Tuesday, December 24, 2002
Holiday updateHello from London. Ren and I have just spent a day in Frankfurt and two days in Nuremberg - it's now Christmas Eve and we're about to do some shopping before heading down to Westminster for mass/carols, then onto the Castle on Christmas day for lunch. WIll update when I am back in Sweden on 7 January, after New Years in Prague. There will be lots of adventures...
Merry Christmas!
Love
Yvette
Posted at 4:29 AM
Thursday, December 19, 2002
A whale of a time in Bergen
I went to Oslo in Spetember for meetings, and while I was there decided to spend the weekend in Bergen, a well known fishing and university town on the west coast. I had a brilliant time, and it was sunny the whole weekend, although it is said it rains in Bergen 340 days of the year. Guess I was lucky. Anyway, I lost the film for a while and just had it developed. So here's the Bergen weekend pictorial - it's a brief one cause I have to leave to get to some dodgy Stockholm regional airport to catch my Ryanair flight to Germany. I'm meeting Ren in Frankfurt this afternoon, so there may not be any posts for a while...
I took the train early Saturday morning...well eventually took the train, as the first hour or so was via bus due to trackwork. But it was fine as I had been up drinking and gass-bagging with Annie til 5am so I needed a bit of sleep. When I finally got to the train I found I had a first class ticket, and there was only one family in the entire section. Leather reclinable seats and in one section, an entire glass window with chairs and tables facing it. It was brilliant. So for the next six hours I sat, did some work, and looked at the beautiful scenery...
I made it to Bergen at around 3pm. Found my hotel and decided to walk up to the reknowned Bergen Fish markets. On he way I passed a vessel christening cerem?ny which was pretty cool to see, as we had christening one of our Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessels in Melbourne in July last year. It was a much bigger affair than the one in Bergen, but it was nice to see a local event, and I was pretty proud I could tell what it was, although the smashing of the champagne bottle would have given it away to most people.
The following day I decided to go up the Bergen mountain - I can't remember what it's called. But anyway, I did it the wrong way round - caught the cable car up and walked down. I couldn't walk for a week after that. The girls in the office said I walked like I had just consumed a couple of bottles of wine, but it was because my legs were so sore and not cause I was tipsy. It was a brilliant view from the mountain, but a real struggle getting down again.
The rest of my time was spent wandering around and enjoying the town before flying back to Stockholm.
Posted at 6:01 AM
Monday, December 16, 2002
International crisis...how to sober up quicklyHave spent the last three days dealing with company crisis after being called into the office at 6am Saturday. Which would have been fine had I not wobbled home to bed at 2am from the Christmas party. Called James for some advice, and he told me to have a cold shower and lots of coffee. I made a huge pot of coffee as soon as I got to the office and may as well have stood with my mouth under the nozzle the way I managed to put away many cups in the next few minutes. Then all was fine and I spent the next 16 hours focusing on internal communication and customer relations. Back in the office yesterday, and still providing updates today. From a customer/internal communication perspective I think we are managing it quite well. At least I am not doing the media mangement this time, thank goodness. James says I have once again managed to get our brand out into the world!
But it meant I missed Maria's wedding, which is incredibly disappointing. However, I love this type of work so at least there was some satisfaction in getting our communication under control very quickly. Here's a couple of photos of Maria, courtesy of Mikko. She looks beautiful. I am so sad I missed it.So back to Christmas party extravaganza. After all the excitement of Lucia, and a few glasses of gl?gg the whole company jumped on buses into the Cafe Opera restaurant, right on the water in Stockholm city.
We were greeted with some very nice champagne and had around an hour of socialising and a short speech by one of our owners, before a real Lucia with hair full of wax from real dripping candles, and choir performed for us. After that it was upstairs to the restaurant for the Swedish smorgasb?rd lunch. But first we had to choose table seatings from two silver buckets. And of course, I had the seat next to our owner. I don't know how I always manage to do that! He was very nice, and explained all about the smorgasb?rd etc to me.First was herring in all varieties of sauces, served at the table with bread, potatoes and aquavit. Contrary to my previous herring experiences this was actually very nice. The Swedes have lots of drinking songs so on and off all you could hear were different tables singing and skulling their aquavit and 'mumma' (an extremely potent viking beer made of beer sugar and vodka). Wary of previous failures to remain sober I only sipped my aquavit and drank lots of mineral water.
Next we piled our plates at the smorgasb?rd with four different types of salmon, cold meats, prawns, ham, eel, more potatoes, a slab of something that was described as a mix of everything that was on the table, lots of sauces and much more that I can't remember. Following this was then a hot buffet of meatballs, potato, spare-ribs and a few other tasty hot meat morsels. As mum would say, 'It was a taste sensation'. Then came desert - fruit, ice-cream, cream, all manner of things and one cake I was told to try...layers of butter and meringue. Weird. The first bite was strangey quite nice, but I couldn't go any further knowing I was feeding spoonfuls of butter into my mouth.
Svens from Sweden
More speeches, singing, drinking. Then time to head down to the Cafe Opera Bar for more drinks. Seven hours later most of us were still there and in relatively fine form...one of the most exciting thing was meeting a real Sven from Sveeeeden. Then Joakim told me his real name was Sven too, but I am not sure if he was telling truth or not. But it was very exciting in any case to have finally met two Svens, even if one is an imposter Sven.
Party pics
Finally Sandra and I wobbled home, after buying a burger king burger, and then all of a sudden I was being woken up at an ungodly hour, and you all know the rest of the story...
Going home soon for some sleep, but first maybe a cheeky beer with Simon as I shall say a quick goodbye cause he leaves Sweden tomorrow.
Yvette
xx
Posted at 7:13 AM
Friday, December 13, 2002
Lucia celebration
I spent the morning with dressed in a robe, with electric candles on my head leading a choir in white robes through the office, a big honour as I was Lucia in a much loved Swedish winter tradition...the 'Lucia Train'!Hence the candles on my head, I guess. Luckily they were battery powered as the authentic Lucia's wear real candles and there have been a number of burnt hair incidents. And it was held today as it is supposedly the darkest day of the year.
The morning started at 7.30 am with a small glass of gl?gg and a rehearsal in one of teh boardrooms. Then it was time to go to the eight locations around the office to perform! My role was very difficult...walk in front of the 'train' with my hands held in front of my in a prayer type manner. Then at each point we would stop and the choir would stand around me and sing. And sing and sing, while I stayed still and tried to look pretty and religious. The choir of colleagues sang about Lucia and some Christmas songs also.One obviously had something about mice in it, as two of the girls performed a dance (photo below) during it which was pretty funny. So in all, we went to eight different locations and the choir sung eight songs at each stop. My feet were killing me and by the last stop I was definitely running out of smiles. Another song was 'I saw Mamma kissing Santa Clause' - I couldn't understand the lyrics as they were in Swedish, but could tell from the tune. Give it a go and enjoy!
Mamma Kissing Santa Clause in Swedish:
Jag s?g mamma kyssa tomten jag
T?nk om v?ran pappa kommit d?.
Jag g?mt mig i en vr?
F?r att titta lite p?
Ett konstigt stort paket som n?gon av oss skulle f?.
Och d? fick tomten mammas kram och kyss
Sedan sa hon, ``?h, vad du ?r bra!''
Nej ingen ser att det ?r du
Men jag s?g att det var
Tomten mamma kysste i g?r kv?ll.
In 20 minutes we're off to lunch at Cafe Opera and then goodness knows where else, the office closes at midday so at least we're not expected to come back, but I'll have to come into the office tomorrow to catch up on the work I'll miss today. Tonight I am going to see a real Lucia concert at the church where I saw the Messiah (and Benny) and then meeting Simon and Jem for a few farewell drinks as they both leave for Australia next week.
Byeeee
Yvette
xx
Posted at 2:48 AM
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Smoking box
Swedish companies seem to be very concerned about the health of their employees. The company I work for pays the Stockholm-office employees' health insurance, provides rebates on additonal activities up to $300/1500kr (such as gym memberships etc), and pays for all activities organised by the company's Activity Club such as cycling, golf memberships, weekly yoga and massage, kyaking etc. Unfortunately as I am still on the Australian payroll I don't qualify for healthcare and rebates, but I do get to join the Activity Club events. So it's funny that there should be what I call smoking boxes, like the one on the right, throughout the office building. In summer I would sit on the terrace outside my department (left) and do some work in the sun and have a fag, thinking I would give up when the weather was too cold to go outside.
The smoking box changed all that. The boxes are strategically positioned around the building. If you want to smoke, you step inside the box and immediately a fan starts sucking up the air and dirty smoke which is then filtered and let back out. There are smoking boxes all over the place in Stockholm, and at the airport certain parts of bars and restaurants have similar fans in the ceiling. Which is good for non-smokers of course, but does nothing to help the weak-willed smokers like me stop.
However the advantage at work is that the box is where you meet people and get to know colleagues from other departments, like my friends Sandra and Monia in the photo on the left. I would have been almost friendless if I didn't smoke, as our department is located in a place that is very isolated from the rest of the office. And you can take work down to the box and proof, write, read etc while you have a fag and a coffee, and meet people. It's quite a social experience, and of course, smokers are always the first to hear the office gossip!Renay just read this and sent me a mail:Sooo funny about the smoking boxes. The Swedes must be soooo loaded to do things like that! Imagine Aussies paying for smoking boxes, it would be labeled ludicrous and prompt strikes & rallies in the Domain!
My camera ran out of batteries when I was taking the smoking box photos so I went down to the mailroom to borrow some...and found this box tucked away in the compactor...now I know why they are all so laid back down there!Big day tomorrow...Lucia celebrations which means no work all day. It starts with a Lucia parade in the office early in the morning (which I'll write all about tomorrow, but let me just say they choose the prettiest, most lovely girl to be Lucia and lead the choir) with Gl?gg - starting at 7.30am mind you, followed by a work Christmas lunch at the very special Cafe Opera - which from what I've been told is mostly a liquid lunch. I will be very careful, I am putting that into my brain now, so I don't forget and drink too much. Might set myself a reminder message on my mobile like James does, he has had quiet a bit of success with that. Will make a quick post tomorrow after the Lucia parade before alcoholic Christmas lunch...talk to you then!
Posted at 5:27 AM
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Sniffing, rikskuponger & free t-bana travelSniffing in Sweden
I am sure there are tissues in Sweden, I am certain I have seen them in the shops. And while I do understand, and have experienced, that this really, really cold weather makes your nose run, I don't understand why it is so hard to actually have tissues on hand. God knows there are enough pockets in the jackets and coats we wear to deal with the cold to fit in a couple of tissues.Every morning on the train, the station, and at numerous locations around Stockholm, the people are sniffing. Repeatedly, as in each person, every 20 seconds. And not the polite 'Oh no I forgot my hanky' type sniff. These snifs are what Ute calls 'sucking it back into your brain' type sniffs. Non-stop, long and loud. A harsh gurgling, sucking, bubbling choir of snot. It drives me crazy, and is disgusting to have to listen to but you can't escape it. I am going to start offering tissues around shortly.
According to Ute, Swedes don't blow their noses as Swedish doctors say it's unhealthy and potentially life threatening - they believe blowing your nose releases a massive pressure into the upper part of your brain, potentially causing brain damage. This theory sounds slightly brain damaged to me.
Free train travel
The train system is pretty good here, they're usually on time unless there's a strike - and then we get a message over the loudspeaker on the platform that too many train drivers have called in sick so the trains will not be running on time. But it certainly beats the Sydney System hands down.But anyway the point is ...the system. It's all based on good old fashioned Swedish honesty. There are no ticket collectors or ticket checks at the end of the trip - no-one to check if you have paid and have a ticket. And not all stations are manned on the way in so...often it's a free trip. These pics are from a station near the office, I guess it's called a j-bana cause my train line is the t-bana (t stands for tunnel I think) and has the same sign but with a blue 't'. I don't know what the difference is between the two...maybe the j line is above ground.
On the way into the station there are turnstiles and a gate that's usually open (a green light flashes to let you know) - I have noted five options:
1) You pay - because you are honest (or Swedish). Or because none of the below options are available...luckily this doesn't happen often.
2) You walk through the open gate - free travel
3) There is no ticket office - just a machine - and no-one to check if you have a ticket when you reach your destination - more free travel
4) The gate is closed but you run past the ticket counter pretending you're running for the train - free travel
5)The ticket office is closed. No matter that a person is sitting there - they are on a 10 minute break and will not sell you a ticket. So again, free travel
Rikskuponger
Lunch in Sweden is the main meal of the day and everyone is always starving by 11.30am for some reason, so take lunch between 11.30am and 12.30pm. No sandwiches or home made lunches here, 11.30am and everyone is out the door. All the restaurants put on lunch specials - meat, fish, chicken and potatoes, pasta and smokes salmon/prawn salads usually. A complete salad bar, bread rolls and a drink is included. But it usually costs around 65 kronor ($13 Australian)..hence the Rikskuponger!The Rikskuponger is a book of tickets of varying value that we purchase from work for around 500kr, and their value is about 750kr (work subsidises the difference) so we get a pretty good discount.. All restuarants, cafes and coffee shops take them, and you can use them anytime, anywhere except supermarkets. The only downside is you can't use them to buy alcohol. So they're pretty handy, and the fact that it's monopoly money means that you never really notice just how much you are paying for lunch - which is a good thing considering it's so expensive. And look how happy the lady on booklet is because of her Rikskuponga.
Posted at 5:26 AM
Monday, December 09, 2002
Weekend UpdateIt is dark, dark, dark. It's horrible, it gets light at about 9am and is dark by 3pm - and there's no sun, it's been cloudy and grey for the last three weeks. It's 3.30pm and it is pitch black outside and -7 degrees. Well at least it's an experience if nothing else! It would be nice to see some sun though...the darkness is starting to drive me mental. I can see how, as Muriel would say, lots of people lose their mentality during the Scandinavian winter.
Used to be my weekends were rather quiet but since my meltdown I have been inundated with invitations and I am exhausted after a very hectic two days. First of all, as posted, I spent Friday night with Eva and her family, then dropped in at the office to do some work on my way home the following day, but spent most of my time on the internet and cleaning my desk.
Saturday evening I went to Ralph and May Johansson's for dinner. May and Ralph are Swedish and have spent a lot of time in Australia, working in our Sydney office, and returned to the Stockholm office in December last year. Robert, also from the Sydney office, was at dinner too. May and Ralph are brilliant hosts, fun and caring - ie/ your glass is never empty! Dinner was sooo yummy - May used the Naked Chef cookbook and it's now on my list of things to buy. Pictured is the best chololate cake I have ever tasted, I wished I could have eaten more of it but I was so stuffed from the roasted almond nibbles, prawn entree and lamb main that I had reached the 'one more after dinner mint stage' of fullness. We had lots of really nice Chilean and Italian red wine, g&t's - Bombay Saphirre of course! And Ralph even had to break open my Penfolds offering when we reached the final leg of the evening.
They have an amazing house, with of course their own sauna with a little table and chair just outside the door where they can relax with a glass of wine in between roasting in the sauna! I think we were all a little wobbly by the time we finished up...and unfortunately I left my camera there so have no photos of the rest of the weekend (things seem to happen to digital cameras when I'm around May).The following day I was up bright and early (although not feeling too bright) to meet Anita and her daughter Lisa for a trip to the Swedish Christmas craft market. It was lots of fun, we wandered around hundreds of display stands and finally made it to the food section where tasting the food was complusory. I bought a few little trinkets, and a Christmas angel for my apartment so at least I have a touch of Chritsmas in there.
That evening, after napping for a couple of hours, I set off again on the commuter trainline into the countryside to Soren and Jamie's. Soren was my GM in Sydney until the end of last year when he and his family also returned to Stockholm. Soren is Danish and his wife Jamie is Korean. They have two really sweet and smart children who loved living in Australia so much they now think they're Australian and Jamie has to keep reminding them they're Danish! They have lived all over the world so it's an educated decision. Again it was a feast for dinner. Smoked salmon and aspragus for entree followed by a Danish/Korean meal of spiced ham, veges and rice followed by delicious stewed apples and ice-cream - do I sound slightly food obsessed? I have gained at least a couple of kilos this weekend! Anyway, again I had such a nice evening, they are a really lovely family who make you feel very relaxed and part of the family when you're a guest in their home.
Today has been okay, the rest of the department are off for their team building again and since I am not included as I'm not part of the team apparently, (no, no, of course I'm not twitter and bisted) and can't afford to do my personal-Yvette-building as planned, I am in the office alone listening to Lugna favoriter hundra fyra komma sju - 104,7 'Easy Listening' radio (thanks to Ute for spelling that out for me so I can sing along with the station idents) which sadly means more of Mariah Carey than I can stand. And Rod Stewart murdering Elton John songs.
Nothing much planned for the evening, tidying up the apartment and watching TV I think...and I might just walk home from work to try and budge a few of these kilos. Nothing too exciting planned for the next few days, but I'll keep you posted just in case something happens.
Yvette
xx
Posted at 6:51 AM
Saturday, December 07, 2002
Friday night at Eva's...
It's Saturday morning and I have just popped into work on my way home from Eva's. I don't think I'll be here for too long, but there's only two weeks until I go on holidays and a lot of work to do before then...and I should be doing it instead of updating! On the left is a picture of my friend Eva with her daughter Josefin who invited me to her house Friday night for dinner. Isn't she lovely! After work yesterday, we took the train home to Eva's, and her husband Paul, after preparing a magnificent roast, headed out to meet his Aussie mates for a few beers, leaving us to the red wine. Dinner was a very joyous occasion, chowing down on my first roast in over four months, and Paul's successful first attempt at cooking a roast.
But before dinner first was my viewing of the family Harbour Bridge Gingerbread masterpiece...it's an absolute winner, and even has cars on the road. I am sooo impressed!
Eva's family is lovely, and the children are gorgeous and typically Swedish with bright white hair. Josefin finally warmed to me after a while, and let me take some photos. What a cutie!
I stayed overnight, and Eva smiled her happiest smile as she waved me goodbye...So time to do some work, so I can get out of the office and walk home before it starts snowing. Off to Ralph and Mae's for dinner tonight with Robert Ritchie from the Sydney office who is over for a reccy before he transfers to Stockholm as the global Head of Operations.
Hej d?,
Yvette
xxx
Posted at 2:07 AM
Thursday, December 05, 2002
2003 - it's all about me!2003...it's all about me! That's my theme for the new year and I encourage everyone to use it. Less time at work and more for fun activities. So far, I have plans to learn French, play tennis, take still life drawing lessons and a trip to South America. And if anyone questions me, or I annoy anyone at any stage, all I need to explain is: 'I'm sorry, but 2003...it's all about me.'
Went ice-skating with Simon last night at the outdoor rink at Kungsr?dg?rden, we were very proud of ourselves as we didn't fall over, although had a few wobbly moments. It was freezing, and there were two year olds skating rings around us (literally) but it was lots of fun. I took some photos of Simon but he kill me if I put them up here, so it's all about me...the second and third photos are a bit blurry, I must have been speed skating at those moments.
Aunty Jane Torvil will be so proud
We then went back to Simons massive apartment for dinner and watched the Anna Nicole Smith show, very scary stuff, I will write more on that later as it's a whole post in itself.
I think Swedish people are actually quite honest. How else can I expain that one week after Robbie Williams posters advertising his Stockholm concerts were placed in the t-bana trains, they are all still there. They would never have lasted in Sydney. Well, all except two are still there. Naturally I had to get one for Robbie's number one fan, Ute. And then I wanted one for myself, so I had to get another one. There's still lots there, so I will take requests. Ute was very pleased, although she's not happy with Robbie's 'mohican'.
The other activity this week was a trip to the Stockholm lost and found office to search for my hat. The hat I loooved that I bought in Finland was left on the train a few weeks ago, and to contradict the above 'honesty' comment, unfortunately had not been handed in to the lost and found. However the whole experience is worth a mention. Fristly they do not check in any way that you have actually lost what you say you have lost. I went to the counter, and after my number was called, said I had lost my hat and I was shown behind the desk into a massive room filled with shelves and shelves and shelves of lost property. I didn't have to make any type of description and was left alone to trawl through. The lost property is kept for three months, and the three months worth of hats accounted for three aisles.I was fascinated, and after I had looked through around 500 yucky and probably nit infested hats I went for a wander. Four aisles of gloves, drawers and drawers of watches, racks of clothes, handbags, briefcases, even a portable CD stereo. It was amazing. Then I saw another huge room that had piles of shopping bags on the floor and hanging from racks. I tried to get in for a closer look but the bossy female staff member got a bit suspicious I think and ordered me to " Get out" with her arm pointed at the door so I had to leave. I can't believe that people don't follow up with valuable things that they lose.
Finally, a very exciting experience - my first taste of Indian food in over three years. A hideous bout of dysentry that I endured during a 60 hour train trip from Rajasthan to Goa was the cause, and although I was happy with the resulting loss of six kilos, I have not even been able to think of Indian food without felling sick. But for some reason, all of a sudden I had a huge craving and went with Eva to an Indian restaurant for a buffet lunch where I tucked into a massive plate, without too serious side effects. Very pleased.Time to head home now, there's half a bottle of red waiting...
Yvette
xx
Posted at 8:59 AM
Tuesday, December 03, 2002
Scary Santa, Gingerbread frog and farewell Mikaela
On Sunday I got up nice and early and went for a walk...stopped into Simons for a cuppa. He is living well - my entire apartment could easily fit inside his kitchen! It started snowing but I soldiered on, past an outdoor iceskating rink at Kungstr?dg?rden (the King's Garden) and up to the Harrods of Stockholm, NK to look at their Christmas windows. I was looking forward to until my eyes came across the ugliest most scary Santa I have ever seen in my life. And this was the Santa that was in the window for all the children to see. He is nightmare causing! I took lots of photos cause no-one would believe a Santa could be sooo ugly unless they had seen it with their own eyes. I reckon there'll be a lot of scared children on Christmas eve in Stockholm this year.
Ugly scary Santa Clause
After further wandering I went home to change before going to my colleague Eva's place to make gingerbread, another Swedish Christmas traditon. It was lots of fun, and I made a gingerbread frog. Eva and her family - hubbie Paul (who is an Australian from Oatley) daughter Josefin and sons Mikey and Jacob were putting a slight spin on the traditonal gingerbread house making, and were constructing the Sydney Harbour Bridge instead. Eva is very creative. I haven't seen the finished product but I know that Paul was being very careful measuring the dimensions for the pylons and cutting them painstakingly (probably under threat of death from Eva) out of dough.
Rolling dough to make the fabulous gingerbread frog (I could never eat him) and the Harbour Bridge pieces awaiting construction. Above, Josephine is helping Paul very carefully cut the pylons, and Eva with her home made saffron buns. Very popular in Sweden.
Very pleased when Eva pulled out the red wine, and relaxed with a couple before heading off to the airport to farewell Mikaela who left that night for Sydney, lucky girl. We had a wine and a gossip and then I waved goodbye as she went off through customs. She would be home sitting in the sun right now. Jealous!
Bye bye Mikaela
Posted at 8:57 AM
Monday, December 02, 2002
Gl?gg, FND's, Messiah & Benny
Met the boys for Friday night drinks at the Bull & Bear pub in ?stermalmstorg, it was nice to relax over a few wines, have gossip and a laugh. And they actually let me take some photos of them...although I did promise not to put them up here. Ah well, they are all such big spunks I just had to brag about what gorgeous friends I have here, right boys (or should that be girls)? Wobbled home before midnight - relatively responsible.
Jem, me, Simon & Nick...and Justin in the third photo
At home I watched a little of a very strange Aussie program on Channel 2, it was called 'Life' and had Vince Colosimo in it and the horrible man Gabby was having an affair with in 'Secret Life of us'. I had never heard of it...anyone? It definitely was not Secret Life, although that horrible man had the same terrible accent...
On Saturday I had a lazy morning before heading into Gamla Stan to the Storkyrkan church (located just behind the Royal Palace) to see Handel's Messiah. It was amazing, my seat was right at the front, I felt very special. Lots of people were quite dressed up and glamorous, I think it was the place to be on Saturday afternoon. The church accoustics were brilliant, the choir sounded so powerful I caught myself at one point with my eyes closed doing a Stevie Wonder impersonation. But when I checked so were quite a few other people so I didn't feel too much like an idiot. 
Just as exciting was my second Benny encounter. No I am not stalking him, but I'm sure if he had spotted me he would have remembered our impressive meeting at ?hlens and come over to say hello. I was seated about four metres away from him, and although I tried very subtly to get his attention he didn't look my way. Of course, being in a church, seated right at the front and pretending to be very sophisticated I couldn't really make a big deal of trying to get his photo again, but I managed to sneak this shot of his side and the back of his head...as you can see, no 'yeah yeah' problems there yet. After the concert I made my way home - it was bloody freezing - to my warm apartment and had a quiet night with a few glasses of Australian red, which is thankfully quite affordable at the System Bloget.Had further fun activities on Sunday that I'll write about in the next couple of days. Off to the pool again tonight to attempt to do some laps, so I have to work back at the office until around 7.30pm to make sure the over 60's aqua-aerobics class has finshed and the lap lanes are back! Wish me luck...
Yvette
xxx
Posted at 3:59 AM