It started very calmly in the morning (note the darkness outside even though its only about 2pm) with me, Sami and Granny drinking Glogg (Swedish mould wine). Little did we know that dad had put some strange concentrate in it because he hadnt been able to read the label whilst at the shops, so we all thought it was quite strong(!) Bless him. :)

Dad is still showing his iphone to (incredibly impressed) people. I did get to install snail mail on it though, so I was happy.

Sami in the kitchen (with the Christmas tree in the background). The calm before the storm.

Then relatives began to arrive with their stuff (and FOOD).

Nereo, my cousins 3 year old, who’s hyperactive as heck! Jeebus. Even I can’t keep up with him. :D

Hardboiled eggs, prawns, dill, and some creamy thing to hold it all together. A tradition on our christmas table.

The Christmas buffet being prepared.

Potato salad with dill and, I think fish in it. Can’t remember what kind…

My own concoction. Roasted winter vegetables with a hint of chili. My very first contribution to the Christmas table. An honour to be asked to cook something, but I don’t think I did it very well. It all felt a bit last minute to me, so the beetroots didn’t cook through properly and the chili was too hot for some people. :( Oh well, live and learn. At least I might be allowed to give it another go some other Christmas.

Dad is cutting up the traditional Christmas Ham. This is what Swedes have instead of turkey. It was the first time we went for a pre-cooked version that is very popular with households pressed for time, but later dad told me he still preferred the one we cook ourselves.

An almost normal picture of me! Jesus christ! Blurry tho.

A less normal one. May I also add that one of the fingers is not mine.

ZOMG SANTA ARRIVES.

Santa is asking if Nereo has been a good boy. He must’ve, judging by all the presents he got!

I was on ‘tomtenisse’ duty, helping santa to read some of the notes on the gifts and handing them out to people. I guess it helps that I’m a loud person. :)

Granny receives a gift! She must’ve been nice too!

It’s hugging time! Bro nr 1 gets a hug from santa!

Bro nr 2 gets a hug!

Nereo gets a big hug!

Even I get a surprise hug!

After bidding Santa farewell so he could continue to the next household, we began opening our gifts! This one is quite hard to see because of the bad photo, but its a porno-pig! From my parents to my bro. It’s one hardcore pig taking another one from behind. No, we are not a bit screwed up in my family. :)

I’m handing out the rest of the gifts after santa is gone.

And here’s what I got from my mum and dad! Yes, it’s exactly what it looks like! A pig with a vagina! Even complete with a clitoris inside! They wondered if they should’ve taken the two lesbian pigs for me instead, but I assured them I was happy with a naked lady pig, not two. I’m very heterosexual afterall. :)

A top view of my lovely dirty pig.

The aftermath after everyone had left in the evening. Sami and I just sat down and drank some water.

It’s like an explosion of relatives and then a mountain of giftwrapping left behind.. :D We were a bit knackered.

So we decided to play around with my photobooth before they had to leave!

Ololol.

TIIIIIIIIIIITS!

Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Imploding tits!

Dad notices what we are doing and comes in. :D

Granny joins in!

How cute is that!?

Granny is giggling her socks off. :D

Mum must not be excluded! So I run to the kitchen with the laptop!

This one is just so scary. O_O

I even manage to get one of my bro!

And another one of my dad looking extra freaky!

Sooo. PHEW. Yeah. These are just the pictures from my camera. :) All the other relatives were snappin’ away too.

Today I’m gonna play Guitar Hero 4 all day! WHEEEE.

View from my house.

Decorations in the house. Stuff we’ve had ever since we were kids. :P

Tomtemor!

Waiting for the bus in -15. Ever so slightly cold.

Swedish postal box!

The woodland outside our neighbourhood. Used to play there as a kid.

My neighbourhood in the distance. And my old kindergarden.

Patriotic flag. Hrm. :P

My trail-trainers really aren’t made for snow, but they are at least better than my converse.

“Grandmothers cough!” the buns nickname. It’s really a variant of the cinnamon bun. Excellent with coffee. Swedish people know how to do buns to go with coffee.

Another view. Ain’t it beautiful?

One of the local coffee houses. Looking out to the highstreet.

I’m feeling patriotic again.

Reindeer in the supermarket! Beware!

He’s guarding the bread made by the sapmi people.

Kanelbullar! Cinnamon buns! nom nom nom.

This was something new to me. Apparently it’s used to dip bread in. I think I can describe it as leftovers from when you cook your ham. The fat and grease… (Am I right?)
Anyway. Slightly… Disturbing. Looks a bit like removed fat from a surgery clinic.

Everyone rushing for the local salmon. Including my mum.

Fishies.

I think I promised Rich I would take photos of Tomtar and Troll, since he likes them, so here’s one in a local bookshop with me sitting on its lap.

Here’s another snow tomte.

More pictures to come as I take them!
It’s Christmas today, so I’m bound to be snappin’ away. :D

Lots of love and God Jul!

Many thanks to the guy on Heathrow who decided to help me with my luggage down the broken escalator. He was in a hurry for a flight, but still wanted to help out.

Other random things from this travel-day to Sweden include:

80ish year old Granny next to me in the coach, looked at my ipod and said: “ah! I’ve got me one of those too! Aren’t they brilliant?” Gotta love the technology spreading.

American lady next to me on the plane to Stockholm. She looked at me while I was reading Richard Dawkins “The God Delusion” and finally said: “That’s a very serious book. Is it for school?” Just out of curiosity, I wonder how old she must’ve thought I was. I’ve been ID’ed before in England because apparently I look like I’m 16. I can’t quite understand it….

The very first thing I did when I landed in Sweden was: Buy a cinnamon bun.

Taking photos of Lulea now. I will post them a bit later.

God Jul!

Lindy Hop. The dance to come out from the Swing Music era.

First, an old school version of this absolutely MENTAL dance.
Hellzapoppin (1941)

And a modern dance off! JESUS. :D
Lindy Hop Showdown (2006)

I think this is the ultimate dance for someone with hyperactive tendencies…

… Like me.

If only I was a bit younger, a bit fitter, and had a Lindy Hop dance class close to me. :P
Oh well.

When I was done I passed by the market on Corn Street and just couldn’t help but notice some independent clothing printer people… stuff. :P Found a very nice hoodie and in the end splashed out £30 on it. Feel a bit guilty, but lets just say its MY christmas present to MYSELF. Yes. Needed a little consolation as well due to not being able to cut my hair before going home. The queue was just so long I couldn’t be bothered to sit around and wait for my turn. So I’ll look a little bit like a troll this Christmas. Oh well! No change there, really!

Can’t wait to head home now. Just got boring things to do today before tomorrows flights. Clean the house, feed myself and finally pack the rest of the stuff.

The flat is so dead without Tom and the birds. Already lonely after one day. Went to bed with google videos last night. Just to have some sound and light. How sad am I.

Packing on my own here in the flat. Tom has already left for Wales with the birdies. We will meet again in London over a new years party with a friend. Not entirely sure how to organise that with my busticket and so on, but I guess I’ll worry about it closer to the time.

Wrapping up the christmas gifts! I love the fact that I actually have a bit of money and can buy gifts for people. It’s not tons, but it’s something.

Wheee!

My response to a set of words relating to christmas:

Spot the Christmas in Afghanistan.

Haven’t been to a zoo ever since I was… hm. 14? I don’t know. Anyway! Went to the zoo here in Bristol together with Rich, Pearl and Ollie. Did some sketching. :)

Would you like to feel the after-effects of being drunk before actually being drunk?
Go for a bloody mary. :P

I thought, Hey, one of my characters from my comic drinks Bloody Mary’s, so I need to try one. Research!

It was like drinking instant hang over.
I don’t think I’m quite hard-core enough to go for tomato juice and tabasco.

… In more than one way.

Buying gifts and working my bottom off. Nice combination. :)
I was a bit nervous about the fact that I was doing commissions and not University work, so I decided to have a chat with one of my tutors about it. Thankfully, he said that I shouldn’t say no to commission work as it is my future career, and that I should bring it in to University for assessment together with the other course work. Just so they can see that I’m not slacking off with Uni, I’m just prioritizing paid work.

So yes. That was a stress that was solved very nicely.

Then we have Chester. I have been writing now and then about my worries for him. But after examining him a bit closer and having others do the same, it has been concluded that he is just having a really itchy molt. Nothing to worry about, just make sure to spray his face with luke warm water twice a day to relieve him of the itching.

SO CUTE. *squeal*

Anyway. Yes. So that has been solved. But I just realised this morning, how much course work I’ve got to finish in just a few weeks. Insane amounts. Just taking one thing at a time now and trying not to think of the bigger picture.

One last thing before I run off to buy some breakfast. :)

I have been offered to paint a mural on a wall of a shop in Canada!
Can you believe it?
The shopkeeper saw my artwork and asked if I wanted to paint on her wall. So when we go there next year, that’s what I’m gonna do!

Exciting stuff. :)