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.

Studying again

Yes, I decided to go for it again. I couldn't let it go. I was so close to passing last time that I couldn't help myself. So I'm stuck with the books again and lost most of my social life. Will get it back in 5 weeks...

Smiling

A few weeks ago, on the 22nd of February, two years exactly had passed since I lost my dear father. I thought about it the days before, but on the actual day -  in the morning - I didn't remember what special day it was. I could only think of the dream I had just had that made me wake up with a smile.

I dreamt a happy dream - my first happy dream about dad. It was a very short one, but enough to bring happiness into my heart. Me and dad were eating sweets - polkagrisar (Swedish mint candy and also mine and my dad's favourites) - from a water filled (don't know why it was water filled) jar together and laughing and joking like we used to. It was such a happy dream it made me forget what kind of sad day it was supposed to be.

Maybe it's silly but, in some way I think my dad spoke to me through that dream, telling me I should be happy and that he's there for me always.

Thinking of my dad

It's been almost 2 years since dad passed away. Actually, next week it will be exactly 2 years. It doesn't feel like it has been that long. It is still hard but not as hard as it was the first year. Don't get me wrong: the feeling of sorrow and pain doesn't go away. You just learn how to handle it. To put it in the back of your mind and not let it be the focus of your life. But it is till there. A big empty hole of something that is not right. Someone that is missing that should be there.

I was looking through a few of the earliest posts in this blog - from late 2009, I think. My dad had made me a video - basically the video was done but you needed to upload a picture to it to give it a personal touch and a meaning. I watched it, remembering how it made me feel the first time I saw it and re-living how it made me feel the subsequent times after he passed. Of course it made me cry... but also smile through the tears because it was just so ...Dad. Pappa. So kind, thoughtful  but also funny at the same time.

http://www.tackfilm.se/?id=1259076119414RA32

I miss your hugs, Dad. Love you forever.

So... I'm getting a flat mate

Welcome back to London D!

Christmas & New Year

 

 We went to the cinema together. Saw "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

 A short but sweet visit to Sundsvall to my cousins' family home. Got to do some story telling for E - my cousin C's handsome son.

 D got to experience really cold temperature in Sundsvall. A new record for him : -13! Playing on the ice was also something he enjoyed!

 Out in the cold

E opening his X-mas presents. The wrapping paper was probably the most fun present.

 Another first experience for D. My cousin's loved one, P, is showing D how to do it right.

 Turns out even I had been good, so I got something from Santa. A Santa that surprisingly looked a lot like my brother

 For New Years I went to Spain to enjoy the festivities with D's family

 My New Year's outfit

Unfortunately this is the best pic of D from New Year's eve that I have. But take my word for it: he was very handsome.

A touch of Christmas

Yep it's that season again. Christmas will be here in 3 weeks and today is the 1st advent which, in Sweden, means you light the 1st candle of the advent candle holder. I made sure my flat got a touch of Christmas yesterday. It was a Christmas tree mat that worked perfectly as a table cloth for my round table. My trained domestic goddess eye spotted it directly at H&M home. Oh season of joy!

Finally Friday

It has been a busy week at work with half of the team off plus a bigger than usual workload. However, I'm not going to complain as I feel in control. Things are going well. Since I started ago, when things felt overwhelming, I've learnt so much and I feel quite happy with that. I've also been selected by management in my area, to go on a management course. Something I'm enjoying very much.

But back to my Friday subject: I'm happy its Friday so I can finally focus on something else than financial data!

The picture of the sushi jarring last weekend in Spain when we had a sushi workshop. Yummy and fun!

Peacock

On Sunday I went with my friend M and her boyfriend L to Holland park in Kensington. It was a lovely day. Didn't feel like November. Ifyou didn't know better you would think it was September. Beautiful! We strolled around in the park and saw a few peacocks. This was the only one that came close enough for me to take a picture of. Also beautiful! I think a peacock would be a challenge to engrave or what do you think, mom?

Hair

Now it's time for a completely shallow post. It's about my hair. I dyed it red but it didn't turn out quite as I had planned. It became kind of purple-ish red. I was kind of going for a more discrete kind of red. Even though I get a very shocked look from people I know when they first see me after the "transformation" they usually say "it doesn't look that bad" and sometimes even say "it looks good" which I kind of take as a good sign. Well, I was a bit dissapointed at first but now I actually like it a bit more.