pia's vegan power blend, god's disobedient rib, the job that wasn't meant to be and other non-foolish april stories

Hello again, there seem to have been a case of a slight blog hiatus. It's only the old "the more you have to write about the more of a struggle to get going there is".

And the more you'd want to really dive into each subject, the more overwhelming it seems. So I've decided to keep each step reasonably short - do I hear sniggers of disbelief?



Started my April by picking up my new cat frame glasses. That style has never fitted me, but I think the looked pretty cool when I tried them on. It's a new collection from Smarteyes called The New Femme Fatale, and this particular model is called Confidence. For those days when you need a little extra boost perhaps?

I remember when I first begun wearing glasses, late teens (but then I could still get away with not wearing them and see reasonably well if I squinted a bit. As I prefered to do, since glasses weren't really I back then). Then they were just terribly expensive, in fact I think one pair costed as much as my four pairs now set me back. And I still had to had my eyes checked regularly and new prescriptions, and the frames weren't of better quality, only more expensive.

Now there are a gazillion optician chains competing for us spectacle snakes's attention. Glasses are cool and have sneaked up as fashion accessories. For better or worse I suppose.



On April 1 I also inaugurated The Trousers. And I don't think I looked like an April Fool's joke. They were comfy and felt weird at the same time. Being a 99,5% wearer of dresses and skirts I guess that was a very normal reaction. But as the weather has been unseasonably cold - which I'm grateful for in these global warming of our times - they were also rather perfect. Hopefully there'll be some more days of wearing them before summer hits.

As is probably evident by now, my wardrobe is full of patterns, stripes, dots, flowers, birds... And as much as I love to mix and match colours and patterns, sometimes you just want one special pattern shine. Which, for me, is difficult. I don't even have one plain white T-shirt. True story, believe it or not.



So for months now I've been trying to add a few good quality basic neutrals and block colours. Which, for someone who is so in love with colours and patterns, is no mean feat.

But behold two gorgeous, happy pieces I think will serve me well for many years to come. The green blouse is the one from Marimekko I wrote about in the last post. It needed end incisions to fit me in more ways than one, so for the first time ever I decided to go to a tailor to have it done. Will pick it up tomorrow and I do hope it looks great.

The yellow knitted sweater (in cotton and linen) is from Bric-a-Brac. It's cosy and oversized and pretty much goes well with the same skirts as the green blouse. Now a white T-shirt, preferably V-neck, and I'm all set for having a gazillion combinations for summer.



And how about my little blue-eyed light? Well, I thought she was well on her way back to normal (normal for her, not any other cat,as she is a little odd character), the antibiotic for the not-sure-what-it-is-but-some-sort-of-bacteria-infection seem to had done its job, but she went back to not being herself again. Back to to vet, which obviously both annoys and worries me, it's not particularly fun to a) knowing something is not alright with her, but b) the vet not being able to determine, nor very strategic in ruling out things, what it can be and then charging me for it...

I thought the iron supplement for her initial anemia had worked, and it turned out she was once again slightly anemic. So back on that. So far some days are better than others. I'm glad she has a great appetite for wet food, not too keen on the usual dry food, and eats lots. But she also sleeps much more than usual and well, isn't her old self in general. I'm actually thinking it might be borrelia. It was a few years since I saw a tick on her, but then again the longterm effects of those nasties can take time. One day at a time. And patience I suppose.



I really hate early mornings. And not having to deal with rush hour behaviour on a regular basis is one of the huge benefits with running your own business mainly working at your home office. Nevertheless, breakfast seminars is clearly something I do reasonably often, and as I know they're more often than not rather enjoyable I keep attending. Despite every morning thinking"well, this seemed like a good idea at the time but now naaah...".

Thus I've been to three these last two weeks, very different, all good. One on service driven communication - great vegan breakfast -, one on Train holidays - poor vegan breakfast, it's not very sustainable with avocado and then the avocado not even being ripe... But it was a bookstore than arranged it and I suppose their main goal is to sell books, not paying attention to all those details like making the who event sustainable... -

(at which I got the book above. It's very inspirational, stories on train holidays within Scandinavia, through Europe, to Japan and Russia. And going on holidays by train instead of flying really has a HUGE impact on the environment. Still, it seems to be a long long way until it offers the same comfort and covenient booking system as flying does- And as long as governments and authorities still don't take their responsibility and make train travel the norm and not least maintain the railroads,I fear our need for travelling will continue to have an enormous impact on the planet...)

and then a seminar on making the most of your brand platform. With the best vegan breakfast by far. All vegan and very colourful. Simple as that. Just stop mollycoddling meat-eaters. It won't kill them eating plantbased, in fact quite the opposite.



In the end I didn't get the job I went through three interviews for. But really, the process was great, the feedback was brilliant. And the guy the choose in the end had a very different background than I, less creative, less social media and technical savvy, but more knowledgeable within this very specifical industry. And somehow they thought I would get bored quickly because the job wouldn't be challenging enough. But words like "had it been another company I would have chosen Pia for the job any day of the week!", I went happy and stronger from the process and that's fine, more than fine, by me.

In fact I thought the whole process was so different, professional and respectful, than most of the recruitment processes I've ever been involved in, that I wrote a piece about it on LinkedIn. Which seem to have stroke a cord within the recruitment and HR-industry. It's much nicer to tell a great story about people who know their job, than the frankly, gazillion times they don't. I could write a thesis about HR people and recruiters with zero respect for the candidates and as much professionalism as my thumb. Alas I can only write a small piece on the positive experience, but that is on the other hand much nicer to do. Dare to compliment.



So back to, if not square one, at least another square than I had planned to be on April 1st. Still looking for the perfect job, and my kind of people. I KNOW it's out there, that they are out there. Though in what shape and form remains unknown still. For now I'm tinkering on a reversed job-ad for LinkedIn that I want to have up and running this week.



My mum's birthday is coming up during Easter - and this Wednesday, three years ago M passed away and his birthday would have been on the 19, but instead his funeral was on the 20th, so that might be the reason my mood is swinging from high to low currently... - and I really want to make Easter happy again this year. Let's make Easter great again.

I'm getting her a blue Kånken, which was the first colour she had when I was a child, and we're having vegan brunch. The problem with the blue Kånken though, is that it now comes in almost a gazillion versions. It took me a long time to chose, and far from sure I made the perfect choice I thought we could go back and possibly swap it for another before her birthday so I showed it to her the other day. And as cute as it may be, we will indeed swap it for another type this week.



At my boring bus stop there's a large flower bed that last year was full of purple crocuses in spring that then turned into red tulips. It's just gorgeous and so mood lifting. And no photo can make it justice, but here's a glimpse of the gorgeousness anyway.

I've just finished reading the BulletJournal-book, it took a while since it needs one's full attention. It was great, I could relate to a lot of things, others less. But the main thing is that now I'm ready to start getting real with my own BuJo, and adapt it to my own need and wants and plans. And it will not be an embellished version, I like to keep it simple and effective (hopefully).



The littlest one, Ågot, turned 7 last week. It's hard to believe since she definitely looks like a kitten still. And seven years, how much that have happened during those years..., since she was born with her brothers and I thought she was a boy too.



Theatre isn't usually my cup of cultural tea, it's just too theatrical and I much prefers movies or great TV-series. But when the Royal Dramatic Theatre, which can only be described as a stronghold for patriarchy and too many #metoo stories, had a play called "Guds olydiga revben" (God's disobedient rib), the bible read from a feminist view, which mixed actors and the impressive acrobats from Cirkus Cirkör, one kind of had to go.



So very glad I did. It was magical. Upsetting - since reading the bible from a woman's point of view will never be anything but upsetting obviously - funny, sad and inspiring. So different from anything else I've seen. Cried, laughed and got angry. Unfortunately taking photos was strictly forbidden since it could pose a life danger for the acrobats, but the old interior was a beauty too.

The playhouse is currently also under extra scrutiny from the Arbetsmiljöverket (the Work Environment Administration authority), since there have been too many cries for help from women working there that have been silenced for many many years. There have been several female managers over the years, but it feels like the work culture is so infected that nothing has been done against numerous assaults on female staff by male actors (the so called geniuses).

The last straw was probably a very moving and upsetting Swedish documentary about the much loved singer and actress Josefin Nilsson, who died much too young some years ago, apparently due to aftereffects from years of mentally and physically abuse by one of those "male geniuses" lauded employed by Dramaten. The documentary is still shown at SVT Play (only in Sweden, but I'm sure you can find the story itself in English).

Conclusion, one might live under the illusion that Sweden is a gender equal country (even if the Swedish Academy debacle showed it isn't), but even if it's much better than many other countries, there is still a too long way to go. Humans in general, and in this case, men in particular, should know better in 2019. Much better. So. much. better.



After the play we went to Wagamama, which I used to frequent quite often some years ago. Now not so much, but I always love the food when I do go there. Even if I most always end up with the vegan yasai pad thai and carrot-ginger juice, despite the vegan menu being much extended these days. This time we shared a bowl of edamame, which never disappoints in its simplicity. Unfortunately we ended up so full from the food that neither had room for dessert. Alas. As a great dessert is literally the cherry on the sundae.



But after my annual dentist check-up - which got all thumbs up and the third year in a row without cavities, huzzah! - I did have a gloriously lovely vegan lunch salad which did leave room, just, for dessert. And oh what a dessert it was. Creamy, smooth mango mousse with crumbs and fresh blueberries. So much flavour and very moreish. Very much deserved for being a good dental hygiene girl.



It didn't manage to keep this a short and sweet post, your sniggering was on point. But now, oh now, last but definitely not least, ta-da, behold the very special Pia muesli!



After my one year consumption of mymuesli-prize in 2016 I was rather tired of muesli in general and mymuesli in particular. Go figure. And then the Stockholm store moved to a remote suburb, and later was shut down altogether. So ordering online is the only option. And if you don't want to pay a hefty shipping fee you need to more tubs than you'd necessarily want here and now. Most of my old favourite mueslis have been discontinued alas, plus the completely vegan (no honey) mueslis aren't all that tasty to be honest, but for overnight oats.

But I've found that their porridge oats are pretty great for making just overnight oats. And I noticed their Easter muesli is all vegan this year. So I placed an order a while back. And for the very first time mixed my own mueslis. Which you can name and chose tube design for too. And write a description for.



Which I obviously had to do. I've only tried one of my own blends so far, sprinkled on a lovely overnightoats made from the mymuesli turmeric-orange porridge oats. Perfect crunch and flavour, so pleased to say I did good.

And no, I haven't forgotten I did promise a post of various suggestions for lovely, simple vegan overnightoats. It'll come when you least expect it.



April, you have been just as capricious as one has come to expect with age and a reasonable amount of wisdom, there have already been both tears and laughters, worry and stress, but also inspiration and gratitude, spring flowers and bird song. But can you please, pretty please, be just kind, benevolent and joyous from now on? Many grateful thanks in advance.

too tired to think post

A very busy day has left me too tired to think. Thus too tired to write a recap of the week that has almost been. But a few snaps, a few words, that I can do. Tuesday: we woke up to huge snowflakes falling down. This is simply not acceptable in May. Really not.

 

I had a red pear. It was my first and it was very nice in texture. 

And pretty, but strange, to look at.

I was invited to the dress rehearsal of "Angels in America" (I really enjoyed, if that's the right word, the TV-series). It wasn't really my cup of tea. As theatre and plays rarely are. Simply too theatrical and unrealistical for my taste. There was also a goodie bag thrown in, clearly someone knew just what I needed. A ninja voodoo doll and a candy striped monster. Yay.

At the right place, from the right angle, at the right time, 

Stockholm looks lovely despite snowflakes in May.

There might or might not have arrived a couple of small woolly settlers - where do they come from, I do not know, on a regular basis they turn up in my mailbox and shout out a great hallo - they may or may not be called Calvin and Phalpha.

Today turned out to be a surprisingly good day (my guessing game tad put to shame). I'm sure it was all about the fabulous stripey socks again. I am however exhausted now. And my cold (if that's what it still is) is just as bad as ever. I have been waiting for it to be gone all week, every morning when I wake up, but it's still there, taunting me. If I'm not all well again after the weekend, there will be appointment with Dr Feist.

And to round it off on a political note, regarding recent events, which have been so appalingly celebrated by naive, narrow-minded, less informed people, not able to see further implications and the larger picture, there are a couple of apt quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. Giving food for thoughts ~

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom."

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy."

september thursday

This evening we sat on first row seeing a wonderful, quirky one-man-show called Sit Down Tragedy. About the selfish mankind's arrogance, narrow-mindedness and overexploitation of nature and other animals. It brought laughter and tears. Highly recommended for those who happen to be in Stockholm understanding Swedish.

Afterwards when we walked to the train-station it was a rather beautiful autumn evening in the city, don't you think?

I hope to get some real writing mojo and energy back come weekend, until then, care to read about my week in shoes, hop over to shoe per diem for Sept 14 pre-voting, Sept 15 photographical red and Sept 16 yellow and red.

And there's still time to enter the blogoversary give-away, you know...

in dalhalla - peter carlsson & blå grodorna

Dalhalla is a unique outdoor musical event stage situated and built in an ancient lime stone quarry in Dalecarlia. It's supposedly quite an experience to see a concert there, at the bottom of the quarry surrounded by the forest, the dark sky, the lights, the performances, the acoustic makes it magical. They claim, some say. Since 1993 there have been 20-30 performances from May-September.

Until a few months back I had only seen the stage and quarry from outside the surrounding fence. Then we had the opportunity to see a musical entertainment with Peter Carlsson & Blå Grodorna (Blue Frogs). A mix'n'match band (music from different genres, jazz, Swedish folk songs, rock, French chansons, blues, pop, ballades, quite a bit of tall tales, sing-talking and so forth....) that has been pretty much sold out since the band got together somewhere around 1993.

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This Dalhalla show was my first proper encounter with them and we had a lovely (even if not everything in the repertoire appealed to me) evening, even if I wasn't all that impressed by the venue and the acoustic, lots of mosquitoes, and alas not the least bit of magic. (For some reason I always find it difficult to "feel the magic" when one has to share a live show with thousands of others...) So, no, I would probably not jump at the opportunity to attend another event at Dalhalla - well, perhaps if Pet Shop Boys would perform I would find it quite irresistible - but I'm glad I've experienced the place from inside at least once.

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The first night of the Dalhalla season was a lovely light, warm, early summer evening, a couple of the best seats "in the house" (front row, as close to the stage one gets, still not as close as one would think since there's a moat separating the stage from the audience), an appetizing picnic, a brisk walk uphill after the show ended (when the night had far from fell as far as light was concerned) made for an overall rather awesome night with or without magic and spell bounding acoustic.

A film glimpse from the show itself,

a couple more pieces with the band can be found here and here,

more of my Dalhalla - concert photos on Flickr

The Park Theatre

Parkteatern (The Park theatre) is a reoccuring summer theatre event i Stockholm since 1942. Every summer, usually June-August, different theatrical events, for all ages, are set up and played on outdoor stages in about 15 different parks all over the city. Well visited and much appreciated, and as it is outdoors and summer many people chose to bring picnic along and watch the plays.

If you paint a bench or chair in a bright, fun colour and take it with you to the events you even get free entrance. Which of course is kind of neat.

Ruby Tuesday

As usual I can't let just one photo speak red on Ruby Tuesday - and for those who're not too fond of looking at Swedish/Stockholm pictures, you're welcome to hop on one of the (in)famous in parts red Finland cruise ferries with frequent departures to and from Stockholm - Helsinki. But of course I recommend you stay put...

...because in Stockholm you might enjoy walking the read carpet for a visit a the city's smallest theatre, Teater Dur & Moll - Theatre Major & Minor.

Or if you're more leaning towards the outdoors, take a stroll or brisk walk around the pretty Djurgården area, not only a beautiful and lush oasis but also one of the VP districts of residential areas in Stockholm. Where you'll find some of the houses in very nice ruby nuances.

You might like to feed the birds, when the pretty red bird feeders lack of interesting birdie content. And after all this walking around the city...

... I think you deserve a lovely afternoon tea with delicious scones served in a basket with red chequered cloth at Ester's Tea & Coffeeshop. Enjoy ~

More Ruby Tuesday participants can be found here

More Swedish Books

Having *a slight case* of backlog on books I'd like to write a bit about, I thought I might as well jam a few Swedish ones into one post. One of them was actually quite a huge disappointment, both story- as well as writing-wise, since it was written by one of my favourite writers. The story showed so much promise, as usual, the first chapter too. But then it just turned in to a predictable, very less than well-written and composed mismash pulpfiction novelette. I have absolutely no idea why, since both her previous books are so. very. Very. Good. Name of the book then, Kleopatras kam - "Cleopatra's Comb" by Maria Ernestam

Having now aired my literary disappointment, I'm moving on to far more pleasurable reads. First out being the third book by the multi-talented Mark Levengood - partner with Jonas Gardell, who is also a talented writer and stand-up-comedian - Sucka mitt hjärta men brist dock ej - "Sigh my heart tho burst not". These two guys have a rather different style in writing, Gardell is more blunt, crude head-on, whilst Levengood has a very appealing both gentle and shrewd sense of wistful humour running through when he talks as well when he writes.

His two previous books he co-wrote with another writer, both highly entertaining laugh-until-you-cry-kind of books jampacked with hilarious, memorable, endearing quotes from children. Perfect gifts and perfect books for all those times when you desperately need to perk yourself up - Gamla tanter lägger inte ägg ("Old ladies don't spawn") and Gud som haver barnen kär har du någon ull

This latest book of his is a collection of radioshow-scripts and newspaper/magazine columns plus lovely llustrations by Ilon Wikland, mostly known for her great illustrations of Astrid Lindgren's books. Oh yes, definitely a both laugh-out-loud as well as food-for-thought-kind of book. Do read.

Another Swedish, and awardwinning, writer who has a very distinctive, personal style to her writing - as well as a truly unusual, imaginative stories - is Barbro Lindgren. She mostly writes books for children and I remember loving her books when I read them as a child in the 70ies. And just recently I thoroughly enjoyed another one of her childrens books (first published in the late 90ies). Stunningly inventive and I must say, probably can't be completely grasped and enjoyed by a child. This is just a totally lovable childrens book for grownups, with adorable illustrations to match the words.

Vems lilla mössa flyger - "Whose little cap is flying" is the name of the book and the story revolves around Childhansels land, on the other side of the lilac hedges, and some of the main characters are a tired, old soft toydog, the Uncleteddy, the not-finished-knitted-duck, the Marble, the wistful Russian Muskrat, the rubber monkey on a bike and the crazy champagne kork who plays Hamlet's Ofelia in what can probably be concidered the best version of Hamlet ever played. Such a lovely, lovely book. And apparently this is the first in a series of three...

A Tiny Case of Retail Therapy

First of all, it's flipping crazy that one year ago on Lady Day a k a the Swedish Waffle Day it was sun, green grass, being able to eat those waffles on the porch wearing shorts... One year later it's freezing snow and slippery streets. Alas.

Now, with today's whine out of the way, let's continue with a slight case of retail therapy. Only very useful things of course. Must-have-things in the inexpensive price range. First out is a lovely little plate for tea bags - well, I consider it to be a teabag-plate, anyway - from the small Swedish Stockholm-based company/shop Yorrik. The name derives from Hamlet's court jester, the famous to-be-or-not-to-be-skull.

They mainly sell baby/children clothings but also household items and pottery. Small scaled, handicraft, ecological thinking, just the way I like it. My aim when entering the shop, which I'd thought of for ages, was to find a suitable gift for a friend's daughter - I opted for an adorable bright orange jersey Yorrik cap (much appreciated by the tiny gift-reciever). And then I stumbled over the pottery sale and ended up with this must-have-teabag-plate. You can never have to many of those. Period.

The Yorrik pottery range is made in collaboration with the pottery at picturesque summer trip islet in the Stockholm archipelago, Fjäderholmarna (fjäder = feather, holmarna = the islets). A lovely place definitely well worth a visit, and not only for the wonderful restaurants and the handicraft studios.

The other must-haves are simply towels. Size small. One colourful with chickens, perfect for the Easter kitchen. I'm not much for primming, but a new towel and some tulips, oh that's just a perfect touch. This one I found at the big department store, Åhléns, at a measly price.

The other two are perfect small terry towels for the toilet, with my childhood favourite Swedish cartoon character, the honeyloving bear Bamse, which I wrote a bit about here. Suddenly using the toilet-facilities is so much more appealing, when you can wipe your washed hands with either pink or blue smiling Bamse, don't you agree? These towels, and a whole range of Bamse-items, can be found at the Swedish home textile chain, Hemtex

Three Kinds of Stockholmian Luxuary

To keep my mind off sore ankles and more than annoying spam offers, I might as well muse a bit over a few pitches in Stockholm. Well, pitches this, pitches that, they might depend on your very personal inclinations I suppose. But shopping, theatre, cafés and walking in a fair city, oh I can't think of anyone who wouldn't approve of at least one of those things!

Even though I don't really want to think about one of my favourite things to do, walking, right now, I'm going to do that anyway, just for you *I hope the martyr's crown is quite visible now* - I think a very nice thing to do before the actual walking commence is to have a coffee.

I basically never ever drink coffee at home, if you didn't know that by now, I'm a teaperson. Even if I could, which I can't, make a decent cup of coffee - let's just say that all those kittenbuyers over the years that I've *treated* with my coffee making skills, most of them have been really gracious and bought a kitten anyway... - I so very much prefer tea over coffee most of the times. The exception to the rule is that I like a latte now and then, after lunch, or as a treat. A sort of social thing, a bit of simple luxury, a thing to perk me up if it's a gloomy day, or too early, too cold, too anything... As long as I can do without *said the -oholic* I think it's kind of ok to have a coffee now and then, and always with milk of course.

This interlude was brought to you just as an introduction to the place where I quite regularly get my coffee nowadays - since my favourite coffeechain Coffee Cup was merged into the lesser good chain Espresso House... -

Wayne's Coffee at the Central Station. Perfectly situated when you get off the c-train and want to have a latte on the go. The ambiance is nice, the music too, and I bet it's really cosy in there wintertime with all the candles on the tables, watching the people rushing by to and from the trains... The staff is nice and the coffee is decent. I rarely get anything but a latte to go, but I think their display of treats to eat looks really pleasing to the eye, don't you agree?

After having grabbed that coffee you might want to head down to the *posh* department store NK (Nordiska Kompaniet). It looks pretty on the outside, and yes it offers quite a bit of nice merchandise inside, but to tell you my view I think it's kind of shabby, apart from the pricetags that is, and frankly, the place is *slightly* too full of itself and it's importance... Well, I suppose I'm not easily impressed by this kind of surface, sure I like my bit of luxury, but I rarely find it in department stores.

I think they pretty often can be described as boring consumptiontemples worshipping massproduction. I prefer small shops, with one off's kind of wares, the really well made ones that someone has put their heart and soul into while making, with personal and caring service with a more longterm thinking. In my opinion, to support those shops, to wear and use those kind of goods really is luxury at its best, at least when it comes to the more superficial luxuries in life that stems from shopping.

If your heart desires the more cultural luxuries that can be found at theatres, you might want to continue walking down to Nybroplan - where this amazing photo exhibition still is on until November - and the Royal Dramatic Theatre. As I've said before, I'm not really a regular visitor of any kind of theatre anymore, unless it's a movie one that is. But if you're unlike me fond of theatres and stageproductions, I'm sure you'll find something worth while seeing and experience at this, the most distinguished of all theatres in Stockholm, founded in the late 18th century.

Myself, I'm not going to join you at the theatre, instead just very figuratively heading home now, for some well deserved rest and relaxation.

Miscellaneous Week

And now follows, a very condensed version of my week, so far;

* It's been quite a beautiful week in Stockholm, lots of sun, yes quite windy and sometimes just too chilly, for my personal liking, I want to experience some more Indian summer days still - and then the next day it's all +10 degrees and mild weather again. One really doesn't know what to think - or wear for that matter.

* Which brings me to the fact that I've found, and bought, a couple of niceties to wear during the week. I'm so very pleased with these things that will most definitely brighten up any gloomy weatherday - and keep one warm if needed. And possibly even make one sing in the rain...

* ... and singing in the rain was something I felt really much inclined to do after - and perhaps slightly before... - having seen the musical the other day. Ok, for sure there's only one Gene Kelly, but oh my were they great, the Swedish performers! Some stunning dance numbers, as well as the singing, and humour and they'd captured that wonderful playfulness of the movie so well. Not to mention the decor and the massive rainfall, on stage and on some of the audiance - we were safely, and excellently, seated in row five. Most of the actors were unknown to me, but they were real gems. Since I actually, in this case, very much kind of managed to look passed the theatrical part of a stage production... Yes, I so enjoyed the show - and as I've said before, I'm both finicky as well as not a fan of musicals in general... - and I highly recommend it! A sure moodlifter!

* Another moodlifter - and possibly a skin-deep appearance enhancer - was the facial I had the other day. Thought it was well due after a long, sunny summer, and lovely it was indeed. Though I'd really appreciate it if the beautytherapist didn't so desperately try to coax one into buying all the "miracle products" afterwards. I've tried *a few* over the years, I'm not all that impressed, they really cost too much for what they give and I'm pleased with most of the products I used right now, thank you very much.

* ...and those products I stocked up on, in a small way, afterwards instead. And don't you just love it when the shopkeeper wonders why she haven't seen you for so long and remembers what you talked about nearly six months before... Talk about that extra little touch customer-relationswise...

That was the fun highlights of the week not mentioned before - the not so fun lowlights are a whole different story to write blog about...