"I am going to February in Estonia"
D: "I don't want to buy waterproof walking shoes, I don't want to walk"
J: "The program is running!!!!"
D and C: "Why s it running, why is it not walking, you like walking more"
My housematesa mede a cake! It is good! Chocolate cake. I think I have eaten more than them.
Yesterday was a sister day. There was bus replacement for trains, she came in the afternoon, then went to work for 2h, came back in the evening to go to cinema. Lots of waiting adn walking for me, I did not know exactly when the bus will arrive and my phone battery was empty too, but waiting at the bus stop, she she arrived and we ran to the cinema. Or walked. She walks fast, I was struggling at times. Sister likeness!
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
some listening
Listening to Timo Lige's cantata "Creation" My favourite is"Maa ja meri" (Land and Sea), but others are good too. It is sang by school children from Kärdla, in Estonia.
And I went to see Narnia today, when I get time, I want to re-read the books. I recommend seeing this film, the end was soooo good.
"In your world I have a different name. You must learn to know me by that name." (Aslan)
Monday, 27 December 2010
Boxing Day
26th Dec, no boxing! it is a Sunday and woke up in the morning, went to church. But before, I had promised to wake up D with flute. She got a march! I walked alone, C was not well enough and D woke up too late to walk.
After church we went to pub with some people and after that to our house, ....
[some people drove but there was not enough space, so I said I will walk and R walked too. Or as others said, I walked, he ran. it was cold!
We had interesting conversation, why do women wear heels. Firstly, I wear heels at uni because it helps with back pain. Or maybe it is lots of (well-selected) exercise, I do not do some of the cruel classes any more). But I never wear heels to be taller. No I do not want to be taller. It is just nice to wear heels sometimes (especially if in this weather, I can only wear walking shoes/hiking boots outside. I went to shop to find boots other day, but they have no grip, this country does not have boots that are nice and have grip and I could wear with a skirt or dress. I actually don't care too much, I have worn a dress and walking boots on the street this month and just changed when entered a building, otherwise I could not have walked where I was going. The choice in shops is either nice boots with no pattern or hiking boots).
I do not want to be taller than anybody else, why would I? Would this mean that if I ever move to a non-Nordic country, I would always need to wear flat shoes because everybody else is shorter? Noooo!! I never have too high heels, just 3-5cm ....in fact I have exactly 10 pairs of shoes in total:
2 pairs of walking boots (one pair has a hole, so not waterproof)
2 pairs of trainers - one for sport, one for street
wellies
ice skates
black "work" shoes
black more formal high heel shoes
dancing shoes
sporty sandals
]
....
played games (jenga, Uno, brain builder), made some puff pastry squares and salad. E had texted me nad C to go to her house in the evening and "bring friends!" So I texted her, asking if is it OK to bring 5 additional people. Yes! At the end it was 3 additional, but still 5 instead of 2. We watched a film and played a word game. I am quite bad at this....name a character in the Bible starting with F.....Pharao....Philemon....no, the are all with P!
So in total I spent 14+ hours with nice people from church, none of which was planned yesterday (except the morning service). Good day.
Neighbours are having a party, I cannot sleep and listening to this:
After church we went to pub with some people and after that to our house, ....
[some people drove but there was not enough space, so I said I will walk and R walked too. Or as others said, I walked, he ran. it was cold!
We had interesting conversation, why do women wear heels. Firstly, I wear heels at uni because it helps with back pain. Or maybe it is lots of (well-selected) exercise, I do not do some of the cruel classes any more). But I never wear heels to be taller. No I do not want to be taller. It is just nice to wear heels sometimes (especially if in this weather, I can only wear walking shoes/hiking boots outside. I went to shop to find boots other day, but they have no grip, this country does not have boots that are nice and have grip and I could wear with a skirt or dress. I actually don't care too much, I have worn a dress and walking boots on the street this month and just changed when entered a building, otherwise I could not have walked where I was going. The choice in shops is either nice boots with no pattern or hiking boots).
I do not want to be taller than anybody else, why would I? Would this mean that if I ever move to a non-Nordic country, I would always need to wear flat shoes because everybody else is shorter? Noooo!! I never have too high heels, just 3-5cm ....in fact I have exactly 10 pairs of shoes in total:
2 pairs of walking boots (one pair has a hole, so not waterproof)
2 pairs of trainers - one for sport, one for street
wellies
ice skates
black "work" shoes
black more formal high heel shoes
dancing shoes
sporty sandals
]
....
played games (jenga, Uno, brain builder), made some puff pastry squares and salad. E had texted me nad C to go to her house in the evening and "bring friends!" So I texted her, asking if is it OK to bring 5 additional people. Yes! At the end it was 3 additional, but still 5 instead of 2. We watched a film and played a word game. I am quite bad at this....name a character in the Bible starting with F.....Pharao....Philemon....no, the are all with P!
So in total I spent 14+ hours with nice people from church, none of which was planned yesterday (except the morning service). Good day.
Neighbours are having a party, I cannot sleep and listening to this:
Christmas Day
Yesterday I woke up and started walking to the church. My flute was frozen, quite cold and when playing first song it had gone a lot warmer adn higher, so I missed the first verse, trying to tune.
C was still ill and 1h walk is not good, so she did not come to church in the morning. Chinese girls went to Chinese church. After I got back, we had a salad and sandwich lunch with C, lots of salad, while all other people in other places were eating too much turkey.
In the evening, the Chinese girls cooked some spicy pork and I cooked turkey soup form the stock we made a week ago and froze. We also took lots of pictures. Too many really and I cannot force myself to look at them and select good ones now. But overall, it was a lovely Christmas Day, just very sorry my sister could not join us.
C was still ill and 1h walk is not good, so she did not come to church in the morning. Chinese girls went to Chinese church. After I got back, we had a salad and sandwich lunch with C, lots of salad, while all other people in other places were eating too much turkey.
In the evening, the Chinese girls cooked some spicy pork and I cooked turkey soup form the stock we made a week ago and froze. We also took lots of pictures. Too many really and I cannot force myself to look at them and select good ones now. But overall, it was a lovely Christmas Day, just very sorry my sister could not join us.
Friday, 24 December 2010
Gingerbread without ginger
Piparkook or Pepper cake it is called! No ginger, but in England it is called gingerbread. I am making the dough now, last minute. Contains all other spices except ginger. Was fun adding hot boiling water to melted brownish hot sugar. I did not burn myself. Almost as good as making the honey cake and adding baking soda to hot honey (try making it if you haven't, it is quite interesting!).
Dough is ready and C cooked us nice pasta for lunch! Does anybody else want to come and stay with us and cook?
We ate it with the red pepper paste from the rainforest! Even C said it is very strong.
And we learnt to sing in Estonian "Issand leiba õnnista, ole ikka meiega, aamen".
D is cooking mushroom soup, looks like she is cooking for 20 people!
In Põltsamaa, my hometown, people are at church, it is 4pm, the first service. Crowded church and because it is so many people and I would not be there 30 min before, I would sit on the stairs on the second balcony.
Dough is ready and C cooked us nice pasta for lunch! Does anybody else want to come and stay with us and cook?
We ate it with the red pepper paste from the rainforest! Even C said it is very strong.
And we learnt to sing in Estonian "Issand leiba õnnista, ole ikka meiega, aamen".
D is cooking mushroom soup, looks like she is cooking for 20 people!
In Põltsamaa, my hometown, people are at church, it is 4pm, the first service. Crowded church and because it is so many people and I would not be there 30 min before, I would sit on the stairs on the second balcony.
New housemate
C is here, just for Christmas, she was alone in her house and came to live with us for a bit.
Topics ranged from how we became Christian, how we found the church we go to to more personal ones. Really personal. D said we never talk about such things, we just talk about bacteria, tonsils and mathematics. True. Or actually we just listen how E talks.
I like that C is here!!!
D can say "No" in a good Estonian accent, she keeps asking what I will do and if I say I will go for a walk and ask whether she will come too, she just says "NO", not in the English way, but like any other nationality would say it phonetically.
Topics ranged from how we became Christian, how we found the church we go to to more personal ones. Really personal. D said we never talk about such things, we just talk about bacteria, tonsils and mathematics. True. Or actually we just listen how E talks.
I like that C is here!!!
D can say "No" in a good Estonian accent, she keeps asking what I will do and if I say I will go for a walk and ask whether she will come too, she just says "NO", not in the English way, but like any other nationality would say it phonetically.
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
a long due post - our Christmas dinner!
Last Thirsday our house had a Christmas dinner. Us four and four guests - even within landlord's limits of maximum 8 people in the house!
Preparations started the day before with shopping and other girls making a gingerbread house while I was at uni.
We had to cook the turkey in C's oven because ours was not big enough - we only have a small top part working. C had promised to make a cake for dessert, but we only realised on the day that she cannot make it, she does not have any spac ein the oven. So we used all our chocolate in the house and made fresh chocolate brownies that went to the oven just when we got the main course out.
Starter was non-traditional too - puff pastry squares with three fillings.
Guests were lovely and the evening was good, thank you all, my housemates for preparing the meal and guest for visiting us. There were times when there was too many of us in the kitchen, no space and I thought "too many chefs spoil the soup". There were also moments like "What are you doing? should you do this? In my country ....." "But we can also do this, in my country......" D thought I need to put salt to parsnip when roasting them with honey. I would not put salt, but was not sure, resulting in a text sent to my English friend asking for advice. She said "No salt!!!" and I silently put no salt.
Fortunately everything worked out fine.
We had to cook the turkey in C's oven because ours was not big enough - we only have a small top part working. C had promised to make a cake for dessert, but we only realised on the day that she cannot make it, she does not have any spac ein the oven. So we used all our chocolate in the house and made fresh chocolate brownies that went to the oven just when we got the main course out.
Starter was non-traditional too - puff pastry squares with three fillings.
Guests were lovely and the evening was good, thank you all, my housemates for preparing the meal and guest for visiting us. There were times when there was too many of us in the kitchen, no space and I thought "too many chefs spoil the soup". There were also moments like "What are you doing? should you do this? In my country ....." "But we can also do this, in my country......" D thought I need to put salt to parsnip when roasting them with honey. I would not put salt, but was not sure, resulting in a text sent to my English friend asking for advice. She said "No salt!!!" and I silently put no salt.
Fortunately everything worked out fine.
Snow makes an Estonian happy!
I wanted to buy a sledge! After going to many shops a few days ago, none of them had sledges, but in one shop I was told I can buy from Northfield. Got on a bus today, quite late. Number 29 goes through many small streets and finally lots of people started getting off and there were shops, I thought this must be Northfield. It was not, it was Weoley Castle. No sledges there, I asked in a few shops and was recommended to go to Northfield. After some conversations in the bus stop (nobody knew what stop the bus will stop in, because it had been changed in this snow weather), I got to Northfield. Soon I found a sledge!!!
Waited for number 63 for a while and went to Rubery. Walk to Waseley Hills country park started. I was so happy when I finally got there that I fell and some gang of teenagers started laughing. I don't know whether they were laughing because the fall or because I continued to go to the hill, trhrough very deep snow. On the hill I had some tea and went down a smaller hill a few times. It was 7pm. I thought I had not visited my previous workplace recently, in fact I last visited at Easter. I used to work in a small Christian conference centre on Waseley Hills - spent my gap year there before university and returned for the summer between my first and second year. Walked to the house through deep snow (and used the sledge to go downhill), climbed over fences and sang very loudly. It is nobody there! I remember how I used to walk every day when I lived there. I missed the ath to the house! I could see it from the bushes, light were on, but missed the turning! Too much snow. Went back and got to the house. The door was open, but nobody came to open after I rang the bell. I saw the cat and talked to her. Outside the house I could see where the cat had walked. The light went on and I came from his house. I said "Hello I". He said hi, but looked puzzled. He did not recognise me. It would be quite impossible to recognise me, I was masked with a big hat-scarf! I said who I was and he said he did not recognise, although voice had been familiar.
Had some tea and stollen in the house. All volunteers had gone somewhere for holidays. I was given some clementines, quite funny, he does not know my love for citrus fruit or at least should not remember. There was a Christmas event planned for Monday but it had to be cancelled because the drive was not accessible. Really, the snow was higher than my boots.
When leaving, he said he won't insult me asking if I ma OK walking back over the hill. Of course, I did this all the time when I lived there. He said people the church might be worried, yes they were worried every time I told them I walk over the hill in early morning and late evening and almost every day.
At least I did not meet any cows. I had a torch but did not use it, snow and full moon were light enough and the lights of the village guided me.
Bus to Selly Oak and walk back to Harborne, today was a walking day.
In the daytime I wanted to find Cantarei ao Senhor from youtube, because I got a lovely Christmas card from a friend in Taize who organised 51 Estonians to go there last summer and this was my favourite song. I upload a non-official video, because it shows the band - I played there too and the same sister was conducting. Good memories.
So while looking for one song I found other and this is amazing!
Had there been somebody on the hills, they would have heard many Taize songs.
Conversation on the bus.
D: "My computer keeps shutting down, what should I do?"
J: "I will install Linux for you:)"
N: "No, then you will become a geek, next you will start watching Star Trek with E"
Waited for number 63 for a while and went to Rubery. Walk to Waseley Hills country park started. I was so happy when I finally got there that I fell and some gang of teenagers started laughing. I don't know whether they were laughing because the fall or because I continued to go to the hill, trhrough very deep snow. On the hill I had some tea and went down a smaller hill a few times. It was 7pm. I thought I had not visited my previous workplace recently, in fact I last visited at Easter. I used to work in a small Christian conference centre on Waseley Hills - spent my gap year there before university and returned for the summer between my first and second year. Walked to the house through deep snow (and used the sledge to go downhill), climbed over fences and sang very loudly. It is nobody there! I remember how I used to walk every day when I lived there. I missed the ath to the house! I could see it from the bushes, light were on, but missed the turning! Too much snow. Went back and got to the house. The door was open, but nobody came to open after I rang the bell. I saw the cat and talked to her. Outside the house I could see where the cat had walked. The light went on and I came from his house. I said "Hello I". He said hi, but looked puzzled. He did not recognise me. It would be quite impossible to recognise me, I was masked with a big hat-scarf! I said who I was and he said he did not recognise, although voice had been familiar.
Had some tea and stollen in the house. All volunteers had gone somewhere for holidays. I was given some clementines, quite funny, he does not know my love for citrus fruit or at least should not remember. There was a Christmas event planned for Monday but it had to be cancelled because the drive was not accessible. Really, the snow was higher than my boots.
When leaving, he said he won't insult me asking if I ma OK walking back over the hill. Of course, I did this all the time when I lived there. He said people the church might be worried, yes they were worried every time I told them I walk over the hill in early morning and late evening and almost every day.
At least I did not meet any cows. I had a torch but did not use it, snow and full moon were light enough and the lights of the village guided me.
Bus to Selly Oak and walk back to Harborne, today was a walking day.
In the daytime I wanted to find Cantarei ao Senhor from youtube, because I got a lovely Christmas card from a friend in Taize who organised 51 Estonians to go there last summer and this was my favourite song. I upload a non-official video, because it shows the band - I played there too and the same sister was conducting. Good memories.
So while looking for one song I found other and this is amazing!
Conversation on the bus.
D: "My computer keeps shutting down, what should I do?"
J: "I will install Linux for you:)"
N: "No, then you will become a geek, next you will start watching Star Trek with E"
niuniuniu
Everybody is afraid of snow and nobody wants to go outside:(
But I found somebody who wants to walk 200km with me in the summer!!! Anybody else?
But I found somebody who wants to walk 200km with me in the summer!!! Anybody else?
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
snow again and traffic
We went skating again, 11 people said they would join us, but this was before it started snowing again. Me, my sister and one L decided to go despite the weather, because if Estonians do not skate because it is snowing, we could not be Estonians! And the ice rink is insode.
In the evening, 18.30 it was still showing that trains between 15 anfd 16 are delayed. We got on a train tat was going to Nottingham, but this does not stop at Selly Oak and we thought our friends form there cannot come. They got a train! And somebody else drove and two other friends arrived a bit later. One of them was very good skater. Caming back, we did not wait for too long, only a bit and it was warm (because the train was there, just had some problems). N was coming from London today and her train was terminated in Northampton. E's flight was delayed too.
In the evening, 18.30 it was still showing that trains between 15 anfd 16 are delayed. We got on a train tat was going to Nottingham, but this does not stop at Selly Oak and we thought our friends form there cannot come. They got a train! And somebody else drove and two other friends arrived a bit later. One of them was very good skater. Caming back, we did not wait for too long, only a bit and it was warm (because the train was there, just had some problems). N was coming from London today and her train was terminated in Northampton. E's flight was delayed too.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
frozen shoes
This morning we started to walk at 9.30 and were not late! Or course, I had to tell D all the time to keep walking while I take a picture. Much fun going through snow, clean snow, no salt or grit!
Family carol service was good and after some tea and mince pie, me, J, D, R and C started to walk to D and V's house for a meal. 5km through snow. Beginning was good, we had some snow fights and just threw snow at each other's scarves and face, we looked lie snowmen. I also walked in deep snow, not where somebody had walked before and I was covered in snow un to knees (yes I was clever in the morning and wore a dress, so only leg warmers had snow on them.
Me, J and R walk fast and small non-Europeans walk slowly (although R is also non-European). So sowly that we lost them (they wer ealso taking pictures). Waiting and waiting and J helping cars who could not move, they finally called us and said they had taken a wrong road (snow?).
Arriving at the house, leg warmers and shoes off and had a lovely meal. It finished at 4 and I already thought I have to walk back, because I had to be at practice at 5. But D said he will give me lift. So we played some carols and other songs, C on piano and me on flute. Got flute quite warm and lift to the church, meaning I did not have to start with a frozen flute.
A bit of practice and then we had a carol service in candle light. I still miss the crowdedness at the carol service in the church I used to go to in Estonia.
Mulled wine and some chat and planning tomorrow's skating, J gave me and D lift home. Of course my shoes had defrosted in D and V's house and at church I wore black shoes, but on the way home they started freezing again, not pleasant.
Snow is fun, white powder! This is my favourite, good temperature, no watery sleet on the road, just the shiny crystals of white fluffy snow.
*all pictures taken by JV.
PS! E has kind of persuaded me to do something sporty next summer. I Do NOT walk fast! 6km/h is normal speed in a hurry.
Family carol service was good and after some tea and mince pie, me, J, D, R and C started to walk to D and V's house for a meal. 5km through snow. Beginning was good, we had some snow fights and just threw snow at each other's scarves and face, we looked lie snowmen. I also walked in deep snow, not where somebody had walked before and I was covered in snow un to knees (yes I was clever in the morning and wore a dress, so only leg warmers had snow on them.
Me, J and R walk fast and small non-Europeans walk slowly (although R is also non-European). So sowly that we lost them (they wer ealso taking pictures). Waiting and waiting and J helping cars who could not move, they finally called us and said they had taken a wrong road (snow?).
Arriving at the house, leg warmers and shoes off and had a lovely meal. It finished at 4 and I already thought I have to walk back, because I had to be at practice at 5. But D said he will give me lift. So we played some carols and other songs, C on piano and me on flute. Got flute quite warm and lift to the church, meaning I did not have to start with a frozen flute.
A bit of practice and then we had a carol service in candle light. I still miss the crowdedness at the carol service in the church I used to go to in Estonia.
Mulled wine and some chat and planning tomorrow's skating, J gave me and D lift home. Of course my shoes had defrosted in D and V's house and at church I wore black shoes, but on the way home they started freezing again, not pleasant.
*all pictures taken by JV.
PS! E has kind of persuaded me to do something sporty next summer. I Do NOT walk fast! 6km/h is normal speed in a hurry.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Snoooooow!
My train was only a bit delayed, but traffic is crazy, not many cars and the ones who are brave or stupid enough to go out are spinning their wheels on the hilly roads with no grit or sand. Normal weather, nice, but it ogt a lot funnier when we watched the news. "No traffic means no shopping" said somebody there. It is supposedly the most important Saturday before Christmas (lots of shopping). Christmas is not about shopping anyway.
Train back was delayed a lot and I had fun in the station waiting, as seen in the video.
And I saw a snow clearing machine! In front of the hospital building!
OK, people cannot go shopping, but we were just discussing how long it will take to go to church tomorrow. I walk fast and walking boots that were good in rainy hills in Scotland and good for climbing on stones in a stream in the rainforest are good in snow too! D walks slower on clear roads, but how long will it take tomorrow if we are walking together? I wish I had the "Finnish sleigh", it would be really fast because there is no grit on the roads. Even a normal sleigh would be good.
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
How to find my blog?
E and N tried googling "ice skating, walking, church, rainforest" and their names and did not find it!
Today I came home early, to find E, N and D making a gingerbread house. Actually I knew about it before, because they cannot keep a secret and posted it on facebook and while I was on my walk home, I was on facebook.
Crying has its good sides too.
I have not cycled for a month now, it is quite good, I can listen to music. I cannot listen to music while cycling on busy roads because it might be dangerous, especially if the music is good.
Now we watched a movie, a christmassy one.
We found a strange thing in the kitchen, I said it might be a melted wine gum and D said it is hers. It was fungus! A Chinese one, soaked. Not from the soup, but for frying. We decorated some gingerbread and one moose broke its leg, so now it has a white plaster.
Today I came home early, to find E, N and D making a gingerbread house. Actually I knew about it before, because they cannot keep a secret and posted it on facebook and while I was on my walk home, I was on facebook.
Crying has its good sides too.
I have not cycled for a month now, it is quite good, I can listen to music. I cannot listen to music while cycling on busy roads because it might be dangerous, especially if the music is good.
Now we watched a movie, a christmassy one.
We found a strange thing in the kitchen, I said it might be a melted wine gum and D said it is hers. It was fungus! A Chinese one, soaked. Not from the soup, but for frying. We decorated some gingerbread and one moose broke its leg, so now it has a white plaster.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
giant turkey and eye balls
The turkey is defrosting, but we have discovered it does not fit in the oven, We only have the top pat of the oven working, the small one. Larger one does not work, So we have asked C if we can go and cook it in her oven!
Starter will no non-British and desserts too. I asked if D can make some rice things with beans, she could not and had no time, but bought them. Delicious. Only N thought they look like eye balls.
It is rainy again and I am starting to feel under the weather. Hopefully it is just the weather, I really dislike the rain.
Somebody just asked how long I am going to stay in the UK and I said 4 years. Four more winters without snow, but at least I can occasionally visit the fridge and go skating.
Yesterday E lent me a book that she thinks is really good and I might like it. I started reading and saw related things in my dreams, but I was a character too. This made me very tired in the morning.
What is your favourite fairytale? (topic for next post!)
Starter will no non-British and desserts too. I asked if D can make some rice things with beans, she could not and had no time, but bought them. Delicious. Only N thought they look like eye balls.
It is rainy again and I am starting to feel under the weather. Hopefully it is just the weather, I really dislike the rain.
Somebody just asked how long I am going to stay in the UK and I said 4 years. Four more winters without snow, but at least I can occasionally visit the fridge and go skating.
Yesterday E lent me a book that she thinks is really good and I might like it. I started reading and saw related things in my dreams, but I was a character too. This made me very tired in the morning.
What is your favourite fairytale? (topic for next post!)
Monday, 13 December 2010
how unorganised people plan a meal
"D, C, N and you can sit ont the sofa, then we can fit 4 people there" said E. We have 14 seats lalalalaaa!
Yes, we are going to cook turkey on Thursday and sprouts and stuffing. But definitely no Christmas pudding.
Today D said she has eaten too many ipods. And now outside, waiting for some falling meteors (poor girl does not realise we are in foggy England!
No pictures, yesterday's S+ pictures were all foggy.
"Waitrose does not sell alcohol to foreigners" "But I have UK driving licence and N is English" "Oh good then". How stupid, they only accept UK documents, we can come to the UK with an ID card and cannot check in a hotel (happaned to me) or buy wine in certain places.
"X will have games, he is British. They like playing board games" after discussing what games to play. "After all, he is the only British we are inviting" Oops, N is British and her friends.
Yes, we are going to cook turkey on Thursday and sprouts and stuffing. But definitely no Christmas pudding.
Today D said she has eaten too many ipods. And now outside, waiting for some falling meteors (poor girl does not realise we are in foggy England!
No pictures, yesterday's S+ pictures were all foggy.
"Waitrose does not sell alcohol to foreigners" "But I have UK driving licence and N is English" "Oh good then". How stupid, they only accept UK documents, we can come to the UK with an ID card and cannot check in a hotel (happaned to me) or buy wine in certain places.
"X will have games, he is British. They like playing board games" after discussing what games to play. "After all, he is the only British we are inviting" Oops, N is British and her friends.
Saturday, 11 December 2010
200km
D was bored yesterday and made sushi for all of us! very delicious.
Does anybody want to walk 200km with me next summer? D said "no way".
Otherwise, today is a programming day and evening will be J's birthday.
D asked whether I will cut my hair short some time. Good timing, I think of it every day. Probably yes, because yesterday I spent more than 1h brushing it (morning and evening), too much sun last summer and too blond.
Does anybody want to walk 200km with me next summer? D said "no way".
Otherwise, today is a programming day and evening will be J's birthday.
D asked whether I will cut my hair short some time. Good timing, I think of it every day. Probably yes, because yesterday I spent more than 1h brushing it (morning and evening), too much sun last summer and too blond.
Friday, 10 December 2010
in love
I said I will not write about personal things, but I hope bacteria do not mind. I love bacteria. Genes and their regulation are just so beautiful. Previously, I have thought some algorithm is beautiful, but bacteria are so much more.
These are nice days, when I realise how much I like what I do.
These are nice days, when I realise how much I like what I do.
Thursday, 9 December 2010
skating
Ja tried to teach me some sharp turns and braking, because I break like a girl and instead of a sharp turn, it is more natural for me to go into a spin. I will learn.
We stayed from 19.30 to the close, 22.00. When they said that it is final 10 minutes, I felt like I have to skate and skate and skate. Hopefully next time is soon, my sister has promised to come skating.
Skating is so good, going round and round. It is actually quite painful at the moment, especially standing, but while skating, it kind of disappears. I do have quite big blisters, so tomorrow is a no heels day. oops, I have a step aerobics in the morning, this will be fun, I need to tape me feet before.
I just had to use R (the statistical language) when making a cake. Firstly, it is convenient, secondly, I do not know where other calculators are in the computer's menu.
"if a woman cannot climb, they should not go climbing", said my friend, when a man was offering help. Does this apply to "if you can't open door yourself, you should not go through doors?" and "if you cannot carry your bag yourself, you should not have so many things". I hope not. I hope if somebody helps me, they help not because I am weak, but because they want to help.
electricity
It is so cold and dry, that this morning I could feel the static electricity in my jumper. It does not feel cold, this evening I had to check the temperature before saying it was warm. -3
In the morning I managed to scare E without intending to. I thought nobody was home, D definitely left and then I heard somebody downstairs and said "Good morning" quite suddenly. She thought she was home alone!
Landlord sent us a message about cold weather. We thought whether to be mean or not and text back "Thank you, as Estonian and Hungarian women, we know what to do in cold weather" and give him some extra recommendations.
In the morning I managed to scare E without intending to. I thought nobody was home, D definitely left and then I heard somebody downstairs and said "Good morning" quite suddenly. She thought she was home alone!
Landlord sent us a message about cold weather. We thought whether to be mean or not and text back "Thank you, as Estonian and Hungarian women, we know what to do in cold weather" and give him some extra recommendations.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
walk
I need a long walk somewhere not in town. In the morning I thought I will go and walk along the canal early tomorrow. It is still town, but the canal is frozen and quite nice.
Love, love, love the weather and England, now just need some snow and skating.
Yesterday evening after Globe D asked whether I am going to play flute or do exercise at night. What strange thoughts, last time of late night exercise goes back to the BC days, how I miss them, going for a walk on the hills in dark.
Listening to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iv17xqfBr0&feature=related
Love, love, love the weather and England, now just need some snow and skating.
Yesterday evening after Globe D asked whether I am going to play flute or do exercise at night. What strange thoughts, last time of late night exercise goes back to the BC days, how I miss them, going for a walk on the hills in dark.
Listening to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iv17xqfBr0&feature=related
Monday, 6 December 2010
carols
Sunday, 5 December 2010
the Great British fog...
This morning, the roads were very slippery and I did not trust the buses, so started to walk to church, being unorganised as recently often happens (too cold to cycle and my timetable is not yet adjusted to walking), I had to almost run. I should really start timing myself, it is exactly 5km. Because I was away all day yesterday and Friday, I did not have any food to take to church lunch and had to go through Sainsburys. On the High Street I met L, who was also going to church and was getting a lift with J and C and there was space! We went to their flat and had a cup of tea! Much better than running on slippery roads.
In the morning I thought D is not coming to church, she appeared to be sleeping, but I got a text from her, asking if I ma going (of course my phone was silent, so I got is a few minutes later). She came by bus.
After the service we had church lunch! And then rehearsal for tomorrow's Globe Cafe, where we are playing carols with almost international band, people from Indonesia, Slovakia, Estonia, Oman and England!
Because there was no point walking back home and then back (1+1 hours), we went for a walk to the city centre with J and J. Walk along the canals, very slippery. There seemed not to be many people, I guess they were all at the market.
Back at 4.30, I was playing int he evening too and had a practice at 5. Good songs, really enjoyed today!
In Student Plus we looked at Mark chapter 6 today, very encouraging learning about how good King is Jesus! And listening to what God has done in some people's lives.
Also, after that I got a message that made me happy! A message in response to something I sent a few months ago!
Yesterday at the ball, somebody told me they are from Moscow. I feel really bad that all my Russian has gone, but I told her in Russian that I am from Estonia. I left home at 10am yesterday and got back after 1am, during the day there were workshops and in the evening, black tie ball in the Great Hall of Birmingham University.
On Friday, I went to 8th floor's Christmas party in Chinatown.
Last week, there was a story on BBC about some poll that found out that Estonians are the most atheist people in the world, 16% believe consider themselves to be religious (and how much of them are Christians?). What a privilege it is to know a a busful of young Estonian Christians and a few extra who did not come on the most amazing trip.
Baby monkey! Yes, somebody was singing this today.
How to be more organised? Today I had many things, but tomorrow will be worse: sports clothes (luckily no trainers on a Monday morning!), laptop, camera, flute, shoes plus some small things. I'd better go and iron osmething now or I will regret this at 6am. Better go to sleep soon.
Friday, 3 December 2010
carols and snowfight
Today I got two texts during work: from D that she is not coming to the carol service and from A, asking whether I am going. I was going and so we went and there was a full row of people from the church. After this we had a snow fight outside, was fun, but also I learnt that more snow I throw at other people, the more will come to me!
After discussing whether to go to pub in Harborne or Selly Oak (Harborne almost won!), we went to Gunbarrels instead, as it is close to uni and only 30 min walk home for me. I met some Chinese people, who did not know what is Estonia and their dictionary gave them two answers, one in East Russia!
Got home and asked D where she thinks I am from and she also thought I am from East Russia! She also thought my Hungarian housemate is from Portugal.
They tried to scare me as I entered the house. I saw D running past the door. She was not in her room, living room or kitchen, not on the stairs, so I thought she might be in the bathroom. No, the door is open, the only possibilit was behind my door! Yes. Unsuccessful attempt to scare me!
But then they put a black thing (animal?) on the door and managed to scare me.
At least D gave me some pasta sauce. Chinese? No, Italian said she. A friend had tought her. OK, I can also cook one Chinese meal and it is the one she taught me.
While eating , there was a stupid comedy on TV.
I am quite happy for some reason.
Would you rather.......
go to hairdresser on a Saturday morning to cut fringe and spend £11 plus waste 2h of time (walking there and back too) and don't be happy about the result (like last time)
Cut your fringe yourself in the evening at home and go skating instead (when time gap appears in the daily plan some evening) and the result is random enough. It's just a fringe and will grow back if I am not skilled enough. And I can use hair clips to hide. Ok I am quite happy, no hiding. It is a bit strange.
After discussing whether to go to pub in Harborne or Selly Oak (Harborne almost won!), we went to Gunbarrels instead, as it is close to uni and only 30 min walk home for me. I met some Chinese people, who did not know what is Estonia and their dictionary gave them two answers, one in East Russia!
Got home and asked D where she thinks I am from and she also thought I am from East Russia! She also thought my Hungarian housemate is from Portugal.
They tried to scare me as I entered the house. I saw D running past the door. She was not in her room, living room or kitchen, not on the stairs, so I thought she might be in the bathroom. No, the door is open, the only possibilit was behind my door! Yes. Unsuccessful attempt to scare me!
But then they put a black thing (animal?) on the door and managed to scare me.
At least D gave me some pasta sauce. Chinese? No, Italian said she. A friend had tought her. OK, I can also cook one Chinese meal and it is the one she taught me.
While eating , there was a stupid comedy on TV.
I am quite happy for some reason.
Would you rather.......
go to hairdresser on a Saturday morning to cut fringe and spend £11 plus waste 2h of time (walking there and back too) and don't be happy about the result (like last time)
Cut your fringe yourself in the evening at home and go skating instead (when time gap appears in the daily plan some evening) and the result is random enough. It's just a fringe and will grow back if I am not skilled enough. And I can use hair clips to hide. Ok I am quite happy, no hiding. It is a bit strange.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
strange
Still some snow, nice cold (or not really, I always preferred below -5 at home). This morning I saw somebody falling over. Not important, this happens, especially because there is no grit on pavements here and nobody clears them. But the person was looking around and then just started laughing.
Before salsa I was checking twitter, just because I had some time....and somebody tweeted about an article that I wanted to read, based on the title. Opened the abstract and saw that all the authors are Estonian. Estonians I have never heard of. Because there was only provisional pdf, I could not easily see the institution on the phone. Opened computer and yes, they were from Tallinn. Cool. Salsa was not salsa today, was cha-cha instead. After walking home and listening E's bad day and failed experiment, I started cleaning my room, thought I would clean the room first and then read the article. Half way through I had to read it, I was quite bored of cleaning. Now it is read and the other half is clean too. Listening to Nils Landgren, I thought I cannot go to sleep without writing.
S is still here (actually in Redditch with my sis), in addition to planes not flying, bus did not go to London today either. At least she has a holiday. Redditch compared to her home, can't quite compare.
Before salsa I was checking twitter, just because I had some time....and somebody tweeted about an article that I wanted to read, based on the title. Opened the abstract and saw that all the authors are Estonian. Estonians I have never heard of. Because there was only provisional pdf, I could not easily see the institution on the phone. Opened computer and yes, they were from Tallinn. Cool. Salsa was not salsa today, was cha-cha instead. After walking home and listening E's bad day and failed experiment, I started cleaning my room, thought I would clean the room first and then read the article. Half way through I had to read it, I was quite bored of cleaning. Now it is read and the other half is clean too. Listening to Nils Landgren, I thought I cannot go to sleep without writing.
S is still here (actually in Redditch with my sis), in addition to planes not flying, bus did not go to London today either. At least she has a holiday. Redditch compared to her home, can't quite compare.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
perfect day, I am still ice and cold-loving Estonian
In addition to snow, today was also special because there is an ice rink in Birmingham now! It opened today and me, D, E, C and S went to skate. S is my cousin who was going to fly to Estonia, but her flight was cancelled (and this made some relatives angry, to be angry because of a plane?). S had visited my sister during the day, but she had a Spanish lesson this evening, so she left S with me and because I had a plan to go skating, she came with us.
At the beginning I felt like a goat on slippey ice (nagu kits libedal jaal), but then it went better. I had not skated for 2 years, after falling painfully. I realised I can only turn one way, because in ice rinks there is normally a direction.
Ice rink is good, but it is a bit too expensive. £9 with own skates and £9 with skate hire. Solihull is much cheaper, but it is trouble getting there. At least they should have some student discount of discount if I have own skates.
Lockers are small, very small, so small that a rucksack and winter coat do not fit there together, and of course not boots (not aproblem if you rent skates, as your shoes will be put into their shelves).
What a feeling of fast movement on the ice. There were only 5 people, us, and occasionally, some of the staff skated.
Everybody who went today said they are going back!
Unfortunately there is not much snow. It was promising heavy snow for this evening, so that D was worried that it is too heavy to come back from skating. Nooooo! Snow is good. I hope somebody else is happy about the snow too:)
Monday, 29 November 2010
cold
This morning was fantastic, walk to uni before 7 in quite cold weather (it was not actually cold, just about 0). how I like walking, I relised this in the evening when walking back, remembering school days when I felt so good at the end of the year to walk instead of cycling, because I was not in a hurry.
And I ma super excited about something happening tomorrow, for now it is a secret.
When I strarted walking back from uni, I phoned E to ask if she is walking, but she was already on the bus. This meant they almost managed to scare me when I got into the house, I anticipated E scaring me and she was there, but did not think that D could also be somewhere, yes she was n the stairs.
And I ma super excited about something happening tomorrow, for now it is a secret.
When I strarted walking back from uni, I phoned E to ask if she is walking, but she was already on the bus. This meant they almost managed to scare me when I got into the house, I anticipated E scaring me and she was there, but did not think that D could also be somewhere, yes she was n the stairs.
snow!
Finally, it is freezing and we have some snow. Nice! Not much, but at least all the mud is frozen! I went to take out rubbish and it felt like in Estonia.
I went to the city centre today. Unfortunately, I left quite late and wasted even more time waiting for the bus for 45 minutes, it finally came, the bus that is supposed to come twice in hour. Blame the weather, I could have walked in 1 hour.
Going to church for 6, went to get on the 5.15 train from New street, but it was too full. Walk or wait for the next train (5.45), almost decided to wait, but I would have been late, same with walking. Decided to walk, even though I knew going through the Christmas masket is pain. On Broad street, I saw bus number 29 and started to run. In the first bus stop it was just closing the doors when I got there, but because traffic was slow, I was on time for the next stop (can't beliave I run from one bus stop to other faster than bus, this tells a lot about the speed of traffic).
Got to church on time. D too. And she stayed for Student plus, for the first time. Now I am really going to sleep, have Body Positive in the morning, 7.30 and I have to walk there, 6.45 I guess. Fun times with freezing weather and cold!
I did not really write much last week, I guess I was walking and walking and walking, because I cannot cycle in this weather. There is no sand or salt, at least I haven't seen.
Aaaaa, I remember, I had a strange trip to a far away place on Friday evening, involving 3 trains there 3 trains back, plus walking in the dark with OVI maps, but it was a bit frightening, so I am not telling. I am not going there again. It was part of Birmingham.
I went to the city centre today. Unfortunately, I left quite late and wasted even more time waiting for the bus for 45 minutes, it finally came, the bus that is supposed to come twice in hour. Blame the weather, I could have walked in 1 hour.
Going to church for 6, went to get on the 5.15 train from New street, but it was too full. Walk or wait for the next train (5.45), almost decided to wait, but I would have been late, same with walking. Decided to walk, even though I knew going through the Christmas masket is pain. On Broad street, I saw bus number 29 and started to run. In the first bus stop it was just closing the doors when I got there, but because traffic was slow, I was on time for the next stop (can't beliave I run from one bus stop to other faster than bus, this tells a lot about the speed of traffic).
Got to church on time. D too. And she stayed for Student plus, for the first time. Now I am really going to sleep, have Body Positive in the morning, 7.30 and I have to walk there, 6.45 I guess. Fun times with freezing weather and cold!
I did not really write much last week, I guess I was walking and walking and walking, because I cannot cycle in this weather. There is no sand or salt, at least I haven't seen.
Aaaaa, I remember, I had a strange trip to a far away place on Friday evening, involving 3 trains there 3 trains back, plus walking in the dark with OVI maps, but it was a bit frightening, so I am not telling. I am not going there again. It was part of Birmingham.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
last few days
Monday evening was funny. We wanted D to go to sleep so that we can decorate the living room, but she kept coming there and even wanted to play some games. We managed to refuse! Decorating birthday cake in N's room, she came to ask wht we were doing there. Just chatting, avoiding her.
In the morning we put 24 balloons in the living room and I started playing the flute behid her door, other ready with party poppers for when she opens her door. One song finished, start again. Finish, next song. Is she ever waking up? Finally!
We ate cake and drank tea. She said she thought I was practising because I might play at church soon. I have never practised at 7 am in this house!
In the evening we went to the cinema, to see Harry Potter. I did not like it and wold not see it again. Do not know why. I have enjoyed some films based on a book before, even many times and ould watch them again. Maybe the film was just too dark and serious.
Today, on Wednesday, I was wearing a belt of Estonian folk costume and 3 people asked where did I buy it from and that they like it!
It is very cold and it is promising snow for the morning! lets hope for a nice cold day!
I am not saying anything, I should not, because I keep saying wrong things.
N: "It is freezing"
me: "Yes, it is promising snow for next year"
In the morning we put 24 balloons in the living room and I started playing the flute behid her door, other ready with party poppers for when she opens her door. One song finished, start again. Finish, next song. Is she ever waking up? Finally!
We ate cake and drank tea. She said she thought I was practising because I might play at church soon. I have never practised at 7 am in this house!
In the evening we went to the cinema, to see Harry Potter. I did not like it and wold not see it again. Do not know why. I have enjoyed some films based on a book before, even many times and ould watch them again. Maybe the film was just too dark and serious.
Today, on Wednesday, I was wearing a belt of Estonian folk costume and 3 people asked where did I buy it from and that they like it!
It is very cold and it is promising snow for the morning! lets hope for a nice cold day!
I am not saying anything, I should not, because I keep saying wrong things.
N: "It is freezing"
Monday, 22 November 2010
Wagner and cancelled show
This evening I am leading the funny quotations table, sadly. I seem not to be able to say anything in good English, everything turns out funny.
Somebody told today how much they enjoy Wagner. I thought maybe they have bene to a concert, but this evening my housemates wer ealso telling something about Wagner and it I was informed it is somebody on X-factor.
Yesterday we played Indiaca in the afternoon and just before going to church I hit my nose with the Indiaca, making it bleed. It was quite funny.
BBC was promising snow for Thursday, but not it is just drizzle and fog. How sad.
"The show has been cancelled"
Somebody told today how much they enjoy Wagner. I thought maybe they have bene to a concert, but this evening my housemates wer ealso telling something about Wagner and it I was informed it is somebody on X-factor.
Yesterday we played Indiaca in the afternoon and just before going to church I hit my nose with the Indiaca, making it bleed. It was quite funny.
BBC was promising snow for Thursday, but not it is just drizzle and fog. How sad.
"The show has been cancelled"
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Nils Landgren and BBC Big Band in Birmingham
This evening brought us some wonderful music. Me and E went to the town hall to see Nils Landgren and his band and BBC Big Band perform. It was super! I have not been to a good concert for long time, this was an excellent evening. Marvellous flute solo there too, together with unbelievably awesome trumpet and sax solos and of course the trombone! Amazing, amazing, amazing!
Finally good to live with somebody who likes same music as me! (or is it the fact that she would not listen to rap and American folk music, but most other things are OK).
To our surprise we met some other people that we know in the town hall (actually there was 5 of them!)
Other than that it has been a very foggy day, like sauna, but without heat. Humid like the rainforest, again, the cold version.
Finally good to live with somebody who likes same music as me! (or is it the fact that she would not listen to rap and American folk music, but most other things are OK).
To our surprise we met some other people that we know in the town hall (actually there was 5 of them!)
Other than that it has been a very foggy day, like sauna, but without heat. Humid like the rainforest, again, the cold version.
Thursday, 18 November 2010
potato!
One day I cooked some potato thing and did not have any onions, but while cooking, somebody came to the kitchen, behind me and I happily said "potatoes!!!!". They said "yes" and then I relised it was not my Chinese housemate D, but the English one N. D used to ask me every day whether I had eaten a potato that day and whether we have a potato machine.
Today I walked a lot. To uni, back,.......
[shhhhh nobody was home, so I annoyed the neighbours a bit and played the flute:) a bit too much, so foodshopping had to wait and I did not eat before I went shopping because I had no food]
........
then to Saisburys to buy some food, a full rucksack of food. Now making some winter vegetables and fish. Jee it is ready soon. E thought she was still hungry and although I said she can eat, she was worried that I will starve at uni tomorrow. So I dished out what I need tomorrow and she ate the rest.
I was vaguely organised today, during lunchtime went to send a letter, a paper one (but it is actually quite boring).
Yesterday after salsa I went home E told me I have to go to sleep! I did so, but instead of sleepign I was counting sheep, bacteria and thought about some lines on a graph, but nothing made me sleepy. After 2 hours I checked facebook on my phone ad saw that there is lots of snow in Estonia. I guess today it was mud, about same as here. D went on a field trip, borrowed my wellies. On my way home I thought of how she said one day "can I borrow your wellies, I am going on campus tomorrow?" and we all laughed. Now it is not funny, it is true, I would need wellies to go to the campus (or start cycling again)
Today A said she has lost some weight. I think have too, since the beginning of the summer maybe, but I haven't weighed myself. I do not really need to go to cardio classes I guess, I walk sooooo much these days. but it is fun.
I am still to go and find a geocache. After my stats test on Monday. And after the other stats test, I will go to uni carols in the Great Hall! The stats exam is quite scary, today I was reading the sample questions and actuallly had to open a dictionary because I had not heard one word before. it wasn't a stats word, This does not happen often that I don't know a word, my English has reached a level and standing there, not going anywhere:( And most of my friends are non-native speakers too.
Today I walked a lot. To uni, back,.......
[shhhhh nobody was home, so I annoyed the neighbours a bit and played the flute:) a bit too much, so foodshopping had to wait and I did not eat before I went shopping because I had no food]
........
then to Saisburys to buy some food, a full rucksack of food. Now making some winter vegetables and fish. Jee it is ready soon. E thought she was still hungry and although I said she can eat, she was worried that I will starve at uni tomorrow. So I dished out what I need tomorrow and she ate the rest.
I was vaguely organised today, during lunchtime went to send a letter, a paper one (but it is actually quite boring).
Yesterday after salsa I went home E told me I have to go to sleep! I did so, but instead of sleepign I was counting sheep, bacteria and thought about some lines on a graph, but nothing made me sleepy. After 2 hours I checked facebook on my phone ad saw that there is lots of snow in Estonia. I guess today it was mud, about same as here. D went on a field trip, borrowed my wellies. On my way home I thought of how she said one day "can I borrow your wellies, I am going on campus tomorrow?" and we all laughed. Now it is not funny, it is true, I would need wellies to go to the campus (or start cycling again)
Today A said she has lost some weight. I think have too, since the beginning of the summer maybe, but I haven't weighed myself. I do not really need to go to cardio classes I guess, I walk sooooo much these days. but it is fun.
I am still to go and find a geocache. After my stats test on Monday. And after the other stats test, I will go to uni carols in the Great Hall! The stats exam is quite scary, today I was reading the sample questions and actuallly had to open a dictionary because I had not heard one word before. it wasn't a stats word, This does not happen often that I don't know a word, my English has reached a level and standing there, not going anywhere:( And most of my friends are non-native speakers too.
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
why does the mud not freeze!
One day of walking, because I can't cycle, it was quite strange. I keep singing when walking or cycling, D thinks it is weird. She asked if I was superhappy yesterday that I sang. No. or maybe. Not unhappy!
This morning I did not do any exercise, just could not leave home 6.45. And then time just goes and goes and by the time I have shower it is too late! Late late. I shall take my camera and walk to uni superslowly in the morning, taking pictures of the fog. I am not a morning person really, I just force myself, because if I wake up at 6 and og to the office at 9 after exercise, I am very awake. If I wake up at 8 and go to office at 9, I am sleepy.
M told thet yesterday there was a song in Estonian in the evening prayer in Taize!!!!!!!!!! How I miss that place. or not the place, but people.
I have the best housemates.
This morning I did not do any exercise, just could not leave home 6.45. And then time just goes and goes and by the time I have shower it is too late! Late late. I shall take my camera and walk to uni superslowly in the morning, taking pictures of the fog. I am not a morning person really, I just force myself, because if I wake up at 6 and og to the office at 9 after exercise, I am very awake. If I wake up at 8 and go to office at 9, I am sleepy.
M told thet yesterday there was a song in Estonian in the evening prayer in Taize!!!!!!!!!! How I miss that place. or not the place, but people.
I have the best housemates.
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
BBC is wrong!
Yesterday evening I happened to check the weather forecast - it was fog, fog, fog, fog, fog. but it wasn't true, it was a nice sunny morning (and cold).
I woke up feeling not the best, quite bad really.
Cycled to uni, walked back, because I had a lovely puncture.
This means I have a good excuse to wear a long skirt for a few days, until I have time to deal with the puncture in daylight (to see how big it is and if I need to replace the inner tube, to buy a new one - yes, this means walking to the shop, so can only be a Saturday).
So tomorrow will ring a nice morning walk to uni.
This evening, while baking a potato and fish dish, we watched a movie, following my wish not to watch horror, silly comedy or little cute animals. Almost, there was a talking cute dog, but this was OK. I generally like chipmunks, but just not feeling like watching them today!
Chipmunk reminds me being on a coach in Spain when I tried to write down all my non-existant vocabulary and K kept saying what words I should know, when chipmunk and squirrel are same in Spanish!
I still have the list of words!
I woke up feeling not the best, quite bad really.
Cycled to uni, walked back, because I had a lovely puncture.
This means I have a good excuse to wear a long skirt for a few days, until I have time to deal with the puncture in daylight (to see how big it is and if I need to replace the inner tube, to buy a new one - yes, this means walking to the shop, so can only be a Saturday).
So tomorrow will ring a nice morning walk to uni.
This evening, while baking a potato and fish dish, we watched a movie, following my wish not to watch horror, silly comedy or little cute animals. Almost, there was a talking cute dog, but this was OK. I generally like chipmunks, but just not feeling like watching them today!
Chipmunk reminds me being on a coach in Spain when I tried to write down all my non-existant vocabulary and K kept saying what words I should know, when chipmunk and squirrel are same in Spanish!
I still have the list of words!
Monday, 15 November 2010
It's freezing!
This morning was very cold, at the same time when Tartu had the warmest 15th November over years. In the morning I was feeling quite bad, almost did not go to the eercise class, but then decided that why else am I up so early then! Evening Pilates too. This (academic) year has been good, I have not experienced any back pain, despite wearing a rucksack every day while cycling and carrying my laptop. As it is cold (this means no rain!), I will take a 7.30 cycle ride along the canal outside, not in the Munrow spinning class!
Oh, today in Munrow I heard an intereesting conversation.
A: "So how was your reading week, did you go out much?"
B: "Yes, almost every day"
Why do the humanities people need reading week. I understand my housemate's reading week, she does geography and goes on field trips instead of lectures.
Last night I had a strange dream. I saw that I was in music school, waiting for a solfeggio lesson. I was not sure whether I had a flute lesson that day or not, it was a Monday. We were preparing some songs for Christmas. I guess this fream was triggerd by A's visit this weekend, she plays the flute too and we were discussing it.
Oh, today in Munrow I heard an intereesting conversation.
A: "So how was your reading week, did you go out much?"
B: "Yes, almost every day"
Why do the humanities people need reading week. I understand my housemate's reading week, she does geography and goes on field trips instead of lectures.
Last night I had a strange dream. I saw that I was in music school, waiting for a solfeggio lesson. I was not sure whether I had a flute lesson that day or not, it was a Monday. We were preparing some songs for Christmas. I guess this fream was triggerd by A's visit this weekend, she plays the flute too and we were discussing it.
Saturday, 13 November 2010
food, food and sightseeing
On thursday after work we went to city centre to have some food and wine with A, N and E. Got home just on time to sleep.
Friday had a bigger adventure. Cycled home after work, to start walking immediately to E and M's house to have dinner. Google map said it would take 40 min, my phone (OVI maps) said 20 min. OK, I go with the phone (and it kind of knows I walk fast - I am not sure it remembers this, but I thought maybe it has). Walk, walk, walk and suddenly it says "cannot continue, only point to point navigation possible". I cannot fly over houses, so wen back to Quinton road and asked way. A couple with a dog helped me, ta least they were not scared to talk to me (this is why I asked them, they think a person who wnats to attack them would not choose people with a big dog. They told me to go to REservoir road. I did. Walked, walked, walked and could not find a way to turn to the parallel road, still hoping there would be a small road connecting the two roads. No, I had to go back to big road. Safe way was to choose a street, but I was already late, so went through Selly Oak Park. Scary and dark. At the end of the park I managed to take another wrong turn, ending up nowhere with a fence separating street and the park. I had already texted M, that I a in the park have been lost a few times but hopefully this is the correct way. C and J, other students who were invited for the dinner came to meet me. Good, because the road did not have road name and house numbers were supersmall too.
On Saturday, A came to Birmingham, for a day trip from near London. We met at New Street and went to Moor St to get some vouchers for Cadbury World. The station was closed, but we said we only want the vouchers, 2 for 1 and could go and look for them. First we took 2, but soon realised it is not 2 for 1, but 30% off, so had to go back to get one for M. M took train from Uni, and we met in Bournville. Cadbury world was good, I like how Cadburys treated their employees and the exhibition was not too childish. Actually it was really good and we even enjoyed the childish bits. We could taste some warm chocolate, a bit too much! After buying some misshapes, we took train back to New St. M went home, me and A did the traditional sightseeing tour that I do for all my visitors. Bull outside, bull in Selfridges, St Martins church, Victoria Square, walk through the Symphony hall to Brindley Place and walk along the canals. Because it was late, we could not go to the Ikon gallery. Also no time to show the uni campus (this is actually amazing). We went to eat and because she had some time until the train, tried to sit down and have coffee, but unfortunately Starbucks was already closing (the one near the station), so had to walk with coffee.
I learnt how gossip develops! Not in a bad way, but the messages tend to get mixed in our families, Her family had told here that my sister has been visiting me for a few month, but in fast she has been here for 2 years and is working. I knew that her sister saw living in the UK when her brother was studying here, but her sister has never lived here!
She got the train and I got a train back to uni. Walk home (when was the last time? I rarely walk, just cycle).
D offered us some sweets, they were good, but we had no idea what they were. After google and Wikipedia, we found it is a bush that grows in UK too, Crataegus monogyna, it is viirpuu in Estonian. I was also informed by the Hungarian housemate that "puu", tree sounds a bit strange in English.
Planning D's birthday, she said she cannot go skating next weekend, so we were thinking of an evening sometime. Googling ice rinks in Birmingham (hoping for a Christmas one), we found that there were next from Oct 2010 that an ice rink would open at the end of Oct. Our googling skills did not find where and if it is already open.
Typing in the living room, E asked if I am working and was relieved when I said am was writing my blog:D
E is a granny, doing cross stich! D had bought a set of pattern and thread and proposed that if she leaves it in the living room, everybody could do a bit! I a a bit impatient for so small work, I prefer knitting and sowing!
By the way, I have had my phone almost a year and M has the same phone. I always send her texts in English because this was I cna use predictive text. Now she showed me that I can actually get a full keyboard on my phone if I turn it sideways. Funny! I still think a touchpad is not good for writing and with predictive text I have to hit the screen less.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
you are crazy
No, am I too frank? Say things too directly? If yes, you are my friend! We had a discussion with Estonians about Estonian jokes irony and that it can be hard, especially because if something is not taken by Estonians, it would by others because they assume all foreigners tell everything directly.
Today, when looking pictures of K and L, I said that one is crazy and other one is orange. [how good it is to live in England, nobody cares what colour somebody is, superwhite Nordic, yellow, black, brown or beige] Yes, I would say these things publicly to them too and they might read my blog. I do not mean bad! Actually this crazy is a compliment, K could not be as fantastic without the craziness!
With people who are not my friends (yet) I am rather quiet and careful.
Today, when looking pictures of K and L, I said that one is crazy and other one is orange. [how good it is to live in England, nobody cares what colour somebody is, superwhite Nordic, yellow, black, brown or beige] Yes, I would say these things publicly to them too and they might read my blog. I do not mean bad! Actually this crazy is a compliment, K could not be as fantastic without the craziness!
With people who are not my friends (yet) I am rather quiet and careful.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Spiders and other scary things
I started scaring people in our house, I am just so scary. It can be shouting over the fence, suddenly appearing on near the stairs or putting something in the living room that should not be there.
Yesterday was pay back time, N, E and D put a spider to my door and when I got out of my room, I jumped (ahh, it was a toy spider, but still something that is not normally there) and started laughing. Thanks. No I just need to think of somehing.
Yesterday was also a day of funny quotations. Watching TV (some cooking show).
D:"This is Jamie Oliver?"
N:"yes"
D: "And this is Gordon Ramsay?"
N: Yes
D: They are two different people, right?
hahaa
Now she is leading our quotes board. We all sat in the living room, some watching TV, some doing something with computers, D suddenly asked "Does anybody know, what is E. coli?" We all stated laughing. It was funny, although N had an idea that maybe it is different in Chinese. What? It is in Latin anyway. But us three are "kind of biologists", one real one - with undergrad in medical microbiology, one bioinformatician and one pain biologist with sports science undergrad.
On my way to uni I was happily cycling and maybe singing when somebody said "Hello". He looked familiar, but I am not sure who they were. Now I know what streets I have to sing in Estonian [because it is just too scary to cycle in silence]
Today I got two comments about myself. One was that I have grown. (NO, I just had heels and not even high ones!) and that "I have lost some weight" (not intentional, I'll have chips for lunch tomorrow:D)
Some salsa after work and the day is over! When writing down my name for salsa ball, somebody asked me whether I am Estonian. Yes!!!
E has cheesecake - I have to finish writing and go to eat!
I managed to scare D!!! She actually screamed a bit! And then we went outside with E and N to do some fun evening exercise with a hula hoop! Good fun! "No exercise equipment allowed in the house",but we class this activity as dancing! We are really not people from this century, we do not play computer games (except our computer scientist D!), instead we like outside and mud.
Yesterday was pay back time, N, E and D put a spider to my door and when I got out of my room, I jumped (ahh, it was a toy spider, but still something that is not normally there) and started laughing. Thanks. No I just need to think of somehing.
Yesterday was also a day of funny quotations. Watching TV (some cooking show).
D:"This is Jamie Oliver?"
N:"yes"
D: "And this is Gordon Ramsay?"
N: Yes
D: They are two different people, right?
hahaa
Now she is leading our quotes board. We all sat in the living room, some watching TV, some doing something with computers, D suddenly asked "Does anybody know, what is E. coli?" We all stated laughing. It was funny, although N had an idea that maybe it is different in Chinese. What? It is in Latin anyway. But us three are "kind of biologists", one real one - with undergrad in medical microbiology, one bioinformatician and one pain biologist with sports science undergrad.
On my way to uni I was happily cycling and maybe singing when somebody said "Hello". He looked familiar, but I am not sure who they were. Now I know what streets I have to sing in Estonian [because it is just too scary to cycle in silence]
Today I got two comments about myself. One was that I have grown. (NO, I just had heels and not even high ones!) and that "I have lost some weight" (not intentional, I'll have chips for lunch tomorrow:D)
Some salsa after work and the day is over! When writing down my name for salsa ball, somebody asked me whether I am Estonian. Yes!!!
E has cheesecake - I have to finish writing and go to eat!
I managed to scare D!!! She actually screamed a bit! And then we went outside with E and N to do some fun evening exercise with a hula hoop! Good fun! "No exercise equipment allowed in the house",but we class this activity as dancing! We are really not people from this century, we do not play computer games (except our computer scientist D!), instead we like outside and mud.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
muddy to knees!
This morning I went to M's flat in Bournville, to read the Bible. Because other M (actually the share a name, although one is Estonian and other British), who stayed with me, did not know how to walk to the train station. So I walked her and my bicycle to the train station and then cycled to Bournville, along the canal. Puddle-puddle-puddle-mud-mud-mud. I had the waterproof overtrousers over my jeans, so it was OK; although very funny.
Cycled back too, although the train was there at the station when I was about to leave. Next time I will leave home superearly and tak some pictures on the way if it is still so pretty.
A bit of time in the office, when E texted that she is going to the housing office and I joined her and N. The women there was very helpful, basically said that landlord has no right to d what he is doing and if we want, we can live as pigs as long as the house is OK at the end of the tenancy.
It is quite cold in the office.
In the evening I met my sis, she had half an hour before her Spanish class. Good sisterly half and hour with hot chocolate.
Cycled home and I was not the latest one home! E was still at uni:D
A emailed me, saying that she will visit me on Sat. What should we do, where should we go? Cadbury world! If anybody wants to join us, tell me:)
Cycled back too, although the train was there at the station when I was about to leave. Next time I will leave home superearly and tak some pictures on the way if it is still so pretty.
A bit of time in the office, when E texted that she is going to the housing office and I joined her and N. The women there was very helpful, basically said that landlord has no right to d what he is doing and if we want, we can live as pigs as long as the house is OK at the end of the tenancy.
It is quite cold in the office.
In the evening I met my sis, she had half an hour before her Spanish class. Good sisterly half and hour with hot chocolate.
Cycled home and I was not the latest one home! E was still at uni:D
A emailed me, saying that she will visit me on Sat. What should we do, where should we go? Cadbury world! If anybody wants to join us, tell me:)
Monday, 8 November 2010
stupid me
Highlight of the day:
Wake up, leave home at 7am, body positive class 7.30, but on the way I realise that I forgot me jeans home. Cycle back after the class in rain, shower, cycle back to uni. Three home-uni distances instead of one in nice English rain.
But during the day I got a text from M who lived in Scotland, saying thet she got a job in England and is coming to stay with me today. I met her at 8.30 at un station, WALKED home and made some good food!
Good luck to her in new job!
Wake up, leave home at 7am, body positive class 7.30, but on the way I realise that I forgot me jeans home. Cycle back after the class in rain, shower, cycle back to uni. Three home-uni distances instead of one in nice English rain.
But during the day I got a text from M who lived in Scotland, saying thet she got a job in England and is coming to stay with me today. I met her at 8.30 at un station, WALKED home and made some good food!
Good luck to her in new job!
Saturday, 6 November 2010
London day
To clarify - my bike is well and it exists! It was at Munrow.
London. Train there, walk to the Embassy, meet some people I knew, some I did not. It was a meeting for people who got one scholarship on their first undergrad year and also for the supporters.
Was funny, one Russian girl did not speak Estonian and speaking English to her and listening the others speaking Estonian.
Now watching Kairi's picture-youtube thing
video
form the summer trip, was good! So amazing people, good memories, I want to go back with all those people and the same bus!
Oh and I want to go to some concert (in SHTH) or to the theatre soon! Who wants to join me? I have some ideas of what I might be interested in.
London. Train there, walk to the Embassy, meet some people I knew, some I did not. It was a meeting for people who got one scholarship on their first undergrad year and also for the supporters.
Was funny, one Russian girl did not speak Estonian and speaking English to her and listening the others speaking Estonian.
Now watching Kairi's picture-youtube thing
video
form the summer trip, was good! So amazing people, good memories, I want to go back with all those people and the same bus!
Oh and I want to go to some concert (in SHTH) or to the theatre soon! Who wants to join me? I have some ideas of what I might be interested in.
Friday, 5 November 2010
rainy day
Two days ago I realised how much I want to go back to Taize....the songs have been in my head constantly. And what finished today's working day? Some good person sent a youtube link to a song!
This song in my head, I walke dto bioscience cycle racks, looked around, ready to take my bike. it was not there! Where is my bike?
Then I realised today a good day and after more than a week of ilness and lazy mornings I went to the morning aerobics again. Aerobics was OK, but at the end, she asked if we want to do something for the abs. Yes? Yes, and it was soooooo hard, I was already aching there! I don't know what I will feel tomorrow.
I got a heardresser's appointment in the morning, lets see how much I hate brushing my hear today and how much I cut tomorrow:D
[all because nobody from my friends has agreed to cut my fringe, Honestly it does not matter so much as long as you know what is symmetry or are brave enough to try.]
This song in my head, I walke dto bioscience cycle racks, looked around, ready to take my bike. it was not there! Where is my bike?
Then I realised today a good day and after more than a week of ilness and lazy mornings I went to the morning aerobics again. Aerobics was OK, but at the end, she asked if we want to do something for the abs. Yes? Yes, and it was soooooo hard, I was already aching there! I don't know what I will feel tomorrow.
I got a heardresser's appointment in the morning, lets see how much I hate brushing my hear today and how much I cut tomorrow:D
[all because nobody from my friends has agreed to cut my fringe, Honestly it does not matter so much as long as you know what is symmetry or are brave enough to try.]
Thursday, 4 November 2010
bioinformatastic!
Birmingham is fantastic, I live far from uni, but this morning I realised again how nice cycle ride this is!
Cycling back from uni, today there were no lost people at the end of Vincent Drive. There is a new road and Vincent Drive has became a superwide cycle road. The new road is not on maps yet (at least not googlemap) and almost every evening there is somebody looking around with a map. Usually they are freshers or internationals asking how to get to some student hall or pub, but yesterday I met a Brummie who was looking for the High Street!
Today I met D, my housemate. She wanted to borrow my bike and I was too slow to offer the helmet too, so I walked home with a helmet.
She returned, complaining that the seat is too high and bike very scary. Now she borrowed my hula hoop because she has eaten too many cakes.
Cycling back from uni, today there were no lost people at the end of Vincent Drive. There is a new road and Vincent Drive has became a superwide cycle road. The new road is not on maps yet (at least not googlemap) and almost every evening there is somebody looking around with a map. Usually they are freshers or internationals asking how to get to some student hall or pub, but yesterday I met a Brummie who was looking for the High Street!
Today I met D, my housemate. She wanted to borrow my bike and I was too slow to offer the helmet too, so I walked home with a helmet.
She returned, complaining that the seat is too high and bike very scary. Now she borrowed my hula hoop because she has eaten too many cakes.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Ill
Hi!
I see some people keep checking this blog (and the other one) for updates even one month after the last update. I love you too!
I have had a very interesting weekend. I started feeling very weak last Tuesday evening (lets blame my landlord - I had to rush home for 7pm, after a 2min conversation with my sister to have an appointment, but he arrived just before 9pm). I breathed in lots of cold air through my mouth. Of course, the previos day I had ran through rain with no waterproof coat. England is nice! Just stupid me, not thinking.
Wednesday brought more annoying things with the landlord (I was already feeling pretty bad, so did not go to morning exercise anyway and because he was supposed to do something with boiler at 10am. Of course this happened 12.30). Stupidly wasted morning.
Still went to uni, feeling weak. Thursday same, feeling so bad by afternoon that could not think of cycling home, so I left normal time, about 6.30. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday - ill, headache, dizziness, sore throat, runny nose, fever (yes, I even have a thermometer now!). Most annoying thing, my eyes were funny, like crying.
Tomorrow I will not be ill and will go to uni.
This week I will skip all cardio exercise (the organised classes - I am still too lazy to slowly walk to uni instead of cycling fast because it is early, late, cold or raining).
At weekend I will go to London to meet some clever Estonians in the embassy. [I have to book a train ticket!]
By the way, I am looking for a friend to go geocaching on Saturdays (not all the time, but pretty regular, even in rain, otherwise we would not be able to go any Saturday). Basically it means searching for hidden things in strange places, using given coordinates and solving some puzzles.
Some Estonians (you know, who!) have infected me with the geocaching bug.
I see some people keep checking this blog (and the other one) for updates even one month after the last update. I love you too!
I have had a very interesting weekend. I started feeling very weak last Tuesday evening (lets blame my landlord - I had to rush home for 7pm, after a 2min conversation with my sister to have an appointment, but he arrived just before 9pm). I breathed in lots of cold air through my mouth. Of course, the previos day I had ran through rain with no waterproof coat. England is nice! Just stupid me, not thinking.
Wednesday brought more annoying things with the landlord (I was already feeling pretty bad, so did not go to morning exercise anyway and because he was supposed to do something with boiler at 10am. Of course this happened 12.30). Stupidly wasted morning.
Still went to uni, feeling weak. Thursday same, feeling so bad by afternoon that could not think of cycling home, so I left normal time, about 6.30. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday - ill, headache, dizziness, sore throat, runny nose, fever (yes, I even have a thermometer now!). Most annoying thing, my eyes were funny, like crying.
Tomorrow I will not be ill and will go to uni.
This week I will skip all cardio exercise (the organised classes - I am still too lazy to slowly walk to uni instead of cycling fast because it is early, late, cold or raining).
At weekend I will go to London to meet some clever Estonians in the embassy. [I have to book a train ticket!]
By the way, I am looking for a friend to go geocaching on Saturdays (not all the time, but pretty regular, even in rain, otherwise we would not be able to go any Saturday). Basically it means searching for hidden things in strange places, using given coordinates and solving some puzzles.
Some Estonians (you know, who!) have infected me with the geocaching bug.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
ohtuooteks
Made a cake! Don't know whether it is good, will see tomorrow. And also a bean salad - I bought some strange tinned beans today (also some I have eaten before) and wanted to know if the strange ones are edible without cooking (they had a sign on them saying to microwave or cook). Asked housemates and after googling, N phoned to her mum, asking if she had eaten them. Her dad gave good advice: if it does not say on the packet not to eat uncokked then it can be eaten and the cooking suggestions are there because it is better cooked.
Salad was OK, I hope! I ate some and have no poisoning, so hope it will be fine tomorrow.
Rest of the evening: install Ubuntu 10.10, then start installing other things, then decide I do not like Ubuntu and install Debian Lenny and get wireless work too. Not going to even try to get the Estonian ID card to work, I do not need to use it.
Neigbours are having a party, a noisy one.
Salad was OK, I hope! I ate some and have no poisoning, so hope it will be fine tomorrow.
Rest of the evening: install Ubuntu 10.10, then start installing other things, then decide I do not like Ubuntu and install Debian Lenny and get wireless work too. Not going to even try to get the Estonian ID card to work, I do not need to use it.
Neigbours are having a party, a noisy one.
New start
I am in Birmingham again - I love this city! Moving here was strange, I had sent email to the landlord before and he said he will give my keys to the other two girls who are moving in before me. When I arrived, I foud out that he had not! I phoned him and he told me to get to his house in half an hour during the rush hour. New place, no Internet and no knowkedge of buses, I told him I cannot get there because I do not know the buses. He told me a bus number and that it goes from Vincent Drive, a road that is only for walking and cycling! He said he is leaving home adn cannot come here. First he said he will come home at 22, then 23.30, too late for me. He agreed to leave the key under the mat.
I borrowed E-s bike and went there and also got D-s key. While cycling, I was wondering how does E manage to cycle with so low seat, she is quite tall. Going down the first hill, I wondered, are there any brakes, quite stupid of me, there were not!
Then I went to French Guiana for 3 weeks (travel story in a less personal blog travelblog
Funny living with new people, D asked one day whether I have a potato machine and whether I eat potatoes every day.
And E said that I am weird systems biologist!
Today I have been back for 4 days and finally feel I have no jet lag! Me and E wen to the bike shop after I got back from Selly Oak and Sainsbury (want to make a cake!), walked with our bikes because E does not have brakes, but they were full and asked us to come back on Tuesday. Some Saisbury-shopping to get the rucksack full and back home. One the way we were stopped by some French foreign students who asked how to go to Kings Heath. We told them it is 5 km and showed on the map on phone. They believed. They asked if there is a pet shop nearby. We did not know. Later we were wondering what they were doing in Harborne without a map - all student halls are quite far and looking for a pet shop? Unfortunately we did not ask, we just know they are new and do not know any buses or areas. Reminded me how I went walking on my first year without a map or the running and getting lost sessions with M and M last year!
I borrowed E-s bike and went there and also got D-s key. While cycling, I was wondering how does E manage to cycle with so low seat, she is quite tall. Going down the first hill, I wondered, are there any brakes, quite stupid of me, there were not!
Then I went to French Guiana for 3 weeks (travel story in a less personal blog travelblog
Funny living with new people, D asked one day whether I have a potato machine and whether I eat potatoes every day.
And E said that I am weird systems biologist!
Today I have been back for 4 days and finally feel I have no jet lag! Me and E wen to the bike shop after I got back from Selly Oak and Sainsbury (want to make a cake!), walked with our bikes because E does not have brakes, but they were full and asked us to come back on Tuesday. Some Saisbury-shopping to get the rucksack full and back home. One the way we were stopped by some French foreign students who asked how to go to Kings Heath. We told them it is 5 km and showed on the map on phone. They believed. They asked if there is a pet shop nearby. We did not know. Later we were wondering what they were doing in Harborne without a map - all student halls are quite far and looking for a pet shop? Unfortunately we did not ask, we just know they are new and do not know any buses or areas. Reminded me how I went walking on my first year without a map or the running and getting lost sessions with M and M last year!
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