Bit excited guys!

Only 2 months until the new KOL album comes out...
There has been great discussion which direction the band will take... anticipation over whether the band will head back to their "swamp rock" sound.

I didnt think they would - and this little teaser confirms it. But I'm liking the sound of it anyway!!!

Enjoy...

Communication is the key!

Recently I may have (dramatically) mentioned how devastated I was that my submission to study a Graduate Diploma in Communications was being considered as a late entry. As a result I have spent the last few months pretending as though I didn't apply - to avoid any further disapointment..... Which of course means I got offer a spot!!! (I haven't prepared myself at all for the amount of work that is going to be required!)

Despite feeling as though someone made a mistake as:
a) My application was late.
b) I'm not sure I fulfill the criteria - Can a B. Nursing Science really be considered a relevant undergraduate degree when planning to do a masters in Communication?? (Remembering I have never worked in Communications)
which of course leaves me with c) if I thought I was enrolling in a Grad Dip - and I infact enrolling myself in a Masters Programme - am I really switched on enough to be involved in this course??? (there are plenty of hopefulls dying for me to drop my place so they can snap it up!!!!)

Anywhoo for those who are interested Communications for Development

Oh and did I mention that University is free in Sweden for everyone - not just residents of Sweden! The cost of my first year at University in Sweden is 160kr for Student Union Fees (approx. $25AUD) and books totaling 1216kr (approx $200AUD).

Finally something that is affordable in Sweden!!!! Next University intake is March for those who want to come join me :D

A little quiet on the home front....

I know I have been....
Lots happening (I know that's no excuse)...

Today I found out that my good friend Lib is abandoning us. While technically not her fault - simply a matter of change in visa application legislation, all the same she will be missed (especially at Påsk). Being the needy expat friend that I am - I hope she will continue to entertain us with stories of her repatriation to Australia (I so wish I'd kept a blog last time I was adjusting to life as an Australian!) and continue to hunt down the best eating spots where ever she goes....

So in keeping with our very strong mutual love of food - I will recommend one more place for Lib to dine at en The UK (if she has a chance on her brief visit!).

Bill's Produce Store
The concept of this cafe/produce store is quite unique for England. Basically we are talking about an organic produce store which home delivers (yes in this day and age) is set out like a very old school convenience store (high wooden shelves - small counter at the front, with actual customer service!) and a very exceptional cafe at the back. The food is phenomenal. The prices are mid range £10-12 for a large organic freshly cooked meal. With my hangover I chose poorly - but trust me the food is exceptionally good by anyones standards!

Bill's also provide picnic packs - which we intend on taking advantage of when we return to Brighton (just a 45m train ride from central London) with your choice of tapas/meze style foods and salads with deserts also.

Anyway I am definately no restuarant reviewer so I suggest if you get the opportunity to eat there DO IT! p.s. The Bill's we went to (there are two) was set in "the lanes" in brighton - which are literally loads of small lanes full of market type wares and smaller stores with lots of amazing little finds!!!

you will love - trust me!

Ahhh.... the smallest things!

Today I discovered that in the eyes of a 6, 9 and 11yr old. I am cool!
Want to know why?

I live "Overseas" (check!)
I speak another language (mostly-check!).
I have been to lots of cool places (check, actually I'll double check that one!)
My boyfriend is cool and plays guitar...

And do you know what, as much as I felt cool and hip and like I should be happy with my life (YAY finally some recognition)

I realise.... If my boyfriend didn't play guitar, look like a rock-star and happen to be excellent at playing blocks with my nephews.... I don't think they would care about the other things.

Ahhh but who cares...
I still got appointed to the position of "Coolest Aunt in the world".
No one said I couldn't sleep my way to the top :D

Back in Sweden.

W. O. W.
That pretty much sums it at the moment.
I have just had the most amazing 2 weeks.
I went to Isle of Wight and Brighton - which I'm dying to write about - but I'm so scared that those memories will get lost before I have a chance to get them down properly... (after I write for Lonely Planet)

BECAUSE...

OMG....

I just attended an amazing conference.
Quite possibly life changing.
I had the pleasure of spending time with some amazing women over the last few days. One of whom not only has refocused my lagging enthuasiasm for a career in the field of humanity... but who I am going to make all my closest friend JEALOUS AS HELL over the time I spent with her. (Clydey you are going to love this story - it's with regards to your neck of the woods!!!!)
Oh and did I mention that I dinned in King James 6th of Scotland/King James 1st of Englands private dining room - and attended a drinks reception in the very room Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to him.... follow by a private tour of the room holding "The Crown, The Sword and The Stone".... Yes THAT Sword and THAT Stone!!!
ahhhhh..... where to start?????????????

I've been tagged!

Ok so Fona double tagged me - and seeing as i'm still too brain dead to write anything worth reading..... here is part 1!

Here are the rules!
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others you like and tell why.
3. Tag 5 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
This is much harder than expected!

Share 5 songs that I am embarrassed to admit to!

1. Ceclilia by Simon and Garfunkle. Can't help it this song ALWAYS makes me smile. It reminds me of sooooo many nights out - and I always picture Nicci completely wasted trying to iron her uniform for work singing "Cecilia... your a big fat tart...."

2. Put another log on the fire by The Outlaws. Childhood song, was possibly my Dad's favourite song??? (this song + every Johnny Cash song - but I couldn't pick just 1 Johnny song). I'm pretty sure that Fo, Nat and Nic are nodding their heads going ohhh yeah - I remember that one!

3. Keep me Hanging On (sung) by Kim Wilde. In fact I was singing this song last night... I got many a strange look from the Swede.... I bought Guns and Roses and Kim Wilde - Greatest Hits - on tape on the same day and listened to them endlessly. I loooooooved both of them!

4. Ice Ice Baby.... by Vanilla Ice. Don't think this one is so much about the song, more the reaction of everyone when this song comes on. My very first concert was Vanilla Ice at Festival Hall in Brisbane. My friends step-mother worked at a radio station in "the big smoke" and got us tickets. Man I felt so grown up to get to go to Brisbane and go to a gig unescorted!!!!! Now everyone loves to remind me... as soon as the song starts all i hear is "hahahahahahaha - quick where's Cas?" LOVE IT!

This is a tie for me... I know - I'm cheating. But to me these songs go hand in hand. If you hear one played you will always hear the other played shortly after. It's true. Whenever either of these songs come on the Swede gets extremely anxious that I know EVERY WORD and am happy to sing EVERY WORD to both songs.... so here you go in the number 5 place of my all time favourite embarressing songs are:
5. Funky Cold Medina by Ton Loc and Bust a move by Young MC.
(and for an extra piece of triva - Young MC wrote Funky Cold Medina for Ton Loc!!)

Now I don't think I have anyone to tag.... so ????

Please Vote For Maddie!!!

You will remember a while back that my friend Maddie was writing some excellent gig reviews for V-Fest. She wrote by far the best reviews and had the most amounts of comments etc... However NOW WE HAVE TO VOTE! (The person who is winning wrote 2 very ordinary reviews - but obviously has the most amount of friends!!)

Please do the following:

The good people at virgin finally got their shit together, and you are now able to vote on my blogs, and me generally. Here's what you do:

1. Go to http://music.virgin.com/author/Mads/

2. On the top right hand side, where it says 'Do I deserve to win the Global Vpass' - click 'Vote for me'

3. Scroll down the page - at the end of each review, click on the little button that says 'Vote'.

4. Follow steps 1 to 3 once or twice a day, or whenever you are bored. (It might not let you vote again within a couple of hours, but keep trying!)

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Counting down the sleeps....

2 sleeps until I see N.E.R.D. and Kaiser Chiefs.
3 sleeps until I see Ian Brown, The Zutons and The Sex Pistols.
4 Sleeps until I see The Music, New Young Pony Club and The Police...
5 sleeps until I fear an impending death and suffer from the D.T.'s

wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!

Stenbrottet! The waterhole of Sverige.

After exploring a little of Dalby, with the hot Swedish sun beating down on us, we decided no visit would be complete with out a swim at Stenbrottet. A Swimming hole if you will. It is such a beautiful place! In fact it is a old rock quarie which has filled with water. You can jump in from as high as 10-12m above the water level (the water is probably another 10-12m deep!) I of course was a chicken and didnt jump in. No testosterone running through these veins!

It was a great day. We took a "disposable grill" and grilled some vegetables and haloumi. Ate a little, swam a little, ate a little more and basically enjoyed the sunshine. Who knew summer in Sweden could be so nice. (Of course the water was too cold for me but who cares!!)

Oh did I mention it was 32 degrees on Saturday????





Please note - only in Sweden would you find people sunbaking in the paddocks.
Literally the paddocks. Earlier in the day there were cows grazing on the grass around approx 5m from the sunbathers!

Dalby, Sverige!

While technically I had visited Dalby, Sverige in July 2007 - I visited during a hideous period of my life that we tend to refer to as "that first summer". It was a time when I thought I would return home to Australia as unemployment, endless rain and homesickness were taking their toll on me.... lets just say I wasn't appreciative of anything in Sweden let alone a rainy day in Dalby!



Soo.. (Thanks to Wikipedia)

Dalby is a village in Lund Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden, about 10 km east-south-east of Lund, and about 20 km east-north-east of Malmö. Population 5000+.

It has the oldest stone church in Scandinavia (Heligkorskyrka or the Holy Cross Church).


Dalby (as was all of Skåne) was originally part of Denmark, until 1658 when Sweden wrestled it from the Danes. (The population of Skåne was not receptive to Swedish rule, a fact that helped the Danes win the Scanian War [1675–79] against the Swedes. Victory, however, did not result in a return of the province; France vetoed the move - Therefore Skåne remains part of Sweden!)

An article appearing in The Dalby Herald (AUST) on Nov 27, 1931 claims that it is most likely that Dalby, Qld got its name from Dalby, Isle of Man (and not in fact Dalby, Sverige as I had suspected!). At the time Dalby, Qld recieved it's name there was a high proportion of "Manx" (Manx Gaelic, is a Goidelic language spoken on the Isle of Man) residing around the Myall Creek area.

The name Dalby is derived from two Norse words - Dal and By (meaning Dale Town).
Dalby, Isle of Man was was christened so by Norse Conquerors (Vikings). So while there appears to be no direct links between Dalby, Qld and Dalby, Sverige, it is safe to assume The Vikings of Danmark and Sweden indeed had an input with the naming of Dalby, Danmark/Sverige and Dalby, Isle of Man - which led to the naming of Dalby, Queensland, Australia!

Phew - that's a whole lot of Dalby!