Life - Death - Life

My grandmother died 13.08.2011. She was struggling with cancer and finally her body couldn't take it any longer. She has been so brave throughout the whole process and I admire her for that. I am so grateful for everything we got to do together before she passed. And everything she got to do.

Yesterday we held her funeral and it was so incredibly beautiful. We had told all the guests to wear light clothes because we would be celebrating, not hurting.
The priest was amazing too. It was the same priest that wedded my mom and stepfather. He is like no other. He's "true", talks about what life really is about.

After the funeral we gathered at Sahlströmsgården to mingle and talk. Later the same evening we had dinner together. Not everyone, but the closest. It was a special dinner and I think lots of people went home with new thoughts.
My uncle, mom, my stepdad and sister stayed a little bit longer, had champagne (I drank coffee since I was going to drive) and talked.

It was certainly a beautiful day, and after this day I can't do anything but believe in eternal life. Death doesn't exist.

I love you grandma!

-V

Coaching

I really want a coach education! There is one next summer which will give me a certificate, and I will have time to save money. OK, no rush, I know... but sometimes it't just hard not to rush.

Need to practice living now. Now is all that matters.

- V

Friday

Today has been a good day :)

It started out at Aker Brygge where I was supposed to get a package from Swedbank. Since I got a ride in to Oslo with Maja I had some time to just chill and enjoy the view before the meeting at Swedbank. I bought a sandwich and an orange juice, sat down by the sea and watched the boats passing by.


Oh, by the way! We've had "rivals" outside Egertorget - OREO! Haha, but they turned out to be very kind to us, because this is what our garbage looked like today:

Someone has been munching tons of cookies, eh? (as if our cookies weren't enough...)

Anyway, think it's time to sleep! I'm working tomorrow too.
G'night and sleep tight

-Vicki

Teatime beautiful people

Washing clothes and preparing for Saturday while havin' a cup of tea and listening to Beautiful People (Chris Brown & Benny Benassi). I'm excited actually. It's going to be nice to see my family and friends again, hehe. Feels like it's been forever even though it's only been two weeks.
enI guess that whne you go through a big transformation in life two weeks could just as well be two years.

Hm... what else... I haven't done much since I last posted. Work's going greater each day and I love my co-workers. I have a family here :) They are so good teachers, and so are the costumers. They teach me a whole lot, even though the attitude among them might be a bit rough sometimes. But I like it.

Guh... I'm slightly tired so maybe my English isn't perfect right now :)

And I don't have anything else to write about so... bye for now!

-Vicki

Hoffmaestro & Timbuktu

After work I went straight down to Operahuset to see Hoffmaestro and Timbuktu.


It was a sunny evening and so perfect.


We all enjoyed the weather and were so excited about the show.

First on stage - Hoffmaestro! Everybody went crazy. Music was awesome, performance was awesome, crowd was awesome. I had such a good time!

After Hoffmaestro it was time for Timbuktu. He was so short in real life! He did a great performance and people were dancing like crazy. I met my boss and one of my co-workers so I spent the rest of the show together with them. It was so much fun!

Timbuktu & Hoffmaestro on stage together.

After the gig I went to my one of my brothers apartment. Spent some time there before we went out. Had a few beer and a very good time.
I am currently very sleepy. Bedtime early tonight :)

-V

Skolebrød & Street Art

THURSDAY

On Thursday I worked from 12:30 to 20. The reason was because I needed to learn how to close the shop. It was fun. I also learned to work in the TakeAway area. I'm still struggling with bread and names, but Linda (my boss) told me to print product information on every bread so today I will do my homework.
Anyway, after I left I ended up watching this (see image above). Two men were painting incredible images with grafitti spray on Karl Johan. I've seen them everyday when I've been walking from work to the busstation but this time I decided to actually stop for a few minutes and look. It was so cool! I watched one of them create a huge full moon behind New York City. Truely amazing.

I took the bus home to Majas place where I currently live. It's located a bit outside Oslo, but I realyl don't mind. It's a very quiet place. I had to stop and shoot a (bad) picture of the (so beautiful) sky.

FRIDAY

Yesterday was nice. I started work at 9:30 but since I got to ride with Maja I got into town one hour earlier than I had to. I decided to buy myself a coffee (Cappuccino á la Samson - yummy!) and sit down somewhere. It was cosy, and so needed. The caffeine did its job and it didn't take long before a new energy was spread inside my body, which - also - would be very useful during the day. I spent the hole day running back and forth with dirty dish. Jeeez! At those times you just wish people could stop eating, haha.


One of the girls at work asked me during the day if I wanted to go out with her and her friends for dinner. Yes! We ended up at a Italian restaurant called Olivia on Aker Brygge. It was so good to hang out with some people. Thank you! We had a really good time.

SATURDAY (today)

Today I'm going to see Hoffmaestro and Timbuktu life after work. That, my friends, is going to be awesome!

OK! Time to get ready for work again.


Take care all, and please, stay tuned ;)

- Vicki

Norway

Hello friends!
I'm currently located in Oslo, Norway, to start a new life, get some life- and work experience and earn some money. I tell you, it is fun fun fun! I'm working on Egertorget in the middle of Karl Johan at a company called W. B. Samson. Samson is a cafe chain in Oslo and they have about 21 stores spread all over the capital. The store at Egertorget is the biggest. It's very busy, which is understandable since Karl Johan is more or less crowded all the time.

I'm doing my 4th day today and I really enjoy working there. During these 4 days I have developed a whole lot I think. I never thought I would be standing behind a coffee machine screaming "Double cappuccino!!" so people nearly lose their hearing. But I am! Hehe
My co-workers are amazing! I like them all. The atmosphere is very positive and refreshing (maybe the coffein is partly contributory to that...) and the days just fly by!

Yesterday was awesome! I felt so elated and effective in my job, I got into a very service minded mood and gave compliments to a few costumers which seemed to brighten them up a lot. There was a woman with a very cool blue bag, waiting for the key to the WC while I ran back and forth with clean and dirty plates. After a while when I'd passed her for the fifth time I had to stop and tell her that I really liked the color on her bag. She looked so surprised and said "Really? You think so?" and I said I did. We started chatting and she told me she was on her way to Germany. I wished her a joyful trip and went back to taking care of the dirty dishes. It felt so good afterwards!
I'll continue to do those things :)

OK, time to upload some pictures.

This was two days ago. After work I met my brother Oskar and he showed me his and Kickis (his girlfriend) apartment. After a while my second brother Joel came.
Kicki, Oskar and I ended up playing TP and drink tea. It was so nice! I'm so happy to have them here as well.

This was yesterday after I left work. 7 young guys (you can't see the drummer) were playing funky monkey music and I ended up thinking about my dear uncle. They were very good!

OK, that's all for now. I have another thing to write about, but I'll do that either tonight or tomorrow.

Until then - take care all and stay tuned ;)

-Vicki

Everchanging times

I think I'm going through a period in my life which is very transforming. I've been pretty negative lately and I am very aware of it, but of some reason it's like I can't stop it. I think this is good though, because this negativity has forced me to work even more on my self esteem and accepting everything that is me (the positive as well as the negative). Interesting indeed and I think I'm doing very good. It's getting better and better each day.

I certainly do believe that trying to push away all the aspects of yourself that you don't want only makes them stick to you even harder. "You don't fight darkness with darkness, but you can turn on the lights".

I'm doing this for me, of course, but I also do it for the people around me because I know how I've hurt some of them through my toughts, words and actions. I always want to improve, and loving everything about me (in a healthy way, not an egoistic one) gives me the motivation to change for the better.

Take care all!

-V

Countdown

Wow, I haven't posted in a while. But isn't that just an amazing feeling? When time just stops? I'd like time to stop right now. It's graduation soon. On friday to be precise, and I really do have mixed feelings about it. Graduating from school - awesome! Parting from a wonderful class with amazing people - tragedy! I'll probably cry like a baby... :'(

Last friday I went to "prom" (I say "prom" because I'm not sure that The Prom is the equivalent to what the Swedish prom is). It was so much fun and everybody was incredibly beautiful in their outfits.

My class! (I stole this image from a friend, hehe)

Me and my youngest sister

There were lot of speeches both from students and teachers, but my favourite one was when a guy in my class went up on stage and told everybody that there was this certain person in the room whom he had feelings for, but instead of reading a "silly poem" he wanted to sing. So the tunes of Breaking Free (High School Musical) began playing and he started to sing along to Troy's part. At Gabriella's part another guy in my class stood up and began singing along. It all ended up in a make-out scene on stage with the two of them! We all cried in laughter! Wow! It was amazing.

Yesterday mom and Stefan had their 1st anniversary, and so my sisters and I had planned a dinner in the forest for just the two of them. It was en exciting day since we had to be very discrete. We took the car and went to where they were supposed to be to get everything done while they were getting ready. Then I drove back home and kidnapped them.
Their expressions when they got rid of their blindfolds and saw what we had done told us we had succeeded.

These two images are pretty bad since I had
to use my stoneage phone camera, hehe

-V

UPDATE!!

So I'm finally updating. After..... a few months? Yeah.

Well... the reason is that I haven't had much to write about. I think...

But actually I have! xD I've been to Thailand together with my family. It was an amazing trip full of happenings and emotions. It felt like being in a movie. Excitement, adventure, love, romance, joy, sadness, frustration, you name it. Amazing! I don't think I will ever experience something like that again.

We stayed at an incredibly nice hotel on Koh Samui called The Passage. The staff was very kind to us and really looked after us.

This is the beach at the hotel

Hm... what else?

I've been at a workshop in setting goals and how you reach them. It was very interesting! And I finally know what I want to work with after I graduate. Feel so relieved~

Otherwise nothing else is going on at the moment. In school at the moment, have nothing at all to do, so I'm just being bored. Funfun, yeah.

Ok, that's all for now.

Over and out!

-Vicki

Last day

"Why do all good things come to an end?" That is the question... But, if they would never come to an end, and you had fun all the time you wouldn't appreciate it as much. I believe in balance.

It was a good day though, and I gave them my secret. I'd bought tons of tea, and a cake (that was delicious!) It was a symbolic present. If someone asks me "What did you have for lunch during these days Vicki?" I'd say "Tea".
"A'right, and for breakfast?"
"Tea."
"Dinner?"
"Tea."
So I basically went to England and drank tea, haha! Well... that's what they're known for (english people so to speak).


Anyway, I hope they were happy. They looked very happy so I'm satisfied. It was a sad moment to walk down the stairs from their office, but I've been offered to come back, and oh yes I will. In time, in time.

Not doing much at the moment. Waiting for time to pass by so I can go to bed and wake up and go to Gatwick Airport. That's it.

I have had the best 18 days of vocational training and experience in my life, and I am so grateful that I got to be here. Once again I came to the conclusion that if you want something --> Go get it! That's exactly what I did!
Just decide what you want to do and go for it. No matter what! I promise you that it will be the best thing you've ever done! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Just follow your heart. Nobody else's.

Anyway, I am very grateful! And I'm also looking forward to upcoming events and adventures. Life has just begun

-Vicki

Countdown on a pretty lazy day

I was pretty lazy today I must admit... Didn't mean to though, but I just kept throwing gazes at the watch. Well, the reason was that I really wanted it to be 6 pm to I could do what I was I had planned to do this evening (which I can't tell you just yet).

Today I warped Jakes face, and also got "facewarped" myself. It was hilarious! There is a mask for a female and a male face that gives you the measures of a "perfect face". If you warp someones face according to that mask... it won't be a "perfect face". (Not if I'm doing it at least) It will be a "Oh God, what have I done-face". It was fun though.
More than that I didnt do much... Hm... Felt like a "bad student". But I guess it's alright to have some of those days as well :) Tomorrow is going to be fun though! Part from the fact that it's my last day.

Tomorrow I'm going to pack the rest of my stuff and go to bed early I guess... Leaving at 9 am on wednesday.
Hm... what else... guess nothing else...

See you tomorrow! Then I'll tell you all about the day :)

-Vicki

Sightseeing

My weekend was good! Really. I changed my plans from sitting around at home doing nothing to "Sunday Sightseeing". A good option if you ask me.
I started my whole trip by going to the Tower of London. Cool place, I like the old buildings of London actually. That's what's so interesting with going to London. You can really tell that it's got so much history! I like that.


Had a sandwich and watched the excited tourists running around with cameras, pointing, talking, asking, laughing. I enjoyed it. The only "less good" was the cold. My hands were freezing and my thin clothes didn't do much to keep my whole body warm either... But! It became slightly warmer as I began to walk around. Crossed the Tower Bridge and realized I had to go back since there was no sign of a subway station closeby. Didn't mind though. Watching tourists are tons of fun! Being one of them - fun too.


The next stop was at Buckingham Palace. THAT, my friends, is like going to the zoo, I tell you. The guards in front of the big building doesn't do much more than just stand there. Completely blank in the faces. Imagine tons of people (at the zoo) watching the most interesting animal who doesn't do much more than sleep. It's actually not fun, but everybody loves it. BUT! When the animal suddenly starts moving, everybody takes out their cameras and gathers so tight outside the fence just to get a picture of this sporadic action! Capture the moment! (Yes, I was one of them I admit) but it's crazy, isn't it? I bet that guard knows how the animals feel...

Anyway! It was a nice visit. I went through Green Park, watching squirrels running around, curious about the visitors in the park. In the end of the park I saw a man. He was leaning forward with some bread in his hand. A squirrell carefully moved closer to him, leaned its forepaws against the mans leg (just above his foot) and quickly grabbed the piece of bread before it hurried back to where it came from. It was just amazing to watch. I didn't get a picture of it because I was standing too far away, but close enough to see the whole event. At such moments I can't do anything but smile. Really. Because I think it is very beautiful. Human and nature together. That is something that has always fascinated me.

I had a muffin at Starbucks before I went back home. Satisfied by the day.

Today's monday, and I'm back in business! Tonight I'll... go on a mission ;) Can't tell you until tomorrow of security reasons, hehe.
So! Have a great day, 'cause I know I will!

See you!

-Vicki

Last weekend

Portobello Road

So this is my last weekend in London...
Yesterday was great! Nick was very patient with me when I stuggled with my new image, and helped me out when I needed. It ended up quite good.
Lee showed me how to retouch her boobs, and just as I sat there with a pair of boobs in my face, Nick passed me and said "What the fuck are you doing to her nipples?". I laughed! Thought it was hilarious. (Btw, I didn't do anything...)
I love the atmosphere over there, really. Fortunately I have two days left, and I will enjoy them to the fullest.

Today I went to Portobello Road and had a look around. Didn't buy anything though, but I entered a really cool store. Think it's called Saints. Google it. "Saints, Portobello Road". The windows were covered with tons of very old sewing machines, and the clothes they sold were amazing!

Saw these two musicians on Portob. R.
They were really good and people had to stop just to watch and listen to the happy songs.
Some of them sang along. It was great!

I had lunch at Pret A Manger beside Notting Hill Gate subway station and spoke to a man from Egypt. He was an ex-pilot he told me, and he'd seen so much of the world, lived in so many different countries. It was very interesting to listen to him! But since his sight was pretty bad they'd taken his "pilot licence" from him, so now he wanted to focus on art. I wish him the best of luck!

Went to Piccadilly Circus as well, where I bought more new clothes and after that I went home, extremely tired. I'm thinking about lying down for a short while.
I don't think tomorrow will be that interesting. Need to start packing since I got other plans for upcoming evenings. It's not much to do though, just... get everything together and pray that my luggage wont get too heavy.

Hm... yeah. It's been a fantastic period though. This whole trip. A real journey.
I've loved every second of it.

-Vicki

Great birthday!

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was an amazing day, really.
What was so fun was that before I went to bed tuesday evening I said to myself "I want tomorrow to be full of surprises" and the first thing after I woke up was that the fire alarm rang! Haha! So everybody had to go outside. And when everything was done one of the staff members told us that this had to be done twice a year! God I must be lucky xD
Work was great as well. Neville decided that we should celebrate my birthday by making a "Happy Birthday playlist" on Spotify, and so we did. It was hilarious! I laughed so hard. Jake "made" me a song on happybirthday.com (I think...) and everything was just great! After work we went out to celebrate. More laughter. Oh god... I am so going to miss all of this.


When I got home one of my roommates Tina had made muffins, and on the kitchen table there was a note saying "Happy Birthday" together with four muffins. She is so sweet :)


In the evening I took the tube to Piccadilly Circus and had dinner. It was good, but I still think Amici is the best so far. Going to eat there again before I leave.
Unfortunately there's something going on with my camera so I can't upload picture at the moment... hm... I'll try later.

"Happenings" at Piccadilly Circus

I also saw this illusionist. He was cool!

Today has been good too. I finally managed to finish that image I've been doing for almost two weeks now. Retouching another one now, which I hope to finish tomorrow. There wasn't much I had to do. Wow... I've learned so much!

Okke, time to get my laundry and get some water.

Take care all!

-Vicki

Just a normal day

Yesterday was a good day, not so much happened except for the usual. It was quite odd when Dan wasn't around though.

I'm getting close each day with my image, so soon it is very similar to what Lee's done. Hope to get it done this week, haha!

I didn't do much when I got back home. I didn't feel good either so I went to bed early. Today has been way better, and I got a recipe of Jakes "miracle medicin" for every illness which I've just tried. See if it helps. It tasted funny, so it should! Everything that tastes like shit is good for your health. Well, maybe not everything that tastes like shit xD But everything that IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH usually tastes funny. That's what I meant. Please, don't eat poop now. It won't make your day any better I promise. Forget what I just said.

So, nothing else going on... Tomorrow I'll celebrate my birthday with one of my new found friends Lucy! That's going to be so much fun! I'm really looking forward to it. ^^

What is everybody else up to?

Take care!

-Vicki

Mondaaaaay!

Honestly, I don't remeber when I last felt so excited about a monday! Energy is on top and the sun is shining. Yesterday was so boring. Or should I say "not so exiciting"? I spent the whole day inside the apartment and left only to buy some food at Waitrose. I finished my report for this week though, so that's good and I don't have to think about it until next sunday again, hehe.

I need to write an essay in English C as well... But let's not think about that now!
I have an amazing day ahead of me. Not that it's Valentines Day, but that I get to be at the office.

Maybe tonights adventure will be Harrods... We'll see...

Hope you're all doing good wherever you are, and I hope you enjoy this day!

See you later

-Vicki

Long long Saturday

Yesterday was a very long day.
I started the whole adventure by trying to get to Kensington Garden. The subway line I was supposed to take was shut down because of reconstructions so I tried to figure out the smartest way to get there (by the tube). BUT, after at least two hours underground I ended up at Paddington (I think...) and decided to walk (!) to Kensington Garden from there. Yeah right... I realized it was too far and was just about to give up and go back to where I came from when I changed my mind and decided to take the bus instead. Smart-ass...
I got to Ladbroke Grove, and from there I had a nice walk to Kensington Grdn.

It was a lovely park! And the weather just made it all so much better. I had a caesar baguette in the sunshine and spoke to a very nice family. After that I had a walk in the park, saw tons of squirrels and just had a good time.

After a while I headed toward Hyde Park Corner and took the tube to Oxford Street where I got myself a new outfit. That doesn't happen very often.
Westminster was the next stop. I saw Big Ben and saw London by night from The London Eye. My evening ended at the italian restaurant Amici where I spent my first evening here. Delicious!

Today wont be that exciting. Will spend most of the time here I guess. I need to study as well... Hm...
Yeah, tomorrow's monday! Yaaaay! I've never longed for a monday as much as now. Great!
Here are some of yesterdays photos.

Lost...

On my way to Kensington Garden. Saw lots of fancy apartments.

Almost there!

Kensington Garden


Saw this cute little fella. Really charming


More from the park

And this is Hyde Park. On my way to Hyde Park Corner.

You see a lot of this stuff in the parks as well, it was cool actually.

And also horses! This photo is especially dedicated to my youngest sister.
Här får du se på hästar Fanny!

A nice restaurant. I think it was called Dell.

Here's the end of the park adventures. Next stop Oxford Street.
I didn't take any photos there though.
But I do have this:

London Eye, here we go!


London by night! It's amazing, isn't it?