This is a big risk. I usually write lots of nonsense when it is late and I am tired (and really should be in bed). Come Tuesday, I will have lived in three places in the space of a week. The wonderful Woods and the magnificent Michelle have shown what being a Christian really is. This week I have felt more at home than I ever did during the five months in my old place.
On Tuesday I will actually go to India for five days. Will not have much time to prepare though, as my head is full of a lot of other stuff at the moment.
Went through some old e-mails earlier. Brings back quite a lot of memories - both good and bad actually. Like e-mails from the girl that never turned up for a date (not sure whether it was good or bad, in hindsight... it makes a great story though).
Then we have ancient (10-12 year old) e-mails from old friends from home. These are hilarious, and sometimes random to say the least!
Had a great discussion with my housemates last night. The conversation was about whether we actually believe the stuff in the Bible regarding how earth came about.
On Friday night I hope to cook some proper Swedish food (no, not meatballs). Should be fun!
Today Simon has:
Listened to Lifesong by Counting Crows
Read not enough
Noticed that he looks forward to the Paramore concert
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Saturday, 24 January 2009
A Different Breakfast, Alanis, Marital Status and Coursemates
I will probably be fed up with this dish in a few weeks' time as that is what I keep cooking for friends. As I had leftovers from yesterday, I decided to fry these (those?) for breakfast.
Oh, I had this dream tonight. It was about me nearly missing my dissertation celebration flight to New York. I was pleased waking up and realising it had been just a dream.
According to Wikipedia, Alanis Morissette is dating some kind of environmental lawyer called Tom Ballanco. Never mind. I hope she is happy. Really.
During the past seven days I have socialised with friends once, and that was yesterday. Before that it was a night (or in my case, late evening) out with the coursemates. It has been such a privilege getting to know a few people on my course better. I hope we will keep in touch with each other after graduation.
When I was seventeen years old I thought I was gonna be married at the age of 22 and, if not, definitely by the age of 24. Two and a half brief relationships later, I now have no intention of getting involved in a relationship. Of course I did not enjoy getting dumped in the past, but with the benefit of hindsight it was the best that could happen.
I am not scared of staying single the rest of my life. As it is now I probably would not mind, but I have to acknowledge that this contentedness is largely dependent on me finding a meaningful career. However, I am scared of losing the friends that I actually have. My future life will probably consist of a lot of moving around. Heck, I have lived in five places in five years – and actually enjoyed the hopping around.
I have to admit it feels strange to leave Newcastle after graduation. It is the first town I have identified myself more with than Stockholm. I felt as home in Newcastle after a year as I did in Stockholm after three years.
One reason is probably that I have felt more like a member of the church here, while in Stockholm I always felt like a guest. Having said that, my priorities have rather been with my studies than church activities during the last few years.
That does not mean that I see my Christian faith as little more than a Get Out of Hell Free card. For instance, I would not have had the courage to come here if it was not for my faith.
Clocked up another six miles of running yesterday. Let me know if you want to join at some point.
I usually do not write about private matters on my blog. Hope you enjoyed the exception ;).
Today Simon has:
Listened to Andy Murray's racket
Read nothing yet
Noticed that going to bed early is so rewarding
Oh, I had this dream tonight. It was about me nearly missing my dissertation celebration flight to New York. I was pleased waking up and realising it had been just a dream.
According to Wikipedia, Alanis Morissette is dating some kind of environmental lawyer called Tom Ballanco. Never mind. I hope she is happy. Really.
During the past seven days I have socialised with friends once, and that was yesterday. Before that it was a night (or in my case, late evening) out with the coursemates. It has been such a privilege getting to know a few people on my course better. I hope we will keep in touch with each other after graduation.
When I was seventeen years old I thought I was gonna be married at the age of 22 and, if not, definitely by the age of 24. Two and a half brief relationships later, I now have no intention of getting involved in a relationship. Of course I did not enjoy getting dumped in the past, but with the benefit of hindsight it was the best that could happen.
I am not scared of staying single the rest of my life. As it is now I probably would not mind, but I have to acknowledge that this contentedness is largely dependent on me finding a meaningful career. However, I am scared of losing the friends that I actually have. My future life will probably consist of a lot of moving around. Heck, I have lived in five places in five years – and actually enjoyed the hopping around.
One reason is probably that I have felt more like a member of the church here, while in Stockholm I always felt like a guest. Having said that, my priorities have rather been with my studies than church activities during the last few years.
That does not mean that I see my Christian faith as little more than a Get Out of Hell Free card. For instance, I would not have had the courage to come here if it was not for my faith.
Clocked up another six miles of running yesterday. Let me know if you want to join at some point.
I usually do not write about private matters on my blog. Hope you enjoyed the exception ;).
Today Simon has:
Listened to Andy Murray's racket
Read nothing yet
Noticed that going to bed early is so rewarding
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Two Weeks
That is all that is left before I am going home. I have never really thought much about the fact that I am from Lapland, until I came to the UK. Lapland and Christmas is apparently a combo to die for.
I will most likely (unless Anton completely disagrees) get the opportunity to attend Korskyrkan in Stockholm the Sunday before Christmas. I went there quite regularly during my second year (out of three) in Stockholm. I really enjoyed Andrew Thompson's teaching and I look forward to listening to him again.
Today was also my penultimate Saturday working at GAME in Eldon Square, it has been a truly enjoyable experience.
My Swedish friend Anton will touch down in Edinburgh a couple of days before we leave for Sweden. I look forward to that, and I hope he will get the most out of his stay at Tyneside.
And then it is only three weeks until 2009. I wonder in what direction my values will go that year?
Listened to some awesome covers
Read not much
Noticed that he is disgusted by the THINK advert promoting the use of seat-belt.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Great North Fun
12,057 people were faster than me. However, they still cannot take away the fact that I managed to beat my time from last year =). I finished my second Great North Run on 1h 58min 48sek.
My aim was to finish on or around 1h 45min. That obviously did not happen. I also learn that running becomes so much more unpleasant when you try to achieve a certain time. Next year I will have a more structured training and just do it for fun - and then the result hopefully will come by itself (is that English?).
Congratulations to all the charities which raised money. I pray it will all be used wisely to help people in need.
Tomorrow is a dissertation seminar. I am still slightly confused.
And Governor Sarah Palin does not play a fair game. Interesting to see whether the Senators Obama/Biden can stay focused when the Republican election winning machine gets going.
Obama/Biden are better for business according to the latest issue of the Economist. Get it if you are interested in American politics. Special feature in this issue.
I also pray that British Airways will change their short haul sandwich menu. Pretty tiring getting the same grub on intra-European flights as on UK domestic. Their new ad is class though.
Today Simon has:
Listened to the choir at Newcastle Cathedral.
Read about Apple's next move.
Noticed that he will try to run 'just for fun' next year.
My aim was to finish on or around 1h 45min. That obviously did not happen. I also learn that running becomes so much more unpleasant when you try to achieve a certain time. Next year I will have a more structured training and just do it for fun - and then the result hopefully will come by itself (is that English?).
Congratulations to all the charities which raised money. I pray it will all be used wisely to help people in need.
Tomorrow is a dissertation seminar. I am still slightly confused.
And Governor Sarah Palin does not play a fair game. Interesting to see whether the Senators Obama/Biden can stay focused when the Republican election winning machine gets going.
Obama/Biden are better for business according to the latest issue of the Economist. Get it if you are interested in American politics. Special feature in this issue.
I also pray that British Airways will change their short haul sandwich menu. Pretty tiring getting the same grub on intra-European flights as on UK domestic. Their new ad is class though.
Today Simon has:
Listened to the choir at Newcastle Cathedral.
Read about Apple's next move.
Noticed that he will try to run 'just for fun' next year.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Lapplandsväck
The annual Christian summer conference is underway - and I am not there. Well, I attended it for a day on Saturday - but that was it. Anyway, it was good fun to meet a wide range of friends during my brief guest appearance.
The other day I spoke to a UK friend over the phone for a while, interesting to hear how my English gets even slower (yes, it is possible) just because I haven't used it for virtually a month. Fortunately, my English improves year on year. So I should be even better by graduation. In the best of worlds; I am good enough to get onto a good grad scheme.
An agency has helped me to get a new flat in Newcastle. This obviously means that I have decided to skip the placement year. I will live across the street from the Centre of L. So it should be no more than a 20 minute walk to uni.
And now to something completely different. Robert Mugabe, one is really wondering how a rather promising leader 28 years ago has turned into something very in- and un-human. I hope that the African Union can sort something out. If not it should be inevitable for neighbouring African countries to intervene. And if they do not intervene I will upset, but nowhere near as upset as I would be finding European countries and the US resisting an armed intervention to restore democracy in Zimbabwe. However, if we are lucky the old dictator will just die all by himself. BUT - that would probably not be the fairest solution.
Today Simon has:
Listened to XM Radio Online
Read The Economist and Svenska Dagbladet
Noticed that it is a grey day
The other day I spoke to a UK friend over the phone for a while, interesting to hear how my English gets even slower (yes, it is possible) just because I haven't used it for virtually a month. Fortunately, my English improves year on year. So I should be even better by graduation. In the best of worlds; I am good enough to get onto a good grad scheme.
An agency has helped me to get a new flat in Newcastle. This obviously means that I have decided to skip the placement year. I will live across the street from the Centre of L. So it should be no more than a 20 minute walk to uni.
And now to something completely different. Robert Mugabe, one is really wondering how a rather promising leader 28 years ago has turned into something very in- and un-human. I hope that the African Union can sort something out. If not it should be inevitable for neighbouring African countries to intervene. And if they do not intervene I will upset, but nowhere near as upset as I would be finding European countries and the US resisting an armed intervention to restore democracy in Zimbabwe. However, if we are lucky the old dictator will just die all by himself. BUT - that would probably not be the fairest solution.
Today Simon has:
Listened to XM Radio Online
Read The Economist and Svenska Dagbladet
Noticed that it is a grey day
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Church of Sweden - Watch This!
I like the little I have seen of the Archbishop of York. I truly believe Christians should play an active part in the society, even though an Archbishops primary role is to do this.
Today Simon has:
Listened to Céline Dion
Read The Economist
Noticed that he has not read the Times that he bought yesterday
Today Simon has:
Listened to Céline Dion
Read The Economist
Noticed that he has not read the Times that he bought yesterday
Friday, 20 July 2007
Blessings
Among Christians you often hear the word blessing. But what is a blessing? I believe that sometimes we do only see blessings as something that is positive from our point of view. If it is bad for me then it is not a blessing, even though it might be something that is good for somebody else (and that it might be good for me as well in the long run).
Today Simon has:
Listened to 6 Music from the BBC
Read various things online
Noticed that life is occasionally quite messy - even though it is not always his life
Today Simon has:
Listened to 6 Music from the BBC
Read various things online
Noticed that life is occasionally quite messy - even though it is not always his life
Friday, 29 June 2007
Mein' Deutsch ist sehr schlecht
Well. Maybe not sehr schlecht. Schlecht might be a word enought to describe it.
Probably the last tourist who came to the Tourist Info Centre this day was a German lady. With a few interruptions which I could blame on my bad vocabulary, we actually managed to have a conversation.
It is good fun though to realise that my German is not as bad as I first thought, and that I actually have something to build on.
This Saturday I will go to a village outside Lycksele to attend a big Christian event. On Sunday I work between noon and 6pm. Should be OK.
Today Simon has:
Listened to nothing worth mentioning
Read FT
Noticed that he really can speak some German
Probably the last tourist who came to the Tourist Info Centre this day was a German lady. With a few interruptions which I could blame on my bad vocabulary, we actually managed to have a conversation.
It is good fun though to realise that my German is not as bad as I first thought, and that I actually have something to build on.
This Saturday I will go to a village outside Lycksele to attend a big Christian event. On Sunday I work between noon and 6pm. Should be OK.
Today Simon has:
Listened to nothing worth mentioning
Read FT
Noticed that he really can speak some German
Saturday, 7 April 2007
Sweden
Today it is one week since I left Tyneside for an Easter break in Sweden. It's great with a break and I am attending a wedding tomorrow. But that doesn't mean that I don't look forward coming back to Newcastle. I really do.
I visited my grands today, they were really glad to see me (although my grandad at first didn't recognise me at first). Dementia is a sad disease. My grandma was well though, should really try to ring her more often.
Tomorrow it is Easter Sunday and historically the most important day for me as a christian. That day Jesus rose and created a way for you and me to get in touch with God. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Today Simon has:
Listened to Hello by Courtney Love
Read and replied to a nice e mail
I visited my grands today, they were really glad to see me (although my grandad at first didn't recognise me at first). Dementia is a sad disease. My grandma was well though, should really try to ring her more often.
Tomorrow it is Easter Sunday and historically the most important day for me as a christian. That day Jesus rose and created a way for you and me to get in touch with God. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Today Simon has:
Listened to Hello by Courtney Love
Read and replied to a nice e mail
Sunday, 25 March 2007
Guardian goes Swedish!
The Guardian's music section has posted a podcast about and with music from Sweden.
I haven't listened to it myself yet, but anyway it will show that Sweden is more than ABBA =).
I've been to church this evening. Sadly I didn't sleep very well last night, so for me it was a lot about staying focused. But I think Jesus was there anyway!
I also expect to reveal great news by the end of this week about where I'm gonna live. Please stay tuned!
Today Simon has:
Listened to Hilary Duff''s latest (I'm getting scared of myself!)
Read about the release of a member of the Baader-Meinhof gang.
I haven't listened to it myself yet, but anyway it will show that Sweden is more than ABBA =).
I've been to church this evening. Sadly I didn't sleep very well last night, so for me it was a lot about staying focused. But I think Jesus was there anyway!
I also expect to reveal great news by the end of this week about where I'm gonna live. Please stay tuned!
Today Simon has:
Listened to Hilary Duff''s latest (I'm getting scared of myself!)
Read about the release of a member of the Baader-Meinhof gang.
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