Finally: Willow and I manage to take some photos of our newly renovated flat. Most of you probably don’t know the difference between the “old” and the “new” flat, but you can get some ideas by compearing the The Big Makeover flickr set with the Eastside Academy set or by browsing the flat tag.
In short, it’s a new kitchen in a new place, old kitchen turned into storage/laundry/larder room, new stairs up to the mezzanine, new mezzanine railing and new mezzanine carpet and a completely newly refurbish bathroom.
I had plans on writing a really detailed entry about everything, since a lot of things (if not all) went down a slightly different path than planed. But i’ve decided to keep it short.
All this work was only possible thanks to my amazing dad. He came up to London in February and, believe it or not, we were done in about 4 weeks. The old man is in better shape than I am. That’s the difference when you’ve been working with your hands all your life instead of sitting in front of a computer.
I went over to Oslo on the May bank holiday weekend to attend Espen Dietrichson’s gallery opening at UKS entitled Sketches for a Mechanical Sunrise. Espen is probably the only one I know who’s working in the creative field but is not doing it commercially, so I find it extremely interesting and fascinating to talk to him about how he approaches his work and his industry and to draw parallels to what I do and the web industry. Make sure you visit his website, espendietrichson.com and have a look at his sculptures. They are stunning.
It was my first time to Oslo, and over our short stay (Friday to Sunday) it left a very good impression. Besides the gallery opening, we had dinner at Ekeberg Restauranten, visited the new Opera house and the Vigeland Sculpture Park. The restaurant had a great location. But, unfortunately, that was about it. The food was pricy and average. The Opera house is impressive (above photograph). Unfortunately you have limited access inside the building. The Vigeland Sculpture Park was beautiful and Gustav Vigeland’s sculptures gave it a unique shade of weirdness (below photograph).
Two weeks ago Willow and I flew down to Taranto, Italy, to attend my cuisine, Benedetta, and her fiancé’s, Angelo, wedding. (above illustration is an illustration of Benedetta and Angelo. It was illustrated by Willow and was part of the wedding gift.)
It was really nice. I don’t meet up with my italian side that often any more — when I was younger I stayed down there every summer for a few weeks, now that i’m older I manage to get a few days every other year — so when I’m down there it is extra special. They are all so lovely.
Due to the lack of time spent in Italy, my Italian isn’t really up to scratch. Normally it takes me a few days to get into it, so these short weekends aren’t long enough for my brain to re-adjust. Being Swedish and having an English girlfriend doesn’t make it any easier. My brain kind of spazzes out from time to time (excuses excuses excuses).
I also experienced my longest and largest dinner up to date. I think it was about 9 courses; over 6 hours!! It truly was something special. A funny anecdote from the dinner was when they told me during the starter that I shouldn’t eat too much since much more awaits on ‘il secondo piano’; which means ‘on the second floor’. Now I thought that ‘il secondo piano’ was a metaphor for going ‘to the next level’, so I was a bit amused when we were asked to actually go up to the second floor to continue the meal! Another funny anecdote: when we got home from this marathon of a dinner, Rita, my aunt, sat the table and started to bring out more food! Yeah It took me and Willow a few days in London before we had fully digested all the goodness.
As usual, during weddings, “wedding-talks” starts. And the big family question already on the same evening was: who’s next? Personally I feel no pressure (being the youngest and all) and am putting my money on Lucilla (Benedetta’s little sister).
Anyway. Just wanted to do a short digital congratulation to A and B!!