A busy month

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 :).