Tagged!

I've been tagged...yup...this game that connects all bloggers of the world has finally reached me, thanks to my NL (new Londoner) friend, Fran. And seeing that I really don't have that much occupying my time in the afternoons other than the going through the domestication of Dian, I decided I shall finally embark on this wonderous journey with you to realise just what a strange and wonderful creature I am.

The rules of the tag are as follows:

• State 15 weird things/habits/little known facts about yourself.
• The 10 people I tag are to then to follow my footsteps and write their own 15 weird things/habits and little known facts.
• No tag backs.

Note that these are things that I either realise myself or have been told by my nearest and dearest....

1. I have a happy little dance that I do when I'm eating something I REALLY like. And it doesn't matter where I am or if I'm standing or sitting, I will dance.
2. I hate onions, tomatoes, beansprouts, avocadoes and any other vegetables or fruits that give off that raw taste so I pretend I am allergic to them. Unless of cos I cannot see them or taste them and all they do is add flavour to food without presenting themselves to me in any shape or form. Then we're friends.
3. I have been known to be rather active in my sleep. I have sleepwalked, sleeptalked, sleepsmiled and once a friend told me I sleepwalked to my wet pants to make sure they were dry. I have no recollection of any of these events.
4. I have the incredible talent of rolling over when the husband gets up to go to the bathroom at night and sleeping exactly diagonal across the bed so he has no space. And I refuse to move.
5. My friends say I look like I'm on ecstasy with a bad sense of rythm when I go out dancing.
   
6. I have been farted on before. A friend sat on my face and let loose a stinkbomb.
7. I have a deep fascination with biting and get the occasional urge to bite something or someone which usually means the husband's arm. I grind my teeth without realising because I want to bite something. I wish they had teething rings for adults. I can't chew on a dog's chew toy...it's embarassing!
8. I'm a perfectionist and cannot let go of something until I'm fully satisfied with the outcome (which is almost never) or I run out of time (usually the case). My workmates just call me obsessive compulsive.
   
9. I'm a chronic latecomer. Even when I start getting ready early with good intentions of being on time, I still come late. Improvements have been made in this aspect but developments are LATE in coming.
   
10. I have a VERY bad memory. The last time at the cinema, I had to ask the husband twice during the commercials before it starts what movie we were watching. And I had been the one to choose the film.
    
11. I don't like the pulpy middle part of the cucumber so when I eat cucumbers I always eat around it and leave the middle on my plate.
    
12. I hate to be chased even if I know who's chasing me and I know it's for fun. But I still play chasing games and cry at the end of it cos I get scared.
13. I follow strongly the philosophy of if I can't see you, you can't see me. So when the husband chases me around the house (yes, that's the chasing games I was talking about), I tend to jump onto the bed, bury my head under the blanket or pillow and shut my eyes. And I'm still surprised he can find me.
14. I have a tiny scar at the end of my right eyebrow that I got when I passed out and fell face first onto the concrete floor of my secondary school classroom while playing a stupid game in which I was the ONLY participant.
    
15. I have a gang of 6 friends who mean the world to me and whom I basically grew up with from the time we were awkward teenage girls at the beginning of puberty till now when we are all fully bloomed, gorgeous adult women leading lives in different parts of the world. Rock on, girls!

Like it or not, you're now tagged. So get a move on with those 15 juicy pieces of information and let the rest of the world know just who you really are! *smooches*

P.S. Praisie...as far as I know you still have not answered the call of the tag. Correct me if I'm wrong, if not...tell those bloody I*****s to wait while you tag the rest of the world. Miss ya! :)

The population of Askersund

I've been telling people back home and friends who are not familiar with Sweden and Askersund just how peaceful, quiet and SMALL this town is. The town centre area is certainly not that large, perhaps about the size of Holland Village and that is where we live. But the total area size of the municipal of Askersund is probably more like 5 or 6 times larger than that. A lot of it is made up of forest and farmland and more than 50% of the residents live outside of the town centre area.

Yesterday as I was looking through the Askersund municipal website (out of curiosity lah), I saw that they have posted the latest population statistics for Sweden by the Swedish Statistics Bureau. And here are the the statistical numbers in terms of population movement for the town of Askersund as of the first half of 2008.

Total population: 11 401
Births: 49
Deaths: 78 (what did I tell you about this place being like a retirement home?)
Total actual immigration (incl. foreigners and those from other parts of Sweden: 39

That's right, people, the municipal of Askersund has shown a rapid increase in population increase, coming in at 3rd highest population rise within the province of Örebro. Yes! We're 3rd! Hurrah!

Sure the number of deaths is pretty close to twice that of births but even with that we still managed a population increase of 39 in real numbers. Alright! And I can proudly say that I make up part of that 39!

And here I was wondering if I would ever make my mark when I came here. But not only am I part of that special 39...I have managed to make an even bigger mark on Askersund. Within the statistics, it does state the number of immigrants from outside of Sweden for every municipality in Sweden. And in the province of Örebro within which Askersund is located, unfortunately, my tiny town is last in terms of foreign immigrants moving in.

And the total number of foreigners moving into Askersund in the past 6 months? One.

Yup yup!! Yours truly has really put Askersund on the map when it comes to foreigners. I am THE ONLY FOREIGNER to have moved to Askersund in the 1st 6 months of 2008. How proud I am. Oh how so very proud I am....

The pathetic collection grows...a little..

The husband finally got off his bum and managed to get some more pictures of our Swedish wedding party from his best friend, Gustav. Hmph...that took a while.

So here are a few more pictures which include ME!! I'm so glad there's finally some evidence that I was in attendance at that party. Would have been so sad other wise.

A view of the barbecue...notice how big the in laws' backyard is? Their backyard stops where the bushes grow. One can definitely tell that they live out in the country...a mere 5 min drive from where we live.
And here is a view of the other side of the backyard. Just beyond the bushes behind the tall man, one usually see cows grazing during the summertime. Talk about cattle house call.

This is the playhouse that was built in the backyard a few years ago. It's big enough to house a tiny family of small people! So we have the playhouse AND the tent AND still had room enough for an Olympic gymnast to perform her floor routine on the lawn. And this is a MODEST sized home.
Finally the first glimpse of me at the party being the good hostess I'm supposed to be, mingling a little. But I'm no good at mingling..I'm so shy!!

Having a deep discussion with Stefan, aunt in law's boyfriend. This man cannot speak a word of English and when I first came to Sweden, I could tell the desperation in his eyes to say something to me but he just couldn't. There was once at one of the family parties when he came up to me and wanted to ask if I was enjoying the party but he couldn't say it in English so all he could do was hold my face in his hands for a few seconds and walk away. That was really funny..and yes, he had been drinking. But now we understand each other and we are both SO relieved for that.
Here Mathias was made to sing the song 'Oh Carol' but had to change it to 'Oh Dian'....oh no...

During the party, both Mathias and I had to make speeches and it was nerve wrecking having to speak publicly and I did most of mine in Swedsih so that everyone could understand. I think my hands were shaking so much and I was sweating bullets!! Did I look calm?


Dear husband doing his silly faces again...in public this time. Hai...this act is called Doing the Lip thing. Quite famous apparently among his friends. Funnily enough, Malin, Gustav's wife, seems to be enjoying the show...maybe a little too much....hmmm.....


And this is the 'I can't believe you're doing this' face I give Mathias when he does those silly faces, especially in public, or if he does any of the 10, 001 silly things he does everyday. I believe I was listening to him make a speech this time. One can only imagine what nonsense was coming out of his mouth at that time.

The beautiful centrepiece of wildflowers that I picked just the day before. I love the colours of summer wildflowers!!

Slowly settling in...I guess.

Yesterday was a particularly social day for me. Not because I went to some party, not because I attended some function, not even because the husband took me out to meet some friends.

No, no...yesterday, I spent the afternoon with the aunties who live on the same floor as me. Alone and they speak ONLY Swedish.

I was not sure how it all started but the husband was pleasantly surprised that it came to happen. He heard a lot of loud talking and laughing coming from the 2nd floor (our floor) when he came home from work and found me in the midst of Birgitta and Kensi. The oldest auntie, Britta, had just gone in to bake some bread (gosh! How countryfied living that sounds, right?! I'm gonna go in bake some bread now. Tata! ok she didn't speak like that but u get my point?!)

When I first moved here, I remember that Birgitta was one of the first few neighbours who personally congratulated us and welcomed me to the neighbourhood. So I've always thought she is nice and friendly. So on days when I bake and I realise that I've baked too much (which happens now and again since there's only 2 of us), I give away my baked goods to those around me (you know like how they used to do in kampungs, right? Countryfied living what...my countryside are ideals of the kampung life. I'm still a Malay girl, u know). I usually give them away to Mathias' grandparents first and then send the rest to his workplace (all within walking distance). But sometimes, not that often, I still have more to give away so I give to Birgitta who lives alone. Actually, all the aunties on my floor live alone. That's why I tell you, I sometimes feel like I'm living in an old folks home.

About 2 weeks ago, I decided to bake cinnamon rolls but of cos I baked too many (about 35 buns, crazy right? There's only us 2 at home!). After sending a basket of rolls to grandma Inger, I decided to give them out to my neighbours, even the ones I don't know. It's a little nerve wrecking for me since I'm so shy and all (stop making puke faces, Francine!) but most of all, because I'm still so uncertain about my Swedish. But it turned out great! I gave out to the really old lady who always sits alone outside her house but refused to give a response when I say hi (she does now!!), then I gave out to Birgitta (who was in nothing but a towel) and Kensi (who thankfully had clothes on) and lastly to Bosse, the fat, old drunk guy who has such a jolly face and waves so enthusiastically when I wave hello to him (over here, everyone waves to EVERYONE..or at least nod hello. But I'm a waver so I do it with energy. Husband is a nodder and gives the occasional hail wave).

Bosse had his door open when I rang his bell to give him a bun but I guess he wasn't expecting anyone since he was wearing nothing but briefs, tight blue briefs and socks. I'm not sure when I can purge that sight from my mind, but I hope it's soon cos it was NOT a pretty sight. But he didn't seem bothered by it at all and we had a nice little chat in his doorway, the first time either one of us heard each other's voices. He didn't even know my name but all this time he still waved so hard almost everyday. So sweet right?

So I was busy painting some shelves that we are going to put up in the house in the corridor and Birgitta came over on her way to the supermarket, wondering what I was doing (she's still an auntie and aunties are all nosy). So we chatted a little while and I showed her part of the apartment including the kitchen. I think that was the first time she had ever stepped into Mathias' apartment (so glad I cleaned the house that morning!).

So I was watching TV with my door partially open when I heard someone calling my name. It was Birgitta and she invited me over for fika (Swedish version of teatime) with Kensi who lives two doors down from her. Britta came much later and sat down with us since I was showing our wedding pictures and what a bunch of curious aunties they all are, especially Britta (who is seriously old. She looks almost ninety! But I think she's in her early 80s). With my limited Swedish, I tried explaining as much as I could but the most important thing was they understood me and I them.

And later that night, I went out walking with yet another auntie, Kristina, who works with Mathias. She's only in her early fifties and she's very friendly although sometimes she sounds like she's high on Speed cos she talks so fast and repeats herself. She has decided that it will be a good thing for me to practice my Swedish by going out on walks with her. And she has forbidden Mathias from coming along. Heh heh...it's actually a good thing for the husband and I. I get to practice the language and get to know others, independent of him and he finally gets some private time just for himself. Which I know is a rarity for him since I'm home ALL THE TIME.

So it turns out that I actually enjoy hanging out with aunties here. Not that often but on occasion is nice. They are all so jolly and laugh so easily and were just easy to talk to, something that I have found lacking in a lot of the people I've met so far. I think the fact that they are so much at ease puts me at ease, but others that I've met seem a little more proper, withdrawn or careful which makes me nervous and withdrawn. I am more myself with the aunties of my block than with most other people.

I am especially glad that everyone was dressed yesterday...seriously. I guess one can say that I am very very slowly but surely settling in and building a social network for myself, independent of the husband for which I am so happy for. Yay!