Rainy, windy and extremely grey

Looking out through the window you wouldn't have thought I've even left England,  7 degrees, windy, rainy and so grey it looks dark at 2pm! Even if the weather isn't what I had hoped for, yes I did do a snow dance but it didn't work, I'm having a fantastic time! This first week has flown by. Started off with a few nights in Gothenburg to catch up with friends and have some quality time with my brothee before the Christmas madness starts. Did some shopping and continued my travels to my parents on Wednesday. Since then I've managed to work from home for two days, catch with friends I haven't seen for years, finish off the Christmas shopping, visit relatives and obviously spend time loads of time mith my mum & dad💕.
The fun continues today with a trip to town, 'fika' with my old friends and picking up Costa at the airport. Let the 2013 Christmas begin!

 

E x

Eat, drink and be merry!

Christmas is coming closer and the festive celebrations have started. I've already covered off two Christmas lunches and one Christmas party and tonight it's time for the main event, the Swenglish Christmas dinner! Most of our dearest are coming around for an evening filled with food, games and drinks!

Christmas lunch at All Bar One

Christmas party at the Royal Pavilion ice rink

 Christmas lunch at Chilli Pickle



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♥

E x

1st of December

Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Weekend. Time off work. Call it what you want but it's three days of quality time, time to do what you want, what you live for. Unfortunately, a nasty cold took the better out of me during the week so Friday night was spent on the sofa with 'The Bridge' and a Hove Tandoori take away. We woke up to a sunny but cold Saturday and

treated ourselves to lunch at The Giggling Squid with dear friends. The day passed, some shopping, started on the advent decorations, enjoyed mulled wine and played an, according to me, extremely difficult version of Trivial Pursuit. Sunday arrived in style and we spent the morning preparing for the upcoming Swenglish Christmas dinner, place cards, ticked! We continued our Christmas shopping, like everyone else and finished off the evening by making a Sunday roast and putting our new bed together. Oh lovely weekend, I can't belive it's over already?

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The countdown has begun...

...17 days left to Sweden and three weeks with the most amazing family!



 E x

A return ticket to 2007 please!

Thirty something excited students from various parts of Sweden started to arrive to Brighton in the end of August 2007. Everyone from different backgrounds and with a different history but all in Brighton for the same reason, to study English at Sussex University. The term started and everyone started to get to know each other, events were arranged by the Uni as well as weekend trips and opportunities to be a part of different societies  at the campus. I was one of these young, excited, scared, students who left my safe home for the first time to venture out in the world and stand on my own legs. Well, nearly on my own, I did have my best friend with me. Together we experienced Brighton, we lived, we laughed, we learnt new things and we meet many amazing people. Some of them are still a part of our lives and those very special four months we spent here together in 2007 will always keep us together.

A lot has happened since this care free, young, fun filled part of my life, however, on this particular November day when my friends from the past, yet again returned to Brighton I felt exactly the same as I did in 2007, as if nothing had changed. We laughed, we remembered, we ate, we drank, we created more memories, we talked and we shared stories.

Thank you for a fantastic weekend gorgeous ladies.

 

E x

Re-union!

I cannot wait for these fabulous ladies to come and visit on Thursday!

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Murder at Soft Rock Café

Thiza Doolittle, Dow Jones, Goodie Two-Shoes, Won Ton Suey, Buck Fizz, Lara Parma-Tortellini, Chief Inspector Closely and Detective Sergeant Clutz all gathered on rainy October evening to solve the murder of a very close friend of theirs.
The six friends and the police officers consume a delicious tapas dinner together whilst trying to figure out what has happened to their dear friend. During the evening a lot of surprises are revealed and some of the dinner guests might not have been as fond of the victim as they first tried to claim. The evening is full of accusations, memories shared, tears, laughter and finally a solution to the murder!

 Do they look capable of solving a murder?

Dow Jones is ready to welcome his guests.

 

Detectives!

       

Goodie and Lara

Chief inspector and Won Ton

Detective Sergeant Clutz and Lara Pama-Tortellini ready for some delicious cakes!

Heated discussions at the dinner table.

Mystery solved!

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Giggling Squid

Delicious lunch, great atmosphere and fantastic friends! We spent Saturday with some of our dear friends enjoying a gorgeous thai lunch at the Giggling Squid. After this extremely enjoyable afternoon I am seriously contemplating becoming 'a lady that lunch'.

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Happy father's day!

The best of dads and me rocking it 80s style!
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St Jude day storm

Warnings for the St Jude day storm had been coming out for weeks in advance, 'hurricane force wind', 'stay inside', 'stock up', 'secure your houses', 'no public transport', however when St Jude arrived on the 28th October it did not hit Brighton as bad as predicted. A few fallen trees, some houses without electricity and delays in public transport. The sea was amazing though, wild, loud and very fascinating!

 

E x

Zombie prom at Watling college

It's that time of the year again, the time when the wind makes the window shake, when pumpkins decorate most windows, when gardens are covered in cobwebs and witches dance on the street. It is Halloween! This year the commercial very American 'holiday' (is it even a holiday?) was celebrated zombie style at Watling college in Southwick. As always Mr and Mrs Pengilly Merino threw an amazing party and I danced so much that my feet still hurt!

E x

Dennett wedding

Kelda ♥ James Our day started bright and early with cleaning, visit to the hair dressers, panic over what to wear and Prosecco brunch. The day's big event was happening in Rottingdean so we got suited and booted and headed to the church where the Dennett wedding was going to take place. The day was gorgeous and everyone looked fantastic. They tied the knot, pictures where taken and confetti was thrown before we headed to Haywards Heath and the lovely Goss family's farm for the reception. We all enjoyed a BBQ steak dinner, three desserts, coffee with truffles and plenty of wine before the live band and the dancing kicked off. We couldn't have had a better day! Thank you Mr and Mrs Dennett for hosting the most fabulous wedding!