D i s h e s
I have, over the years, come to realize something. Christmas is not about the gifts. It's all about the food.
Yesterday we were gonna celebrate christmas like in Sweden. We had meatballs, small sausages and I even made my own caramel toffee. But it was on dutch terms of course, and it was to be honest pretty far from my usual julbord. However that was expected.
Afterwards we followed the classical routine with the guys, first having a few beers at Job's place, then head out for our oasis, the Waterhole. The really shady bar that only plays rock music. But not even there you can avoid the song "I gotta feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. Felt good to be back though.
The christmas days here are so confusing. In Sweden we celebrate the 24th, with dinner and gifts. In Holland they get presents from Sinterklaas on the 5th, but celebrate some other christmas on the 25th, when it's tradition to have dinner with your family. This means that the extreme sale that takes place in Sweden between christmas and new year's is spread out on 25 days instead of 5, making it less extreme. But the store's are closed today, it being christmas, and tomorrow, being the 2nd day of christmas. And the day after is a sunday, meaning that the stores are usually closed, but there might be a few open ones in the centre.
Very confusing.
Well since today was the 25th, Diederik's family gathered up in his uncle's studio (he's a graphic artist) for massive amounts of food. There were aunts and children and friends and it was very scary at first. But as one could expect they turned out nice. There was red wine, white wine, cider, beer and Tia Maria. First we were served some spicy meat with rice but I avoided the main dish, garnelen met groente, shrimps with vegetables. I have always been of the opinion that shellfish are the insects of the sea and I dont enjoy the thought of eating them.
The dessert however... I have never been a fan of tiramisu, but having been heavily assured that D's mom makes excellent desserts (which I sort of knew already) I took a piece. Best tiramisu I've ever had. Sooo delicious.
The chaos of the many people around me and the stuffing of food made it a christmassy dinner even though I mostly ate salad and tiramisu.
I am still glad to have gotten away, getting a break really, even if I miss people at home.
Today's song:
Regina Spektor & Ben Folds - You don't know me
PS. Me and D took some nice pictures by his christmas tree (A real one!!! Not plastic! I forgot how nice they smell), and I will poste them later, like, maybe during daytime. Am off to sleep now.
PS 2.
Watched The Girl with the dragon tattoo today, it was really good. The book was partly better, but at times the movie won. Gotta see the other 2 movies as well.
Goodnight!
Yesterday we were gonna celebrate christmas like in Sweden. We had meatballs, small sausages and I even made my own caramel toffee. But it was on dutch terms of course, and it was to be honest pretty far from my usual julbord. However that was expected.
Afterwards we followed the classical routine with the guys, first having a few beers at Job's place, then head out for our oasis, the Waterhole. The really shady bar that only plays rock music. But not even there you can avoid the song "I gotta feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. Felt good to be back though.
The christmas days here are so confusing. In Sweden we celebrate the 24th, with dinner and gifts. In Holland they get presents from Sinterklaas on the 5th, but celebrate some other christmas on the 25th, when it's tradition to have dinner with your family. This means that the extreme sale that takes place in Sweden between christmas and new year's is spread out on 25 days instead of 5, making it less extreme. But the store's are closed today, it being christmas, and tomorrow, being the 2nd day of christmas. And the day after is a sunday, meaning that the stores are usually closed, but there might be a few open ones in the centre.
Very confusing.
Well since today was the 25th, Diederik's family gathered up in his uncle's studio (he's a graphic artist) for massive amounts of food. There were aunts and children and friends and it was very scary at first. But as one could expect they turned out nice. There was red wine, white wine, cider, beer and Tia Maria. First we were served some spicy meat with rice but I avoided the main dish, garnelen met groente, shrimps with vegetables. I have always been of the opinion that shellfish are the insects of the sea and I dont enjoy the thought of eating them.
The dessert however... I have never been a fan of tiramisu, but having been heavily assured that D's mom makes excellent desserts (which I sort of knew already) I took a piece. Best tiramisu I've ever had. Sooo delicious.
The chaos of the many people around me and the stuffing of food made it a christmassy dinner even though I mostly ate salad and tiramisu.
I am still glad to have gotten away, getting a break really, even if I miss people at home.
Today's song:
Regina Spektor & Ben Folds - You don't know me
PS. Me and D took some nice pictures by his christmas tree (A real one!!! Not plastic! I forgot how nice they smell), and I will poste them later, like, maybe during daytime. Am off to sleep now.
PS 2.
Watched The Girl with the dragon tattoo today, it was really good. The book was partly better, but at times the movie won. Gotta see the other 2 movies as well.
Goodnight!
P r i o r i t i e s
A small group of really great friends, all attending the same school. Cooking a really fine meal and dining together, sharing a bottle of wine and homemade sweets for desert. Discussing movies and finer points in life.
Then ending the wonderful evening by going to school.
All of them.
I wish this was fiction.
I wish it did not apply to me.
But here I am.
But it sure was a really fine potato gratin. Damn fine.
Going home now though.
I promise.
^_^
Then ending the wonderful evening by going to school.
All of them.
I wish this was fiction.
I wish it did not apply to me.
But here I am.
But it sure was a really fine potato gratin. Damn fine.
Going home now though.
I promise.
^_^
S n o w
So Christmas is around the corner.
I hate wishing for things, and I hate trying to desperatly find something funny and functional to everyone. I usually get the things I need myself, and it's hard to come up with things I just want for the hell of it. Maybe I'm weird, most people don't seem to have trouble wishing. But I managed at last to wish for things that I can't be arsed buying myself. Slight feeling of pride. Shopping for other people is only fun when you finally find that perfect gift for a certain person, but that takes incredible amounts of time. You usually only have the time to find that special something for about two people. The rest is just a guilt trip.
Christmas is the holiday you're supposed to spend with the people you love, friends and family. Despite a considerable amount of admirers, friends and family in Malmö, I have decided this year to break the tradition of celebrating in the countryside house with my mom, my sister and my mom's friends (and their kids), to celebrate both christmas and new years in Amsterdam.
Yes, I know, me and D broke up. But still friends. I need to get away from this town for a little while.
In other news, it's been snowing like mad here. There's a cover of up to 40 cm snow spread over Malmö. Like Laleh says: "Det är som moln över allt", it's like clouds covering everything. Even the canals are frozen.
Oh and school ended last friday. But I was sick, had a severe cold the night before. Felt better in the evening and managed to get myself to the finishing party in Lund, if however a bit late.
Essentially I'm just glad people put up with me, despite me being so bad at answering texts, mails and other forms of indirect communications.
Today's songs:
Laleh - Snö
Kings of Leon - Revelry
Today's lyrics (not from today's songs):
"And even though it's moving forward
There's just the right amount of awkward
And today you accidentally called me baby"
"Plant my lips where your necklace is closed."
I hate wishing for things, and I hate trying to desperatly find something funny and functional to everyone. I usually get the things I need myself, and it's hard to come up with things I just want for the hell of it. Maybe I'm weird, most people don't seem to have trouble wishing. But I managed at last to wish for things that I can't be arsed buying myself. Slight feeling of pride. Shopping for other people is only fun when you finally find that perfect gift for a certain person, but that takes incredible amounts of time. You usually only have the time to find that special something for about two people. The rest is just a guilt trip.
Christmas is the holiday you're supposed to spend with the people you love, friends and family. Despite a considerable amount of admirers, friends and family in Malmö, I have decided this year to break the tradition of celebrating in the countryside house with my mom, my sister and my mom's friends (and their kids), to celebrate both christmas and new years in Amsterdam.
Yes, I know, me and D broke up. But still friends. I need to get away from this town for a little while.
In other news, it's been snowing like mad here. There's a cover of up to 40 cm snow spread over Malmö. Like Laleh says: "Det är som moln över allt", it's like clouds covering everything. Even the canals are frozen.
Oh and school ended last friday. But I was sick, had a severe cold the night before. Felt better in the evening and managed to get myself to the finishing party in Lund, if however a bit late.
Essentially I'm just glad people put up with me, despite me being so bad at answering texts, mails and other forms of indirect communications.
Today's songs:
Laleh - Snö
Kings of Leon - Revelry
Today's lyrics (not from today's songs):
"And even though it's moving forward
There's just the right amount of awkward
And today you accidentally called me baby"
"Plant my lips where your necklace is closed."
The view from my room a few days ago, before a lot of snow had fallen. Still not used to it this far south in Sweden.
