Friday delight

I have always loved going to the circus and was absolutely thrilled when Graham surprised me with tickets to Cirque Du Soleil a while back.
Last Friday it was finally time to head out to the point and the O2 arena! It didn't matter that we got soaked getting there because the show was totally worth it. Cirque Du Soleil is originally from Montreal, Canada but is performing all over the world with different shows. We got to see Saltimbanco.



"Saltimbanco -from the Italian "saltare in banco", which literally means "to jump on a bench"-explores the urban experience in all its myriad forms: the people who live there, their idiosyncrasies and likenesses, families and groups, the hustle and bustle of the street and the towering heights of skyscrapers. Between whirlwind and lull, prowess and poetry, Saltimbanco takes spectators on an allegorical and acrobatic journey into the heart of the city.

Saltimbanco is a Cirque du Soleil signature show inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope" (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/world/en/ie/intro/intro.asp)

It really is a fantastic, modern, acrobatic and engaging saga. I most of all enjoyed the mime artist which made me cry of laughter. Every detail in the show is planned to perfection and there is so many things going on at the stage at all times. A true Friday delight!

Love

-Lilly

Happy Midsummer's day!

Glad midsommar!

Today is a day when I miss living in Sweden. Midsummer celebrations is something special for everyone with a nordic heart. Last year Graham learnt to drink snaps and dance "the little frogs" around the maypole.

"Midsummer's Eve and Midsummer's Day (Midsommarafton and Midsommardagen) were formerly celebrated on 23 June and 24 June, but since 1953 the celebration has been moved to the Friday and Saturday between 19 June and 26 June. It is one of the most important holidays of the year in Sweden, and probably the most uniquely Swedish in the way it is celebrated. The main celebrations take place on the Friday, and the traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole.

Raising and dancing around a maypole (majstång or midsommarstång) is an activity that attracts families and many others. People dancing around the pole listen to traditional music and some even wear traditional folk costumes. In addition, many wear crowns made of wild springs and wildflowers on their heads. The year's first potatoes, Soused herring, Chives, Sour Cream, Beer, Snaps and the first strawberries of the season are on the menu. Drinking songs Snapsvisor are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily. When Sweden got its National day (6th june) discussions were hold about making midsummer the Swedish national day because of the strong civil celebration this day.

Because Midsummer was thought to be one of the times of the year when magic was strongest, it was considered a good night to perform rituals to look into the future. Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse. In the past it was believed that herbs picked at Midsummer were highly potent, and water from springs could bring good health. Greenery placed over houses and barns were supposed to bring good fortune and health to people and livestock; this old tradition of decorating with greens continues, even though most don't take it seriously. To decorate with greens was called att maja (to may) and may be the origin of the word majstång, maja coming originally from the month May. Other researchers say the term came from German merchants who raised the maypole in June because the Swedish climate made it impossible to find the necessary greens and flowers in May, and continued to call it a maypole. Today, however, it is most commonly called a "midsommarstång" (literally midsummer's pole).

In earlier times, small spires wrapped in greens were erected; this probably predates the maypole tradition, which is believed by many to have come from the continent in the Middle Ages. Others argue that some form of Midsummer pole occurred in Sweden during the pre-Christian times, and was a phallic fertility symbol, meant to impregnate the earth, but as there were no records from those times it cannot be proven, and this idea might just be a modern interpretation of the poles form. The earliest historical mention of the maypole in Sweden is from the Middle Ages. Midsummer was, however, linked to an ancient fertility festival which was adapted into St. John's Day by the church, even though it retained many pagan traditions, as the Swedes were slow to give up the old heathen customs. The connection to fertility is naturally linked to the time of year. Many young people became passionate at Midsummer, and this was accepted, probably because it resulted in more childbirths in March which was a good time for children to be born.

In Denmark and Norway midsummer is referred to as the eve of Skt. Hans but it's only in Sweden that it has kept its original name.

In Sweden and parts of Finland the tradition of bonfires are not part of midsummer but of the "Valborg's" evening festivities when winter leaves are burned for summer.

An old Swedish traditon is that unmarried girls should before bedtime midsummer´s eve pick seven kinds of flowers and jump over seven roundpole fences and then sleep with the flowers under the pillow. During the night they will dream about the boy they will get married to." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer)



Photo borrowed from "if photography" and my husband Graham Byrne. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/if-Photography/137275399621543?ref=ts

Good mood food

Good morning,

Donal Skehan is a young chef from Dublin who started his food blog in 2007. It is so well worth a visit. My first encounter with this inspiring chef was through his book "Good mood food - simple healthy homecooking" which I got from my friend Diarmaid as a Christmas gift last year. Donal has also lived and worked in Sweden which gives a lot of his recipies a swirish twist which I obviously love!



Smile- the sun is still shining!

-Lilly

Beautiful day

Good morning,

The sun is shining from a clear blue sky, I have a big smile on my face and a beautiful wedding ring on my finger.
Apologies for the poor update of this blog but life has been very busy recently.
In a good way that is. On Saturday 5 June, me and Graham said "I do" to each other in Savsjo, Sweden. We had the best day of our lives and couldn't ask for anything more. I can now confirm that a lead up to a wedding is very stressful indeed and there were times when we discussed the possibilities of eloping instead. Looking back I am so glad we didn't. I know our parents would have been sad and having our loved ones there with us on our special day was perfect. I'm trying not to be too cheesy here, but during the day I could literally feel love all around me.
We did the wedding our way, all the way and I am so proud we did. 5 June is our date and I think all our guests will remember it for a very long time too.

Robbie, our dear friend and photographer is 2/3 there with editing. I'm really excited and can't wait to see "our album". Luckily he has given us a sneak peak of a few so I know they are good already.



This is me and "the lads" - Graham, Ross, Robert, Dad, Martin and Pat.

Enjoy the sun!

Lilly

Dreaming

I stumbled across this photographer's website this morning, Jonas Peterson, and it got me day dreaming here in the office for a few minutes about our wedding in June.
We're planning to have our special day captured more or less like a documentary too and have asked our friend Robbie to do it for us. He's also blogging and doing a 365 day project right now, worth to follow.
Right, back to work!

Take care,
Elisabeth "Lilly"

Jäkla snor!

Nu är jag trött på det här! Har haft denna förkylning i nästan 10 dagar nu. Känner att min energi är nästan 100 tillbaka, men näsan fortsätter dock att överproducera snor. Äckligt, äckligt! I morgon bär det i alla fall av till gymmet. Kanske går det att svettas bort de sista bacillerna i bastun!!!
Återkommer med rapport.

After rain comes sunshine

It's been a long week filled with fever, coughing and sniffling both for me and Graham. It really takes time to get up from a dip like this, but I'm sure we'll get there in the end. We have so many things in our lives to be grateful for and 2010 is really our year! Roll on 5 June!

On Sunday evening we decided we had to get up from the couch and out of the apartment no matter what. Off to the cinema we went to see Avatar in 3D. Well worth it!!

xxx
Lilly Elisabeth

We all smell

Today going home after work, we as always got on the bus at Pearse Street. The bus is pretty packed because it's rush hour. We're all rushing to get home and most of us will once at home run around the kitchen for a little bit and get a rushed dinner together. We'll eat in silence watchin Gerry Ryan's "Operation Transformation" and think to ourselves that I should really get a grip and start eating healthy and exercise more. Today on the bus, just as we get upstairs to sit down, I notice there is a very unpleasent smell to put it mildly. A little embarrassed I try and look around to find out where this stinking is coming from. There he is. In one of the back seats, surrounded by empty seats in the otherwise packed bus, sits an older man with a hair and beard that can almost be described as Santa like. Except that it's dark grey of dirt. Judging from his apperance he has been sleeping rough for quite a while. I have to admit that we had to get off to change buses as I started feeling nautious from the smell. It's now nearly 11pm and here I am in my warm bed, not being able to sleep, thinking of that man who might just had been on that bus to get some heat before heading out in the cold and wet night. I smell of shame.

Thanks for the smile!

To the little girl who was building this adourable little snowman outside Doyles pub - Thanks for the smile you put on so many stressed, cold and frustrated Dubliners this afternoon.

Through Graham's eyes

A few shots from our Christmas holiday in Sweden.

Nytt År

Jag sitter på bussen på väg hem till Dublin efter att ha spenderat nyåret nere i Wexford med släkt till Graham. Solen skiner utanför och vi har fått lite snö och dett biter till och med lite i kinden när man går ut. Kan faktiskt inte tänka mig bättre väder start på året. Bussen rullar på som sagt och jag sitter här och filosoferar så smått på det gångna året. Mycket har hänt och det finns så oerhört mycket att vara tacksam för. Livet kan ändra sig väldigt fort det är det enda man kan vara absolut säker på. Graham halvslumrar bredvid mig och jag kan inte låta bli att le. Barnet i sätet bakom mig äter lök chips och leker med en av sina julklappar. Han berättar också för sin mamma att nästa jul ska han önska sig en sån iPhone som tjejen framför har. Paret framför oss har nu ringt 5 samtal till olika människor och berättat att bussen var och nu är över en timme sen. För mig gör det inte så mycket, jag tänker inte reta upp mig på små saker. Det är ett löfte för år 2010.
Ta hand om er!
Elisabeth "Lilly"

Frustration

It's now 7.39. I got up at 5.10 just not to miss a prebooked taxi for 6.00, just so we would be at the airport well in time for our flight at 9.20. It took me 3 minutes to get blogger up on my iPhone and it's now 07.42. All I have to fo now is to sit here at Dublin airport for another few hours to find out if my flight to Christmas celebration in Sweden is cancelled or will be further delayed then the 2 hours previously announced. Bless Starbucks for having comfy chairs! I might finish my Xmas holiday book even before the I've left the country...sigh....

Trött

Två dagar kvar innan ledigt för julfirande. Det känns som om jag är en Kalles Kaviar tub där den sista lilla biten ska klämmas fram. Min sista lilla bit av energi måste bara räcka till Fredag kväll. Kämpa kämpa.

Furious!

I am angry and have a big knot in my tummy of anxiety and fury. Someone has had the nerves to climb up to our first floor bedroom balcony, clip the locks and steal our two bikes. It makes me furious when I think about it! Extremely unnerving too. Happy bloody Christmas....

Arg!

Våra cyklar har blivit stulna och känner har en knut i magen av ilska. Någon har klättrat upp till andra våningen till vår sovrums balkong, knipsat av lås och sedan hissat ner våra cyklar! Jag blir helt vansinning när jag tänker på det. Förbenat också!!!

Harissa Paste

I love Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his RiverCottage.
Whenever I can, I watch the program on Channel Four. As myself and Graham, my fiancé, live in a two bedroom apartment just out of Dublin City we unfortunately cannot grow or produce our own local food. We can however act out our, sometimes mad, culinary dreams in our tiny little kitchen. And this is what happened last night.

A few weeks back, we watched an episode of River Cottage. I think it was a Thanksgiving/Autumn special. Hugh was making hot and heart warming all sorts of food, with emphasis on HOT. So yesterday evening after work, we went home and started making Harissa Paste. This is a North African Chilli paste that literally blows you away. It's yummy yummy but should be consumed with moderation. ;-) We had previously purchased little jars in IKEA for this in mind. I must say they look absolutely fab filled with this red, spicy paste and makes lovely gifts. Oh, do I have to say that I was met by the strongest smell of chilli and spices this morning when opening the kitchen door?

Christmas build up

And so another weekend has passed...Saturday evening was spent with introducing Irish family to a traditional St. Lucia celebration. The Swedish embassy together with Sony Ericsson had organised St. Adolf Fredrik's youth choir performing a St. Lucia concert in St. Patrick's cathedral in Dublin. They did an absolut magnificent job and I was not the only Swede with a tear in the eye at the end of the concert, rightly called "from darkness to light".

On another note, I sadly have to let you know that IKEA in Dublin doesn't stock julmust! ;-( Much to my delight they do have glögg and pepparkakor! (a sort of mulled wine and gingersnaps) My Christmas build up would be very dull and incomplete without them.

-Elisabeth Lilly

Cravings for Julmust

We are getting closer to Christmas and I have the strongest craving for the popular Swedish Christmas drink Julmust right now...

Julmust
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Julmust (Swedish jul "Christmas" and must "must") or Julebrus (Norwegian jul "Christmas and brus "soda") is a soft drink that is consumed mainly in Sweden and Norway around Christmas. 45 million litres of julmust are consumed during December (to be compared with roughly 9 million Swedes), which is around 50% of the total soft drink volume in December and 75% of the total yearly must sales.

Must is made of carbonated water, sugar, hop extract, malt extract, spices, caramel colouring, citric acid, and preservatives. The hops and malt extracts give the must a somewhat beer-like taste, but much sweeter and, since it is not fermented, it contains no alcohol.

In Sweden, julmust outsells Coca-Cola during the Christmas season;in fact, the consumption of Coca-Cola drops by as much as 50% over Christmas.This was quoted as one of the main reasons that The Coca-Cola Company broke away from their contract with Pripps and started Coca-Cola Drycker Sverige AB instead. Coca-Cola Drycker Sverige AB produced its own julmust, albeit very anonymous with The Coca-Cola Company's name very subtle on the label. Their julmust was never advertised until 2004, when Coca-Cola started marketing their julmust under the brand "Bjäre julmust", but they bought the syrup from Roberts AB. Under 2007 the "Bjäre julmust" was only sold at McDonald's restaurants and it had completely disappeared from Coca-Colas range of products to Christmas 2008.

Those outside Sweden who are curious to try julmust might be able to purchase and sample a bottle from a nearby IKEA store.However, availability is not guaranteed; one is most likely to find it in stock in early December. Kristall Beverage Inc. in Massachusetts, USA bottles julmust for sale in the USA.In November 2004 PepsiCo marketed a product somewhat similar in taste to julmust in the United States called Pepsi Holiday Spice. It was on sale during the 2004 and 2006 Christmas seasons. Recently Julmust has also become available at some Cost Plus World Market stores.

Andra advent planer

På Lördag ska vi gå på Lucia i St. Patricks Cathedral här i Dublin. Svenska ambassaden anordnar tillsammans med Sony Ericsson. Planerar också att åka upp till IKEA tidigare på dagen och inhandla julmust. Det är konstigt det där, vissa saker bara klarar man sig inte utan. Pepparkakor och lussekatter kan jag baka själv, men julmust måste införskaffas. Vågar inte tänka tanken ens om denna julens högtidsdryck inte finns att tillgå här i kära Dubs. 15 dagar kvar till Sverige besök, klarar min julmust abstinens detta??



Kram

An Post

Today's question;
Why in the name of God doesn't An Post (Irish post services) accept Visa cards??? Very very annoying!

Sometimes it feels like I'm living in the backwards country of all times....;-(