Hello again!

Geez ... was it that long ago since my last blog post? I guess I ought to catch up then. So many things has happened since them last posts. I will try my best to update you. I'm back ... with a vengeance! Miss writing ... that much you should know by now. See you around!

Avslutning (End of Schoolyear)

Last day of school ... one morning full of songs and festivities as The English School bid all Year 9 students adieu. What lies ahead of them is unknown yet such an exciting journey to take ... gymnasium, university, friendships nurtured, joy and heartaches along the way, rewards of employment, etc. Ahhh ... life's bliss is yet to be defined.

Snow Day - 6 January 2011

Happy New Year, folks!

Little Jack Frost have been busy last night. He left all houses and stretch of streets in a blanket of snow all over Sweden.

Fine powder of snow is real neat ... I love them! Today, we woke up to a very cool, snowy morning. It sure have snowed all night ... and we're left with heaps of snow to shovel off our driveway.

What a way to start our day!

Saturday blues ...

My awful cold seem to have gotten tired of hanging around ... thank goodness! My voice is still on vacation ... it comes and it goes ... that's a good sign it is slowly getting bored of being away too long from me. That's a good sign, eh?

This week had been chaotic ... what with all the preparations behind all the meetings and exhibition during our recent global conference meet. I say chaotic in a positive way 'coz for me it's great fun being part of such an event. While there is a lot of work that has to be done, it is somewhat rewarding after each of these struggles. This one is no exception ... we had a very successful conference, and everyone was very pleased.

Today, I'm taking things easy ... not only because I need it, but because I deserve it. I dream and weave my way someplace nice and warm ... being on a white sand beach, enjoying sun and a cool breeze, lazying, reading a book and a piñacolada drink just within my reach. Heaven!

Decked with colds ...

... haunted and torn. It's that time of the year again ... I can't elude this plague of colds which is a recurring event during winter time. It would always start with Alexander ... then my hubby ... and then poor me. I am very susceptible to all kinds of bacteria ... and I just don't know how to protect myself from it all.

I hope this horrible cold will go away ...

Confidante ...

... that's me to my son. He has shared a lot of secrets with me. I think it's kinda cool ... knowing his heart's desire ... his dreams ... his memorable moments .... and his christmas wish list!

I like spending some time with my kid - when he's not grouchy, or not all too excited over something. The last few weeks, our small talks had become more and more sensible ... adult-like, serious yet such fun.

This week, our "serious" talk centered on girls. His question: "How can a girl say she likes you and then shes kisses another boy?". Advise, anyone? I can tell he was somewhat confused. Nowadays, he says he don't trust girls anymore. He has told me of girls stealing . kiss from him - this makes him upset ... very upset! He says, "I don't want to get pimples on my face!",

My kid is still a kid, yet somehow, he would strike me as an adult with the way he'd reason and argue in most cases. In just a couple of more years, he's no kid anymore, but a teenager, What can one expect? More argument? More know-it-all attitude? Uggghhh! It sure felt like a waiting game ...

Just the same, a confidante is what I want to be for my kid ... close by ... someone he can talk to ... argue and reason with. It's a role I'd play well and good here and now ... and hopefully well into the future.

Gloomy Sunday ...

... coz it's too cloudy, grey and boring. Rain is threathening the horizon and Alexander's upset. This kind of weather would mean another stay-at-home day for him - he can't go out biking nor can he have friends over for playtime.

Anyway, the day is just starting. First breakfast, the swim class and then whatever would come up to our minds to do after lunch. For me, it's house chores - laundry, clean-up in the bedrooms and stacking up of things away in the storage in preparation for the coming winter. We're bracing for snow! I just hope it would take its own sweet time to come down to the south of Sweden. I'd pick the cloudy, rainy and grey weather anytime over snow.

How's Sunday on your end?

Overqualified ...

... that's how my merits were ajudged after my interview today.
How do I feel? Let me see ... Elated? Upset? Frustrated? Dunno really. Perhaps relieved? One thing certain is the fact that after my interview, I realised this particular post isn't really what I need nor something suited for me. What really ticked me off is when I was told, yet again, that I was "overqualified". Can one really be "overqualified"? Oh well, I guess another opportunity will soon come my way. Patience is a virtue ... I might as well exercise my "patience" ... tons of patience!

Down with a horrible headache ...

... nah, not me. Alexander came home feeling not entirely well. He was supposed to finish his homework before I get home but did not manage that well. He was so apologetic, almost close to tears. I sent him to rest but ended up falling asleep. I didn't have the heart to wake him up now ... poor chap! I'd probably make him a midnight sandwich in case he wakes up hungry later on.

The much dreaded flu is just around the corner. We've been downed by colds early last week which we managed to keep at bay with loads of Vitamin C drinks. We just can't afford to be sick ... ugghh!

By the way, I made some pasta with meat sauce for dinner tonight ... heavenly says my hubby. And yes, I got carried away in spicing up the meat sauce with lots of garlic and onions - and topped it with parsley! Yummy-yum-yum indeed!

Stockholm i mitt hjärta ...

Stockholm in my heart ....

It's always a welcome treat for us to visit Stockholm. This summer for the next 3 more days is one of those treats. One tend to see Stockholm in a different light at each visit - there's always something new to discover ... some new experience to bring home with you.

We arrived Stockholm at lunchtime yesterday ... amid heavy rains! But this didn't stop us from exploring the city as soon as we disposed of our luggage and packs at our appointed apartment-hotel. I am equally excited as my two boys ...

A visit to Stockholm always bring my hubby down memory lane - he's a true blue Stockholm-born Swede. The Årsta neighbourhood is a given car cruise destination and a quick round to the Kungsholm area and visit to the good old boat club is also a must. It's fascinating for my hubby to see his childhood landmarks still in its place while some of his favourite play spots have literally gone into oblivion ... and replaced by new buildings or skyscrapers. Somehow, despite the structures being new, it still breathes some kind of sense of "belonging" ... this used to be his "playground".

I have had my own share of memories of Stockholm at each visit over the 15 yrs I've lived in Sweden. I am much more of a Swede now than a Filipino, as my husband have observed. It's quite true that I now have a different view of my native Philippines compared to when I was still living out there. Still, my heart belongs to the Philippines, as my husband would claim his have always belonged to Stockholm.