Our big project goes live in 2 days so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have been working since 15th April without taking much of a break so I am getting pretty tired of it all, but things seem to be going reasonably well for the time being.
I am looking forward to being able to take a break after the project and catch up on the missed public holidays and weekend days.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Shirts
I have just sold 4 Rapha shirts on eBay (2 short and 2 long sleeved) that I bought on sale over the last couple of years.
£92, £80, £80 and £42 !!
I am pretty sure that is more than I paid for them and I can get some new ones that fit plus some other things I need with the proceeds. I sold them because they don't fit since I started lifting weights at cross fit so they are gratifyingly too tight around the chest, but not the gut.
Happy happy.
£92, £80, £80 and £42 !!
I am pretty sure that is more than I paid for them and I can get some new ones that fit plus some other things I need with the proceeds. I sold them because they don't fit since I started lifting weights at cross fit so they are gratifyingly too tight around the chest, but not the gut.
Happy happy.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Happiness
There seems to have been a fair amount of attention on the use of antidepressants both in the UK and in Denmark over the last few weeks.
Apparently 25% of Danes over 40 have been or are taking some sort of anti-depressant at the moment which seems odd for the country that is recognised as the happiest in the world. The figures in the UK are not much better as far as I can understand from Radio 4.
Happily enough, I have never had to take antidepressants, but it seems as though that is simply because I have never asked for them, I appear to have had enough symptoms to qualify at times.
I don't really believe that I have found the secret to happiness, but it does seem that if I eat well, sleep enough and accept life as it is rather than what I think other people expect of me, then I am on the right tracks. At least that seems to be enough for me to be comfortable enough to relax and be contented.
Now what I need is some new pressure. That's why I am cross fitting and sailing and loving both of them.
Apparently 25% of Danes over 40 have been or are taking some sort of anti-depressant at the moment which seems odd for the country that is recognised as the happiest in the world. The figures in the UK are not much better as far as I can understand from Radio 4.
Happily enough, I have never had to take antidepressants, but it seems as though that is simply because I have never asked for them, I appear to have had enough symptoms to qualify at times.
I don't really believe that I have found the secret to happiness, but it does seem that if I eat well, sleep enough and accept life as it is rather than what I think other people expect of me, then I am on the right tracks. At least that seems to be enough for me to be comfortable enough to relax and be contented.
Now what I need is some new pressure. That's why I am cross fitting and sailing and loving both of them.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Public Holiday that isn't
It's Big Prayer Day here today which is a public holiday. That is unless you are involved in a big IT project that goes live on 2nd May and you are responsible for the cutover from one system to the other.
That's me.
We set yesterday's last load job running at 02:00 and went to sleep then got up 5 hours later (after a crappy, cramp filled sleep) and drove to the office buying breakfast on the way.
This is going to be a long day as we are having some technical difficulties, but hopefully we will still get everything done on time so that we can go live on schedule.
In the meantime, MK was overnighting with her colleagues on a team building day and the kids were outsourced to T&B for the night.
That's me.
We set yesterday's last load job running at 02:00 and went to sleep then got up 5 hours later (after a crappy, cramp filled sleep) and drove to the office buying breakfast on the way.
This is going to be a long day as we are having some technical difficulties, but hopefully we will still get everything done on time so that we can go live on schedule.
In the meantime, MK was overnighting with her colleagues on a team building day and the kids were outsourced to T&B for the night.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Happy Anniversary
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Noah's ark
Last Thursday we were invited to Ringsted church for the 4th anniversary of DK's Christening. I put up a little resistance but in the end, I could see that there was more to be lost in refusing to go than there was to gain by avoiding it.
T&B showed up and there were about 10 other families with their kids of DK's age who had been Christened around the same time.
The theme of the service was Noah's ark which was all well and good and the kids got to put some plastic animals into a wooden boat, but I was left wondering about the moral of the story. Maybe I need to read the bible a bot more to confirm the details (almost certainly) but why did all but 2 of each species have to die because of the sins of man?
Was it just a happy coincidence that the only man free from sin was a carpenter? Anyway, why does God have such a thing for carpenters and why aren't they revered a little more?
Anyway, in the meantime, I found my sunglasses in the bottom of the wardrobe where they must have fallen and been buried. I also had a nice sail in the sun on Saturday morning. There was very little wind so I apparently should have waited for Sunday, but that's life I suppose and the sunshine was great.
T&B showed up and there were about 10 other families with their kids of DK's age who had been Christened around the same time.
The theme of the service was Noah's ark which was all well and good and the kids got to put some plastic animals into a wooden boat, but I was left wondering about the moral of the story. Maybe I need to read the bible a bot more to confirm the details (almost certainly) but why did all but 2 of each species have to die because of the sins of man?
Was it just a happy coincidence that the only man free from sin was a carpenter? Anyway, why does God have such a thing for carpenters and why aren't they revered a little more?
Anyway, in the meantime, I found my sunglasses in the bottom of the wardrobe where they must have fallen and been buried. I also had a nice sail in the sun on Saturday morning. There was very little wind so I apparently should have waited for Sunday, but that's life I suppose and the sunshine was great.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Sunglasses
"I don't lose sunglasses!"
On reflection, maybe I do. A pair of RayBans at a party in Scotland in 2002 seems relatively insignificant now as it was so long ago, but then I remember that bad month in the middle of 2006 (I think) when I lost 2 pairs of Oakleys in succession (one on a mountain bike trail and the other on a train)
Well it is beginning to look like I have lost another pair, this time prescription Oakley so it's quite a costly mistake.
They may be at the summer house, but otherwise, they appear to have vanished into thin air.
Bummer.
On reflection, maybe I do. A pair of RayBans at a party in Scotland in 2002 seems relatively insignificant now as it was so long ago, but then I remember that bad month in the middle of 2006 (I think) when I lost 2 pairs of Oakleys in succession (one on a mountain bike trail and the other on a train)
Well it is beginning to look like I have lost another pair, this time prescription Oakley so it's quite a costly mistake.
They may be at the summer house, but otherwise, they appear to have vanished into thin air.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
School Strike
We're in the third week of schools being closed and J hasn't had a maths of Danish lesson since before Easter. It's getting rather boring having to figure out the baby sitting duties, but to be honest, it's surprisingly easy to cope without the schools being open. It seems that friends and colleagues are also managing quite well so what is the point of the strike in the first place if it doesn't really cause any significant inconvenience. The teachers seems to have stopped their banner waving demonstrations as well now, I suppose they are enjoying their free time instead.
There are some side benefits that the state are saving a fortune in wages that they won't have to pay, but in the end, the kids are the ones losing out. For J it's just a bit boring and I am sure that he'll catch up, but for the older kids who are getting towards the end of their school days, they are missing out on a lot of learning and may not have the chance to catch up the missed ground.
I don't know the details of the grounds for the dispute. It relates to new rules potentially reducing the amount of preparation time that teachers are given for each hour that they teach. As I understand it, they all currently get something like 1½ hours prep time for each hour that they teach. For some age groups in some subjects that sounds reasonable. However, I think the government has decided that it may not be necessary to spend 1½ hours preparing a PE lesson for 8 year olds.
It seems that the solution will come in the form of a law being passed in parliament dictating what the teachers must do, but I find it hard to understand that a strike (or lock out as it formally is) was really necessary or beneficial for anyone.
There are some side benefits that the state are saving a fortune in wages that they won't have to pay, but in the end, the kids are the ones losing out. For J it's just a bit boring and I am sure that he'll catch up, but for the older kids who are getting towards the end of their school days, they are missing out on a lot of learning and may not have the chance to catch up the missed ground.
I don't know the details of the grounds for the dispute. It relates to new rules potentially reducing the amount of preparation time that teachers are given for each hour that they teach. As I understand it, they all currently get something like 1½ hours prep time for each hour that they teach. For some age groups in some subjects that sounds reasonable. However, I think the government has decided that it may not be necessary to spend 1½ hours preparing a PE lesson for 8 year olds.
It seems that the solution will come in the form of a law being passed in parliament dictating what the teachers must do, but I find it hard to understand that a strike (or lock out as it formally is) was really necessary or beneficial for anyone.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
We are sailing
Saturday was something of a let down on the sailing front. I got myself to the sailing club and there were lots of enthusiastic boat people around who helped me to get my boat rigged up and ready to sail. This involved borrowing a couple of bits and pieces from others, but in the end we got the sail up and the general consensus was that the boat looked good for it's age and the sail fitted the mast perfectly. Wins all round.
The main problem was that there was no wind at all. In a truly un-Danish style, the water was like a mill pond so it was decided that we should all beat a retreat in order to earn some brownie points to be allowed out again on Sunday.
J, DK and I spent the afternoon installing the new dustbin arrangement and moving hedge plants so I earned enough leeway for a Sunday morning sail.
Sunday was much better, there was a fair amount of fog, but there was also a reasonable amount of wind and we got to have 2½ hours of sailing in the outer harbour.
The boat worked pretty well, it took me a while to get going but by the end I was more or less keeping up with the slower guys and despite a very near capsize at the end, I apparently acquitted myself adequately and seem to have been accepted to the little gang, despite being foreign!
Photos another time I'm afraid.
The main problem was that there was no wind at all. In a truly un-Danish style, the water was like a mill pond so it was decided that we should all beat a retreat in order to earn some brownie points to be allowed out again on Sunday.
J, DK and I spent the afternoon installing the new dustbin arrangement and moving hedge plants so I earned enough leeway for a Sunday morning sail.
Sunday was much better, there was a fair amount of fog, but there was also a reasonable amount of wind and we got to have 2½ hours of sailing in the outer harbour.
The boat worked pretty well, it took me a while to get going but by the end I was more or less keeping up with the slower guys and despite a very near capsize at the end, I apparently acquitted myself adequately and seem to have been accepted to the little gang, despite being foreign!
Photos another time I'm afraid.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Quiet
It really is very quiet at home without the kids being there and to be honest it's rather boring too. MK is even going out to a meeting this evening so I will be alone with a monster pile of ironing.
It's been a rather strange experience to be thrown back to our lives before having kids, we have sat looking at each other wondering what to do with ourselves for the evening and the whole process of getting out of the house in the morning has been ridiculously fast and simple.
I miss the chaos and noise.
Our evening entertainment last night was to book a weekend at Astrid Lindgren's world in Sweden for August. Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish author who created Pippi Longstocking and several other characters and now there is a small theme park/village where the characters live and do shows for the kids. DK loves Pippi and they both enjoys the other stories as well.
It's been a rather strange experience to be thrown back to our lives before having kids, we have sat looking at each other wondering what to do with ourselves for the evening and the whole process of getting out of the house in the morning has been ridiculously fast and simple.
I miss the chaos and noise.
Our evening entertainment last night was to book a weekend at Astrid Lindgren's world in Sweden for August. Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish author who created Pippi Longstocking and several other characters and now there is a small theme park/village where the characters live and do shows for the kids. DK loves Pippi and they both enjoys the other stories as well.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Spring?
I would't say that spring is really hitting us hard, but winter may be beginning to wane. Sitting in my office, I can only see a little snow still sitting in the sheltered spots and I can't feel the arctic wind from here.
MK and I went to cross fit together last night. She beat me by completing more rounds of the exercises than I did, but I do have the excuse of having used heavier weights. It was very odd being at home on a weekday without the kids. They are staying with T&B as the school lock out / strike is continuing at least for this week. Hopefully it will get resolved in the coming days so that everything can return to normal next week.
MK and I went to cross fit together last night. She beat me by completing more rounds of the exercises than I did, but I do have the excuse of having used heavier weights. It was very odd being at home on a weekday without the kids. They are staying with T&B as the school lock out / strike is continuing at least for this week. Hopefully it will get resolved in the coming days so that everything can return to normal next week.
Monday, April 08, 2013
The last one?
Will tomorrow night be the last frost of the winter?
Possible, but unlikely I suspect...
Possible, but unlikely I suspect...
Weekend
That was a very short weekend.
Saturday was the usualy heady combination of housework, crossfit and cooking combined with a short trip to the outlets to get shoes for the kids and some new pants for me.
Thinking about it, I cut my hair as well.
Sunday was similarly unspectacular as we all drove to CPH to take J to a lunchtime birthday party. Whilst he was playing, I took the dynamic duo to Ikea for horse-meat balls and a new rug for the hall after the kids wiped dog crap all over the last one a week or two ago. Before a short walk (where the below photo was taken) and a cup of coffee in the cold. We even has a snow shower when we got home.
The only interesting things that have happened since last week is that the furniture guys has persuaded his suppliers to send us the right bedside tables for free and we will probably buy the incorrect ones at cost price and use them somewhere else.
Saturday was the usualy heady combination of housework, crossfit and cooking combined with a short trip to the outlets to get shoes for the kids and some new pants for me.
Thinking about it, I cut my hair as well.
Sunday was similarly unspectacular as we all drove to CPH to take J to a lunchtime birthday party. Whilst he was playing, I took the dynamic duo to Ikea for horse-meat balls and a new rug for the hall after the kids wiped dog crap all over the last one a week or two ago. Before a short walk (where the below photo was taken) and a cup of coffee in the cold. We even has a snow shower when we got home.
The only interesting things that have happened since last week is that the furniture guys has persuaded his suppliers to send us the right bedside tables for free and we will probably buy the incorrect ones at cost price and use them somewhere else.
Sunday, April 07, 2013
Waiting....
We even had lunch in Ikea in the intervening 3,5 hours. It was so thoughtful of his classmate's parents to arrange the party over an hours drive away.
Thursday, April 04, 2013
Madeira Cake
Zhik
It turns out that sailing gear has moved on since I last spent any significant time in a dinghy over 20 years ago. There are some things that haven't changed much, it's still wetsuits and dry suits, but what is worn under and over them has moved on.
If you sail a boat that requires a lot of hanging out side side of (called hiking), then your legs get really tired, that is made worse by the fact that the side of the boat squashes your muscles and cuts off the blood flow. Someone had the bright idea of putting stiff pads into a pair of shorts to spread the load in the legs and thus hiking pads were born.
The quality of the fabric used for wetsuits has also improved a lot, it is much more stretchy and apparently warmer which can only be a good thing as there is still too much ice in the harbour to launch the boats.
Yesterday afternoon I met a guy who is the importer for Zhik sailing gear in Denmark. He has stopped sailing for a while as he wants to build a house and is in the process of getting rid of his stock. That meant that I could get kitted out with what I need for 40% off the normal price. Hurray!
If you sail a boat that requires a lot of hanging out side side of (called hiking), then your legs get really tired, that is made worse by the fact that the side of the boat squashes your muscles and cuts off the blood flow. Someone had the bright idea of putting stiff pads into a pair of shorts to spread the load in the legs and thus hiking pads were born.
The quality of the fabric used for wetsuits has also improved a lot, it is much more stretchy and apparently warmer which can only be a good thing as there is still too much ice in the harbour to launch the boats.
Yesterday afternoon I met a guy who is the importer for Zhik sailing gear in Denmark. He has stopped sailing for a while as he wants to build a house and is in the process of getting rid of his stock. That meant that I could get kitted out with what I need for 40% off the normal price. Hurray!
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Teacher strike
 |
| Irrelevant Father Ted pciture |
The teachers on strike in Denmark at the moment. Well that seems to be the case but there are some differences between how these things play out over here compared with the UK.
For starters J is still in school as usual. There are temporary supply teachers helping out and there are some teachers who are not allowed to strike who are also working. The normal teachers are in fact locked out of the school and are not allowed to work rather than refusing to work, this is because their unions cannot agree with the state (or counties, I'm not sure) about terms and conditions.
The teachers were at the gates this morning shivering and presumably making the point that they want to work but can't. The strangest thing to me was that they had baked bread rolls for the kids and were giving them all a roll in a paper bag as they went into school.
Apparently the whole thing will be over in a couple of weeks when the unions run out of money, so until then I can enjoy the reduced traffic on the roads and carry on as normal.
MK was glad that her union was not on strike so she doesn't have to stand in the cold singing 70s songs on her own as she is probably the only member of the lawyers union in her school!
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Whole 30
Today I am starting a whole 30 month. It isn't a big change from my normal diet, but I will be cutting out dairy and being more strict with my weekend eating which is sometime a little boozy and sugary.
Rules are are usual:
No grains, sugar, vegetable oil, processed foods or potatoes and minimal fruit.
On top of that we have:
No dairy or alcohol.
Sounds boring doesn't it!?
Check out whole9life.com
Rules are are usual:
No grains, sugar, vegetable oil, processed foods or potatoes and minimal fruit.
On top of that we have:
No dairy or alcohol.
Sounds boring doesn't it!?
Check out whole9life.com
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