PARADISE

Var din egen väg

Självporträtt

 

Song of this week

BUSY DAYS SEEM SHORT

I went to the center this morning 'cos of the National Insurance interview booked at 11.20. I managed to get myself awake n out intime (on a Monday morning, not bad for being me) to have some spare hours to look around. A local dude recommended this shop, CASS ART LONDON, when I was asking for some supplies. I can't complain, it had everything I want and more - on 10th anniversary SALE. Nice!

I took a walk through China Town, where they still had the decorations from the Chinese New Year (23th January).

Finally... I headed towards northeast part of London, which for me was a new area. It's funny how u can take just a few tubestops, n walk out in a totally different surrounding. Like those what-ever-they-called-'em in Star Trek! Kinda funny. 

Anyways, this area is strongly Islamic. You can find the east London Mosque, Muslim center, London Islamic bank, n so on... Walking threw this area I reached destination Job Center, were me and a bunch of other foreigners were queueing to get our passports and papers checked. Then... queueing again to get the passports back. All n all I was waiting inline for about 2,5 hours... Well, now it's atleast done! Yey!

Aaah and guess what was waiting for me when I got back to Kent?! The letter from the bank with a bank-account number and a checkbook! Finally!!! So, on the bureaucratic part, this day was a success and a big stress relief. I will go to sleep hyvällä mielellä today. Who's commercial in the Finnish TV had that slogan ? "blablablablaa.... Wake up happy!"...? To end this day I took the boys to the playground, had some nice dinner n finally time to relax. Today felt like...1 hour. A very busy 1 hour....

X

CREATIVITY, NOT DESTRUCTION

 

The garden of Adam // 29/01/2012

There goes yet another week -- all n all no complains! This sunday is for relaxing, painting, drawing... Peace and quiet; I'm loving it. Time to empty every thought from my mind n just lean back. No pressure, no expectations, no meetings, away from the crowded streets and the heavy traffic.

"...for a safer London..."

I was out in Shepherd's Bush the other day (it's the same area as were u can find one of the westfield shopping centers). We managed to find a nice karaokebar, heh.. with extremely talented singers, and as always also some.....not so talented. You know, the ones you feel embaressed for... I hate that feeling.

As I wrote earlier, I have that kind of  "it will all work out somehow"-mentality... I tend not to worry. Sometimes though, it's a good reminder to keep yourself aware of your environment. For those two days this week, in S. Bush, two policemen warned me about getting robbed, in different occations. "Dont answer your phone in this area unless it's an emergancy", "please keep a good hold of your handbag". Though I didn't see anything bad, other than a few drunk people (which I'm more than used to in Kokkola too) I suppose it's a rough area. I don't mind though. I really do look forward to finding my way to Brixton too, something about rough unglamorous places fascinates me...

 

Going-to-bed-song of yesterday.

You people crossed 1000 blogviews, in one month... Cheers for reading, sweeties!

X

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

Another day, another drawing.

 The weekend is one more time gone, and a new week kicked off. I had the pleasure of meeting new nice people again. We made the second round around Westfield shopping center, had some dinner, went to get ready for going out and finally hit the streets and ended up in Club bond ; a glamorous and poshy place in the center of London. Coctails for 15 £... entrance 20 £.... We were lucky to be on the guestlist. London nights can be great laughs and a loads of fun, but it can also be extremely expensive.

I'm sad to say I missed the London Art Fair which was planned for sunday, simply because I didnt have the power to go after that night out... 

It's easy to meet new people here when you are new, I think... Like today for example, I was in the playground with the kids, n met a sweet girl who lives just two blocks from me; we started talking n got along - now we are heading to Bromley together some of the next matching free days. I didn't go there yet, so I'm glad to get company to go with!

Somehow I'm starting to get used to the idea of living here. Life can be good, we better enjoy it while it lasts, right? The eagle has landed.

X

BRITONS

Words to remember when visiting the UK

• Thank you
• Excuse me
• Please
• Sorry
• Cheers
• Pardon

...do remember to put atleast one of them into every sentence, and you will be alright. If you manage to combine them all in one, you might even make a good impression.

Brits are extremely polite in their speech, which I do find kinda nice. I'm doing my best to keep up! Except for when I'm exhausted and the true Finnish way of not speaking to anyone shines threw. Like the other day... I was walking along the sideway minding my own business far away in the world of my own thoughts. I didn't even notice one woman giving me way, and she did give me a reminder of that a thank you would have been good. M-hm! L&L - Look and Learn. I go along with the motto; Treat people the way they treat you.

 

Now off for new inspiration from London's saturday cityrush. The nicest thing is you never know what the day might bring you! Laters, near n dear ones!

X

BITE ME. PLS.

Bite me. Illustrated.

My dear sister warned me about opening a bank account in the UK. I usually don't care enough and go with the "it'll work out somehow"-attitude. Well today I went to 4 different banks n still don't have an account. Some of them wanted to wait for me to have a national insurance... I'm just saying..... COME ON? What has that got to do with the bank. F-ing Nada. Talk about overprotected. What do they think I'll do? Jesus.

So, now I'm waiting one week for them to check threw my papers and information, to see if they might be in a good mood of giving me an account?

Cross your fingers, n wish me luck.

RAUTAROUVA AND HEVOSVOIMAA

Rautarouva!

 I happened to see the movie Iron Lady in the cinema in Westfield (thanks, it was really a nice place, but the movie? Not worth the 105 min of our precious time alive). I just checked it out on IMDb and saw the Finnish translation -> RAUTAROUVA!  Hahaa, Finland, without irony, I'm loving it. It's all in the details!

Westfield is one of the biggest shoppingcenters in Europe (second biggest?), I was too tired to enjoy at the time being, but will be heading there soonest, again.



Today we made a fieldtrip to Sevenoaks to see a dear friend of the family, which also happens to be... a horse!; a beautiful and calm one.
All n all, it's been a great week and I can't believe it's already friday again tomorrow!

Btw, we were back to +12 degrees again today, there goes the winterjacket!

X

DAYS FLY BY

Since I arrived two weeks ago (2? Gosh... days fly by) the temperature has been about 8 to 11 degrees, but now it's sinking - Oh no! Minus degrees today, I guess I will be needing my winterjacket after all. We went to the park today, me and the boys, and discovered RIMFROST! They were amazed indeed, since I suppose it's not that often you get that in London (?).

The marvellous weekend passed n a new week's here. I still feel inspired; I actually did since I arrived here. Inspired to create. There's something about the enviroment and the people around me. Though the decision to move here was one of the hardest so far, I still didn't have even one moment of regreting it.

I do appreciate the food I get here too, God... Look n learn, look n learn. Life's good, brothers n sisters!

X

LA FAMILIA

"Guard", J and my sister. 

The guard seems to be distracted by....something?

Cool Britannia; Sir Jackson and Mr. Britannia. 

Thursday came along. Though I got into the holidaymood after wednesday's toursitround, I woke up for work in the morning, had a short day n got the chance to head back to the center to spend some last hours with La familia.  Boy-iltavilli did a good job spending his last energy checking out things n places like Cool Britannia at Piccadilly circus, with America's got talent's Jackson imitator, I'll add a video of him later on.

Boy Iltavilli and me in the tube

 This boy never stops to amaze me with his good heart n great spirit. We figured out that they DO have good food in London, n it is eatable.  After some walking around here n there we decided to go back to La familia's hotell, since the boys were getting tired. Boy-iltavilli was nice enough to invite me to join him and the others on the tube. http://charlottasophia.blogspot.com/2011/12/five-dos-and-donts.html Fifth DO-rule, Let others good actions give you energy.

I'll add our music videos later on too. Brilliant, I'm telling you. Unfortunatly we had to say our goodbyes later on, since they left earlier today. I told them to start expecting my Finland-visit when they r brave enough to swim in the sea at Moffa's cottage this incoming summer... <3

Snusmumriken saknar mumintrollet minst lika mycket som mumintrollet saknar snusmumriken, men när första vårdagen är här kommer han tillbaka, för Snusmumriken kommer alltid tillbaka.

X

BEEN THERE

Wednesday for sure was a blast! Spent the whole day walking around with Sis' avec the greatest family, til all of our feet were aching enough to call it a day. I'm blessed to have these people in my life.

I took a morningwalk along the Mall street, passing places like Buckingham palace, moving towards Natural History Museum where I finally found these guys on the photos. We spent some time checkin out Dinosaurs, skeletons n all the rest, checked out some birdiebirdies n had a snack. Later on we took a walk threw Hyde Park. By chance we also passed the Finnish Embassy, where I should show up for the Finish President election tomorrow, saturday.

After this we did some shopping in cute boutiques in Notting Hill which made us hungry enough to enjoy some mexican tex-mex food! I'm happy to say I did find the art supplies I was looking for at a shop in Notting hill, called The Art! Cheers n a great thank you for that. Started on filling my first page in the train back later on. Yay!

WEDNESDAY - TOURIST DAY

I just got of the phone with my sister who currently is in London with her family, including K, I and J. I am truly lucky to get visitors of best kind already! Had a short talk with them, got a "Go' natt, Lotta!" from I, and set a date for tomorrow morning. Meeting point; Natural History Museum to check out...wait for it....waaaaait for it..... DINOSAURS! I'm wondering how 3-year old I. can sleep tonight. He sounded happy on the phone though, good to hear! Notting Hill could be nice for tomorrow too... All thanks to my hosts who gave me the day of to be a true turist. I should get a vyölaukku for occasions like this. There are actually ppl wearing that around here, believe it or not.

New fresh start, all pages blank waiting to get filled.
Can't wait to get started.

Another thing on the checklist tomorrow would be to find some good art supplies... Got some tips where to search for it, and I'm truly hoping I can find what I need tomorrow. Some fineliners, brushes and a A4 blank-paged book atleast. I do need to get started on some sketches n graphics.

Anyways................These days have just been rolling ahead. I'm kinda getting used to the ways of life around here, since I even learned to look to the right side of the street when crossing. Something to write home about, huh?


All n all, I'm inspired... And I am glad to see there r people reading this blog, you crossed 500 views today. Cheers for that!

x

RUSSIAN...? SERIOUSLY!?!

So... this weekend's almost over. After all running around being social as a dog, and a turist as a newbie, I'm exhausted and will spend this day in bed. Basically what I did was walking here n there,for hours, trying to get some feeling about how to move around.
Places checked of the Touristlist yesterday; Trafalgar square, Piccadilly circus, London Bridge, China Town.
I'm a brilliant turist, am I not? ha. Though I must say, walking threw Piccadilly circus on a saturday afternoon was the biggest mistake I made sofar. Jesus Christ the amont of people.....................just imagine having a panic attack in a place like that. Gosh. No f-ing way out... The only reason why I walked threw it was 'cos I wanted to get to Abercrombie & Fitch which is one street up, but I could have done it some other day. Well, that is now registered n will be remembered; piccadilly saturdays - bad idea.

On my way to the trainstation... creepy in some weird nice way. There are loads of squirrels in there! And pikkulintuja a.k.a. birdiebirdies.

Blair witch? ..............no..!!! why did I think of that now?  next time I'll be scared!

I should get the boring stuff done too.... Meaning, fixing a bank account (which they made abit complecated for non-Brits), and apply for a National Insurance...

One thing that do annoy me half way to maximum, is people asking if I'm Russian. No offence to Russian women, but.... Seriously?!? I got that comment a couple of times now. I just dont see it. Another thing is, some think my accent is funny, but my natural answer is, really? u think mine is funny, huh? you should here your accent with my ears. British accent is kinda cute, though. And, considering english is my third language I would say I'm doing ok, wouldn't worry about it.

Moviesuggestions for a day in the bad is appreciated. What's your favorite movie?

FANCY A SMOKE?

cos they will charge you loads for it in the UK.
...which Dr. K wouldnt mind, since that was what she wished for before I left. Well there u go! One pack is about £8.

 Yesterday was super. I took the train to destination Charing X, bought a prepaid simcard,had a coffe at starbucks while doing my best to get that simcard working, -> and was lucky to meet a strangerfriendly Londoner. I'll thank sbucks more for that than for the coffe. I'm glad to see there r still ppl around who will do an extra effort to help a stranger without asking for anything in return. Look n Learn!


I also learned that not only people but also the city is strangerfriendly. Aslong as u can read a map, there is no possible way for u to get lost in this city, cos there are maps all over the place.



I walked around abit, found some nice sales (hurray for january sales), burned some money n felt good about it.









brinn pengar brinn...

Later on I headed for what I called the-true-finns meeting at the Nordic Bar. I had a Lonkero, showed my face n let the other Finns know I exist and am around! Every first friday of every month London-Finns are meeting n catching up, which is kinda nice! Atleast for Finns living here for a longer period of time, but I've only been here for 4 days......

So instead, I headed of to meet the gang of strangerfriendly Londoners from earlier, and had some beers n a blast. I'd post a photo of em, but they might mind?! I have to say, one cute detail of this evening was a live band playing coversongs of for example weezer and eagle eye cherry with british accent.


Now I better hit the shower n welcome a new day! Catch you later, lovers n haters!
Oh, and thank you banibansku for the winterwonderland photo!



xx

CHILLAXIN'

n what not.

Let me admit one thing; this evening I'm happy n feeling abnormally great! Though the weather has been mildly expressed shitty the last days (meaning very windy, n rainy), I did have the chance to get a glimpse of the sun today.


Check out this view from the backyard! The grass is always greener on the other side.

I suppose the grass isn't that green in Kokkola now? I heard you guys got loads of snow... I really wish someone would send me photos of that, cos I do LOVE new fresh white pure snow... N we didn't get that yet when I was still around. Someone, anyone? Send me please. Please?

I took a longer walk around these streets today, stopped by the rail-station, and the old part of this village. I should add a photo from that street. It's so cute! It's the kind of place where it feels like time stops, people you meet on the streets are not in a hurry and even have time to look happy and give a stranger a smile. You would never believe it's only about 25 min away from the cityrush of London.

I will make me first trip into that cityrush tomorrow, everyday new things to see. I do feel more alive than I did in a long time!

"I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of twenty pounds"
From a Queen to another, Cheers!

  ...and here's my first movie-editing, starring Sebastian X and Isac fighting over two chairs.

xoxo

VAROKAA ANKKAA

...

 

I did learn many usefull things one my first day of work, mostly about the rutines of my job and people it concernes... after some days I'm sure I'll be doing ok. When you are working with people it always takes some time, to get to the same level and connect, it's just the beginning that is abit challenging.


I walked around abit in my new neighbourhood, it is kinda cute with it's old houses n small shops and signs!

But people, one thing feels abit confusing, check this... 

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/oyster-rail-services-map.pdf

I'll give you £1 if you memorize it. N that's a promise I can keep!

"It's really not that complecated" -says many, so let me just get used to it and try not to make my eyes bigger than usual when I'm looking at it.

          CHEERS! ja hyvää yötä!

LOOKS LIKE...

I made it!

The trip went all n all good. No delays, n everything running smoothly. Though I probably was the most tired traveller ever, I managed to make it threw the flight sitting next to a very talkative lady. For sure she was nice n kind n giving advice about places to visit etc, I was just abit too tired... Finally reaching London, standsted airport my ride seemed to have forgot itself on the way, which felt abit blää since I was deadtired n just wanted to get a bed to rest my aching head on. After two hours of calling, making announcements n walking around searching I finally get a call; Grab a taxi n come to the address that will be texted to your phone, the fee will be payed for. Matrix? Haha. Well. I did as been told, and believe it or not I got the most talkative taxidriver too, though kind. After a one hour ride we reach a beautiful peaceful area outside of London, in Kent, with old big houses n small streets, it really seemed like a farytale or a movie. I was welcomed n showed around, had a cup of tea n then BOOM head on my new pillow n black out. That must have been around 7 o'clock (British time, Finnish time 9) so TADAAA! -> Here I am fully awake 5 O'clock in the morning. Rise n shine!

 

New day, new place, new people n much to see n learn. I wish every morning would feel this inspiring!

MOVING AHEAD

So...  I'm now sitting on an empty rolling train towards destination still unknowned... This is bittersweet indeed, many people will be missed... Alot. Still, I have this wierd confidence about this whole thing. For sure I will have my moments of lonelyness, and missing everything that I sofar called my life, but I do believe I'm on the right track. It was about time I stepped out of that comfort-zone, Happy new year towards new challanges and experience. Though I wish I could bring you with me, cos hey, what's happiness if it's not shared..?