, played with the pencil and created the most natural foundation followed by a few highlights here and there to lift and emphasise my natural beauty (OK, may be she did sweet talk me a bit).

Result? Well, I got what I came for. Plus a few bits and pieces I didn't know I needed.

Simply sunny

Summer evening in the city. Burger and wine. Favourite sister and brother-in-law plus family members times many. Life is so easy when blessed with a little sun.

Favourite spot

The best juices and smoothies in town.

Transit of Venus

It's all happening tonight. The impact is unknown. Stay open, stay tuned and amazing things may be revealed according to astrology and people who stay in touch with the universe. One thing is for sure: this is the last opportunity in our lifetime. So keep a pen and a pad next to the bed and write down what you can remember from your dreams.

All of a sudden it happens. Again.

Q: "Time for a quick dinner?"
A: "Yeeees!"

Unplanned meals seem to be our best element! Lovely L is on her way after handing over children times three to their father. With twenty minutes to spare, what do I do? Answer is in the bag. Will be so needed on the Spanish costa del sol. Oh yes; flights have been booked. We were probably not the only ones deciding on a trip to the south after a dreadful weekend. At least weatherwise. Summer in Sweden is still shining with its absence.

Is it OK to start the class by running...

...as part of the warm up to a yoga session?

Sats is letting the instructors free to use their creativity.

We all ageed that running and headstands don't belong in the yoga warm up. For different reasons.