...not blogging!

Well hello there! How are you? Long time no...anything! (well, apart from those of you that I have seen/spoken to recently, as then its not so long, but it is since you read this...hmmm)

Anywho, what do you mean its been 7 months since I last blogged? It hasn't...I was trapped inside a vortex filled with Swedish winterness which rips all sort of public-ness from you, and makes you want to be a hermit. Fact.

But really, I honestly didn't realise just how long/dark/cold/hard the winters are here! Of course everyone had told me 'oh wait until winter, then you wont enjoy it so much' and I didn't believe them. I still don't actually...! It has been long, and dark and VERY snowy, but I have loved it. Almost all of it in fact. I love snow, its much better then Manchester rain at least. And I have had a nice winter full of skiing, friends, going on vacation to Gran Canaria (I never get why its not the biggest canary island...or why you don't see canaries, but that might be a question for another day...or some helpful person to comment on at least)

During my blog absence quite a few people have moved closer to my place up in the North (posh apparently) side of Helsingborg, and so I have been able to pop round for more beers and the such, which is always good. In fact, another guy I used to (kind of) work with in the UK has moved in about 2 doors down the road. You know, the one were you turn right out my door and down towards the park? yeah, down there. I think it has red windows. He is called Rich (but he isn't) and I have been spending quite a bit of time with him (not in a gay way, even if Sarah does keep saying we go on gay dates) and its nice to have someone that close on a similar mental wave...we are really childish when we are together...both our girlfriends just laugh and avoid us...

Talking of Sarah, its still going very well! We have seen lots of each other during the vortex time (she must have a key to get in and out) and she was on the Gran Canaria trip with me. Oh, and her mum and dad, sister and sisters fiance. It was a very fun week...on the first night ( I think) Sarah's dad managed to dislocate his toe (ouch), later in the week Sarah's sister fainted at the pool and I am sure something else happened too of a similar ilk (is that how you say it?) but I can't remember too well...it was at least 30 sleeps ago!
Oh, and Sarah has a new car...well, a truck (not a lorry truck, more like a pickup truck (Ute i think for Aus)) Its a Nissan Navara (other pickups are available) and I can't wait to have a drive! Its top of the range thing with seat heating, cruise control, 2 one climate control etc... so I think I might enjoy it :)
But it is massive! Doesn't really fit in a space at Tesco so well...so not ideal for Sarah, but still fun to drive!

What else has happened...hmmm. Oh yes, Christmas happened, so merry Christmas to all I didn't say it to at the time...sorry for the delay. I suppose I better get in a happy new year and Happy Easter (is that what you say at Easter?) while I am at it. I had a good one, 12 whole days at home in the UK, seeing lots of friends and the what not.

Most recently (this weekend) I had my 5 year old nephew to visit, and he also brought is parents, which was nice. We had a really nice weekend doing not a lot, but manager a trip to the beach (at least a 5 minute walk!) and we went to tropicariat. What that I hear you say? Well, I will tell you! Its like a mini zoo type thing, here in Helsingborg. It has an aquarium bit with mini sharks (well, I think they are full size for the type, but not like a great white or anything) and other fish. Then you go upstairs to some monkeys and crocodiles (not together) and lizards and things, and then up to the lemur section. Oh...did I forget to mention that the monkeys and lemurs are free and walking around their sections that you can walk through??!?! We were really impressed...I don't know anywhere in the UK where you can do that!
Of course, to a 5 year old it wasn't so impressive, so James was most impressed by the ants. There is a big ants nest in the building, and tubes running all over the places with ants running through them. I guess it is good, but I was not that amazed. Guess I must be older than 5...
Oh, and then we went to get a drink and next to where we were sitting were giant tortoises and meerkats! Simples! (will make sense to the UK crowd, probably not many others...google it...compare the meerkat) So was a very good weekend!

Can't really think of much else...but I am sure I will do soon. I will try and make it quicker than 7 months...but I am not promising!

So, what have I learnt this...ummm...time length:
Its very easy to get out of the habit of doing something, even if you keep thinking about doing it.
Good friends are fantastic, especially during ling dark winters.
I want to live somewhere I can ski often when I grow up.

PS. Things don't always go as smoothly as you want them to, but its worth putting the effort and trust into something you really want to work. And never forget...guess what?