December 2011 in Stockers (with Berko to come)

I know, I know... This blog has been seriously neglected. This is infact a good thing, as I have been far too busy to worry about writing the blog. But Sam is celebrating Christmas with his Mamma (the Swedes do it on the 24th, which is handy) and Ulrika is in Halmstad with her folks, so all of a sudden I do have the time.

So, December saw two birthdays, Sam turned forty, and I turned three. Maybe it was the other way round. Although I am sure Kate or my brother would be the first to tell you that, no, I got it right the first time.

We also had Uncle David and Auntie Liz, come to visit us. As you can see from the photos, we had an amazing weekend including a trip to Skansen to see a traditional Swedish Christmas market, and a ride on a big wooden horse for the Corless boys. Sam's Auntie and Uncle spoiled him rotten, with presents, but most of all attention. And it was great they got to be here to see him blow out the candles on his birthday cake that Ulrika had made.

Then of course, I had a birthday, and it was a lovely day, work bought me flowers and we had cake too, and I got sung happy birthday to in two different languages. And when I got home, Ulrika and Sam made a fuss of me too. Ulrika has bought me a mystery trip away at the end of January. I genuinely have no idea as to where we are going. My only request was a trip away from the snow.... But...

Unbelievably we are yet to have any snow in Stockers. How different to a year ago, when the snow came at the start of November, and didn't leave until the end of March. I bet the guys who are  employed clearing the snow off the roofs are cursing. Or maybe they do other things beside that?

Ulrika and I, took Sam to see Santa. Or Tomte as they call him over here. As you can see, he bears similarities to Santa as I know him, but his costume is more traditional, and his beard is a bit greyer. I did wonder if Sam would not fancy sitting on his knee, but after a hesitant start he got on to Santa's knee, and presumably asked for more cars, or trains, or visits from Grandad, Pammy, Uncle David and Auntie Liz.

As it is the end of the year, I have read many articles that looked back over 2011 and selected the highlights of the year, be they the best album (Noel Gallagher) or best film (The Kings Speech) or just a personal reflection. Ulrika would kill me, if I wrote that meeting her was the highlight of my year, so I won't, and hopefully by the time we see each other on New Year's Eve, she will have forgotten this sentence.

Work is going great, and I have some amazing colleagues. It is unbelievable to think that although I live in a foreign country, I get to make my living speaking English. Yay!

But the best thing about Sweden is Sam. He is why I am here. And to see him grow up this year has been a real privilege. He is properly bilingual and whether it is in Swedish or English he just loves talking.

I wish you all a happy Christmas, whether you are (wrongly) celebrating it today on Christmas Eve, or tomorrow (correctly) on Christmas Day.

Tomorrow, I am meeting Sam and his Mamma at the train station at 9. Sam and I will jump on the airport train, and then fly to Heathrow, and we will in Berkhamstead with all the other Corlesses by lunchtime. I can't wait!

I cannot promise you that I will find the time to update the blog more regularly than I do, but one of my new year resolutions will be to continue with it. Love to you all, and see you in 2012!

Liz and David get married

It's been a long time, but finally the blog has been updated.... With lots of photos from THE wedding of the year between David and Liz Corless.

They both looked gorgeous, and it was a lovely day... Perfect in every sense. Thank you both to the bride and groom, who made sure that it was a day that both adults and little dinosaurs will never forget. Love you both!

Stock...holmer time!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. That's how the book that I forgot to bring with me starts, but this trip has just been the best of times. Aside from putting up with the obligatory Corless obscenities, but I've grown to know and love those.

Anyway, we arrived here on Friday and were kindly met at the station by nobody, as apparently Michael didn't get our text message, but once we did manage to make contact he pointed us in the right direction and met us half way. After the brief walk to his ridiculously well-located flat we quickly made ourselves at home before heading out on the town.

I've just had to check what we actually did that night as my goldfish memory isn't helping right now. Jenna will now fill in the blanks:

'We got on the tube, then we went a cool bar that overlooked things.' At this point I will interject to clarify as her description is patchy at best. The bar was a nice outdoor place up on the top of the hill which had a cracking view across the town. I let Michael order drinks from the bar as obviously my Swedish is non-existent and I thought that this could be his moment to shine. After hearing him confidently order the drinks...in English, I decided that it wasn't. There then followed a bit more wandering and a nice dinner at All Bar One - (to help us get a feel for Stockholm, we decided it would help if every place could be compared to its London equivalent, hence visiting Notting Hill, Oxford Street and Covent Garden). It then rained. But the weather men said it would so that was no surprise.

Fortunately the next morning brought us blazing sunshine, which must have melted all of the snow which I'm sure Scandinavia is meant to be covered with all the time. The down side of that was that I forgot to pack my shorts, so had to embark on the longest trek in the world, in Saharan temperatures, in my jeans. But it was still good. We walked all day, all over Stockholm, seeing all of the various sites - it really is a very nice place, surrounded by water and trees and other such niceties. Jenna adds: we went around a nice island, some nice green bits, high views, old town, castle, ICE CREAM, boat, fun fair island, bus, flat.

Then after a quick nap (Jenna/snoring MC) we went and played mini golf. This was not a successful venture. I did not do well. Stupid Swedish stupid ramps and stupid holes that are too small for stupid Swedish balls.

Then we went to the fancy restaurant (Trannan) and had Toast Skagan (which was too oily for MC, but fine for us). The meaties had yummy meatballs, and I had to disassemble half a dozen crayfish. Badly. The waiter tried to help, but even that didn't seem to work. I splashed everyone with prawn juices. Again, this was not successful. The bits I got were good though. Then we went and played pool and I won lots of games, so I liked this bit.

In between all of this, myself and MC tried a multitude of Swedish beers (I know, I was surprised they make beer too). I would attempt to review them here but I can't remember what they were and they all tasted pretty much the same. 

Finally, we arrived at Sunday - feeling knackered from Saturday's long march, we decided to take it easy and sit on a boat for much of the day, heading out to a royal palace, where we had a good wander through the gardens and the palace, and saw some sheep and geese. And the majesty of the £9 sandwich. Which to its credit was very tasty. After the return boat trip and a Daim ice cream, we climbed many many stairs to get to the top of the city hall tower for a brilliant view across the city.

We are finishing our trip by heading to the cinema in a minute to see Bridesmaids.

Many many thanks to the man for putting us up, and putting up with us, for the past few days - it's been really nice to catch up again and to see that he's nicely settled in and looking after himself.

I'm signing off now so I can catch the end of yet another rude/crude anecdote which sounds amusing.

Jenna befriends a local	Hanging around in Stockholm
Us and a palace	Dave, Jenna and a sunburnt chest

Happy anniversary

One year ago today, a very sad, very nervous, Englishman was on his way to Heathrow Airport with a suitcase that weighed an impressive 43kg (I was charged €100 for excess weight, it should have been far more than this but the lady felt sorry me). I really didn't want to move to Sweden, all my friends were in London and it looked like finding a full-time job would be mission impossible.

My first day in Stockholm I spent working at Global Water Partnership (GWP). I had contacted them before arriving in Stockholm and they had offered me some part time work. Without working at GWP, I am not sure I would have survived. I met some lovely people there, and they all wanted to help me. The first thing the lovely folks at GWP helped me with was finding my first flat in Aspuden (if you recall, finding a flat to rent in Stockholm, is like winning the lottery, almost impossible), but most of they helped me take my mind off things.

Finding a job was still proving elusive, and I felt an almost constant pressure on myself to get one, otherwise, when my contract at GWP was up, I would have to return to London. By the time October arrived, I was desperate because the lease on my flat in Aspuden was up and I had nowhere else to live and the job front was very quiet. I knew that by the time December rolled around nothing would happen for a few months, and I did not have the money to just sit in my flat in Stockholm and wait for the phone to ring.

I kept looking for both a job and a flat, and I was lucky to find an amazing flat right in the middle of Stockholm. I am still in this flat today, and it looks like I can be in this flat for a long time as the owners are in America (I have some vague plans to sell my flat in London and buy in Stockholm, but we'll see when that is). The flat is still as empty as it looks in the picture on the left, Sam and I prefer it that way!

I also had found myself being interviewed for two positions. One was a familiar role, working for an organisation and looking after their website, and the other was working for an agency, a role I had never done before.

In the end, I was lucky enough to be offered both roles, but I surprised myself by taking the unfamiliar role because I felt it offered the best long term prospects. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I made that decision. I started at JG Communication on December 6th (my birthday) and straight away I knew I had made the right choice. The people there are amazing, friendly, warm and welcoming. There is a large ex-pat community within JG, and they knew what I was going through. The security I felt through having a full time job really helped.

After Christmas in the UK, I decided to try and be as positive as I could about living in Stockholm. I had a great flat, a great job, and I was starting to make friends. It had been nearly a year since my relationship started to break up and I felt that the only way was up. As odd as it sounds, as soon as I decided to be positive, I felt so much more happy. The Swedish winter was still there, and some days it knocked my new found positivity, but not enough to break it entirely.

In February I met an amazing lady called Ulrika. Our first date was at an Indian restaurant, and it was ok, so we went out again on a disastrous date, after which we decided to become friends. Of course over time, Ulrika couldn't resist my English charm, and eventually she gave in and we have been in a relationship now for three months. I am very lucky to have met her, and she makes me really happy. She has the nicest bunch of friends in Stockholm too, including Carro and Mark, whose wedding I was lucky enough to be invited to. That was one evening I shall never forget.

But all of this neglects to mention the reason I moved here. Samuel Roy Corless. As hard as Stockholm got, as bad as the winter was, I never once regretted moving here because he is worth it. I am so happy to say that the divorce has never seemed to dampen his spirit once, and he is a wonderful little boy. I wish I could explain in words what he means to be, but I cannot.... I just hope he knows how much I love him. Friends have said that what I have done in moving to Stockholm has been really impressive, but I honestly answer, that it just seems very natural because of the love I have for Samuel.

So there we have it, my first year in Stockholm. My newly married friends Dave and Jenna are coming to stay with me this weekend, so I think it is entirely possible I will be having a drink tonight to celebrate making it through the first twelve months. At times it was really difficult, but now I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. And who would have thought that a year ago?

Summer fun in London and Berko

Sam and I spent the last weekend in London. Well, Berkhamstead which is were Uncle David and Auntie Liz live. We had an amazing time, caught up with some friends, and got spoiled rotten at the zoo, cinema and fair....

Two out of three of Barry's daughters.... and Kate	Sam on Uncle David's shoulders
Mr and Mrs Roberts and Mr Peer	The legend that is Steve Lodewyke, and legend in the making Lucy...
Sam was taken to the ice cream van and was very insistent that he wanted an orange ice lolly. It seems he quite likes them!	Steve and James, together in perfect harmony
Daddy, I'm scared of these mask wearing weirdos!	Can I put on the mask and join in?
Sunday afternoon we chaved it up down the fair in Berko, with Gareth and his son Jack (aged 2)	Make it go faster!
David is very excited at seeing a camera, much to Gareth's embarrassment.	Walking home from the fair is almost as much fun
Monday, we went to Whipsnade Zoo, and Sam wanted to go on the train (of course!)	And the bouncy castle!
Watching the sealion show	A black and white horse. Odd.
A hat-trick of Corless boys	Running down the hill
Giraffe	Sammy vs. a lion in a staring competition. Lion lost and turned away first. Don't mess with the Sammy...