All good things come to an end

Haven't written now for almost a month. It's been so much going on so I haven't really taken the time to post here (which is quite ironic since that's what the blog is about; all the things I've done in Durham and around). Also, it feels a bit weird writing in this blog since my Durham year now is over. I have done so much fun things, met so many people which of many I now consider as good friends, seen places and cities, partying to great music and laughed a lot, and many many more things (and of course learned some geography stuff). It has definitely been all together one of the best periods of my life. I have both felt I've kind of became younger, and older and more mature at the same time. I have probably changed a bit from this experience (hopefully for the better), even though I'm the same person as before.
Since my last post I have had friends over from home, a 12 hour summer ball that didn't end until long after the sun had risen, been a guest on a radio show, seen Manchester again and got an apertizer of Liverpool, had an afternoon at the beach on the coast, and some crazy party nights, and said goodbye to people I've lived very close to during this time, before going down to London for two sunny days and then home.
Since my time as a student abroad now have come to an end I'm gonna put this blog to an end too. Feel a bit locked writing wise to Durham and Britain and everything with it, but as I really like to write about stuff when I feel the insperation I will definitely write more about my life and things that interest me. So someway, someday (soon) I will start to blog again. See you!

A jerk not to go to York / Word of the day X

What is the hell is The Big Apple?? Just some New shit! You have to see the original of course! So yesterday I killed two birds with one stone and got the chance to see the old city of York and also catch up with a friend again and get some nice company for the day. The city is not more than a 40 min train ride south from Durham and shares many features. They both have really big old cathedrals (although the one in Durham is free of charge to enter, and the one in York is not) and other old buildings and streets. Basically just a very nice and charming city to walk around in with lots of small original shops and stone walls etc. And again the weather was much better than expected, just started to rain in the afternoon when it was time for a Frappuccino.

Of course I took the time to do some shopping when I was in a new town. I don't have that many real souvenirs from England so I decided to shop a pair of Union Jack boxers, which I actually thought of buying when I was in Cambridge two years ago, so now I have the UK up my arse! I had also looked at a pair of jeans, but only just week ago, at H&M from their new guest designer line. They are blue (like almost sky blue) with some extra things on them, and after being finally convinced to take them I decided to buy them as well, and £20 for a pair of designer jeans is nothing less than a real bargain! As this "Word of the day" is No X it gets a bit x-rated:

• Stud: Nit

(Note: 'Stud' refers to the metal things around the waist on the jeans, and not the guy that drops the jeans, even though he can be referred to as one as well but with a different meaning.)

The Parent Trip

The past weekend I had the opportunity to spend lots of time with my parents who were on visit here. So I met up with them in Edinburgh were we spent one night and half a day walking mostly in the old town and looking at lots of tartan design. Then we took the train down to Durham were I had booked the balcony flat in college for them and had dinner there before going out to have a drink in town. Had a great time with lots of sightseeing, walking, coffee breaks, very good food, and of course great company. Wonderful weekend!

Shorts shopping

It has been really super weather the past days with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures. But I didn't bring enough summer clothes with me after the Easter break, so I went yesterday to Newcastle to get some shorts and stuff. Went to one of my favourite shops here in England, TK Maxx, which feels a bit "white trash" sometimes but you find really nice designer labels for up to 60 % less than the normal store prices. It takes some time to go through all the clothes in there, but eventually I found two nice pair of shorts, so now I'm really ready for summer. Also found a cool coloured top in H&M, which had actually lots of cool stuff, so they hold the Swedish banner up high.

Örebro's Got Talent

Last evening it was the final of the tv-show Britain's Got Talent. I don't really care about competitions like this, but a lot of people do and the bar was packed when the winner was gonna be announced. It seemed like most people wanted one of the dance groups to win, which they also did, even though I liked these guys better. Poor Susan Boyle looked so nervous she looked like she would mess herself, so maybe better that she just got the silver medal.Of course there's not only talent in Britain, but lots of "talent" also in Sweden, and especially in my great home town of Örebro. This guy is a doorman at small pub where you go to start off a night with some cheap pints. He really likes the "power" his badge gives him and always asks you how much you had to drink when you get there to see if you're too drunk, even if you are totally sober, and then says "hmm, ok....but take it easy tonight!" He also always used to ask for ID from one of my friends (who at the time were 23) to let him in, even though he used to go down there a couple of times a week, and they also lived in the same building across the street from the place. You would think he would remember him and his age, but well he gotta do his job, right.
Judging from his participation in the tv-show he does some stuff on the side, when he's not keeping everything under control in the pub. But I think there's no need to say he didn't make it through to the next round. Enjoy his performance!

Summertime!

Yesterday I finally had my last exam! Had 5 in 9 days, quite hectic...! But now it is all over, and I'm free from everything that has to do with studies, and very conveniently the sun decided to sun the whole day! At first it felt very weird to have really nothing you had to do, but I went out in the sun and read a good book and worked on my tan. In the afternoon me and Felix walked down to town to just walk around, buy some small stuff, and have ice cream in the sun. Loads of people were sitting along the river and had picnics and just relaxing, and in town there were people all over and an outdoor market on the market place.
After we got back to college I went down to the gym, where I spent quite some time this month, so I could get away from the books and clear my head. Also, I think I can count the beer and drinks I had this month on my fingers, so haven't been in this good shape since I did my military service. Feels like a bit of shame to "ruin" it all now when you can have a drink whenever you want, but there's still plenty of time to keep up the good condition, and I don't really have problem with gaining weight, I somehow stay slim like Iggy Pop almost no matter how much I eat and so. Tonight I hope to top this amazing start of the summer with a good party night at Revolver tonight and rock out! Tomorrow will probably look the same, at least the sun is supposed to shine!

Gangstas just wanna have fun

Just read that Ice Cube will fill the void after Cyndi Lauper, who had to cancel her show, at this summer's Hultsfreds Festival in Sweden. This is the most funny replacement since David Bowie cancelled his gig at the Roskilde Festival in 2004 just two days before he was gonna perform, and most people were already there camping, and got replaced in the last minute by Slipknot. There were a lot of confused 50-year-olds hanging around then I can tell you! Now I can see in front of me a bunch of girls in crazy coloured hair and neon 80s clothes waiting in front of the stage, and Cube comes out and ask "where mah muthafuckin gangstas at??!". Priceless. Well, this gives me a reason to get my gangsta out and pump some ol' Ice Cube, before he was doing shitty films. Chickity-check yo self before you wreck yo self!!

Ice Cube - "It Was A Good Day / Check Yo Self"

Ice Cute, in a girlie bandana

In the backstreets of Dirrty Durham