"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.
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