COTTAGE WEEKEND in Finlandia

Lets go back a few weeks to the time of Finland and friends!

The Cottage Weekend

I was ever so lucky to get a bunch of awesome people to visit my hometown and cottage.

With a visit range of 15 days to 2days, and from 12 to 1 visitors at a time. Awesome-based, as Ingar and Jonas would probably say!

The first night we stayed at my home. Visited granny and grandpa, who provided a comedy show with their absolutely non-existing English communication. I faced a challenge having to translate all that was going on...and believe me, that was a lot. Talented speakers those grandparents.

Moving on from grandparent's misunderstandings (Kalle being a cat or a person; guess that's no big difference when it comes to 'putting one down'?) we came back to my house where my dad had prepared a nice video evening for us showing my childhood videos. As if there hadn't been enough laughing involved at the grandparents place! Performances by Linda 5years old...well yeah, Vendela, Karen, Ingar and Jonas - have your say: fun or traumatized for life?

Even Celine Dion's 'My Hear Will Go On' got new lyrics back in the days..."heartbeat, wherever you are..."

The next day it was time to head for the cottage! First some exercising at the local swimming hall + gym and lunch at Tyyskänhovi.

And off to the cottage. Sammy, too.

Life at the cottage

We were lucky to get Ansku to join us already on Thursday.

Later on Friday the gang grew as Heikki and Jonas came along.

Chill life, chill life.

Thankfully the weather was on our side!

I might have gotten a bit carried away with testing the psychedelic functions my new Canon provides..

The next day, Saturday, we got quite a few more additions to the group.

The lovelies; Lauri, Jussi, Hilla and Jon-Leo, arriving throughout the day!

JP also joining for a bit. At least for the most important - a game of croquet.

Needless to say which team won? ..and which team wanted to win, and were well on their way to winning. ;-)

Oh, let's say it anyway: GO TEAM LINDA&JP!

Excuse-moiiiii

Aeroplane

These pictures are starting to look like introductions to the Big Brother competitors. Hha.

The weekend was full of sauna, lake, games, catching up, ourdoor hot tub, kayaking and purely just enjoying each others company added with a few drinks on the side.

On Sunday before it was time for half of the gang to leave, some traditional Finnish Mölkky!

...and the winner is...

Mr. Jussi! Congratulations!

It was perfection to have everyone around! Mini version of lifestyle at Duwo (our housing company in Holland), but housing wise - so much more better.

Thank you to everyone who made it to this little Queensday reunion, should we call it.

Can't wait for a new one!

Which is...

...NEW YEARS IN...

to be revealed later.

PUSS OCH KRAM,

Linda

A little bit of this and that

This weekend has been dedicated to laziness, chilling out, good food and shopping.

Tomorrow I should get my a-s-s up again and continue what I oh so many times already started during this year - running. I've had so many good starts for continuous exercising but then there always come these few week stops due to travelling, moving - whatever. Now it's time to challenge myself yet again.

Ooh, and there would be Finnish football practice tomorrow in my neighbor park...maybe I could go check that out as I run.

But here some random shots of latest happenings, and maybe also the not so latest.

Our 'Farm is based in an old cookie factory! Woop.

A day at the office. And Jaleh's king size English breakfast that carried her through the day. I'm not surprised!

My today's breakfast, which doesn't really look as tempting as it did IRL, and dinner. Today has been food-day. Giving myself a little treat.

All the products used are ORGANIC. I'm wondering whether to believe or not.

Seriously, organic blueberries? For some reason I have a feeling they are nothing compared to the organic I know in the woods next to our cottage... oh how I miss the Finnish woods and food stores. Not to complain, the nearby Tesco is actually really good.

Fun fact:

e.g. the organic spinach bags in Tesco say "superfood". coolbeans.

Now I really need to get this blogging started again. I'm still missing out telling you about the last amazing events of summer!

Great weekend to all,

xxx

L

PS:

I forgot my computer charger in Finland and today when I finally went to buy a new one...I didn't. Seriously 60pounds for a charger? Apple, I think you are getting a biiiiit carried away here! Crazy-based.


PPS:
http://www.urban75.org/useless/bored.html

31.8.-4.9. excitement and stress

The last 5 days were:

1. Samantha testing out the new Escada fragrance at Helsinki-Vantaa airport.

2. The saviour of a 3 hour flight. WiFi.

3. Sammy swelling and getting some sort of flying, air pressure, disease. And during landing she turned from a swollen Sammy to an anorectic Sammy...we are truly worried.

4. We arrived safely on Wednesday 31st.

5. I spent hours on finding a perfect bag in which to fit my longboard. Who cares about the broken bag when the bag arrives to Gatwick safe and I save 30€ on fitting the board in 'normal luggage' (which was sooo not normal...overboard length) and not having to send it over in the special equipment stuffyyy.

6. Straight to the sushi table after the flight. We spent the first nights at Maria's house. Muchas gracias for that! Internatinal house full of lovely people.

7. And the following days at the Idea Library, Starbucks, McDonalds...anywhere where WiFi could be found.

8. Obviously not here.

9. Aside of all the apartment hunting, we gave ourselves a little rest on Friday night. (T.G.I.F.) Went out for a walk in London town to show Jaleh the amazements of Leicester, Piccadilly, Covent Garden and Trafalgar.

Yes. That was pretty much it.

I can't wait for the weekend when I've settled down in my new home, had the time to go test the close-by park (or Hyde Park) for longboarding AND hopefully had the time to write about e.g. The Flow Festival and other coolness stuffness I was uptoness during my lastness weeks of Finlandness.

As you can see, it is time..so,

Good night!

L

x

First day at the Farm

Breathe in, breathe out. Zen, zen, zen is whit ya.

I am happy to announce that after 5 days of pure stress, tears and laughter, hours of the computer screen, replying and sending pointless emails (apartment related), spending hours on scams (which we thankfully didn't fall for), eating ready made sandwiches and other fastfood poison, visiting the most disgusting apartment, using hours on travelling on the jubilee line and the DLR, calling, smsing, calling again, pointless calling...etc.

I HAVE FINALLY FOUND AN APARTMENT!

...and may I present the view:

By the Thames. I wouldn't call it that bad, hhu?

London, London, London. Here I am!

I was born and raised in London until the age of 8, so..I feel I'm back at home!

Actually, I'm moving into this new apartment of mine on Thursday and it is on the same street as where my Finnish friend used to live when we were little. How funny! Which reminds me, we didn't go check out the apartment on my old home street. It was kind of far in the end, no matter how nice an area Blackheath is. (a place you should visit when going to London. It's like a small village near the centre of London. There's no place like Blackheath and Greenwich park. Lovelovelove.)

And how good was it to start work without needing to stress about anything anymore.

Today was my first day at The Animal Farm. Don't get me wrong, I don't take care of pigs other than Jaleh (my classmate who is also working at the Farm). The Animal Farm is a music company doing production, mixing, songwriting, management, synchs, A&R, and what not.

The atmosphere at work is chill, fun and exciting. I can feel that every single day will surely be different than the other. Everyone working in the company are friendly and hilarious. Even though I intend to do as much sports aside of work as possible, I can tell you I got some pretty good ab training today - also making sure my cheek muscles will feel 'laughed up' when I go to bed tonight. Will keep you updated about how life at the farm treats me and what kind of exciting experiences and lessons I have/get. I'm super excited about these upcoming 5-6 months. I hope you stay on board, too!

London surely has its spices (girls) and adventures for every day...lets see what I get myself into.

xoxo

Gossip...

no, just Linda

PS. I don't know how I will be able to concentrate on work when a part of the duty is listening to extremely good and catchy music. The repeat song of the day has definitely been iremembertapes. - Gossip.

Do you like it? To be honest...I love it. What about the chick in the music vid? Oh my, red lips. Socks offff!

And what about those guys? Even slightly cute...? Mmmyes, please.

Help the homeless

HELP US OUT!

http://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-houses/urgent-2-bedrooms-needed-near-bermondseycanary-wharfgreenwich/87124476

Thank you.

xo

Linda and Jaleh

ps. quick update:

- im now in london, arrived wednesday evening

- my internship starts on monday

- i am currently homeless

- staying at friends

- spending all my days in cafe's, mcdo, the finnish seamen's church - anywhere with wifi

- i forgot my mac charger in finland, so that's not fun (need to buy a new one)

- yesterday i purchased an oyster card and lebara sim, so my finnish number is no longer in use (until i get a second phone where to place it)

- today i'm going to a viewing on the same street that i used to live on when i was 0-8years old HOW COOL

that's all for now!