Spending time with these two is worth more than gold. But it´s no secret that I sometimes miss my old job, my colleagues and wearing high heels.
I´d be lying if I claimed that the past six months hadn´t been busy. Last summer the kids and I said goodbye to our Copenhagen apartment (after practically giving away the interior of a complete home) to move back to Tenerife. Since then it´s been work, family and getting our feet firmly back on spanish ground.
I´ve lost a dear family member and seen another battle (and win!) the same disease. Cancer is a bitch.
Since I stopped working last month it seems I´ve had more between my hands than ever. More to do that is – not more to spend. When people asked me what I would do with my free time after I´d stop working, I said ”Read a book or three before looking for a new job”. I also wanted to get really fit, learn how to play the piano, start my own thing on the web and redecorate our house (to fit in our family of four in a 2–bedroom, 72 square meters house in the mountains, spending nothing or very little on it).
So far I´ve read one book, learned how to play Mike Oldfields ”The top of the morning” on piano, learned a lot about how to start your own web (and bought a domain. I feel like a pro!), worked out every other day and… well, the redecoration must wait… And, of course, still looking after the cat, the hens, the garden and picking up the kids every day from school at 1.30 pm to share a hot meal for lunch before taking them to sport, music etc.. But hey, it´s nice to be busy!
We have decided that I shouln´t go back to work straight away. How can I? The time we have gained is too precious to exchange for an extra salary. Jeezuz, how do other families manage? Well, I do remember how it was to be working full time, seeing the kids only for a few hours after work before they had to go to sleep. And then being super-mom at the weekends. Now I´m super-mom every day. Plus I have time to run my own little projects. And it feels really good (even knowing that it will take some time before we can travel again)!
(Pssst: I´m not trying to say that it´s either “working mom” or “super mom”. I know you can be both at the same time! And sweet lord, I´m not trying to say it´s the right choice to be a stay-at-home mom, choosing time with the kids over money. That is my choice for the moment and may change in the future. Dot.)
(Dear Pomp de Lux, please make that sweater in a bigger size – it´s really nice!)
I´m in Denmark for a week. Back in my hometown Copenhagen to be with my family. I´m saying goodbye to a dear family-member who has always been there for me. It´s so hard. But it´s also time…
The weather reflects my mood. Some heavy rain, then blue sky followed by drizzle, some sunshine, wind, chilly air and so on. Incalculably. But all in all I´m happy to be here.
I have so fast gotten used to being back living in Spain that it was almost like landing on another planet when I reached the airport in Billund. That´s in Jylland – far from Copenhagen. That´s also where you can fly to very cheap from Tenerife when you really need to go to Denmark and are low on cash. A 30 minute bus ride and a 2,5 hour train ride (that cost more than the flight ticket!) will then get you to Copenhagen. Plus the waiting for the bus plus the obligatory delay at the train – The Danish State Railway always gets surprised by rain. Rain! Jeezuz, it´s raining like 400 days a year in Denmark! Well, rain was the excuse of the day… And I got up at 2.30 a.m. to reach my destination at 5 p.m.. Not too bad.
Well, back to “the other planet”: When I left Denmark 5 weeks ago to go to Spain it was still summer. People were still wearing shorts or skirts and short sleeves and the sun was still shining most of the time. 5 weeks later I landed in the Ice Age. Cold. Misty. Rainy. Grey. 10 seconds after leaving the plane I dearly wished I had brought my wooly gloves; 1 minute later I cought a cold. So this very moment I´m sitting in Grannys sofa with a big quilt and extra socks. And a glass of red wine (of course) – as this is the best medicine to get rid of a cold.
DA:
Jeg eri Danmark i enuge.Tilbage imin hjembyKøbenhavnfor at væresammen med min familie. Jeg er her for at sige farvel tilet kærtfamilie–medlem, som altidhar været derfor mig.Det så hårdt.Mendetogsåtid…
Vejretafspejlermit humør. Nogetkraftig regn,så lidt blå himmelefterfulgt afstøvregn, sol, vind, kulde også videre.Uberegneligt. Men alt i altjeg erglad for at væreher.
Jegharsåhurtigtvænnet mig tilat være tilbageog boi Spanien,at det næsten var som at landepå en anden planet, da jeglandede ilufthavneni Billund.Det er iJylland–langtfraKøbenhavn.Det erogså der hvordu kan flyve tilmeget billigtfra Tenerife, når du virkelig har brug forat rejse til Danmarkoger low on cash.En 30 minutters bustur ogen2,5timerstogtur (som koster mere end flybilletten!)fårdig hereftertil København.Plusventen på bussenplusden obligatoriskeforsinkelsepå toget–DSB bliver altidoverrasket afregn.Regn! Jeezuz, det regnersådan cirka400 dageom åretiDanmark! Nå, men regn var altså dagens undskyldning…Jeg stodop kl2:30 om morgenenfor at nåmit bestemmelsessted kl. 5 om eftermiddagen. Ikke så dårligt endda.
Nå, tilbagetil “den andenplanet”:Da jeg forlodDanmarkfor 5 uger sidenfor at bosætte mig i Spanien,var det stadigsommer.Folk gik stadig ishorts ellernederdele ogkorte ærmerog solenskinnededet meste af tiden. 5 ugersenerelandedejegiistiden.Koldt. Tåget. Regnfuldt.Gråt.10 sekunder efter jeg forlodflyet, ønskede jeg inderligtat jeg havde medbragt mineuldne vanter;1 minutsenereblevjeg forkølet.Såi dette øjebliksidder jeg imormorssofa med enstordyne ogekstrasokker. Oget glasrødvin(selvfølgelig) –da dette er denbedste medicin til at slippe af med en forkølelse.
Nerel: Decathlon (t-shirt), Pomp de Lux (shorts), ANGULUS (sandals) – Isabella: H&M (dress), ANGULUS (sandals) – Line Karen: Asos (dress), Clarks (sandals), El Caballo (sunglasses) – Juan: Decathlon (t-shirt), RipCurl (bag), Arnette (sunglasses), I haven´t got a clue (shorts ands shoes)
The primary reason forour return toTenerife is family. Our small family. Weare“just” the 4 of us as the closest family-memberlive2000 kmaway onthe Spanish north coastof Asturias.The last 3years in Denmarkhasbeenwonderful. And tough.I’ve beenclose tomy own family and friends, andit has really beengreat–butbeing alonewithtwokids (anda study andafull-time job) is really exhausting.Daily lifesums up to getting up early, preparing lunchboxes, cooking, setting the table, washing the dishes, grocery-shopping,helping with homework, fillingthe bath,washing the kids´ hair (easy), combingthe kids´ hair (impossible), bills, work, study, vacuuming …. Andsometimesa quickfamily visit. But Ifeltthat therewas almost notime to see family or friends. Close to impossible because when you are at homeat17 p.m.andthe kidsgo to bedbefore21 p.m. it gives you just4 hours to fit in 90% ofthe abovementioned AND leave time to just be together. Quality time. The economywasnotsomethingto boast about–thereisnotmuch profitfromoneincome when an apartment inexpensiveCopenhagen, carinsurances, mobiles, internet, clothing, food etc. has been paid. Ineeded avacation. Mentallyandphysically.
Now the tune has changed. I´m working less hoursandalthough my workinghoursaremuch moreintensivethanin the office I enjoy being able toimmerse myself in what I do andknow that whenI´ve finished I can (in good conscience)be withthe kidsandtheirfather. Thereisactuallyanotherperson who alsocook,wash up–andpoursmea glass ofred wine.Their father(or google)steps in when Ihave forgottenhowittodivide17.734.972,42 with 364,50. Thereistime for adip in the poolor the sea.Every day. And thenwejustround itoff witha walkinto the sunsetora trip to the skate-park(Juan and I are ok, Nerel ,10, has eagerlystarted tolearn–andlittle sisterIsabella isjust waiting forus to get her apinkskateboardbefore shewill join us) –followed bya cold beeron a cliffedgeto the sound ofocean wavesand the warmth ofthe last sunrays. And I am sleeping next to the man I love. Every night. And we enjoy our children. Together. Does that soundromantic? Yep, it is. I´m becomming completelybalanced–mentally and physically.
DA:
Den primære årsag til vores tilbagevenden til Tenerife er familien. Den lille familie. For vi er “bare” os 4. Nærmeste familie bor 2000 km væk på den spanske nordkyst i Asturien. De sidste 3 år i Danmark har været skønne. Og hårde. Jeg har været tæt på min egen familie og venner, og det har virkelig været fantastisk – men at være alene med 2 børn (og et studie og et fuldtidsjob) er virkelig udmattende. Hverdagen går op i vækkeure, der ringer for tidligt, madpakker, lave mad, dække bord, vaske op, købe ind, hjælpe med lektier, fylde badekarret, vaske hår på ungerne (nemt), rede hår på ungerne (umuligt), regninger, arbejde, studere, støvsuge…. Og ind imellem et lille familie- eller venne-besøg. Men jeg følte nærmest ikke, at der var tid til at se andre. I hverdagen nærmest umuligt, for når man er hjemme kl 17 og ungerne skal i seng inden 21, giver det bare 4 timer, hvor 90% af ovenstående skal klemmes ind. Økonomien var ikke noget at råbe hurra for – der er ikke meget overskud fra 1 indkomst, når lejlighed i dyre København, bil, forsikringerne, mobil, licens, internet, mad, tøj mm. er betalt. Jeg trængte til ferie. Mentalt og fysisk.
Nu er der andre boller på suppen. Jeg er gået ned i tid, og selv om arbejdstimerne er meget mere intensive end på kontoret, nyder jeg at kunne fordybe mig og vide, at når jeg har fri kan jeg med god samvittighed være sammen med ungerne og deres far. Der er rent faktisk en anden person, der også laver mad, vasker op – og skænker mig et godt glas rødvin ind imellem. Far (eller google)træder til, når mor har glemt hvordan det lige er man dividerer syttenmillionertrehundresyvogtredivetusindfemhundredesyvogfyrre-komma-fireogtredive med toogfyrreogenhalv. Der er tid til en dukkert i poolen eller havet. Hver dag. Og så runder vi lige af med en gåtur i solnedgangen eller en tur ud og skate (både far og mor er ganske habile, Nerel på 10 år er ivrigt i gang med at lære – og lillesøster Isabella venter lige på at vi får købt et pink skateboard inden hun vil i gang) – efterfulgt af en kold øl på en klippekant til lyden af havets brusen og varmen fra dagens sidste solstråler. Og jeg sover ved siden af manden jeg elsker. Hver nat. Og vi nyder vores børn. Sammen. Lyder det romantisk? Jeps, det er det også. Jeg er godt i gang med at blive fuldstændig afbalanceret – mentalt og fysisk.
This is kind of strange…. I´ve been working with so many pro bloggers in my job that I got to a point where I thought it would be best to just leave it up to them to fill the internet with their stories. They know how to do it well and the web is already full of blogs. I have posted 7 blogposts this year. Seven. Not even one every month. That´s not really what you can call a dedicated blogger. But here I am anyway. Maybe you wonder why?
First of all: Believe it or not, but people have actually called for it. Like in “asked me to please start blogging again”. Wauw, that totally warms my little heart. Thanks!
Second: This is a really easy way to share everyday stories and pics with friends and family back home. And it might even be interesting to other people. Who knows? I´m not gonna look at the stats to see how many of you are reading this (oh well, we know I will anyway) – as the purpose to this blog is to share our everyday adventure. Why:
3 weeks ago my kids and I moved from Copenhagen (Denmark) to Tenerife, a spanish volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean some 400 kilometers off the coast of Africa. I have been living here before (moved here for the first time in 2002) but this time I think we´ll stay for good. My boyfriend (also the childrens father) is spanish, we have a lovely house in a mountain village and I even got to keep my old job! Lucky me, I am honestly blessed. I think there will be plenty of stories to tell.
So there you go. Let this be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
DA:
Det er lidt mærkeligt…. Jeg hararbejdet medsåmangeprobloggereimitjob, at jegkom til etpunkt, hvor jeg mente at det ville værebedst atlade det være optil dem, atfyldeinternettet medderes historier. De ved hvordanman gør detgodt, oginternettet eralleredefuld afblogs.Jeg har lavet7blogindlægår.Syv. Ikke engangethver måned i snit.Det er vistikkerigtig, hvad man kan kaldeen dedikeretblogger.Menher er jegalligevel.“Hvorfor?” tænker du måske…?
Først og fremmest:Tro det eller ej, menfolk harfaktiskopfordret tildet.Som I: “Du burdebegynde at bloggeigen”. Wauw, detvarmer mitlillehjerte. Tak!
For det andet: Deter en rigtignem måde at delehverdagenshistorier ogbilledermed venner ogfamilie derhjemme. Ogdet kan enddavære interessantfor andre mennesker. Hvem ved? Jeg vilikke se påstatistikkerfor at se,hvor mange derlæser med(Åh well,det ved vi, at jeg gøralligevel)–da formåletmeddenne bloger at delevores dagligeeventyr.
For 3 uger sidenflyttede mine børn ogjegfraKøbenhavn til Tenerife, en spanskvulkanskø iAtlanterhavetomkring 400kilometer udfor Afrikas kyst. Jeghar boether før(flyttedehertil for førstegang i 2002), men dennegang jeg tror at det bliver “for good”.Min kæreste(ogbørnenesfar)erspansk, vi har et dejligthusi en lille bjerglandsby, og jeg har endda kunnebeholdemitgamle job! Heldigemig! Jeg tror, dervil være masser afhistorier at fortælle.
Så there you go. Lad dette værebegyndelsen pået smukt venskab.
Jeg går sjældent i byen. Det kræver planlægning at få passet ungerne (jeg har jo ikke hver-anden weekend børnefri, som de fleste andre forældre, der bor alene med deres børn). Og ærlig talt: jeg hygger mig lige så godt derhjemme med en flaske god vin, en veninde, søster eller film. Men da invitationen til Absolut´s Dark Matters / Gold Lip event dumpede ind, blev jeg alligevel nysgerrig (and we always like some VIP, don´t we?).
Onsdag aften gik turen til Nikolaj Kirke med skønne veninde Marie Louise under armen. Vi trådte ind i en blå verden, blev mødt af munke og guldglimmer og fik yummi drinks i hånden (serveret i de skønneste bøtter med låg, som jeg desværre ikke nåede at snige med hjem i tasken. Perfekte til at dyrke krydderurter i). Som VIP fik man – i bedste Harry Potter-agtige stil – en lille pose med glaskugler stukket i hånden. De kunne senere bruges som betalingsmiddel i baren. Nice!
Lækker music, masser af Ginger Ale og gode drinks, dejligt selskab, cooleste installation “BLACKOUT” (at se med lukkede øjne – totalt syret!), performances og bedste set-up, gjorde aftenen til en succes. Tak!
Psst: det lykkedes mig faktisk IKKE at drikke mig i hegnet. Som i: Var nærmest ædru da jeg kom hjem, og vågnede frisk og helt uden tømmermænd dagen efter (føler mig meget voksen og ansvarlig) – dog med en duft af McDonalds i håret. No words needed.
Long time, no see… Men bloggen skal drives af lyst, og hvis den ikke udstråler naturligt overskud, men påduttede indlæg – ja, så vil jeg hellere lade være. Men de lyse dage, lune temperaturer og en mini-ferie med familien har givet kæmpe overskud, og jeg dratter ikke længere om på sofaen uden energi til så meget som en kop kamille-te når børnene sover (til trods for at de først sover kl 22 – damn you lyse nætter og mørklægningsgardiner, der ikke slutter til!). Så bloggen er back in business!
Måneden bedste:
– Ferie i Berlin (hos min søster, der bor der) med kæreste og børn.
– Sandal-vejr.
– Ungerne styrer totalt på cykel (det var svært at lære, men nu kører det!).
