Back in Denmark

A lovely land is ours 

With beeches green about her 

Encircled by the sea 

Her hills and vales are manifold 

Her name, of old, is Denmark 

That’s how the Danish national anthem goes. Denmark is a flat country. It’s not overly green or overly brown and everything looks dull in the winter and the trees aren’t covered in multi-coloured leaves in the autumn. They don’t have different shades of brown, red and yellow like they have in Sweden. It’s windy most of the time and the beaches aren’t anything special even though we have so many of them. But of course Denmark has its moments from time to time. I think it’s amazing to drive in the summer on the narrow country roads and I love when everything is covered in snow in the winter. I’m in Denmark at the moment and it’s windy, grey and rainy. Not really what you imagine the weather to be like in the winter. There’s no snow and no minus degrees. The weather is mild and so Danish-like. But to be honest I don’t mind being back in Denmark right now because the weather in Ireland doesn’t seem to be any better anyway. In fact it seems like it is worse over there right now.

On the 19^th of December my parents came to Ireland to visit me. I had promised to meet them at the airport where we had rented a car. I had to take the bus to the airport from Austin Friar’s Street in Mullingar and normally I would ride my bike into town but that day I decided to walk. The weather was so bizarre that day. It had been raining, snowing and the sun had been shining.  When I began my walk into town it was really sunny and beautiful, but after five minutes big snowflakes came down from the sky. It wasn’t cold enough so they melted when they came into contact with something. Mostly it was just wet. My grandpa has told me about how they used to hitchhike when he was in Ireland a lot of years ago and how it was just normal to give rides to people walking on the roads. I was thinking about that as I was walking into town when a car pulled in and asked me if I wanted a lift into town. So that was how I got my very first lift from strangers.

I met my parents in the airport and unfortunately one of their suitcases was still in Amsterdam and the suitcase that made it to Dublin was filled with my clothes. So we were off to a very good start! We picked the pre-booked car up at Europcar and made our way to Mullingar. I think the clock was around five when we came to Mullingar. They were staying at Annebrook’s Hotel and it was actually a really nice and cosy hotel with a great breakfast buffet. The first night I stayed at my own place and my parents came to pick me up at 8 a.m. and we went back to Annebrook to have breakfast and it was the first time since I came to Ireland that I had an Irish breakfast. I don’ know why I like Irish breakfasts so much because I don’t really eat the sausages or the black and white pudding. But the bacon is AMAZING! AMAZING!

Most of the day we spent walking around looking at the shops in Mullingar and I invited my parents for hot chocolate and blancmange with jelly at my place. Mainly they came to Mullingar to see where I live and to see Mullingar. I have been waiting for them to come over since I left Denmark in October because I have longed for the feeling of having someone to share everything with. I can tell them all about it but it’s not the same as if they have actually been here. And now they have been here and I think they actually liked Mullingar.

When I told people that my parents were coming over to Mullingar just to see where I live they all laughed at me and said, “They are coming here?” Like what the hell are they going to do here? But I suppose it’s the same as when people come to Skagen and I’m thinking, “What the hell”. There are actually a lot more to do in Mullingar than in Skagen.

The photos are taken in Mullingar and this time the they're actually my own. I was really disappointed when I got back to Skagen, and saw that there's hardly any Christmas decorations. 

We also drove to Lough Owel which is around 7 km from where I live. But it was really windy that day.

In the evening we had booked a table at Dominick’s Restaurant and the food was really good in there. 

Definitely a place I am going to another time. 

On the 21^st we drove to Dublin in the morning. We dropped the car of at the airport and took a taxi to the hotel. We stayed at O’Callaghan Davenport which was a really nice hotel and it was in the city centre. It wasn’t far away from streets like Dawson Street and Grafton Street.

My mum and I with the hotel in the background.

 It was my first time in Dublin and in the beginning I was quite stunned by the lack of cars in the city. But on the shopping street there were so many people and it reminded me of why I didn’t want to live in Dublin. I don’t have the patience to be around so many people. All you really want to do is to push them. The weather wasn’t great. It was raining most of the time and the rain made it even worse to go into shops, because a lot of people had also sought into shops to hide from the rain. But apart from all the people I liked Dublin. It was nice and really pretty with all the Christmas decorations.

All the streets had really beautiful decorations.

My parents had to leave the hotel at 0830 on the 22^nd. Their flight was around 1100 and mine wasn’t until 1900. So I had a few hours to kill. Luckily I could keep the hotel room until 1400. I spent my time doing the last bits of Christmas shopping and after that I went to a pub to watch football and have a few pints before I went to the airport.

Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to call in at O'Donoghue's. It's the pub The Dubliners used to play at and I've read that it's worth a visit. But as you can see on the photo it was packed the day we wanted to go in there. Dublin is a crazy place around Christmas!

I came to Denmark at midnight on the 22^nd and by midday the 23^rd I was back in Skagen. I went to see my grandparents on my mother’s side first. It was only a short visit but it was so nice to see them again.

On the 24^th of December my grandparents on my mother’s side came to my parent’s house around 6. In Denmark we eat Christmas food and open presents on the 24^th of December. Each year we switch between all my grandparents. One year we celebrate it with my grandparent’s on my mother’s side and the next my grandparents on my father’s side and also every second year my brother and his wife join us. On the 25^th and 26^th we normally go to all the grandparents and eat some more Christmas food.

This is what we have for dinner on Christmas Eve.

Ris a la mande (rice pudding). This is want we eat for dessert. Normally one almond is hidden in the pudding and the one who finds it gets something.

The Christmas tree

On the 25^th I also met up with Zille, an old friend from school, and we went downtown for a few beers. I ended up staying out for quite a while though, because I wasn’t back in bed before 0430 which was a bit late when I had to be somewhere at 1200 the next day. But luckily I was alright in the morning and had a lovely day.

On the 28^th I went to my friend Anne’s house with Zille and my best friend Sabina. We had a blast and it was nice to hang out with them again.

Yesterday, the 29^th, I went to Frederikshavn with Sabina where we went to my local bar, Munken, for a Tuborg, just to celebrate the good old times. 

Sláinte! Skål!

After that we visited a friend I went to school with and we hung out at his place most of the afternoon and evening before we took the train back to Skagen.

Today, the 30^th, I’ve been hanging out with Sabina. We had lunch at Green’s Pub and Café in Skagen (the best place in Skagen) and then we went to her place to play Catan. I won 3 out of 3. She’s coming over to my parents tonight and we’ll probably just play some more Catan.

Sabina and I

I have almost two weeks left in Denmark before I fly back to Ireland on Januar 12. Tomorrow it's New Year's Eve and I'm having dinner with my parents and my brother and sister-in-law. Then I'm meeting up with Sabina after dinner.

On-the-go

Nollaig Shona! Glædelig Jul! Merry Christmas!

I think now is finally the time for the merry Christmas wishes! This will just be a quick update since I am quite bored and have free WI-FI where I am.

Right now I am sitting at gate 106 in Dublin airport and waiting for my flight back to Denmark. There’s still an hour to go and it seems like a really long time. I don’t think it matters if it’s five minutes or five hours when you are in an airport; time just seem to go I slow-mo. I will be leaving at 1900 Dublin time and I’ll be in Denmark 2330 Aalborg time. I’ve already bought and eaten two sandwiches and I have another one lying next to me. You gotta feed the hungry people (which in this case is me). Or feed the world as the Band Aid song goes.

I’ve been spending the day hanging out in the hotel room at O’Callaghan Davenport Hotel in Dublin until 1300. Then I went to Grafton Street and some of the others to do the rest of my Christmas shopping. I had arranged for a car to pick me up at 1630 so to kill time I went to a pub in Dub for a pint of the black stuff. I had two pints and I called in just in at the right time because minutes after I had sat down it started pissing down. My hair would not have survived that weather neither would my clothes have. The time is now 1810 and hopefully I can board the plane in 30 minutes and to kill time I’ve bought a bottle of Bulmers (Magners for the ones of you who doesn't have the same knowledge as me).

One thing I like about coming from Denmark is whenever you have to take a flight to Denmark you walk right pass the big crowds of people. There are never many people at the gates to Denmark and the gates are always in the very end.

When I came here I came with Norwegian Airlines but this time I’m going back with SAS. I ordered my flight ticket back home before I even left.

Today it is actually exactly two months since I left and I am so excited to go back home and see everyone and tell everyone about Ireland and how I think it is living here .

When my mum and dad and me left Mullingar I had this sad feeling inside of me like I was never going to go back. I took that as a good sign, because it must mean that I really like living in Mullingar and I really do. I’m finally starting to get friends and life is less boring even though I haven’t really been bored since I’ve come here. Sometimes I tend to get bored if I am around people. Hanging out with myself have never really been a problem of mine!

Anyway I think I’ll eat my third sandwich now so I don’t have to take it with me on the plane. This was a quick update on-the-go. I’ll update about my time with my parents and my time in Dublin when I’m back in Denmark. 

I wish you all a merry Christmas!

Come dine with me

“Once you’ve accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you.”

Okay. Since my last blog update I have decorated my future house on an online webpage, finished two bottles of wine, been keeping myself updated with what’s on wanelo.com, thought about what I want for Christmas, bought three new bottles of wine (they were half price) and been to a catholic church. Yes, I have been to church for the very second time in ten years. The first time in ten years was last year at my brother’s wedding – there was no way I wanted out of that one. And the second time was this Sunday, andthis Sunday was my first time at a catholic church.

I did not take this picture. I stole it! But it's the cathedral if you doubt it.

J asked me if I wanted to go to the Christmas concert at the cathedral of Christ the king. She sings in the choir. I told her that I wanted to go, because even though I am not religious it would be good to go out and see something and I have wanted to see the cathedral from the inside since I came here. So I ended up being invited to dinner with her, her daughter, S, and her male friend, B. Since I am quite picky when it comes to food my first thought when she asked me if I wanted to have dinner with them was to say no. In that way I wouldn’t have to eat something that I didn’t like. I always fear that I have to eat something that I don’t like. But it wouldn’t be very polite of me to thank no, so I told her it sounded lovely and that I would be looking forward to it and I did look forward to it even though my mind was thinking non-stop about what she would be cooking. Would it be something with cheese – the thing I fear the most? But my worries were completely unnecessary when I came to dinner and found out we were having mashed potatoes (YES!!), meatballs (YES) in tomato sauce (YES). Everything was lovely and it was the first time I had potatoes since I came here. And for dessert we had chocolate cake with whipped cream, strawberries and jelly. MY KIND OF DESSERT!!! Normally my people think jelly is disgusting, but it really is the best thing ever. So all in all I had a brilliant dinner!

We arrived at the church before time because J and S had to get there earlier. So B took me to Greville Arms just to show me what was inside. We had a drink in there before we headed back to the church just in time for the concert. The concert was alright. It’s not something that I would attend every other evening, but it was fun to experience it and it wasn’t really a church-ish concert. It was just Christmas carols and hardly any talking. And it felt great to actually be surrounded by a lot of people.

When we went for the drink before the concert B kept saying that I will find a really rich husband, and I’m glad because that is the only husband that I ever want. I don’t dream of getting married but if I am going to have a wedding of my own someday it sure as hell will be expensive and worth it. Alone the crown I want to wear costs around e3,000. And I think I’d probably want to have my wedding in Austria or Switzerland at Christmas in a medieval castle. I thought it was quite funny how he kept saying it, and I have come to the conclusion that he can see into the future and that he knows that I will meet a v. very rich man one day. Maybe he is even Santa!

Ho ho ho ...

The crown I want.

I want this ring. It's €4400.

And this dress

But hey, I might actually be able to afford the dress. It's only €165

I want these wine glasses. They're €160 for four.

I want the wine glasses no matter what. They are amazing and on my wishlist!

Anyway Mullingar has got into the Christmas spirit with Christmas decorations and everything. There is something special about Christmas when all the Christmas lights are on. I just love it! Even the cathedral has figures of Jesus and Maria etc. (I’m not really sure who they are; I’m just guessing it’s them). 

The cathedral at night. I don't know if you can see the figures in the top. I DID NOT steal this picture.

This is the Greville Arms hotel, where I went with B. 

I haven’t really had the time to take any pictures of my own, so I stole some from Google, just to show you what it looks like and I believe that I haven’t really uploaded any pictures of Mullingar yet and that is because I still find it too awkward to take pictures when people are around. Maybe when my parents come over I can get them to take some pictures of the town with me in it! Then it’ll be actual proof that I really am living here and not just pretending, though the town isn’t anything special so there’s no need to pretend to live here if you don’t. That would just be stupid. Most towns are just towns and don't have anything special about them, so I don't mean it in a bad way. I like living here.

Today it is my seventh week in Mullingar and time goes by so fast. In nine days my parents are coming over and in 12 days I’m heading back to Denmark for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Also it’s about time that I start buying Christmas presents so I went out today to do some of the Christmas shopping. So far I bought presents for the dogs, Bianca and Effie, and one for my very best friend. I also bought candles – which is one thing that I have been supposed to buy for a very long time, but I just find them so expensive. For 6 dinner candles it was €5,50 and I think that is expensive. I don’t know the price in Denmark so maybe it’s the same. I also got the perfect idea and use my empty wine bottles to stick them in. In that way I saved money on candlesticks.  And I also think it looks nice.

I think it's nice and cosy and a bit homey.

It is 11 degrees celsius outside today. Kind of a hot Christmas I think. 

Nollaig Shona – it means happy Christmas in Gaelic. B taught me that. 

Six weeks in Mullingar

“A craven can be as brave as any man, when there is nothing to fear. And we all do our duty, when there is no cost to it. How easy it seems then, to walk the path of honour. Yet soon or late in every man's life comes a day when it is not easy, a day when he must choose.” 

As you can see it has been a while since by last update and you probably thing a lot of things have happened since I haven’t had the time to update my blog. Well a few things have happened, but I am afraid the main reason has been because I’ve been too lazy or uninspired. Believe it or not, but I write best if I am inspired by something and it doesn’t matter if it’s my blog I have to update or an assignment I have to write.

First off all Thursday (November 21) I received a package from my parents. I didn’t know they were sending me one but it had all sorts of things in it. Sweets, cakes, Christmas stuff, my hairdryer and my hand bag. It was such a great surprise. Having had two packages delivered to my address I have realised that it’s kind of hard to get packages delivered out in Walshestown. Both times the delivering company have called me and I have had to give them directions. And I can only give them directions if they come through Irishtown from the right road and drive by the Texaco gas station. The real problem here is that the house doesn’t have a number and the road doesn’t have a name. If the road has a name it’s L1801 or something like that and you can’t even find that on google maps. In fact if you find my road on Google Maps it says it’s called Grange South, which I have learnt is not really accurate. Another problem is that they don’t have postcodes in Ireland yet, though they are coming. All this means that you pretty much have to know who lives where. So I’ve learnt that it is important that you give them your phone number if you have to have something delivered by someone that is not the local postman, because at least they do not hesitate to call you if they can’t find you.

The goods my parents sent me.

Christmas around the mirror

Thursday evening (November 20) around 2030 I decided that I wanted to go to John Daly’s. So I jumped on my bike, rode it into town in the darkness and coldness. When I came to John Daly’s no one was in. I was a bit surprised about that because Thursday is ‘little Friday’ as we say in Denmark. I’ve been told that most people go to college in Dublin or Athlone, because they don’t have one in Mullingar so they are away from Monday to Friday. Which might explain the missing people on a Thursday night. I had M, the bartender, take my bike out in the back so it wouldn’t go missing again. I just sat in there with a pint of the black stuff and talked a bit to M, and we had a game of Jenga. I lost twice out of three times. Around 2300 people started coming to the pub. Just 30 minutes before closing time. I guess all of a sudden there were around 20 people in there. The reason for that I learnt is because a nightclub across the road called The Lane Club opens at 2330. Anyway I met some guys at John Daly’s and I decided to keep my bike locked in at John Daly’s and pick it up in the afternoon the next day. I went to the nightclub with the guys. Even though I wasn’t supposed to go out to party I just had to grab the opportunity. If I want to meet people I just have to jump at my opportunities even though it’s Thursday. Anyway I had a great time and a pint of Heineken was only €3.00. THAT IS BLOODY RIDICULOUS!!

Friday (November 21) J asked me if I wanted a ride into town just as I was about to head out. It’s like she can read my mind and knew that my bike was in Mullingar. She gave me a ride and dropped me off on the main street. I had a few minutes before John Daly’s would open so I went to Dunnes Store, a shopping centre. I found a pair of winter boots. I have been looking for a pair of shoes for a while, and now I finally found some to a reasonable price on sale! I went to John Daly’s, had a coke, talked to M a bit and went Lifestyle Sports afterwards to buy a shirt to run in. I’ve been planning on starting to run again, but I guess we’ll see. I still haven’t been out.

In the Weekend (November 22 +23) I saw a lot of Christmas films. I think my Christmas mood started somewhere in the beginning of November.

Saturday (November 30) I decided to go out and have a few drinks. John Daly’s had live music and I still hadn’t been out on a Saturday or been at John Daly’s while there’s been live music. Even though I was only supposed to go into town to buy a bottle of red wine and then head back to the cottage to have a glass of wine and enjoy my Saturday night I was convinced that I had to go out as I called in to John Daly’s before picking up my bottle of wine. I ended up talking to a small person (to be honest he was a tiny cripple, but that is not really a nice word, so I’m going for small person). He ended up telling me that he had a foot fetish which I found quite ironic since he had some “troubles” with his legs. And when he began telling me that he was going to open up my shoes it became a bit freaky. But luckily he left not long after that and to be honest I don’t hope I ever meet him again.

Then I met Billy at John Daly’s after the small person had left. He’s a really nice old man, who I have spoken to before. I don’t mind talking to old people, I kind of enjoy their company and I think it’s nice to hear what they have to say. Especially over here where Ireland’s history is quite young and I believe a lot has change in the last 100 years which means that a man like Billy most likely has experienced something interesting. I mean the Great Famine ain’t more than 160 years ago and Ireland got their independence from Britain somewhere around 1900.

Billy and me. I'm trying on his hat.

When Billy had left I met some other people. They were a mixed group and I sat with them for the most of the time at John Daly’s. When they closed I took a taxi with another group of people to a house where we could drink. When I came to the house I immediately knew that I should just have got home. It wasn’t because they were stupid or anything. The ones I spoke to were nice, but I was actually just really tired. So I had one call me a taxi and then I was back home at around 0400 I think.

December has finally arrived and I have started eating my chocolate in my advent calendars. I decided to do it a bit differently though. Since my parents are coming on December 19^th I decided to start eating my chocolate behind door 18 and then count down. I don’t know if I should have started with the 19^th though. I can’t wait for my parents to get here and I can’t wait to go to Dublin but most of all I can’t wait to go back to Denmark for Christmas. I miss everyone at home, but the one that I miss the most seems to be Bianca, the dog. I don’t know why – I have my theory though and it is because I cannot speak to her like I can to everyone else. I just want to pet her.

As for right now I am working on my last assignment before Christmas. It is due on Friday and I am finishing my part tonight. So at least I won’t have to worry that much about it. I have also got a head cold which is so annoying. J drove my into Tesco today so I could buy some Lemsip and nasal drops. My nose is SO BLOCKED! It was also the first time in fourteen days that I did grocery shopping, which I am quite proud of. I believe in the next few weeks I’ll be doing my Christmas shopping and on Sunday I’m going to the Cathedral with J. She sings in a choir and they have a Christmas concert, so she asked me if I wanted to come. I think it’ll be nice and I have also been quite curious about what is inside the cathedral.

Since this was quite long I guess I’ve made up from the lack of updates. Also if anyone find/walk into Kit Harington please send him to me. I know a good hiding spot. No one will ever know where he is. 

Winter is coming

“The cold winds are rising. Summer is at end, and a winter is coming such as this world has never seen”

Yesterday I woke up to quite a surprise. Snow was covering the front garden. It wasn’t much and it melted away in the sun during the day, but it was definitely snow. I wasn’t expecting any snow and I am not even sure if I am expecting any during the winter. I’ve been told and I’ve read that it rarely snows in Ireland so I’ve been expecting a milder winter than in Denmark. Despite the fact that it rarely snows in Ireland a few people have told me that they have promised a tough winter this year. And there’s also a tale containing red berries. Apparently if there are a lot of the poisonous berries on the holly trees it means a cold winter is coming. J told me that the berries had been “good” this year, so maybe if the old wives tale is true a bitterly cold will soon set in over Ireland. I don’t hope so though. I have been freezing since I came here. I think I just freeze a lot. The first day I was here I walked into town by the canal. I was wearing my coat, gloves, hat and scarf and on the way I passed a man wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  To say I felt a bit stupid at that point is an understatement.

The temperature has dropped here, just like J’s cat has grown since I arrived. I have been in Ireland for 4 weeks now and I am still enjoying it. I think I even fall in love with Walshestown more and more each day. I love the freedom of living in the countryside and I love the fact that you can get the feeling of countryside just 2.5 km outside of Mullingar.

Today J took me for a drive around the countryside. She took me to Lough Ennell (another lake), to the Bloomfield Hotel, Belvedere (where I’ve read they have Narnia trails. I so need to check that out) and then she took me to Tesco where I picked up this week’s grocery shopping. The Tesco in Mullingar has this big charity thing where you can buy a ticket for €5 and you can win three cash prices of €100. I’d like to get my hands on one of those. And then I think you can win a signed pair of Niall Horan’s boots too. Although I wouldn’t know what to do with his shoes, unless he’s a 39.

Niall Horan is from Mullingar and it is hard not to see because I have never seen so many One Direction things in the windows as I have seen here. I like One Direction, I really do, but I have to admit that there are a bit too many One Direction things here. The first thing I saw when I came to Mullingar was chocolate with One Direction. It has come to the point where I think it’s a bit creepy and it wouldn’t surprise me if they would raise a statue of Niall at some point. I have wanted to take pictures of all the windows with One Direction things for a while, but I just can’t get myself to do it. But I want to prove my point about it being a bit too much so maybe one day when I know the Irish people are busy with something, I will sneak out and take pictures. **edited on November 21 I was quick enough to say that it wouldn't surprise me if they build a statue of Niall. Today I came across these news http://www.contactmusic.com/story/irish-officials-consider-niall-horan-museum-tribute_3964084**

I also want to take pictures of the town. But being socially awkward I find it hard to just take pictures when there are a lot of people around me. So that will have to wait till I overcome my fear of being spotted taking random pictures of random buildings.

Today I discovered the best hot chocolate ever. Those of you who thought Twinings would only be good at making tea thought wrong. Today I bought Twinings Swiss chocolate and it is amazing! It’s so much better than Cadbury’s Wispa (and believe me when I say I love Wispa). If you ever come across it BUY IT!

One last thing. Today is my grandmother’s 70 birthday and I wish I could be there this weekend, but sadly I can’t. I love you mormor! 

But with the snow and the coldness of the air winter is definitely coming now and I am prepared with another jumper!

This one is from Funky Christmas Jumpers and so is the hat. Go check their stuff out on their online store! They have a lot of cool Christmas jumpers. 

One thing I absolutely love about Ireland is that you can buy Christmas jumpers everywhere and they hardly cost anything. Also there is a Christmas market on November 30 and I am so looking forward to it!