Happy birthday Bambridge

Proof of legs for you to celebrate the anniversary of your birth. xxx

Two weeks to go!

Buongiorno l'amicos! I have procured some internets from the hotel and miraculously am able to write from the shores of Lake Como. I say miraculously because it's completely amazing that I am here at all. I am spoilt, but very happy, surrounded by snowy mountain tops, spring flowers and really green hills. The drive here was just about the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced ( and I was only the passenger!). We hurtled along the mountain roads in Giulietta (our hire car) with bits of overhanging mountain about 2mm from my window, blind corners and oncoming traffic in the middle of the road every now and then. Slightly hair raising, but we made it (obvs!). It then hammered down with rain from then until lunchtime today, but we went exploring last night and outdoor swimming this morning anyway! I think everyone else in the hotel thought we were mad, but we figured if we were going to get freezing and soaked anyway, we might as well go in the pool. After lunch the sun came out, so I'm contemplating a swim not in a storm... Stockholm two weeks today! I hope you are all having excellent Tuesdays, Arrivederci! Laura x

This is the view from the pool, when it is not completely obscured by mist! I had no idea until about an hour ago...

Spring time in Bellagio. There were a lot of ducks...

Just about to head off...

... before I do, three photos from Rich's birthday yesterday. It was a splendid day! See you soon! Laura x

A wonderland birthday

Hej Chums, It's been a busy few days! I finished work at SCI-FUN on Friday, and had an excellent chinese meal send off, complete with some really thoughtful presents (a book of Swedish customs, a DVD of Wallander and a bird spotting book, since I can't ask Mark what every single bird I see is any more). The weekend has been a whirl of good times - dinner with Amy, Jen and Amy's Mum on Friday, a wonderful wonderland party on Saturday night for Kez's birthday and delicious lunch and sunshine for Rich's birthday today. I hope you like the wonderland photos - the decorations, costumes and Kez's hair were all amazeballs. I was a bit worried that I was going to have a blue stripy face for the next week when the blue paint didn't wash off my hand but luckily it all came off with a lot of soap. Away from tomorrow, so I might go a bit quiet, but keep Saturday 5th May free! I am trying to book a room in a Swedish bar, watch this space... Adjö! Laura x

Three week countdown...

Hej chums,

For those who want to plan stuff, here is a breakdown of what I am planning on doing between now and starting at KI. My last weekend in Edinburgh is the first one in May (with the bank holiday for those lucky enough to get it off!), so I am planning on doing something on that Saturday. Details to follow at some point.

Thursday 19/04/12 (today) - work, coffee with Yvonne and Chantal, Thursday fun.

Friday 20/04/12 - half day of work,and out for lunch in the afternoon. Last day of SCI-FUN! Dinner with Amy and her mum.

Saturday 21/04/12 - helping Amy move, packing some of my stuff, K-dub's birthday party!

Sunday 22/04/12 - Rich's birthday! My mum up to visit.

Monday 23/04/12 to Friday 27/04/12 - away with my mum. In Italy! (24/04/12 - Happy Birthday Bambridge!)

Saturday 28/04/12 - packing everything I am not taking into my mum's car.

Sunday 29/04/12 - sparring with JH, Ukulele concert.

Monday 30/04/12 - day of fun with Duffers! Featuring sushi and probably bridge.

Tuesday 31/04/12 to Friday 04/05/12 - essentially free and not at work. I might have to do some organising!

Saturday 05/05/12 - last weekend in Edinburgh. Planning on having some kind of get together, details not yet arranged (much like everything else).

Sunday 06/05/12 and Monday 07/05/12 - last minute stuff.

Tuesday 08/05/12 - drive to London.

Wednesday 09/05/12 - ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg.

Thursday 10/05/12 - drive from Denmark to Stockholm.

Friday 11/05/12 - first day in KI!

Bye for now,
x

Some Etsy Stockholm inspiration

'Stockholm Streets' by LottieAlone

Stockholm Buildings Scandina... annasee $25.00	Vintage STOCKHOLM Map Pillow... saltlabs $49.00	Stockholm, Sweden, Typograph... LegacyHouseArt $194.95	Stockholm - Print - 8x11&quo... illuminantpale $17.00
Stockholm Coordinates - Pill... linneaswedishd... $39.00	Stockholm Skyline Cityscape ... AnnaDelores $25.00	Quaint Cobblestone Street S... JessPetersonPh... $20.00	Stockholm, Old Town alexandrakrasu... $750.00
Stockholm City Map Art Print... jennasuemaps $18.00	Arriving in Stockholm. 11x14... matteart $45.00	Morning Breeze, sunrise in t... thoseparasolda... $8.00	Fine Art Print Stockholm Pen... LeshasArtShop $20.00
Stockholm Sweden - Vintage M... AnneHolman $66.00	Stockholm in pumpkin and pom... trekkerjen $30.00	SAVE 25% Landscape bedroom d... brandMOJOimage... $18.00	The bike in Stockholm Sweden... TheWallPhotogr... $28.00

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Three weeks to go!

Hello dear chums,

It appears that I am emigrating three weeks today. This evokes a mixture of panic and excitement. I thought I might have a try at a blog to keep you all informed of what I am up to, and a three week run up with very little in the way of concrete plans organised seems like a good place to start. We'll see if I manage to keep it up. And if I make it over there without forgetting anything major. Like my own head.

So, as of today I have somewhere to stay when I get to Stockholm - tick - and a job to go to. Which are two big things, hurrah! What I don't have sorted is roughly everything else. And I only know two Swedish words - hej and tack - one of which I am not sure how to pronounce!

The current travel plans are an epic road trip with Nosh and Chantal. Drive from Edinburgh to Harwich (south England), catch an 18 hour ferry to Esbjerg in Demark, and then across the Oresund bridge into Sweden. This should take around three days, and the advantages of it are manifold. One - I don't have to get on a plane all by my self in Edinburgh and leave everyone at once. Two - Nosh and Chantal can come to Stockholm! Three - stuff. I can take some of it. And my bike. And Ella! Four - epic road trip. Need I say more?

At some point this week I should also probably pack, since my Mum is coming to drive everything I am not taking down to Wales for storage on Sunday. Ack!

Bye for now!
x