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Friday, May 31, 2019

karma come over and welcome june

may flowers stockholm and suburbs 2019

With only a few minutes to spare before May 2019 turns June, procrastinator Pia realises she should write a farewell May-post. To at sum up these past couple of weeks, of sorts. And somehow try and keep it really short and sweet. *Do I hear sniggers again?*

:: I think I'll skip photos for now, and add them later. It has been such a hassle being without the computer. Luckily it's back and extra super luckily they did managed to save the hard-drive too. But alas it's not doing very well, so they recommended I'd get a new one anyway... Try not to think too much about that for now, and limit my time on it.

Really hate the fact that a computer is considered old after 4 years only, and instead of having a repair, service or update, which clearly would be better for the limited resources of this planet that are constantly diminished as I write, we should discard and buy a new one. The wear and tear society of poor quality is just so completely naueseating. One would think we should have come so much further along on the sustainable road by now.

luddkolt’s british shorthair, june 2019 -

:: There have been further developments in the mysterious case of little blue-eyed light of mine, Ztina. She finally had hear dental check-up and surgery, confirming FORL, several teeth already gone and then removing several tiny toothies (saved in a box). She must have been in such pain and I feel like a bad bad meowmy for not realising that earlier. One might think the vet should have thought about that earlier too though... It has been a costly and very worrisome path to get here. But then again, cats are so great at hiding pain. And showing weird symptoms.

However, pretty much immediately after waking up from her surgery she was a changed cat. Step by step back to her old self. She is still on pain medication, and have some weird quirks going on. But I feel she's on a strong path of recovery. She may not be her completely old self ever again, but I love her new self very much too.

sonny angel, stockholm, sweden, may 2019 -

:: Due to last year's incredibly hot global warming summer the aspen has been in bloom like never before this year. Covering the air and ground with thick whiter fluff lite snow, lint or dandelion seedlings for a week or so. It was a bit magical really.

And so far, touch wood, we've had much more rain and chilly days in May compared to last year. Please, please let that continue. It is so much easier to enjoy the days of sun when it's not tropically hot and dry for months.

circular design thinking, valtech breakfast, stockholm, may 2019

:: I've attended four seminars. One on circular design - interesting topic, so-so presented. One on the Naturskyddsföreningen's (The Society for Preserving of Nature) new book "Naturligtvis" (translates Naturally but the word is also a double meaning in Swedish, it can also be Naturally Wise) about how to help insects, animals and biodiversity in your garden - it was great, bought the book of course. But can also affirm that I'm already doing a lot for it by not being a keen gardener, letting it tend for itself and be *a bit* wild is a great thing for biodiversity. And who knew that dandelions and its pollen are great for insects?

hudbibeln - the skin bible book talk at akademibokhandeln + vegan lunch, stockholm, may 2019 🌱💚

Extra plus for the fantastic vegan salad that's included in the lunch ticket at the bookstore that hosts some of these events.

hudbibeln - the skin bible book talk at akademibokhandeln + vegan lunch, stockholm, may 2019 🌱💚

The next seminar was on skincare, and how much of the skincare products sold are just clever marketing tricks and of now use for our skin, often quite the opposite. The writer who talked is a pharmacist and scientist. It was so very interesting, and yes it confirmed a lot of the things I've always suspected about skincare products. Eg that serums and tonics are basically useless for a healthy skin. It's the ingredients that are important, not the product. Yes, I bought that book too, Hudbibeln (The Skin Bible). It's fascinating, in Swedish only but I hope it'll be translated. EDIT: Horay, it's in the process of translation into several languages as of June 2019. Soon in English.

Currently using more skincare products in my daily regime than I've ever done before. But it has been a struggle these past few years to try and regain as much as possible of the once healthy skin of mine. And it wasn't until I began using Dermalogica I felt I was finally on the right track. So now I'm just trying to figure out the best products to continue with, and the ones that haven't made that much difference. I want to get down to a bare minimum. Don't think 2 + 1 + 6 products is viable in the long run...

rewilding sweden seminar at the swedish parliament, stockholm, sweden, may 2019

The fourth seminar was on Rewilding Sweden. I've followed Rewilding Europe on LinkedIn for a couple of years now, and also worked with a client a few years back who was part of various wildlife project in Italy. Such an inspiring project. And also an important part of fighting climate change. The seminar was hosted by a politician in The Green Party and it was held in the Parliament. Some speakers far better than others, and the president of the Swedish Hunting Association was of course pretty nasty and offensive. Void of thinking outside her narrow little box and without compassion. But other than that, it was a really enlightening afternoon.

garden, sweden, may 2019 -

:: After the reversed job ad I published on LinkedIn a few weeks back I have some interesting meetings booked in the upcoming weeks. To be honest, yes I'm pretty jaded by now, I don't think that perfect illusive job will finally land in my lap any time very soon, even after all my hard work. But I'm curious and open-minded, who knows.

And as the song goes "Karma come over, lean on my shoulder, tell me what's good, I've been thinking about you" (Years & Years, great, catchy song).

This "Trusting in the timing of the Universe", that does take a lot of effort and energy. And frustration. Which could obviously be used in better ways.

shoe per diem and #ootd, may 2019 -

:: I've finally bought a pair of lovely white, chunky vegan sneakers. I had a pair of Rombaut Boccaccio high on my wish list, but seriously, I could not defend paying that much for a pair of white shoes. Have not even paid that much for a pair of great quality boots now on their 10th season the upcoming winter. And I seriously doubt a pair of white sneakers will last for 10 seasons, no matter how well I care for them, if I'm honest.

Good thing was that when I compared them to the Matt & Nat pair I think they looked better, more I. At a way more reasonable price. They're super comfy, but it's also a fact that it takes time to get used to how well-padded sneakers work on your feet compared to sturdier shoes. All that softness, I find it... strange. But I'll get used to it, I'm sure.

vegan skincare 💚, may 2019 -

:: I stumbled over the vegan, organic, natural deodorant Nuud on Instagram. Been thinking a lot about how rubbish pretty much every common deodorant is, and how about all those ingredients, are they really healthy? So I decided to order a bottle and have a try (free postage everywhere, in case you want to try it too). Love the package design, and clever, simple copy too. Have just started my detox, and even though they warned that one might experience extra smell initially during the process, I have to say that it's definitely better after +24 hours than with an average deo. Don't smell a thing actually. Can it be that Nuud is just as fantastic as it claims to be?


:: I've cooked some fantastic meals from the vegan organic food box too. It has been far too long since I wrote a post on that. Soon is the time for one.


:: Got some new solar lights at IKEA, this time three bigger bulbs that I hung in the tree. After only a few hours on a cloudy day they shone brightly the same evening already. Which is a small sign that there are so much free energy out there, waiting to be harvested, at no cost for the environment, the opposite. We should all install solar panels on our roofs, for goodness sake! Which has been high on my wish list too, for years and years.

But for now, I'm contemplating getting 3-4 more bulbs to put higher up in the tree. Imagine how magical that would look when the clematis covers the branches by the middle of summer.


:: I'm using the Bullet Journal every day. Not sure if I'm using it as one "should", perhaps more a simple diary than a planner as such. But I also do monthly and weekly lists and feel the pressure to tick them off more than I did before. So I suppose I'm on the right path at least.

Looking forward to start planning for June, do the monthly log, migrating tasks or deem them irrelevant.


:: In April I read five books. It has been ages since I did that. I had hoped to do the same in May, but I only started with two books and on the last shivering minutes of the month I'm only half way through them both. Too much on my mind, in my May days for reading I suppose. Reading fingers crossed for June.


All and all, I think May has been a pretty glorious month, full of fabulous learning experiences, inspiration and great food. Yes, there have been problems and worries too, but I've also solved most of them with pleasing results. And for that I can feel strong and proud, also on those days when I feel small and troubled (we all have them, if we're honest, no matter how great we are deep inside). Most grateful thanks, May, you've been lovely, mostly kind and caring.

Welcome, dear June, let's continue on this path of goodness and why not add sprinkles of glory, m'kay? An abundance of kindness and gratitude your way, in advance, yours truly.

Friday, May 17, 2019

glorious may and hey computer crash

Currently experiencing my first ever computer crash - thank you Microsoft and WIndows update - and I can but hold my fingers and toes tightly crossed all my documents are salvagable and that the computer can be fixed. Also, to figure out passwords or change them is ridiculously time-consuming for every gadget.

Writing this on the iPad, and let's just say it's so very far from the user friendliness of a decent computer, a regular screen and keyboard. It may be nifty at times, but I do prefer the iPhone (on which I can't blog effectively since the Blogger app was removed altogether alas) for most things daily. Though obviously not writing longer texts.

So this will be a short update. Or as short as I can keep it. Unfortunately without more photos, because it's just too timeconsuming to figure out how to do it the best way here. Which is a pity, because there have been a plethora of gorgeous blooms and moments in May. The weather has been terribly capricious, as global warming is the new normal there have days which have been ice cold and some more seasonably appropriate, but most days a coat is still called for.

I'm grateful that everything hasn't bloomed yet, as it did last year, due to the cold weather. But I also long for much more rain than sun.

So, what has happened since last, in May so far?

Had a wonderful outing to Millesgården. The art in question wasn't really my cup of tea, but the garden and sculpture park is always such a delight no matter season.

Ztina's health has continued to be a great worry and conondrum. And I can't help but questioning the vet's competence, to be honest. It has been pretty costly, to say the least, even with the insurance, and perhaps he's more interested in the money that figuring out the reason behind her sympthoms...

The tests haven't showed anything abnormal, I have a new appointment on monday, hopefully we can come to a good decision on the next step then. Meanwhile she has her good days, her less than good days, but never great days, or fully normal days for a usually perky 7 year old. 

After having cats in my life for over 30 years she's the first one ever who've been ill in this unknown and long-term way. And I guess there's a line somewhere, when enough is enough, when her life quality as a rather young cat with many more years to live fully, isn't what it should be, unless we figure out what's ailing her.

Something I don't really want to think about, but it's been in the back of my mind for months now so...

On the brighter side of the nearby animal kingdom, I've had a dog sitting session for a super cute puppy whose a ShiTzu mix, named Zelda. I would not want a puppy again myself, but spending time with baby animals is just such a treat and bliss for the soul.

Been to a couple of interviews. Both for what seemed like pretty great jobs, but as usual you never know about the competition. An also as usual, what's meant to be will be. I'm not good at being patient, but so much in life is a waiting game, and well, my trust in the timing of the universe is something I'm constantly working on.

I've taken my first shot against the dreaded tick desease TBE, need two more this summer before I'm fully vaccinated. I'm pretty proud I, whose afraid of needles, found the experience pretty hassle as well as pain free.

Attended a pretty cosy feelgood evening, with several swedish chicklit writers I had basically never heard of before, but best of all both Marian Keyes and Jenny Colgan. Got books signed, bought some new ones and had a shoe per diem moment with Marian Keyes - and the picture to prove it!

I've bought myself a pink Re-Kånken. SO now I can finally decide if I'm having a blue or pink kind of day.

I've also finally, after years of looking, found the perfect denim skirt. WIth pockets of course. I did want one in organic cotton and a slightly different model. But no matter how much I looked and browsed the internetz I couldn't find it. I then saw an A-line one at Levi's and knew it would be great, if it fitted. And hooray, it was perfect when it arrived. It'll be my go to skirt forever, and it really does go with everything.

I went to my first, and last, ever Marimeko sample sale. 7.30 am and it was a surprisingly long queue, and people went a bit crazy (understatement) once inside. I only snatched a big summer tote in a lovely red flower pattern and quickly made my departure. Never again. But an experience richer.

I've also sold a decent portion of the garments I handed in at the Bric-a-Brac second hand sale. 20% to charity and the rest in a voucher for me. I really have to make my plans on selling garments I'm no longer happy about having in my wardrobe, but still have many years of use in then and will look great on someone else, a reality. A good cleanse.

Had a wonderful dinner at a (new to me) vegan restaurant with a friend. Magical interior, friendly, knowledgable staff, great food and not least, a dog friendly place with its own restaurant dog, Google Fröjdas STockholm and you'll find it.

I've pre-voted in the EU-elections. And for the first time ever, I voted a 100% with heart and head and didn't settle for 'the least bad' for strategical reasons. 

My current music crush is Years & Years. Especially "If you're over me*. (Also, surprisingly enough given my opinions of the Eurovision Contest, I love the SWedish contribution this year, only heard it for the first time yesterday, but I think it's pretty spectacular, professional and catchy. John Lundvik - Too late for love)

Thank you so far, glorious May, ups and downs, more ups and fabulousness only from now on, okey? Thank you kindly, with gratitude.