Hvordan går det?

As promised ...

I have previously (inaccurately) written a couple of phrases in Danish but have since learned more about this complex language. To my Danish friends who read this, my apologies in advance if you are offended by my tongue-in-cheek look from a sometimes frustrated but curious danske sprog studerende. Here are a few (skewed) basics:

1) There are 29 characters in the Danish alphabet. My new friends are (Æ)æ, (Å)å and (Ø)ø. They look cool and take practice.

2) Danish is not German or Dutch. Don't even try.

3) What is written vs. what is said? Completely different animals. A fine example is the word 'meget' whose closest equivilant I can pronounce is the French word 'mal'. It means 'very' as in "I'm very poor at learning this language."

4) There is no "sh" sound. Lyshåret is 'lus-hoerl' and Bronshøj is not, as I was saying for ages 'Bronsh-oi' but rather 'Brawns-hoy'.

5) The letter 'y' is pronounced like a 'u'. Can't fight it and it creeps into other languages for me.

6) I love the word 'ikke'. Slaps the positive out of any phrase. Er det ikke?

7) Some words make me giggle inside like 10 year old (see above photo).



Very friendly ...

Since my arrival here (almost 6 months!), I have had the good fortune to speak English pretty much everywhere I go. I have also been encouraged by people I meet and people I know to speak Danish where I can. They know when I get stuck and let me off the hook most times but like learning any new language, beer helps. There are some that switch to English almost immediately when hearing my accent. But it's not the accent you might think ...

It would seem, from my Scottish/Canadian background, that  have a slight sing-song way of saying things. When a phrase is uttered in my hauntingly melodic voice, I sound Swedish! I have refrained from saying 'Bork'. I thought I was just being teased until a bartender I'd ordered from a couple of times discovered my origins looked surprised and said "I would have sworn you were Swedish". I don't think we really spoke enough for him to discern my native tongue, but still!

And the rest?`

I can read a Swedish menu alright and I can make out the safety instructions on Norwegian Air but I'm happy at that level for now please. Soumi? Nej tak.

Tak for læsning!

Mig og min cykel ...

Hej min venner!

Let me first apologize for not writing anything in 6 weeks (has it been that long really?)! I will endeavour to be more punctual and try to get these out more often. And now that I've said it, I have to do it. Damn.

Denmark is very pro-bicycle. In fact, cycling is encouraged as an alternate means of transportation. There are bike lanes on pretty much every major route and quite a few minor routes as well. Train stations have air pumps, trains have special cars for bikes, cycle stores are choc-a-block and special parking abounds. I can think of at least one major Canadian city that should look to Denmark as an example of how a non-polluting, healthy mode of transport can be integrated into everyday life.

I purchased 'Baby' at the end of April and in May determined that it was a male and not a female as I had at first assumed. Don't ask me how I arrived at this conclusion; get one and ride it for a month. You'll find out.

Baby cost me just over 3700 DKK which works out to about $700 CAD. Cheaper than a car and uses less gas. I've been told that this is an OK price for a new bike (the cheapskate in me was having palpitations when I bought him) and believe me, I've seen much pricier. Once my expenses for the move her have been caught up (very soon) I will start saving for a racing bike for next year's jaunts.

The places I've been ...

What started as an innocent thought (Gosh, what is Charlottenlund like?) has now turned into a weekly obsession. I'm trying to push myself (weather permitting) further each week. Those who know me in Canada can attest to the fact that I was allergic to any form of exercise; cycling has opened new eyes for me. I do this half for exercise and half for tourism. In the photo above, where you see the word Nærum, is a bike path that basically goes through a forest. That's when the itch struck. I did that circle, and then stopped in Lyngby for a latté.  A tradition started. Charlottenlund was very pretty by the way.

My favorite place so far ...

Dragør (pronounced Draa-oor) is an adorable town to the south with a marina, museum, fort, shops and quaint homes that come with a high price tag. My Scottish friends and family will know what I mean when I liken it to Luss. I wandered for hours and enjoyed a damn good coffee by the marina.

Another fun bit was riding the bike down there by the airport and a 727 took off over my head. Very trippy.

The hardest ride ever.

When I finally got on the correct road to Roskilde, I spent most of the ride heading against the wind. Don't ever do this. It felt like going up-hill for 45 km. I stopped about 5 km outside of the town and my legs wanted to quit me. "I am not a quitter!" so after 5 minutes I was back on my ride.

Roskilde is the home of the Viking Museum (for kids really, I just wandered about the grounds with a big ice-cream cone <-- no, not a kid), the Roskilde Domkirke (I'm not translating everything) and my friend Christine. The church is the final resting place of many of the Kings and Queens of Denmark and is not shy about mixing art styles, old and new. I skipped coffee here; I deserved a beer and a litre of Tuborg is what I inadvertently ordered. Oh well, I was taking the train back anyway ...

The longest ride ...

This was something I had never attempted. Riding my bike wearing shorts. Hands up, those not related to me, that have seen me in shorts. OK, you three can put your hands down again. But seriously, this was the longest trek and in the blazing sun to boot!

Køge (my closest pronunciation for you would be Kuea with the vowels fading away at the end) saw me sun burnt and exhausted. I again had to stop for 5 just outside of town and watched as my calf muscles involuntarily twitching. I finally parked my bike at the train station and wandered about this town (one building I saw was erected in 1619!) and enjoyed my libation in the town square. The museum there was about Art in Public Places and you could try to find all the outdoor pieces. Very nice! Back at the train station, I went to buy a ticket, saw the price and said "nuh-uh". I rode back to Greve and took the train home from there but only because my skin was burned, the temperature was going down and I was freezing with the sunburn.

A goal achieved ...

I have always wanted to see Helsingør (since I arrived here that is ...) but when I ventured out this morning, this was NOT my destination. I sometimes get easily turned around (ya, find me a strait road in Denmark) and suddenly found myself heading towards the coast again. "Meh, why not?" and up I went. My previous trip up the coast kept me on the roads with the traffic but this time I found a route that followed the train tracks. Riding through forests and fields, this seemed all downhill.

The rain started about 20 minutes outside of town and when I got there I was soaked and freezing. Kaffe time! Most of my destinations seem to have a town square, statue and church bells ringing (I generally travel on Sundays). The people there have always been nice to me (I make my feeble attempts at speaking Danish) and they always say the same thing to me: "Enjoy your stay in Denmark" as if I was on vacation ... teehee ...

The only thing that has been a bit worrying is my knees. Old knees creak when they're tired but I'll discuss this with my doctor on Wednesday.

Næste gang, sprog!

It's so lovely to be back again in London ...

Panic on the streets of London ...

Easter Saturday in England and we decided to play tourist. The weather was quite cooperative yet again so we took the bus to Oxford St. The crowds! William and Catherine merchandise a-plenty (no longer allowed to call her Kate) and I thought to myself "Did they really OK their picture at the bottom of an ashtray?"

Oh hi Tonia

We wandered for a bit around the shops of Mayfair, popping in and out of places I couldn't afford to shop in until my record deal comes through and resisted the urge to go to Fortnam and Mason but did run into Vivian Westwood's men's shop. There was actually one shirt I really liked but seeing how there was no price tag and a pair of men's boxer-briefs were £55 I thought it best not to ask too much. I was reeling from the famous shops and streets; time to go back to being a tourist.

Pall Mall the week before "The Wedding"

The early warmth this year had seen all flowers in bloom and leaves on the trees. The wedding was still a week away but the barricades were already up and we followed them to Buckingham. The flag was flying over the Palace indicating the Queen was home but as she was surely busy preparing, we didn't bother to knock. We walked for what seemed hours only to turn around and headed towards The Houses of Parliament.

Entrance to Downing St.

I really had no idea that Downing St. was now (and possibly forever) closed to pedestrian foot traffic. Again, Crowds! Knackered, we decided on a late lunch. I refused to be in England and not have Fish 'n Chips in a pub and we found a place just south of Trafalgar Square.

The Olympic countdown clock

We had no idea that we decided to go into the heart of London on St. George's day and were greeted by even more crowds, this time with extra yobs. The free concert had started (meh) and I realized we were outside the National Gallery! I was thrilled to see paintings that I'd only ever seen in books, especially Bathers at Asnieres (look it up) by George Seurat. I bought a fridge magnet replica of it, exactly as the artist intended.

The sky started looking angry and on the way back to the bus stop it started pouring rain. Nothing like a good English rain to remind you you're in the UK. Now drenched, we couldn't find out way to Marble Arch to get the bus. An hour later and I saw the bus pass us by. Nothing to do but go for a pint, but not after bumping into this lady:

In case you can't read it it very well (Blackberrys have 'ok' cameras) it says "Dear Prince William, Please put a stop to this wedding. The people are demanding a natural blonde princess. Please do not go ahead with it."  We made to the bus stop in time for the last bus back and we all slept like the dead.

It's so lovely to be back again in London
I've a glow inside
I simply can't conceal
If I seem too sentimental
It isn't accidental
It's just that that's exactly how I feel
When the tourists crowd the gates
Outside the palace
You may rest assured that I will lead the pack
And should the queen ride by me
I'd holler 'Och! Cor blimey!'
I'm so glad I'm back
Every day I'll make my way down Piccadilly
And I'll shout 'Hello!' to every Joe and Jack
Just to feel the feel of London
I always come all undone
But so glad
So glad
I'm back
Judy Garland

Oh! England, my Lionheart ...

Regent Street in preparation for the Royal Wedding

Whirlwind tour ...

I am unfamiliar with London and its environs so, in error, I chose to land in Gatwick Airport which was possibly the furthest away from my final destination of Hemel Hempstead. The only form of transport not used that day was a boat. I managed to get the express train from Gatwick to Victoria station, then the Underground (Mind The Gap! I bought myself a shot glass to remind me of this) to Euston station and waited over an hour for the train as British rail was claiming switch problems and all trains were delayed (except Virgin trains - pricey!). Finally on the final train to Hemel, I prayed I was on the correct train as there were no announcements for destinations or stops. Some very nice ladies calmed my nervousness and one of them confirmed by banging on the window from outside the train that indeed I was on the correct route.

Arriving at Hemel, I got in a taxi driven by the talented Mr. Khan. I asked about any discounted fares back to the airport on Monday, very early in the morning and we agreed upon a price I had seen on-line. He gave me his mobile number and dropped me off at my final destination at 1am.

St. Albans

Hemel Hempstead is a perfectly fine suburb of London but for a real Olde Englyshe feel, make sure you take a trip to neighboring St. Albans and St Michael's Village. The location has been settled since before 20 BC and was invaded by Romans around 43 AD and named Verulamium. I know this because I went to the museum there and bought a fridge magnet. There was a Roman wall (in ruins of course), a beautiful park and of course ...

St. Alban's Cathedral from the back

This is a cathedral with a LOT of history. It seemed appropriate that we were there on Good Friday but felt that it was better if the heathens waited until mass was over before entering (besides, it's an Anglican church). Walking around the grounds (even in that photo if you look closely) we see that construction was a process over many centuries with different types of construction materials and architectural styles.

Huge. I'm standing quite a distance away and still couldn't fit it in the frame. Just before I took this shot, the choir hit a particularly haunting note, so I guess it's a "you had to be there" kind of moment. Once mass was finished we went inside to see some of the most intricate woodwork and detail as well as some of the original wall paintings ...

I don't think it was very kosher of me to take a picture inside but c'mon, someone has to preserve this kind of thing right? Back outside, the sun was still beaming and so we went-a-huntin' down the pub.

Didn't stop there but it's purported to be the oldest pub in Britain. The historical plaque told us that Cromwell stabled his horses here and spent the night. See how I say nothing about the name? See how I don't compare this to some sketchier bars in Toronto? Oh, wait ...

Then back to Hemel; my cousin Liz was coming down from the Cotswolds (sounds infectious, but it's a region) to take us out for Greek food (delicious!) and some late night catching up.

I'll stop boring you now ... next stop, London!

Oh! England, my Lionheart,
I'm in your garden, fading fast in your arms.
The soldiers soften, the war is over.
The air raid shelters are blooming clover.
Flapping umbrellas fill the lanes--
My London Bridge in rain again.

Oh! England, my Lionheart!
Peter Pan steals the kids in Kensington Park.
You read me Shakespeare on the rolling Thames--
That old river poet that never, ever ends.
Our thumping hearts hold the ravens in,
And keep the tower from tumbling. 
Kate Bush, from the album 'Lionheart' (1978)

Happy Easter!

Five day weekend!

I've been trying to find out if there are any unusual traditions here for Påske but have found nothing different really. Eggs abound (and nicely decorated porcelain or silver ones are hung in windows), chocolate is the norm and I'm sure someone, somewhere is going to church.

Not me. I fly to England tomorrow to see family that in some cases I've not seen for years! I've always loved being in other countries but travelling to them is quite another story. I don't much care for airports and have never been a fan of buses but sadly my budget does not allow for a Chunnel trip at this juncture. I fly into Gatwick, an airport I've never experienced, and from the train/bus schedule at their side, another 2 hour ride awaits me there.

It will be well worth it though; Friday is a trip to St Albans, Saturday is for London (sounds like the title of a romance novel) and Sunday is up in the air (do NOT insert crucifixtion joke here). The money I've saved on this trip just might be eaten up on Monday when I have to be at the airport between 6:30 and 7 (AM, they do that now) so a taxi (£££!) might be the only way to get there in time.

Oh well.

Tomorrow is bag-packing and flying nerves ...

Jeg vil sende billeder snart.

Politically Incorrect

Thanks to Ron L. for showing me this image.

Don't get me started ...

The Canadian government is based on the British Parliamentary system, but with longer lunches and vacations. Canadians are about to cast their vote (again) for a government that will (again) ignore the wishes of the populace and (again) end up with a minority that barely holds on to power. One of the bigger issues will be (I don't want to say again, again) spending. The Harper Government (as they have chosen to call themselves, ignoring the traditional moniker The Canadian Government) is currently under fire for ridiculous spending on the G8 summit and it's more expensive cousin, the G20. The excuse has been to "make Canada look like a player on the world stage" but sadly to its people it seems more like a crooked producer.

I could go on about every expense laid out for these events (example: The Olympic-size Hockey Arena in Huntsville that was never used for the summit, and never intended to be used but was paid for with summit money) but little seems more incredible than the man-made lake.

At a cost of almost $2 million dollars, this artificial lake was created for the media to showcase Canada's natural beauty while the world leaders were hundreds of miles away, by a lake. Canada has lots and lots of lakes, several of them are even considered Great. After this weekend was over, the plug was pulled and the water, along with Canadian tax money, went right down the drain. Another headline that year? Heathcare, education and public service cuts. We looked quite good, but were seriously ailing inside.

Guess who's NOT coming to dinner ...

Tonight in Canada is a debate amongst some of the party leaders. Not invited to the national debate is the Green Party of Canada. This decision was made by the broadcaster of the debate, the once renowned CBC. Is this because, in our heart of hearts, we know that the Green Party will never be elected to run the country in my lifetime? Then why is Gilles Duceppe invited? The Green Party has far more voters in Alberta than the Bloc Québecois, a party that in principle and practice cannot attain the position of Canadian government. Ontario once learned of the anguish of an NDP government, so they're out but Jack Layton will be there ...

The other two are the Devil you know and the Devil you've seen before. Their principle concern is the attainment and retention of power; little is achieved.

I promise I'll be wittier (read sillier and more irreverent) next time. I had to get it out of my system now.

P.S. My team won the bowling tournament!

Godt lykke Canada!

Fredag!!!

So I did it ...

Easter break here is from the Thursday until Monday - no work until that Tuesday. That gave me 5 days off and I wondered how to make the most of it. I decided that the fanciful idea of jetting of to another European destination sounded pretty enticing and went on-line to see what kind of deals where available. Anywhere on the continent would require a hotel stay and added thousands of Kroner to the idea so my sights turned to the UK. I managed to get a flight to London, return, for €265 all taxes included. Barry says this is about the same as Porter from Toronto to Sudbury and London has a lot more to offer!

The only downside is I'm arriving and leaving at Gatwick airport which is to the south; everyone I know in the UK is north so it may be a case of "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" (John Candy, we miss you). I've contacted my mother's sister and she said she would be happy to put me up but I don't want to trouble her too much so I'm trying to contact cousins in the area as well.

I haven't come across ANY Ben Sherman™ retailers so I'll have to make sure the Visa is at the ready!

Team building!!!

For months now the office has been planning a bowling night. Tonight actually so again this entry will be brief because I am completely interested in having a beer and a laugh with the team. There is an Italian buffet before the event but I think I'll skip that and get right to the cocktails. We've met right?

Ønsker mig held og lykke! 

Oops ...

I can be really thick sometimes ...

Why bother looking at the schedule? I start at nine everyday except later on in the week when I start at ten-thirty. Imagine everyone's surprise when me, a traditional and proud late-bird, showed up at nine to find that I was an hour and a half early. Monday. That's how they getcha. All I could do was take the world's longest coffee break, walking home and back seemed an exercise in futility.

Good news though; Melanie has returned from London so Sarah will be getting a card soon - I owe Melanie 10p. I may babysit her cat ... more on that later (if it pans out).

I can be really thick sometimes (part deux) ...

I bought it. I love it. It is shiny and practical (I will never use it). But this is not where my thickness lies. When I purchased this treat to myself (and note, beer before shopping in the pricey end of town should be avoided) the lovely young lady handed it to me in this tiny chi-chi bag. Walking out the door, I realised I looked rather foolish with this dainty, albeit elegant, shopping bag. No time to waste! I went into Illums Bolighus searching for ... what ... a bowl? Candle sticks? Glasses! The only glasses in the flat are too small; I need manly glasses for my manly Vanilla Vodka and Diet Coke. iittala-kartio seemed the trick (look iittala up, you've seen it before) and the bag they would give me would surely be large enough to carry the weeny baby bag.

The set of 2 glasses only cost just under 160dkk. Thick.

Tyk.

First Month in Denmark!

That was fast ...

March, to borrow an old expression, is going out like a lion. It is a windy, damp, chilly day. Copenhagen is essentially on an island and the wind here never lets you forget this fact. I invested in a new umbrella, only 25dkk and I got what I paid for as it has to be one of the worst umbrellas I've ever owned. The wind collapsed it on my way to work this morning. I shall spend my money far more wisely in the future.

The bird in the image above is a common Magpie; they are everywhere here. People don't really seem to like them but I think they're quite pretty. One animal I have yet to see is a squirrel. In my mind, Magpies, Pigeons and Seagulls have replaced Squirrel as the common city animal. I'm completely ok with that, squirrels are rats with fat tails is all - vermin.

I've been meaning to mention that it really is Spring over here. Early flowers are in bloom and I can see buds on trees. My friend Melanie was in London this week and she says it was truly lovely so my guess is that we will be in full Spring mode by next week. Mind you, the weather here is nothing if not unpredictable.

Two milestones in one day.

Today I can also claim to be completely meat-free for an entire year. I don't miss chicken or beef at all but I do kind of miss pork. Pork is a staple food here as is fish. I've been mulling over becoming pescatarian and the variety of fish available is abundant. I doubt if I could still bring myself to go to a fish market, but I may eat some if served to me. We'll see ...

Vi ses!

The Handyman.

Avert your sensitive eyes!

The plumbing in Denmark is a little different than what I'm used to in Canada. Sometimes the hot/cold taps are reversed (light switches are upside down, flip down to turn on ...) and there is a higher than normal concentration of kalk in the water making it softer but also tends to leave a bit of white residue on taps, showers and dishware. I always hand dry the dishes now.

One thing, also very different, is the drain in the shower. I'm used to a system where the water goes away down that little hole at the end of the tub and every so often I would pull some stray hairs out to be flushed away after the shower. That doesn't happen here. Here, you must unscrew the drain cover and remove the 'filter' to clean and when done regularly, wouldn't be a big deal. I was dreading this when after taking the first shower in my new place, the water didn't go down the drain. "Suck it up and get 'er cleaned" I said to myself. I went out to get a screwdriver (and other things, but this isn't about shopping today), came home, scooped out as much old shower water as I could, undid the screws and spent the better part of ten minutes trying to remove the cover.

Success! Then, retching. It seems that the previous tenants never bothered to do this so good for me, I have a years worth of someone else's showers stuck in the drain. Soap residue and what looked like Phil Spector's best hair day (don't forget the smell!) and who only knows what else was in there.

This was the grossest thing I have ever done and I've poked sticks at dead animals! Not recently, when I was a kid, stop thinking that about me. Once the drain was cleaned, I sprayed the entire shower stall with BANG (another awesome name for something)! Kate, remember when I cleaned your bathroom sink drain? That was a tropical vacation compared to this, complete with rum drinks and a steel band, babe.

Now for something pretty ...

This city to date has never failed to amaze me. The mosaic pictured above was in a driveway alley kind of thing in a rather bland section of town. The piece opposite was of Adam an Eve in the Garden of Eden but of course some idiot tagged it (in yellow! C'mon! Yellow???) and was even larger.

The art and architechture, both old and new, are a feast for the eyes.

Vi vil tale senere!

Slow and steady ...

Movin' on up!

I got the keys to my permanent place on Tuesday morning and of course, being someone who rushes into things, I lugged my 80 kg suitcase to the bus stop. The new place is on a pretty major road in a region known as Brønshøj. I asked the bus driver if she goes as far as Frederikssundsvej and she had no idea where I was talking about. I repeated it. Nope, not a clue. I knew this bus went up the hill and decided to roll the dice. A very nice, extremely tall man asked me what street I was looking for and I told him. He didn't know it either. I explained it was a pretty major street and mentionned some landmarks there. Hand to God "Oh! FrederikSUNDsvej" ... Ya.

As it turns out, the bus I took stopped 3 doors from where I was going (which was obviously Imaginationland for the bus driver).

I re-worked some of the furniture layout and unpacked most of the case. Alain came by and was quite impressed. It's small but very clean, well lit and a great price.

I get more cable channels so sat down to watch and write a list of things I needed to get for the place.

Am I bovvered?

I GET THE BBC COMEDY CHANNEL! Made my night, especially with 2 Catherine Tate episodes on. If you haven't heard of her, go to YouTube and watch anything; "The Translator" is the best way to start.
Go now. I'll write more tomorrow - you deserve a good laugh.

Mere pakning skal gøre!

How to be careless when packing ...

Ooops ...

So my friend Alain came over on Saturday and mentioned that he was going to Blockbuster to see what's out. I offered him a copy of one of the dvds I brought with me. He has a 50' flat-screen hi-def blah-blah-blah. We opened the box and of course, no dvd inside. Francois, I think it's in your dvd player. That or Warkworth along with the key codes to nearly all the computer games I brought ... sigh

Another cookie crumbles. No matter, I can pick everything up in 2012 when I fly home for a visit.

Actually, the only thing that was damaged on the flight over was a Cheers shotglass from Boston. Everything else (that got into the suitcase, save for the dollar store umbrella) arrived unharmed.

Danger! Danger! Red Alert and the like ...

When visiting Copenhagen, I insist you try a shot of Fisk; much like being skreeched in when visiting Newfoundland without kissing a cod or anything. It's vodka 'mellowed' with Fisherman's friend and I have experienced two types: black and brown. Brown tastes like Halls and doesn't seem so bad until you try to walk anywhere. You then discover that your legs have drifted off into the sunset (2 points to whoever gets that reference). The black is the bile of Satan. Cab fare required if having more than one. I'm bringing a bottle back for you all to try because I want to share the pain.

I want to ride my bicycle! I want to ride my bike!

Got to get a Queen reference in once and a while. I went shopping for a used bike today and no luck. I wanted used because new bikes start at about 2000dkk and go up. Way up. Fast math gives us $400 and up. There are a few sales on now so I might just suck it up and get a new one. The used bikes I did see weren't anything special and were mostly 'for girls'.

The day wasn't a complete loss though; I did manage to pick up a present for one adorable little boy who will be celebrating his first birthday this year. No, I did not buy him his first Fisk.

Skål!

Slainte!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The rain has turned to ice pellets so I'm still of two minds about going out for a pint. Canadian brain says "stay in fool!" and Irish brain says "get out there fool!".  Either way I think I'm going to feel foolish.

I tried to Google for events, bars etc. but didn't come to much. I did find a pub called 'The Irish Rover' so if Irish brain wins out, I'll probably head down there.

No one in the office wore green aside from myself and a colleague from Saskatchewan who is of Norwegian descent. Maybe I do deserve a reward/punishment.

Christine, je t'aime.

I'll stop gripeing now. My friend Christine has been reading this blog and has brought me an ashtray. Tusind tak my dear!

Ønsker mig held og lykke!

The day to day stuff

Trains and bicycles and your own damn feet.

"What is 'The best way to get around Copenhagen' Alex?"

Correct! A word about the Metro system. See that picture? Where's the driver? There isn't one as all Metros are electronically controlled and driverless. There is enough room for four people to sit at the front and enjoy the ride, five if someone is standing. From the various ages, genders and religions I've observed (sometimes jealously) in these seats I can conclude that everyone likes to do this.

You can only use the Metro with a pass or a 10-ride ticket (klippekort) and no one sits in a booth collecting any money or selling tokens (are you listening TTC?). The only salaried people working on the trains during operating hours that I have seen are ticket inspectors verifying that your card was punched within the past hour (much like the system on the GO Train).

This is great for short trips because one punch of a card may just get you to where you're going and back again. The city and surrounding areas are divided by Zones but just one klip will get you pretty much anywhere in the city.

When the Metro goes underground (above ground it's like being on a monorail, but with two rails. I think that's just called a train ...) I noticed that the platforms and the tracks are separated by a glass partition with sliding glass doors opening when the Metro stops in the station. Suicide barriers.

These Danes think of everything.

I need to buy a bike.

Soon.

Still can't find an ashtray ...

Indtil næste gang!

And we're off!

Much accomplished today ...

I got up early to go down to get my CPR card - much like a SIN# but is the most essential piece of ID one needs in Denmark. I think I must be getting used to filling out forms and bringing the right papers because this too went off without a hitch. The woman who helped me, Ingrid, was efficient and gave me the number right away. I was then assigned a doctor (directly across the street from the new place) and given a booklet about learning Danish (a hint?).

Off to the bank!

I could now open a bank account but found it odd that they charged me 300DKK for the privilege. Having a bank account means that now I can get paid! Then to Lotte in finance and I'm good to go.

All this before lunch.

Talk to me ...



I finally downloaded Skype on the laptop. I haven't had a live conversation with anyone from home in 2 weeks so this should help keep in touch. Now I only simply have to remember to bring the headset home so that I can use the bloody thing! Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Bought a couple of things from a supermarket called Superbest (another awesome name for a store) and came home to nothing on TV again. Only one week left until the new digs! It'll be nice to settle into a place I can call my own; aside from the house on weekends, I've been living in temporary places and through the kindness of friends since September.

Taler snart!

That was easy.

A smile goes a long way ...

Some of you may know the frustration and tears I went through to get my papers to work in Denmark. Months and money and this morning I was advised that in order to get my CPR card (much like a SIN#) and then open a bank account or get a Blockbuster Video membership or even a library card, I had to register as an EU citizen living and working in Denmark first.

I downloaded the 15 page form and filled it out. Then went to a Foto place to get a passport type picture done (my third in 6 months, I'm getting used to posing in front of a white backdrop) then over to the - pay attention - Statsforvaltningen Hovedstaden.

Say it 3X quickly with me.

I was worried that this would be another log-jam and was thrilled to find there were only 16 people in front of me. As it turned out, I had filled all the papers correctly, the photo I brought was acceptable, I had already made the required photocopies for their records and I had brought all the correct documents.

Say what?

I smiled and joked with the woman behind the counter, wasn't it fortunate that her last client had everything in order? I think she took a shine to me because instead of mailing me the registration papers confirming that I now have a legal right to live and work in Denmark, she whispered "Wait 5 minutes, I'll give you the document now".

I nearly proposed marriage to this bureaucratic angel.

Only 2 more hurdles to go ...

Nothing really to add to this photo except I think it's one of the best names for a store ever. I may just e-mail this to David Thorne of 27bslash6.com.

Look him up, he's completely worth it.

Gå væk indtil i morgen.



Lazy Weekend

Strolling and window shopping ...

In my last post I mentionned that I was going to meet up with some Canadian ex-pats. It was at a bar called Charlie Scott's owned by a man from Edinburgh. They were a nice group of people and before you know it I was on my fifth pint. "Enough!" I said and wandered (read staggered) to the train station.

Woke up with a splitting headache that didn't go away until after dinner.

Determined not to spend another Lørdag lying around, I ventured into Fredericksberg and found I store called Føtex which reminded me a bit of a tight spaced Loblaws Superstore.

They had everything you could need for your home, kitchen and garden. No ashtrays. Some great deals but I was really there to get a better idea of cost of living.

This is a flat toaster. Actually, it's a flat bread carbonizer because I've burnt nearly every piece of bread I've tried to toast. I have never seen one before and I hope to never see one again. I looked at the price of toasters and they're quite reasonable so if there isn't one in the new place, I'm not worried, I can just pop out and get one.

TV

So if you know me well enough, you know that I'm a sucker for the 'Upstairs-Downstairs'-Merchant-Ivory-Brideshead type of thing. Before leaving I had the chance to watch 'Downton Abbey' fulfilling this need of extreme politeness and class war as well as getting some residual Coronation Street fix. At least two of the actors I recognise are from Corrie. Joy! It's just started here so I get to watch the whole thing again!

The odd little purple thing in the picture ... yes. OK well, there's this childrens channel that goes off the air about 8 or 9 and doesn't go to test pattern or anything but shows sleeping people and the countdown to when the next show starts. The people rotate from normal, to clownish make-up then to puppets. If you catch the right cycle, you can hear some of the sleepers farting. Puppets as well.

I think it's brilliant.

There is no real cable in this flat; the man who owns it I don't think goes for watching a lot of TV, he's way more of a music fan. I get maybe 5 channels, 90% of the time it's Danish television shows and the one English-speaking channel I get is Al Jazeera. Ask me anything about Libya. The new place has 40 channels and good because I'm tired of watching TV from YouTube.

One last thing - if you ever hear of a show called 'Miranda' from the BBC, check it out. Such fun.

Nyd din uge!

What does one say?

Very sad.

By now I'm sure you've heard of the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan. Every time news likes this hits us, I am thankful that my friends and family are alive and well and no one I know has to go through such an ordeal. There's nothing I can add or say about this. Keep the people affected in your hearts.

Tonight I'm going to a social gathering for Canadian ex-pats living in Copenhagen. Sounds like a good Friday for a pint and it's in the old city. I never tire of going to the old city. I'm running a little late so that's all for today.

Indtil i morgen ...