Summing up 2009 and looking forward to 2010!

Traditionally this is a day to think about the year that has passed, what one has achieved successfully and what one might have failed with.

This year has been filled with love, happiness, disapointments, tears, drugs, pain, joy, doctors, eyes, fun, sad times, friends, accidents, crashes, departures, new flat, old friends, new babies, new friends, both good and bad experiences... to sum it up it has been another year and I am looking forward to 2010 with lots of hope and anticipation for a great year :)

Blessings

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Of course I am talking about Christmas! Gingerbread houses (or huts in my case), candy, oranges, chocolate, songs, spirit and loads of love.

It's the time of year when it's ok to go a little crazy about the people you care about. So take some time this week to give a few extra hugs (or kisses) because... "It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

Plumbing...

is sooo important. But I feel slightly put off when I find my self in the position of not having access to my bathroom for 2 whole days since they are sorting out the plumbing where my flat is!

I called a friend and have crashed her place keeping the cat company during the day today. Turns out its a good thing to be able to go to the bathroom... since there are no bushes in the city :)

Haha... wonder how to turn these two days into the best they can be?

A wet dream for a theology student

My day has been spent inside a big pile of theology books... I am not kidding when I say that I have discovered at least 8 different people in 3 generations back on the inside of the book covers. I have discovered over 10 different bible translations and LOADS of reference books. So if anyone wants to study the scripture, this is the perfect place to be I guess.

At least my job for today is over, a library has been created for my father and now I am heading to a friends place to watch Greys Anatomy...

A day on the countryside

Waking up one can see the signs of the warthogs outside the garden, driving to town we first saw a few deer... then we saw and elk and her calf! Texting a message to our german friends who eagerly look for them each time they are here we wanted to share the moment :)

After a few hours in town running erends we headed home again to deal with our projects for the week! Even on the way back we saw deer... gosh they're all over the place this time of year.

Just had a nice morning in front of the fire and had breakfast, the wind is blowing outside, it's a classic autumn day...

MY STORY

A determined and involved person who loves a challenge is one way of defining me. I find joy in involvement and satisfaction in achieving goals.

Organizational development makes me tic, I love finding new systems and solutions to problems that exist within an organization. The challenge lies in simplifying the daily work routines for staff as well as creating room for the organization to perform at a maximum.

With part of my upbringing abroad the ability to quickly adjust to new surroundings and circumstances has come naturally. Using this ability in combination with my social personality creates an extreme “people person” as my last boss chose to describe me. I like bonding with people, creating new contacts not only to develop myself, but also the organization that I work for.

I have made a point of working through my years as a student trying to bring something from each place I have been given the opportunity to learn from. The relatively short time spans that I have had at each employment since graduating is due to the difficulty of finding relevant jobs within the current Swedish market. I see that holding temporary positions early in my carrier has been an opportunity in disguise allowing me to gather experience from different positions.

My latest position started at Travelstart as an executive assistant to Stephan Ekbergh in Cape Town, South Africa and in spring 2008 I transferred to the Swedish office where I worked till end of April 2009.

For a full CV please email me and I will send it through to you.

Warm Regards
Emma

wow - it works :)

Last Saturday morning was spent with friends and a pancake breakfast. However this was not the best part of the day, but instead the best was provided by one of the kids.

A 2.5 year old was shown that one can feel a persons heart and that one can listen. Of course it was amazing, and she needed to make sure we all had hearts she could feel...

After each and every one of us had pulled t-shirts up and let her feel and investigate, it came to the turn of her mother. The little girl put her hand on her mothers chest, then lent in and listened... After which she excitedly exclaimed "Wow - it works!"

Lets get amazed by something obvious today... cause there are lots of things that we need to say "wow - it works!" about.

Love

Chicken soup

At home with a high fever, a runny nose, runny eyes and a sore throat... Having a hard time focusing my thoughts that keep lingering towards someone ringing on my door with chicken soup... why does that only happen in the movies... I need to make supper...

Count your blessings

I'm in my couch, resting, watching the big bang theory, getting some cheap laughs, and feeling totally relaxed!

It seems far too easy to get caught up with the small negatives in life and focus on all the things that don't go our way! I decided to see the other side of the coin and instead count my blessings and see where that leaves me...

So I took the time tonight after an amazing weekend with good old friends to sit down and focus on the blessings in my life... and they are truly many!!! From the obvious things like I have food on the table, a roof over my head and heating indoors! To the fact that I am extremely blessed with friends that I love and trust, and not only in one place but all over the country and basically all over the world! I have an amazing family, parents, siblings, cousins and extended family whom I love dearly. I have got sooo much in my life it feels blasphemous to complain about anything!

Sure there are things I want to change in my life and there are things that need to change... But tonight I choose to focus on the blessings in my life and lay my head down to rest with a smile on my face :)

Don't forget to count your blessings... I promise they are more than you think ;)

Sick or not..?

My throught is suspiciasly red and sore
My head is heavy and
My temperature is slightly too hot...

I have now gurgled antiseptic stuff and am
aiming to wake up with a smile and a healthy
throught :)

Tomorrow I go north to Örebro in order to
celebrate a good mate on Saturday.

But the extra bonus is tomorrow I get to see
Siri :) The most adorable little angel :)

Time to sleep and get some rest, so that I can
fight off all the little bugs that are trying
to invade my body ;)

morning is breaking...

...and I am already running...

Currently in Malmö, booking meetings and realizing that the point of finding work isn't just to find work. It has to do with finding something to do that will inspire and challenge me. Find somewhere where the people I work with can be inspired and challenged by what I deliver.

One thing is certain and that is that I am definitely not cut out to do nothing :)

Time to find out what today will hold for me!

Change… Good or Bad?

The last few months have been a new experience for me, revealing a little bit of what hell could be like. There are several reasons for this, but none that interesting or worth space here.

However a wise person once told me that we create our own futures. So I decided that hell-time was over and the time for action has arrived.

Reassessing my current point of living I realize that my reasons no longer validate staying. There seems to be work in the bigger cities and I need to give them a chance. Evaluating the different places that could be an option I find myself drawn to Malmö again. The ironi is obvious to some of you and I ask please do not badger me too much ;).

So what does this mean? Have I got a job? Am I moving? The truth is I don’t have a job, and I am still living in Jönköping, but I am definitely looking at work opportunities in Malmö and am prepared to move right away should that be required. Maybe I’ll end up finding work here and staying, I feel like none the wiser…

But one way or the other change is around the corner and I am trying to embrace it… Join me in finding out what the future holds...

And just to emphasise... since I grabbed hold of my own future again and have started to take action... hell time is definitely over :)

Icecream = solution to many ponders...

Crushed chocolate in vanilla icecream is wonderful on a hot day...
Even on a boring day like today it's a good option ;)

I have a day in the couch pondering my life... Never good to do! I
find that there are many things I'm fed up with... So time to shape up
and make some changes ;)

A little more icecream and I can face some more challenges!

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Swedish girls in the nude!

I've had an awesome day, thanks to all who have been part of it!

It started with an early walk round the lake for an hour, then some
boring errands. Lunch was spent with loved ones that I dearly miss
when they're in Cape. Late afternoon was devoted to finding clothes
at second hand shops for a sailor party on Saturday. Then had a movie
night with Maria, before Sara joined and eventually Anna. After
midnight we met up with Teresia for a midnight swim since the weather
is so hot! By the lake a decision was made to swim nude, so all
clothes off and into what felt like lukewarm water! Now I'm finally in
bed and hoping for a few hours sleep before tomorrows morning walk at
6am!

Who said I live a hectic life? ;)

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I was an arse...

Imagine if I would learn to not respond when hurt! Now I find that I
instead have hurt without intending to.

The worst part is that I don't know if my apology has been accepted or
if I am still in the doghouse? If you're reading this - I'm sorry!

Yesterday was great fun! David and I (and Sara, who couldn't come)
where invited with the swedish-british society to shoot clay pigeons
in Åtvidaberg :) It was entertaining to play with the guns and fun to
meet new people! So Andrew: thank you for giving us that gift B-)

The sun is out and soon heading home for another day - where I will do
my best not to be an arse!

Blessing

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Air? Or what?

Hm, today I have been to the unemployment agency and met some
depressing results. Therefore I am now trying to come up with a
strategy on how to live on nothing... Ideas and recommendations are
warmly welcome! Air can only do so much...

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Tired and happy

I'm hitting the pillow... Allowing my head to rest after another
intensive day is wonderfull! The one big negative side to being at
conferences is that there is so much to take in, it's going to take a
while to let it sink in. Topics today have been, transhumanism and
it's development, changing nations through reconciliation, being
chosen and moving forward plus as an end we were challenged to fast
and dare to be eagles ;) hehe... And thats just one day! My head needs
the sleep!

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What a week!

It's Torp! It's people I know and love! It's amazing services! It's
getting the focus right! It's filling the resources! It's meeting God!
It's discipline! It's simply amazing to be here again!

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Ups and downs

I started my week by receiving the message that I would not be getting
an employment... So reality hit and I am now unemployed! Naturally
being me, the head started spinning and solutions are darting round my
head resulting in some very creative options... Might even feel
slightly excited about some. However, in reality the week was a mish
mash of applying for jobs, watching startrek enterprise, horseback
riding and meeting up with friends. Saturday morning I went to
Gothenberg, met up with a friend and then continued to Örebro where
the weekend in its turn has consisted of laughter and tears with close
friends. Playing with kids and smiling at babies, silently wondering
if I'll ever have my own or if I am destined to be the aunty whom my
friends children can love when around :) I am blessed with amazing
people in my life and I try to cherish these moments when we just
simply share life! Let's not be afraid to let people beneath the
surface in order to show our true colours! I'm looking forward to next
week and more true colours... xxx

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Daytime TV

Cold, no balance and loads of boredom sums up my last week! I am
spending day after day on the couch watching daytime tv hoping to
recover and be ready to hit reality again. I have issues that confuse
me and issues that make life easier. I have people that feel like work
and people that make it worth getting up and taking on each new day.
Hopefully life will soon be experienced vertically again ;) Blessings

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An amazing night

Was spent together with friends on Saturday when we chose to celebrate our three combined 30th birthdays with some of our closest friends. The evening was a success! At least for us who arranged it :) although I must confess that I have heard nothing but positive response from the people attending either.

The night started of with welcome drinks and socializing then we got some amazing food and finally we just partied hard!

We rented a place in town (Jönköping) which was fantastic for private functions. It is called Lingon and I can really recommend that you use them if you are ever in the need of a cool place to have a function in Jönköping!

Lots of love for this week and don’t forget to grab all those opportunities flying by in the wind :)

Cake, party and horses :)

Today is Saras 30th! It has so far been spent in the stables with friends and cake! Now we are gathering in her flat for relaxation, food and preparations for the weekends amazing party :D

I'm looking forward to seeing a whole lot of you on Saturday!

Learning and living

Everyday brings new things...

I love when it means learning new stuff!

Nothing feels as fulfilling as when one starts to feel the knowledge increase :D

Loving life is a good feeling, loving new opportunities is even better, loving friends is great, being loved is the best :D

Turbulance

Ok, so sometimes things don't go as we like and stuff happens. A few weeks ago I was at the doctors for a routine check up --- a long story in short terms is that it resulted in hospitalization and a new surgary.

I have tried to bounce back and meet reality as best I can :) Once again I find myself without hair and with less energy... BUT I am doing great all things considered.

Yesterday I turned 30 and nothing life altering happened... I am still me and I still don't feel grown up :) Possibly a good trate :D

I hope the above explains the quiet period on the blog, I will try to update better in the future.

Blessings :D

Lunchbreak

Hi all, the sun is out, the sky is blue, today is a beautiful day and holds lots of promise. My thoughts are stuck in South Africa today! Hoping that all goes well in the elections! Blessings

waiting for the shower

Wednesday morning

the alarm has gone off

someone is in the bathroom

I need to get ready, leaving in 30 min

would love to turn round and go back to sleep

not happening

the showers free now

time to get started

meltdown

of my brain...

anyone worked with establishing pci dss policies?

I could do with some advice?

thanks

tired and should sleep

I've had a hectic week,

currently tired...

in the couch...

wanting to move to my bed...

Tomorrow its time to get on the train again...

Why? Any good answers out there?

Some things that have gone through my mind today!

Four times left

Season 3 episode 10

The heaters are on but it’s freezing indoors

One step closer the future

Structure is beginning to show in the chaos

My life is good

Frustration

Misunderstood

Need a friendly hug

U” and TOTO have been my companions through the day

It was a mistake to choose my spring jacket this morning

The train behaved, but am seriously beginning to get bored by train travel

Tried a new ice-cream

Generally loving my life, just had a hectic Monday

A wierd week with possibilities

The week started in a good mood, headed to Malmö in the middle of the week and wished for a suprise :) Which was handed my way although not the one that I wanted or even thought was coming.

Once the shock started settling I realized that where one door closes a window always opens. So here I am looking round the house for windows, have a few that might be interesting but will see what the following weeks bring to show and tell! Sorry for the cryptics but difficult to spill all the information in the open, just know this that there are exciting times ahead ;)

Will keep ya updated!

Morning

Been for a morning walk round the lake, now running to the train to head south to Malmö again.

The nameless friend

Last night I went to the gym for a spinning session which turned out to be amazingly good fun. In the sauna afterwards I started talking to this one chick and we talked about education, goals, relationships, aims, our whys and our answers... a good talk. Then we were sharing hairbrushes and make up, constantly talking... I departed and headed to the pub where I was meeting the guys to watch hockey when it hit me... what was her name? We had just spoken for an hour without introducing myself, so I hope I get to meet my new nameless friend another time so that I at least get to know what her name is :)

Easy pleasures

A surprise package from friends, containing small parts of SA that I miss... brought a smile to my face :)

A day spent with friends shopping... the shopping part I'm ok without, but spending time with friends always brings a smile to my day.

A moment to myself, relaxing, reading and contemplating life!

Then a night with the gang, food, good company and drinks!

Kinda sums up a perfect Saturday :)

Nothing of essence

I have nothing to write, but just letting you know that I am indeed alive even though it seems to be a quite period in my life :)

At the moment in the southern part of Sweden, working another day here before heading home tomorrow and then working from there the rest of the week.

Life in general is pretty good right now, am getting very tired from going back and forth so much, but there is a time for everything so we will see what happens in the future.

Till next time...

A different work day

Today I woke up 5.30, worked 2 hours from home before going to the stables where I set up the computer in the tack room. At lunch me and a girl took a horse each and went for a short ride in the beautiful snowy forest just enjoying the amazing nature! It truly felt like being in the middle of narnia at one point ;) Then back into the tack room and finished working, now just got home and am thinking about what to eat before I go boxing tonight! A different Thursday :) Hope yours is good too!

living and learning

Sometimes life brings along lessons worth taking... I've taken one this week, that hopefully will make me a wiser woman in the future... lets hope I passed with flying colours.

I had a good start to the weekend hanging with some friends last night, pizza at home, relaxation, girltalk and laughter... what a soothing way to start of with. Today I am running round doing tasks that need to be done, meeting people that need to be met and looking forward to tonight :)

Mid week!

It's wed morning, mid week, kinda dark outside the window and i'm soon
ready to go to the office for another day. This week has so far held
tough but right decisions. I wonder what today will hold :)

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The weekend

There was no tea on Saturday morning, but a wonderful pancake breakfast with my friend. Then a walk in town, returning home with some mango-vinegar and a new shirt that was on sale and 2 videos. We also picked up a third friend on the route ;) Then slouching in the couch with too much candy and a film, realizing food was due, the third friend was swapped and we then headed to a musiccafé for the evening. Very nice ;) However when I was starting to think about if it might be time to return to the flat a girl had an idea that we should drive 70 km to a small place and go to a concert... we decided not to be wosses and went :) Returning home in the wee hours of the morning. Sleep, then dexter on tv, then more dexter, then over to a friend with the remaining movie, food, couch, film, coffee break, more film and now back in my flat relaxing and preparing for an early night and a new wonderful week :)

Blessings ;)

Total silence...

What could I be referring to? The silent treatment? The silence out on the countryside? The silence that hits me when I put the earplugs in? So many different silences they are difficult to keep track of… this time I was merely referring to the fact that this blog has been shamefully abandoned the last two weeks and for this I am sorry…

Its Saturday morning in Jönköping, I’ve opened my eyes, but still in bed, letting my thoughts wander off into space… A friend stayed the night and I can hear that shes awake on the couch, but we are still in morning silence :) its like the moments in church where no one wants to be the first to speak after the service… its silence… here right now its comfortable sharing this silence with a friend. Soon I predict I will get up, make us a cup of tea and then have some breakfast…

The rest of the weekend is wonderfully unplanned… nothing that must be done, nothing that demands my attention… Some people I would like to see and they are probably too many as usual, but I am loving the fact that nothing is planned for once.

I shall return… haha with information about what this weekend held ;)

An amazing woman and an amazing life!

.

Mma Elisabet Keletso… born sometime round 50 years ago in Botswana. In many ways a remarkable woman, whom I can’t even begin to do justice through the use of mere words. Still the pain of loosing her demands that I write something short in honour of who she was.

My picture of her is painted through the eyes of a child, myself while growing up, and only recently have I slightly begun to understand who she truly was. (The picture at the top is from Christmas 2007 in their lounge.) While growing up in Selebi-Phikwe, Mma and Rra Keletso where close friends of my parents and the family. Consequently they where often there for us.

I have memories of playing with Debbie (one of their daughters) outside their house while Mma Keletso was cooking… or I remember stealing Tsego (another daughter) from kindergarden and bringing her home with me after school without informing Rra Keletso…

Latest memories are from last year when I was blessed to spend Easter and Christmas with them in Selebi-Phikwe. Easter I was with my parents and it was the first time in 15 years that I met Mma and Rra Keletso face to face, yet it was like coming home to family. Over Christmas when I was there alone with a friend from Sweden we spent quality time with the whole family and I remember Mma Keletsos words: “Emma, no matter where you are in the world, you are always part of our family – don’t forget it!” Today I share their pain in loosing her, but still wish there was more I could do.

This morning I got a skype-call from aunty Mavis in Selebi-Phikwe informing me that Mma Keletso passed away last night - my heart broke. Not only for loosing an amazing person in my life, but for her family and friends in Botswana. I want to be there for my sisters and brother, give Debbie and Tsego a big hug, talk to Dixi, play with Abe and hold Victoria.

In reality all I can do is send my condolences and pray for them in Botswana. Share in their pain and hope that there is a way through. Share tears…

There is so much more that can be said about her, how she was the strength of the family, how she managed to always make ends meet, how she stood by her husband, how she was a great mother, how she spoke to me about living my life, how she corrected me sternly but with a smile, how she was a great friend, how she was an amazing woman of God, how she made people smile… but in the end all the words feel small and without essence.

I pray that she is home with our father in heaven and no longer has to go through pain and sorrow!

Bambi's monday morning

Woke up 05.00 had a nice morning moment at home with breakfast and reading, made my bed, had my bag packed and then off to the station... Was slightly shocked when outside the door the pavement was covered in snow!!! This would have been no problem if it was not for the fact that I have decided its supposed to be spring and only had my sneakers on... after walking 10 min realizing that i wasn't covering the ground I needed in order to get to the station on time (since i was slipping all over the place) i got on a bus... feels slightly rediculous when the bussride is only 5 min ;)

However got to the station on time, the first train behaved, the second got of to a good start and now... well... theres no power in the tracks so we sit here...

All around me I here people who have never spoken to each other all of a sudden become great friends uniting against their common enemy the train company ;) Amazing how people put their differences aside in order to have someone to share the experience with... something we should probably do more often and not just limit ourselves to only talking to strangers when we're in a crisis :) haha... sounds weird, but hopefully you got what I meant!

Blessings for this coming week! Try connecting with someone new, and if you need the help of circumstances, borrow a dog and go for a walk, or a kid in a pram, or get on a train that will give you trouble and I ensure you that before the walk or the ride is over you will have made a new connection!

Crash boom bang

Sometimes its as easy as a hello and sometimes its as easy as a goodbye...

Sometimes it hurts and hopefully the sometimes will soon become pastimes.

Cause it hurts

way past bedtime

Went to the gym tonight aiming to get my body tired and ready for sleep... seems to have backfired... am high on endorfines, can't sleep... but my alarm will go of in 5 hours... argh....

Blessings for a tired tuesday

New week = new opportunities

Sometimes life takes twists and turns that you don't count on and all you can do is hang in there and see where the ride takes you.

At least that's one way of seeing it :)

This week is just starting, I've had an amazing evening with relaxation and preparation for the coming week. So all I have to say right now is make sure you seize the day and don't let opportunities slip away...