As we spent Christmas and New Year's in Denmark, we both travelled back to Dublin in January. Esben went back for a long weekend, and I stayed on for a week (well including two weekends). It was great to be back home again, and I got to catch up with nearly everyone (it's just not enough time!!). During the first weekend my parents organised a family Christmas Day - it was fab. My dad had left up all the decorations so that it would feel like a real Christmas Day - thanks dad! My nieces were very excited about opening more presents, and it was lovely to be part of the excitement. The week continued to be full of get-togethers, dinners, drinks and catch-ups, which is what I really like about going home. I also got to relax at my parents' place and watch some Borgen episodes that my mum had recorded. I never got into that series before coming to Denmark, or while being here, but after 7 straight episodes, I was very happy to know that series 3 has started in Denmark already - I was hooked!
Unfortunately between burning the candle at both ends during the week and the flight back to Denmark, I picked up a head cold, which had me sneezing and sniffing for over a week. For once I stayed in bed a whole day, which definitely helped with the recovery process. Which was good, as I had planned ages ago to go to Hamburg with two friends the weekend after I got back.
The trip to Hamburg was a great success - we booked accommodation through Airbnb, and got a lovely 3-room apartment very near the centre. It was definitely a case of home from home. I travelled with Yana and Tuija, two friends I have met through my Danish course so we got to practice speaking Danish together for the entire weekend, do a bit of shopping, check out the local weekend-markets, enjoy lovely food, look around the beautiful city, and generally have a lovely relaxing time. We got the train there and back, which is a very easy 5-hour trip (each way). Before we got the train back, Tuija recommended a crime novel to me in the train station, and the 5-hour return trip went very quickly as I couldn't put the book down (The Nigtmare by Lars Kepler btw).
And we're off to Copenhagen next weekend for Esben's uncle's 70th. Hmmm...I'm thinking of taking a little time out next month - I'll need my energy for the RBS 6 nations rugby which is starting on Saturday. Although as I won't get a chance to watch the opening games, I can save some energy for the match on the 10th :).
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy New Year!
And welcome to 2013! Wow, another year is over. But actually for once, I have to admit that 2012 was packed full of so many good things and fond memories. We got married and had brilliant celebrations in Aarhus, Copenhagen and Dublin (!), travelled to Africa, went to really good music festivals, got to know Aarhus better, made new friends, (I) learned more Danish and Esben's cooking just got better and better. It really was a fun-packed year, and I'm hoping 2013 is the start of many more good years to come!
We had a lovely New Year's Eve in Odense with our lovely friends (and family), Aine, Troels and Alexander. Alexander celebrated his first NYE, and wore a lovely selection of hats before retiring to bed at 8pm. We had a seriously yummy dinner and enjoyed the firework display which was on for about 5 hours in total.
While we were in Copenhagen for the Christmas period, we visited Tivoli - it has kind of become a tradition that if we are in Copenhagen around Christmas time, we have to go there at least once. And so while we were wandering around enjoying mulled wine and eating spanish churros, Esben spotted the shooting range and suggested we have a (friendly) re-match. The previous encounter resulted in Marian 1, Esben 0, so I think he was trying to win back some street cred. And so we played one round. It is the best of 20 shots. On the previous visit I scored 19/20, so that was going to be difficult to match or beat. I ended up with 14/20 this year. I'm clearly a little rusty at shooting targets. Esben finished with 4/20 (and I kind of shot 2 of them, because he thought his rifle was broken). Oh well, so it now stands at Marian 2, Esben 0. That said, Esben did beat me in the horse racing...until next time for our re-match!
Before leaving Tivoli, we enjoyed the fireworks display which is held every year from 26-30 December. It is really impressive, and it looked amazing as the fireworks shot up behind the Russian/Danish themed Tivoli 2012.
We had a lovely New Year's Eve in Odense with our lovely friends (and family), Aine, Troels and Alexander. Alexander celebrated his first NYE, and wore a lovely selection of hats before retiring to bed at 8pm. We had a seriously yummy dinner and enjoyed the firework display which was on for about 5 hours in total.
While we were in Copenhagen for the Christmas period, we visited Tivoli - it has kind of become a tradition that if we are in Copenhagen around Christmas time, we have to go there at least once. And so while we were wandering around enjoying mulled wine and eating spanish churros, Esben spotted the shooting range and suggested we have a (friendly) re-match. The previous encounter resulted in Marian 1, Esben 0, so I think he was trying to win back some street cred. And so we played one round. It is the best of 20 shots. On the previous visit I scored 19/20, so that was going to be difficult to match or beat. I ended up with 14/20 this year. I'm clearly a little rusty at shooting targets. Esben finished with 4/20 (and I kind of shot 2 of them, because he thought his rifle was broken). Oh well, so it now stands at Marian 2, Esben 0. That said, Esben did beat me in the horse racing...until next time for our re-match!
Before leaving Tivoli, we enjoyed the fireworks display which is held every year from 26-30 December. It is really impressive, and it looked amazing as the fireworks shot up behind the Russian/Danish themed Tivoli 2012.
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