A lovely (but cold) day on Oxford street

Brunch at Richoux
My brunch

Bon apetite!

Me and Micaela outside the Louis Vuitton shop in Selfridge's

Today, we started with a lovely and nourishing brunch at Richoux. After indulging in waffles with maple syrup, toasts, bacon and other yummy things, we went (so full we were almost rolling) to meet my friend Micaela at Oxford Street.

After diving into some shops searching for the leftovers of the sale we went to the mother of all department stores: Selfridges. I drooled for a while outside the Chanel handbag shop, then we went to gether to see if there was anything cheap on sale... No luck... I saw some shoes I would call almost "flip flops" from Christian Louboutain - with the charachteristic red sole - for a smashing sale price of 255 pounds! I do like Louboutain shoes, but I wouldn't buy flip flops for that price...

After the shopping we said goodbye to Micaela, who was going back to her hotel. Me, David and my parents went to have some dinner in Golders Green at a Korean restaurant. It was yummy!! Now we all smell like garlic!!

Mommy and Daddy Englund in London

Today, Mom and Dad touched down in London. They will spend the weekend here with us. Tomorrow we'll hit the sales! If there is anything left... Fingers crossed! Tomorrow, we'll gather some energy with a British brunch by Green Park!

I'll also see my dear friend Micaela from Mallorca, because she also happens to be in town. I hope the weather's nice!!

New Years Eve in Spain

Carlos is a party boy
Besitos!!
5 handsome guys in suits
Churros

New Years Eve is a lot of fun in Spain. Usually you would have dinner with your family plus some relatives or really good friends. Just before the clock strikes midnight you are prepared to eat the 12 grapes the last 12 seconds of the year - one grape per second. It's not the easiest thing one could do and I'm sure there must be many people choking on grapes every new year in Spain. If you do swallow all 12 grapes in time you will have good luck for the new year. I don't know what happens if you don't make it in time...

After toasting with Cava or Champagne you head out to the party. Dancing for those who want to shake some of booty. If you endure the whole night of Spanish New Years Celebration it will be time for brekfast. Breakfast for champions! Churros dipped in a cup of hot chocolate! Yum!

I can say, this year I did not make it to the breakfast. Too tired! At 4 in the morning I called it a night. I think I'm getting too old!

I was going to upload some pictures, but the darn thing isn't working today!!! I'll try it tomorrow again...

Update: Now the picture loader is working again! Yay!

Happy 3 wise men day!!

Painting by Murillo. Taken from Wikipedia

Today is the day when all Spanish kids get their presents. It was the three wise men who brought them a long time ago..... Not a fat guy with a beard in a red suit. I think it makes sense, but the only thing is that you have to wait for so long before you get your presents! You want them when the holidays begin - not when they end!!!

By the way, the names of the 3 wise men were Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar (that's what they are called in the west, but they have different names in some other countries).

1st day at work in 2009

This is some of the Christmas food I ate in Sweden....

I had 156 emails waiting for me in my inbox this morning... But today wasn't too tough I must say. I've been through worse!!

I did get some much needed gym time to work on my holiday weight... Ehum...!! Nah, I'm not taking it too seriously, but it was very nice to break a sweat! I felt soooo relaxed afterwards.... Aaah.....

Home in London again

Christmas Eve in Haninge with my parents and brother
The view from my parents' house

New Years Eve in Palma

David and his two beautiful sisters Aina and Lara

With friends in the restaurant Ca'l dimoni - The Devil's house (in Majorcan Catalan)

We arrived in London safe and sound. Quite a pain free trip back. I'm so happy I was able to spend my Christmas holidays in two very special places - Stockholm and Mallorca. I got what I needed: some time to relax and spend quality time with family and friends. Check out some of the pictures!

A late christmas carrol

This is me and my friend Alex, my flat mate in Kyoto in 2003/04, singing and getting some acoustic help from a well known gas...

Hasta luego Mallorca

I have had a very good time in Mallorca with family and friends, but tomorrow me and David are going back to London. Back to reality... and to losing some holiday weight!! :-) I hope we can go back to Mallorca soon!

Prospero año nuevo!!!

Yesterday was a tough one!! After many hours of travelling and some waiting in the Airport of Berlin, I touched down in the beautiful island of Mallorca.

Prospero año nuevo!!!

The picture is of the Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca. Beautiful!

Yesterday was a tough one!! After many hours of travelling and some waiting in the Airport of Berlin, I touched down in the beautiful island of Mallorca.

After having had a wonderful dinner with David and his family we followed the spanish tradition of having 12 grapes during the last 12 seconds of the year - for good luck. We all made it even though most of us chewed and swallowed the seeds as well! After having toasted with champagne to welcome the new year, me, David, David's sister Aina and her boyfriend Alberto headed for the party.

We had a lot of fun and danced until 4 o'clock in the morning. It had been a very long day so I was knackered to say the least!!!

I hope you all had a great New Years Eve and that you will have a prosperous 2009!!