Hmmmm

We found out yesterday that the house we were hoping, or even expecting to buy if or when we manage to sell our has now been sold to someone else.

To some extent that was a relief because it take the pressure off us to buy a rather expensive house and we can now look around again to find something, but deep down it is rather disappointing no to be getting the one that we wanted in the first place. We are in the fortunate position of not not having to move, but just wanting to move so there is no rush or pressure on us and in reality, the longer it takes to sell our current house, the better off we will be financially.

Anyway it's back to the drawing board now so that we can look for something suitable or decide to stay here for another 5 years or until we do actually need more space rather than just wanting it...

Geeeetaaaar

I signed up for guitar lessons at the soon to be completed Ringsted musik school last night. The lessons don't start until late in the summer, but in true Danish style, I had to sign up by 2nd May. I don't know if I'll be in the group lessons or have individual lessons, but I am looking forward to learning more about how to get a tune out of my guitar - above and beyond the house of the rising sun which seems to be my one success so far.

This is how the inside should look when they finish converting one of the old military buildings into the new school building

I suspect there'll be more to come on this subject...

Suddenly Summer

Paris was very clearly into the Spring when I was there a couple of weeks ago but Danmark was still completely brown and dull when I got home. Then we had another Spring week in England last week with Summer weather to accompany it.

Fast forward to our return to Denmark and it seems that the country is starting to catch up with the rest of Europe further south. We now have some leaves on some of the trees and a smattering of blossom on the cherry tree in the drive.

It was lovely to be out on my bike at the weekend, taking in the sight and smells as everything wakes up from a very long and cold winter. The great thing is that the weather seems to be ahead of itself now and the sun is shining and it has warmed up no end. Bring on the summer!

Minehead

We had a fantastic time in Minehead last week with the family. Thanks again for arranging everything and hasving everything so well planned as ever with the food and entertainment.

The Danish branch of the family flew to Gatwick on Saturday, picked up a hire car and drove the 3½ hours to Minehead. It was a long journey - about 10 hours in total, but the kids were great and it went smoothly.

The house was ready for us and we basically spent the week pottering back and forth to the beach in Minehead, taking the train to the beach at Blue Anchor and the open top bus through Porlock to Lynton and Lynmouth. These places don't seem to change much over the years, but it was nice to see the kids enjoying them for the first time.

I always like the water powered fenicular cliff railway between Lyton and Lynmouth. DK liked the steam train and J was taken with kitkats and ham sandwiches on the beach.

The cream teas were also fantastic, but had an unfortunate (and predictable) affect on the diet. I am half way back to where I started a month ago, but after a couple of good days and bike riding over the weekend, I am confident of getting back on track soon enough.

Paris

Having fun in Paris at a conference and doing a bit of site seeing in the evenings and a bit of eating whilst trying to stay on the diet. It's not easy when there are croissants everywhere.

Weekend away

I have been in Legoland for the weekend with the rest of my company for a conference/get together/knees up which meant that I was away from home from 5:30 on Friday morning until Sunday afternoon and was rather tired when I got home. We had great weather and a good time but I can feel that I missed a weekend at home and could do with a rest. However, I am off to Paris tomorrow morning to an SAP conference and will not be home again until late on Friday so there will probably be a break in the usual blogging service whilst I am gone.

In the meantime, I really need to crack on with my Danish home work and try to get myself good enough to get through this damned exam at the end of May.

Holy Visitors

I am working from home today because J is performing in the nursery performance of the Tin Soldier this afternoon so there was no point driving to CPH.

There was a knock at the door a few minutes ago and rather than seeing the usual delivery man, there were 2 middle aged ladies holding a leaflet about Jesus. Uh oh I thought but then I pulled the ace out of my sleeve and spoke to them in English explaining that I couldn't understand any Danish.

It worked, they left straight away and didn't even give me one of their leaflets to throw away. Success.

If you have similar visitors in the US or UK, may I suggest suggest speaking to them in Danish to see if it has the same result.

Dieting

I have been sticking to my diet as described to me but there seems to be a problem. I am allowed to eat whatever I want on Saturdays and this week I decided that we should make pizzas. That was a great idea, the pizzas were delicious and I ate plenty of them.

The result is that I starved myself all week last week and didn't really enjoy any of the meals I ate except for the one in the Italian restaurant in Århus and have not lost any weight.
Saturday 25th March I was 102kg, Saturday 2nd April I was 101.2kg but thiyesterday morning I was 102.2kg again. Bummer.

I'll be taking more care this week and making sure that I don't binge whilst away with work for our kick off weekend in sunny, glamorous Billund with the aim of being 100kg by next Monday.

Drains and guttering

DK had new drains in his ears this morning. That's his fourth set and it seems to me to be overkill but it is important that he can hear properly at the moment so that he can get on with learning to speak. He learns new words all the time, but most of them sound very much like the ones he already said and it is really only MK who can actually communicate with him so far.

I also cleared out the guttering yesterday after watcing a very exciting tour of flanders and getting very wet and muddy on a bike ride.

Tour of Flanders

This weekend is the first of the BIG Belgian bike races of the year - the Tour of Flanders. I rode it a few years ago the day before the pros did and it is a damned hard ride of 270km (168 miles) with a 18 short, very steep and mostly cobbled climbs.

I have been saving the ironing for a week so that I have an excuse to be parked in front of the TV on Sunday afternoon whilst the race is happening.

I am also expecting to get some good riding in myself this weekend with warm temperatures promised for Saturday, even though it also seems that there is a good chance of some rain at some point.

Happy Birthday George wherever you may be!