Night in Arundel

How to put a rabbit in a trance!!!

It was Jude's last day at Artists Harbour yesterday, and no one bothered to get her a card yet alone a pressie! So I let them sign mine! We left work and caught the train to Ford where Jude collected her car and we went home. Her house is lovely and she backs on to a field with cows and a mill! So countryish!
We had a glass of wine while doing the tour and then headed for the Bistro where we had a great meal with a good bottle of red wine. On the way Jude met loads of people and it is very apparent that every body knows everybody and that may mean your business too. Lol! We then went up the hill to the wine bar where we each had a large red wine. It was getting late and I knew I had to be up early to catch the train back into Portsmouth before the pandomania of IFoS kicked in. But I was feeling tipsy and the conversation was really good. In the end, we got kicked out and so went back to Judes, where she proceeded to open another bottle!! It was 1am when we finally went to bed!! Still, it isn't a regular thing and it was nice to be with someone else for a change.
At 6am the next morning, I woke up and showered. I was staying in her 18 year old daughter's bedroom. It was covered in fantastic photos and posters, mainly of Audrey gorgeous Hepburn and the sexy Marilyn Monroe.
Jude dropped me off at the station and saw to it that I got on my train (sweet). I met a very nice Italian guy near to the end of my journey. It is so good to be able to meet people and talk to them without feeling anything has to come of it. I just genuinely like talking to people.

The day was very very busy at the Gallery. I finished at 7pm after only a 15min break throughout the entire day. Am so tired. Caught the bus home, chucked some junk food in the oven and ran a bath. Here i am now, 9.30pm and ready for bed!

Good night y'all. Sweet dreams

Sleeping in a typical 18 year old's bedroom! 

Fantastic meal in the local Bistro 

In the garden of Arundel's Wine Bar 

Celebrating Jude's leaving Artists Harbour 

Pituresque Arundel 

Build up to International Festival of the Sea

People of Trafalgar days!!

Well it is the day before IFoS and all the Navy from around the world is in Portsmouth Dockyard. You can't beat a man in uniform and I was determined to get as many flavours as possible!!! lol. It was a good plan as I got to talk to alot of nice men! One of the MOD police even gave me his card!! Bad timing!! lol.

Marine Commandos (was a bit concerned at their closeness!) Lol! 

MOD Police Operational Support Unit.  

The Nigerian Navy - good fun guys. 

First day back at work after Sweden

I really didn't want to go back to work after Sweden. Felt something had changed and wasn't entirely sure that I was really happy at Artists Harbour. I was really pissed off when I got there. The window displays have had some handy work done and now they just look like a bloody junk shop - selling tat! When we first opened the gallery we had a shop display expert come round and one of the things he said was that there should be no more than 2 large pictures in any one given window display. Now there must be atleast 6, together with crap cards leaning over them...GGGGrrrrrrr!! It just looks so unprofessional! Leon's argument when I told him I wasn't happy was that we need as much stock on display as possible! But you take away the expense of a quality painting by dumping it next to our cheaper range. Can't argue with the boss though!

Charlie popped into the gallery in the morning saying he would see me later. I hoped that meant lunch as I hadn't bought anything yet. He called later and said he'd meet me at 12.45. We went to Ha Ha bar and ordered a steak sandwich and a bottle of red wine. Now you know that I can't drink during the day, but I was so pissed off that i thought 'Fuck it!'. Charlie is a great guy, kind of like a father figure...although he implies differently.! He has fantastic stories to tell and is helping me get through all this emotional shit. It is good because he has gone through what I am experiencing now. There is light at the end of the tunnel for me. He says I am going through a procedure which will continue to change everything else I do; job, living location - everything I do now will have a knock on effect and get better and better. He says I have grown in confidence in just the last 3 weeks alone. This is encouraging. Charlie has worked in advertising for 25 years and has made some great contacts. He says when I know what I want for sure in 6 months, he can organise interviews with top companies. We shall see.

I have left this too many days to remember anymore now. But just to say it was the first night in over 10 days that I spent in the same house. Mark felt very awkward. Indeed I just feel like I need to be out of there ASAP for both our sakes.

Although I am bruising easily all my blood tests came back normal! 

landing in England!! How dull! 

leaving stockholm 

Just before i left stockholm we watched Shall we dance. First time i cried over a film in ages. Was very poignant for me! Great film btw. 

My last meal in Stockholm. Pizza - banana, pinapple, ham and curry powder! mmmmmmm!! always try something new! 

Swedish Design

The following pictures are what I am about as a designer - observing good design - and bad! I love good design and these pictures show very simple excellent design within a typical Swedish flat.

The extra bathroom sink!

The extra bathroom sink!
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In the bathroom the bath taps swing round and can be located over this stainless sink. Here you can do hand washing or what ever. It's very practical!

Where you dry your clothes in a flat!

Where you dry your clothes in a flat!
Posted by: terriharrison4 on Buzznet

So, in the bathroom you have a cupboard, and as standard these racks are fixed in so that you can hang all your clothes to dry. Now in Britain, I believe this is done over the bath!!! With the cupboard, you can close it out of sight. There are holes in the bottom to keep the air circulating. With the bath, everyone gets to see all your underwear (you may like that sort of thing!) but it also restricts you from using the bath/shower!!! I know which one I'd rather have!

End of the kitchen tap

End of the kitchen tap
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On the end of the tap in Ulri's kitchen is a movable end that you can direct any where in the sink. Good for rinsing your plates etc. Such a simple gadget but it makes life so much easier!

Ingeneous plug

Ingenous plug
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This thin rubber plug justs sits in the hole snuggly. What is wrong with Britain!!!!! GGGrrrrrrr!!!!!!

Double sinks

Double sinks
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Again so logical. One for washing up and one for either rinsing or dumping stuff ready to be washed up. Simple and practical!

A washing up drainer

A washing up drainer
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Isn't it funny, we go through life thinking that everything is working ok and we are happy with the way things are...until you see something or experience something different, something better. Then you realise how crap what you actually have is?

This ingeneous but logical design of the drainer being off the work top and above stainless steel surfaces makes so much more sense. It allows for more work space and visually looks more spacious and yet is so practical because you can just wipe the surface down afterwards. Much more hygienic too!

I love Swedish design. In my next place I will definately have stainless steel work tops!

Swedish bins in homes

Swedish bins in homes
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This plastic box is design to take any sized bag allowing you to recycle all your plastic bags you should't be using anyway!!!!

Free pump

Free pump
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By the structure that records the amount of cyclists each day there is a free pump! They are so in tune with looking after people!

Cycling measure

Cycling measure
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In Stockholm it is very geared towards cyclists. There are large cycling areas mapped out on the roads...even sign posts telling them how far it os to somewhere..just for cyclists! This contraption records each cyclist going through and I have seen in over 2000 by mid-day before!

And this is the food!

And this is the food!
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Midsomer's Eve traditional food
Ulri lovingly prepared the most fantastic dinner consisting of:
boiled new potatoes cooked with dill and then tossed in butter
caviare
herring in this delicious sweet pickle
herring in a mustard pickle
sour cream served with chives and finely chopped red onion
knekebrök bread and cheese - a but like rivetas

It was delicious and very filling. We ate that in the evening and then chilled in front of the T.V. to watch a film.

'The Engiish Patient'. Now I had seen the film before a long time ago and thought it absolute bollocks - so slow. We missed the first 40 mins but thought we might as well give it a go. It turned out to be really good. The ending was shite but all in all I really enjoyed it. I have started to notice that my tastes are changing in many ways. I can eat raw cheese now I am discovering...not sure if that is a good thing! But my perceptions are definately changing, and I like that very much. I think I have been very stagnant for a long time and now I have the attitude of 'give it a go - try something new'. Because of this, in the last week I have tried many new things and had many new exciting experiences which I believe make me a richer person - a more interesting person to be with?

National Event - Midsomer's Eve - Going into the suburbs

Going into the suburbs
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So it's Friday, the nearest one to Midsomer and this is when all the
Swedes celebrate and do things like dance round the May Pole and sing wierd traditional folk songs! lol. We were going to the Suburbs where Ulri's brother and sister live. We got up late and rushed to catch the bus for 11.20 in order to meet Suzanne. 10 seconds later and we would have had to wait another 30 minutes! The drive was lovely and took us away from the city into an area where there were gorgeous houses with gardens (you don't get that in the city - just apartments and flats).

Collecting flowers for the May Pole!

Collecting flowers for the May Pole!
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Ulri dressing the pole

Ulri dressing the pole
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The three amigos

The three amigos
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The raising of the May Pole

The raising of the May Pole
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Strawberry cider on Midsomer's Eve and it's sunny!

Strawberry cider on Midsomer's Eve and it's sunny!
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After we had done the family celebrations and I had met pretty much all of Ulri's family, which was great, we got back on the bus and came home. On the way we did some shopping for the evening but also bought food so that I could cook Ulri a chicken, a large pot of Spaghetti bolognese and a smaller pot of chilli. This is so she can freeze it all and have it when ever. I need to know she is eating well with all her time spent studying!

We sat on the balcony for awhile and then I went inside and cooked. This is when we had the most delicious strawberry cider. Went for a walk to see if the famous pizza place was open but it wasn't so now Ulri is in the kitchen preparing the traditional food of Midsomer's Eve.

Our feet have fallen in love - must be the heat!

Our feet have fallen in love - must be the heat!
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View of the roof tops from the balcony

View of the roof tops from the balcony
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Typical ferry to one of the islands

Typical ferry to one of the islands
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We met up with Ulri's mum, Suzanne at the ferry ready to go to one of the feather islands to taste the recommended smoked prawns! Could I wait? I don't think so!!!

Typical colour and stlye of house on these islands

Typical colour and stlye of house on these islands
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