Hemnes and Ektorp

Today was spent driving around a bit. First my sister collected a van to take some of her furniture to my new garage. It was in the way because of me staying here for several weeks. She also wanted a new chest of drawers for herself, which I will be using until moving out again. Which meant that after dropping her stuff off at my garage, we made our way to a certain large furniture and furnishings store.

It was also a good idea for me. Even though I have taken quite a bit of furniture with me, I did leave some behind as well, for which I will need replacements. So, we walked through the store, looking at measurements and prices, picking things that I liked and deciding a bit ahead of time. After all, I won't be moving in for another six-eight weeks yet, although hopefully before my birthday.

I would love a corner sofa, but on my budget and with the size of the room it has to be in, I don't think that will be an option. I did find a couch I liked however. In fact, I owned one of them before and have been lugging the armchair around Europe for the past 6 years!

The next thing I wanted to look at was a guest bed. I am quite partial to metal frames, but then I saw a wooden one that I loved. It is what they call a day-bed and can be turned into a double bed as well. Having found the bed, the next thing was a cupboard. I have a fair amount of stuff (and that is an understatement) and even though some of it will not get unpacked, I will want to display some of it as well. Because the ceilings in my new apartment are sloping, I needed something that wasn't too high. And I think I found it. Actually from the same series as the bed.

It didn't end there though. I also needed a chest of drawers. When I first moved to Norway I did have one, but it got damaged and then after the last move it was stored in a wet dark place and grew mould. After which I threw it out! A new one then. Which again came from the same series as the bed. My sister spotted a lovely rusty brown/red version that I fell in love with, so that went on the list. 

Bought already

In the end there were two cabinets, a bed, a sofa, a chest of drawers and a desk on the list. I bought the chest there and then, but the rest will wait until I have moved in and can see what I really need. Oh, and to see how much money I have to buy the stuff I want/need.

Tomorrow will be another big day. First of all, we will try and get a bank account opened, at a different bank this time. Then it's time for the sight test and then during the afternoon we will have to get car insurance sorted, so we can go and collect the car (a Renault Twingo) on Friday.

One week to go

I thought my parents and friends would arrive on December 22nd and my sister would arrive a day later. Turns out, my sister will also be arriving that day. Which got me a bit in a whirl: what time will you arrive???? Well, she will arrive after I (should have) finish(ed) work. So, we should be good. Fingers crossed...

Yesterday I did my first bit of shopping for the holidays. Over the past year I had saved up money and when I went to the Norwegian state-run off-licence yesterday, that was the money I used. I got some rosé, two different types of white wine and one red. Multiple bottles of each! I can tell you, the trek back to the car was very long! Talking about alcohol though: I found out I had several bottles of spirits and other drinks. Including brandy! I never drink brandy, so I don't know where that came from.

Hungarian Forints. Not much use in Norwegian shops

Fortunately there was still some money left and today I did my second shop. This time it was the foodstuffs that can be kept a while. I will get the perishables next week. Even though I did have to dig into my account a bit, it wasn't as bad as I originally feared. 

Next week will be a busy week. I have split shifts on four of the five days. During the breaks I will have to do some work (read cleaning), so the house will look fine and dandy and ready for Christmas and visitors. On Friday though, I will have to go to the police for a new driving note, so I will be allowed to drive also in the new year. For said driving note I need a medical test, so on Thursday evening I will go to my GP. 

Right. I will just empty another Christmas crate (only six more to get down I think) and then slowly prepare myself for a good night in front of the telly!

Shopping

I needed several things. Like food and drink. I wanted to get some more metallic thread and I needed to pick up my soup terrine. So bright and early this morning, I made my way to the shops. 

Miracle of miracles, I kept myself to the list I made. Which wasn't long at all. I got the food I needed and I did not put any 'treats' in the cart alongside. The next shop was the craft shop. As I said I wanted some metallic thread and perhaps some other little craft-type thing. No thread, but some small other things. I was doing great!

I bought the one at the top. The others I already had.

Then it was time to change the shopping center. Metallic thread? Still no, but I did get some lovely Christmas fabric. My soup terrine had come in, but had had a fault and had been sent back. The likelihood of it arriving in time for Christmas was slim to non-existent. I got another terrine. Christmassy, nice and (best of all) cheaper! I got part of the booze I needed, but the Madeira only came in large bottles. I only need a small amount, so I would need to head into town after all!

First though, I went home with the shopping so far, put it away, got Miss O inside, gave her a treat for being a good girl and then headed out again: this time to take the bus into town. Still on the hunt for metallic thread, I made my way to the shops I like to frequent. The first one came up empty and the second one had only one colour I didn't have yet. They did have some lovely Christmas fabric though...

Next stop: the Vinmonopolet*. I had seen small bottles of Madeira there before and fortunately they still had them. I got myself one. And then... I took the bus home! I feel really pleased with myself for being such a good girl. Where did I put my treats?

'Dram' glasses. Oh, and Miss O's foot.

Oh no! I had forgotten: I had actually bought something that I did NOT need. Just because it looked so pretty and Christmassy... I guess no treat for me!

*Vinmonopolet: Wine Monopoly in English. Basically the only place you can buy alcohol in Norway. Apart from beer and low percentage wine I think which is sold in supermarkets as well. There are two such places close to me: one in the center of town and the other in a shopping center close by. 

Another outing

Yep, he came along as well!

Even though my head wasn't the best this week, I wanted to go to a certain factory outlet, which was located quite some way away. I asked a friend whether she wanted to come along and yesterday added the fact that she would have to drive (my car) and she said yes. Another friend would have liked to come along as well, but some people have to work and she was one of those some...

Anyway, at 8am I made my way over to my friend's place, where I got out and sat in the passenger seat, while she got comfortable and used to the (Dutch) GPS. Which sent us the long way around, so we didn't listen anyway. Once we got to Stavanger, she wanted to show me something else as well (come back on Sunday to find out) and after we had done with that, we went on our way to our original plan. 

The garments I want to make

We arrived, we saw, we ogled, we deliberated, we picked, we chose, we changed our minds, we picked something else and in the end we both left with some wool (as someone once said: you can never have enough yarn). I had some free patterns and enough yarn for two garments and my friend had some free patterns and enough yarn for whatever she is planning.

Then we decided to hit a big shopping center. We have two shopping centers here in Haugesund, but they have nothing on the one we went to there: three (or four, or five, I lost count) floors with shops, restaurants, more shops and more restaurants. Our first stop however was a restaurant for a good lunch. After that however: the shops! 

Part of the thick wool haul

And one of the first ones we saw and entered was a rong'un (or rite'un as it was what I would want to own: fabric, yarn, craft stuff)! My friend kept coming up to me with something else that might be of use (grrrr, she was right as well). But they also had some yarn I wanted to make a mouse with. Not just your average mouse, but a big mouse. For those of you who are knitting/crocheting savvy, I use size 3,5 needles for my mice. I will have to use size 30 needles for the big mouse! The sales lady couldn't really help me with the amounts needed either, since she had never had to deal with that. Most people use that wool to make blankets and stuff! 

We weren't finished with that though. In the end I came away from the shopping center with chocolates (mmmm), a DVD (A Man Called Ove), clogs, angel wings, angel hair, a sugar shaker, a silver cloth and the yarn of course. The plan had been to hit Ikea on our way home, but I have to do overtime as it is to pay for the loot...

Brom starts a shop

Coocoo

Well, I could start a shop! Because Mara bought So Much Food! She says she can't get it in Norway, so she bought extra of Everything!! And she didn't even get everything she wanted. 

She got chocolate sprinkles and beans and breakfast cake and Chinese noodles and tea towels and apple sauce and more beans and sweets and glasses and spreadable mice (she is NOT getting her hands on Mouse, that's for sure) and spinach and French crackers and white chocolate and loooooots more. 

You may be able to see (if you biggify) some fabric in the front: the white one is a pretty net curtain for the living room and the one with the birdies on is going to be curtains for the kitchen. She also bought a shirt and a pair of three-quarter trousers and a lovely cardigan. 

Then there are the drinks: chocolate milk, raspberry and peach drinks. In the back you can see the two books she made, they look amazing! Everybody was really impressed. There are some balls of yarn in the photo as well, that Gera had to get for her. 

She got tompouce flavoured popcorn, that sounds quite exciting. There is sugar (they don't sell this type in Norway), beschuit (a Dutch breakfast food that we tried to make in June, but failed on), Dutch pea soup and I think I have still forgotten things. 

I do wonder how she will get everything in the car though. Because we me and Mouse don't want to get squashed in somewhere! But Mara says we will be fine, although the load of the car could cause it to go a bit slower...

Black

For some reason, the world seems to think that everything that comes from across the pond is great. Well, actually great!! With the exclamation marks. 

Even though we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Norway, in fact I don't know of any country in Europe that does, either in October or November, they have decided to join in the 'Black Friday' craze. 

As I was driving my bus this morning, I noticed that the parking lot at one local mall was choc-a-bloc. At 8am! The shops don't open until 10am, so I wondered what was going on. And then it dawned on me: Black Friday. Or more to the point, the beginning of Black Friday, because some shops make it last for about a week!

I hit the shops after my shift today as well. Got some canned pumpkin, some rye flour (they are not going into the same dish), some marshmellows. I prefer baking to going shopping in the madness and I certainly don't want to be fooled into believing I get something at an amazing price, since a fair few shops actually up the prices in the weeks leading up to this Friday. 

Crazy I tell you!

Brom relaxes

Coocoo

Well, after the surprise of the trip, I am relaxing like crazy. Mara and her mama went shopping first of all, but I wasn't allowed to come because it looked like rain. Mara came back with lots of things. Eight shops and she bought something in nearly every one! 

She bought ribbons for me, one with the Dutch flag and one with the Frysian flag. She bought hairgrips and a row counter (because she forgot to bring hers). She bought something called V.I.Poo which is something to make the smell disappear after you have done a ehm... poo. She bought some very nessecary orange finger nail polish. She even bought some buckles she needs to make me a proper lederhosen! Oh and some 'home made' ribbon. It's a good thing she packed an extra suitcase!

And the eggs? They are for her friend back home who looks after Miss Oswin. Provided of course Mara can resist the temptation and eat them herself!

In the afternoon we went to visit a friend of Mara's. She phoned first and they were very surprised when Mara said that she would be over in about 30 minutes! But it was good fun. Slobbery kisses for the children (she is allowed you know, she is an aunty) and big bear hugs for her friends. There was cake and spaghetti (not at the same time) and Mara even had to ask for some more food. Now, this friend is usually stuffing Mara with every food under the sun, but this time she had decided not to do it. So, she was very happy when Mara asked. 

We went home after dinner and went to bed quite early. Two short nights does that to people you know. I don't know what we are going to do today yet. Probably more relaxing. I like relaxing...

Being cultural

On Friday night a colleague asked me whether I would be working on the weekend. When I replied in the negative, he asked me whether I would like to go cultural in Stavanger. Well, I had never been to Stavanger (apart from the airport), so I thought that might be a good idea. 

On Saturday morning he picked me up at 10am and we made our way to Stavanger. It was quite chilly, but it was dry and pretty good weather so we were happy. Our first port of call was... a shopping center. From there we made our way to the city center where more shops were to be found. He told me about Stavanger (he lived there for a few years) and occasionally we stopped to take a few photos.

But mostly it was a shopping trip. I kept my purse strings mostly closed, but I did get a few things. My concession to 'culture'? A book by Shostakovic. About the work camps up in Siberia and stuff. Oh, and Robin Hood! I think I like culture Norwegian (well, Icelandic really) style!!

Belfast

Model of Dublin (probably current day Temple Bar)

I left on Tuesday. Got in a taxi to the airport, from where I took a plane to Oslo. I waited a few hours and then took a plane to Dublin. From Dublin Airport I took a bus into town. Unfortunately I hadn't remembered to write down the trainstation I needed and wound up at the wrong one. So, I took the bus back to the one I needed. 

No trainstation in sight! I wandered about for five minutes before I asked. 'Well, it's just over the road!' I walked and walked and finally yes, there it was. I was about three meters in front of it. But I had made it. The train to the North went once every hour and a half/two hours or so. And of course I had just missed the other one by my travels through town. So, lunch it was!

The wishing tree at Navan Centre

After lunch I made my way to the platform. Had to show my ticket twice, for some weird reason. Then we drove for about an hour and a half towards the North. Had to show my ticket once more to the ticket controller. When I got off the train, I had to show my ticket again to get out of the station! Hm. But, at the station my sister was waiting with her car to drive me to her home. 

Later she drove to Belfast Airport to pick up my friend Pepperfly. We were ready to go and have a lovely holiday. Well, you read about our first day at the pottery. We didn't spend the whole day there, only the morning and in the afternoon we went for a little walk. Day two was going to be spent in Belfast. We would do some shopping and we would see the sights. Because even though I have been in Northern Ireland before, I have yet to see Belfast!

Part of a mural close the restaurant we ate in.

So, after a lazy breakfast we made our way to Belfast. Parked the car, walked into town and hit the shops. First off was a souvenir shop, where I bought a lovely Irish flag (and a British one as well, they were so cheap). After that it was bookshops. A book about the Muppets and some books I have wanted for quite some time now. I wasn't feeling happy though. 

I had woken up with a slight headache and during the day that headache had become worse and worse. But I still wanted to see Belfast! So, we decided to go back to the car to get rid of the shopping, then go back into town for some lunch and then do the sightseeing. In the end, we skipped the sightseeing and went back home. I slept in the car, I slept on the couch. 

And guess what? I have yet to see Belfast!!

This is my haul so far. Most bought, some gotten (like the Belleek and the small orange topped tin with 'stroopwafels'). Good thing I brought my big suitcase. Although missing in the photo is the knitting work my sister wants me to do (a very big bag) and the little bag containing the last of the items for my May 17th outfit. 

Shopping

The fabric: a deep burgundy red

As you may know, I am not one of the worlds' shoppers. I mean, put me in a bookshop and I am happy to spend an hour or more there, but clothes shops are different. But even I need to go in one on occasion. Because it's a cold country here and I need to keep myself well covered. 

Today however, I went shopping for a different reason. If you remember I spent last year's Constitution Day in jeans and a sweatshirt. Which stood out like a big red sore thumb in a sea of neat toes. And I knew I had to do it different this year. So, when I was on holiday in the Netherlands only a few weeks after that, I bought fabric and gave it to a friend of my mother, who then proceeded to find patterns and then made the most beautiful outfit. 

Home made lace! I have such a clever Mum!

The most beautiful outfit was missing a few components though. Like shoes. And you can't just use any type of shoe, no, they have to be black, in my case low-heeled and have a silver-coloured buckle. I would also need stockings, preferably white. I needed knee-length bloomers that would have to be tied with ribbons instead of using elastic. A white underskirt. An undershirt plus another shirt with long sleeves that peep out from underneath the sleeves of the top. 

I needed a brooch to hold the thin shawl in place. Earrings to add some glamour. The lace necklace, lace bag and cotton and lace cap are still being made, but should make it to me in time. A corset or something similar was deemed by me to be a bit too much, although some nice new undies...

One of the tricky parts: closing the front of my chemise. Fiddly!

Anyway, I got most of the list. The stockings will have to come from erotica'r'us, since they are nearly impossible to find. The underskirt will have to be made by yours truly, but I don't think that should be too much trouble. The bloomers have been bought, but are not what I would prefer. They will have to do for now though. The long-sleeved undershirt is a bit harder to find. Any ordinary blouse would do basically, but without a collar, so I have some searching to do still. 

One thing I can tell you though: shopping is very tiring!

Retail therapy

I love those types of signs!
This one found in Ystad

Don't get me wrong: I love shopping. Put me in a bookstore and pick me up a couple of hours later and you will probably have to search for me and my pile of books. Artsy, knick-knacky shops are great too. But I am not too fond of clothes shopping. Two reasons: I have enough clothes and I need larger clothes which most shops don't have. 

And yes, they did sell hats!

So, when I was on holiday with four other women and we were going places, I got bored real soon by going in and out of clothes shops and shoe shops. Especially when it was almost the same shops in every town! I went ahead, looking at other shops. Bookshops, artsy, knick-knacky shops. I was tempted to buy more copies of Pride and Prejudice (I think I have four), but resisted. I was tempted to buy beautiful artsy things, but resisted. 

It's water and bread (with home-made jam) for a few months now!

Not always though. I actually had to buy another suitcase to get everything home! I think I got 8 books, a milk jug and sugar bowl, lovely red coral and silver earrings, two small serving trays and a host of other small things I don't need (although books are something a person needs. Always). 

Meeting up with my friends for tea/coffee, lunch/dinner
This was not one we went to, but I liked the sign

The average town does not consist of lots of bookshops (two if you are lucky in a smallish town) and artsy, k-k shops. Which meant that my shopping was fairly limited. Which in turn led me to use my camera. On the buildings, on the art, on the surroundings. I walked lots, saw more and in the end came back from my holiday with over 500 photos! I promise I won't show all...

Going shopping

The other day I wanted to buy something in my local supermarket. But when I got to the register, for some reason the price didn't come up. So, the cashier got up and went on the hunt for the price. Came back and asked me. We went together to where I found the product and looked and looked and looked. No price anywhere. As a matter of fact, there was no such product! 

Now, whenever there is no price available from the barcode, I ask the cashier if the product is free. It never is. They always find a price. This time however? No price and in the end I left with the product and with my money. That's a good day's shopping in my eyes!

I wonder a bit more...

I have always wondered why women wear red shoes. Now, I probably will insult somebody here, but honestly: why?? Don't get me wrong, red shoes can be great. On Dorothy for example, even if FLB had her wear silver ones.  

Other than that? Stay away from them! Don't wear them! Don't even buy them! They are ugly about 99,99% of the time.  

I recently bought a really nice black dress. I needed shoes to go with it. So today I bought a pair of high heeled black leather ones. Really pretty.

Oh, and the ones in the photo! 

Another week gone by

Taken during my walk a few weeks ago

It's been a bit quiet from me the last few days. Mainly because nothing seems to be happening. Yes, I am working. Yes, I went to play badminton (pulled a muscle in my leg, still won though). Yes, my bedroom is still a balmy 5 degrees, I am getting used to it though. 

There are a few things coming up though. When I got my contract to work for Tide Buss, it stated that I have a six month probation period. Which in my eyes seems a long time, but what do I know? Anyway, on Wednesday I will have a evaluation of the first few months. How do I like it, how I fit in, how I work, how I whatever. An evaluation. 

Then on Saturday something very exciting. I will go to view a little place. I still have to work out the details of how to actually get there, but that will sort itself. The little place is a small house with two bedrooms close to but not in Haugesund. In other words: if I get it, I will need a car to get to work. Even if the house is only 20 meters from the busstop! But, since it is quite cheap (same rent as here, electricity and tv/internet NOT included) there are plenty of others who want it too! Ah well, I will just try and hope and cross everything I have to cross!

There's a lot of this around right now
Very beautiful!

Oh, I nearly forgot. Yesterday I was off and did a little more sightseeing. I took my camera along, but in the end all I photographed was the piece of cake I had. I did take a bus to another shopping center though and there I found a true treasure trove. Most importantly a shop where they sell really nice clothes for the 'curvy ladies'! I think I might have to go there sometime soon, just to get something pretty to wear as opposed to the stuff I have been wearing lately. Not to say that that stuff is ugly or something, but it's not too pretty either. Plus I found a bookshop where they actually had an English book I wanted. Plus some really great kitchen stores. Heaven! I think I may have found my new favourite shopping center!

I will be signing off now. Tomorrow morning I have to work again bright and early, so better get some shut-eye!

Shopping

See: I won't starve!

I went grocery shopping yesterday. Which is easier said than done in Norway. Not that there aren't enough supermarkets around: I counted about 5 within 15 minutes walking distance and many more if I take the bus. It's not even as if they have limited opening hours: from 7am to 11pm on a weekday and 8am to 9pm on a Saturday is quite normal. The main problem is the supply. 

I was spoiled in the Netherlands, having a large selection of fruit and vegetables, dairy and meat. And not overly expensive either. In Norway it's a bit different. There is plenty of milk (skimmed, semi-skimmed, full fat, buttermilk, kefir, non-lactose, soy, rice etc to be had). But yoghurt only comes in small pots and custard is something they apparently don't know over here. So, you are reduced to buying small pots of vanilla pudding and the like. Nice, but fairly expensive.

Fruit comes a plenty: apples and oranges/mandarins are quite cheap, others you need to fork out a bit more for. Fresh vegetables however is a different matter. They have all sorts of cabbages (red, white, Chinese, cauliflower, broccoli) and root vegetables. They sell some lettuce and salad as well and of course leeks. Which is mostly the same as in the Netherlands. But where I was able to buy potted veggies in the Netherlands (leeks, spinach, endives, peas, carrots, beans), they have not such a big choice over here. They love corn and you can get canned beans and peas and I think carrots. Oh, and tomatoes. But nothing else. Not even apple sauce, which was always my go-to vegetable if I didn't want to cook. 

Meat is yet another matter: they have plenty of it, just different from the Netherlands. They love their kjøttkaker (meatballs), which are about half the size of their Dutch counterpart, which you can find everywhere. They are also big on sausages, all different sizes and tastes apparently (I have yet to taste). They have their 'normal' meat and their pinnekjøtt (stick meat). That last thing is something specifically for Christmas and I am not really sure what it is! The thing that surprises me most though is the fact that minced meat is really expensive considering. 

The worst thing though is the bread. Which is difficult in any new country, since they never have the bread you want. I have now settled on polarbrød (translated: polar bread), flat bread that has been frozen the minute it has baked. It looks like a mixture of crumpets and ordinary bread and tastes quite alright. What to put on it is another matter. But fortunately there the choice is more like the Netherlands. Except for the hagelsag (chocolate sprinkles), which is something that I can't find anywhere here, not even in the cake decoration section. 

Now, if you are reading this and thinking I am going to starve to death: it won't come to that. There is plenty out here for me to eat. Then again, if I do loose a few pounds, that won't be so bad...

A break

With all the stuff I own that needs packing and all the things I need to do, I tend to spend most of my free time upstairs. At least, until upstairs is finished that is, after that I will probably move downstairs and continue all the fussing there. The things on my list have now mostly been crossed off or started on, so I am making progress. So far I have contacted the IRS, the Pension office, my GP, my dentist, the insurance companies and a few more things besides. 

One thing that I do not have to worry about as much is finding a new place to live. As of the 27th of November (that is 3 weeks from now!), I will be homeless as it stands right now, but last Friday I was contacted by a new colleague of mine who offered his help. And not only his: he got all of his friends and acquaintances involved in finding me a place to live! They know the area and might find something I would never have found. 

But with all of that, I still needed a bit of a break. You can only make so many lists! So, after having collected my medical history from my GP (not a lot), went to the dentist to ask for the same, I decided to take advantage of the nice day and have a hot chocolate with whipped cream and a lovely sandwich. There is this café in the center of Emmeloord that serves wonderful sandwiches and I have had this one ever since I first went there. Fried egg, bacon, onion, tomato, lettuce served with some curry sauce on a lovely bun. 

After having enjoyed that sandwich, I went shopping. The shoes I own are perfect for nice, but with the colder weather on its way here too, they aren't good enough. So, I got myself a new pair of shoes. I got hold of the salesgirl and I told her: black, with laces (probably), leather and sturdy! Oh, and not grandma-ish!! The first pair she showed me were ick, then she showed me some suede boots (with snow: right!) and then she showed me a pair that looked nice and sturdy. I tried them on and was resigned to pay nearly 140 euros for them, after all, it's hard for me to find good shoes, when she told me they were for sale: 100 euros only!

There is still a lot to do at home, but with some Christmas music everything moves along quite nicely and I am revigorated again.

Shopping

The still good home-made socks by my friend Pepperfly

When do you throw clothes out? When they are out of season? Or when you can hardly see the clothes for the amount of holes in them? I tend to veer more towards the second option than the first. But then again, I hardly buy the most fashionable clothes to begin with, so out of season is usually even before I've bought the stuff. Anyway...

My socks showed some severe signs of being very old. Elastic gone, holes in heels and toes and they all tended to be of a somewhat greyish disposition. So, new socks were in order. Then I needed a pair of new jeans, because the ones I do own make me look as if I am waiting for the high water to come in any second. And to top it all off, new bras would also be good, since I could balance a cup of tea on the underwires in the ones I own. Off to the shops I went.

The first shop I went in however did have nothing to do with socks, bras or jeans. Because I was also out to buy myself a new mobile phone. I have a great one, but contrary to what that really nice guy in Airdrie (Canada) told me, I can't use it in Europe. So, a new one. And a simple one at that. I don't want one with a gazillion gadgets and thingymebobs and mindbogglers. I want a phone with which I can phone and text. End of story. So, I got myself two. At a tenner each not a bad deal I thought!

Then it was off to get some bras. Which is difficult for any woman I gather, but when you don't have the smallest size, don't want any funny colours, need underwires but not too high, it's hard! The first shop I went to dutifully referred me to a speciality shop which were able to help me. It was a good thing they were on sale though, because they cost a lot!

For the jeans I thought I would go to a special jeans shop. Makes sense? Not really, since I am not one of the smallest people (width wise) and even the men's sizes didn't fit. In the end I left that shop without jeans and went to the plus size section of our local C&A. One pair of jeans and one pair of trousers. Bingo!

Fortunately the socks were the easiest. So, I decided to make it a bit more difficult for myself and choose some gloves as well. Since I couldn't make a choice between the two, I bought both pairs of gloves and 10 pairs of socks.

The money is gone again, but I can now wear black socks with little white dots without holes, a comfy bra and a comfy pair of jeans. Bliss...

A new day

Up the road without a paddle

The new day came with fresh rain. Which we were very happy about of course (not)! But today it was dry more often than wet and anyway, those children didn't mind anyway: they were out in the water all day! In the mean time my colleagues and I went to the center of the town and looked at some shops and had a coffee.

After our coffees my colleague A and I went out shopping and already in the first shop I found the perfect little statuette: a frog that had been kissed! It was quite dear, but it was made by Royal Kopenhagen (a china manufacturer), so I decided to go for it anyway. But when the salesman took it down I found it had been reduced in price! So, not only did I get the perfect frog, I also got a better deal: I was a happy girl!

When we got back to the coach I set about repairing the broken microphone system and by accidently breaking something I managed to do just that: I fixed the problem. I may not be a technically minded person, but sometimes the luck is with the dumb (as a Dutch saying goes)...

Tomorrow we are going to a Medieval museum with knights and joustings and a lot more. I am really looking forward to it, but I do hope that infernal rain will stop!

The shopping experience

See how those shoes curl up at the front? Yuck!

My parents have declined offers to go shoe shopping with me since I was only 16 or 17 on account of being too difficult! And why? Well, I want my shoes to be:

a. black

b. low heeled

c. wide

d. no boots (don't fit my calves)

e. no laces or velcro

f. no buckles

g. nothing to do with Suske and Wiske shoes

h. quite closed

i. leather on the outside

j. and on the inside as well!

So, when I managed to find two pairs a few weeks ago, I was really happy. Until I tried one of those pairs on and they just weren't comfy. When I kicked them off again, I noticed I had forgotten to take the cardboard out!

Lovely red and slightly curly short hair

Something else I am not too fond of is getting my hair done. I would love some colour or lovely flowy curls, but fortunately my hairdresser knows better since I:

a. squeal when they wash my hair

b. squeal when they brush my hair

c. squeal when they put a perm in

d. squeal when they pull my hair through a swimming cap to make streaks

e. squeal when they put a hot towel in my neck.

So, nowadays I just stick to having it washed (gently, they know me!) and have the dead ends cut out.

When all my clothes were still bought for me!

And what about clothes shopping? Well, I won't even go there. Looking at what I'm wearing now: the shirt used to belong to my sister, the jumper I found on my coach, the socks were knitted by my maternal grandmother and my trousers are really comfy but not the height of fashion. I went shopping with my Mum once and she took photos after every outfit was tried on. There was a dress we both liked, but it didn't go up to my size exactly. Later I was told I looked like my paternal grandmother!

So, is there anything I do like in the shopping department? Well, stick me in a large bookshop like Waterstones or Eason's (Ireland) and I can spend hour upon hour in there!

Late

I hate getting up early. Especially if early means 9am when I only got to bed at 3.30am! And no, it wasn't because I couldn't be bothered to go to bed earlier, it was because I didn't get home until 2.45am!

You might be wondering why then did I get up early if I only got to bed at 3.30. Well, I had run out of milk! And several other things come to that. I had meant to get up later (half an hour), but having a headache, a hot room and 4 monsters dancing on the bed and me didn't really give me the opportunity.

I've got milk again now though. I checked the cartons to make sure they weren't leaking in any way. I've got enough vegetables to last me through the month. And I've got enough washing powder for white loads to last me to the end of the year. Unfortunately it's the colour version I've nearly run out of...

In a minute I will get myself an aspirin since the headache hasn't lifted yet, I will prepare my sandwiches for today, I will have a shower and then I will be off to work again. It won't be as late as yesterday, but I will miss the fantastic series 'A Town called Eureka'. Good thing it will be repeated twice this week!