Bet you didn't think so, did you? Well, if the posts on this blog were my heartbeats I'd be long gone. Thankfully, they're not!
Anyway, thought I'd bring an update to all you 2 people who regularily visit me here. I am pretty certain that I've now cracked the code on my weight problem. During the last few weeks I've been trying to eat less sweets and I've now cut it out completely. I'm now back to the level I had when I was a kid, no sweets unless it's saturday. It's embarassing to say so, but I've finally realised that no amount of exercise is going to make me able to eat as much as I want of anything I want when ever I want, and it's about damn time. I've already started seeing changes in my physique and cutting out sweets hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. After all, there are so many healthy things that look so much more inviting and taste just as good, as a large chunk of chocolate. Now that it's summer, we get Norwegian fruits and berries of all kinds and what is more summer than a bowl of fruit? We're also experiencing a rare thing here on the west coast, we've had really nice, hot weather for the longest concecutive time since, well, ever! That, of course, makes chocolate move a bit down on the list of priorities.
I've also been to see the doctor about what to do to get my drivers license back. Apparently, I can't apply to have it back until it's been a year since my last attack, which is on the 16th of November. I'll have to hand in the application when I get back for Christmas holiday and then there's probably about a 6 weeks wait until I have it back. In other words, I won't be able to drive until I return for easter holiday, but you better believe that I'll be practically living in that car come easter!
Right now I'm sitting at work, waiting for the day to begin. I've had some issues lately, I've felt like a burden and a pain to the people I've called and it's made me unmotivated to doing my job. July is also a bad month in this line of work, a lot of CEO's in the country is out on holiday and the rest are hard to reach, so the turnout has been quite bad. However, a lot of companies set their new budget in August and that's also when most CEO's are back, so that will hopefully be a great month! We're also dealing with some demotivation in the hot weather and due to few people at work, so when August comes with some bad weather and the rest of the staff here at work returning, things should start to look up!
I better start doing some work now, hopefully I'll make some money today! Yesterday I came to work at 1ish, having been to the doctors and some other stuff first, and when I opened my email, there were 5000 NOK waiting for me! In other words, the perfect start to the week!
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
I got a job!
Yeah, I know I haven't posted anything in ages, sorry about that..
Anyway! I got myself a job! It's basically telemarketing. I'm employedby a company who's emploey by the Norwegian Naval Rescue Company. They are run completely on donations from the business community and I'll be calling different companies all over the country to ask them to make donations. We also put out press releases about the donation when the transaction is complete and everything, but I don't know if I'll be set to writing it. I kind of hope I won't, because after a year of speaking and writing English, my Norwegian sucks..
I start training tomorrow and, to be honest, I am quite nervous. I've been having some issues remembering norwegian words, my brain seems to be set in English mode still, which could cause some awkward situations the first few weeks, but I hope that'll work itself out at some point.
Today has been spent clearing out the basement. My cousins daughter will be moving in with us in august, so we've been clearing out the room that will be hers when she moves in. I've also started clearing out my room, because the water damage we had last summer seems to be in my room as well, so I actually stepped right through the hard wood floors in my room when I came home for summer.. Welcome home, Hannah! Yeah, that was great... I've been exiled to the basement livingroom and will be staying here until my rooms been fixen, which could take a while since it's an insurance case, but hopefully I'll get to move back in a while.
Right now I'm sitting in my bed, alternately playing piano and Hay Day, which I know is slightly pathetic for a soon-to-be-20 year old, but I don't care. I'm also reading up on facts about Norway, such as the lenght of our coastal line and so on, I figure stuff like that will make me sound like I know what I'm talking about to the people I'm going to be trying to convince to donate to the rescue company.
Hopefully I'll be able to sleep soon, just 6 hours until I have to get up!
Anyway! I got myself a job! It's basically telemarketing. I'm employedby a company who's emploey by the Norwegian Naval Rescue Company. They are run completely on donations from the business community and I'll be calling different companies all over the country to ask them to make donations. We also put out press releases about the donation when the transaction is complete and everything, but I don't know if I'll be set to writing it. I kind of hope I won't, because after a year of speaking and writing English, my Norwegian sucks..
I start training tomorrow and, to be honest, I am quite nervous. I've been having some issues remembering norwegian words, my brain seems to be set in English mode still, which could cause some awkward situations the first few weeks, but I hope that'll work itself out at some point.
Today has been spent clearing out the basement. My cousins daughter will be moving in with us in august, so we've been clearing out the room that will be hers when she moves in. I've also started clearing out my room, because the water damage we had last summer seems to be in my room as well, so I actually stepped right through the hard wood floors in my room when I came home for summer.. Welcome home, Hannah! Yeah, that was great... I've been exiled to the basement livingroom and will be staying here until my rooms been fixen, which could take a while since it's an insurance case, but hopefully I'll get to move back in a while.
Right now I'm sitting in my bed, alternately playing piano and Hay Day, which I know is slightly pathetic for a soon-to-be-20 year old, but I don't care. I'm also reading up on facts about Norway, such as the lenght of our coastal line and so on, I figure stuff like that will make me sound like I know what I'm talking about to the people I'm going to be trying to convince to donate to the rescue company.
Hopefully I'll be able to sleep soon, just 6 hours until I have to get up!
Monday, 26 May 2014
It's been a weird day.
This morning I found out that one of the guys I went to school with a few years ago, past away in a gruesome car accident last night. He was 19 years old, just a couple of months younger than me! It's strange, how fast things can change, how fleeting life is. I know that sounds like a total clichè, but it's so true!
Håvard was one of the "cool guys" in my class, in my opinion at the time. Now, of course, I know that they were weird and a bit stupid, the lot of them, but at the time, I was dead scared of what any one of them thought of me. However, when I met him after graduating secondary school, he was a changed man. Or maybe I was a changed girl, I don't actually know. Anyway, he was sweet and caring and nice and I feel so bad for not getting to know him better when I had the chance.
One of the last times I saw him, was on new years eve, about five months ago. He, a friend who also went to our class, and Håvard's girlfriend were out drinking and he called me, asking if I could drive them home, because I put on my facebook that I was driving that night. I picked them up and on our way to his girlfriends house, we talked a lot. We talked about what we were doing for our educations, about the good old days, about everything, really. When he got out of the car, he gave me 15 pounds (not worth as much in Norway as in England) and said "if this isn't enough, message me, and I'll transfer some more tomorrow." I never did ask for more, but I thought it was really sweet of him to offer.
I guess what I'm trying to get across is that, even though I didn't have too much to do with him since we left secondary school, it still hurts that he's gone. I suppose you don't really have to spend much time with someone to care about them. Even though I haven't talked to him in five months and probably even longer before that, I feel so bad for him because he will never experience being a husband or a father, he will never know what it's like to grow old, to have grandchildren and to do all those things throughout your life that everyone wants to do at some point. I feel bad for his parents and siblings who has to deal with the pain and sorrow of loosing someone who's so close to them.
I wish you hadn't left us, Håvard, and I say "us" because even though you and I didn't talk much in the end, I still cared and it still hurts that you're gone. You touched on a lot of lives and everyone who knew you, cared for you, and that will be obvious at your funeral. The church will be completely full, because you were truly a wonderful guy and we will all miss you so much.
Rest in peace, heaven has gained an angel.
Håvard was one of the "cool guys" in my class, in my opinion at the time. Now, of course, I know that they were weird and a bit stupid, the lot of them, but at the time, I was dead scared of what any one of them thought of me. However, when I met him after graduating secondary school, he was a changed man. Or maybe I was a changed girl, I don't actually know. Anyway, he was sweet and caring and nice and I feel so bad for not getting to know him better when I had the chance.
One of the last times I saw him, was on new years eve, about five months ago. He, a friend who also went to our class, and Håvard's girlfriend were out drinking and he called me, asking if I could drive them home, because I put on my facebook that I was driving that night. I picked them up and on our way to his girlfriends house, we talked a lot. We talked about what we were doing for our educations, about the good old days, about everything, really. When he got out of the car, he gave me 15 pounds (not worth as much in Norway as in England) and said "if this isn't enough, message me, and I'll transfer some more tomorrow." I never did ask for more, but I thought it was really sweet of him to offer.
I guess what I'm trying to get across is that, even though I didn't have too much to do with him since we left secondary school, it still hurts that he's gone. I suppose you don't really have to spend much time with someone to care about them. Even though I haven't talked to him in five months and probably even longer before that, I feel so bad for him because he will never experience being a husband or a father, he will never know what it's like to grow old, to have grandchildren and to do all those things throughout your life that everyone wants to do at some point. I feel bad for his parents and siblings who has to deal with the pain and sorrow of loosing someone who's so close to them.
I wish you hadn't left us, Håvard, and I say "us" because even though you and I didn't talk much in the end, I still cared and it still hurts that you're gone. You touched on a lot of lives and everyone who knew you, cared for you, and that will be obvious at your funeral. The church will be completely full, because you were truly a wonderful guy and we will all miss you so much.
Rest in peace, heaven has gained an angel.
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Do you want to build a snowman?
Have you seen Frozen? It's the cutest little film ever! I'd seen lots of spoilers on Tumblr before seing the actual film, but I was definitely not disappointed! Lately, meaning the last three days, I've been playing 'Do you want to build a snowman' and 'Let it go' on piano. I love the first one so much because it's funny and sad and cute all at the same time and there's so much to do with it when making a cover version.
Anyway, life hasn't been just piano playing and cute little songs in the past few days. Actually I never play as much piano as the times when there's stuff I feel like I need to get away from, get a break from. I've applied to all the jobs I can think of but there's nobody that needs workers at the moment. I can't get a hold of Registry at the university to find out if I will have to take a gap year and they haven't replied to my email. The thing is, after I wrote the last post, I called Lanekassen, which is the state owned organization that sorts out student finance for Norwegian students, and it turns out that it isn't the year after next I will go without funding, it's the upcoming year. In other words, I have to get the university to understand that I need those three extra modules for next year if they want me as a student at all. If they can't put me on the list for three modules from other courses, then I won't be able to go to uni in September. This wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have a flat that I've signed a contract for.. I'll have to pay rent until we can find someone who can take over my room, which means that I'll have to pay the £5000 in July and not know how much I'll get back.. This also puts some stress on my flatmates and I have that I might have to do this to them.
On top of everything I can't say that the thought of delaying my education a whole year and living at home from the end of may this year to mid September next year is one that makes me happy. I really don't want to move back home, I want to finish my education and start working for real. Not some crappy, dead end job that'll never get me anywhere, but a real job, one that I'll need qualifications for, a job that I'll have worked hard to get. Maybe I'll even have a shot at Scotland yard! I don't want to delay that for a whole year. Then again, I am fully aware that I might have to and that if the school says that this is what the rules are like, that I can't have any more modules than what my course says I can. Still, I'm sure that anyone understands that the thought of working for over a year to make £20,000 to cover tuition and the flat and everything and then pay £10,500 to the school to not even have the normal 8 modules, to lose out on 3 whole modules kind of sucks.
Anyway! Happy thoughts, the war isn't lost yet! At the moment, and I know it sounds strange, but I smell like a garage. My brother and I have just helped my uncle change the tyres on his car. Yes, I know how to do that. I like doing stuff like that, and to be honest, I wish I had the oportunity to do more of it. A point on my bucketlist is definitely to learn how to do an oil change and I swear, I'm going to get my dad to teach me this summer.
About time to go to bed now? Think so. Have a good day (tomorrow)!
Anyway, life hasn't been just piano playing and cute little songs in the past few days. Actually I never play as much piano as the times when there's stuff I feel like I need to get away from, get a break from. I've applied to all the jobs I can think of but there's nobody that needs workers at the moment. I can't get a hold of Registry at the university to find out if I will have to take a gap year and they haven't replied to my email. The thing is, after I wrote the last post, I called Lanekassen, which is the state owned organization that sorts out student finance for Norwegian students, and it turns out that it isn't the year after next I will go without funding, it's the upcoming year. In other words, I have to get the university to understand that I need those three extra modules for next year if they want me as a student at all. If they can't put me on the list for three modules from other courses, then I won't be able to go to uni in September. This wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have a flat that I've signed a contract for.. I'll have to pay rent until we can find someone who can take over my room, which means that I'll have to pay the £5000 in July and not know how much I'll get back.. This also puts some stress on my flatmates and I have that I might have to do this to them.
On top of everything I can't say that the thought of delaying my education a whole year and living at home from the end of may this year to mid September next year is one that makes me happy. I really don't want to move back home, I want to finish my education and start working for real. Not some crappy, dead end job that'll never get me anywhere, but a real job, one that I'll need qualifications for, a job that I'll have worked hard to get. Maybe I'll even have a shot at Scotland yard! I don't want to delay that for a whole year. Then again, I am fully aware that I might have to and that if the school says that this is what the rules are like, that I can't have any more modules than what my course says I can. Still, I'm sure that anyone understands that the thought of working for over a year to make £20,000 to cover tuition and the flat and everything and then pay £10,500 to the school to not even have the normal 8 modules, to lose out on 3 whole modules kind of sucks.
Anyway! Happy thoughts, the war isn't lost yet! At the moment, and I know it sounds strange, but I smell like a garage. My brother and I have just helped my uncle change the tyres on his car. Yes, I know how to do that. I like doing stuff like that, and to be honest, I wish I had the oportunity to do more of it. A point on my bucketlist is definitely to learn how to do an oil change and I swear, I'm going to get my dad to teach me this summer.
About time to go to bed now? Think so. Have a good day (tomorrow)!
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
What a weekend!
Some key words/sentences for this weekend:
- Missed my flight
- Had to have mum buy new tickets
- Strip searched in Stavanger
- Oslo with Kristine
- Consert
- Over weight suitcase
- Not over weight suitcase
- Home
- Sick
It has been an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend. It all started at Friday morning at 7.30am at Winchester Train Station where Liva and I realised our train were non existant. The next train due to leave for Clapham Junction where we would be able to change to Gatwick left so late that I would be at Gatwick at 10am. My flight left at 9.20am. You see the problem? Right. So what do you do?Call mum. Nothing is broken until dad can't fix it and no situation is classified as a crisis until mum can't make new arrangements. So I called mum, crying and panicking slightly. Have I mentioned that I HATE traveling without parent supervision? I hate it. I hate it more than spiders, more than tomatoes and cucumbers, more than not being able to drive. Combined.
Anyway, I called mum. She was at work, obviously, but took the time to call the airline to change tickets. At this point, I was convinced that the concert me and Kristine were going to were that night at 8pm. Mum called me back and said there was one flight at 9pm that night and changing the tickets were roughly 1500 kroner (£150). Ignorant as I was, I told her that the concert were that night and asked if there were another flight available. There were, at 3pm, but changing the tickets were 4000 kroner (£400) and naturally way too expensive. I asked if she could be a hero and check if SAS had any flights that would be a better match. They did. At 12.05pm, 1100 kroner (£110), so she booked a ticket and said I had better get there in time. And so we went. We had new tickets to Reading from where I got a coach to Heathrow. By the way, the thought of leaving from Heathrow scared the crap out of me. It's huge, it's busy, I'd been there only once before, but I was determined to get to the concert in time. So off I went and I was at Heathrow at 10.30am. I had breakfast at, possibly, the most expensive restaurant I've ever been to in England, but the cheapest I could find at the airport and I waited for the information about what gate to leave from.
Finally, I got the gate number and I headed in that direction. Got on the plane and fell asleep before it even took off. I then landed in Stavanger, where I met a Norwegian girl who goes to Winchester University and who I know a little bit. We talked for a bit until we'd gotten our luggage, she showed me where to book it in for my next flight and we went our separate ways.
I checked in the luggage and headed for airport security. This is where it got really interesting. I had 1 hour from my flight from London landed until the flight to Oslo took off and I had forgotten that I had bought a can of Redbull at heathrow that was still in my bag. Naturally, I sent my hand luggage through security and was stopped. At this point I was tired, I was hungry, and I was more than a little bit cranky at the whole travelling thing. the conversation between myself and the airport security guy went something like this:
Him: I see you have a can of liquid in your bag?
Me: Uhm, no?
Him: Yes, you do. Shall we open the bag and have a look?
Me: Sure, go for it..
He opens the bag and finds the can of redbull
He opens the bag and finds the can of redbull
Him: What's this then?
Me: Oh, I don't know, a can of Redbull, maybe?
This was my big mistake. I can't remember the rest of the conversation, but I know I said some less than pleasant things and it all resulted in him getting a female security guard to do a strip search. I was brought into a tiny room and told to undress. I was now angry and upset and humiliated and stressed all at the same time. If this wasn't the ultimate test for my heart medication, I don't know what would be. Anyway, I undressed to my underwear and stopped there. "And then the rest," she said. I asked if this was really necessary, it wasn't as if Iwere carrying drugsor anything. She responded saying that if they were to believe everyone's story, they would never confiscate anything, which in hindsight is fair enough, but at the time it mademe even angrier. Mumbling curses and threaths, I undressed until naked. I think I'll spare you the rest of the details.
Now, just to make things clear, I know it was my own fault. I know they were only doing their job and that they did definitely not deserve for me to be that uncooperative.
Finished with what might have been in the top 10 list of embarrasing situations in my life, I got dressed, repacked my stuff and headed for the gate. I was the last one to board the plane, but I made it just in time.
I finally got to Oslo. After having gotten my suitcase I decided to have something to eat, since I didn't have the time in Stavanger. I got two pizza slices and chocolate milk and I sat down in a corner and devoured my meal in less than five minutes.
Refreshed, I got up, headed for the train station and got on the train. I got to Oslo Central Station and met Kristine, which was a huge relief. Not only was I reunited with one of my closest friends, I didn't was in safe hands where travelling was concerned. We got a bus ticket and headed for her flat. I went to bed at 8pm that night, exhausted but happy to have actually managed to reach my destination.
Saturday! Of course, at some point during Friday, Kristine saw on Facebook that Oslo Ess wasn't playing at Rockefeller that night, but saturday night in stead. I think I were at Heathrow when she messaged me and I got the tickets out to check and she was right. I am glad she was, though. If I had known in Winchester, it would have cost mum £40 more and if the concert had been friday night I would have been way to tired to enjoy it. Anyway! Kristine showed me around Oslo before we headed to Eirik's flat to get him to go have dinner, before we went back to Kristine's flat to have pre drinks and a little unplanned photoshoot. The concert was absolutely amazing and I am so glad I made it in time!
I was wearing my blue, white and black dress and we (read: Kristine) curled my hair.
I got my Oslo Ess-hoodie!!
Me, Kristine and Eirik (at the bottom right corner) before the concert!
I don't have anypictures from the concert, unfortunately, I was way too busy singing, jumping, screaming, shoving, pushing and swearing to get my phone out. There are some people who seem to only go to concerts to make the experience as unbearable for the rest of us as possible, but that didn't ruin it for us, we still had a great time andour favourite band is really as good as ever, if not better!
Sunday morning it was time to go home. Oslo Airport isn't as big an issue for me anymore, I've been there enough times to know my way around by now, but I had to get the bus from Kristines flat to the Central Station alone, because Kristine wasn't feeling all too good, hehe. However, it went fine, I got on the bus and I found my way at the station. I was even able to check in to my flight at the station, so when I got to the airport, all I had to do was to hand it in.
Another problem arose. At the airport, they have those self service check in machines, and Norwegian only lets you take 20 kilograms on board. SAS let you take 22, so that was alright, but my suitcase was 27 kilograms and I had to take the heaviest stuff out of my suit case and put it in the hand luggage or pay 90 kroner (£9) per kilogram. I then had to open the suitcase in the middle of the airport and let everyone see everything I had in there, from underwear and socks to dresses and shoes. Naturally, I did my best to speed up the process and managed to get the weight down to 21 kilograms, but the machine just would not budge. I thought "you know what? I can spare 90 kroner." and headed for the lady behind the counter. She weighed my suitcase, put a red tag on it that said "heavy" and told me to have a pleasant flight. In other words, I probably could have put another one or two kilos of clothes and shoes in there and not been fined. Which was lovely, now I was dragging along half my suitcase in my already ruined blue bag and I could not wait for this nightmare of a trip to be over. I got to security, and what happens? The bloody thing beeped on me. I turned around and tried again and luckily, it was alright, because otherwise I think I would have broken down in tears.
I found which gate to go to, found the gate and waited for boarding to start. Obviously, there were three or four of those obnoxiously annoying kids running around screaming and shouting, but at that point I was slightly apathic about the whole thing and decided not to give a crap. I got on the plane, sat down and closed my eyes. I was nearly there, just an hours flight left and I would see my mum and my brother and I could rest. Naturally, a guy came up and said "hey, you're in my seat." And naturally, since I have such a sweet disposition when I'm tired and annoyed, I replied "hey, no I'm not." Turned out I was. I really do need to work on my manners under certain circumstances..
Got in my seat, which of course was placed directly behind the obnoxiously annoying kids from before, and we finally had lift off. I fell asleep after the Fasten your seatbelt-sign had turned on again at the end of the flight and woke suddenly when the plane hit the ground, but I was there. I got my hand luggage, I got my suitcase and went to find my mum.
Yesterday, I really didn't do much. I just hung out at home, watching Norwegian TV and eating free food (never take free food for granted, kids).
Today I woke up, clogged. No, seriously, I can't breathe. I'm sick and I'm pretty sure it's due to that ridiculoussly cold bench me and Kristine were sitting at after the concert while waiting for Eirik. To be fair though, I had the best kebab of my life just half an hour later, so it's fine.
Tomorrow I'm going to the doctors, to talk about what to do about my driverslicens and all that as well as getting some information about the medication I'm on, how long I have to take it and so on. I am definitely loking forward to that and I already have a whole list of questions for the good doctor who's been my GP since the GP service was initiated. It's a shame he's retiring, really. Anyway, I'm going to sleep, hoping that my cold will be better by tomorrow!
Friday, 4 April 2014
Operation suitcase: packed
My suitcase is full (and probably way too heavy), my clothes for tomorrow are ready, I've got my passport in my bag, the reference number to check in to the flight on my phone and I've printed out the Oslo Ess-tickets. My makeup is ready, the alarm is set and all electrical equipment are being charged. I have all seven Harry Potter books downloaded to the Tab2, so the fligh will, well, fly. Hehe. The alarm is going off in 3,5 hours!
I'm coming home.
Or rather, I'm coming to Kristine's home, but whatevs.
I can't wait now. Kristine and I went to see Oslo Ess in desember of 2012 and it's one of the best experiences I've had. Can't wait to see them again, this time performing from their new album, which is freaking great by the way, and at Rockefeller as well! I've never been there, but I've heard it's a good live concert venue.
I have some great news from today that I want to share! My friend Camilla who has cancer has been told that the cancer markers in her blood has dropped to normal levels! She's going to a meeting with the doctors in Trondheim, but hopefully, she'll be alright!
I also got some good news for myself today. There was this one module last semester that I failed an assignment in and that causes you to fail the module. However, because I got a first in the other assignment in that module, I passed! I aslo went to pick up the weekly wiki hate crime blog thingy that we did for intro to crim 2 and I got 65%! Well happy with todays happenings!
Now I'm going to go to sleep and dream about the stuff I'm going to buy at the tax free shop tomorrow. Extremely excited to go to Norway now! I'll have wifi where ever I go, I won't have to speak english (which I'm probably going to miss because I like speaking English) and I won't be financially dependent anymore. Being in charge of your own economy is exhausting. Kids, trust me, moving out is great, it's fun, it's everything you've ever dreamed of and more. However, it's the "more" part that's annoying. That "more" part contains all the responsibility that you get when you move out, so if you learn anything from this post or this log or from me or whatevs, I'm hoping it'll be this: DO NOT TAKE LIVING WITH YOUR PARENTS FOR GRANTED.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to move back home, I'd go crazy, but what I'm saying is that relying on your self for everything isn't easy. You'll miss home, I promise.
Right, I was going to bed, wasn't I? I was. Next time I blog, I'll be in Norway!!!
I'm coming home.
Or rather, I'm coming to Kristine's home, but whatevs.
I can't wait now. Kristine and I went to see Oslo Ess in desember of 2012 and it's one of the best experiences I've had. Can't wait to see them again, this time performing from their new album, which is freaking great by the way, and at Rockefeller as well! I've never been there, but I've heard it's a good live concert venue.
I have some great news from today that I want to share! My friend Camilla who has cancer has been told that the cancer markers in her blood has dropped to normal levels! She's going to a meeting with the doctors in Trondheim, but hopefully, she'll be alright!
I also got some good news for myself today. There was this one module last semester that I failed an assignment in and that causes you to fail the module. However, because I got a first in the other assignment in that module, I passed! I aslo went to pick up the weekly wiki hate crime blog thingy that we did for intro to crim 2 and I got 65%! Well happy with todays happenings!
Now I'm going to go to sleep and dream about the stuff I'm going to buy at the tax free shop tomorrow. Extremely excited to go to Norway now! I'll have wifi where ever I go, I won't have to speak english (which I'm probably going to miss because I like speaking English) and I won't be financially dependent anymore. Being in charge of your own economy is exhausting. Kids, trust me, moving out is great, it's fun, it's everything you've ever dreamed of and more. However, it's the "more" part that's annoying. That "more" part contains all the responsibility that you get when you move out, so if you learn anything from this post or this log or from me or whatevs, I'm hoping it'll be this: DO NOT TAKE LIVING WITH YOUR PARENTS FOR GRANTED.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to move back home, I'd go crazy, but what I'm saying is that relying on your self for everything isn't easy. You'll miss home, I promise.
Right, I was going to bed, wasn't I? I was. Next time I blog, I'll be in Norway!!!
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
So many good things happening all at once!
I am actually in a right state at the moment. There are so many good things happening all at once, it's a bit overwhelming actually! I thought I'd list it all up for you, just to do my best to really explait the opportunity of rubbing my happiness in your faces.
- Camilla told me that the cancer markers in her blood has gone down!
- My last lecture of the year was on monday. No more lectures until september! That's like.. 6-7 months!
- I just finished the last essay due before easter!
- I've had confirmation that I am definitely changing course, starting BA Forensic Studies in September!
- The deposit on the house is payed.
- Plane tickets London - Oslo on friday and Oslo - Ålesund on sunday is sorted.
- Kristine and I have tickets to go see our favourite band, Oslo Ess, live at Rockefeller on friday night.
- I get to spend my weekend in Oslo with my favourite ginger in the whole wide world, with wine and girl talk and gossip and good food. Can't wait!
- Sunday, I finally get to go home and see my mum and brother! Haven't seen my brother since I left for England in January, so I really can't wait to see him again!
- I talked to one of my coworkers and there's a possibility that I'll be able to work during easter brake!
- on the 12th I'm going to Playa del Ingles with mum and lil bro' to relax and read and get tanned.
They say that life is like an arrow, that when you feel like you're being dragged backwards you just need to wait it out, because it's a sign that life's going to shoot you forward and that's really what's happening at the moment. I've been feeling lousy lately, being scared for Camilla, not knowing what's going to happen, not sleeping properly and so on. However, since getting the news that the cancer markers are reducing, and because I've finally finished the work load that was weighing me down, I really feel good. I feel 15 pounds lighter, like I can do anything.
I don't know, maybe I'm just hopped up on spaghetti bolognese or something, but regardless of reason, I feel really great.
Anyway! I've been trying to pack my suitcase the last few days, so all my clothes and makeup and hair products and, basically, the rest of my materialistic life, is spread out on the floor. My room looks like a tornado came in and took a shit before leaving again, which is lovely. Now I've got to clean up and hoover because later I'm meeting Liva at the pub, we're having one last pub dinner before going home, and then we're coming back to mine to have mini pre's before going back to the pub to drink and have a good time.
Hope everyone's feeling just as good as I am today! :)
Saturday, 29 March 2014
home sickness or not home sickness - that's the question!
Do I want to go home? Yes. Do I want to go home? No. I don't know, at the moment. Not that it really matters, I'm going home anyway, but I thought I'd write my thoughts down to figure out what I'm actually dealing with, since that was the original reason why I started the blog.
Going home - pros
Seeing my family. If there's anyone who's been following the blog for a while, you'll know that my mum came to visit in february to give me the heart medication prescribed by my GP back home, so it hasn't really been that long since I saw her, but I really miss my brother! We have a good relationship, by my opinion anyway, and I miss hanging out with him. Not that I don't miss my mum, obviously I do, but you get my point. I am quite sad my dad won't be home, though.
Going to Spain. I'm going to Playa del Ingles, Spain with my mum and brother and I can't wait! I think it'll do me good to have a whole week without anything to worry about exept which book to bring to the beach. I'm going to leave electronics and so on at home and just relax. Do nothing, just recharge my batteries and chill out with two of my favourite people. Don't worry though, I'll probably bring the tab2 to take pictures and post on the blog. Besides, I'm not posting every day anyway, so you're used to it, haha!
Work. I'll get to go to work again, which I actually look forward to! I can't wait to do night shifts and talk to people I haven't seen in three months. I'm looking forward to thepub being packed with people and feeling the stress of the beer taps running empty, trying to keep up with the line of people. I don't know what it is, but I love it.
Friends. I'm going to Oslo before going home. In Oslo I'll be staying with Kristine, the girl who came to visit a while ago. We're going to a concert with our favourite band and it'll be a great weekend. I'm looking forward to good food, some wine and discussing world problems like only we can.
Doctor's appointment. I have an appointment with my GP and I'm looking forward to being able to ask my doctor the questions I have about my heart condition and get the info I feel like I need to maybe get my drivers license back a bit early.
Free food. I'm not saying I'm completely broke, because I'm not, but being a responsible adult who pays for her own food and rent and everything is fucking expensive to put it mildly. I've always hear grown ups saying stuff like "god, not again, the price for cheese has got up 30p..." and I've always thought they've been over reacting, but to all you lucky bastards who still live like kings at home with your parents without a care in the world: growing up isn't as great as you think it is. Sure, you get loads of freedom and independence, but the more freedom you get, the more responsibilities you get, so don't think living away from home is a breeze!
My mum's aunt's necklace. I know this might be a silly reason, but my mum's aunt became a sort of proxy-nan for me and my brother when our last grandparent died almost 11 years ago and she ment the world to me. When she died as well, I inherited a necklace she used to wear and I forgot it at home when I want back to England after christmas and I really miss it. I guess you could say that this is proof that family is really, really important to me, but I don't see that as a bad thing.
Going home - cons
Dad's not home. I haven't seen my dad since I drove him to the boat on the 2nd of January and, being a daddy's girl, I really miss him. I've been trying to email him, but since the new boat he's on doesn't have a very good wifi set up and calling over the satelite phone is really expensive, I haven't talked to him for a while. I feel like I miss him more now that I'm not home, because when I lived with my parents I always saw him until he went away and were always home the day he came back, but it's not like taht anymore and 5 months can easily pass without me seeing my dad and that makes me sad.
All in all, I am looking forward to going home. I've been sat here for half an hour trying to think of more cons to going home, but I can't think of any. I have to say, the fact that I can't drive probably counts for 3, but I'm still looking forward to Norway, speaking Norwegian, eating Norwegian, seeing my family and going on holiday and all the other stuff.
I love when I do stuff like this and it turns out I don't really have that much to complain about. After all, there are a lot of people that have is a lot worse than me. I'm lucky, really.
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
First run in months!
I know people who constantly brag about their workouts online are annoying and shouldn't be allowed to have wifi, but I haven't been for a run in months, so I feel like I have an ever so tiny right to brag at the moment. It's 2.30 am and I just got in the door, sweating and panting. I've been out for half an hour and my legs feel like they're made of led, but it's a good feeling. I mean, a 30 minute run at 2am is better than no run, right? I think so. I know 30 minutes isn't that long, but if I can get out and jog about 3 times a week, it should improve slowly but steadily. I also think that if I go all in and try to work out every single day, I'll get tired of it and quit. However, if I take it slowly, it'll become a habit and a lot easier to keep to. Everything in moderation, right!
Hopefully, I'll be able to work out at the gym where my mum works when I get home for easter and I'm thinking about getting a membership at my old gym for summer holiday. They do group workouts that are really good for your whole body and I kind of miss that! I honestly don't think I've ever been so out of shape as I am now, so it's really time to get my ass off the bed and start doing something. The ones who followed my blog at the beginning, will perhaps remember that I did a 30 day challenge. Well, that went south. I kept going until Kristine came to visit and then I forgot about the whole thing. Hopefully, I'll keep going the way I have for the past week with less sugar and soda, more water and a bit of exercise every now and again, and my summer body should be fit and trained for 2054 (not setting too high hopes for myself, haha)!
One reason why I'm looking forward to going home is that food is expensive. And I don't mean annoyingly expensive like diesel is, but fucking EXPENSIVE! I've always heard grown-ups complain about it (I don't count myself as one yet, no), but I would have never thought that food was this expensive until I actually moved out. However, what I'm really, really looking forward to is fish. My dad works at a fishing boat, as I'm sure I've mentioned before, and we get all the fish we need and more, for free and I can't wait to have a proper fish meal!
Maybe it's time to go to sleep now? Me and Liva are going into town tomorrow and then going to the library. Again. It'll be the 6th time in a row, but I think we're getting close to the end of our workload now. I have about 800 words left on the essay that I'm working on and then I have another one at 2000 words that seems like quite an easy one, and then it's easter! I don't know if I've mentioned this on the blog before, but I'm going to Spain with my mum and brother during easter, so I'll hopefully be nice and tan when I get back!
Definitely time to go to sleep now. Hoping I won't be too stiff and sore tomorrow!
Hopefully, I'll be able to work out at the gym where my mum works when I get home for easter and I'm thinking about getting a membership at my old gym for summer holiday. They do group workouts that are really good for your whole body and I kind of miss that! I honestly don't think I've ever been so out of shape as I am now, so it's really time to get my ass off the bed and start doing something. The ones who followed my blog at the beginning, will perhaps remember that I did a 30 day challenge. Well, that went south. I kept going until Kristine came to visit and then I forgot about the whole thing. Hopefully, I'll keep going the way I have for the past week with less sugar and soda, more water and a bit of exercise every now and again, and my summer body should be fit and trained for 2054 (not setting too high hopes for myself, haha)!
One reason why I'm looking forward to going home is that food is expensive. And I don't mean annoyingly expensive like diesel is, but fucking EXPENSIVE! I've always heard grown-ups complain about it (I don't count myself as one yet, no), but I would have never thought that food was this expensive until I actually moved out. However, what I'm really, really looking forward to is fish. My dad works at a fishing boat, as I'm sure I've mentioned before, and we get all the fish we need and more, for free and I can't wait to have a proper fish meal!
Maybe it's time to go to sleep now? Me and Liva are going into town tomorrow and then going to the library. Again. It'll be the 6th time in a row, but I think we're getting close to the end of our workload now. I have about 800 words left on the essay that I'm working on and then I have another one at 2000 words that seems like quite an easy one, and then it's easter! I don't know if I've mentioned this on the blog before, but I'm going to Spain with my mum and brother during easter, so I'll hopefully be nice and tan when I get back!
Definitely time to go to sleep now. Hoping I won't be too stiff and sore tomorrow!
Tuesday, 11 February 2014
Olympics day!
I was supposed to write this post yesterday but I fell asleep midway through it. I haven't really been sleeping much this weekend, so when I finally got home and went to bed, writing wasn't exactly my main concern.
Anyway! At the moment I'm sat with my computer watching the olympics in Sotchi. I had some issues getting the live streaming to work, but I figured it out just in time to watch Petter Northug in the quarter finals! Not that that was all that interesting, Northug really is dissapointing this year.. I mean, I know that he's been struggling with a virus, making him unable to train and stuff, but it's Northug. He's supposed to win, haha! Another thing that really surprised me was that Cologna AND Marit Bjørgen made the same mistake, causing them to fall and ruin their runs.. It was beginners mistakes as well! But I guess I shouldn't complain, since the womens sprint finals ended in a double Norwegian, gold and silver! Not to mention the gold medal Ola Hattestad took in the mens sprint final! Three norwegian medals in under half an hour is a good day, I'd say!
Anyway, enough sports. I don't really have any plans today. I have tuesdays and wednesdays off and since I've got a bit of a cough and a head ache, I'll probably stay in bed with a cup of tea, cookies and the Olympics.
Yesterday's bit of the 30 day challenges were a real pain. The squats are getting harder and harder to complete and the abs workout is killing me already. However, I did finish it all, and this was yesterdays set:
Cardio
60 high knees
20 climbers
Abs
35 sit ups
15 crunches
15 leg raises
25 sec plank
Squats
75
Push ups
6
I'm already dreading tonights set, but at least tomorrow is another day off, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel! This is todays set:
Cardio
80 high knees
40 climbers
Abs
40 sit ups
20 crunches
20 leg raises
30 sec plank
Squats
80
Push ups
7
I'm really happy that I have tomorrow off from the work outs, because since I also don't have lectures, I'll really have a day off, just to relax and do nothing. Can't wait! Even though I kind of want to go swimming.. Oh well, I'll figure something out!
Anyway! At the moment I'm sat with my computer watching the olympics in Sotchi. I had some issues getting the live streaming to work, but I figured it out just in time to watch Petter Northug in the quarter finals! Not that that was all that interesting, Northug really is dissapointing this year.. I mean, I know that he's been struggling with a virus, making him unable to train and stuff, but it's Northug. He's supposed to win, haha! Another thing that really surprised me was that Cologna AND Marit Bjørgen made the same mistake, causing them to fall and ruin their runs.. It was beginners mistakes as well! But I guess I shouldn't complain, since the womens sprint finals ended in a double Norwegian, gold and silver! Not to mention the gold medal Ola Hattestad took in the mens sprint final! Three norwegian medals in under half an hour is a good day, I'd say!
Anyway, enough sports. I don't really have any plans today. I have tuesdays and wednesdays off and since I've got a bit of a cough and a head ache, I'll probably stay in bed with a cup of tea, cookies and the Olympics.
Yesterday's bit of the 30 day challenges were a real pain. The squats are getting harder and harder to complete and the abs workout is killing me already. However, I did finish it all, and this was yesterdays set:
Cardio
60 high knees
20 climbers
Abs
35 sit ups
15 crunches
15 leg raises
25 sec plank
Squats
75
Push ups
6
I'm already dreading tonights set, but at least tomorrow is another day off, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel! This is todays set:
Cardio
80 high knees
40 climbers
Abs
40 sit ups
20 crunches
20 leg raises
30 sec plank
Squats
80
Push ups
7
I'm really happy that I have tomorrow off from the work outs, because since I also don't have lectures, I'll really have a day off, just to relax and do nothing. Can't wait! Even though I kind of want to go swimming.. Oh well, I'll figure something out!
Friday, 31 January 2014
I guess introductions are in order!
Hey!
My name is Hanne Grethe, but everyone in England calls me Hannah. I'm 19 years old and I'm from a ridiculously small place on the west coast of Norway, called Søvik. It's a beautiful place with 650 inhabitants, two shops and nothing to do.
Look how cute! Love this place!
Anyway, I've lived in England since september last year. I study BA Criminology at Uni of Winchester and I love it! The course is interesting, the people are fantastic and drinking is practically free in comparison to Norway.
The reason why I started this blog is to keep some pressure on myself. Now, I'm not saying this is going to be a fitness blog, but the idea is that if I actually do get some people to follow this blog, I'll feel the pressure to keep going. I'm turning my life around.
I've been diagnosed with stress triggered irregular heart beat. If I'm under a lot of pressure over a longer period of time, I'll eventually have a "seizure", in lack of a better word. What happens is that I get an irregular heart beat, my blood pressure drops and I faint. I always wake up in a matter of 6-7 seconds, but it's still annoying and it scares the shit out of my friends. This has been going on for some time. However, what's finally pushed me over the edge of actually doing something about it is that the heart specialist I went to see to have tests done when I was back in Norway over christmas, has decided that because I have incidents where I faint, it's no longer safe for me to be driving and they're revoking my drivers license. I'll get it back if I don't pass out for a year, but that will take some work on my part as well as sticking to medication prescribed by my GP in Norway.
Of course, having my license revoked isn't the end of the world. I'm in England half the year and I obviously don't drive here, because these maniacs drive on the wrong side of the road and I'm having enough problems as it is, not getting hit by cars, I don't need to be driving as well. The issue is that since I live in a rural area in Norway, I'm pretty much stuck there if I can't drive. I also work as a chef and bartender and I'm going to have to give up most of my night shifts because I don't want to ask my parents to come pick me up at four in the morning twice each weekend. I love working nights, so that's going to take some getting used to, but I'll manage. Of course, I'll probably save a lot of money not being able to drive, since I wont have the added expence of gas and stuff like that, so that's good, but I still love driving and I'm going to miss it like crazy..
I'm going to stop ranting now. Basically, what this blog is going to be about is my everyday life as a Norwegian student in Winchester who's trying to turn her life around.
My name is Hanne Grethe, but everyone in England calls me Hannah. I'm 19 years old and I'm from a ridiculously small place on the west coast of Norway, called Søvik. It's a beautiful place with 650 inhabitants, two shops and nothing to do.
Look how cute! Love this place!
Anyway, I've lived in England since september last year. I study BA Criminology at Uni of Winchester and I love it! The course is interesting, the people are fantastic and drinking is practically free in comparison to Norway.
The reason why I started this blog is to keep some pressure on myself. Now, I'm not saying this is going to be a fitness blog, but the idea is that if I actually do get some people to follow this blog, I'll feel the pressure to keep going. I'm turning my life around.
I've been diagnosed with stress triggered irregular heart beat. If I'm under a lot of pressure over a longer period of time, I'll eventually have a "seizure", in lack of a better word. What happens is that I get an irregular heart beat, my blood pressure drops and I faint. I always wake up in a matter of 6-7 seconds, but it's still annoying and it scares the shit out of my friends. This has been going on for some time. However, what's finally pushed me over the edge of actually doing something about it is that the heart specialist I went to see to have tests done when I was back in Norway over christmas, has decided that because I have incidents where I faint, it's no longer safe for me to be driving and they're revoking my drivers license. I'll get it back if I don't pass out for a year, but that will take some work on my part as well as sticking to medication prescribed by my GP in Norway.
Of course, having my license revoked isn't the end of the world. I'm in England half the year and I obviously don't drive here, because these maniacs drive on the wrong side of the road and I'm having enough problems as it is, not getting hit by cars, I don't need to be driving as well. The issue is that since I live in a rural area in Norway, I'm pretty much stuck there if I can't drive. I also work as a chef and bartender and I'm going to have to give up most of my night shifts because I don't want to ask my parents to come pick me up at four in the morning twice each weekend. I love working nights, so that's going to take some getting used to, but I'll manage. Of course, I'll probably save a lot of money not being able to drive, since I wont have the added expence of gas and stuff like that, so that's good, but I still love driving and I'm going to miss it like crazy..
I'm going to stop ranting now. Basically, what this blog is going to be about is my everyday life as a Norwegian student in Winchester who's trying to turn her life around.
This is me, by the way! :)
-Hannah
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