A day of celebration

I'm taking a few holidays this week, and the weather has been wonderful. So I had the morning of, which was perfect - I could celebrate the birthdaychild Nina. We had breakfast at our favourite coffeedealer 'Kaffebar'. 

The main reason why I've taken some days off, is that tonight is a big night - the night where my operasinging friend Denise debuts from soloist class at The Royal Danish Academy of Music. As you might know, I've made a lot of moviesnippets for tonights show, so I debut as a 'moviedesigner', as Denise insists I'm credited in tonights programme. Interesting. Last night we had general rehearsel, and she looked and sounded sooo amazing. 

If you're interested in more about Denise, check out our vlog (in danish, sorry): 

Gentlemen Prefer Operasingers

Love,

Ida

Street Spirit

I had a beer last night at Dronning Louises Bro before the day completely faded away, and it was to cold to sit outside. But it was so lovely. Soon we'll be able to sit out all night!

Love,
Ida

P.s. Radiohead...

They're heeere.

This looks like a spaceship. I don't think that it really is...
It's right next Danish National Radio, and I have a hunch that it's featured in a kids show.
Well, what do I know, I don't have a television.

Yesterday I took a day of from work, because I needed some r'n'r'. But then I had a deadline that bothered me, so my alarm went off at 3.30 am, so I could make my deadline at 10 am. Made it!

I was a bit tired, but still managed a lot during the day. Fun stuff as well. Amongst other things, I picked up my friend at above mentioned network, and we took a long walk. First to Islands Brygge, where we bought icecream and sat at the dockside. Then we walked into the city and did some shopping.
Later this week I'll show you my lovely purchases.

I saw a Hans Christian Andersen-manhole cover. Who'd wanna end up on one of those?

My friend Louise sniffing cherry blossoms at Islands Brygge and getting itchy pollen all over her face.

It was nice to have a long day in the sunshine, all to myself. 

Love,

Ida

Dutch weirdness

This friday I tended to my aunt-duties - they were overdue.
Elin is so sweet, even when she's really upset. (It's my fault, I couldn't stop teasing her.) But mostly, she just slept.

Her father is from the Netherlands, so I was treated to something quite odd. I knew the dry, dutch buns - bolletje, they're called - and they taste fine, if you're in the mood for them. But they were topped with butter and sugarcoated anise-seeds. So strange!?! It's apparently a tradition - whenever a couple has a child in the Netherlands, they serve this to their guests.
It didn't taste awful, just weird - but that's dutch cuisine for you, in my experience. (Hope I'm not insulting anyone. I just recall the deepfried spaghetti I got, when I was touring in the Netherlands with the band...eeeeew.)
At least they were girly-coloured = pink!

Love,
Ida

Leaving the city

This is Joakim. He is my best friend, and on sunday, he's leaving and going to live in the states for six months.

I'm gonna miss him terrribly, but I hope to save up some money so I can visit him.

This is "our" band: I am Bones

Love,
Ida

Elin

Today I saw my "niece" for the second time. She is so sweet. This picture of us is from last wednesday, 12 hours after she was born. She's less wrinkled and more soft now, but still sleeps a lot. She farts, and have hiccups, and sticks her tongue out - and I'm very proud of it all.
I love her so much.
And I'm so in awe of her parents. They are really cool, and actually, everything seems quite... normal.

Love,
Ida

More treats!

Hmm, I may be going a bit overboard with treating myself to something good everyday these days. Cupcake yet again, this one a red velvet with tuttifrutti springles! Yum yum. 

I spend some of the day at a conference, but my colleague and I decided pretty early that it didn't have any relevance for us (and no, we were not 'cutting class'!), so at 2.30 pm, I had the day off! Yay.

I had some time to go shopping (I'll show you my new dress and new cup soon), and to top it off, I got a phonecall from coffeethirsting friendneeding friend - hence the coffee and cupcake picture. It was good.

After that, I had a concert at Koncerthuset, and I've been looking forward for weeks now to hear Beethovens famous 5th symphony. It was really good. But honestly? It kinda faded in comparison with what came before it... a piece by Osvaldo Golijov, a temporary composer, whose piece 'Azul' was played. Amazing! Beautiful, delicate melodies for solo-cello - nightmurmurs and heartbeats, and then - percussion! Exotic, wild birds and addictive flavours. It was so thrilling! I actually cried out in joy and amazement at a time - which you're "not allowed to" in a classic musichall. 

I had the coolest seat at this concert - right behind the conductor. And I didn't even plan it that way.

Some more pictures from the beautiful house. 

Love,

Ida

Harbinger of Spring

My friend gave birth to a beautiful little babygirl 20 hours ago.
I took of work early and spent nearly three hours with them, craddling and cooing at the little life.

The mother was so calm and radiating with happiness and love; the daddy was proud and witty and caring - and little Elin was a sweet, cute and decisive little lady. I love her so much allready.

So even if it's technically still winter, and Denmark has been covered with snow today, I call her a little harbinger of spring.

Love,
Ida

Plumwine

My dear friend Lene has just returned from a trip to Japan. She had an amazing trip, and I'm very jealous - Japan is my no. 1 dreamdestination.
Lucky me, she brought back pressies!
A darling teacup in faint spring yellow, with delicate blue flowers. And then plumwine... in a tiny testtube-thingy - with what we agreed looked like a mousebrain. Yum.
We decided on a plan:  I'll make homemade sushi soon, and then we'll crack open the braincontained wine. Yay!

Love,
Ida

Birthdaycards

More mail today - but not as surprising, seeing it being my b-day and all. But still amazing and wonderful!
I got cards from my mom and my grandmom.

My mormor wrote this:

A rosebud to a beloved and lovely birthdaychild

From a withered old dandelion. 

It's so sweet. I'm blessed to have a mormor like her.

It's been a long day, but in a minute, I'll put on a fresh dress, new makeup, go have dinner with 8 fun friends and later drink with even more friends and be silly, loud and merry all night! The perfect way to celebrate a birthday. I'm so lucky!

Love,
Ida

I've got mail!

And not just any ol' boring email, but real, authentic mail with poststamps. And a pretty one at that, too!
Inside it a thrilling invitation to celebrate a good friends 30th birthday and forthcoming graduation as flutist from the Music Conservatory.
Mmmmm...mail.

Love,
Ida

Work

Besides learning the trade of journalism, they have an amazing coffeemaker at my new workplace, so on top of everything I'm slowly becoming an amateur barista.
This latte isn't perfect, but give me a few days or weeks and I'll produce some flowers, hearts and whatnot in the milkfoam.

My workcomputer. Stationary. PC. But it feels grownup...

After work I went to a friends house. She made hot cocoa with chili and cinnamon, and topped it off with whipped cream and marshmellows imported home from the states. Decadent and delicious. We had dinner and a mutual friend came over for coffee.
Don't know why I have all this energy. I'm sooooo tired now that I'm home - but probably won't be ably to sleep anyways.

I feel bad about neglectings things - like this blog. And facebook. Silly me.

Love,
Ida

Boy A

I spent the evening with my friend. She made amazing mousaka, and then we wanted to see a movie.
I'd given her 'Boy A' a long time ago, and it was still unwrapped, so I suggested to her that we watch it - me for the second time.

Everyone in the world should be forced to watch this movie - then we can talk about 'evil'!
Social heritage is such a huge factor that - in my opinion - is constantly underestimated.

It is possibly the most heartwrenching movie I've ever seen. We both sobbed helplessly. 

Love,

Ida

The day after

Last night after I said farewell to sweet Linda, I started thinking that we'd sort of had a 'blind date' in a friend-sort-of-way.
We had such a fun evening. First soup and lots of talking at Soupanatural (mine was spicy blackbean soup, YUM!, and Linda had tomatosoup - btw, how was it?), then hurry-hurry-hurry to the cinema were we saw 'Biutiful'. An intense movie with many poor excistenses and sad faiths centered around Javier Bardems character. Without no climax or epiphanies, it just sort of faded out in the end. Tough, tough movie, but fascinating and good!

After the movie Linda and I talked some more, about blogging and journalism and life and all in between. And then we bid adieu on Nørrebrogade. Perfect. Oh, and she'd bought candy for both of us - how sweet is that?!

Love,
Ida

Back on track

Sleeping in, taking time to read the news and blogs over a luxury breakfast... I like sundays.
Today is gonna be special, because after bandpractise I'm meeting with sweet Linda from Simpel Dagbog. That's a first for me, to meet with someone I've befriended in Blogland. I'm looking so much forward to it.

Love,
Ida

P.s. If any of you in Copenhagen wants to see my band live in concert on thursday, just send me an email or leave your name in the commentsection, and I'll put you on the doorlist. We're playing at Rust.

In the nick of time

Just as I was about to click on the orange 'post'-button, a friend called me, upset and frustrated about her assignment. And I aired frustation as well, having been bedridden for 2 days which meant too much time to think about... certain things.
I told her about the post I had just written, and she was like: 'No. Don't do it, you'll regret it later. Come here and have coffee and talk instead.'
And I knew she was right; the post was too private to be shared on this blog.
So even if I am sick, I jumped in the shower and hailed a cab, and we talked for 4 hours. She made sure I had something to eat, and we both made each other feel better. Friends. The most important thing in life.

I felt so good that I decided some fresh air would do me more good, and I walked home.

The neonsigns will be a reoccuring image on this blog, I can tell you now. I love them - and the lakes.
The two latter are of the National Gallery of Denmark that I happen to live very, VERY close by. It's situated right by the park Østre Anlæg, and I like to walk by the museum... It's a beautiful building.
But wanna know the ugly truth? I.haven't.been.in.there.in.more.than.15.years! Not once in the 7 years that it's practically been my neighbour. I'm so ashamed - because I actually want to. Don't know why I don't just...do it?

Love,
Ida

P.s. The post that was never posted? I'll keep it as a draft - just as a reminder.

A little miracle

One of my oldest and dearest friend is expecting in the end of February. Look at her gorgeous belly - I can't wait till I'm an aunt! This dear little soul is going to be showered with love and affection. Such a miracle - I screamed and cried with joy when she told me this summer.

We went to the danish pre-premiere of 'Black Swan' - what an intense and ice-thrilling movie. It really deserves the mediahype. Natalie Portman is astounding! I had chills so many times because of her acting, the scenografy and the music - but I know and love the music, of course. What a brilliant idea to take the ballet Swan Lake and use as the dropback for a twisted thriller.

The music. By Tchaikovsky.
Funny how some of my favorite classical music is made for the ballet.
Ravels 'Daphnis et Chloé' and Prokovievs 'Romeo and Juliet' to name a few.

Love,
Ida

Final Vienna - until next time

 We were caught in the most amazing snow. As you can see, Denise was excited, and so was I - but the glittering streets of Vienna was soon vacated - everyone else took shelter in cafees and restaurants. So we had the streets to ourselves for half an hour. Magic.

Final picture from Vienna:

This moose I saw my first time in Vienna - on a different building. I like this street artist. Anyone know, who he/she is?
I also like the way my shadow is cast.

Love,
Ida

Sunday, oh sunday

I've had an emotional weekend. I really wish I could control them, those damn selfsufficiant emotions, and not be such a slave to them... will I ever learn?
If it wasn't for amazing friends...

Yesterday I had beers and played Scrabble at Din Nye Ven, a great coffeeplace/bar - the name means 'Your New Friend'. Best name!

There was bandpractice - it should have been on thursday, but was cancelled; and then it was cancelled again today. You can't blame someone with a bruised foot, but I really need to play the best music in the world with the best band soon!
So instead I managed an impromptu coffeedate with my friend, before she leaves for Japan - and after that I headed for the movietheater to meet another friend and watch 'Io sono l'Amore' - 'I am love'. Best title?

It stars a frightningly spectacular Tilda Swinton - she's very versatile and breathtaking in this film.
A very sensuel movie - toying with vision and sound. Really interesting and picturesque. But one that needs to float in my head for a few days, before I can come with a verdict. But I know I like it. That's something.

I didn't take any pictures at all this weekend. Typical. But I've had this song in my head most of today...

Love,
Ida