saturday

The kitchen was full of Germans...(OK, just 2) making biscuits. I went to salsa in Selly Oak. There was a live band, I with I could play flute like this!!!!!!! Was good evenings, thanks for dances with J, M, F,  D and two whose names I do not know.

Somebody got a bit of shock when she saw me...."Did you cut your hair?" No, it was just all plaited and up, ready for spins, not like at the Christmas party ->

The floor was a bit slippery or I did not brush the shoes enough, the soles were full of glitter from the christmas party.

Now cleaning shoes, then off to play flute and then 4 last days of work before going home and making plans of seeing everybody and making gingerbread, walking in Tallinn, walking in my hometown, going to see a fire installation, Christmas and maybe something else.

lets go whereever!

A few weeks ago I emailed an old friend with whom we used to go cycling. I remembered that after one my summer trek she said she would like to go somewhere. So I gave my "plans" for next summer's European trek (with destination open.....depends on who is going and what languages we know or are able to learn basics in).

She said it would be her first hike of this kind, "don't worry, I am strong!" That's the correct attitude, I am not as strong as some of my friends either....
 Also, she does not mind where we go (and I can make plans....as chaotic as I want), as long as it's in beautiful nature and with a tent!

Yesterday was the floor's Christmas meal. It is very strange, I am living here for more than 6 years and I feel home in the company of two kinds of people, foreigners and geeks (in the best sense). I left home 7pm, because I can really only leave home on x.00 or x.30. Went to the restaurant, nobody was there, so I walked around in Harborne a bit and next time I went, there were people, but not from my office. So....they are nice, but without usual topics of potatoes, hiking, or the things we talk in the office.....I felt strange.


Today the house is full of Germans, E is making Christmas biscuits. And I will go to salsa later.

Taize, the special place

I miss it! From summer, song practice:

                                                                        

a bad day

Morning wake up, rush to uni to have "coffee" with S and R (I took my own tea, as I did not want to have tea with milk and did not want to go to office to use the kettle in the kitchen) and taking my flask from the "camping drawer", I thought, since uni does not sell any good food, we could cook good campfood outside (a bit more interesting than microwave). So....I paid by card in a shop. A crowded shop that does not have customer service. Unfortunately, I forgot my card in the machine and could not get it back, because the queue was too long and there was nobody to talk to. So went to bank on same street and was advised to cancel the card instead. Had to phone some place and they had courage to talk to me about credit card. No thanks, I would rather use the money I have. I could not use the card I did not have....so thought, I shoudl take some cash out from the Estonian account (I have been paying back the student loan, so need to make sure it has money on all the time) and the machine ate the card! Went inside to ask about it, I need to contact my bank. Meanwhile, mum was trying to phone me. At home, she gave me the contact of Estonian bank and they also closed this card. I am cardless. Then, trying to pay the electricity bill, it does not work, because I owe them £0. Yes. Because the landlord had set up a different account for me in the same address 2 months after we moved in. I opened an account from 1st August and had paid 1st bill in Sept. He opened a new account for the same address, same person,in October and told us. I phoned the company and they said they will just cancel the new one. Yes, my old account was active, I submitted meter readings online, but now got a paper bill for a different account. My old one has "temporary technical problems. Do not worry, we are trying to fix it". The normal behaviour, phoning them does not work on Saturday. OK< they want my money, they have to wait until Monday......because it's their problem for creating all these difficulties. Nevertheless, I managed to buy a book from Estonian bookshop, epub, then convert it to kindle. Jumping down the stairs, I saw E. J:"I am going to read this book in bed now!" E: "You mean articles?" J: "No, a book!" Oh yes I should work......but just a bit of book I lie to myself. I know I will finish when the book is read. The book I would have wanted for Christmas, but I do not want a paper copy as it will add more bulk to my belongings (yes it is nice to have a bookshelf, but not when I do not know what country I will be in a few years time) Good night....I will probably appear online late rot do some midnight programming and such fun.

better

Now, when I feel better, it is a good idea to do some strange exercise in the evening, so strange that next day it is impossible to say why I am aching. Just because I cannot go skating. Today I went to see the P...D Movie. I was not bored, but think I could have used the hour or so in a better way. I must be happy because I could not relate to the negative side. In addition to that, it did not have a story. Of course, it had useful points too: "have a life". I was not going to bachata and rueda, but submitted my abstract and went. And after submitting the abstract and dancing, somebody wanted some serious advice, something I am not the best to say anything. I hope he does not generalise my opinion and leaves it as my opinion, not everybody's. Evening....I did not crochet, one round and a bit on my poncho. It might be ready by new year if I keep the snail pace.

Unwanted pain

On Saturday, I did not go to London (to the annual event in the embassy) because I was weak. I thought it is just work, but also knew how being weak in the crowded tube has previosly ended, I did not go. Also, I had a friend in the hospital, so better to visit her. On Sunday, I could not visit her, because I thought my weakness is more like illness. In the evening I was playing the flute and all the time I was actually not playing, had the outside jacket on, as it was cold. S also thought it was cold. Finished and ran home (because I was so cold). Monday, normal work day, pretending I was not weak or ill or anything. The fever hit at night. In the morning, I still kept pretending everything was fine, despite having no voice ("Yes I am going to work"), until I realised I cannot actually get up because I feel so dizzy. So, no going to uni, but I can still do computer work, right? It went very slowly. In addition to temperature and no voice, I had the worst muscle pain. First I thought it is from some exercise....wait, I haven't done any! It got worse and worse. Second day, third day....now I think I am recovering and just suffering from some a bit uncomfortable and painful cough. Yesterday I had some food too, some light fish and vegetable hot-pot. What a shame, beautiful autumn and I am weak! And I have wasted a week.

A rassist village dance

On a sunny day, D, my previous housemate told me that she wants to go to a ballroom dance event at her local village hall. OK, I miss quickstep and waltz, so I decided to join. So the village paper advert said the dance is at 6 with a class at 8. Strange time, but maybe the hall is not available after the class. So we assumed it is social dancing at the beginning. Got there and were approached in a non-friendly way "What do you want?" J explained that we saw advert in the local news. They said this class is too advanced for us (how do they know, that we are Chinese and cannot dance European dances). Anyway, I had taken a long bus journey, so decided to wait until the class. But because the hall was freezing I was dancing on my own at the side. D decided to join me and we had no intention in interfering with the class, just to dance at the side. We were told we cannot join this class unless the teaches has seen us dancing. But other people were nice, including teacher and I got my long-missed quickstep and waltz! Cannot imagine this kind of thing happening in salsa....even when I went to tango once, total beginner, they did try to scare me away.

July 26 2011

What a glorious day to cycle back from uni, in the sun. For the video....it's a nice song, isn't it!? :)

a Friday

K, trying to get some pictures off me and when I said I am quite busy and don't have time to put them somewhere like facebook or upload good ones to Picasa.....because I would need to process them first and select good ones, but could send her the whole folder with everything and she said:

"Science will never end" good thing for a non-scientist to say and so true. It is not the cucumbers in the factory where I used to work, that at 2am they will end. Of making a meal at BC, starting a new one every morning and the kitchen would be clean by 3pm, to start another one and kitchen would be clean at 8.

So, if I finish this one thing now, I could do another one..... only problem, I want to sleep too at some point!

bad experience day

Morning started fine, breakfast, good coffee, walk to the bank (because my English card has decided not to work and my Estonian card is expired (they sent the new one to my mum who will bring it tomorrow), so I could get some cash out from the bank. Walk to the port and market with K and at lunchtime we met M and his friend. After lunch (4.30) K had to catch a coach to South Estonia, we packed and I moved to the hostel which is close to the bus station. Back in town, I walked, walked, walked. Strange to say, but my feet hurt, not used to wearing flat shoes with no support on these round stones that Old Town is paved with.

I managed to find the viewing places again that Kristi showed me (she just showed one, but I found another, a nicer one too!).

M went to the dance performance with his friend, so I waited, eating lots of good Estonia dairy in a shopping centre corridor when I spotted a familiar uniform. Yes, our pastor from my home town church and his sons. And his wife, without the uniform because there are no violins in the wind band.

I walked more in the Old Town when I arrived in a chocolatiere. First I thought it was French, but then I saw, everything was in Italian, so maybe?

I had a cake and coffee (yes, no hot chocolate, but the cake was chocolate), sitting there thinking to spend as much time as possible to wait for M. A random man, first asking everybody for sigarettes, came to my table and started saying things nobody should ever tell to a stranger and also, nobody should ask such things from a woman. He really thought that what, why he ha no success, even after telling me millionth time that he is not engaged, he was best in his school, best in the army, he wants to write a book. Finnish sailor, what does he think of Estonian women? I was quite offended and also afraid and just sat there, drinking my coffee, slowly (because I knew, as long as I stay in this place, it is safe, there were lots of people). He said he wants to find a sigarette shop and does not know where it is. I did not know either. But M phoned me and I had to leave, unfortunately too afraid that he will follow me. Luckily, when he went to the loo, I asked some people in another table, what should I do, should I just run now. It was a German couple. The man understood, also some other people were a bit concerned, so he said he will walk me to the Town Hall Square, where M was, very kind of him!

We went to the places in Old Town again, he said he did not see them before. Yes, because they are hidden. Nice view.

And when walking back, we met a photographer whom I had spoken to before. We were telling a foreigner about the festival, where to go and this Estonian, when leaving, asked if I ma going to the festival and when I said "yes", he said, "see you tomorrow then". How unlikely, but we saw again today! Maybe he is just walking arounf Old Town, taking pictures.

Now safely in the hostel.

off to Estonia

yes, for 3 days. I am not ready to go and would rather do work.....will there ever be time when I can have everything ready and think about something else? I guess I need to go camping for a week or so, without my laptop and without even a possibility to charge a phone (so it will be off, to be switched on only in emergencies).


But, I am not technical enough to go on a cool holiday with cool people, but a bit more outdoorsy and able to walk than most of my other friends. Anybody?

Hungry morning

We had long agreed to escape the house today, because landlord is going to our house. Because got her results yesterday, she had planned to go out. Surprisingly, she decided not to, because "I don't want to wear a skirt in this weather, I checked the forecast". So, Jane Austen film evening (or, programming, emailing and facebooking for me).

Because of D, we agreed to go for breakfast at 12 (so I can do some work before?), but for some reason, I misunderstood and invited somebody else for 11. But anyway, waking up in the morning, I was so hungry at 8 and ever worse at 8.30. Luckily, E was awake, so I complained my hunger and said I don't want to have 2 breakfasts, so we told D she has 30min until her turn to go to the bathroom. Yes, during the first 15min, while E was in the bathroom, I decided to vacuum the corridor (as we have no neighbours and only D was attempting to sleep). And after my shower, she was awake, just as I was taking out my flute to play something.

We were in the bakery, Fallen Angel by 10 (half an hour walk) and had nice coffee, croissant and (cup)cake. Time for some work now, so lonely here, A is not in the office and H is leaving UK on Tuesday.

what to do on a Friday evening?

How about coffee and work? :) It's bad weather anyway, looking forward to Sunday.

a concert time again

I see the biggest search word leading people to my blog is BBC Big Band. Of course, they are good! And I need to write another post, because they were in Town Hall on Friday! Together with young talented musicians from West Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra. Was amazing! To see young people, younger than me, probably, playing, some a bit scared, when alone in front of large crowd and playing with such experienced people. I was sitting in front row, and by chance, Sara was there too! We always meet at concerts!

Then, Saturday was a work day, I managed to get to the office just when the rain stopped and sun came out. Report writing.

Sunday, church, then a bit of panic when I could not phone my sister for the whole day. She was at work. Despite this, walking in city centre, I enjoyed, because it's such a great city.

Monday, yes it's such a great city, even Ringo Starr gave a concert here:)

Such a great man! Example of how it is possible to be human-like down-to-earth Star(r)! Amazing when somebody else was in front, he was at the back, with the drums. Nice syncrony between the two drummers too!
And of course, Edgar Winter is just amazing.

Between some songs, somebody shouted something, it was impossible to hear, but he said: "it sounded like you said 'Jesus loves me?' Yes, Jesus loves me".

Before the concert I think I behaved how a polite English would not behave. I bought a sandwich and coffee and had at least 1h until concert. No seats, but one table had only one lady sitting there. I asked of anybody is going there. Yes. OK, I tried next table. There was only one lady, I asked may I sit there. She said: "Yes  am leaving",  giving me impression that there is no space for  2 in a 3-seat table. She left soon (her coffee was finished too) and I felt bad. OK, I am a stupid foreigner and unless somenbody tells me I cannot sit at their table, I will sit there (and I asked). And then, a couple came and there were no seats, so they joined my table! They were English and quite chatty too. They said I am too young for this concert. I said that I also like Bach and even they have not lived at the same time as this great composer or not even in the same coutry, why can I not like some music from last century.


Later, I think he changed his mind when we discussed what other concerts we have been to and are planning to go to.

Taking the train back, I saw A at Five Ways and because she is almost my neighbour, walking back in rain was much quicker.

An update - end of May

I have been well, not ill. I have been to some places, like Stratford and Malvern Hills with some of my housemates and some Estonians.

This weekend we were planning to go to Snowdonia, then did not find any accommodation (and my 1-person tent is good for 2 but not for 3), then thought of Peak District, but is was predicting bad rain, so finally, we decided to go to Malvern, to the hill if is is nice, to the town if is is downpour. Going up was good, no rain, good views. Then, after lunch in a valley (it was too windy higher up), rain came! At some point, E asked whether I want to go to Worcestershire beacon and was ready to kill me, I insisted. Coming down, clouds were clearing and it was all good and nice again. In Malvern we found a cafe with music and sat there, drying our wet clothes in sunshine.

Today C came for lunch (I invited J and F too, but F wanted to work and J had to go to the bus station), we had beef cooked by D and kringel with nutella and almonds. I asked which one they want, because my friend in Estonia made caramel and apple kringel yesterday, but they wanted nutella, only to say that actuall the cinnamon one is better and ham and cheese one the best. Ham and cheese one will go to the oven soon!

bread

No rye flour in Birmingham, I had some, but not enough, so this is why it's a bit too white (about 15dl of rye flour and 2dl of wheat).

Sun!

I am well now, had 6-month meeting yesterday at uni, now I know what I do not know.

Today it would have been wrong to do any work, it might be one of the few Saturdays we get in England with sun, so walk to Harborne High Street with E, discovered there was farmers' market and bought lots of lovely things like salad leaves, interesting cheese, rhubarb, bread, honey. I had planned to buy yeast, but forgot:(

Then we ate the salad and cheese (D thinks goat's cheese smells like goat, so she just had chilli cheese and smoked one).

After that just enjoyed the sun, with factor 30 cream. D was worried that she would go brown, but luckil I have things that help me not go red as I would never go brown.

Yes I know I put the picture here to make all Estonians jealous!

chips in pitta bread?

Sitting in the living room, forcing myself to finish a little bit of yogurt and tea, in addition to paracetamol, the staple diet of last 3 days, when the hunger for information (have not been able to look at computer screen for same amount of time) wins and I start reading a menu of a possibly famous takeaway in Selly Oak, A's Place. Noticed "Chips in pitta bread" and almost felt sick. Normally I can tolerate thought of that (just thought), but whilst being ill, no. D came to living room and we had a full conversation about these chips, she thought it might be a typo on the menu!

On Sunday, woke up, went down for breakfast (my lovely housemates had even coffee ready), but could not eat. The temperature was not right, first I had thought it had been set to higher because E had guests, one sleeping on the floor of the living room, but no, heating was OK, it was my temperature. Told D I am at least not going to church in the morning, hoping that it will get better by the evening, but no, it had reached 39 by that time! And 38 to wake up on Monday, a bit less on Tuesday.

Of course, it is week 12, a holiday week for undergrads, my body is still working in 11 week cycles? Or just trying to tell me that if I work on a saturday, I will not get things done, because illness does not care about meetings or deadlines, for people who might want to open their laptop, illness might be so bad that they cannot even face going downstairs to get some water, let alone log into laptop and look at bright light that make headache even worse.

Fortunately, E made me soup which was ready after her pasta, so she first gave me a small portion of pasta, after which I could not eat any more, leaving the soup for the next day.

Sunday

Today was the international student service at church. I was going to meet F at uni and get lift with D and V. F slept too long and could not come in the morning and D had just left the house to walk to church, 9.30am! So I left 9.40 and was wondering what time I will meet her on the way (the Estonian speed!). I did not, but met D and V, so we were at church before D!

It was many internationals there and sermon was good and music!!!!!!! Especially the music, all favourite songs plus a trumpet. It is always good when there is a trumpet. I was interviewed by J, quite scary but I did not feel too bad while in front of many people, I somehow managed to forget it was many people and a scary microphone.

Then we went to J's house, picking up F on the way and had a good meal (that mostly J and A cooked, I just helped a bit yesterday) and good conversation.

Because my bike was there form yesterdya and D was not coming to church in the evening, J was going to give her lift. I thought I will cycle to uni and then get back to J's house with her. I cycled and saw them at uni, but then they had decided to go to ours for coffee. So my bike is locked in Bioscience, I need to walk tomorrow morning!

I mentioned to somebody that I want to cut my hair shoulder length when I go to Estonia (I actually had the ends cut yesterday) and she said I should not. After I said it is painful brushing it, she said women should suffer for beauty. Not sure, it is not beautiful to wear a bush of dry sun-damaged hay. And somebody else said if he was  prime minister he would make  law not allowing women to cut their hair short.

Somebody I met today has been to Estonia, Tallinn and said in his opinion Estonians are very cheerful. In response to that, another friend said that he must from a very grumpy part of England.

Because F is from Brazil, a today's listening is this:

sun!

Woke up, left the house and first D asked: "No bike, so you need to run?" and then my neighbour: "Where is your bike?"
I left it at uni yesterday because I was not sure if there is somewhere to lock it on Tiverton Road where we had fish and chips with student plus. Toooo much chips. Do gave me and Di lift back home, so Di did not have to wal with me as we first planned.

This morning I went to hairdresser! Just to chop the ends and I did not let them to do anything with my fringe, last time it seemed they took a ruler and cut it. My (Estonian) friends whom I trust can cut better! Anybody could! 

Then had coffee and porridge in the sun, late breakfast! And a book. D and E joined me with books and water and tea. D managed to pour the tea over twice!

Then an experiment with cycling: put phone with GPS in the basket and in the driving mode and asked to direct me to J's near Cannon Hill Park. An Estonian voice telling me "in 500 metres, turn left".

Rang doorbell of number 47, somebody said J does not live there for a long time. Then tried 37. The English houses all look the same. Then texted C and A, asking what is the house number of J. No reply....I was already cycling around for boredom. It was 48!!!!!!

 They had already started cooking and as normal, different nationalities, different opinions and who has loudest voice or can convince others in something, wins:)
(in our house I am second loudest, nobody can win the Hungarian apart from her sister who does not live here).

We also watched a film, August Rush. I only saw it from second half, want to see again. Then because I am stupid and did not deliberately take my bike light (in hope to be back before dark), J gave me lift to Selly Oak Sainsburys (with my bike in her house, waiting for tomorrow). A bit of food shopping (in addition to usual things, ingredients for two cakes:)) and walk to Harborne.

My housemates were cooking Chinese spring onion bread and I saw something that looks like pizza in the living room. More closer look and it was like a beetroot pizza. More closer look and it was a raspberry cake. Still good. And ofr breakfast there is brioche:)

a day

This morning, very early (because E got home 2am from lab and had to go back at 7), while having coffee and porridge, several Estonians were complaining about the fog! The sun quota for UK is over until the Olympics!

After unsuccessful attempts to wake up D, I went to the office and was there at 8! H was there too (well, in the lab).

This afternoon was football between lecturers and undergrads, I went to watch. First I thought it was at 5, so invited J too because we were going to meet at 6, but then the match was 4.15. It was freezing. And sadly the students won 4-0. Unfortunately I had to leave at 5.30  to go and discuss something - I will be interviewed on Sunday at church and were discussing topics.... just in case he asks something really strange!

After thet we went to see a house we might want to live next year, but it has 5 bedrooms and they are letting 4, so there is a random person living in there already plus there is no living room and we would not be able to invite anybody for dinner because there is nowhere to sit! It is like student halls, everybody staying in their room, not a house for a group of friends.

Now it is 9.30, talking to an Estonian in Belgium and writing the blog and then going to sleep after a bit of reading!

Wow I am definitely going to his concert when he has one! He sent me some recordings and it is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would go to the concert even if he was not my friend!

In this video he is playing with his sister, a few years ago.

muscle pain is better than injury pain!

E just told me that she might not cycle for the next few days and we might not go running on Tuesday. I think I might still manage to cycle, I could with worse pain, still better than walking. So why pain? I enjoy it!

On Saturday evening I could feel some pleasant pain, totally masking the ice skating one. New pain was from a zouk workshop, from one specific move that requires bending down backwards into a bridge or table with bent knees. Was fine during the workshop but of course we had to show it to D at home several times and this morning to some other people. Oh going to park after the morning service to play football and frisbee, maybe not so good idea (but I only set a two week limit for my knee and it was just over now!!!!! was already considering ice skating because it is still time to wear black tights and long sleeve if needed to cover bruises:))

Overall, I really enjoyed the workshop. KM the Estonian from Tartu might have enjoyed it I think! I invited my housemate E who was giving me very strange looks at the beginning but she enjoyed it at the end and I still hope so, she has pain so bad she could not come to salsa night yesterday evening.


So this morning D thought she would be really nice to me and said (after recommending by going by bus and me refusing): "I will be good to you, I will walk slowly!" I was hoping she would say she would walk fast! Every Sunday we leave the house a bit too late, on time enough for me to walk the 5 km, but not for her, so we need to run. Today for some reason we left 9.40 and were there 10.20!

After the morning service went to Selly Park for some games and food and sun (the days of not wearing a skirt on a Sunday have begun, just in case!)  and the R's house for a super yummy "like a carrot cake without carrots" cake and then evening service and student plus and pizza and chat. And home and E had made a chocolate cake!!!

Again the song... it is so good!

Why I am Christian? How did I became Christian? Next week there is international student guest service in the morning in our church and I will give my testimony. Just on case anybody is wondering and would like to come to this service but does not know where it is, ask me! :)

Mandarin

Looking at the open access summer language courses, N asked D, the Mandarin speaker: "It is difficult to learn Mandarin?"
D: "No, not really"
N: "But for English people?"
D: "Oh yes it is very difficult!"

We are learning languages! I was surprised today when E said she is looking forward to hot chocolate and D agreed. And they can really pronounce so that I can understand! Can't do this with Chinese:(

I can only say one thing in Hungarian:( should learn more, but I spend most of my time teaching them Estonian because it is funny.

So Estonian pea soup, discussing lent, I said I had pea soup yesterday. N was puzzled, what has this to do with lent.  Oh yes, in Estonia it contains ham.

Making biscuits, E asked what is in them (something green) and N said peas. I said yes, peas and ham and she believed, saying that you never know with Estonian cooking. Pistachios, no peas this time!

a dream

A bit random, but last night I had a dream. I saw that I had 11 posters that I had to colour with pencils. At some point, the pencils changed to watercolours and I was paiting the sky and some trees through the fog (so this means I was in England?). It felt like I was back in the art school (it is quite funny, the coursework of drawing insect legs under a microscope making the beasts really scary.)

Who knows what I have been doing for the past N days, knows that I am making pictures, luckily no with pencils but in R.

Vastlapäev

This morning I went outside and D followed me, went outside in her night clothes and started cycling with my bike. I forgot something and went back in the then closed the middle door, the one that closes and needs a key for opening. I was ready to leave and then D asked whether I locked the door. Of course! Good I was not too quick leaving. I later heard thet C also locked herself out today, again and then came to our house to visit N.

Today is vastlapäev. Me and the Hungarian had agreed to make pea soup and I had agreed to make bread and we assumed the English will make pancakes. Got home and the English asked: "So are we having soup and pancakes?" And bread!


Yeast was fast and soon I had lost of dough, so I could make buns for vastlakukkel and also a kringel with cinnamon.

D was surprised that so many peas go into the pea soup:) Yes it is a pea soup!

When the buns came out of oven, some were eaten, because nobody knew what is vastlakukkel and I did not tell them, it was enough anyway. All the time when I was making bread and soup, E taught D  how to make pancakes (so the English did not make any pancakes!). And as she does not know how to make a plait, a tutorial was given with dough.

D said she would eat the bread with kimchi, a fermented Korean cabbage. And she put the cinnamon kringel into the pea soup like a roll! At this point, me and E, the Hungarian started laughing. D also called kringel "the worm bread".

Independence day

26th February, Saturday, 2 days after the independence day. Alarm goes off quite early and i think "Can I move?" Fortnately P had told me the day before that she has no time in the morning and M had not replied about his morning plans, so I texted his, saying tha I will not take the early train and will come by later one instead. A few exercises helped to know that my knee is OK. Why? Because it is March next week and we decided with E to go running from March, but because I do not really want to run, I decided to jump against the ice with my knee on Friday when we went skating with many people from the office. (It was an accident and for the first time I had to ask an ice rink worker to take me to the side, because I could not put weigt on my knee -- they had seen me falling before too and probably thought I am fine).

I had to wear a dress because black trousers would have needed me to wear heels, something that would be quite stupid to do!

Bus to the city centre and train to London, I was ready to find the place where I had to go. With the help of my phone and doing several rounds on one street, I found it, knew I was close because somebody said "Tere". Later, waiting for M and P in front of the hall, we said "Tere" to everybody going past, discussing how we know they are Estonians. Why not say "Tere", if they are not Estonians, they would not understand anyway and not react.

There were soooo many children, speaking Estonian! Estonian School in London sang two songs and also the Estonian mixed choir of London.

The London Estonia  mixed choir sang two songs, Laul põhjamaast (song about northern Land) ja Ärkamise aeg (Time of awakening).

Just confirming my friends' comments that all Estonian songs are sad. When I came to the UK, I did not have any sheet music, so everything I played was in my head and in my head, there were only sad songs and still are, not that I am sad.

Tunne Kelam, an Estonian member of the European Parliament and his wife, Mariann Kelam, member of Estonian Parliament were invited to the event. Mariann gave a nice speach, especially because it was so similar to Paul's letter to Tessalonians:) I think Tunne Kelam reinforced the point of loving our brothers by saying that when they moved to Estonia, the main party was the party of starers (Põrnitsejate partei). Of course, we still say that our national food is other Estonian. He talked about how he tried to fit into the parliament, about smiling and being trustworthy.

Some nice Estonians had prepared 600 sandwiches with small special fish, kilu! Sandwiches of course made of black bread. We had a non-Estonian with us and he said he likes the fish and bread!

After the formal part, two Estonian and our friend decided to go to the Estonian pub. Two Estonians, two quite clever phones told me that it is about 1.5 km. Of course the Estonians wnated to walk, no matter what our friend thought. He said "Oh well, you are Estonins". So we walked and found it, after missing some turns.

I ordered my drink and the Estonian behind the bar said: "You are not Estonian, are you?" Did he think that my sentence was well rehearsed? I said in clear Estonian that I am! P wanted to order a glass of water, but he did not understand why would anybody drink water on an independence day, so he convinced her to have wine instead. No seats, because it was full of Estonians. Finally we went upstairs and M, our non-Estonian found a friend, an Estonian. P has colourfully described the contrast of these two personalities, one Estonian, one not.

M asked how I know P, the Estonian. I said we have just met, the weekend before she came to Birmingham to visit me. He seemed puzzled. We had never met because I have been away for quite long time. I met her through another Estonian biologist, who wrote a blog with her. There was another writer (but her I met once before going to visit her far away), she gave me bread starter mix! And I wrote a blog, in Estonian, a more personal and detailed one.

Estonian visits Estonian: Malvern Hills, Cinderella and lots of walking

P has visited London 2 times before, but never I have  been in another country both times. his February she is in London again and could finally come to Birmingham! Her train was 23.00 on Friday. I do not know what I was doing at home, but I was late going to the station, so had cycle to uni, take train to the New Street and luckily was there before an Estonian stepped out from a train!

Train to uni and walk home, with her bag in the new basket of my bike!

We had decided to go to Malvern Hills on Saturday nad of course not looked at the weather forecast. English Drizzle on Saturday, but this could not stop us, especially because we want to walk the West Hishland Way in the summer and it might be raining all the time and we would need to carry tents and food too! So walk to uni, missed first train and had to wait (look around at uni). Next train took us to Malvern Link. it was foggy! Going up and up and up, finally a small electronic device told us that we wer eon 400 metres. But the highest peak is 425! After much looking around, we thought there was something behind the fog that might be a peak. Going towards it, there were people coming from there, so maybe correct direction! Finally on top, we could see great views of fog everywhere. Every direction we looked, it was white. All our pictures have white background. Despite the fog, we had a good lunch up there and good Estonian conversation. Decided to go to Great Malvern Station, we had to find it! OK, lets go down from somewhere. Map told us that we were slightly off the direction, but it was important to get down. Some zigzags and disappearing fog, we found a sigh for a car park, thinking that maybe there is also a road going to the station. There was! We found a village and decided to check for train time before heading to a cafe for a warm drink. Station was a bit far fro the main street and because there was a sign near the station "New cafe, 100 yards", we decided to sit there. What the two metric Estonians did not find was the cafe. We thought 100 yards must be a small distance, nobody would write a sign "Cafe, very far". So my phone told me that there is another one 600  metres away. Metres is good! WEnt there but it was closed, but we found another one!

Back at uni 4.30pm, we walked home, washed and ate and went to city centre. This means, walked to uni nad took train! We went to see Matthew Bourne' Cinderella.

When I was at school, once at the (spoken) exam of music history, I was asked to talk about theatre music. I talked about ballet, operetta, opera, musical in much detail. At the end the teacher said I have forgotten something very important. It was the orchestra! Yes, theatre music is both what happens on the stage and what happens in the hole under the stage!

In this production, there was no orchestra, the reason for being more surround sound and special effects. Fair enough, it was a dance preformance, but I found it really hard to enjoy Prokofjev's music as much as I would have enjoyed it if there had been an orchestra. Only a week ago I was at a jazz concert based on Mahler's music and there were special effects, in the form of including a DJ. If I could choose whether to have a cinema-like special sound with bombing effect of the bomb sounds played on a percussion, I think I would prefer the latter, if there was an orchestra. In the digital age, things can be done more and possibly better with technical tricks, but would I go to see a ballet if in addition to pre-recorded music there was also 3D recording of the dance, possibly with special additional effects, much like water splashing in the 3D cinema in the sea life centre. No. This would not be called ballet, it would be cinema. Even with super-special effects. The more real experience is what distingushes cinema from traditional theatre.

I knew there was no orchestra in Sadler's Wells, OK, it is a more dance-centered place with little space, but was hoping there would be an orchestra in Birmingham Hippodrome. At least I had not read any reviews mentioning no orchestra in here (but many about Sadler's Wells).

Apart from this, there is nothing I could complain about. Setting the fairytale in the middle of Second World War in London definitely went well with the music, especially as it was composed during the war. Some great dances and dancers, especially the godfather (as godmother in traditional Cinderella), the stepmother who looked like Cruella de Vil and the whole character of the whole family, especially the head movement! How much can body language tell! Or course I enjoyed beautiful dances of the Cinderella! The whole setting was very English-like, with tube station and Paddington station. Dancing was so amazing that at times I forgot there is no orchestra.

To P's surprise, not many people give their coats to the cloakroom when going to the theatre. Not long queue, maybe only 100 coats there (numbers were from 100 to 200). Compared to Estonian hundreds, because everybody gives them away and changes shoes. There are even special shoe bags. P went to theatre wearing wellies, because it was muddy and wanted to change. She gave her wellies to the cloakroom and they were the only ones there!

After this, we walked in the city centre, Victoria Square in light and canals and took the train back home and walked form the station. Hot chocolate with E and time to rest for next day!

Sunday was a day of walking again, this time home-uni-canal-city centre-my sister at Five Ways-city centre (because we had to see the bull made of candies in Selfridges, only thing)-my sister-Moor Street. In my sister's we made some food and talked Estonian to her and her flatmate and then from Moor Street, P took a train at 6. I ran to New street for 5.45 to get to church. My train was late and I was late, running and running and my phone battery died too, so had no idea of what time it was. Finally got there.

Student Plus and home.

Muscle pain is showing, we did 30 miles in 2 days, surprisingly most of it on the second day, because first was up and down and not much gain in distance. Now done some stratching, tomorrow will be interesting, but hopefully my cycling muscles are well-rested. Actually all the ache might not only be form the weekend but also from Thursday's skating, but all muscle ache is way better than other pain!

kevadv2simus

I am so tired, from nothing? In Estonia it would be the spring tiredness, from lack of sun. Yes it is gray and dark. No energy, I cannot cannot cannot wake up at 6! I have not been to any early morning (exercise, I mean the 7.30 ones) class this year (excuse that I go skating and live far from uni is not good). Some days I just feel not again, I don't want to leave work to go home in dark rain and wind. I need summer and sun! Or at least some snow. Extremes, not boring grey fog and drizzle. But at least my housemate gave me a lemon drizzle cake today.

Yesterday was C's birthday, nobody knows her age, but as she says, it is just a two-digit figure. True. We made good effort with cake and a picture. A special Chinese message on the cake was understood differently by her and another Chinese-speaker, but she knows what she read out of it and the rest does not matter.

The landlord is coming to visit tomorrow. And I need to wake up early enough to walk to the station, take train, go somewhere, get back and all this before work. Juhhuuu.

Yesterday I made the biggest mistake I blame the Brits for. Asked somebody "Are you OK?" and she said "Yes". I think she did not mean it. My foreign friend said that she thinks lots of people are sad and lonely, but nobody knows.

skating

I have been busy. Busy and kind of tired, I don't know why, I want spring! We went ice skating yesterday with bioinformatics people. Sadly only two. But they were good! I fell and have done damage to my knees again. Second time this week. On Wednesday, it was my first time to going to salsa this year (because I had a workshop the first week of the term and church meeting the second week.). I had missed it! But as the first thing we learnt a shine and with no warmup, it felt something in my knee, quite painful. The same knee that met a hole in the ice a few years ago and stopped me going to the gym for quite a long time.

Uri Caine meets Mahler

http://www.thsh.co.uk/view/uri-caine-meets-mahler
Went to this concert today. Actually I have been a frequent visitor of the Symphony Hall and Town Hall this year! A few weeks ago Australian Rock Show with J, C, A.

Todays concert was jazz based on Mahler's music. Mahler is good, jazz is good, two together is brilliant! There were a pianist (Uri Caine, the leader), violin, clarinet, trumpet, percussion, contrabase and a DJ. Of course I enhoyed the trumpet, I actually sometimes find myself browsing through the concert listings to see any trumpety concert! The percussion was unbelievable! And DJ played cat sound and baby crying. It actually blended in well with the music. One time the cry was playing with the violin and it was interesting, in a good way, not the English way of saying I did not like it. I liked! Of course Uri Caine was brilliant, at one time competing with the percussion, really amazing! In the second half, there was a man on the stage. He was looking at the violinist and the audience. Quite odd. I was wondering why is he there. He had a microphone, but very high. And then he sang.

I also met two Estonians. When going to the Town Hall, somebody said "Tere". I said "Hello", so surprised! Then I realised who it was.

Came home, made  a cake and decorated another for C's birhtday. And finished the cake E and N made yesterday. I got home after skating and they decided we need to test it and can make a new one today!

blind

I was sent a message today by someone I haven't seen for 4 years, saying that I keep walking past somebody without saying Hi. I asked why he does not say hi. He said I am already too far by the time he recognises me.

Yes, in the mornings I am in a hurry and in the evenings it is dark and I am in thoughts.

He said he saw me at the ballet too but did not come to say hi.

In the evening I got a text from another person I haven't seen long time, claiming that he can speak fluent Estonian. 

Brain is full of peaks and networks. But I mt my sis today, only for 10 mins and we tried to get hot chocolate from the machine (she only had 10 mins before her Spanish class) and all we got was hot milk made from milk powder. Not good.

how my ruchsack went travelling and other things

I have been busy, very busy. The term started last week, but I have not even had time to do go to the 7am exercise classes (or I am just lazy). Last week I went to a work-related workshop, this three days full of lots of science, data and coffee. After the workshop I went to almost Wales - stayed in England, but walked to Wales on Saturday, through a  long tunnel. One one side of the tunnel there was water and later I was told there was no barries. It was so dark that I saw nothing, just tried to keep hold of the stone wall.

Coming back on Sunday, the bus as full and I put my rucksack under the bus. When I got off in Birmingham, my rucksack was not there.  We looked in many places and the bus driver remembered that he put my bag there. However, we found somebody else's gray bag. And opened it, just to see that it belonged to a cyclist.

He had cycled back and had asked somebody else to take his bag. And this somebody else took my bag.

N came to church and after that we drove to Selly Oak, where our local knowledge was tested. We do not know Selly Oak and C had to phone her neighbours, asking where a certain road is (all we knew that it is parallel to a main road, but the main road is long.

Got my bag back!

just 4 people

Came home today and what my housemates tell me? That they might have found a place for next year, also including a "Cindy's room".

C stayed with us since Christmas, she left yesterdat, was good having somebody here, somebody who is not busy (a music teacher, but students have holiday). D also has a holiday.

On Saturday we went to the ballet! In Birmingham Symphony Hall, there were St Petersburg's Ballet. Nutcracker, AMAZING! Tchaikovsky is one of my favourite composers, Nutcracker and First Piano Concerto, what can be better!!!

I was thinking, what are my favourite ballet msic and Coppelia is probably one of the tops. AND it will be in Birmingham in June! AND I realised that before the tickets have sold out.

Cultural awareness fact: some people are not familiar with ballet and might ask "Why are there so many people on the stage and why are they all dancing".

Cultural awareness fact: Have to tell people the story before or force them to read it before going to see ballet or opera
Me: "Did you read about the story before, at least on Wikipedia?"
X: "No, I did not want to spoil the experience"

Ballet night continued in pub, sitting outside. And then stargazing with our housemates and E's sister. She knows where everything is!

weird computer

E: "Your computer is doing weird things"
N: "white screen and black writing"
E: "Honestly, we did not do anything to it!"
 

strange day

This song could be named "lazy monkey" for our house, the one who does not wake up early is a lazy monkey according to D.

Woke up pretty early, so early that after sending a text to my housemates at 6.30 one of them replied by the time I was at uni, saying "sleep well".

I told my housemates if they want to take the earliest bus out of town on Sat, this is 4.22 to go to Waseley Hills, this would be cool. Actually we would need to take 6.30 bus, this is quite reasonable, leaving home at 6? I thought nobody would come, but one said yes and other one kind of wants to join too.

I talk rubbish, I should just go to sleep:) But I got more work done today than on a normal day, partly because there were no other people. C just laughed when I said I will go to sleep at 7.30. But now we stayed on the stairs talking and laughing. "it is so warm now, +8" and the English housemate thinks I am crazy. Then the Hungarian says she also thought +2 is warm when she came from Hungarian -10.

Coffee and clementine time continues.

I read some cute articles today too, one related to lettuce was pretty interesting. And explained difference between permutation and combination using some colourful socks and colourful shoes example, because it does matter if left shoe is red and right green or vice versa. And explained some R. She understood or pretended to understand, I have no idea if I could understand my explanations.

All my housemates are couching, I hope I have good immune system.

no updates, sorry! I am fine

My eyes are quite achy, this might be because everybody around me in the house is ill and I will be too (although have resisted for 2 weeks!) or because I spend too much time with a computer. Lets hope is is a mild illness mixed with a bit too much computer.


E. coli is cool, yesterday I read the cutest sentence ever in an article.
To make everything even better, have to listen to Nikns Suns "Karjapoiss"
(on myspace....I first listened to it on facebook though, but cannot link this)
http://www.myspace.com/niknssuns
You can guess that I especially like the flute:)






And a more Sunday specific listening too:

 

I just found out that rubbish (recycling) will not be removed in the morning, 4th week (strike and snow and more snow). 

But shops will be open, I need to buy coffee and clementines (, yes, it is coffee and clementine part of year)