sometimes.
It all feels just useless. You feel like you belong nowhere, and everything feels meaningless.
Existensial crisis? I think not. However, pretty sure this was some kind of crisis.
At the moment I am just waiting for my life to start and enjoy the trip there. So to speak.
Can’t wait to feel like an adult again!
And not the ‘Grease’-kind.
I was sitting outside for 2 hours today (finally, however on the expense of going to the gym, what a shame) and I finally got my first tanlines!
I am happy in my new job now after being told that ‘the dream’ would not happen, and as it turns out, this job is pretty swell after all! Just a couple of weeks ago my whole team went to Hamburg for a 5 day training session, and next week we are going to Copenhagen for this years summer party.
Additionally, we had our offer accepted on a flat! So it’s all pretty exciting at the moment. Motivation to survive living in a house with three (soon to be four) other adults I am not even related to. Breathe in, breathe out.
So the new year came and went, and with that more stress than I have ever experienced. And I have done a Masters-degree in one year instead of two….
I was made redundant (which was more of a relief than anything else, really) 3 working days before I went on holiday to Florida (Disney! HARRY POTTER!) for two weeks, and since that my life has been a flurry of uncertainty.
We left for Florida with the perfect (!) flat, and with that one of my New Year’s goals, secured, and came back to the news of delays with the mortgage, delays with the lease extension and in the last set of news we were told that the lease extension would be too expensive for the vendor to be willing to do it. We are negotiating this at the moment, but its not looking good. So we are hanging on hopes, waiting for a definite yes or no.
I managed to find a new job. I had two interviews quite close together, and one of them for the ‘dream’-job, however the other job came back first. Now I am struggling because I have started the other job, and it’s hard to do that whole-heartedly when I know ‘the dream’ could be right around the corner, they might just be slow processing the candidates. I am doing my best trying not to think about it, but it is super hard. Now it has been a week over when they told me at the interview I would hear by, so I am thinking I might not have gotten it, but it is just hard to push it aside without a clear answer.
This shouldn’t be allowed. There should be a penalty for leaving people hanging like this. Some of us get ill, you know, because we cannot ‘just not think about it’. Easier said than done. It’s pissing me off.
Oh well. At least I am off tomorrow, so that I don’t have to feel bad for (perhaps not so) secretly checking my phone for emails or missed calls every 5 mins.
Give me strenght.
I was working for 5 weeks and then I had/have 2 weeks of prebooked holiday off. I am not sure if I want to go back. Holidays are too good and I miss all my lovely Norwegians, friends and family.
I am excited about the new year and can’t wait to see what it brings. I hope that by this time next year at least a few of my goals have been reached. The two “goals” I feel most strongly about are me and my Person finding our own place to live and that I find THE job, the job I feel I could stay in, at least for a little while.
I hope to manage to stay strong and healthy, continue my chiropractic care and start exercising regularly again. (I just need the effin paycheck first…) I hope to continue maintaining strong bonds with my loved ones, no matter how near or far, and welcome new citizens of the world into a safe place they know they are loved and feel it every day. I hope to grow better and bigger with my Person and show him the same gratitude and appreciation he shows me, and that we keep sharing love and admiration for eachother in everything we do.
And I want a kitten….
(borrowed from Supermarie, translated by me)
three words that describe me: dedicated, bubbly and caring
the first thing I do in the morning is: scroll through Instagram, Bloglovin’ and Facebook on my phone, dreading to get up
when I listen to the radio I: constantly change the radio station to find a song I can sing to (or plug my phone in instead)
I am currently looking forward to: having a boyfriend/girlfriend-weekend next weekend, having my mom over in three weeks and buying and wrapping Christmas pressies ❤ YAYYY
my wardrobe is full of: clothes, accessories and underwear. I am actually very good at getting rid of stuff I don’t wear, which causes me to almost have too few clothes. First world problem?
when I have to dress up for something: I tend to go for classy but comfy, so I can feel and look fabolous at the same time
make-up is: something that makes me feel better about myself, however I love the make-up free days
the first time I tried alcohol I was: 15 and at a really fun party with my entire class. I had two beers and was ‘soooo drunk’.
I feel sexy: after I work out (and when he looks at me THAT way)
at the coffee shop I order: black americano, chai tea latte or some sort of flavoured latte, depending on my mood
at the pub I order: red wine or cider
at a party you will find me: either trying to have a conversation with someone, wanting to go home or dancing (most likely all three at some point at any party)
by my bed I keep: fluffy slippers and a bedside table with candles and pictures of my family
I can’t live without: tasty food, good conversations and my friends/family
kids are: necessary
at night: I sleep
in my handbag I carry: hand sanitiser, hand cream, lipseal, gum, purse, iPod, umbrella
working out is: satisfying
politics is: too hard to keep up with
love is: life
this autumn I will: keep trying hard to get a job
all girls should: be happy and confident
all boys should: realise that feminism is not an ‘f-word’
I am best at: listening
I am worst at: staying confident
I just love: my life
what I want to work with: design or anything that challenges me
I admire: strong people that follow their dreams and succeed
my favourite feeling: having no specific plans, lots of snacks, sweets and nice foods, hanging out with people I love
my worst habit: always multitasking
member of: three loving families
I believe in: myself and the good in people
you might not know that I: don’t care what I do or where I am, as long as I enjoy myself, feel appreciated and experience love
at school I am: hopefully never going to find myself again
as a friend I am: trustworthy
when I have time off I: love chilling
I am passionate about: justice
in 5 years I have: a job I love in a place I like
in 10 years I am: a wife and mother
lying is OK if: it is only temporarily (i.e. about a surprise for someone) or keeps someone from feeling bad
I tried doing this quickly without too much thinking to make sure the answers were true. Hope you learnt a little bit about me!
Is it wrong that at the moment, I just loooooove bumming around the house watching Netflix and ‘Come Dine With Me’, going for runs and walks when the weather allows, eating greek yoghurt with berries (and the occasional cheeky sweet or chocolate piece…), just chilling in general?
Because I do.
It has been 3 weeks since I officially finished uni and 2 weeks since I moved out of London. It feels weird living in someone else’s house, but at the same time I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to stay and actually pursue my dream career. Just a year and a bit ago I had a completely different future planned, it is certainly strange how so much changes in such short time. It feels like it was in another life, literally.
The English ‘countryside’ is beautiful and at the moment I am enjoying the slow pace, the nature, having to walk everywhere (‘popping over to the shop’ takes about 1,5 hrs…) and learning the bus schedule. My only responsibilities at the moment are looking and applying for jobs (which takes up a very limited amount of time every day) and tidying up after myself, which feels looooovely after a year of giving a 110% constantly at uni.
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
Last Thursday one of my favourite people (and flatmate for the final 3 months of our MA) wanted a final gathering of London friends in no other place than one of my favourite London-areas; Angel in Islington. There is something special about this place, it is just so cozy and lovely, and a nice mix between modern and traditional architecture. I spent a few hours there before we were meeting, and then the thought came to me “Why not make an “Angel-guide”?” so that’s what I though I was going to do today.
The area got it’s name from The Angel, which is a grade II listed building on the corner of Islington High Street and Pentonville Road. It also gave it’s name to Angel tube station (Northern Line, Bank branch), which is located in the bottom of Upper Street, the main road through Angel. Upper Street branches out by Islington Green, and turns into Essex Road. By these roads you find the main “sights” in Angel.
Eat
I have been to Angel to eat several times and I have never been disappointed. My favorite places are both Italian (erm I always love italian, so I am a teensy bit biased there…) and were places we found generous, reasonably prices portions and good service/friendly staff. La Vita E Bella in Theberton Street (off Upper Street) had a 3 course lunch with wine for £12 last time I went there, and I would definitely go back! La Divina is located a bit further up Upper Street. It has fun, quirky decor and amazing food. Yum! When that is said…. Just walking up Upper Street will make you want to have an un-filling stomach and eternal amounts of money, because there are soooo many places to eat. I think you could eat somewhere new there every day for weeks! There are also several chain-restaurants in Angel, which seems a lot less busy (at least it has looked that way as I walked by) for example Five Guys, The Breakfast Club, Cabana and The Slug and Lettuce.
Cabana colour pop, seen from Islington Green
Drink
The Bull is a small-ish pub on Upper Street with two floors, and we were lucky enough to get a table on the top floor. Good draught beers and nice selection in cider and wine, cozy atmosphere and fairly cheap. The Duke of Cambridge is the pub where we actually met last Thursday. Located in St. Peter’s Street (off Essex Road) the area is a bit more quiet which was nice. Good selection of wines in various colors and price ranges, and the most amazing beef bourguignon I have ever had. YUM! Other pubs/bars I have had recommended but not gone to myself are The King’s Head Theatre Pub, 69 Colebrooke Row, The Old Queens Head and Earl of Essex.
Yummy yummyyyyy! Beef bourguignon at Duke of Cambridge.
Shop
The first thing that comes to mind is of course Camden Passage, a pedestrian street off Upper Street only moments away from Angel tube station. It is packed with quaint shops, antiques and cafes, and makes a really nice break from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding areas. I love walking here, browsing and looking at the nice window displays and buildings. There is also a more ‘conventional’ shopping centre, called The Shopping Centre with entrance between Accessorize and Oasis in Upper Street. It has shops like the ones just mentioned, H&M, Gap and so on as well as cafès/food booths like Pret a Manger, Starbucks and Mr. Pretzel. Also a Vue Cinema and the O2 Academy is located here. You can also continue down Liverpool Road and/or up Chapel Market (pedestrian street) to find foodshops, Superdrug/pharmacies, street vendors and cheap knick-knack shops. Top tip: there is a free public toilet in the shopping centre which is actually quite clean and nice.
Look at/Do
The area in general is just beautiful and the last time I went there I actually managed to venture away from Upper Street/Essex Road and have a proper look around, which is something I would really recommend. Lots of beautiful architecture, quiet side streets and lovely green spaces. Duncan Terrace Gardens and Regent’s Canal are two very beautiful, calm spaces quite close to the main streets, which only makes them more special. I will never get this about London, how only a short distance away from traffic, it can be so quiet. Along the Regent’s Canal there are narrow paths, lovely river boats and back views of houses (even an art gallery!) and it was just a lovely, little walk. The Business Design Centre off Upper Street hold regular fairs and events and is in general a nice building to look at. Everyman Screen on the Green (in Upper Street once again) is part of the Everyman independent cinema chain which is a cinema experience that is a bit different. I haven’t been here, but it is on my list! It looks like an old-school cinema with a lounge and everything.
That was my little “Angel-guide”. There is soooo much more to this area than what I’ve written about here, this is just the tiny piece I have experienced. Please share with me if you have other recommendations, as I am definately going back.
Sometimes I feel like I should be sad. I crave the feeling of crying, I mean really crying. Trembling with silent sobs, face streaked from tears. It is one of the best worst feelings ever.
Tomorrow is moving day (at least for most of my stuff, I am staying until Friday myself) and today me and my lovely, wonderful flatmate have invited some people over for pre-drinks and then we are set on Oslo Bar in Hackney later.
I haven’t even packed yet, but I was planning to do that tomorrow morning. Hungover packing is a good idea, right?
I had people over this weekend from Norway, which was lovely. I got to see some sights again! My parents and other friends have been over several times so they have already seen all this, but this particular friend had never been to London before! When they arrived on Friday we walked through Bayswater, Hyde Park past Italian Gardens, Peter Pan, Princess Diana-memorial, Serpentine and out on Hyde Park Corner. From there we walked to Buckingham Palace and up Pall Mall, to Trafalgar Square and then Leicester Square. Then we took the tube to Holborn and our ‘usual pub’.
On Saturday we went to Notting Hill and Portobello Road, then Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and London Eye, walked along Southbank and to Waterloo Bridge, got on a bus to St. Pauls (to catch a little break) and had lunch and coffee near the cathedral, then walked through the City of London and to Tower of London, over Tower Bridge and to London Bridge station. From there we went to Harrods just to have a look. I am not particularly rich or into designer attire, but the food hall at Harrods is amazing and much kinder to your wallet (at least if you choose wisely)! I ended up buying the best macaroon I have ever had (which was huuuuge and tasted of coffee and hazelnut with a filling of rich chocolate and a salted caramel centre – heaven!) and three packs of flavoured black teas; strawberry, apple and mango (amazing as well). After Harrods we started to get hungry so we went to Piccadilly Circus just to have a quick look and then went and ate at an amazing chinese place in Chinatown called Plum Valley. When we finished dinner the shops on Oxford Street were still open for another hour and a half so we went there for a little bit. Then I had to go home as my back was literally killing me… Which is the sign of a good day where lots has been done! These 1,5 days were hard, but a proof that if you really want to, you can see “all” the London sites in two days. If we had a whole day on Friday as well, I would have taken them to Regents Park/Primrose Hill and the Museums in South Kensington, which were the only “famous attractions” we didn’t manage to see on the trip.
The macaroon (and my diseased-looking hand!)
Sunday my visitors wanted a ‘couples day’, which meant chore-time for me…… I had to start packing for my move next weekend (!!) so I had to get boxes and storage boxes. I also did some food shopping. Went to the gym, my last day at the gym was this Sunday… Now I have to struggle to stay fit, haha. Made dinner, talked to my mom, did some work for the exhibition at uni this Friday. Then watched a movie called ‘Chef’ (it was good!) and slept. A very ordinary day, sadly.
Last run at the gym and test run without orthotics (which went very well!)
Yesterday I had to take a quick trip to uni in the morning. Then I met my visitors at Oxford Circus. We walked down to Piccadilly Circus through Soho, and on our way we had lunch in Kingly Court at Whyte and Brown. Yuuum! We also had a quick look in Choccywoccydoodaah – a shop where everything is made of or covered in chocolate. We walked from Piccadilly Circus to Covent Garden, had a look around, bought macaroons in Ladurèe, and then it was time for them to leave and me to go back to uni…. I finally finished my exhibition (just have to print, mount and hang it today) and then met my boyfriend to have dinner at Five Guys. Oh dear lord, that was fantastic! A proper messy, sticky burger designed by me, with fries and bottomless drink (I chose raspberry coke zero and made the rookie mistake of filling it up completely, so I only tried that one flavour – haha!) is not frowned upon on a Monday eve. The rest of the evening was spent in bed watching Parks and Recreation, the perfect start of the week after a superbusy weekend!
Delicious!
not so ordinary 