Shizmo on journey

The secret brother of Gizmo is again on a journey. Taking the flight over the clouds. 

Spring is already in Berlin, will this be the same in Stockholm?

Now back to Stockholm another time- Shizmo felt happy and did not waste any minute. 

Visiting friends and being in the Globe to see a concert. 

He visited the Gamla Stan and eat in exelent coffees the Gladkaka and enjoyed the view over town, the Vasa Museum and the park Skansen. It is always nice to walk through Gamla Stan and being in the clubs at the evening to drink a beer with friends. 

Of course you must be also on the other side of the river and therefore from Gamla Stan.  

Shizmo could shop and look for vinyls there and end up near the Theater. 

But again he went to the Gamla Stan as there is also the castle, the parliament and the wonderful views in the afternoon.

click on the pics!

click on the pics- this is Parliament house

click on the pics! and there getting big!

Later it was taking a walk around one of the Islands where the salt water meets the sweet water. Where modern houses meet the old typical swedish Sommarstuga. Where the train is next to you when you take the brigde.

Underground driving next to you- same with cars and behind us is Gulmarsplan station

So yes, spring has arrived in Stockholm like you can see on the pics and there is wood to in town. The air is therefore better then in many big towns. By the way Shizmo felt that it is true, that Stockholm is expencive. But always worth a try. Like London. Thought those towns are different and better not to compare.

After all this he went on with the train over the whole south of Sweden to see that it is in fact true what you read about Sweden. All those typical houses. Well, gets a bit boring after a while. Nice but not much differnece between the towns, villages and so it is to enjouy the nature, the fact that the train drives next to lakes. In fact sometimes just two steps away. And he has the luck that nothing went wrong with taking the train as there is the warning that each second time you'll have to expect something going wrong or similiar.

Gothenburg/ Göteborg Central Station

Gothenburg it was then and here spring had arrived a bit earlier and anoter view and wonderful days have been to catch. All is smaller, but cheaper and more calm. 

Well Shizmo was at friends and brought them also flowers of spring, which cost three times more the in Berlin. Beauty can cost money, but are we lucky to have friends, so we don't care about prices. By the way one or better two of the best vinyl stores is near the Järntorget Place.  Now the last pics and we wish you a wonderful spring and week.

Love and Light

journey through a year

Every year is an adventure, is a new journey in your life.

Some years have more to give to you, then you'll expected it. 

Some years are less dramatic and others have many changes on the way.

My year was literally a journey to different places, old and new ones and also in making decision where and how to go on. 

Starting with a new job in sight, I flew to Thailand to visit a friend and to discover a new and different country. I went from Bangkok to the South coast and then through the whole south from near Malaysia up to the "James Bond" Island, over to Phuket and then with the plan high up to the North and landed in Chiang Mai and took the bus down again to finally be back in Bangkok. 

A fantastic journey where I not only got to see wonderful places, but also met new people and tasted food I never eat before. But this you can read and follow from my post from this year after January. http://one-thing-to-remember.blogspot.de/2015/02/thailand-journey-part-1.html

Then back in Berlin, Germany I discovered that things went another way then planed. The job as a teacher would not become true yet, as the whole school did not open. Seemed the boss got cold feet about the financial challenges. So starting searching for a new job as I have just left Sweden. 

So starting again was not my problem as I did this several times. You know I always believe that you have to go your way and it will bring you to the places and experiences you need and want to go. Sometimes time is ready, sometimes you are not. So it seemed in this case that I won't be lucky in Berlin and so I went back to Sweden and there I was very lucky. Just there was again a promising job or two in Berlin. Now it was time to think and write down what to do and how. Finally I decided for Berlin as it did look better. Turns out the job they wanted to give me is different then what they told me. http://one-thing-to-remember.blogspot.de/2015/03/up-and-down-back-again.html

I declined but then was without a job. Starting all over again.  

Now many people would feel that everything is going wrong and whatever you do, you seem to choose wrong, but I believe there is a lesson in everything and one is to believe and have patience. 

While searching again I worked at my personality. Things which I wanted I did and some things I wanted to change, I went to people who could help me. You know sometimes you need other people to look from another angle. 

I also made another interview and wrote a lot this year on my blog. http://one-thing-to-remember.blogspot.de/2015/04/jan-bo-vinter-poulsen-interview.html

That did indeed help. And I had -like it seems - the universe also working for me. A love came into my life and two people left my space. 

I still think about them, but less now and let them go there way. Though we did not parted the nicest way and a misunderstanding led them away, but sometimes you just have to let it go. People have to make their own experience and must always pay for what they do. You can't always safe or change or make it better. Sometimes you have to trust and which the best inside you for them. 

This is also a journey.

Then I discovered my own town again. Like a tourist. Strange in a way. 

http://one-thing-to-remember.blogspot.de/2015/04/berlin-walk-secret-way-with-me.html

Finally having my new job and getting also the experience that working as usual is never again the solution, I began a new chapter and also started to go to university again. Well, not again, the first time and will do so the next three years, next to my job. 

In the same time I missed my Sweden and therefore I flew back to meet my friends. 

http://one-thing-to-remember.blogspot.de/2015/09/make-break.html

When I came back again to Berlin, I realized that my love affair with Berlin is over. Also I already moved another time (the sixth in one year) and started living in an area I have never been much before. It's a nice area and quite. 

Now living with my love is something new for me, as I always lived alone at my very own place but it is nice and wonderful, thought a challenge for both of us too. 

But like in the last years I have become a traveler. 

Manchester was it in autumn and London. Something new and something old- like the saying goes. 

That was exciting, beautiful and lovely. 

http://one-thing-to-remember.blogspot.de/2015/11/manchester-united-or-visite-in-red-town.html

Now that the year has nearly gone I have worked at my new working place a while and had a lot of challenges. A lot stress and a lot to think about. A lot to deal with and try to figure out how to do best, as I lead a team and manage the quality and also doing nursing. Quite a lot and then I have to keep in mind there is a dog home, a love and then my friends. Stay tuned to what they do and how they feel is something I try to fix as good as I can, while learning and doing everyday things which have to be done and also christmas presents will be bought and wrapped. 

To get christmas feelings is something I still wait for.... It is not really coming up..  Am to much bussy. Very much like in the last years it takes  a while. But don't worry, the spirit comes along...always. 

http://one-thing-to-remember.blogspot.de/2015/12/the-holy-family.html

Yes, this year also had its dark political effects. The racism came back into open field and the hate, the gun shootings have become kind of everyday thing and the bombs inside our heart have tried to destroy our faith in democracy. The results of mistakes come to real danger now as one of the mistakes was to keep people stupid in many ways. But also we had many light hours, hours of hope and courage and people seem to awake from a coma they have been or getting away from being blind to being more the seeing eye. 

Sure next year is a leap year but also a year for decisions. Again, we face important times and the decision we will make will more then ever lead the way for the next future. 

So what future do you want?! 

Meaning, it is time to stand up and even when we fear one or two things could go wrong or go a way we don't like. But let's be true, a change never leaves you without the question what to let lose and give up. A change is only possible if you leave things behind and that means also things we are used to. Sometimes we have to free our self from things to get free and to be able to do the next step, even when we fear the future, because if we don't we come to the point where we must and then it won't be that easy, that nice, that way you like to have it. Now you still can decide and go the way, find your way easier then later. 

That is also why christmas is a god start to be grateful and think about what you have as most of us are really rich, and some are rich for the wrong reason and others believe them self poor for the wrong reason. 

Many things come a bit later then we believe or should I say expect, but they do come true if you hang on. I can tell you from my own experience. Many things come when the time is right, when you are ready and the situation is as it is needed. Therefore have patience and go on the way you want to. Keep your goal in mind and do all on the way which gives you what you need and want. A bit planing is also good and then be flexible. That way you can react and catch what you need and come along the way you desire. Make your own path. It's true, it is the only you'll become happy. Which does not need we can go together, cross our ways, but just remember, you have to walk alone on your own way. 

That means sure not to care to much what people say, but listen to them is necessary. It gives you the information you need to reflect yourself. 

Now, let me send you some love and light and which you a merry christmas. Whatever you do, wherever you are, make the best of it. I will be working most of the holidays but am happy anyway. Be happy, be grateful and try to shine and let the sun shine in your heart. Make yourself some beautiful moments, just because YOU deserve it. Do it all for you, instead for the others. Do what makes you happy. Do what you like.  If it is just to give a smile. 

LOVE & LIGHT

Att gråta och att skratta

To cry and to laugh. This is what comes to mind when I read the book from Anders Paulrud - Ett ögonblicks verk-. 
And also when I think about december-time. 

The book is a drama of a childhood, a lovestory of a strong man and about a survivour and fighter in hard times, just like ours. It's about how to grow and what you make of it and how long it takes to understand things truely. It is about that your future is not only made of your past and what has happend to you. It is also what you think. 

In this book you will be remind that there are memories in life and things you forgot, but also things you'll never forget but can't call memores as they have become part of you, live inside you for good or for worse. 

This book also tells us about a time, most of us born after 1950 don't know about but we can learn from that time as just now many things are very similar to what it has been then. 

A very passionate book, a happy book, a page turner and something to bite in. A book which will make you angry and then hopeful too. It will make you look at yourself and wonder where you stand. 

Sadly as far as I know you can only read it in swedish. Could not find any sign that it came out in another language, but maybe my google is lazy. 

If you find the english version, write me and I will put it up here, so you can read the book in english or so too. It's a little but fine book and once you've started, you know you have a wonderful written experience in your hand. 

Anyway, this book made me think more about december. A month where the days get shorter the dark nights darker and longer and the days in most parts of the world colder. The depression is waveving at us and we have to be careful not to let it in. Many people get sad or stressed. But there are also happy moments when we think about christmas is coming and seeing friends and when we sing together, come together to celebrate. Many times people gather together with the family however big this family may be and we have the mix of everything there. The good and the bad. 

Then we cry of laughter, cry of sadness. We laugh because we are happy or just lucky. We talk about what we want, where we are and if this is makig us happy. Sometimes we are scared of the facts we put together, sometimes we realise that change is gonna come no matter what. Sometimes we talk about death and how we want to die and what people should do with us then. We talk about politics and how we are not happy with it. We wonder about the question of learning from mistakes. 

But we also talk about how happy we are to be alive, how long we have survived and what wonderful gifts we've got. We talk about how grateful we are to have a home, to know that we can go the way we want and make the choice we need. We will be happy to have changed sometimes or moved to another place. 

Maybe after a stressful day we are just happy to have a cup of hot chocolade in the dark afternoon under the candle light. December is not only a cold and freezing time. It can be also very romantic. Can be a reason to stay home and cuddle and watch a movie. 

Maybe then, we understand that things don't have to be perfect to feel perfect. 

Happy holidays , merry christmas and have a wonderful advent time. (be sure it is not my last post this year- so don't worry ;-)..)

LOVE & LIGHT

Do they know it's not christmas yet?

Could not deny to make this title up as I just hear the german version of the classic -Do they know it's christmas-. A charity song and so many more came but the question remains- can this be all? What does this mean? Well, this is a question for you to discuss: I better write now about christmas markets. First this year was for me in Manchester, but home back in Berlin we also have quite a lot. To be true, around 300 all through these december days until the new year eve arrives. 

One christmas market which is still young, as they opened first time around five years ago is today the topic. You maybe know I have lived in Sweden and worked there too. It's a important part of my life and in my heart. Just one year ago I was in Gothenburg and had my life there including christmas time and markets. So what would be better to visit the Lucia Christmas market in Berlin. 

We have actually two- one is much older and comes from the Swedish church in Berlin, the other has been build up from private people. Thought I heard Ikea now has also its own christmas market. Should check out this for this year. 

Now Lucia is a very important tradition in Sweden and best to follow in churches there, thought Swedish people are not much a believer in religious, but they still pay for church... many times. But this is also another blog to dig deeper in.

Now the thing with new success is that in the first three or four years you'll have the best fun, not to many people, not to much commerce and an easy going feeling and hoping for better times. Sadly when more people come and want to enjoy the same experience it changes to successful but less comfy. Like this year when I arrived, there have been so many people that you could only move in very little steps. 

But nevertheless it is a very cosy and nice christmas market and has actually mostly scandinavian things to sell and food and drinks to enjoy and also each version of Glögg. Even Island was part of this crowed. Just keep in mind to come early or after five. 

The market is inside the Kulturbrauerei in the famous Prenzlauer Berg, near underground station Eberswalder Strasse and that makes it the little market inside the building complex which is made of very old houses and with its red color it is also very right for the market. You feel surrounded of walls who seems to protect you and you feel save. The world is kind of outside and far away. 

So if you are in Berlin- go there, have fun, eat, drink and play the games. Try the tent or let your children spring high as they can. 

LOVE & LIGHT

Make a break!

Yes, that what was needed as I started a new job and had very much to do and get used to.  Working at a new place is mostly exhausting and in nursing and leading a group too it sure is. But after all it went well but gave me also much to think about what do I want and to remember that patience is important until you are really used to the new working place. Expectations are always high, especially when you're not the youngest. In the same time I just had moved and got used to a new lifestyle, as I used to live alone.

Living in Berlin is always a challenge and as things there always change, so your own impressions and feelings. But it is very interesting for me to see how much my own view on the town has changed in the last years and how far away I got and the result is that I am going to move to another town and place in the next years. Not sure when this will happen, as I just start to make my B.A. in medicine.

The new situation also made me think twice about working in Sweden again and then make it like a half year there and a half year stay in Berlin. But then it would be just to study and live and no work.

But as love life seems to work I also have to think about what happens with us...? Will he come with me? Where does he wants to live? 

Lucky as I am, he also wants to move away in the next years. Not now but in the future. But will it be Sweden? I am not that sure as he never was in Sweden himself and so when I made my break and traveled back to Gothenburg and visited my friends and second family I tried to see and find new things and ways to look at this place I knew. 

Some places do really look very similar to places in Germany and maybe just the roof is different. In town they build a lot these days and so you can discover a new tram line and again that old and new are mixed and next to each other. Also it is something special to have an amusement park in town you'll see when you come from outside Gothenburg by highway.

It is for sure much quieter to live in Gothenburg as in Berlin, thought it can be very lonely too there. And I don't know but I am a bit over the way of living in Berlin and ready for a live with less stress- or better less negative stress. 

Summer in Sweden can be very nice and of course visiting the islands is a must, as there it is really beautiful and peaceful to take a walk. But don't wonder if you won't be the only one.

I saw many friends on these three days and had some wonderful conversations. It always feels like home. And this break was appreciated as it seems I had worked such a long time- thought it was not that long ago that I started the new job. But then I am sure part of the need was, the so called wanderlust and that I was already so over Berlin. I do not feel home any longer there. 

Now I feel much better and hope you can enjoy my pictures and get an idea how wonderful it can be. This town has culture, food, ways to walk, nature and sun and even nice people living there. It is a bigger town as you may imagine and calm but not to calm after all- a bit traffic is always going on. 

Love & Light

first day I arrived late afternoon to have dinner with my dear colleague

second day I started with waiting in the bus station and enjoying the luck of sun and warm weather

in town and around you'll find those big rocks... actually they are no rocks it's what the ground is made of in many parts - stone

the blue bus who always brings me to town as I used to live at my second family in Landvetter and I do really love them

tram and buss stop - Brunsparken- in the centre of Gothenburg

I did well mention some things seems familiar...

a look to the centre from the river... or better from a bridge over the river

just on the other side the harbor and the new tram line

the opera house and the "lipstick" a office block

like I said- old and new next to each other

marine ships next to the harbor

click on the pics to get them bigger :-)

finally some typical houses.. 

the amusement park and the big ferris wheel and the three Gotha towers...

How could I not get some cake and coffee and a newspaper !

an international sailing competition took place

there is always another boat and you should make sure to be on the right one

your own little boat next to your home- how about that?

a view of the island Styrso Bratten 

inside it look kind of blue

bad  weather- no just salty water!