Hej!
Wow...another week in Helsingborg is gone...it really doesn't feel like it! Its been a pretty good week...I had the UK IT manager for my company here Tuesday and Wednesday night (he wasn't staying with me, but staying in Helsingborg...I still count that as visiting me!) so we went out for a few beers and dinner, which was really nice. Its always good to catch up with friends, and it was a really good catch up on all that has been happening since I left the UK.
Then on Friday I had an 'After Work'. This was also really good...nice to socialise with people from work and see them in a second light, and hopefully build friendships that will keep going outside of work.
This week I also had to sort out my TV subscription...its hard to decide on just 8 more channels to have! I really should have kept an eye on what channels I was actually watching....but at least I get to change if I don't like the ones I have...just for a little fee.
Other then that its been a pretty quiet week really. Work is going really well...weirdly we need more jobs to do! Trying to get a team of 5 trained up is hard when there isn't much work to practise on. But we are already exceeding out targets, so hopefully this can only look good for me!
I am also building more work relationships, and I think I am becoming someone people at work know they can rely on.
So upcoming this week...I have another friend from the UK coming to Helsingborg...again, not to stay with me, but I will be seeing him tomorrow for dinner and some drinks.
Then Wednesday I am going to Almhult for the day...and have to be at work for 6:30 in the morning to get the coach there...and I won't get back until about 6...so a long day for me then.
And then Friday I am flying back to the UK for a long weekend. Dinner with my parents, Brother and Sister-in-law, hopefully my sister who lives in Bristol and of course Sarah :)
Saturday is Sarahs Mums birthday, so we have a big get together then...kinda scary meeting all those people...but I think I will be fine. I am a pretty sociable guy, so it should be fine.
My Swedish is also coming along quite well...or so my teacher says! I can at least read a lot more then I could, and I am trying to watch a bit of Swedish TV...its hard, but I do notice it getting easier!
Sarah and I have also found that Skype is really really useful...we get to talk almost every night for free! It really is helping keep the relationship really good and positive...I think it also helps knowing we will see each other before too long. I would highly recommend it if you move abroad!
So what I have learned this week...
Keep an eye on what you watch if you need to choose later!
Friends visiting is really good for keeping you going
Take every opportunity to socialise!
Monday 23 March 2009
Sunday 15 March 2009
...being ill and going home
Hej!
Yet again I need to apologise for the delay in blogging...but it has been a very busy 2 weeks for me!
On the Friday after my last post, a friend of mine was singing in a band at one of the local bars, and it was a good! I went with Keri, but ended up meeting about 15/20 people we knew while we were there...it really is a small community here!
Then on the Sunday Sarah arrived for another visit, which was (yet again) really really nice. She was a bit ill when she got here, suffering from a coldy thing, so I had the fun of looking after her most of the week...which i actually really liked! I think I make quite a good caring boyfriend...but I guess that is for her to say really! Then on the Wednesday/Thursday I started to come down with the coldy thing too...so we swapped roles on Thursday night and I got looked after :)
And that was VERY nice indeed! I could get used to being looked after so well...if only I didn't have to feel so ill at the same time.
So we didn’t do an awful lot that week, as one of us was pretty ill most of the time...but I did get to cook my Yorkshire puddings again, and also a very nice chicken, rice and green bean thing...I think I am getting the hang of this cooking thing, even if I still do hate cooking for just one.
On the Friday, Sarah and I were flying back to the UK together...and the flight left at about 8:30 from Copenhagen...so we had to be up and ready for the taxi at 4:40 in the morning...not an easy thing when you have been poorly sick! But we managed it, and it was actually really nice to be flying together. We had to swap seats with a very kind young lady to be able to sit next to each other, but I think with me looking a bit ill she was happy to not have to sit next to me!
So over the weekend we caught up with a few people, and I met her parents for the first time as her boyfriend...and I think it went very well. Although I was poorly I think I came across well…and I got an invite to her Mums birthday, so I cant have been that bad...
I do have to apologise to Gregg and Julie (my brother and his wife) as we saw most of the rest of the family other then them, and I am sorry for that :(
But I am back in the UK in a couple of weeks, so I will make sure I see you then, I promise!
So I came back to Sweden on the 9th, and have been working and seeing a few of my 'Swedish' friends this week...as well as trying to catch up on my sleep and washing!
I have also been having more Swedish lessons, and am finding that I am picking it up quite well...even though I don't always remember as much as I think I should! But it is fun, and I can sometimes follow Swedish conversations (or at least I get the gist of what is being said)
My flat is pretty much finished now too, although I am still struggling as all communication from the Internet/TV/Phone company is all in Swedish, as well as all the bank things...so I keep having to take things into work for them to help me with...so thanks guys!
What I have learnt this week (or 2)
I really like being looked after (by Sarah)
It is important to get to grips with the local drug store and recognise what is what
Building up a wide local network of friends is really good
Take up as many invitations as you can, as friendships are really important, especially when you are living and moving alone
PS. Spending time with the people you love, however short, keeps you going for a long time. And it is great to be looked after!
Yet again I need to apologise for the delay in blogging...but it has been a very busy 2 weeks for me!
On the Friday after my last post, a friend of mine was singing in a band at one of the local bars, and it was a good! I went with Keri, but ended up meeting about 15/20 people we knew while we were there...it really is a small community here!
Then on the Sunday Sarah arrived for another visit, which was (yet again) really really nice. She was a bit ill when she got here, suffering from a coldy thing, so I had the fun of looking after her most of the week...which i actually really liked! I think I make quite a good caring boyfriend...but I guess that is for her to say really! Then on the Wednesday/Thursday I started to come down with the coldy thing too...so we swapped roles on Thursday night and I got looked after :)
And that was VERY nice indeed! I could get used to being looked after so well...if only I didn't have to feel so ill at the same time.
So we didn’t do an awful lot that week, as one of us was pretty ill most of the time...but I did get to cook my Yorkshire puddings again, and also a very nice chicken, rice and green bean thing...I think I am getting the hang of this cooking thing, even if I still do hate cooking for just one.
On the Friday, Sarah and I were flying back to the UK together...and the flight left at about 8:30 from Copenhagen...so we had to be up and ready for the taxi at 4:40 in the morning...not an easy thing when you have been poorly sick! But we managed it, and it was actually really nice to be flying together. We had to swap seats with a very kind young lady to be able to sit next to each other, but I think with me looking a bit ill she was happy to not have to sit next to me!
So over the weekend we caught up with a few people, and I met her parents for the first time as her boyfriend...and I think it went very well. Although I was poorly I think I came across well…and I got an invite to her Mums birthday, so I cant have been that bad...
I do have to apologise to Gregg and Julie (my brother and his wife) as we saw most of the rest of the family other then them, and I am sorry for that :(
But I am back in the UK in a couple of weeks, so I will make sure I see you then, I promise!
So I came back to Sweden on the 9th, and have been working and seeing a few of my 'Swedish' friends this week...as well as trying to catch up on my sleep and washing!
I have also been having more Swedish lessons, and am finding that I am picking it up quite well...even though I don't always remember as much as I think I should! But it is fun, and I can sometimes follow Swedish conversations (or at least I get the gist of what is being said)
My flat is pretty much finished now too, although I am still struggling as all communication from the Internet/TV/Phone company is all in Swedish, as well as all the bank things...so I keep having to take things into work for them to help me with...so thanks guys!
What I have learnt this week (or 2)
I really like being looked after (by Sarah)
It is important to get to grips with the local drug store and recognise what is what
Building up a wide local network of friends is really good
Take up as many invitations as you can, as friendships are really important, especially when you are living and moving alone
PS. Spending time with the people you love, however short, keeps you going for a long time. And it is great to be looked after!
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