An Englishman in the Borg

...not blogging!

2010-04-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

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?

...Living the Swedish Sumer, Living as a couple and Malmo

2009-08-02T03:52:00.000-07:00

Hej!

Wow, a full month without blogging...this isn't exactly how I envisaged this going! But yet again, I have been caught up in everything that has been going on. Not that I have really been anywhere to stop me blogging, its just that I have been busy :)

So what have I done? Well, to start with I had another visit back to the UK to see Sarah for a long weekend, and it was another really hectic one! We seemed to be busy the whole weekend, but in a good way, and it was fun.

We had a night out in Doncaster for Sarah's sisters birthday, and it was certainly an experience. Lots of 'cougars' as I have been taught that they are called. Basically, older women dressed far too young, chasing something young.

Oh, and of course I had to make a fool of myself, and spray the tap all over my top when I went to the bathroom....just very glad it dried quick!

Then on the Sunday Sarah and I went to Wigan to have dinner with my brother and his wife. I worked out it should take somewhere between an hour and a half to two hours, and I pretty much knew the way...up the M1 and across the M62...I've done the drive lots in my old job.
So we set off, and were having a good laugh and good conversation and Sarah asks 'Where is Scotch Corner?' as the sign says we are on the way there....I suddenly realise I am driving to Gateshead and not Leeds/Manchester...oh bum!
So we come off at the next exit, and put on TomTom (don't ask why I didn’t do this to start with, I just knew I knew the way...ok!) TomTom then tells me I have basically driven as far north so that we were basically the same time away as we were when we set off...after about 45 minutes of driving! Oooops.
But anyway, we got there in the end, and had a very nice Chinese meal and a nice evening at Gregg and Julie's house, and I got to see their new A4 too, although they didn't let me drive!

So Monday came, and Sarah and I got ready to come back to Sweden. Yep, she was coming to visit for the whole summer, 6 weeks together! Was very excited!
As we were staying so long we didn't want to leave the car at the airport that long, so Sarah's mum brought us to the Airport...thanks Julie!
The journey was pretty standard, long and uneventful, but it just reminded me how much better travelling is when you are not alone.
So we have now had a few weeks of living together, and have tried to fill it with doing things so Sarah didn't get too bored while I was at work. We have been to see Harry Potter (pretty good, missed loads from the book, 4 stars) and we have been to the Helsingborg Festival. This was 4 evenings of stalls rides and music acts (no-one we had heard of) around Helsingborg, and it was pretty good. We didn't spend ore then a few hours there, as it was pretty much the same 6 stalls again and again, and we didn't fancy the rides.
I have managed to borrow a car for a few weekends too, so we have driven North and South along the coast, and seen quite a lot of very beautiful Sweden.
However, Sarah as also had to play nurse for a few days, as I got a pretty nasty cold and was pretty much house bound for 2 days. Not nice at all. But it was nice to get to spend the extra time together! Just rather it could have been with me not feeling so bad.

Oh, and I bought a bicycle! I have been thinking about it for a while, as it would really lower the time it takes to get to work and back. It would also allow me to ride around a bit more and see a little more of Sweden. So while we were shopping I saw one that was really good price! About a third of the other ones I had seen, and a pretty good make too, so I bought it. Who says I can't make quick decisions!?! And I like it, lots.
Sarah and I then went shopping for all the accessories and stuff...so I now have flashing lights for the back and a light for the front, pump and fix kit bag thing and a set of waterproofs...going to look soooooo cool in those when it rains! Not.

We have been talking about going up to Gothenburg for the weekend too, as there is a really good weekend deal thing that gives free access to museums and the theme park, as well as discounts for shops and restaurants, and this pass also includes a hotel room and breakfast.
But we haven't done it yet...we went to Malmo this Saturday instead. Its only about 45 minutes away on the train, and is very nice indeed in the main bits. Sarah was happy as the shopping is far superior to what is available in Helsingborg, and we came back with quite a lot more then we went with...!
So we still have Gothenburg on the plan, but not 100% sure when we will do it. We also plan to do a bit more sight seeing in the localish vicinity, so hopefully I should have some more pictures to show you just how lovely it is here.

I have also been acting manager for my full team over the last 4 weeks, as my manager has been on vacation, so I have had a busy/a little stressful few weeks. But I think I have done pretty well with it, and have definitely enjoyed it! I think it has shown me I am going in the right direction with my career, and also that the Swedish move has been really good for me so far!

What I have learned this month:
Having some one to travel with makes the journey much better
Its worth taking the time to visit other parts of where ever you go, small changes can be good! Extra responsibility is hard...but well worth it!

PS. Sometimes people get sidetracked, or something happens to make someone act a little differently to normal. This doesn’t always mean things have changed, just that their head is in a different place. Its worth talking it through and making the effort to change, as keeping what you have is much better then losing it!

...Tenerife, U21 Championships and good friends

2009-07-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hej!

Warning....this might be a rather long blog! Seeing as how I haven't posted anything for over a month!

And what a good month it has been! I guess I better go in order or no doubt I will miss things out...!

So first after my last post (so end of May..!) I went to Tenerife with my parents, my big sister, her husband and my nephew. Now it might sound like it wasn't set up to be a good holiday, but it really was! The weather was really good almost the whole week, and I really get on with my whole family so it was easy.

In order to get there from Sweden I ended up having to fly to Manchester from Copenhagen, and then get an Easy Jet flight to Tenerife. I haven't ever flown a 'low cost' airline so far before....and now I know why! I am used to SAS seats...with room to at least move your legs once sat down! That plus adverts over the tannoy thing at what felt like 2 minute intervals really made for a not pleasant flight.

Here is a picture of the Family

But anyway, I got there....I guess that’s all that really matters. We found out that the main pool was being serviced while we were there, so we could only use the little pool for most of the week....But this was fine, as James could touch the bottom in most of the little pool so it was more fun to be swimming with him anyway.

My Dad and I also got in a round of golf...one (if not THE) most beautiful rounds of golf I have ever had! My Dad got about 250 pictures! I didn't play particularly well, but I had a few good holes, so I was happy. :)

Then when I got back I had a very nice surprise visit from Sarah! :)
We had worked out with all the stuff in our calendars that we wouldn't get to see each other for 6 weeks if we didn't do it then, so she came over for 4 days and we had a really really good time. Was really hard leaving each other so quickly though...but on a good note next time we see each other it is going to be for about 6 weeks!

I would put a picture of Sarah up...but I will wait for permission first :)

And then on the day Sarah left some of my UK friends came to visit; Chris, Rick and Danny. Chris is getting married in August, so it was the first part of his stag tour...and Rick got special t-shirts made for us all! Very cool.

Here are the boys

And here is the t-shirts! Good work Rick!

The reason they were over was also for the Under 21 European Championships which were held in Sweden this year. We managed to attend 2 games as well seeing a few others on the TV. We went to Sweden v Italy in my local town (Helsingborg) which was pretty good...even if Sweden did lose. The match was actually on Midsummer’s Eve which is a massive day in Sweden. So after the match we went to a friends of mine and did part of the whole Midsummer thing. Mainly it involved a few beers, a few 'Snaps' and a BIG barbeque! All in all a very fun evening.

This is just one set of meat on the BBQ...

On the way home from the party thing we went to get the train...and I realised I had got the times wrong so we had an hour to wait! To be fair it wasn’t my fault...I had found out that the last train was at 39 minutes past the hour...so I assumed that the one before would be an hour before that....but no. It was an hour and 15 minutes earlier. So while we waited we invented a really fun game...'kick the plastic bottle into the bin'. Ok, maybe it was more fun at the time...but we actually spent about 50 minutes doing this! And Chris got it in just before the train came! Perfect timing.

Then we had a really good weekend of sitting in the sun, going out in Helsingborg (until 5am on the Saturday....not sure my friends are a good influence on me!) and generally enjoying the amazing weather.

Monday we went to see England v Germany...a big game for any Englishman! Unfortunately England had already qualified for the next round and so didn’t bother to put out their best team. We still got to see Theo Walcott though, so I was a bit happy at least. It ended 1-1 so not too disappointing.

The boys went home on Wednesday, and I suddenly realised how empty my house can be! But still, I had the semi finals to watch! Sweden v England was a really good game. Half time was 3-0 to England...and I was very happy (and a little scared) as I was watching it with about 200 Swedish people...! But then it got a little scary... 3-1...3-2...and then 3-3! Not good! I was starting to be really glad I hadn't celebrated the England goals too much! Then during extra time we had to walk up (very fast) to the local stadium to watch the other semi-final. So I was in Olympia stadium in Helsingborg for the penalties. Yep...me cheering England, and about 3000 Swedes, Germans and Italians. Strangely I was the only one celebrating the England victory!
The Germany v Italy match ended up 1-0, and was no where near as good as the England Sweden one!
And then we don't talk about the final. So no more to write on that.

And then I have just been working hard, cleaning the apartment (it was such a state after having 4 boys live here for a week!) and generally enjoying the Swedish summer. Its been about 23/24 degrees all week, and I've loved it!

Another UK friend Steve (who lives here in Helsingborg) is a VERY good chef...and has been kind enough to cook for me a few times. The latest time we were talking about how I ask a lot of questions while he cooks, and how it would make a great TV show....so we are going to start recording them and posting them online! Watch this space for more info and also for hints on upcoming recipes!

My Swedish lessons are coming on really well too. I am definitely able to understand much more..and can almost hold a full conversation.

So all in all I have had a REALLY good month since last time I blogged...so I hope you will forgive me.

What I have learned this month:
Following England in sports is both amazingly good...and heartbreaking!
Learning Swedish is really key to fitting in here and being able to socialise
Having friends to visit is really fun!

PS. It can be really fun doing things for other people, as long as seeing them happy makes you happy too! It doesn't matter what it is, everything is worth doing for the right person. :)

...getting older!

2009-05-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hej!

Wow, its been ages since my last post! Time really has flown by! Well, since my last post I am now a year older...and of course so much wiser.....!

I had a really nice week back in the UK with my family and friends, did a lot of catching up with people and seeing people I hadn't seen for 5 months. As well as doing the family stuff on Sunday and Wednesday (and my Mum, Dad, Big sister, her husband and my nephew came to the airport to see Sarah and I off) I went out in Sheffield with Sarah's uni friends as it was one of their birthdays, went to the cinema 3 times (Angels and Demons : 3*, Star Trek : 4*, Fast and Furious : 2*) and spent Friday night with my uni friends. By the time I came back I was in need of a holiday! :)

Got some very nice birthday Pressies too...a very nice watch, an iPod, a very nice Ralph Lauren T-Shirt, some English Chocolates, an iPod docking speaker set thingy, a book on F1 circuits, money for iTunes just to name a few! Was a really really nice birthday, so thank you to everyone who contributed to making it special for me!

So coming back to Sweden last Saturday was a bit strange...that has been the longest time I have spent back in the UK since leaving, and while it was really nice, I was still kinda excited to get back to my house! And even more weirdly, I was looking forward to getting back to work...I had things I wanted to do, and catch up with, as well as having the last couple of days of my Personal Leadership training course to do. That was on the Monday and Tuesday of this week, and I really really enjoyed it! I think it has really encouraged me that I am aiming the right way in my career, and massively improved my confidence in my own abilities, as well as letting me reflect on what I can do to improve on my weaknesses.

So this last week has been spent with Sarah in Sweden, having lots of deep and meaningfuls, as well as a really nice week in the relatively warm sunshine. Sarah and I have also spent quite a lot of time with my Swedish friends (well...friends that live in Sweden, I don't think she has met my "Swedish" Swedish friends so much yet...) and that has been really nice too! Felt very couplie, and really nice to know that we can integrate into each others lives so easily :)

My friend Keri moved into a new apartment this week, and Sarah was free while I was at work so she helped Keri out...was quite scary knowing that my girlfriend was talking to one of my friends without me being there...who knows what horrible things they could have been discussing about me! But Sarah seemed quite happy with me after a day with Keri, so I guess she must have been singing my praises at least a little :)

So basically I have had a really really good 2 weeks! Amazing birthday, amazing times with Sarah, and really nice weather too!

This weekend is a long one for me too....Thursday was Assertion Day, so a "Red Day" here in Sweden, so I decided to take Friday as holiday which has given me 4 days with Sarah with nothing planned...a rarity when she comes to visit! We don't usually get the chance to spend so long together here, and I think it has been really good! We have had a few walks down by the seafront, and some days just sat in the sun, as well as some evenings in the bars and restaurants around Helsingborg. All in all, a really really nice time for us!

So what have I learned this week (or so) :
Birthdays can still be exciting and really fun, even at 28
I am getting used to Sweden being home, even if I do miss UK Home too
Helsingborg would be even lovelier if it wasn't for the wind that drops the temperature so much!

PS. Life sometimes throws curveballs at you, and how you deal with them defines you afterwards. Try and be as honest as you can with those you love, as it is easier to deal with things as they happen rather then when things are found out bit by bit. Thank you for everything that has made this birthday amazing, and for understanding and trusting me when I mess up.

...missing the sun and watching Henrik Larsson in Helsingborg

2009-05-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hej!

I guess I had better apologise! I can't believe how fast this week (10 days?) has gone since my last post! It doesn't seem possible that it was so long ago!

Well where to start....? I guess the first place is the dodgy weather we are now having in Helsingborg. Most mornings I am now woken up by horrible hard rain, and dread walking to work....and so far Dennis (one of my team at work) has come to my rescue most days...thanks matey! And then this morning he couldn't take me, so I prepared myself for a very wet walk to work. But as I walked out of my flat it turned to drizzle, and got better all the way to work, so I wasn't completely drowned when I got there, just mildly moist. :)

I have also been crazy busy at work this last week or so, we have had a new server and client roll out of my product (well ok, not MY product, but still the one I am responsible for...) and it has gone quite smooth...but still we have had nearly 200% of the normal incidents to look at and investigate! On top of this, I have been doing lots of training and introductions to various things, as well as continuing my Swedish lessons (which I am proud to say I am getting much better at...even if I am still rubbish!) which means I am not spending a full week at my desk anyway. Ah well, such is work life I guess...

Last weekend was also a bank holiday (red day, national holiday etc..) as it was May day. Now I am used to the English way of doing things....whatever the holiday, its the Monday you have off. But Sweden are actually sensible about this, so we had our May Day holiday on the first of May. What a great idea! Its only when I look at it in the #we are celebrating a specific day' kind of way that I realise how stupid the English way is...there they are just having a day off, because they can!
So anyway, Thursday night (30th April) is a big thing here...something to do with the celebrating of coming of Spring or something...and traditionally they have big bonfires down by the sea...but this year the weather had been so good that they decided it was too dry to have them...so we just had an evening down by the sea anyway :)
Was really warm, and really busy down there...it was like the whole of Helsingborg had gone down to the beach that evening!
Then the weekend seemed to pass by in a blur! More time at the beach was involved, and seeing friends...but I don't really know how it went so quick!
Then all of a sudden it was back to work! SCARY!

Monday evening I went to see my first Swedish football match, Helsingborg v's Malmo. This is classed as a local derby here, so there was quite a good (if a bit scary) atmosphere, but it was mostly kept well controlled by the police. The game wasn't exactly high quality...about English football league 1 I think, but was still really nice to see live football again! The best bit (in my geeky opinion) was seeing the legend that is Mr Henrik Larsson! At his stage in his career he was still by far the best player on the pitch, and is quite clearly the talisman of the Helsingborg team. Just to see the way he predicted the game, and the runs he made and the space he constantly found was worth the entrance fee alone :) Yes...I was a happy boy! Oh, and also he scored the only goal...so now I can say I have seen Larsson score a goal live and in person!

This week has also been the Champions League Semi Finals (ah hem....3 English teams...) so I have watched them too. Both were actually really good games, and very entertaining throughout, not to mention some amazing goals! It is a shame that it won't be two English teams in the final, but I still think Manchester United will beat Barca...they just seem unstoppable at the moment!

I am now on the count down to my birthday too...that’s right, 13th May, well remembered! I have actually decided to spend it in the UK with Sarah and my family, so I fly back home (UK home) tomorrow, and will spend a full week there :)
Really looking forward to it...not just the time off work, but getting to spend so long with Sarah and seeing my family properly. Also quite excited about my presents this year...I don't think I have looked forward to a birthday for a long time!
And then after my Birthday when I come home, Sarah is coming back with me for 2 weeks as part of my present! So we get 3 weeks together... Really really looking forward to it! Not all that sure what we have planned for the 3 weeks, but its going to be fun..I know it! Sarah and I have still been talking most (I think every...) day, and it is really good to come home and be able to talk through the daily things and just relax with someone you really care about. Its not quite as good as being together, but it is a pretty good substitute while we can't be together.

I also had a review at work this week, and got a very pleasant surprise! I thought I had been doing pretty well in my new job, and was quite pleased...but it turns out that my boss(es) are REALLY pleased with the work I have been doing, and see massive potential in me! It is really really nice to be given that confidence boost, especially when I know I still have so much more to give!

Oh, while I remember...Helsingborg has now turned on most of its fountains again, and also overnight turned green! As you (I) walk around now all of the trees are green, flowers are coming out all over the place and it just looks lovely! The fountain thing is quite strange though...they turned them on just in time for it to start raining...great planning..!

So what have I learned this week...
The Swedish 'cleaning' team are amazing...the morning after the big Thursday night everything was spotless again!
Birthdays can still be exciting at 28
No matter how much you know, you can always learn more

PS. Some times even the best of things can feel very hard and like they are a lot of work, but it is worth remembering the good parts in order to work through the tougher times. If you really want something, it is worth going through some hardship to get the result you want. Don't give up because of potential problems, find a way to make sure those problems don't affect it in too big a way.

... enjoying the beach (ish) in Helsingborg

2009-04-26T02:49:00.000-07:00

Hej!

Ok, so its not a week since my last blog, but it is Sunday, so it seems right.
Its been a pretty busy few days since my last blog!
Thursday I had a friend from the UK staying, and he cooked me a really good curry! Steve and Keri turned up about 8, and we had a good night in :)
Friday we went for an 'afterwork' down at the circle bar, and stayed a few hours before going for dinner and then having a DVD night....watched 'How to lose friends and alienate people'. Was actually really good...I was expecting it to be really silly (most Simon Pegg films are) but it seemed a bit different then the others, in a good way. Not that I didn't enjoy the other ones...but you know what I mean.

Yesterday was a REALLY sunny day again in Helsingborg, so Yvonne and Ken (my Canadian friends) Keri and I decided to have a picnic style afternoon down at the sea front. It was so nice! Helsingborg is a little windy a lot of the time, so we found a nice place behind a little wall and had ciabattas with pate and cheese, and lots of fruit...and of course wine. Then ice cream for desert...my first ice cream in Sweden! ('Glass' in Swedish...not to be confused with 'Glas' which is a drinking vessel...)
It then got even more windy...and we considered leaving...until Ken found a really calm spot behind a big wall that had had the sun on it all day, so was lovely and warm! We ended up staying down there for about 5 hours...was so nice! Definitely going to take any of my visitors there if its sunny!

This week I also booked all my flights to come home for my birthday, and also to go to Tenerife at the end of May. Also had a very nice surprise from Sarah...she is going to come back home (to Sweden) after I have been home (UK) for my birthday...so we are going to get 3 weeks together! That’s going to be a really nice present as we dont normally get to spend that much time together :)

I had another Swedish lesson this week too, and surprised myself with how much I know! Its not like I can have a proper conversation yet...but I can form sentences if the other person is going to be very patient with me! But it is really coming along.

So what I have learnt this week:
Helsingborg has a beach, and is VERY nice in the sun (behind a wind break)
I am amazingly happy at the prospect of spending a long time with Sarah
I am getting better at Swedish...and pretty quickly I think!

PS. Planning for the future can be really fun, and quite scary all at the same time. Sometimes you just need someone to plan with and for that makes it all seem ok.

...being trained, 3 months in!

2009-04-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

Hej!

Well the sun is still out here in Helsingborg....or rather it was until about 12pm (midday) It seems to be hiding behind a rather large cloud just now.
But generally speaking it has been a glorious couple of weeks! I have had several very nice 'after works' down by the sea front, making the most of the sun to get these Swedes socialising...not the easiest job, but I have a core group that seem to join me quite regularly now :)

So since my last post I have hardly been sitting at my desk at work... I have been partaking in some training. The first couple of days after the Easter break I was in a 'Welcome to IT' training...yes, that’s right...3 months after starting my job I was introduced into the way my company wants to run its IT setup. It was actually quite good...well, the second day was! The first day was really an introduction to the company, whom I have worked for for 8 and a half years, so wasn't massively important for me! The second day was much more information about things I didn’t know, so I found it much easier to stay awake for that :)
In this training there was also 3 people from Shanghai, so I felt much better about the training having to be in English, as I wasn’t the only one that didn’t speak Swedish!

Then the Thursday and Friday I had a very different kind of training...'Take Personal Leadership'. This was REALLY good! All about how you (me) is the most important part of being able to lead, and showing by example, and taking a step out side the situation...you know, all the really obvious things that you forget about when it comes to work and stress. This training I was the only non-Swede...so felt quite guilty when people were struggling to find words and feelings in English when I was the only one who needed them!
The Swedes are generally very happy to do tings in English, most of them have been learning it from about the age of 7, so know loads! (Also, none of the TV and films are dubbed here, so they pick up very unusual words too!)
I also made a couple of new friends on this training, people whose faces I had seen around work, but hadn't really spoken too...but they liked my invitation to a beer and so I think they will join me more often now. I seem to have built a reputation for always being available for a drink or dinner....which I think is a good thing, even though I don’t actually drink that much!

Saturday I was back in the UK to see Sarah, and had no problems with SAS at all this time! In fact, both flights arrived early, so maybe they were trying to make up for last time...?? So I had yet another really nice weekend in the Sun with Sarah. We didn’t do a massive amount, but did things every day, so it felt like we were busy most of the time, but also got to spend a lot of time just being together which is very important when we see each other so little. It really is hard leaving to come home though.
We did do a lot of looking around shops and things...always quite depressing when you (I) don’t have a lot of money! I keep seeing things that I want, and keep having to think 'wait a while, and see how it goes', a situation I haven't been in for a long time! ... anyone want a Honda S2000 and therefore help me out with money??
We were mostly (kinda) looking for things for me, as it is my birthday in less then a month (hint hint) and I didn’t really have a clue what I wanted, but as usual Sarah had a fantastic idea (or two. 3 actually...) so I know a little of what to expect...but still love the surprise factor! I think it helps that my memory is so bad I never remember details, so although I have picked what I want, I will still be surprised when I open it!

So now I am back in Sweden, but have an English (well, Geordie...I guess they have to be counted as English) friend staying with me for the next 2 nights as he is here with work. He is cooking me and Steve a curry tonight...hope he finds what he needs in my kitchen...its not the best stocked kitchen in the world as I don’t do an awful lot of cooking for one!

Plans for this weekend?? I have no idea! Its quite nice to not really have anything planned, as it means I can do whatever I feel like!

By the way, if anyone wants to know more about a particular thing, just say...ideas are always welcome! I keep thinking of things to blog about...and then when I get to it I forget what they were...

So what have I learned this week:
Swedes form very close knit friendship circles...hard to break in to, but very strong once in
Swedes speak very good English, but don't always appreciate having to speak it...make an effort!
I need more money, as I want to buy loads of things!

PS. Sometimes it is really good to listen to other peoples ideas, as they can see things you can’t. That goes for anything from clothes, to watches, to things to do. Thank you for knowing what I want and what will suit me even more then I do! You make me look good! (in a good way...not in the 'compared to you' way...)

...getting a better experience of Helsingborg

2009-04-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

Hej!

Firstly, Happy Easter! I hope you are all having a very nice long weekend :)

Well I am going to start with last weekend, as that is where I left the last blog...
I was meant to be going Swedish clubbing...it didn’t really happen. I had a really nice evening with the expat crowd, Keri, Jif, Helgi, Nuno and Laura, and we made it to a couple of bars, but we never actually made it to the club!

Then on Sunday I met up with Mark, Tom, Jon and Gwen as Gwen was visiting from Gothenburg. We had a nice afternoon trip on the ferry, and then a few beers in one of the 'English' bars in Helsingborg. After that Mark and his band had a rehearsal...so we all went along to watch that too! Was really good fun...a very good day.

Then this week I have had a very workless week! Monday I was in Almhult again, this tie to sit with the customer services people, and learn about how they use my computer systems. This was a really good day too, most of my team were with me and it was a really good day of building friendships outside of the normal work place. We also got ice cream and sat outside in the gorgeous sunshine, so I was happy!

Tuesday and Wednesday I was on a Team Building couple of days...and it was actually much more fun then I thought it was going to be! We did some hard work, had some really good discussions about were we wanted our system and the team to go over the next few years. We also had a very fun team challenge, which involved 5 different things; putting (golf), archery, bowls, blow darting and then some Swedish rock throwing thing. Of course my team won all 5! :)
This was also a really good way of spending time with the whole team in another setting, we had a really nice evening of talking and watching the football and playing a game of guess the song...I think I lost that one, being the youngest and also because they kept on putting in random Swedish songs!

So Thursday was my first and only day in the office this week, and so was VERY busy, trying to catch up on stuff as well as doing stuff for next week...as I'm not in the office at all!

So anyway, to the clubbing experience...yes, we had one! We went out last night, and made sure we made it to the club this time. Helsingborg doesn't really come to life until after about 11, so that’s when we went out. Now normally Swedish people are quite polite, and aware of personal space...apparently that goes completely out of the window when they have had a drink or when in a bar or club! I was bashed into many many times over the night, with maybe 1 or 2 times someone saying sorry. The rest of the time it just seems to be taken for granted that its ok. So I spent a ton of money getting in, a ton of money on every drink to listen to pretty poor music and get bashed about! Brilliant! But saying all that, it was actually an ok night.

This week Sarah has been away on a cruise, and I have really missed talking to her! We normally talk almost every night, and with her away we haven't been able to. But she is back today, so hopefully we should get a good catch up :)
Its strange, she lives in another country most of the time, and yet when she goes away it gets really lonely! Awww, poor little me. Oh well, hopefully we shall have a very good couple of days catching up now.

So what I have learnt this week:
Swedish people change when they have a drink
Personal space does not exist in night clubs
Missing people is a very strange thing...and gets stronger for strange reasons!

PS. Its amazing how much missing someone can hurt, and yet it makes things so much clearer. You get time to think through all the feelings, and realise how strong they actually are. It also just makes the thought of being back with them even better, and the thought of talking to them for hours really really inviting. I love wot.

...having a lovely time in the UK, and enjoying the Helsingborg sunshine!

2009-04-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hej!

Well I would just like to say that I am sat in my apartment, typing on my new laptop (!), sat on my IKEA chair on my balcony. Yes, it really is that nice today!
According to Google it is 19 degrees in Helsingborg today, and I think I believe them...I had to take my coat off on the way home from work and everything! (not everything as in I took everything off though...don't worry!)

So anyway, this week...

Well Friday I was up rather early ... 4am to be exact, as I needed to get the 5am ferry from Helsingborg in order to get the train down to Copenhagen. As usual, I missed my ferry, but as they go every 20/30 minutes I didn't really have to wait that long.
Once at the airport it went really smoothly, Copenhagen Airport is one of the best I have been to...and I have been to a lot!
However...this week I encountered my first Scandinavian Airlines non-smooth flight...both to and from Manchester my flights were delayed by 2 hours! Not fun at all. To be fair, this is the first time in many flights that I have had a problem though.

So when I got to Manchester I was met by Sarah, which was really nice (thanks) and we went back to my Mum and Dads house, and then went for lunch with my Mummy :)
Friday night I had a very nice meal in Manchester with Sarah, my Mum and Dad, my younger sister Tova and Gregg and Julie (my brother and sister-in-law) That was really good to see them all, I hadn't managed to see Gregg and Julie last time I was back, so it had been 3 months!
After the meal I had a 2 hour drive back to near Sheffield where Sarah lives, as we wanted to be there for her Mums birthday on the Saturday. So Friday was a VERY long day, but was a very fun one too.

Saturday Sarah and I went shopping for some stuff for her Mum, and to look at a laptop for me...and Sarah spied a very nice one that was on offer (I am a sucker for offers) The only problem is it is on Vista...which is not my favourite windows...but I guess I will have to learn to live with it...and the laptop is high enough spec to cope with it.
Then Saturday night we had Sarah’s Mums party, which was about 100 people in the country pub across the road from their house. That was quite scary, as I hadn't met most of the people there before, and it was the first time I was meeting most of Sarah’s family as her boyfriend, but I think I impressed quite well, and made a good impression...

Sunday we had a nice and relaxing day, and had a lovely full English Roast...something that I had really missed while being in Sweden!

Monday and Tuesday we didn't do masses of things, but had a really nice couple of days just being together and enjoying each other’s company, and catching up on not seeing each other for nearly 3 weeks.

So Tuesday night I came home (yes...Sweden is now home I guess) but didn't actually get back to my apartment until after 2am, so was rather tired for work the next day too!

Yesterday I had a very nice phone call from one of my UK friend, who had ended up coming over to Helsingborg at the last minute, so we went for dinner and a couple of beers and a catch up. He has now got a job which will involve him being here quite often, so that’s really good for me!

The weather has been fantastic the last few days, really sunny and warm...compared to the very low numbers for the last few weeks!

I don't really have a lot to update of comment about Sweden this week...not really been here all that much! So sorry...but I am sure I will have something interesting to say by the end of the weekend as I am going on my first Swedish Clubbing experience tomorrow, and then have a ferry trip with a few friends on Sunday :)

So what have I learnt this week:
Even the best airlines have problems sometimes
It is really really good to see friends and family, always make time!
Sweden is amazing in the sun and warm, Helsingborg really comes alive

PS. It is really important to thank the people that take time out to make you happy, and do things for you. You should always try your best to make them happy, and do whatever you can to show them how much you care. Thank you!

...settling in, having a standard week!

2009-03-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

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!

...being ill and going home

2009-03-15T04:49:00.000-07:00

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!

... having a pancake party!

2009-02-25T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hej!

Sometimes I just dont know where the days go...It really doesn't feel like 10 days since I last blogged!
My Mum and Dad have gone home, and left the flat in a very good state...all my cardboard is gone, and I have lots of good practical stuff (kitchen roll holder...plastic tubs...all the things Mums and Dads are really good at!) So thank you both very much...and I miss you!

Since they have been gone I don't feel like I have done an awful lot really! I didn't do an awful lot this weekend...was my first weekend without plans and having to do stuff, so I didn't do much at all! Caught up on some sleep, played some playstation, watched some films...just had a very nice time really!

Now I don't know if you all are aware, but yesterday was shrove Tuesday...(Semla day in Sweden, or Pancake day if you are English) Semla is like a cream bun, but with a layer or marzipan like substance under the cream too...its quite nice :)
But still not a patch on Pancakes. So I had a pancake party last night! Was really nice...had a mixture of people from my team at work as well as some friends I have made while being here through a friend I knew from the UK. Was a good time had by all me thinks :)

Tomorrow I am going for some drinks with some of the guys from work, and then Friday one of my friends who is the singer in a band is playing at one of the local pubs here in Helsingborg...so I will be attending that too!
Then Saturday I am going to Lund with my friend Kerry, not for anything particular, just to have a look round I think...but should be good.

Then Sunday my girlfriend Sarah is coming out again for a few days which will be really good as I miss her lots! It will have been 3 weeks since we saw each other...and I am coming back to the UK for the weekend on the 6th, but she has some free time from Uni and flights were really cheap so she is coming to see me, then we fly back to the UK together on Friday and I come back the following Monday...so we get 8 days together :) Yay.
I also need to apologise to her, as my main valentines day present is rather late...but I think it should make up for the lateness...I got her a Wii :)
I also got her some very nice White roses delivered on valentines day, so that should be worth quite a lot. (white and not red as I know she pefers them....see, I am very nice really!)

My Swedish is coming along really well too...I think :) I have done quite a few lessons now, and am doing my verbs, adjuctives, numbers, colours and all that jazz...so thats pretty good :) And I enjoy it lots too, so thats even better!

So what I have learned this week :
I like pancakes lots
My flat can accomodate 18 people without too much trouble
I am really enjoying my Swedish lessons!
I miss my nephew James but get to see him when I get home :)
I can't wait to see Sarah!

PS. Got a Wii...so lots of fun times ahead :) And I think I deserve a very nice present in return for my very nice present!

...having an early Valentines day, and having my parents visit

2009-02-15T06:51:00.001-08:00

Hej!

Well I guess I will start at the end of the last post...and start with Saturday 7th Feb...Kieron and Sarah's early valentines day! As we would not be with each other on the real day we decided to have Valentines a week early, and it was really nice! We didn’t do an awful lot, just really enjoyed the day together and went for a very nice meal out at night.

Kinda makes up for spending the real valentines day with my parents...! Actually, it was really nice too! Mum and Dad arrived on Friday night in Copenhagen, so I went to meet them at the airport, and we stayed in a hotel in Copenhagen centre. Saturday we then spent looking around Copenhagen...I can say it is a really beautiful place! It was cold but sunny, and walking around wasn't too bad. There is loads to see and lots of museums (we didn’t do any on this trip) so I am pretty sure I will go back. I can definitely recommend it! But...it is expensive!

So my parents are still with me today, and we spent this morning walking around Helsingborg. Its quite nice to show people around, as it makes me realise how much I do actually know about it already!

There is also a 'love and light' festival taking place in Helsingborg this week, which is basically lots of different light shows on the buildings and stuff around town, all with a 'love' theme. We didn't get a lot of time to look around, as we were tired and hungry, but I am sure I will have more to report on this later in the week :)

Wednesday this week we had an evening out with work. We went bowling, and then for drinks after that. Was a very fun evening, even if my team didn’t win...or actually even do that well! I scored 118 and then 158, so I was very happy with that :)
It also makes it easier to get to know people through a social outlet...and I think I am doing quite well!

I have also had another 3 hours of Swedish lessons, and apparently I am progressing quite well! I am still mixing up my German and Swedish, but I think it is getting less, and I am definitely able to hear more when people are talking now!

What I have learnt this week:
Copenhagen is very nice!
It is definitely worth learning the local language as soon as possible.
It is really nice to get visitors from home :)

PS, Pictures are good for remembering things you try and imagine when you don’t have it with you.

...finishing off the house, and getting my UK stuff

2009-02-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

Hej!

Well this week and a bit have been really good, and quite fun!
I have had 3 visitors since my last post...but only 2 staying with me, and also all my stuff from the UK arrived, so my apartment is feeling much more like home now. I have also built all my furniture, so went to buy some more...!

Also had a few nights out with people from work, and made more friends and all that jazz...so it really is starting to feel like I live here now...in a good way.

I do have to say a massive thank you to Sarah, as while I have been at work she got sick of looking at all my UK delivery boxes (yes, I really am that lazy that I didn't unpack my boxes for 3 days) and so unpacked my stuff! Thank you :)
I did unpack my TV though as soon as the delivery men left though, and the Playstation, so i'm not that lazy!

So the spare room is completly finished now, apart from the lights, and the same for the lounge too. Oh, but I still want a coffee table and probably a rug...but I haven't decided on that yet.

Last night we had a 'grodan' night out...I don't know why the afterwork club is named 'frog' but I guess its interesting at least! We went on one of the ferrys that cross the 'sound' (the stretch of water that seperates Helsingborg on the Swedish side and Helsingor on the Danish side) it only takes about 20 minutes for the crossing, but once you are on you can stay on as long as you like :)
So we had a meal and a few drinks, and were on there for about 3 hours, and had a very nice evening.

Weren't that many people I knew that were there, but Sarah and I managed to position ourselves opposite a very nice German lady who was happy to talk English to us all night, as well as my friends Emma and Cecilia who of course know that I know very little Swedish so were also happy to talk English...thanks guys!

Oh, and on the talking Swedish front I had my first Swedish lesson this week! It is a one on one lesson, so I actually felt like i learnt alot in the 2 hours...we covered the alphabet, numbers, months, days of the week and the good old 'Jag hetter Kieron. Vo hetter du?' (ok, so the spelling might be off, but thats how you say it!) it means my name is Kieron. What are you called? We also started on the books I will be using, so I have 3 books at home that I am trying to look at...its actually really good fun! So I might keep you updated on the staus of my Swedish too :)

So what I have learned this week:
Where you stay feels much more like home once you have your own old stuff there
I actually like learning Swedish!
I think I am going to need a car....

PS. Feel better soon, and thanks for staying so long :)

... getting broadband at home

2009-01-25T04:55:00.000-08:00

Hej!

Well my broadband connection and modem are finally here and set up (even though the instructions were all in Swedish..I really think there should be English too!) Not all that sure I could have done it if I had been a technophobe, so I guess my IT knowledge has helped in my everyday life too...wow, first time for everything!

So hopefully that means I can start blogging more often, and therefore have shorter posts so I don’t bore the pants off you all! It also means I can blog when I have something to blog about, rather then thinking 'oh, that would be really good to talk about' and then forgetting what it was... which has happened a few times already. I think I must be getting old :(

But anyway...I had a very nice 'afterwork' on Friday. This is a Swedish thing, as you need to plan nights out well in advance here..the Swedish in general aren't so good at the whole spontaneous night out thing. But anyway, there were 6 of us, which isn't bad for 2 days notice here. We didn't do all that much, but went to the Telegrafen, which is pretty cool pub. It has 2 levels...the main bar on the ground floor, and then a basement part too, which is where we ended up as it was really busy upstairs being payday here. So we had a meal and a few beers, and called it a night pretty early really...think I was home for about 2130..which was good as I was still really tired from a lot of late nights and early mornings this week!

I also had a phone call from a friend in the UK asking if he could come and stay at mine on Wednesday night, as he has an interview here on Thursday...of course I said yes, that’s the kinda thing my spare room is for! It will also be nice to catch up, he was one of the ones I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to properly as I was so ill on my last week on UK work.

And another of my friends from the UK is over Monday till Wednesday, as he has some meetings here this week, so I should have 3 nights of getting out and socialising, and then Thursday my TV and all my other stuff should arrive...so I shouldn't get a chance to be too bored this week..hopefully.

What I have learned in the last few days :
Surprise calls and visits from friends are really good for cheering me up
I must be a geek...because having my own broadband connected relieves some of my tension...
I have already made some good friendships here, and I think I am on the way to having more :)

PS. Thank you for leaving the gift, I love how it smells :)

... settling in and getting a visitor!

2009-01-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

Hej!

Yet again I need to apologise for the length of time it has taken between blogs, but I still have no internet at home! But I received a card saying I could pick up my modem now, so hopefully I will be up and working very soon!

So what have I been up to since I last blogged...hmmm, well unless I write yet another stupidly long post I better just give the summary!

I have been building lots of IKEA furniture..in fact I am sure I have actually put together more then I bought, or maybe that’s just the way it makes you feel!
I have been settling into work, trying to get my head around the job and my new team and trying to explain in a nice way what my expectations and goals are. I have noticed that the Swedish work philosophy is very different to the UK one...I cant really pinpoint exactly why right now, but I am sure I will return to this topic soon enough!
I have also been making friends, and strengthening other friendships...my visits to the pubs and bars round Helsingborg are still quite high, which apart from the cost is a very good thing as it saves me being bored!
And that’s another thing...my UK delivery is still not here! I have now been informed that it now has a delivery date of the 29th Jan...a full 18 days after the first delivery date. Not a happy bunny about that!
I have also had my first proper visitor! (as in one that stays at my flat) So this weekend has been my best so far...thank you Sarah! We didn't really do all that much to be fair, went out for dinner a few times, went to a bar or two, had long chats late into the evening...all things that I really miss living alone, and made so much better with great company :)
We also had a really really good laugh together, in fact I have finally found someone who thinks I am very funny...lets see how long that lasts! lol. All I have to say is 'Perchow' ... Sarah is now nearly crying with laughter :)

On another positive note, I am now a Swedish Bank Account holder, and have my very own Personnummer (like a Swedish identity number...necessary for all manner of things here!) which means I have now ordered my broadband, TV package and home phone.
Talking of phones...did you know you need to live here for at least 6 moths before you can get a contract phone?? I guess it is probably the same in most countries, its just something I wasn’t prepared for and so was shocked by it!
Also, a pay as you go phone here is ridiculously expensive! I have bought the cheapest one they had...and it still cost me 600KR (about £55) but I have got a nice pay as you go package, that lets me text home for 29kr (about 2.5 pence) which is way better then the 25 pence it was costing me from my UK phone!

On a very different note, but still about money, anyone that is thinking of coming to Helsingborg from Copenhagen should really look into coming up to Helsingor on the Danish side by train (incidentally the castle here is the one from Hamlet, and worth checking out) and then getting the ferry across to Helsingborg. The time it takes is very similar to coming across the bridge to Malmo and then coming by train up the Swedish side, and yet it cost about half as much. Strange business logic if you ask me. Surely it would make more sense to make them at least close... oh well, yet another great piece of Swedish logic :)

One of my team members is going to Thailand for 4 weeks, so tomorrow we have an 'afterwork' to wish him the best...and to be honest its a great way to get people to come out..they aren't so good at just coming out if there isn't a better reason then 'because you want to'. But I am building up a few friends who I can just drop a line and grab a beer with, so that’s always good.

Other then that I don't have an awful lot planned for this weekend...but I will see how I feel and what invites I get.

What I have learned this fortnight :
It is imperative that you try and get into the system in a new country very quickly...you can’t do much without national identification of some sort
Spending time with friends is one of the most special times you get...make the most of them
Its worth trying different routes to and from places...or ask on of the locals, as things are not always what they seem!

PS. I love wot!

... moving to Sweden!

2009-01-08T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hej!

So I am finally here..in some ways it seems like it has taken ages, and in others it seems like the time has flown by. And I apologise that I have been here for 6 days now, and this is my first blog...but I dont actually have internet access at home yet :(
I think I better also apologise as this will probably be quite a lenghty blog, as I have much to tell!
So to start...I flew out on Friday morning, after having a meal out with my eldest sister, her husband, my nephew and my mum and dad on the thursday night, and then breakfast at the airport with my brother and his wife and my mum and dad...all paid for...which was nice!

Flight was fine, copenhagen as usual was quick and easy, and the train was also perfectly on time...as always! The biggest shock came when I was converting some cash...I got about 10.5 Swedish Kr to 1 pound...where as when I came out a few months ago it was more like 12.5! So my money isn't going to go as far ... but at least it means when I get paid in swedish it feels like more pounds (yes, i know it doesn't matter as I will still be spending in Sweden..but its always nice in my head)

I arrived in Helsingborg at about 14:50 (2.50 pm, 10 to 3...whatever you like) and took a Taxi to my new apartment to meet my landlord, as I didnt fancy the walk with a VERY heavy suitcase. This was shock number 2...Swedish Taxi's are very expensive! I was in the Taxi for about 7 minutes...and it came to 150kr, so at the exchange rate I got thats nearly 15 pounds! Shocking.

Anyway, I met my landlord who is actually a really nice guy, and he showed me round the flat (again) and handed over the keys. I then proceeded to do some very quick measuring up of the rooms, and headed towards the car rental place. Now, on the map it looked pretty close...but when you are walking in minus temperatures and not really knowing where you are going this can feel much longer...in the end it took about half an hour, and I was rather cold.

But anyway, that went fine, got into the worng side of the car and went on my way (they drive on the wierd side here...not like us Brits)

First stop was IKEA, as I needed to kit out my whole appartment. The one here in helsingborg is pretty small compared to what I am used to in the UK, but I had a pretty good choice, and spent about 2 hours wandering around sitting on different sofa's and trying to decide what bed to buy etc...

Then came the fun part...! If you have never been to an IKEA, let me explain how it works. You basically walk around a showroom full of beautiful furniture that is all imaculatly built, and think that everything would go in your house nicely. And then you see the price, and think 'wow, thats very cheap for what it is' and get sucked into wanting far more then you thought you could afford. All the items either tell you where to pick them up form in the self serve warehouse (I will explain in a minute) or they tell you to see a sales assistant. So I ordered my sofa, and wardrobes and bits and pieces through the sales assistant (who were all very helpful!) and went on my merry way to the 'markethall' part of the shop. This is where there are small pits for your house, such as cookware, bath towels, duvets etc... a lot of which you can pick up straight away. I picked up a duvet and pillows and bed linen, as I needed something to sleep on that night, but decided I would do the rest of the small bits the next day, and walked off to the self serve warehouse.

Now...I had about 1 and a half pages of A4 papers worth of stuff to pick up...but there was only one lady working in the warehouse so she could't offer much help...but told meI could leave my full trolleys with her to keep an eye on as I filled up the next one. 5 trolleys, lots of sweat and heat and 45 minutes later I was ready to go and pay.

At this point it is about 20:20(8:20pm) and the shop was supposed to close at 8...

So I arrive with my 5 trolleys, explain that I only speak English, and the cashier and I have a nice discussion about me moving here and stuff as she scans all my stuff, as well as the orders for the other things that are in the external warehouse that I was getting delivered so didnt have to pick up myself (phew). Then came the fun part...paying. I swiped my English credit card...and it came back blocked. So I tried again. Blocked, cashier needs to contact this number...so she did...and it didnt work. Bum. Ok, how much can i get out on my debit card...we tried, and I got about half of what I needed...! Oooops.

So we talked to the duty manager and ended up that as I was getting it delivered I could take what I needed to sleep tonight as I had easily paid for more then that, and come bac in the morning to sort out the rest.
Ok, so not all that bad...until I got back to my apratment, realised the mattress wouldnt fit in the lift so carried it all the way up 4 flights of stairs, tore open all the bedding and fell asleep.

Oh, maybe I need to point out that there were no lights in the bedrooms, lounge or hall at this point, as they are all counted as furnishings so dont come with the appartment...!

So that was Swedish day number 1...so far...very bad!

The Saturday was a much better day though. I phoned my bank, got the card unblocked (the system hadn't recognised that I had told them I was going to Sweden) went back to IKEA, paid the remaining balance, and proceeded to try and get as much little bits as I could remember and think that I needed. I did pretty well really!
Next stop : Supermarket.
Now here is one recomendation for anyone looking to move abroad...do some basic translations before hand! I ended up buying things I wasnt quite sure what they were, but they looked right! I still have no idea what meat I am eating, or what kind of cheese or bread, but they all taste good, so thats fine with me.

I got home, and proceeded to cook myself a nice chicken breast, potatoes, and mixed vedge, put it out on my new IKEA plates...and realised I didnt have a knife or fork, as I have a full dinner set from my Grandpa coming over in the shipment from the UK, so just didnt even think about it. So I ended up eating with a vegatable knife and a ladel...but it all tasted good anyway!

Anyway, I wont bore you with details of everyday, but I have now recieved my 42 box delivery from IKEA and am spending most of my free time putting it all together, but I have managed to fit in a few drinks with some new friends (thanks for the invites Mark, much appreciated, keep them coming!) and also my old boss form the UK was over for some meetings, so I went out for dinner (evening meal) and a few beers with him too.

At some point I promise I will blog more about the lovely pubs here in Helsingborg, but for now this blog is long enough, and there is a fair bit I have blogged before about a few..I think!

I have had to purchase a radio though...I never realised how quiet it gets when you live alone! I also have no TV or Playstation at the moment, as they are coming in my shipent from the UK. Oh, and no internet at home either, as I need a bank account ... and thats not so easy either!

I also started my new job properly this week, which has been really good. I think I am going to really enjoy it, and even more importantly I think I will actually be quite good at it!

Right, I think that is enough for today..I will do Bank accounts and 'Personnummers' another day...keep you all on the edge of your computer chairs in anticipation :)

Things I have learnt this week:
You should always make a list of essential things when moving home (especially abroad)
Plan to have things with you that you will need to stop you being bored while TV connection and broadband etc are being setup
Try and have a contact that speaks both your language and the local one, as translations are going to be needed!
Make the most of the friends you make, and the contacts you make...it can get very lonely very quickly.

... Celebrating Christmas and getting ready to leave!

2008-12-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas all!

Yes, I know its rather late, but I have been rather busy doing the whole family thing and packing and sorting everything out for my big move to Sweden on Friday...yes, 2 days left!
Christmas in my household is always a really fun occasion, I have a pretyy big family and we all go round to my parents for a Christmas lunch and general day of family activities. So this year there was 9 of us for lunch (me, Mum, Dad, big sister, brother in law, 4 year old nephew, big brother, his wife and my little sister) which was very nice indeed! I really do enjoy a good roast with all the English trimmings...I think that is one thing I will miss in Sweden, so I guess I will just have to learn to cook my own properly. :)

Christmas day always seems better when there are kids involved in some way, so having my 4 year old nephew there really adds a sparkle to the day..present opening is much better when they just love everything, no matter what it is!

Here he is looking rather evil...he isn't really!

We don't really do lots of presents in my family, we instead by a gift for one person for a set cost (names pulled out of hat, which is much more complicated then it seems when couples aren't allowed to get each other...) and put the rest of the money we would have spent towards buying things for 3rd world countries...like pigs, a well, some trees...you get the idea. I really like this idea, feels much more like what I think Christmas should be. I also don't really need presents, I am the type of guy that buys things when I want them, so trying to come up with a Christmas list is hard!

Last night I went out for the birthday of one of my Uni mates (Happy Birthday Finky) and had a very merry night...

This was after we had been to Ali's for a few, then to the pub to watch the football (I am English, so REAL football...) and this was on the way to the Chinese take away. I do have to say thank you to the lady who owns the Chinese, as she let us in even though they had just closed.. so thank you lady!

I have also been trying to sort out all of my personal things for moving to Sweden on Friday...and think I have done quite well really. I have spoken to my phone company, bank, car insurance, phone insurance (I didnt even know I had it until I looked!) and a whole number of other people, and think I am now ready for Friday...other then I still haven't finalised what I am taking with me now, and what is being couriered. Things also keep adding themselves to the list to be taken, I now have a few bottles of spirits to come and keep me company for the first few nights while I await and build my IKEA furniture :)

But its getting very close now, and is finally starting to feel like I am leaving. But in a good way...I haven't got all sad yet, but I am sure that will come soon enough!

Things I have learnt this week :
Christmas is much more special when there is a child around
Planning a big move is harder then anticipated
I have lots of really good friends who I am going to miss very much

Oh, and I also met a Princess recently, that I have to say hello to :)

... ill

2008-12-22T15:10:00.000-08:00

So this was my last week working in my current job...so what did I do? Spent most of it ill in bed! Now normally you would think that this is maybe a good thing...but I actually wanted to work this week! I flew down to Southampton on Monday, and felt a little poorly with flu like symptoms, but thought I would just sleep it of...but no. So I spent the next day in bed...and then Wednesday I got sent home as I was just getting worse, and there is not much worse then being ill in a hotel room all on your own.
So I missed my goodbye drinks in Southampton, I missed my London office Christmas party which would have been my last chance to say goodbye to lots of my work colleagues, and I missed my night out in Sheffield on Friday too, as I still was not good. So all in all a very very poor week!
On the plus side though, I have now finished...and can honestly say it is a nice feeling not knowing when I will next work a day in the UK. I will of course miss all my work mates, but I am really looking forward to a new challenge...and one that I think I will be very very good at.
So this week coming...its Christmas! I only have a little Christmas shopping to do, so that shouldn't take too long at all.
In my family we don't do big presents for everyone...we do a draw of names, and just buy 1 person something for around £30, and the rest of the money we would have spent we spend buying pigs and trees and water for third world countries. I actually really like doing this! I am the kinda guy who buys what I want when I see it...so I generally don't have a very big wish list at all at Christmas, so I really don't mind not getting things I wouldn't use anyway.
This year I am expecting some cookbooks and bits and bobs like that for my pressie...I need to be able to survive on more then my basic knowledge once I get to Sweden. (although I do make a VERY good lasagne with chillies!)
I have also decided I really need to start the tidying and sorting and packing process...mainly so I know what I want to take! I know there is not lots...my clothes, TV, PS3, Golf clubs..but I am now thinking of buying the basic things I will need there too...like toothpaste and spare hair gel..not because I don't think they will have it, I think I will just feel better knowing I have a supply in case I don't like what I do find.

Things I have learnt this week:
Being ill in a hotel is really really boring
Always make the most of the opportunities you do have with people...you never know when the next one may be
I really really don't want to have to sell my car as it has special memories attached to it too

... back in the UK...and cold!

2008-12-12T04:37:00.001-08:00

Well first of all I will warn you...this blog will have nothing really to do with Sweden at all!
I have been back in the UK and working in Southampton for the last 2 weeks (hence not much blog action!) and its been REALLY cold! Well ok, not as cold as probably most parts of Sweden and several other places round the world...but I am English, and we aren't used to this! Plus we complain a lot...so its my turn :P
I think its been made worse because I have been working on a new store build...which is basically a construction site so there is no heating at all, and all day we are working in a cold building.
However, I have actually had a really fun couple of weeks! The team that I work with on the store builds are a really good bunch, and we generally have a very good time. I have eaten really badly though, and have put on weight even in just 2 weeks...plus it is Christmas soon so I will no doubt just be eating badly for a few weeks to come too!
So I have 1 more week of working in Southampton, and then that is me done in the UK! Wow...scary. 3 days of work to go...
Got lots of leaving do's this weekend too...Wednesday, Thursday friday and Sunday nights are all full of them...good job I have next week to sleep!

Things I have learnt this week:
Life goes very quickly
Whenever you decide to leave somewhere, you find a reason to not...

... picking an appartment, and then getting to know my job

2008-12-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hej,

Well I have picked an apartment, and went for the one with a balcony :)
Now I just have to plan what furniture to buy in order to make it look like I want it...why is it so hard to get your imagination down on paper??

A bit of advice for anyone wanting to come to live in Helsingborg (or I guess Sweden anywhere...) have a good look around! I viewed lots of different places, all different sizes, shapes..some with furniture some without. But with this one it just felt different, I could see my self living there. So I had a good walk around the neighbourhood and checked to see what I thought of that too..and it was a combination of it all that got me. It isn't the biggest, it isn't the cheapest, but its the one that makes me want to live there.

Also this week I have been spending more time getting to know the guys in my new job, and trying to learn more about the job itself. And have had a really fun time! Been for a few beers with some people I think will become good friends, and had a really fun team night out...which is always important! Shows we work well together in and out of the office.

I actually got so into the job and the place that I was a bit sad to come home, even if it is only for a month! There are so many ideas I want to try and things I want to learn that I was kinda looking forward to just getting started with it. Oh well, gives me more time to think about it. I guess.

So at the moment I am in Southampton, helping build a new store...and its freezing! It actually feels colder then it did in Sweden when it was snowing! Crazy English weather!

So anyway...what I have learnt this week :
I am really looking forward to decorating (and I never thought I would say that!)
Southampton can be colder then Sweden
I often forget to blog..! lol

... looking for apartments

2008-11-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

Hej (hello from Sweden)
Its about time I started blogging from Sweden I guess, as this blog is meant to be about Sweden! So I got here on Monday, and had my first piece of 'wow-ness' on the train...I asked the guy next to me if he was from Malmo as I wanted to know if the train I was on was going to Helsingborg or stopping...and it ends up that he was actually from Helsingborg...and gave me some really good advice, and knowledge...and a business card so I can get in contact for a beer or something. Wow.

I also have been at my new work this week, getting to know the people I will be working with and getting to know as much as possible about my job. Its been really good!

Also been having a good look around Helsingborg, and liking it more and more all the time. Well, apart from the cold, the wind and the rain. Whoever it was who told me Sweden isn't very windy was lying..bigtime! But today has had some sun, so its not all bad.

Anyway...appartments. I have had a look around a few now, and have narrowed it down to 2..wierdly across the road from each other! But I am having a hard time deciding...so please please add your opinion!
First one:
1 medium/large bedroom, pretty big dining room, large lounge (TV room, den..whatever you want to call it) Kitchen is ok, not massive, and not new.
Second one:
1 small bedroom (double bed, and a wardrobe or two...thats about it!) 1 medium bedroom, kitchen is brand new and has enough space for a 6 person dining table. Lounge is a little thinner, but a little longer then the other one. Oh, and it has a balcony :)

Its hard to decide! I want the 2nd bedroom for when people stay, so they can feel like they have there own space and not just living in my lounge...and I like the balcony...but the 1st one is really nice too!
So I need opinions please...how important is it to have your own space when you go to visit someone for a few days??

Anyway...what have I learnt this week:
My job is going to be lots of fun
My job is going to be lots of hard work
Flat choosing is hard
I love Helsingborg

... trying to say goodbye

2008-11-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

Well I now have 3 full days left in the UK...now that is scary! I haven't even decided what exactly I am taking yet. How is that for organised??
I blame all my friends though, as they have taken up my 'free' time making me say goodbye and making sure I have a few drinks...how rude! But its been good fun.

My friends Ali and Paddy have also been trying to make me promise that I would sign up for W.O.W. when I get to Sweden..and after playing it in a somewhat hazy state for a good few hours this weekend I relented and said I would...its actually quite good once you get started!

I also have to give a mention to the very good night I had in London last night...thanks Chris and Roland for intorducing me to Lowlands and the Porterhouse, both of which serve a very good selection of ales and beers that you wont find many other places...I actually had my first Strawberry beer! Not so much beer...but very sweet and very very nice. 1 pint was enough though...

So this weekend is also going to be very full...tonight I have a Poker night with the guys from my old work, Friday I am going for leaving drinks with people from the Ashton branch of my new work, Saturday I am round at a friend from Uni's new house for a goodbye night with my uni friends and Sunday I am having some sort of family thing. So all in all not a lot of time to organise myself!

Also this week I have been looking at my personality profile, and other clever things that will hopefully enable me to be a better manger/co-ordinator and also just give me confirmation of what I am good at, and what I need to watch out for.... turns out I am an ENFP ... if you are interested (its quite good!) you can do your own here : http://www.careerfulfillment.com/questionnaire/questionnaire.htm
And once you have done it, this site gives a more in depth description : http://www.personalitypage.com/portraits.html

Its wierdly accurate...but I guess thats the point!

So what have I learnt this week:
I like strawberry beer
I don't plan enough in advance
I have lots of very good friends that I am gonna miss (so you better all come visit!)

... celebrating a British F1 Champion

2008-11-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Its happened...and about flippin time too. We Brits have managed to churn out another world champion...and this time its with a British team too.
Well done Lewis, although in the end it was a bit too close for comfort. I was sat at home comfortably awaiting an easy afternoon of Mr Hamilton plodding around nice and easy in 4th place...yeah right. My heart was pounding by the end of it, and on the last lap I was pretty much ready to throw my remote at the TV. But he got there in the end. Well done.

So now we just have to wait and see whats going to happen with all the new regulations next year....lets just hope it is and exciting as this year has been.
Feels weird thinking that I will be watching the races next year in my own house in Sweden...hmmm. At least I won't be competing for the remote!

... trying to translate Irish

2008-10-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

Amongst trying to sort out when I will be moving to Helsingborg, I have also been having to get on with my current job, and so had the great pleasure of going to Dublin for the week. How lovely...I thought!

Firstly, my flight last Monday was at 7:55am, so after a rude awakening at 5:30 by the alarm I waited for a LONG time for my taxi (it broke down) and ended up getting to the airport at 7:15am. I ran to the gate, and was very politely told that they had stopped check in at 7:10. Bum.

So I then started one of the strangest Mondays I have had for a long time... 6 hours in Arrivals (the only place that sold tea(6 cups)) 2 hours in departure lounge, an hour or so VERY bumpy flight to Dublin, a 10 minute Taxi ride that cost 20Euro, and an arrival at my Hotel. All in all a pretty shoddy work day.

I have to say that Dublin was not all that impressive. Yeah, it was quite pretty in places, but not somewhere I personally would want to live. However, I was very impressed by the local ladies, the combination of the Irish accent and very friendly personalities...ideal!

Oh, while I think about it, did you know that you don’t need to pass your test to drive in Ireland?? I didn't...until after I had had a few lifts with a very cute girl who then told me. Strange.

Anyway, I did my work in the Dublin store all week, and then went to fly home on the Friday. Well, when I say home, I was going to visit my Grandpa and Auntie, Uncle and 2 cousins in Kent, so I was flying to London City. However, there was a bomb scare, so I ended up going to Southend airport and having to drive from there! Oh well, at least I can tick another place of my list of places I don't really want to visit.
But I did have a very nice weekend, and it was really nice to spend time with everyone.

It was also my big sisters birthday this week, and my 4 year old nephews birthday last week, so we had a family meal on Tuesday, which was very nice indeed. But no jelly and ice cream....very disappointing.

Sheesh, I really need to learn to keep these blogs shorter, or no-one will read them!

So...Helsingborg! I have sorted a date...I start on the 17th November! It is rather complicated though, as I am doing 2 weeks in Sweden, then coming back to the UK for December to help with some projects I have been overseeing, and then start officially on the 1st Jan in the new job and hopefully new flat.

So things I have learnt this week:
Always leave lots of time to check in before a flight
You can drive without a licence in Ireland
There are lots of cute brunettes in Dublin
I only have 17 more days of really living in the UK!

... accepting a new job!

2008-10-17T04:37:00.000-07:00

So its finally official, I have accepted a job in Helsingborg, Sweden. So all I need to do now is negotiate a starting date, hand in my notice and leave!
Unfortunately, its not quite that simple...! My current job have asked my new boss (I am staying within the same company, just moving abroad) if I can stay long enough to finish some of the projects I have been doing, but obviously my new boss wants me to start as soon as possible...oh the fun of negotiation!
At the moment it looks like I might end up going to Sweden for 3/4 weeks, and then coming back for a few weeks and Christmas, and officially starting the new job in January. Ah well, I guess things will work out right in the end.
On top of this I keep thinking of other things I need to do before I leave....
1. Sell my car (Honda S2000 anybody??)
2. Sell my TV (39" LCD anybody??)
3. Go to my bank and have a talk about keeping an English account open, and transferring all my money to Sweden once I have an account there
4. Try and fit in enough leaving do's and drinks that I can see everyone I want to before I go
...and the list just keeps growing!

One nice thing about preparing to leave is how many people tell you that they will miss you...and as of now I haven't had anyone saying that they wont (no, now is not a good time to start thanks!) Its strange how you don't really think about all the people and things involved in your life until you decide to change it....

So the plan for the blog:
I hope to write in here quite often, and keep anyone that is interested up to date on my plans and happenings, partly because I am lazy and it saves telling everyone individually, but also because I hope that this will be at least partly useful to other people who want to move to Helsingborg/Sweden/generally abroad. I can't guarantee that it will be of any use at all of course, but I can try.
So if you want to know anything, or want more detail on anything, just let me know, and I will try my best to accommodate :)

I guess as time goes by you will learn more about me (those of you that don't know far too much already!) but I guess its probably a good time to start the process...

I am a 27 year old from Stalybridge, a smallish town about 6 miles east of Manchester in the UK, and I work in IT for a pretty well known Swedish furniture company. I am not however a typical Manc, I was born in Chester, moved to Saudi Arabia when I was about 6 months old, moved to Hong Kong when I was about 2, and then moved back to the UK when I was about 11... so my childhood and schooling are not all that common! I think I can safely blame part of what I have decided to do on that background, I am getting itchy feet from staying in the same place for so long, and know just how big and different this world is, and want to experience some other parts of it!
Why Sweden?? Well...I guess that Sweden was kinda a default for me, if I wanted to stay with my company (which I did) Its the headquarters really, and the best place for me to progress my career, and hopefully develop me as well! Plus I have always liked the idea of that part of Europe...I find it really pretty and like the laid back lifestyle. Not sure how well I will cope with the cold, but at least I am in the very South of Sweden so its about as good as I am going to get really! Oh, and I also really like ski-ing, so it makes sense to move to a country where I can do that...often!
Why now?? I think I have just got to a part of my life where I am ready...I finished my degree in IT a few years ago, and have built up a good knowledge base in the jobs I have done since. I have also come to realise I think I am best suited to be in some sort of management role, and there aren't that many opportunities for them in the IT structure of my company in the UK. Its been a very hard decision really, I know I will miss my friends and family, and one of the hardest things has been knowing that I will miss a lot of my nephews growing up. But I think I have grown up enough now (finally) to be able to cope with it, and start a new life in Sweden. Don't ask how I know...it just feels right. It also helps that I am single, and don't have all that many worldly possessions to tie me down...I only have to think about me when making my decisions.

I don't even have a house yet, but I am going to use this as the first of many times that I extend a pretty much open invitation to visit (provided I do actually know you....!) I plan on getting a house big enough to accommodate a few visitors at once, so if you do fancy a visit to Sweden, just let me know when you want to come!

So what have I learnt this week...
You don't always know what you have until you decide to leave it
I am capable of making hard decisions
I put far too many exclamation marks in my sentences!