This week we have finally been able to get out on Friday for my workplaces 'afterwork' (beers after work on a Friday) and it was really nice to see lots of friends that we haven't met up with for months. Its really nice to know you have friends that you don't see for ages, and yet when you do meet up it is like you saw each other last week.
There was a good turn out this week, I think about 25...but I didn't actually count. Some new faces too (well...they probably aren't new anymore, we have just been away for so long we hadn't met them) which is always good. I am quite a sociable person (when I want to be) and meeting new people is always good.
So after a few drinks we went for dinner at a local Thai/Chinese place called Big Buddha. Now normally I would say this is one of the tastiest places to eat in Helsingborg, but apparently they do not cope very well on Swedish pay day, as it was crazy busy and it took nearly an hour for them to bring the food. There were 9 of us, but still...an hour?? And when it did arrive, the food wasn't even all hot...so very disappointed indeed. However, it was still really tasty, and certainly didn't put me off going again...I will just not take 7 friends with us next time!
Then on Saturday, Sarah and I decided that it was about time that we cleaned out our storage area in the basement of our apartment block. I am quite ashamed to say that I still had the cardboard boxes that I used to move to Sweden with (yes...three years ago) so these were the first things to be thrown! In the end, we had to do 2 trips to the dump (refuse disposal, tip) as we had so much rubbish to get rid of!
Then on Saturday night we went round to a friends apartment for dinner and to watch the 'Melodifestivalen'. Now for those of you not in Sweden, this needs explaining. It is actually the qualifying rounds for the Swedish entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. If you have never seen Eurovision, you really need to search for it on YouTube or something similar. The main contest is European countries entering 1 song each, and voting for who they think is best. It is absolutely appalling, and is only really worth watching to laugh at.
So you can imagine the quality of the qualifying entries...! What I hadn't realised is that it is such a big deal in Sweden! Imagine the X-Factor level of attention...but for absolute trash. It is also not a 1 off thing...there are 4 heats, 4 semi finals, a second chance final, and then the final. So yes, it goes on for a few weeks...
This Saturday was quite an eye opener. There were 3 OK songs (in my opinion, which is often made fun of) and some absolute rubbish too. Unfortunately, to prove how bad my taste is, 1 of my favourites got voted out completely! However, the other 2 did make it straight to the final. One of them is absolute cheese... do a search for 'Danny Saucedo amazing melodifestivalen 2012' in the search engine of your choice and prepare to be amazed. He has a tracksuit with Christmas fairy lights on. No, really...it is. And that was one of the winners.
After the show, we amused ourselves for the rest of the evening playing on the Wii, which is soooo much more fun with other people than on your own.
What an evening :)
Oh, and I nearly forgot my favourite part of the night! My friend has purchased a steering wheel with pedals for his PlayStation! The feedback is really good, and it really makes playing racing games a lot more fun. If only I had the money to get one at home...oh well, guess I will just be going round to his house more often.
What I have learned this week:
Melodifestivalen is interesting...
Good friends are really worth keeping hold of
I want a force feedback steering wheel and pedals for my PS3.
PS, doing boring things with the right person makes them so much more fun :)
Monday 27 February 2012
Monday 13 February 2012
Driving back to Sweden, the Harwich to Esbjerg way
Hello!
Ok, lets just gloss over the absence of a blog for...some time, and move on. Agreed? Good.
So now that is out of the way, I will get back to what this blog was supposed to be about, an English view on Sweden.
We (my wife and I...yep, I am now married to the lovely Sarah!) recently drove back to Sweden after a long (4 months) stay in the UK. We haven't actually ever done it by car before, for the last 3 and a half years we have flown all the time, and so it was a bit of an adventure. And of course, the weekend we decided to come back, it decided to snow. Now for those of you in Sweden (or most or Europe actually) this isn't a big thing...for those of you in England, or those of you who have ever been in England during snow, you will know that this is a MASSIVE thing! Well luckily we had had winter tyres fitted to the car about 4 days earlier (as they are a legal requirement in Sweden this time of year) so I wasn't too worried about the snow, but the whole country basically ground to a halt!
With the winter tyres we didn't really have an issue in getting down from near Sheffield to Harwich, it was quite fun passing all the cars with 'summer' tyres on actually! But due to the snow, we left early...2 hours early. And of course, with winter tyres we had no problem, and got to the ferry early... 2 hours early!
Now, a bit of advice for those of you who will ever get the Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg.. do not get there early! There is nothing to do at all! The website says 'make sure you get there at least 90 minutes before departure time', and we were there 3 and a half hours before departure time...and so spent 3 and a half hours in the car waiting! (ok, exaggeration...we went to the toilet for 5 minutes) But really, the gates open for the check in and security bit 90 minutes before departure, but after that you sit in your car for about an hour anyway.
So, we did eventually get on the ferry, and it was actually ok. Nothing special, but certainly not something you have to avoid. The ferry goes overnight, so be set off at 1710 ish (British time, GMT winter time etc...) and got to Esbjerg at 1300 the next day (Danish time, CET, Swedish time etc...)
Oh, and a not of warning...food is expensive on the ferry! 500 Danish for the 2 of us... that's about 55 of the Queens English Pounds, 550 SEK!Oh well, we will know to take food next time, you live and learn.
So we get off the ferry, and of course there is snow. Everywhere. And guess what...not a single problem. Roads are fine, all the cars are fine, no queues or anything!
And then we drive home, to Helsingborg. For those wondering if its worth the extra time...yes is the answer! Its beautiful through Denmark and Sweden, we even saw deer (only 2, but still!) And actually, the overall cost was very similar to 2 people flying, if you miss the low low cost flights. And for those of you who like bridges, there are 2 very nice ones to cross. This one and this one. (Both toll)
So we are back in Sweden now, and I am back working in the office again. I never thought I would say it...but I am glad to be back in an office! 4 months working 'from home' is actually pretty tough, its nice to have a separation of work and home.
We have also got to catch up with quite a few friends, not as many as we hoped to yet, but we are getting there. So, if you know me and haven't seen me and Sarah for a while, and want to come visit, just let me know :)
I will update you on more later, but that will do for my first foray back into this blogging world.
Things I have learnt since last time:
The drive from Esbjerg to Helsingborg is beautiful
I REALLY like being in Sweden at this point in my life
I have missed our Swedish friends more than I thought!
P.S. Guess what?? Got ya! :)
Ok, lets just gloss over the absence of a blog for...some time, and move on. Agreed? Good.
So now that is out of the way, I will get back to what this blog was supposed to be about, an English view on Sweden.
We (my wife and I...yep, I am now married to the lovely Sarah!) recently drove back to Sweden after a long (4 months) stay in the UK. We haven't actually ever done it by car before, for the last 3 and a half years we have flown all the time, and so it was a bit of an adventure. And of course, the weekend we decided to come back, it decided to snow. Now for those of you in Sweden (or most or Europe actually) this isn't a big thing...for those of you in England, or those of you who have ever been in England during snow, you will know that this is a MASSIVE thing! Well luckily we had had winter tyres fitted to the car about 4 days earlier (as they are a legal requirement in Sweden this time of year) so I wasn't too worried about the snow, but the whole country basically ground to a halt!
With the winter tyres we didn't really have an issue in getting down from near Sheffield to Harwich, it was quite fun passing all the cars with 'summer' tyres on actually! But due to the snow, we left early...2 hours early. And of course, with winter tyres we had no problem, and got to the ferry early... 2 hours early!
Now, a bit of advice for those of you who will ever get the Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg.. do not get there early! There is nothing to do at all! The website says 'make sure you get there at least 90 minutes before departure time', and we were there 3 and a half hours before departure time...and so spent 3 and a half hours in the car waiting! (ok, exaggeration...we went to the toilet for 5 minutes) But really, the gates open for the check in and security bit 90 minutes before departure, but after that you sit in your car for about an hour anyway.
So, we did eventually get on the ferry, and it was actually ok. Nothing special, but certainly not something you have to avoid. The ferry goes overnight, so be set off at 1710 ish (British time, GMT winter time etc...) and got to Esbjerg at 1300 the next day (Danish time, CET, Swedish time etc...)
Oh, and a not of warning...food is expensive on the ferry! 500 Danish for the 2 of us... that's about 55 of the Queens English Pounds, 550 SEK!Oh well, we will know to take food next time, you live and learn.
So we get off the ferry, and of course there is snow. Everywhere. And guess what...not a single problem. Roads are fine, all the cars are fine, no queues or anything!
And then we drive home, to Helsingborg. For those wondering if its worth the extra time...yes is the answer! Its beautiful through Denmark and Sweden, we even saw deer (only 2, but still!) And actually, the overall cost was very similar to 2 people flying, if you miss the low low cost flights. And for those of you who like bridges, there are 2 very nice ones to cross. This one and this one. (Both toll)
So we are back in Sweden now, and I am back working in the office again. I never thought I would say it...but I am glad to be back in an office! 4 months working 'from home' is actually pretty tough, its nice to have a separation of work and home.
We have also got to catch up with quite a few friends, not as many as we hoped to yet, but we are getting there. So, if you know me and haven't seen me and Sarah for a while, and want to come visit, just let me know :)
I will update you on more later, but that will do for my first foray back into this blogging world.
Things I have learnt since last time:
The drive from Esbjerg to Helsingborg is beautiful
I REALLY like being in Sweden at this point in my life
I have missed our Swedish friends more than I thought!
P.S. Guess what?? Got ya! :)
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