2010

So it is the last day of the year 2010.

It's been a really tough year, but I'll list all the positive things that have happened - and there have been many - in a totally random order:

I started this blog. I have met so many wonderful people - both in real life and online. I have had some of the best concert-experiences of my life (Pavement (in Berlin) & Sacre du Printemps). I started working freelance for Soundvenue. I started and launched vlog-project with my friend Denise - Gentlemen Prefer Operasingers. I moved back to Copenhagen! I got a cool internship. I laughed a lot. I was kissed a few times. I had a major realisation about myself and acted upon it. I was happy-drunk many good times. My bands record was completed (will be released May next year!). I travelled more than I ever have: 2 times Berlin, 3 times Vienne+Austria. I got better at accepting and being grateful for compliments instead of just dismissing them. I saw my friends more than when I lived in Aarhus - and oh, did I miss them! And I felt like they missed me - and that is such an honor and blessing.

I hope 2011 will be good to all of us!
Have a great new year.

Lots of love,
Ida

The good traditions

The best christmas-tradition is the tree. It's smells so great indoors and looks so lovely with all the tiny lights. Ours this year had an actual little birdsnest on it's branches, and my mom put a bird in it.
But we don't have room to dance around it inside, so we always put our coats and mittens and boots on and dance around the one standing outside. It's our very own special tradition, and a great one - getting some fresh air after stuffing oneself with yummy, but heavy, christmas-food.

But if I could choose, I would have a christmas tree like this:

I would love just going into the forest at night and dance around this one with all the elves and other magical creatures of the Scandinavian forests. Maybe I would find a gateway to Narnia under the branches.
(I think I'll do it next time I'm in the forest.)

But the very best tradition of all is on the 27th, a.k.a. yesterday. My friend Joakim and I always meet to eat asian food and have beers - preferably one to many, and we are silly and loud and laughing. I'm slightly tired today. But happy. 4 years of best-friendship going strong.

Love,
Ida

Great gifts

What I most wanted this christmas isn't something that you can wrap and give as a present.
It didn't come to me, but it may still fall into my arms at any time to come, so I'm still dreaming.

But I did get some wonderful presents. My mormor gave me a Bjørn Wiinblad jar that I'm gonna store tea in. My godmother gave me some mooomin-porcelain to my ever-expanding collection, and my parents gave me Murakamis 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle', Miyazakes 'Ponyo', a howling wolf (love it!) and a beautiful deer-couple as earrings. Way too much. But I love it all.

Love,
Ida

P.s. I need a haircut!

Knitting beats crocheting

The crocheting project is slow and tiresome, and me being quite impatient, I started to knit some wristwarmers instead.
I just finished them - they're not flawless, (I haven't knitted in 5 years), but the yarn is mohair and crazy soft and warm.
Perfect for cold piano practices, more crocheting and working on the computer.

Love,
Ida

Oh baby, it's cold outside - and inside too!

When I woke up today in my teen bedroom, there was ice on the inside of the window. But what a view.
Good thing I got a new pair of homeknit socks for christmas - they keep my feet warm! (And in style, I might add.)

Love,
Ida

Gentlemen Prefer Operasingers

I've been working on a videoproject with and about my friend who is an operasinger.
And I finally launched the blog yesterday! Yaaaay.

Warning: It's in danish, and there's only one video on there - but hopefully I'll get a lot of videos on it during January... I have A LOT of footage.

It's something we do out of love for our field of work - we're our own employers. And even though I'm not that fond of opera, I'm passionate about all most music, and so far I've learned a lot and am moving towards liking opera more and more.

But check it out: Gentlemen Prefer Operasingers

And yeah, I find it a bit ironic that my personal blog (this), that I write in english, has a danish title, and that my vlog-project, that I write in danish, has an english title... it's all just to confuse you, hihi.

Merry X-mas and love,
Ida

Snowstorm in Copenhagen

I love snow!
I'm not a big fan of winter, not because of the cold, but because it's dark so many hours... yesterday was the day of the year with the least daylight hours = 7! (Compared to 17 in the summer...!)
So snow, which is not as common in Denmark as foreigners tend to believe, is embraced by me, because it lights up the city. Even in the middle of a snowstorm (with very delicate snowflakes - that's why you can't tell it's a snowstorm) in the late afternoon, there's a special light. I loved it walking home from coffee with a friend on Nørrebro. I walked on the Peblinge Lake, photographing my favorite neon-signs in the city with freezing fingers - that's why it's so shaky. And I walked through Kings Garden, and Rosenborg Castle looked mysterious and fairy tale-ish in that special light. I walked for an hour and a half at least, bursting with happiness.
Never have tea tasted sweeter and felt more warming than when I came home today with blushing red cheeks and bright eyes. I'm in love with Copenhagen covered in snow.

Love,
Ida

Great Spirit

One of my friends have just returned home from India.
He gave me 50 Rupees. He had different rupee bills, and I've been told that you can't take them out of India - but they're not upholding that rule thoroughly, it would seem. All of them have Mahatma (=great spirit) Gandhi on them. I can't imagine a greater person.
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it - always."
- Gandhi. 

Puts ones own, silly life in perspective... but most importantly a man like him gives you strength.

One of my favorite movies is Richard Attenboroughs 'Gandhi'. Ben Kingsley as Gandhi is one of the greatest portrayals in movie history.

If you haven't seen it, I recommend that you do. Now! Go go! 

Love,
Ida

Westend Walls pt. 2

The fierce looking lost boys with wolfhats at Westend are gone - now there's a fox and bunny and a sweet reflection:
'I wish yours was mine, and mine was yours'


Love,
Ida

Westend Story

So, this is the street Westend, that I've posted about before.
I think the buildings are lovely, and I'm a fan of all the french balconys.
And I just found out some really interesting about this street. I have a friend who lives there, and she told me that it originally was build as brothels! So the reason why there's so many french balconies is that the girls would stand there and display their... merchandise. Then men could go and "windowshop" women...
It must have been a good industry, if they were able to build an entire street just for *beep*.

Love,
Ida

T-Robot

So, this is what I bought in Helsingborg.
Such a cute squirrel-plate that looks right at home with my other assorted plates, a tea-robot and some yarn and a crocheting-needle. I've never crocheted before... I'm hoping to make wristwarmers. There's a long way to go. Hmmm.

Doesn't the little, shiny robot in the teacup remind you of C-3PO getting an oil bath?

I want the lego!

Love,
Ida

To be or not to be - in Helsingborg

Saturday my friend and I went to Helsingborg.
We went outside on the ferry-deck, and it was soooo cold - and very, very slippery! That's why she's laughing, because it was crazy and a bit dangerous. But we wanted to see Kronborg covered in snow.

Helsingborg was really nice and cosy. We had fika (swedish for coffee and something sweet... right? Well actually only had coffe and sandwich) at Koppi - amazing coffee! Really. They roasted it themselves in the backroom. Yum. Next time I'll buy coffee to bring home.
Afterwards we went to our favorite swedish stores: Lagerhaus, Åhlens, Lindex, Coop.
Later I'll show you the things I bought.

Love,
Ida

Austria again!

You probably can't tell, but my finger is pointing at Austria.
To make a long story short, my friend has an extra plainticket to Austria, so I'm going there to celebrate New Years Eve! From the 29th until the 3rd. Hotel and everything included - yay!
This will be my 3rd time to Vienna this year - geesh. And I'm not even that fond of the place. But I loooove traveling, and they have great coffee, and I get to waltz on New Years Eve and have some quality time with one of my best and dearest friends. How amazing is that?! I'm so spoiled to have friends like that. What have I done to deserve it?

I've been sick the last couple of days, but I've been out of bed today, alltough I stayed indoors. Tomorrow I'm taking a daytrip to Sweden, with the ferry from Helsingør to Helsingborg.
Ship ohoy and adventures abroad!

Love,
Ida

Quiet day

From one extreme to another.
Yesterday was fantastic. Today I've been sick.

Everything's a bit blurry - like a Gerhard Richter painting.

That's how it goes. 

Love,
Ida

I Am/You Are Allright

As if this day hadn't been great enough, I used my winning (2 free tickets) from yesterday and caught the last showing of 'The Kids Are Allright'.
Wow, what a fantastic movie! So funny, thoughtful and genuine - and great acting. Me and my friend thouroughly enjoyed ourselves.
She just left, after dinner and tea and guytalk and laughing and more laughing.

Today = 12 hours of quality friend-time. Wow. Bonus bonus bonus!

Love,
Ida

Coffeebreak

What a luxury to have a four hour coffeebreak!
My friend is working on her bachelor-project, so she and I have unintentionally started a weekly tradition (a great one!) - early coffeebreaks.
I love her home - she has so many wonderful, sweet and stylish items. I'm particularly fond of her tiny fridge. And the 'Din' + 'Min' kop, which means yours & mine.
She treated me to great coffee and delicious homemade gingerbiscuits. Pure addiction.

Love,
Ida