New York State of Mind

With only twenty-four hours a day, I find myself wanting and needing more time. This week is the first of term two, so in addition to all that is spinning in my head in my spare time, I have to fit everything I learn as well. O.V.E.R.L.O.A.D. With a statistical test to revise for and a website to create, I'll be a bit too busy for the next week! During my revising tonight, I decided to do a little DIY of a tee. As always, I find the weirdest things to distract myself from what I'm supposed to do. Tonight it was actually for something 'useful'. Have a good week, sweeties. Tonight I'm going to dream of New York. xx

RED LIGHTS, PRETENDING, WISHING, ONE DAY, TO BE A STAR

00:24. I’m sitting in my bed. In the middle of our small living room. Half naked. Covered by a blanket. Almost ready to put another day behind me. My eyes are staring outside at the blue dark. The light from our apartment is reflecting it naked self in the window. The five skyscrapers that is our view is blinking me goodnight. The lights are blurry as my contacts lenses are removed for the night. Eminem is singing ”Never mistreated you once” before he is being replaced by Melissa Horn singing ”Jag är vaken hela natten”. Our two chairs are overloaded with clothes. I’m sitting on the mattress that’s supposed to be in the empty bed upstairs. For the last three days its been in front our closet, causing the messy chairs. My back is leaning against the closet door. My legs are crossed. The make-up is removed and my hair is tied away. The slightly open terrace door is letting in the sound of the passing sirens, making the four candle lights dance slowly with the breath from the wind.

My mind is overloaded with the temporal lobe, the hippocampus, amnesic patients, declarative and non-declarative memory, remembering, forgetting, our senses, and it’s not nearly enough. Maybe I’m not nearly enough. Not for this course at least. But I will do my very best. I will smile, think positive thoughts and believe it in my heart. Then it will all be allright. My mom said so.

As it says on the wall in our study hub.

”Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Is that really inspiring? I can’t decide.

I look to the other side on the wall where it says: ”Keep calm and carry on.”

I’ll do my best.

Promise xx

I AM BACK - NOW PANIC

As I’m spending my days back in London with my nose buried in a orange book called Cognitive Psychology, I though I’d spare a few minutes to keep this blog alive. I wouldn’t want it to have the same outcome as my poor orchid who died during my Christmas break. Speaking of which, you might be wondering how it was? Well, I can tell you. It was that great that it might not be fair to tell you. Like when my mother is telling me she is taking a hot bath, or eating brown cheese on her freshly baked bread. It’s that great, that it’s just cruel to tell people, because all they will experience is pure jealousy.

But you asked (no you didn’t). The holiday was desperately needed and at a perfect time. I’ve spent the days with my best friends and my sweetest family, drinking mulled wine and playing board games. Wearing pretty dresses and drinking red wine. Playing drinking games and having a laugh. I must admit. It was that great that I didn’t want to leave. But here I am. Trapped in reality. Trying to get back to the usual routines. Doing as my mother taught me and drinking heaps of tea. With a hint of honey I’m getting through the huge craving after sweets that I have developed during the holidays.

But bear with me sweeties. The next week is fully booked with extensive revising, but afterwards I’ll do my best to make time for some fun stuff – and hopefully let you guys in on it. In the meantime I'll leave you with a few photos. Definitely from my three favorite days at home. 

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Christmas Day // Happy Hour

New Years 

MAKING HISTORY

IT WAS LOCATED IN SHOREDITCH - BEFORE SHOREDITCH BECAME SHOREDITCH

With my second beer rush I am preparing for tonight’s adventure. And by preparing I’m sitting with a huge towel surrounding my hair in my robe whilst reading blogs. The last couple of days have been busy - for fun reasons, that is. The sad thing for this blog is that the days I actually have time to blog, are the sad times. At least that’s been the situation for the last week. When I’m having a good time I don’t usually have the time to blog. So I’m making time - in between the Fashion Festival that I’ve been to, before going to a pre-party at a friend’s flat later on.

But first, let’s back up a few days and catch up. On Thursday I had plans with an old friend of mine. We’ve been friends since we were what – ten perhaps? Since we lived in different parts of Norway we kept contact by sending each other post cards. How adorable isn’t that! So now when she is living in Kingston and I’m in London, this is the closest we’ve ever lived to each other, which is super fun. We went to see the Christmas lights being lid outside one of my favourite places in London – National Portrait Gallery. When we got there I was so amazed to find out that the tree was NORWEGIAN. Even a Norwegian ambassador was there and we sang the Norwegian national anthem. Apparently, that was the reason why we went. Of course, I had no idea! Never the less, it ended up being a very fun night with some rosé and cocktails.

Also, I would advise anyone around Shoreditch to go to the East London Design Show. I’ll write more about that tomorrow, and the Fashion Festival I’ve been to today. But now – hair and makeup needs to be done. xx

Picture from today. Tune in for more tomorrow!

CUP'A'TEA

As the ultimate season for hot drinks are upon us, you can’t do anything but enjoy it. I’ve just figured out that Starbucks actually makes great Chai Latte’s. I would probably be better off not knowing – but well, to late now! These days I am a bit sick and tired of no contacts and fun events to attend, so instead of staying in bed and feeling sorry for myself I took action. I pulled my ass out of bed and went to the open day at College of Fashion and Design. Was it worth it? Ha-ha, no! Not even a little bit. We were placed in a small and rather ugly room in something that didn’t even look like a school. It was really not for us, but we tried at least. And gonna keep on trying. Cheers with a cup’a’tea to that.

And with a cup of tea in bed, my Wednesday morning starts. After rushing down the stairs to the window after a text from S saying it was snowing. I couldn’t see any white and went disappointed back to bed. Apparently the snow didn’t really get to the ground. Booh. Not my lucky days just now. Yesterday evening I was bored and seeking attention. I figured I would run upstairs and literally jump in bed. I didn’t get very far, as the first thing I stepped on, was a scarf I had mislaid. I slipped and fell with a big boom. It resulted with burned knees and a broken iPhone. Just my luck! Fortunately it went all right with some chocolate.
It always does...

THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE

     F*ck, I’ve moved to the wrong city. No, who am I kidding. It’s almost illegal to say London is the wrong place to live, but when the calendar has just turned over to the most amazing month of the year at the same time as it’s snowing back home, I can’t help but to miss it. I shouldn’t really complain about the weather though. Today the sky was perfectly blue with just a few clouds decorating it. Even so, I’ve spent the day inside the stone walled building that is City University. I have a psychology test tomorrow and it will be so much fun.  Sad face. I just have to get myself a calculator first. Before leaving home, I sold my old one – just out of principle: I am never doing math again. Look where it got me. Who knew psychology was all about statistics? Not me, that’s for sure.
But over to something more positive: Yesterday! Best day in a long, long time. It was unexplainably (catchy word, huh) amazing. We went to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. It almost made up for the lack of snow. It was so much fun. It included heaps of candy, carousels, 1 litre beer, muddled wine, Jägerbombs and Santa. What more is there? For the occasion I had put on my finest ice-princess dress and frosted it with a beautiful cotton-candy-ish skirt.

The best thing about December is that it brings everyone out of their autumn depression. Every morning I have the best reason to wake up! This morning (on a Sunday, I might add!) I woke up at 8am, just to open the presents before falling back asleep. The last part was unintentionally, I might add. A double pleasure on a lazy Sunday. Tomorrow I have to wake up way to early if I want to open the present with S, which I do. We’ll see if I think it is just as worth it at 6:30. Sleep tight, cupcakes xx 

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So as the last autumn leaves are falling, or actually being crushed to the ground by the heavily overwhelming Tuesday morning rain, winter is getting closer. A factor my non-functioning-brain-before-10am didn’t realize as I walked the 30 minutes to get to uni* in Levi shorts and a leatherjacket with some sort of cottons arms. When I arrived at uni the road workers actually stopped their work to laugh at me. I didn’t take it as a good sign, as I arrived in class with glasses, foggy as hell and drenched from top to toe. Stupid Norwegian girl thinking (hoping) this country didn’t know what proper rain and cold was. According to the weather forecast the next couple of days will actually be cold, and by cold I'm talking about 3°C. On the other hand, when I’m looking at the temperature across Old Street Square is actually shows 8°C, which isn't bad at all. 

On my way home I realized that I wouldn't make it all the way in one run, so I am currently camping out at Shoreditch Grind, where I’m trying to get back the colour in my skin with a large cup of Cappuccino. If that doesn't work, I have a pain au raisin, just in case. Even though the windows are so foggy it's almost impossible to see through, I couldn't help but notice the man who just drove past me on his bicycle. Male, approx. 50, bright blue jeans and --- wait for it --- yellow hair. On days like this, London steals my heart.

I would much rather prefer the weather to stay like this when I'm walking to class. 

*University. I know uni sounds completely and utterly lame, but that’s what everyone calls it. You’ll get your head chopped off, if you say school. 

WE ARE TWELVE BILLION LIGHT YEARS FROM THE EDGE

So as the days pass, we all get older. (Speaking of which I just turned 20. Happy b-day to me!) We get new experiences and a few new wrinkles. Since we last spoke, I’ve learned something new, so I thought I might share the wisdom. Note to self: Never ever leave your boyfriend alone with a bottle of fake blood while you’re out celebrating Halloween. I learned it the hard way. I still find “blood” around in the apartment. In addition he posted a photo on Instagram of the toilet after “I had my period”. He thought it was hilarious… Guys!
Last week I got to experience the more luxurious way of living in London. As my parents were vising, we finally ate out. Yes, it’s cheap to eat out in London compared to Norway. But still - for a student budget, it’s much cheaper to eat in.

Ever since I moved here, I wanted to visit Vertigo 42, which is a champagne bar at floor 42 known for its incredible view. Needless to say why I wanted to go. When we got there we realized this was the enormous building with commercial that we could spot from out apartment. We also went to the building next door. Sushi Samba. Approximately same floor and view. Just as amazing. I would recommend both places. With relaxing music, delicious drinks or bubbles served with some cheese and crackers. For my future awesome life, this will definitely be the perfect Friday afternoon.

As I’ve already given a few recommendations, I’ll just as well give you the full brief. We went to a restaurant called Hakkasan. It’s known for their long waiting list and amazing food. Despite the fact that I woke up with a rash, I would still recommend it. Another night with delicious food, great wine and comfortable atmosphere. I wouldn’t mind getting used to this, but just as well. Now we are back to chicken, pesto and pasta. If I have to – I’ll live of a box of noodles and Vogue. (No I wouldn’t!) 

 

LOVE ON A STICK

Written 16 November

Okey I know! What is the purpose of creating a blog if your not actually going to blog? Yes, but life happens, and I’ve decided not to apologize or making excuses for my absence. I just looked back on my previous blogs and one of them was overloaded with apologies for not blogging. Not interesting, what so ever! So I’m starting fresh. Learning from my mistakes. And trying to sit still on the chair and controlling my excitement. Silly me is just as excited for Christmas as I am for tonight when my parents landing in London. But I can assure you, if you had my parents, you would be just as excited. My mom and I are really a dream team when it comes to conquering the streets of London, so it will be interesting to see how it goes when the guys tag along.

The weather is really foggy and scary, which leaves only one thing to do. Lid all the candles you can find and pour yourself a glass of red wine. I’m trying to plan the weekend. I’ve been in London for two months now, and I really have not used the opportunity as I should. When I look back at the six weeks we had in Australia we experiences an enormous part of the country in a shorter period of time. But I’ve gotten settled though. I just have to do more. Explore more. And still keep up the schoolwork, which has a lot of potential for improvement. I keep blaming the gap year, but I should really get back in the routines by now.

So in my most desperate hour, I just caught myself typing “what to do this weekend London” on Google.