Freezing Friday

Brrrr! *shivers* I do detest winter and all I can do is dream of summer to keep my mind warm. This week has flown by with not much happening apart from "work eat sleep" cycle repeating it self.

This weekend I will definitely stay indoors in the comfort of my cosy bedroom for the most part with some alcoholic refreshments at hand along with some unhealthy snacks. Life will be good ;)

Knackered but happy

There it was the lovely short January holiday with my exceptionally good and dear friend Heavy. We had fun, fresh air a plenty, several pub were patronised and world cured of most evils in few short days according to our brilliant minds in the midst of alcoholic haze.

Here we are in the Cross Keys pub Saturday night with our orange
plastic jewellery and momentarily full pints
(the hen night dress code demand - the orange colour not the full pints)

Her flight took off just a few minutes ago and she should be back in the motherland later tonight with a proper wintry weather, which they can keep over there. For me it is back to my last 14 working days in Covent Garden tomorrow and whilst I am really tired and my gammy leg has more or less resigned to uselessness I have to state I had so much fun!

I do not know when we meet again for a drink or gallon but it might be a while...*deep sigh*

Good weather and fun

We have voted, we have walked around central London, we have had "some" cold beverages in various establishments all over London. Heavy managed to find the presents that she wanted to buy and there was plenty of food along the way. Good life continues and today we will shop locally before heading to Covent Garden tonight to attend the Ms H's hen do. Here is Heavy toasting you my dear readers ;)

January holiday

Phewwww! The "joys" of Northern Line are done for a few days as I am off work until Tuesday. Heavy flies in today and I will meet her in Gatwick and then there might/will be few cold beverages.

But before that I have to and see my fellow Finn Dr B for my six monthly dental check up and got to go and get some hangover cures in the fridge in the form of not so nutritional and healthy food.

Tomorrow we will go to the Finnish embassy and cast our votes to elect the next President of Finland and then go for a election beer. If we manage to get out of the pub we will go in search of some presents for various people

Saturday is our friend Ms H from Kent hen night. As we are quite middle aged there wont be L plates, veils, beer funnels and penis shaped lollipops etc. We meet in a pub in Covent Garden and then go for a dinner which might turn out to be quite lively as there are 16 of us "ladies" with lashings of alcohol.

Then we have until Monday to go back to pub if the tournament fitness lasts. Life is good ;)

F*cking Northern Line!!!

Two days in a row the misery continues. Except today whilst standing on full to the brim Northern Line platform the announcement informed us happy commuters that "There are delays on District Line and good service on all other London Underground lines". Straight lie.

It was not until after I had been squashed in a hot commuter mash in the overcrowded carriage past Stockwell station did the driver almost gleefully announce that there was a signal failure earlier in Tooting Bec that was causing the severe delay to our journey this morning. Hmmmm...communication award 2012 goes to....not these people.

Hey, why don't we bring a huge sporting event that we Londoners can finance from our taxes into this town so that we can exponentially maximise this misery called travelling to work to make a living.

Wait...f*cking Seb Coe has already done it! Arrrrgggghhhhhh! Take you effing "limpics" and f*ck off all ready!

*muttering in disgust whilst walking away with my gammy leg*

Misery Tuesday

This morning Northern Line was suspended and the rain has been belting down from just after 7 o'clock.

And if that was not enough to put me on bad mood, apparently the biggest sun storm in centuries is going to make things go uuh aah today when it hits the Earth's magnetic field.

What a brilliant day for sulking :(

Year of the Dragon

Today hails the Chinese new year and this year is the year of the Dragon. In Chinese astrology the dragon is the only animal of the Chinese zodiac year that is not real, but apparently the Dragon people excel in everything they do.

The dragon Chinese zodiac year is special and my year of the Dragon has kick started rather nicely already. Life is good!

More than thousand words

Picture says more than thousand words as the old saying goes. I came across this article and loved the story that the pictures painted in my head. Good stuff ;)

Hear them roar.....

It'z Friday with news

Change is coming! This week I resigned from my receptionist job of the past almost six years. It felt quite scary to do that during these times of austerity but that precisely is the reason I started looking for a new job in the first place. If I hadn't of done it now it might of been more and more difficult the older I get. And with this new job my pay grade goes up very nicely indeed.

My new receptionist position starting 20th Feb is in barristers chambers so law and order will be the name of the game. Barristers, wigs, black gowns, clerks and solicitors will be the everyday for me. It is scary but good scary change as the legal world is a good place to work because I don't think that they run out of business like ever.

So, this new year is actually off to a much better start than I could ever imagine and with this job change I managed to squeeze in three more days to my Arillas holiday. The dropless January has to go as there is some serious celebrating to be done this weekend.


Life is so very very good ;)

Fancy being a spook?

Whilst leading a boring quiet life, I came across this MI5 challenge to test ones suitability to become a spook.

I did not do too bad and managed to get a score of 6 out possible 8. There was a button to click for apply, alas I am only Queens subject in this country not a citizen so my application probably would have not gone far.

But if I had applied I would of not told you lovely people anyway as that would be not permitted. Well...intelligence officer KB has a nice sound to it ;)

Quiet countdown

Not a lot is happening in my life at the mo, but the countdown for holidays has truly started and here are the tickers ticking away for this year. They feel like really far away at this time but before I know it, I will be sitting at Gatwick airport bar getting all excited. Life is good!

It'z Friday the 13th

I love a Friday 13th as it has always been a lucky day for me over the years. This week has been extra tiring for various reasons and every morning I have slept right to the alarm clock going off waking up with a weird sense of not being where I actually am. Every night there have been clear and vivid deep dreams that are in colour and good stuff they have been too.

Tomorrow morning there is NO alarm so I will spend a bit longer in my dreams. Have a good weekend what ever you do!

Not a lot happening....

It'z 1st Friday of the year

This week has gone in the haze of tiredness and gale force winds. Work has been quite busy and the weather even busier. This Friday is hugely appreciated even though there is no lovely glass of chilled white vino in the evening.

The plans are to do not much this weekend as always, except the usual chores. Have a good one where ever you are and what ever you get up to. Life is good!

Surf's up with Tillman & Friends

The holiday season is truly over and it is back to work today with torrential rain and gale force winds for me *shivers*. I will have to surf my way to the tube station and hope I wont get knocked over.

Well, what better way to do a bit of California dreaming on a day like this than watch Tillman and friends surf away in the Rose Parade on the worlds heaviest float. Good stuff!

Sunday 2012

So this is what 2012 looks like? The weather is unseasonably warm here in London town but I don't mind at all as the saying goes: "Start as you mean to go on!"

This January will be dropless (no alcohol for the duration of the month) as per tradition, but this year it is only for the most part as my dear friend Heavy is arriving on the 26th to attend the Hen Night for Ms H from Kent which is happening on the 28th.

And there will be alcohol. Lots of it. So the last weekend of this month will be loud and rowdy so put your proverbial helmet on and hold tight ;)

Other than that I won't make any promises and I would like to wish you all a prosperous 2012!

2011 Obituary

From my personal point of view this year has been nice and steady with no enormous highs or any deep lows - and that is the way I love it. My best friends have once more been the most important thing in my life and will continue to be that for the unforseeable future.

The world outside my life has been mostly of incredible idiocies, pure evilness, all kinds of religious nuts and natural disasters way too many to mention and I am sure there are more qualified people to talk about that anyway. I am just simply too tired with the bad news and these days choose to ignore them mostly.

My love affair with travel and especially Lisbon and Arillas continued with a trip to Finland squeezed in between them. But despite the day dreaming of something else than dreary every day, the middle age has also started to creep in as I have noticed myself to be more mellow and desiring real comforts rather than grazy and fast experiences that inevitably include crazy and fast people.

Other stuff - to mention a couple of favorites was a new tattoo on my body and I also got a new nephew as well.

Life was good in 2011!

It'z the last Friday of 2011

Here we are - last Friday of the year and the barricades are coming up here in central London to keep the hordes of idi... err revellers controlled when they decide wisely(???) to be in central London for a New Year's Eve *shaking my head*



But today from 16.00 I am free to get away from central London, which I will do as swiftly as the Northern Line allows me. My New Year celebrations(?) happen at the comfort of my home with plenty of cold beverages. Life is good ;)

Before another long weekend

Today and next two days I am back to work. Mind you, we only work 10.00 - 16.00 so not too bad with a full pay. Then it will be another long weekend and we get to next year which means that my beloved holidays are creeping nearer ;)

And so the life plods on...

In bed with the Reaper Crew

This weekend has gone smoothly with gorgeous food, drink, some pressies and a Skype date with my nephews Young-Vic and little V-Bright. The modern technology is just marvellous in my book and it was good to see the little rascals live and I always do enjoy talking to my Big Brother and Sis-In-Law as well.

My favourite present along with the Tottenham Hotspur 2012 calendar was the Sons of Anarchy whole 3rd season DVD. I have been riveted with first 4 episodes and shortly I will indulge in some more. Life is good ;)

Silly Season Greetings

Long weekend ahead

The bah humbug hazzle that is called x-mas is gathering pace here in London town and the last day at work has started. The weather has been thankfully mild but there is rain on its way alledgedly this afternoon.

The clients at work have remembered me with quite a few bottles of white and red vino, so the long weekend should go nicely with me walking around the house with a glass in my hand for the next few days. Life is good ;)

Twas Monday before X-Mas

Cold and grey in London town today. Mind you, the underground was lovely and empty as most people seem to have taken both this week and next week of work. Even the streets of Covent Garden seem to be quiet but that probably changes by the afternoon.

Well, normal hours for me this week except on Friday we shut the shop at 16.00 and then it is glorious looooong 4 day weekend with food, drink and even some merriment.

Just got to get through this week *deep sigh*

Wild about Harry

I hedged my bets over three months ago for the gorgeous Harry Judd who actually went and won the whole kerfuffle that is Strictly Come Dancing with his professional dance partner Aliona last night.

He was simply the best of the bunch and a totally deserving winner. Good stuff!

X-Mas party pics

Last night was fun, the food was good and plenty of it and the Spanish beer went down a treat. And I only had a 1/4 of a hangover this morning so not too bad at all! Here are couple of pic's of the event.

Compulsory party hats on me and Ms B

Food was good!

Flaming cocktails were served - JE looks suitably impressed :)

The Team 2011 after dinner

Tiempo de la fiesta de Navidad!

Tonight is the work team's annual piss up ...errrr .....the team dinner and this year we went with Spanish after doing French last year and the year before.

The venue is called Salvador & Amanda and it is just 15 meters from our building so the alledged bad winter weather should not affect us too badly at all.

Saturday is expected to be a hangover day - but I might well post how it all went sometime during the weekend. Good times!

Happy 6th B-Day my little blog © Karelian Blonde!

Today six years ago I started this blog with my first post which was short and succinct. I started to keep this blog in anticipation of moving back to UK after few years in Finland just to let my peeps know how life is plodding along.

Well - enthused, ranted and vented I have indeed but my favourite posts have of course been about the good times that have happened in my life which includes all my travels, my friends and my family.

But then there has also been the "dangerous" social and political commentary which has come from the heart with all the supporting facts I could find and choose to include!.

Well hell, it is just my opinion that matters here as it is my blog and no one else's ;)

You, my dear readers, are a right old motley crew consisting of family, friends and occasional internet wanderer including CIA. But anyhow, you are all most welcome to keep reading and I appreciate you doing it along with all your comments and reactions.

So, Happy B-Day to my blog © Karelian Blonde and I will try and keep it going for a few more years to come with more stories of every day life and good times to come ;)

But remember dear readers - "When all is said and done - It does not matter ;)"

HMS Ocean crew sings and dances

I am not one for xmas jollies or songs but this vid I thougt was absolutely brilliant! HMS Ocean just returned safely from deployment in Libya yesterday just in time for xmas.

This what they made whilst onboard and it even got me old Grinch grinning stupidly :)



Good stuff!

Friday Friday...

...such a good feeling that I had to say it twice! Sunny but cold morning here in London town but here at work the building is positively buzzing as there are few office parties taking place later on and the alcohol deliveries have already started.

I have no plans for the weekend but to stay warm indoors and maybe enjoy a beverage or few to aid the feeling of warmth from inside as well ;)

Be happy, what ever you do and have a good weekend!

I'll drink to justice - or for whatever is going

Once again the law in this country seems to be one for loud minorities in the fear of a backlash than to us mere mortals. "Kill the white slag" was what these girls yelled whilst proceeded to kick and punch a girl who was waiting for a taxi.

The judge did not jail them because these girls were "not used to to alcohol because of their religion".

Justice...? Hmmmm....

Mean while in the US of A, "another young woman" also of a certain religious persuasion was caught drinking and driving and thrown straight to jail. Obviously regretting deeply - of being caught. Oh deary me....

Isn't it time that people would stop hiding behind excuses and just take responsibility of your actions - sober and drunk ones.

I drink, I get drunk and fall over as my religion dictates. Hail the God Dionysus!