rose's random rambly writings

To be honest, I'm not that big a fan of New Year's Eve. Mostly because you simply have to have a great time then. Expectations are through the roof, leaving many people with an anticlimax around midnight.
The last years, me and some friends have had an unpretentious celebration with dinner and drinks. Ok, so it still is a party, but without high expectations and pretentiousness .
Everybody is bringing something to the party, and it has fallen upon me to bring my famous chocolate balls. (One thing I actually can master in the kitchen. )

So, while rolling the balls and fixing the dress before I leave (in my new party shoes )...

...I would like to say that I've had another great year here with all of you. I've witnessed so many funny moments and hilarity, as well as some not so funny moments, and I'm glad we experienced that together. This year wouldn't have been the same without you. So...
Happy New Year!
I hope we'll have many more!
Here's to 2009!

Since the times ahead will be a bit hectic (and the fact that I might be a little bit lazy), I decided to write a short summary of my last week instead of several posts. That doesn't necessarily mean there won't be any more posts on the subjects, I think I have a picture or two to show .

• I was childishly amused at what I found in the bathroom on the hotel*.

• I rambled along La Rambla once or thrice.

• I witnessed the kinky sex of a certain hamster . It was in a cage. In public !

• I bought an umbrella from a man on the street.

• I got my wallet stolen at a café .

• The previous lead me to closer contact with the police than I have ever had before .

• I had the strongest martini ever

• I didn't visit a single museum .

• But I saw lots of tourist-y things, including lovely modernista buildings.

• I got lost in Barri Gòtic more than once .

• I also lost my heart in the city, so I definitely will have to go back again

* On the bathroom wall, there was a niche with two boxes labelled "Man" and "Woman". They contained everything you'd need for a stay. I'm thinking about doing a post about that later. Oh, and there were slippers too! And bathrobes! Fancy .

I'm having the day off today and can't really say I've done anything productive...

Anyway, it's freezing outside, and I mean that literally. It's below zero degrees so apart from a quick trip to the shop, I've been cuddling up indoors.

Those of you who think that can't be done in an stylish manner - think again.

Thanks to this fantastic martini mug, I am now enjoying a drink of hot cocoa feeling elegant even though my hair is a mess and my clothes should really have been in the laundry basket .

And best of all - it's so easy to make

Recipe:
One cup of milk
One dash of chocolate powder

Modus operandi:
Mix and heat milk and chocolate while stirring

Oh, and notice how the marshmellow looks like an olive?

Yesterday I saw one of the first signs that winter season is upon us here in the north.
Yes, I have seen snow earlier this year, but yesterday I saw a man dressed in his ski suit.
A bit odd perhaps, considering there isn't any snow in the city but then - prepared tracks are only a subway ride away.
Norwegians claim to be born with skis on their feet, so people with skis are a quite common sight during the winter months. Needless to say, people around here are quite fond of winter and winter sports. And they are proud of their accomplishments in the latter.

The sight of ski-man got me thinking about a debate that went on here a while ago.
Due to not meeting the standards for arranging the 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, it was decided that Holmenkollen ski jump in Oslo should be demolished and replaced with a new up-to-date construction.
Because of its history and tradition - the tower has been around since 1939 - many people thought it was horrendous to demolish it while others happily embraced a new and improved ski jump.
Well, history and tradition had to bend this time, and demolishment started last month.

One of the reasons those opposed to a new ski jump used, were that Holmenkollen ski jump is one of Oslo's (maybe even Norway's) main attractions.
Now, I have to admit that coming from a neighbouring country, albeit from further south where we don't walk around with skis (or even ski suits!) in the winter time, I can't remember having heard about Holmenkollen before I moved here.
Therefore, I'm curious to hear from you guys. Have you heard of Holmenkollen?
And what do you think of when I say Oslo or Norway?

Tomorrow, I will once again be southbound. It's another business trip, but this time I'm taking the opportunity to visit my dad a couple of days first, so I won't be completely internet-less until Tuesday .

I just realized the other day that one of the persons working at the company I'm visiting is called Peter Griffin !
I'm not going to meet him, but I might make discreet inquiries of his office whereabouts just to see what he looks like.

Speaking of which - this is still funny, hoax or not:


For those of you unfamiliar with Peter Griffin, clicky.