this post apparently became an ode to tea

When I was in Stockholm today I passed a store selling tea. I love buying loose teas, when you can smell all the lovely teas and pic just the perfect one that smells delicious. You do not randomly have to buy a plastic wrapped box judged by its name or cover, that you hope smells good when you come home and open it. Here in the store you can smell at dussins and pick the right one.

I only have to smell one or two until I find one I like. Of course I would feel silly if I asked the clerk to smell one tea jar after the other until the whole wall of tea jars have been smelled at. However, the advantage if you actually dare to ask would be that you do not overlook one that might be the perfect match. I am sure there are plenty of flavors out there just waiting to be tried by me.

Anyway, I am babbling. Or scrabbling might be a more appropriate choice of word. What I wanted to scrabble down in the first place before all these words written down into nonsense sentences: I bought two lovely smelling teas, I wanted some nice green teas so I ended up with one spicy and one fruity with litchi and elderflower (how delicious does not that sound?). I just remembered those teas in the plastic bag downstairs and thought it would taste good with a hot cup of tea after watching movies in my bed.

I open both the tea bags to smell the aroma again and imagining that I will have difficulties to choose. I was wrong. Not difficult at all. I ended up with no cup of tea.

My cold have made me lose my sense of smell and taste. In approximately four hours give or take.

the ministry of foreign affairs next?

'After rain comes sunshine' to use a cliché. Arbetsförmedlingen (employment service) sent an invitation a week ago that actually seemed interesting so it was no deal breaker that it was mandatory. This year the government have introduced a project to offer trainee positions in the public sector for unemployed. This meeting was for us with academic background in economics, political science, law or a few more. We could get the opportunity to get a trainee position at Regeringskansliet (the Government Offices of Sweden).

It is only for three months and I will only get about 4 600 SEK before tax since I am not part of the unemployment benefit scheme. Even so, I am more happy about this opportunity than the prospect I had of a full time job as a market analyst at that finance company. This is just right up my alley.

Of course it might not lead to a job within Regeringskansliet right after, but it would still be a great opportunity and experience. The best thing is that they have around 100 spots and the 90 persons invited to the meeting are basically the only ones subject to these trainee positions. They do not want the competition for the positions like for normal jobs, instead they strive for one applicant for one position. How good deal is that? I am basically granted a spot. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but with my background should I not be perfect to work there?

My number one preference is of course to get a position within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That would be excellent. I am crossing my fingers that they are not going to be so strict with the preference of a third language. My French is not so fluent. Although a position in another department would be cool too.

But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That is the number one.

one more 'thanks, but no thanks'

Unfortunately no job as a market analyst for me. At least not at Inquiry Financial. They seemed like really nice guys and the job seemed quite interesting. But I got an email late this afternoon that said that they had moved on with some people that fit the profile better.

I cannot really blame them, I sensed it during the interview that they wanted a more person more directed to finance than me. I felt it too, it would have been a good strategical move with the job, thinking about the future. In the end though, I am not sure it would have been a good fit.

So I am not sad. I know there is something better out there for me.

waiting

Today I am waiting for a call that could have an impact on my future as unemployed.

exercise plus me equals sore throat

It totally blows. After only the third day of taking walks and eating healthy again I get sick. Last week I had a bit of a sore throat and I thought it had passed. Yesterday after my powerwalk I started to feel something in my throat again. Unfortunately it did not pass and today both my throat and nose are a bit stuffy.

For once when I want to exercise and do something this comes along. You see, exercise and I do not go together. It has happened before. So I guess I have to take it a bit easy today and see how it goes. Perhaps I can go out tomorrow instead, the weather is dull and gray today anyway.

easter saturday

We had a little different easter dinner this year. I am not someone who strongly follow tradition, so our menu consisted of cannelloni for main course and marängsviss for dessert. The marängsviss, the typical dessert from when you where young, it is made up of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, banana slices, meringues, and chocolate sauces which we switched for nougat sauce instead, yummy!

A little bit of Apple Cosmo as a appetizer.

Delicious cannelloni.

Really happy with how the cannelloni turned out. Just filled pasta tubes pasta with ricotta cheese, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, some herbs like oregano, thyme or whatever you have got at home. Then just pour some cheese sauce on top (we bought ready made) and then crushed tomatoes spiced with basil and salt on top of it all. And some salad to that. A dish I will for sure try again.

easter sunday

A nice stroll in the sunshine this Easter Sunday. Now I actually feel like going out for walks when the weather is getting better. Not as much fun when it was all cold, snowy, and icy outside.

I guess it is also a kick in the ass since I am going to India in less than two weeks. I will be lying on the beach in a bikini. Also something that will get me started again. I had Copenhagen and now Easter containing a little bit of everything, but now it is back to eating healthy and staying away from the unnecessary sugar.

good friday

Yesterday and today kind of sucked. I was not feeling my best yesterday, kind of a dizzy head and a body all tired. But I managed to make it to the Indian embassy to hand in the papers for the visa. Even though I thoroughly checked through everything I managed to forget the copy of the flight reservation. Thank god they had computers there and I could print out a copy, for the lovely sum of 50 SEK. So I had to pay the visa fee, plus the computer fee, and a round trip ticket to Stockholm for 100 SEK. She said the visa process is only 2-4 working days now when it is slow season, good thing since it otherwise is 10 days and I will be leaving in 10 days.

Otherwise I am just resting and lying in my bed watching series and stuff. Trying not to become sick once again, but I think it has almost passed now. Just some short thing it seems.

Mom and dad headed out yesterday to my aunt's cottage up north. Sister is out doing something. So it is just me and the cat at home this Good Friday. Chilling.

indian embassy

My head feels a bit mushy today and I just wished I could stay in bed watching TV or movies. Unfortunately I cannot since I have to head in to Stockholm town. I kind of need that Indian visa and the handling time is a few days so I desperately need to hand in the application today. I asked if they could make it in time and they said it should work out. So now I just need to get some clothes on, get some breakfast into my stomach, and head out.

damn those taxes

My stomach hurts. I just logged on SKAT which is the Danish tax agency. It seems I have tax underpayment penalty to be paid. Which totally sucks since it is quite a lot. And I do not understand it at all.

This totally spoils the fact that I just bought a ticket to India for a 12 days vacation and an Indian wedding. Damn it.