Studying in the office

I'm using one of the conference rooms as my corner office. So nice and peaceful. Better get to studying and not blogging as I have lots to cover today.

Crunch time

I haven't said much about the CFA Level 2 exam this time around... But I am doing it and have been studying hard the last few weeks. In fact I have been studying in the office every day after work and every weekend. So I have been in the office EVERY DAY since Easter. It's seriously crunch time. Big time! My right eye is on strike at the moment because I keep my eyes open for too long without blinking and (only) my right eye gets really red and awful...

Kind of feel like a need a new place to hang out... I will though... very soon... because the exam is next Saturday. I can't wait. At the same time I kind of think I need more time to study - to be as prepared as I absolutely can be. But I guess for the CFA you will never really feel like that. At least not me. I have been neglecting everything apart from studying the last few weeks: laundry, tidying up, grocery shopping (if I have to eat olives for dinner because it's the only thing in my fridge - I will), my hair, clothes... no makeup, no contacts! So I have definitely deteriorated these last few weeks...

...but in just a weeks time I will resurface, regain my social life, just get out of my cocoon and... fly like a butterfly!

CFA L2 exam done

I can gladly say that summer has officially begun for me. I went to the exam in Stockholm after a week of studying without interruptions at Mom's place and did my very best. Not sure it is enough but considering how tough this spring has been, I will not kick myself to much if I don't pass. I did everything I could have done.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Spanish capital to see my man. Can't wait!

Madrid, here I come!!!

Nerdy Breakfast!

Today I'm battling derivatives

Mmmm.... carbs!

I am proud of being a nerd. Currently I am super nerdy. I study every chance I get, before and after work. I even went on a study date this week to meet up with my dear partner in crime and fellow CFA L2 taker, MC. After having studied efficiently in the library, we went for dinner and a little treat - an ice cream dessert with toffee! We deserved it!!

Today, I have a loooong study day ahead of me. That's why I  have prepared a super nice breakfast for myself. One cup of espresso coffee, 1 toast with avocado spread all over it + Spanish cheese and Chorizo, 1 toast with butter and jam - simplicity is divine sometimes! - a kettle full of energising Ginseng tea and lemon and a bowl of blueberries.Bring on the tough CFA stuff!

Bye bye baby

D in Stockholm

Today was another sad day for me. My baby, D, left for Madrid to start a new adventure. We've had an extraordinary Easter break together in Sweden, so that was a good way to say "so long". However, it's going to be hard as I'm going to miss my baby very much.


I try to look at it from the bright side: I will have sooo much time to focus on the CFA Level 2 exam... Yay...Not so happy about it now, but I really need it. I can already feel the stress of the exam coming closer... Less than 2 months left... Yikes!!


I really can't wait to get it over with. I am planning so many fun things to do after the exam. So many "normal" books to read and friends to visit and my baby, of course.


D, if you read this: Pasatelo bien en Madrid. Ya iré a verte después del examen, pero te mandaré cositas de Londres para que te acuerdes de mi!!!! ;-) Un besiiiiiii

Hola

La Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid, Spain

It's been a while since I last wrote something... I think it's because of the lack of time and energy... Lately stuff at work have reached a crazy level and my studies have intensified massively. So I think I just lost my will to write something for a while.

A lot has happened lately. Not just the stuff a wrote about above, but for example: D is being transferred to Madrid through work. It's a good thing professionally for him, but that means - long distance relationship - yet again... I mean, we have a mortgage and we have to both be able to pay it otherwise the bank people will chase us down and beat us with their briefcases and worse... So I couldn't just leave London without having a job in Madrid.

Leaving London - I'm perfectly fine with that, given that I get a decent job in my next location. I have had fun and gained great friendships here but I don't feel that attached to the city itself. It's an amazing city and I know I will come back to see friends and go for shopping and culture, but I don't see it as my home. I never did.

Having said that, I don't really see any place as my home other than Stockholm and I don't feel the need to live there as I always go back there to see my family and friends. It will always be such a big part of my life anyway. The way I feel now, is that home is where D is. So when he leaves for Madrid - in the beginning of April, I will have the perfect excuse to just dive into my CFA books and not resurface until June, because by then I know I will have begun in my pre-exam panic phase ever so slightly, but noticeably. That will just get worse as the exam date gets closer and will culminate on the night before the exam, not to reappear again until the next exam. Good for D that he won't be here through that phase - it can be pretty rough if you're the boyfriend.

Well now I got started with the CFA and Madrid stuff on the blog, which made me a bit stressed about the exam... I have to go study some more now...

The big question is, will there be a "Englund in Madrid" blog continuation? Maybe soon, maybe never.

I just say: "Que será, será".

Home alone

My dinner: a big haloumi & edamame salad plus a veggie burger with garlic fried mushrooms. Yum!

This weekend D is in Mallorca. I decided it was a good opportunity to catch up on my studying... but not only that... I caught up on some America's Next Top Model Cycle 13 on Youtube!!! Can't tell you enough how nice it is sometimes just to sit back and relax and watch some rubbish TV on Youtube. Especially watching it on Youtube where you can watch all the episodes that have aired and just watch one after the other... I think it prepares me to really face my complicated CFA books.

You know, a good dosis of nonsense first and then you bite into a chunk of the contrary - Financial modelling and quantitative methods in finance...

It is true!!! Third time is a charm! At least for me. I just found out my CFA result and I passed!!!This is the format you get the results in...As you can see I scored above 70% in all areas except in ethics... Go figure!!! Am I not ethical? I always thought I was...

6 days to D day...

...and 10 days to M&V day!!! That's a more fun countdown! I have been sitting here studying and feeling sorry or myself at home the whole weekend while the sun was, and still is, shining over London. There are only a few days left so I will definitely have to pull it together and kill the CFA Level 1 exam like "Xena the warrior princess" (that was how I visualised it this morning when I woke up).

And when that's done I will just relax and enjoy the company of my truely amazing friends, M and V, here in London!!! I like!!!

Up to the surface for some air

I have been deep diving into my CFA books lately which is why I haven' had much to blog about. A good thing for me - it means that I'm spending as much time with my books as possible. But to be honest, I can't wait to put them away... I like what I study - but for the 3rd time!!! Jeezes!! It's a bit much. I feel like I know it by heart now... which I should, considering the CFA institute expects you to memorise 4000+ pages for the 6 hour exam! Crazy people...

Let's hope the saying "3rd time lucky" is a saying for a reason!!

And now a bit of whining...

Today's highlight was buying nail polish. I don't have time for any other fun stuff. Hobbies and fun I am currently only having during my lunch hour. The rest of my spare time is for studying. Thank god I only have to hang in there for two more weeks. Then the big fat CFA exam is on my doorstep. I will not be defeated again!! But until then I will enjoy my new pink nail polish...

...Phew!! Felt good getting that off my chest. Feeling better already. A bit of whining does wonders sometimes!!