Japunzel

Soon off to spa!
Gotta go pack and eat something. I'm looking forward to this alot. Have never been to a spa before (well apart from that place in Italy with Nisse, which I guess was a spa, but we only used the thermal mineral something pools. This is however alot more luxurious!)
Might be updating later if I get hold of a computer.
Laters!

Usually I steal my titles from songs or quotes, but this is from me.
Cause finally, I got a working computer again! Picked up the screen today. It broke down the day before I left for Sweden.

Been a really lonely week without it. But on the other hand I've been drawing alot instead. Done some really nice things, pics of upcoming characters, quite possibly. Tomorrow me and the family are going away to spoil the mom a bit. We're going to a spa (though the mom doesnt know yet), and we'll be there all weekend. I do get payed and I do get fancy food.

Not really pleased with missing out on another weekend with the au pairs (but I could've been somewhere alot worse :P). I'm writing an english resume cause I'm considering working another year before going to university. Sanna gave me a few tips of where to look.
We went to a flea market a few weeks ago, me and her, and pictures will come shortly!  creepy things dwelling.

So yeah, just thought I should update to let you know I got to Amsterdam alright. As you maybe know my airline company went bankrupt while I was in Sweden, leaving me a bit stranded. Thanks to a lot of help from Diederik I could take a train from Copenhagen to Amsterdam for a decent proce. It took a while, going around Denmark and all. But it was a night train so i managed to sleep at some point during the night. Uhm but to confess I almost missed it (this if for you Marie so you can say "I told you so"). When I paid for my ticket I had 8 minutes left. But as my dad says "In those moments you live a little more". I'd like to see myself as a person who lives a lot. So if that means I'll have to be late occasionally then so be it.

I do miss my friends, I tried to see them on my visit but I had so many things to do. It certainly wasn't the relaxing week I had expected. Sorry about this mom, I will clean my room when I get home for Christmas.
Laters!

So I've been in Sweden for a few days now.

Friday I spent with the guys, first with Oswald, and then we met up with the others in the grocery store. We bought dinner and Jonathan cooked after we arrived to his apartment. We hung out and then I left them for the bar L'Angelo. There I met up with some of the old gang, but most importantly, I met Annie which I haven't seen in ages. And then we went to KB and met Hanna and some of the others and it was a great night.
Yesterday I stayed home, felt sick. Today I went out with my mom and my bitch for a sister. She is currently demanding this computer so I can't continue writing.
Sorry folks.

Quote by old swedish oddie.

I'm back in sweeeeden :D
Feels wierd to be back, like I've been gone for more than two months. Don't really feel at home yet, but I'm working on it.
I'm gonna eat my meatballs now, and update later!
(thank you sister <3)

I've been slow with updating. Sorry about this. Although I am pleased to see so many reading it everyday.

Today it's raining but I don't mind. Been sitting in talking to people I love instead. Soon I'm in Sweden again, if only for a week. I only worked morning today, no picking up kids. And when I was heading hom I got the strongest urge for swedish food. I know how cliche this is, but god, there was nothing I wanted more than swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes with pepper sauce. And lingonberries of course. I told my self to ask mom for that when I get back.
But when I got back to the house here and am about to put groceries in the fridge, what do I spot? A microwave meal with Boulettes suedoises! With peppersauce and lingonberries. Bliss in a box.

This weekend's been great! Friday we were out, all the au pairs, and suddenly it's not hard hanging out with them. I was greeted with hugs and numbers and free drinks. I knew it would be easier now that I too have a lipgloss :P
We went to Celtica (as usual) but first we hung out at Sandro's place. Celtica was even more fun than usual and I stayed 'til after the metro stopped running. At three the night buses stops running as well. It seemed like we just missed it. So me and two other girls living in my direction split a cab home. Wasnt that expensive either.
Saturday we stayed in and got fat, and on sunday we all met on the Cheese Cake Cafe. It was a really nice place and almost everyone was there.
The rehersals for the Lucia train in the swedish church has begun, and I plan to join in. But most of the girl skipped it this sunday. And the upcoming weekend is the autumn break here and I'm off to Sweden. Ironically, so is also my au pair family.
What do I crave for right now? Pancakes (not the local ones, the swedish thin ones with strawberry jam and ice cream) and Batman. Batman in movies or graphic novels. I don't care. I just miss my old hero.
Oh and looking forward to the swedish movie "Let the right one in"! It has premiere the day after I arrive.

Yesterday was the worst day since I got here.
I felt rather homesick and didn't do anything useful all day, but left home a bit late. This and other annoying factors led to me ad the kids getting home almost 40 minuts later than usual. The parents had come home before me and I had left the dishes out and they weren't very pleased with me. I was supposed to cook but since I got home so late they went for take away. And while emptying the dishwasher I broke a beer glass.

After this I took a long shower and went to bed early.

And today I feel rested and positive, despite that the mother once again tried to clearify how important it is for them that I complete my tasks. I got french classes but more importantly, I discovered Britney Spears new song, Womenizer! As usual I hate myself for loving her songs. It's easy to find on Youtube. I've been listening more or less non stop for an hour. It's that catchy.
I guess I feel untouchable. Like the bad things can't get to me. I suppose this is good cause I feel careless an untroubled.
On friday I'm going to the movies with the other au pairs, gonna see Mamma Mia. Not my first choice but as good as any.

Summarizing the weekend:

Friday: In the afternoon we took the eurostar train. On the way to the train station, the metro DJ played the Ghostbuster's theme. Clearly a good sign of what was yet to come.
Arrived early evening, got in touch with Sofia, and met her at Piccadilly Circus. We were gonna have a night out but everywhere we went there were just gay men and tourists.
Sofia suggested Covent Garden and we took the tube there. We were then trying to find the actual Covent Garden from the station and Sofia pulled out her map (I LOVE watching Sofia with maps). Two guys came up to us and it turned out they were australians, and appearantly looking for the same thing as we. Sofia and the aussies couldn't agree about the direction and we ended up going at different directions.
A while later we did find the area but were unsure of what bar to pay a visit. So we did what anyone would do: took the closest of the decentlooking ones.
It was an australian sports bar. And there we met the aussies again. We started talking, and later another guy comes up to us. He's older than us, like 45 and he gives us all beer. We were a bit suspicious towards him and we didn't cease when he asked us to joing him to a club, offering to pay for everything.
But we did follow him; me, Sofia and the remaining aussie. And he did pay. For entrance, beer and drinks. He wasn't sleezy at all and we had an awesome night at the rather decent club.

Saturday: I went shopping! Went to New look to follow the tradition and of corse I found delicious clothes (but honestly, it wasn't as much fun going there without mom and sister).
Afterwards I sat down in Hyde Park since it was insanely warm. I wore a skirt and short sleeves and I was sweating. I was far from alone to have this idea, several hundred people were sitting down in the grass. I got pictures to prove this, sun and heat in october, in London. They'll come up shortly, I hope. Later on I babysat the kids. End of story basically.

Sunday: We left hotel at around nine and about an hour later I found myself standing in London Eye!
Amazing view, once again, pictures will come.
In early afternoon we took the train back.

And now I'm back here and I managed through the monday, with early morning and french lesson. Gonna sleep after my morning working hours tomorrow, oh yes indeed. By the way, my throat is almost what it used to be!
Nighty!


a nice view, eh? gets better..


...like when i'm in it :P
Ignore my not-yet-awake face. I got up at 7am, ok?

Yes!
Tomorrow I'm finally off to London! Did I tell you that I'm getting a suite or something cause the hotel were out of single rooms?
I'm gonna go out with Sofia and go to Camden market (don't know how much is left since that fire, but hoping for the best) and walk in the park... And of course shop until my eyes fall out of their sockets.

I'm by the way back in Belgium in case you didn't know. My throat is feeling a lot better though my tonsils remains the size of plums. But I can breathe and eat again. Only yawning is painful. You don't really have to worry too much about me. I have no fever and havent for over a week. And Diederik gave me ice and painkillers and everything I needed.
My mom never blessed me with brothers but thanks to guys like Oswald and Diederik I will never miss one. They're not the only ones either. But damn, I'm glad I got you. And damn, how I miss you.

Robot chicken and books, in excessive amounts, is the thing right now.
thank you wikipedia for free pictures.

Hey.
I'm stuck in Amsterdam. And my throat is worse than ever. And more people than ever read my blog!

So yeah. There's a strike in Belgium which takes place today, on all trains to and from Brussel. Even buses and metro will stand still. I had heard about this but didn't consider this a problem since I was gonna go back to Brussel yesterday. However when I arrive in good time for the last train to depart, they had recieved a message saying that the strike had started and the train wouldn't go further than Antwerpen. The next train wouldn't take off until tuesday.
Luckily Diederik had followed me to the station and he said that it was okey to stay another two days.

And later in the evening my throat inflated so I could hardly speak or eat. Just occasionally swollowing my own saliva needed mental preparation cause of the pain. Finally after brushing my teeth before going to bed I slowly opened my mouth and checked in the mirror. My left tonsil was twice the size of my right one, taking upp around 60% of my throat. Bear in mind that would by logic mean that the other tonsil would take up 30% of my throat, leaving me with 10 painful percent to breath and swollow.
Painkillers and bags of ice help somewhat. Something tells me I should see a doctor and get antibiotics, think I'll do that when I'm back in Waffleland.
Apart from that I had a great weekend with Diederik and his friends, involving a lot of beer, some guitar hero and Apple bottom jeans (and boots with the fur).

Don't even remember where that phrase is from, but I'm suspecting Harry Potter.

But I'm in Amsterdam now and me and Dida are going to the zoo. Isch nice.
Cheap cookies and beer for the win. Paylin for the lose.

Updating later!

thanks for licence free pictures, wikipedia.

I'm something between a babysitter and a kindergarten teacher today.

Elin had fever yesterday so her parents wanted her to stay home for a day. I didn't sleep too good yesterday but so did Elin. But she woke up at 05.00 and started crying, and fell back to sleep. I didn't. At 08.00 she was my responsabilty and as soon as her mom left she begged for "doggi".
- Vare doggi? Can ja se doggi? (baby swedish mixed with baby english)
The doggie she likes so much is Gromit. The dvd contains 3 episodes of Wallace and Gromit, and she watches like an episode per day. But this morning she refused to do anything until we had watched them all. And she still wonders occationally where doggie is. And whenever I sing the theme song she tries to hum along. Adorable.
However now I fooled her to watch Pingu instead.

Seems like everyone has a bit of fever now. I was supposed to go to Amsterdam this weekend and visit Dida, but he has fever too. I'm hoping he'll get better (so I can still visit) cause weekend after that I'm off to London! ;D

Uhm. After a few episodes of Pettsons julkalender, Elin is back to Wallace and Gromit now. Curse you, Doggie.

Part two:
Elin is the most intelligent little raptorchild I've ever come across. She's less than two years old but she understands so much. She tries to do magic tricks, she repeats grown ups movements and actions. But honestly, what I love most about Elin is that she never takes a dump when i have to change her napkin or when I'm alone with her.
...You have no idea how grateful I am for this Elin. :P

Is there anything as positive as sunlight?

Stayed home today again, woke up painfully early cause the rain was pounding on my roof and my windows. My fever was not as high but my throat still refused to swallow, water and fruit alike.
I did eat fruit thogh, lots of it, but juice was too painful.

Had to put sheets (partially stained with urine) in the washing machine and then I settled down in front ov tv. A Lord of the Ring Extended DVD edition is brilliant for rainy days when you feel ill. I watched the third part a few weeks ago, so I watched the second today. I get upset with all the info you miss on the original edition, but I suppose 4-5 hours is a long time to spend if you're not a fan (but if the trailer doesn't appeal to you, don't bother watching it).
But I was a bit chocked to find out that Aragorn is 87 years (long time since I read the book, ok?).

The aupair mother called during my entertainment and said that the youngest is sick, she has fever too. So tomorrow I'll stay home with her (but I feel alot better myself).
Sun shone upon brussels when I watched the movie but I'm sure it will rain again tonight.
Nighty!

Ps. Pics from the weekend can be found in Ted's blog (I never thought I'd be thankful for blogs): http://blog.chilibow.com/

Yeah. My fever returned yesterday after being absent more or less entire weekend.
And it's raining and my head as well as every muscle aches.
And everytime I try to swallow I almost faint with pain.
And I'm hungry but there's no food home (except for chips and chocolate).
And I feel extremely isolated and lazy cause I couldn't drop off Elin and I haven't been interacting with people (other than Ted and the family).

Basically, today my selfpity is justified.


Today I listen to Air (mostly Playground Love), Massive Attack and Moby (but only Porcelain). Good music for bad days.

So now I'm off to watch Heima (google it if you don't know it) and drink copious amounts of tea. Cheers!

I got sick yesterday. Fever. Not as bad as I thought,  The family is letting me rest and gave me dinner in bed (very nice of them). They even brought me tea.

So i've been home today too, and I'm getting better.

Ps.
I bought myself a lipgloss yesterday. I hope the other au pairs will be more understandable now. XD
But I won't join them in church this friday anyhow, since Ted is coming over! He's only staying over the weekend, or well friday-monday but it feels encouraging.
And I got my pretty sister to promise she would visit me aswell!

You should come too.

I was gonna go shopping today. Had no time to do that yesterday since I finished reading the second book about Abarat. And then I had to hurry away to french class.
But today's been foggy and cold and I don't really feel like going out. I'm a bit low.
So after my huge and VERY pleasant breakfast I just sat here. And found out that there's been a new school shooting in Finland.
I've heard people expressing strong emotions about this, everybody wanna know why. I read /b/ and I'm not wondering. He was a lonely man, 22 years old and his interests were (according to his youtube account, which has been suspended in the last couple of hours): guns, beer, sex. I'm guessing it's the same old story. Bullied in school, felt powerful with his weapons (he had a walter 0.22 which he seemed proud of) wanted revenge, etc. Started dreaming about a bloody revenge.
Sure. This is nobody's fault (meaning, society and government's fault).
What he did is his responsability (I don't know if he's alive at this point, the raports are both vague and contradictional).
But it's all the people around him, what they did, and didn't do that encouraged him.
I know that blaming one single website is stupid, but they sadly enough encourage this in several ways, not only literally.
What do they want, those shooters? What is it they want to achieve?
A school with dead students? I suppose.
To kill those who teased them? Possible.

But why in that case go to school and randomly shoot at everybody? AND more importantly, why warn people the day before?

I can only come up with one reason. What they want to achieve is what (sadly enough) most people want:
Fame.

They are nobodies, growing up in Nobodysville, knowing that they will be nobodies for the rest of their lives. Unless they do something drastic. This is their way to go down in history, in some cases even tributed as heroes. This is their way to be remembered, and it's sick. It's desperate.
It reminds me of how boys usually tease the girl they like just to get her attention. "All publicity is good publicity". And so on.

I'm not sure I had a point with this but I felt like writing it down, my thoughts. I feel strongly about whenever people feed of other people's misfortune, either by crying their eyes out going: "my friend's brother's classmate once drove past the town where it happened and oh my god it could have been me" or by encouraging it, and inspire other people to do it. It's insulting for those who experience true loss (parents, friends of the murdered kids). But also do these vultures show those nobodies that crime really does pay off.

See? That finlandian nobody even made it to my blog, which is supposed to be about Brussels.

So. Busy weekend for once. Very pleasant. And a lot more social than the last one.

Friday night is au pair night. Second time I go, and I was really in the mood. Ate fancy dinner with the family before, drank some tasty wine and then headed of to church. I was an hour late, and thankfully (or maybe regretfully) missed out on a few of the silly games. I took part in one and then it was time to chill with scones and tea. Sat down next to the girl who lives in my area and the girls she's become friends with. Everyone was being nice, as always, but I didnt enjoy talking to them. They were discussing lipgloss, going to the gym (Friskis & Svettis, of all places) and trying to go through a week with no candy or snacks.
I nodded and tried to laugh at the right occasions, but felt unsuccessful.
Afterwards was the mandatory night out. All the girls get together and go somewhere. Once again we went to Celtica, the celtic place (no way, I thought it was italian?) with the cheap beer.
I had a good time, talked a little with everyone and danced and all. But. But without a "best friend" a girl gets lonely rather easily. I need closer friends or "friends". People I can call the day after too, maybe just to watch movies and eat cookies.
The girl in my area went home very early. People slowly started dropping off, and those I felt I could be myself with disappeared and reappeared an finally I felt like leaving too. Took the metro home and talked a bit to Ted before going to bed.

Saturday morning was sunny and warm. The family went out for a walk. I knew that today the Neighboor Girl (au pair living nearby) and her gang were gonna go shopping and later catch a movie. But I found out that this weekend was the Open House Day. Not really the official name, but it reveals its purpose.
This day means that most official buildings, of all sorts are open. And several museums are too, everything free of charge. I carefully chose 4 buildings I really wanted to see.
A library, a tower, a jugend building and ..tadaa! The freemasons temple here in Brussels. Very unexpected that they would open that up to the public.
I drew little maps (all four of them) on to a (single paper of) Postit, and headed out.
The library was only available to enter if you were a group, and I didnt want to wait around for others to come.
The jugend building (designed by Horta) had a huge line, and I didnt want to wait in that either.
I was close to Schuman, and close to Schuman is one of those Thriumph Archs. I thought I should see that one instead and headed that way.
When passing Berlaymont (where the European Comission has its headquarter) I took a few touristy pics of myself with the building. A woman passed and immedeatly offered to take a picture. And I accepted.

On my way to the Arch du Trioumph (now I'm just guessing random french) a duo of two men asked me to photograph them with the tall arch. I felt like being as nice as people are to me and did what they asked. After taking a few pics of the arch with my own camera I saw a guy looking rather confused and asked him to take a picture of me. He spoke english rather fluently and we started talking. He was working for some sort of embassy, for the Chechian republic (or how ever it's spelled). We talked for 30 mins or so without moving from the spot, and he asked where I was heading.
I showed him my postit and he didnt seem all that convinced. But when I mentioned the Freemasons temple he immedeatly lit up.
So we went there together.
He had appearantly done some research on them and told me plenty about them. He also spoke french, so he translated what the guides were saying.
There were signs saying "No photographing" but nobody objected when I once again lended my camera to my fellow wanderer, and he took pics of me in the grand master's chair. Pics will come soon, I promise!
I spent half a day with this man but not until we had to part was I told his name. Weird but pleasant.
I got home, watched some tv and drew a little and then went to bed.

Sunday, today, was interesting.
Bar round with my au pair family. They were paying. And this was in the afternoon.
Sunny as hell too. T shirt weather, really. Wore my Chewbacca tshirt and a skirt. And that was too much.
Discovered many nice places includig book/comic shops and cafes and bars.
Need sleep badly now
nighty!

(sorry for being slow with updating, busy week)

the arch                             and my nameless companion sitting in the seat of all seats.

Had my first french lesson today. Those of you who know me well will not be surprised to hear I was late. I had forgotten my application at home and had to run home and get it.
And also I couldn't find the right street. According to my map I should get closest by taking the metro to the station called Louise, walk out on Avenue Louise and turn right after Galerie Louise. But I couldn't find my avenue and had to walk for a while before I found my school. I found the room I was supposed to be in and sneaked in. I looked at the surprised faces looking back at me and the teacher made a gesture for me to quietly take a seat.
I did.
Some kind of self introduction game was combined with learning the (phonetic) alphabet.
The lessons are entirely held in french. While this might seem stupid (since none of us know it) consider the alternatives. Us students are from all over the world. French is all we got in common.
The girls to my left is from Poland and the girl to my right is from Bangladesh or something.
I'm probably top three youngest in the class room and the teacher looks like an older version of Sidney Fox from Relic Hunters. She's very nice too. A bit like Stephania, but I doubt this one will cry when someone says/sings "sage nein!".

After class I picked up the kids, took them home and prepared dinner. Cause Monday = Ravioli Day.
And for the first time, tonight I was completely alone with the kids from dinner and onwards. I had to bathe the youngest one and put both to bed. The youngest was trying to scream her lungs out when her mom went to a parental meeeting. I washed her, but as I dried her she surrendered and turned into atleast an empty shell of her true happy self. Hard to believe that a litle girl can hold so much power in her lungs.
Her brother helped out alot ansd as a reward I let him play computer games.
And after a hard day's work I reward myself with a bit of Internet myself.
Good night to you all.
Ps. I'm going to Sweden at the end of Octobe for sissy's birthday.. Just need to get tickets. And soon I'm off to London (woho, Camden Market and the Museum of Nature Science!)


me (looking like a koala) and berlaymont, the commission's headquarter

Cause I sure don't.
I've decided not to answer the family's phone. Cause it always ends with a very poor "Je.. suis.. the au pair.. Anna.. et non.. dans le maison..."
I want to truly apologize to those frenchspeaking people out there, sorry for brutally abusing your language. (But why on earth did you have to make it so difficult?)
However, my french lessons begins on monday, and I must admit I'm a bit excited. One of the girls from the swedish au pair meetings will be in my class, which is a relief. If she's better than me, she can explain. If not, I can feel good about myself.

I do feel a bit lonely, I guess. Not really feeling like going out with the girls I've met so far. I realise of course  that I don't know them well enough to judge them. But I'd rather hang with locals or something. Basically, I need friends. Only ones that talk to me are those who are (poorly) trying to pick me up, and they do it in french. (But "Mademoiselle!" does sound better than "Ey bruden!"

I discovered tiny pieces of the city today. Alone. I shopped alone and ate alone.
But to comfort me is the fact that everything fancy in this town has my name on it. Espace Louise, Avenue Louise, Galerie Louise, the praline Louise from Leonidas. I tell you, if Brussels was in Monopoly I'd be rich.

Anyway, there are those who keep my feet on the ground, mainly Ted and also Dida. They talk to me as if nothing happened and we discuss things and laugh. I need this, so, thank you. Keep showing me silly pictures and check in on me.
Also, I miss my friends. Their laughter and their faces when they act stupid. No, I'm not getting sentimental. "I just miss you, that's all" as Robyn sings. Her  "Blow my mind" is by the way today's song.

I got creative today, sitting in the highest room in the building with the sound of rain against the window panes, after the shopping tour in town. As some of you know I have three creative projects atm, a music video, a kids short story in the shape of a comic and a more adventurous comic, or perhaps even a graphic novel. The latter is my jewel, I wont finish it in years, but it's the one I'm most keen on doing. Still on writing basis though, putting the plot pieces together.
As a matter of fact, I think I'll go up and do some more concept art or writing until my exhausted body crawls into bed.
Nighty!

For all of you swedes sitting inside with rain outside your windows and a cup of hot tea in your frozen hands; This is for you.

Today it was 29°C outside. Sunny all day.

I was out for a quest: Shop for a pair of party/not-as-sweaty-as-sneakers shoes, and a pair of pants.

I have visited around 50 shops and around 20 of them sold shoes. I could not found ONE single pair I could consider buying, cause whenever I did find a decent pair, for a decent price, they would simply not have bigger sizes than 40. I got 41. Or so I thought until I went to H&M. The only pair of 41's I tried on were too small.
After hours after fruitless attempts, I bought a skirt.

Now I'm ever so tired. Off to sleep and I'll write more tomorrow.
coolest jacket ever, and that's the skirt I bought.