© Karelian Blonde

This chap called James approached me via email to ask if he could guest write in my blog and no doubt I am not the only one. Why would he possibly want to do that??? Mind truly boggles...More than likely it is a scam of some sort.

If I should allow this "guest writing" this wouldn't be my blog then, would it? The dictionary defines blog as follows:

Main Entry: blog
Part of Speech: n
Definition: an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log
Example: Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.
Etymology: shortened form of Weblog
Usage: blog, blogged, blogging v, blogger n

This blog is my personal view of my world and all the opinions are mine as are my holiday memories. And to point out to anyone who cannot see the bleeding obvious, the title of my blog states: © Karelian Blonde

Midweek

In the news it relentlessly speculated if Britain's only (yes, we have a severe deficiency in good looks in politics) good looking politician David Miliband might be leaving the game after his brother got the top job. Seriously, I possibly could not care less but it is very very sad to loose the only Right Honorable Eye Candy in British politics.



But a thing that really surprised me yesterday was when I got talking to a rugby playing chap who works in my building. He mentioned that he had visited my native Finland few years ago playing against Finland's national rugby team. Finland's national rugby team??? Never heard of it but as it turns out there is indeed one and they are a part of Finnish Rugby Federation. Who knew...?

Other than that life is plodding on steadily and almost boringly. Then again I believe that excitement is severely over rated at my age but I'll save some for the Paris trip ;)

Could it BEE more Monday?

This huge bumble bee and a his friend were spotted accross the street infront of Ed and Larry's shop at lunch time. You see it all here in Covent Garden ;)

Lazy weekend

After a non eventful week a non eventful weekend followed. I have done not much of nothing apart from my chores, which has been nice.

There has been few sneaky glasses of red vino and smoked salmon sandwiches. Now I am off for a little walk too get the Sunday papers and then I will carry on with blissful quietness which will only be broken by occasional rustle of news paper or the sound of my tea cup landing on the bedside table.

Life is good ;)

Friday

Friday in chilly and rainy London town and not many people are smiling. This week has flown by in the haze of work, eat, sleep and commute. Nothing has happened so nothing to report. Well, apart from the unseasonally warm weather which unfortunately came to an end yesterday. Much appreciated anyway :)

Bob "W" Crow has predictably walked out from the talks with LU so next month there will be more strikes on the underground. No biggie but annoying.

This weekend The London Tattoo Convention takes place once more, but I won't be attending due to monetary restrictions. It would be great to get some new ink but it will have to wait for better days.

But all in all life is good and there will be red vino tonight ;)

Show me the Monet!

Min brought to my attention this weekend to my delight that there is a huge Monet exhibition in Galeries nationales (Grand Palais, Champs-Elysées) while we are in Paris. And with the marvel of modern technology I went ahead booked my self a ticket over the internet to attend the said exhibition. Can't wait!!!

Il Rottenweiler

The Catholic German dude has arrived and already stirred some proverbial shit.

Covering up crimes that priests have systematically committed against children, denying and falsifying facts about condom use and AIDS, bashing gays and cherry on the top is that now he has gone and compared the atheists to Nazi's. Way to go on allegedly being a tolerant religious forgiving dude...NOT!

Once again, organized religion is stirring unnecessary bother and insult to masses of us unbelievers. Just give over Il Rottenweiler all ready and go back and rule your country size of a stamp filled with riches and men wearing long dresses (but don't get me started on the Swiss guards uniforms *LOL*). Because when all is said and done, it doesn't matter.

Live and let live! Life is good, it's Friday and there will be red vino at the end of it ;)

Vin à Paris

I had a sneaky one holiday day left for this year and I was pondering what to do with it. With a little help from Min (to celebrate her b-day!) the decision was made to go to Paris. I have never been before and it will be the first time for me to cross the channel underground in a Eurostar train. We will go on a Friday morning, stay one night and after pottering about all Saturday we take Le Shuttle back home in the early evening.

There will be wine and a museum or two and probably my favourite: a wine museum! I want to see a Monet and check out Chanel head quarters, because once I win the lottery I will have to know where to go to get me a Chanel suit ;)

Eiffel Tower will have to be observed but as we travel at the end of November, we might just stay on the ground and not go up.Then we might visit a Bistro or two to enjoy a beverage or two. Good times!

CIA visits my blog

It really tickles me pink to see who visits my blog for what ever reason. Today I checked my Statcounter and it told me that Central Intelligence Agency from Reston Virginia visited my blog and the reason was because they were trying to find Karjala beer.

© Karelian Blonde

Central Intelligence Agency (???.??.???.???) [Label IP Address]
Reston, Virginia, United States, 0 returning visits

Date Time Type WebPage 11th September 2010 02:17:42

Page View http://www.google.ca/search?q=Karelia beer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Now how funny is that!!!

Monday musings

Chilly Monday morning in grey London town and the autumn really starts to make it self known. People are starting to look more serious and I did not see one person smiling this morning in the tube.

This week the Catholic German dude is coming to town. The movement for us mere mortals will be restricted when he is on the move, as his holiness will take to the streets in his pope mobile. And for the pleasure of us mortal tax payers, we will foot the bill for his security. *shaking my head*

Strictly Come Dancing revealed the new line up, new set and few tweaks to the format. Of the celebreties my clear favourite is right honourable Anne Widecombe. I am sure she wont be a spectacular dancer but I have utmost respect for her because she is giving it a go.

This years dish in professional dancers is the new import born in the east of Finland called Artem Chigvintsev. Phaaaawrrrr...I am so looking forward to him strutting his gorgeous stuff! *controlled panting*

To top the weekends tv entertainment, Robbie Williams took to the stage in Twickenham for the televised Heroes concert. During the first song he looked terrified but then eased back into being the excellent entertainer that he is. Good stuff :)

Well, the sun just came out so Monday will carry on brighter. Life is good!

Quiet weekend

This weekend has been quiet and sunny. So one more week that I have managed to dry my laundry outside and that is an autumnal bonus in my book.

There has also been few beers and this weekend it has been Scottish product from a Edinburgh brewery and the beer is called Innis & Gunn Blonde which is tad lighter than the original and not so "whiskeyish". But it is strong stuff with the alcohol content hovering around 6% so careful consumption is recommended unless you are well rehearsed in the art of drinking ;)

Right To Arm Bears

These days of all of us are living in the global village and the news travel fast and far in a nano second. This week this American religious dude decided to take exception to someone else’s religion and wanted to arrange a book burning party because he wanted to say his piece, to which he has a right.

In America there is a marvellous thing called the Bill of Rights and its First Amendment guarantees the freedom of speech for everyone in America. This American religious dude is hanging onto his right and rightly so in my opinion even if I dont like his opinion. Then again, I have heard that in America they have a right to bear arms and arm bears ;)

In the less stable countries of certain religious persuasion every day seems to be burn the flag/effigy of a foreign leader/bible day and the rest of the world just has to put up and shut up.

What is wrong with this picture? Are we here in "the West" more intelligent, more educated and more tolerant than the people in "the East" ? It seems totally unfair that they can insult anything and everything here, but no one can critisise them because of their religious persuasion. They seem to think that violence is justified and we should bow to their way of living in the year sword and the stone. I don't think so and not on my watch!

Go on chaps, relax and live and let live! I will try and ignore the lot of you religious nuts and continue with my happy infidel excistence. And on that note happy Friday ;)

Happy Friday!

Got to work 1 - Bob Crow 0

This strike morning dawned sunny and first thing in the morning was to check how the underground is running if it is running. Most lines were suspended but to my delight the Aslef drivers managed to keep the Northern Line running with good service. Station closures were a plenty but South Wimbledon station was still open about 07.20 so I swiftly tightened my ankle support, put on my MBT’s and headed out of the door to September sunshine.

Got to the South Wimbledon station where a very hassled looking lady was behind the door grill trying to explain to the irate commuters that the station had to close. Quick retrace and to the bus stop where a no 57 just arrived and although it was full to the brim, it got me to Wimbledon station in 5 min. There I walked to the platform and the 07.58 train to Waterloo arrived promptly. I did not manage to get a seat but I was in Waterloo 16 min later and the underground station was open. Yeiiii! I squeezed into overflowing carriage with the few hundred new closest people in my life and managed to squeeze out in Leicester Sq and made it to work at normal time to my boss's delight.

As for going home today after work…that is a whole new challenge but I am sure I will make it and give Bob Crow a two finger salute. HA!

This weekend I have been mostly....

Oh joy...

Transport for London to me
show details 09:27

Dear Ms KB,

I am writing to let you know that the RMT and TSSA have called a 24 hour strike on the Tube next week. If the strike goes ahead, Tube services are likely to be disrupted from early evening on Monday 6 September and will not return to normal until Wednesday morning.

Where possible, we will keep stations open and will run as many trains as we safely can. Please check before you travel to see how services are affected.

A range of alternative transport is available. Cycling or walking may also be practical options for many.

For the latest information and help planning your journeys, visit tfl.gov.uk


Yours sincerely,

Mike Brown
Managing Director
London Underground

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Thank you very much RMT and TSSA! Beginning of next week will be no doubt interesting and/or frustrating in regards of travelling to and from work. You can guess what my opinion is about these days almost obsolete unions, and it ain't exactly pretty. Union bosses are earning top money and make noises every now and then alledgedly claiming to protect workers rights without ever actually achieving anything except causing problems for the rest of the Londoners. *shaking my head*

On a brighter note, this thankfully short working week has passed in haze of post holiday blues, busy days at work and walks in sunshine during lunch times. Weekend weather should be still good so after the Saturday chores I have decided to do sweet nothing whilst enjoying a few drinks. Life is good :)