In the 901 Post It's Time For Blogoversary # 3

This is most certainly just significant for me, myself and I, but today this blog turns three (3) years old. This is the 901 post.

So where do I begin..., three years, a lot has happened since the first post back in September 2005... There are also a lot of things that I had every conviction, hope, faith and intention would happen that sadly haven't. Yet.

I still wake up to a new day every day, I still manage, I still make it through the day, I still know I'm lucky, blessed in many, many ways. Those ways I often share a bit here and a bit there on blog. Thinking that shared joy is double joy.

The times of not feeling neither lucky nor blessed I share sometimes too. Because there is, always has, always will, something truly liberating about writing it all down and sharing. Despite lurking readers, comments or not.

Since three years back I've in times written more or less regularly on this blog. This past year more regularly than ever. Yesterday, I very befittingly and unknowingly, cracked the 900 post. What I most loved about that is that it was about books and life, hence very me.

This blog which now is celebrating a distinguished Blogoversary isn't my only blog. I'm also a (sadly) sparse contributor, since about a year back, to the Stockholm pictures and views blog by plenty, the reason for it being worth reading and looking at obviously isn't thanks to me. But it is fun to contribute now and then still, in a laid back, no-pressure way when I get a snapshot that fits the style.

I also decided to get me another, personal blog earlier this year. Just so I could play around a bit with the design and pictures, without messing things up here. Though that playing around got completely and sadly messed up by someone else some time ago. But at the same time I realized keeping it simple in black (only on blog though!) wasn't all that bad. And since I have an ever growing well of photographs to spoon from I might as well have a bit of fun with it there. Even if I, as usual, some days let the pictures do the talking here too.

Now it's not only Blogoversary time but once again September and officially Swedish Autumn. Despite being an Autumn child I've only truly begun enjoying this time of the year these past few years. The unpretentiousness of this season of new beginnings in a different, but amazingly colourful shroud is really rather wonderful. I'm hoping, having faith and fingers crossed, and always writing, that this Autumn will bring welcome and much awaited new beginnings for me, myself and I too. So -

~*~ Happy Blogoversary to The Wor(l)d According To Me ~*~

The 900 Post - Two Books And A Bit More, As Usual...

In general I'm very much not a fan of so called chick lit, and I know, I have said it a few times before... The usual chick lit that's *slightly* obsessive about weight loss/gain and se* - and the reason I'm substituting the "x" for a "*" isn't me being Ms Prude or exceptionally fond of the * but the fact I really abhor idiots that surf the net for it and end up here -, and possibly some sort of addiction too. They're just so jam packed with lightweight stereotypes that will give me a headache after reading about five pages or so.

That said I have been known to enjoy a few books in the genre - that is before I realized what exactly it was that gave me a headache - Watermelon by Marian Keyes (and, admittedly, I have too many of her books in my bookshelf, for odd reasons it took quite a while before I realized this is rather annoying reading, the rancid humour, the sameness of stories...), the Bridget Jones's Diary books (though the movies so outperform the books of course, brilliant little things, not only due to Colin Firth...), some Shopaholic-books and some odd books here and there. Somewhere along the line of reading though, I realised I wasn't that easily amused and pleased anymore.

I have been known to say goodbye to authors in different genres, I have stubbornly read books *just because* - no more though! -, some hyped authors/books have completely capped my stubbornness by their tediousness and others I've sort of gotten used to and routine-like kept on reading. Although their style and stories rather annoy me, they're of course not mind evolving experiences but not even lightweight, relaxing reading. Just irritating.

Some books can take a while to really grab my attention, although when I know there are others I immediately cry, laugh and love over, books that give me a strange feeling of undeniable loss when I've reached the last sentence of the last page, it is kind of difficult to give books a chance when they don't meet those criterias...

Though in order to find those so-worth-while-amazingly-written-wonderful-to-read books there has to be a certain amount of trial and error in reading, since, honestly, there's a whole lot of rubbish published too, that one has to wade through in order to find the literary gems.

Having mused that, I'm going to write a few words about two books/authors in the chick lit - okay, even if I have been known to find the expression annoying, I've also come to realise it's also a rather befitting name. Alas - genre that have been quite pleasant to read, the rate of cognition (at least in those latest books of theirs) have been rather high, as far as I'm concerned.

First there's Swedish writer Kajsa Ingemarsson. Her first three books I quite enjoyed reading for her breezy style and rate of cognition. The fourth book "Den ryska vännen" (The Russian friend) was quite horrible, for different reasons, a story frame which was an apery, superficial and stupid character descriptions giving a whole new meaning to the expression "dumb blond" etc. But I gave her sixth book "Lyckans hjul" (The Wheel of fortune) a chance. And it was quite a nice read, nothing earth shattering, just an easy read about ordinary people having ordinary lives and then things happen that force them to change and look for solutions.

Second there is the latest book by British writer Lisa Jewell, "31 Dream Street". This is the fifth book by her I've read and I do think it's the one I've most enjoyed reading. Main characters in my own age group, struggling to find a way in life, a way to move forward, to try and make the pieces of the life puzzle fit together, in parts funny and always an easy read but also with a serious undertone and even quite sad in parts.

When we sometimes struggle, whine, cry and get angry about our current situation in life it can - it is! - both comforting as well as inspiring to know that there are (most always) people that are so much worse off, but they still, in amazing ways, managed to get those pieces together and make a good life for themselves.

Books are good that way, they don't have to be earthshaking, literary masterpieces that make you think, make a change, sort things out, move forward. You can at least change your way of thinking a bit, take a little step forward with something as simple as a reasonably well-written chick lit book too.

Btw, please note that this is the 900 post of this blog, oh my...

Skye Morning & Evening

Ah sigh and longing, Skye summarized in a sign...

Major Sweet Tooth Disappointment

Once again it was time for the annual dentist check up - last year I was lucky enough to not have any cavities, *yeah*, and since I most certainly couldn't look forward to being that lucky a second year in a row I sighed and thought that perhaps it might at least just be one tiny one to fill. As it turned out though, no cavities for undersigned this year either. Huzzah.

Completely charmless dentist's waiting room, with magazines that leave a whole lot to be desired - but he does give good grazing...

That was the good news, no cavities for me. Time for the bad news, the really, really bad news then. Sigh and grump. Let me start with a bit of background; we always make a little outing of the annual dentist appointment - or more outings if it includes cavities that need drilling and that nasty stuff - since it's on the other side of town, to archipelago suburb Gustavsberg. A rather longish trip public transportationwise but I like my dentist - even if I do wish he could stop bugging me about me still being a proud owner of four (4) wisdom teeth - and so far he has done a decent job.

And finding a pleasant dentist/doctor/veterinarian (not all in one person though) that you feel you can trust is far from an easy task, as far as I'm concerned. So I stick to this guy like glue. Once, or a few times, per year.

Gustavsberg is also the home of wellknown pottery factory, since the beginning of the 19th century, Gustavsberg Porslinsfabrik. Even if the factory itself is nothing remotely like it was in its glories, the harbour area has since the late 1990ies been an ever growing place with residential buildings as well as commerce and art. And now there are both factory outlets, museums, glass works, restaurants, art galleries, craft studios, antique shops as well as other different shops down there in the harbour.

So it is a rather nice place to be forced to visit now and then due to important dentist matters. And for feeding hungry ducks, no matter what time the year.

And after leaving the dentist, more or less happy, we've always had lunch or coffee, if possible in the neighbourhood. Since 2004 we've been faithful and happy guests at a little hidden gem of a café in the pretty brick tower house in the harbour, Tornhuset (Torn = Tower, huset = the house), which first went by the name Skafferiet i Hamnen (Skafferiet = The Pantry, i = in, Hamnen = The Harbour).

An unpretentious, homely and sweet place, where you could either have something light to eat in the round tower room indoors, with a grand view over the harbour or the even more pleasant experience, weather permitted, of being able to sit outdoors and enjoying the same view. Plus a bit of sun in face and wind in hair.

Somewhere along the line it changed its name to, easy to remember, Café Tornhuset. And somewhere along the same line they began to serve afternoon tea. A really excellent and good value for money afternoon tea. Which was the perfect treat after a trying dentist appointment.

So when it was time for a late lunch this post-dentist time around, we headed straight to this place, expecting things to be as they have been for these past years and still were some months ago. Effervescent at the prospect to be able to make the most of the visit and sit outdoors, since the weather was amazing and summery once again, overlooking the harbour.

But as it turned out, it was completely rebuilt indoors, into something boring, bland, modern, supermarket style, impersonal, shiny, huge counters, not a personal, homely touch in sight. Flabbergasted and huffed it took ages before we could compose ourselves and order something that didn't look too bad, but not as good as it could have.

Despite its looks, the only things good about this food experience was the latte, the weather and the view. Everything else was bland, dry, boring and hugely disappointing. And I do not care if the new proprietor was once the head confectioner at NK and has run a family bakery and confectionery for over twenty years and has won awards. It still neither looked nor tasted great. Far from. Majorly disappointed am I (are we).

Although granted, with clean teeth, without cavities and wisdom still intact.

LBC Treat

Okey, so we (I!) did get some delicious birthday treats, at last, finally, delayed. Very enjoyable. Four (eight) liquorice paws up. Though it's been an ordeal, still inexcusable. I will not be this lenient if it turns out this is a repeat offence on human host part.

LBC Turns One

It's just unbelievably rude and utterly inexcusable to forget one LBC Viola's birthday, as it happens my very first one at that. And yet, someone did, yesterday, September 3 2008, even if she claims not to, she just must have since I didn't get any treats whatsoever, believe it or not.

No special LBC birthday food, no special LBC toy, no special LBC princess treatment, just stupid kisses and cuddles and I don't like those. They mess up my fur and they are sticky-icky, annoying stuff I try my best to avoid as much as possible. I want edible treats and fun toys, and if I don't get any such suitable thingies today I will be so. Very. Very. Disappointed. And that's not acceptable. At. All.

Eating Out - David Bann, Edinburgh

One thing Stockholm really lacks in, is classy vegetarian restaurants. Sure we do have vegetarian places that serve really nice food and yes many, if not most, restaurants do cater for vegetarians when asked. And sometimes really well. But as far as swishy solely vegetarian places go, nope, nada, nothing.

We have nothing whatsoever that resembles De Waaghals in Amsterdam, or, as this post will be about, David Bann in Edinburgh. Places that take vegetarianism seriously, places that are particular with interior details as well as in a decent, inventive menu. Places that don't suffer from the sometimes too, alas, dopey "happy hippie" syndrome, places that mean business AND serve vegetarian food in an overall pleasant surrounding and not buffet style.

So every time I get the chance to experience such a place I get such a happy buzz inside, it's not that the food always is fantastic, like any restaurant I can get disappointed by ingredients and taste, but still. That such places exist, places that offer a smart lieu as well as serve well thought through menus, you don't have to ask for a special order, the menu is full of interesting choices anyway and there's not a whiff of meat in the air. And it still is a place that due to its classiness and non slovenly approach to vegetarian food appeals to non-vegetarians that are looking for a good meal out.

My latest encounter of the classy, yet relaxed, fully vegetarian eating out experience was above mentioned David Bann. A place where it felt rather silly to be fluttering the camera, so the pictures are unfortunately rather lousy, but at least they give and idea of the ambiance and food.

I went with this - tart of mushroom, spinach and Criffell cheese meal, wild and cultivated mushrooms cooked with wine, garlic and tarragon blended with fresh spinach and Criffell, a semi soft cheese from Dumfries, baked on homemade puff pastry. Served with baby potatoes, carrots and onion gravy - and oh it was just lovely! The ingredients and the flavours worked so very well together.

M opted for this - Harissa roasted aubergine, aduki and sweet pepper meal, roasted aubergine and aduki beans cooked in red wine and spice with smoked paprika, cumin, caraway, chili and garlic (harissa) served in a sweet red pepper. With juniper pickled cucumber served with chips, homemade apple and tomato ketchup, crème fraiche and chives - and not being a vegetarian and not too keen on trying new *weird vegetarian food and flavours* he was rather raving about how good it was. Strong flavours and quite spicy.

The only real disappointment was the sadly savorless dessert we chose - assiette of desserts for two to share, hot rhubarb and vanilla steamed pudding with rhubarb and ginger sauce, cognac chocolate truffle, hot pear and passion fruit tart with raspberry ice cream and pineapple sorbet. The sorbet was the nicest thing on that assiette.

No cider in the house, I went with water and freshly squeezed orange juice. And it was truly fresh and an absolutely perfect blend of sweet and tangy. I think I had at least two of them... I'm not sure, I might have gone a bit orange juice tipsy there.

And then, one of the best thing with these classy vegetarian restaurants, they mostly show you can make quite wonderful (vegetarian) often organic food and serve it in a place with a most pleasant ambiance and you don't have to charge unreasonable prices for it. Quite the opposite really. Oh and sigh, I do wish such places of fine vegetarian dining could open up here in Stockholm too, that would be truly wonderful... And I'm not demanding, I'd be quite happy with just one really.

David Bann is situated not far from the Royal Mile, on 56-58 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh -

ps, the servers are really nice too and the website quite lovely

Mamma Mia!

I've never considered myself to be a great fan of ABBA. Despite those countless times me and a friend worked hard to amuse our classmates in lower school singing Frida & Agneta playback to ABBA tapes at the weekly "Roliga timmen" (Fun hour). That was of course before we realised we would do much better interpretations as The Supremes...

I also distinctly remember me in the backseat of my parents car freestyle on full blast singing loudly to ABBA tapes. With my parents in front seat begging me to keep quiet for a (long) while. And I do have a bunch of ABBA LPs and tapes left in the garden shed. And yes I did have different posters of them in my room back then and I did collect lots of ABBA memorabilia and newspaper clippings in binders (those I finally gave away to a Belgian friend who was much more a fan than I ever was).

So I suppose I did fancy them a bit after all, even though they sang in Swenglish and dressed horribly, the tunes were kind of catchy...

I've mentioned a few times that I'm no fan of musicals either, IMHO they're usually strained, horribly overacted and theatrical pieces that make me gag in disbelief or fall asleep. But there are exceptions to that rule, there are fabulous ones like Singin' in the rain, Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Cabaret and The Wizard of Oz. And now I'd like to add one more.

We went to see "Mamma Mia!" the other day - with my mother hence making it a proper Mamma Pia experience. I've never had any inclination whatsoever to see the musical on stage (please see above two reasons for that) but seeing excerpts from this movie I thought it looked and sounded like great fun. And not only because it included Colin Firth.

My first thought was that it was shot in a stunningly beautiful, magical, unspoilt place (although some of the scenes had quite a weird light and background to them so I guess they were staged in a studio). Second thought was that actress Amanda Seyfried was overacting in the most horrible non-credible musical way imaginable - but she did have a lovely singing voice. Third thought was, oh my, not even an usually amazing Meryl Streep acts well in this musical movie. Sigh.

But since there was eye candy in Mr Firth as well as Mr Brosnan - yes I did have a major teenage crush on him when he played Remington Steel... But despite his still handsome looks and that crush I haven't much cared for the things he's done since. Might have something to do with the fact that he's not a very plausible and good kisser on screen. He kisses like a hen bum, all prim and wrinkly - not to mention the dreamy backdrop, I just might survive the next two hours.

And then magic happened. They sang "Dancing Queen" and it was suddenly just so wonderful, colourful, happy and beautiful. The singing, the dancing, the acting and I felt so proud of the fact that this is music and lyrics from Sweden that has proven so timeless and still brilliant in it's seemingly simplicity. ABBA-Benny made a cameo appearance as a piano player on an old boat, everybody was singing and dancing and all was well with the world. And I cried and I sang (lip-sync) and I couldn't sit still. And there was hope and faith and love in the air.

From then on the movie just became better and better, the actors seemed to truly enjoy themselves so much while filming, the theatrical overacting bits were more than easily condoned, and many of them sang surprisingly well. And the most amazing thing happened, it turned out that not only was he one of the ones that had a more than decent singing voice, he could actually kiss properly too. It was the first time I've seen Pierce Brosnan kiss in a more than fair style on screen. I guess it took a bit of ABBA and Ms Streep to make him fully embrace the idea and open up to it.

A joyful, exuberant, fun, stirring film that will make any person with a heart giggle, laugh and cry. ABBA fan or not. Even if the best ABBA song ever isn't part of the movie - The Day Before You Came...

Yup, in those crush days I did get myself a nerd proof of how much an admirer of his I was...

Flowery Tuesday

I do find it somewhat hopeful, as in all is not lost as far as Swedish summer is concerned yet, when there are still such gorgeous window boxes in bloom to be found. They don't seem deterred at all by these past very less than summery weeks we've experienced. Pretty, pretty. In pink and blue.

Alas, they are not my window boxes, um, no they didn't turn out so well despite all good advice and suggestions. I left the choice to someone else and what seemed like a neat and nice idea just didn't work, at all. It happens. And now it's soon time for something like heather and flower cabbage in those window boxes instead... Even if summer, touch wood, now and then do seem to linger on...

The Edinburgh Blend

Today I've once again had the great honour of being guest blogger at stockholm by pixels and their contribution to the Daily Photo Theme Day. Theme of the day being Sister City, and since Stockholm has no official twin city, but consider all capitals, especially those in northern Europe, to be twin cities I immediately knew I had to go either Edinburgh, Scotland or Copenhagen, Denmark. Two capitals in the northern part of Europe with which I do have semi-secret love affairs of the very serious kind. Sorry, Stockholm, but even if variety is the spice of life, you're still the love of mine.

Since daily photo means just one bitsie-witsie picture, and Edinburgh has so. Much. More. To offer, than that one glimpse, I thought I'd make the most of this day and do one of the things I like best, let the pictures do the talking rather than words and show a whole lot of glimpses of one grand, lovable, amazing city in one blog post. So here are a few more photos, a few more peeps from Edinburgh, taken this last summer on our latest visit there - Forth Railway Bridge has its own post already and More can be seen, as usual, at Flickr, in my Scotland set - enjoy ~