Well, hey there.

So I went sledding for the first time yesterday. I also tried Swedish meatballs and those were quite tasty.

New friends, new experiences, new places.

Click to enlarge.

 

 

Adjusting.

So I have been VERY busy with my new life here in Örebro. Basic human things such as groceries and socialising can be interesting when you don't speak the dominant language. However, everyone I've spoken to speaks excellent English. 

Here is a collection of videos that I've made. I may have crossed into vlogging.

Stockholm Central.

Room Tour (1 of 2)

Random Swedish Life.

Swedish Accordion Man.

Swedish Grocery Shopping, Part 1

Swedish.

So a common misconception is that Swedes are blond hair, blue eyed, tall etc. In actual reality, Australia is the best country to compare it to. People of all colours, sizes and intellect. The language is common.

Vlog!

Stockholm Central.

Watch this space....

Solo adventures...

So the thing with Jack Torrance in The Shining is that the film failed to portray him properly. The novel presented us with a character who had existing personal demons but was in control and repenting for his past actions. The hotel may have pushed him to the manic point, but the truly scary thing is that it tapped into his personal demons and fears. The film just portrayed him as menacing from the start.

...okay, I'm avoiding the subject.

My apartment is (mostly) packed at this stage, and this is the state of my suitcase.  

My paperwork and entertainment utensils are gathered.

My flight is tomorrow night.

This is my first overseas trip overseas; solo. And this is no touristy trip, either. 

I am going to live somewhere else for five months.

Wish me luck... and and I wish you luck with your own solo adventures.

...no matter what they may be.

Bon voyage...

We had goodbye drinks at Sahara Restaurant on Swanston Street Friday evening, and I was delighted and touched by the night's turnout and the diversity between them; whether they were family members or friends.

 

The venue itself was wonderful. The restaurant offered wonderful food, good drinks and a beautiful atmosphere, which faded from the lazy afternoon to the lit up splendour of the night. The staff were particularly friendly and inviting.

My purple beanie as a going away gift could not have been more perfect. My friend Gen had seen it and been reminded of me; hard to see why? I can already tell that this is going to be a favourite piece of mine that I will wear everywhere and with everything.

Feeling so much love from my loved ones before I depart in a few days... there are no words.

I'm letting go tonight...

New tumblr! Come find me. http://crazycatastrophes.tumblr.com/

So I've come to realise a few things; after people have revealed their feet of clay and have just toppled like the worthless monuments that they think to be. I'm sick of people being fed up with my actions, only for them to do actions themselves that make me fed up. I'm tired of being made to feel guilty for wanting things. I want to wake up. I want to change. I want to blossom. I want to let go. I want to be happy. I'm going to do what I want for myself, as well as others.

Seeing Wreck-It Ralph only further drove this realisation home for me. Without spoiling too much, a certain protagonist decides he's not happy with things as they are and decides to go out and make changes. Even while being repeatedly told that these changes are impossible and further attempts to persuade him otherwise only just pushes him further. He makes new friends, and there's plenty of video game references for those of you paying attention.

We're all counting the days until that plane is ready for boarding. Shopping, currency exchange and packing have been involved and it still hasn't entirely sunk in yet. I'm wondering when it will... both terrified and excited for it to hit when I get on that plane.

I hope you all are well. I'm going to miss this place that is Melbourne...

See, heaven's got a plan for you...

So I spent the past couple of days with these handsome devils. Inevitably more silly, consumption of alcohol, some TV shows, and other corruptive activities.

Much fun, especially having time off work for a bit. I hadn't realised how driven I'd been by work until my cousin pulled me aside for a chat. He ended up using my constant mantra 'work to live and not vice versa' without even knowing he was quoting it, and he told me not to lose sight of who I am.

Sometimes I wonder who the heck I am. I've done a lot of juggling; daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend, student, waitress, customer, commuter. I seem to be whatever the situation needs me to be, but there's the constant part that seems to shine. We can never truly know ourselves and others - we know what we're not when we encounter it and it makes us want to throw up and feel shame for knowing such thing. You know what I mean? When something just resists the very fibre of our being and we can definitively say, "Oh there's no way".

Of course, I'm always doubtful. It's in my nature. I don't trust compliments, so imagine my reaction if somebody were to say they had feelings for me? For a pessimist, I'm pretty optimistic.

I long for freedom. And I just very well may find it someday.

 

 

Les Misérables was quite fantastic. Of course, I went in with not much known about plot and with no prior knowledge of the novel or play, so count me happy. I wasn't comparing it to anything, I was just watching. I've always been one for watching things; even with video games I'm quite content to watch game play instead of actually playing. Anne Hathaway deserves some kind of award for her performance; watching her character fall into such a downward spiral... And also Éponine, one of the oldest examples of friend zone.

SO MANY EMOTIONS.

I hope you are well...

A new year, a new set of happenings.

So it's been an interesting few days. New Years' Eve and Day proved to be equally eventful. Eve involved working a shift before heading to a new friend's gathering to await the ball to drop. There was much fun had and, yes, an amount of alcohol was consumed. Day involved spending time with these friends and some family time. I'm living my life and appreciating. Feeling. Laughing. Living.

Elbow's album Leaders of the Free World is number three in their discography, and I'm approaching with caution. I've liked the two previous albums quite a bit and trying to keep in mind that there was, in fact, time between albums and things happen, things change. Of course the music is going to be effected as a result. Not that it's not still great, songs such as 'Mexican Standoff' still prove to be my inspiration between friends and work.

I've recently retained Doves' entire discography and intend to listen to it soon; if not, then overseas. I've only had their best of album and loved it, so I'm hoping for a few surprise tracks somewhere in there.

I've also started Mad Men, and it's a good watch. It's a fascinating one, certainly, as a Media and Communication student currently on holiday. The values, the fashion, the cinematography; it's like watching a living magazine.

I've had The Great Gatsby sitting on my nightstand for months and I've just picked it up. Hopefully I start reading, it feels like I haven't been able to keep reading consistently for months now. With the exception of one (a gag, turned surprisingly riveting!) book.

Just over two weeks until I leave the country. And still not quite comprehending.