Sunday, September 16, 2007

Spirit of the Wild Exhibition in Stockholm


Hi again

I just had to add a piece in my blog about the Spirit of the Wild exhibition I saw recently as it made a big impression on me.

While in Stockholm we had the luck of seeing the Spirit of the Wild Exhibition. This was an outdoor photographic exhibition which happened to be located on the doorstep of our hotel in Nyrbokagen (I think that’s how you spell it).

It is an exhibition of photographs of the wild by a South African photographer called Steve Bloom. We were so struck and impressed by the photos that we kept going back to see them throughout our stay. Apart from buying the book I also took photos of the pictures that I liked best. They are just so beautiful, as you can see below.

I didn’t know who Steve Bloom was and have just now looked him up in internet and this is what it says:

“Over the past twelve years, Steve Bloom has emerged as one of the world's leading photographers of the living world. his expressive and evocative photographs of wild animals in their natural surroundings have earned him several international awards, and his books have been published around the world. Outdoor Photography Magazine described his book, Untamed, as "the best case yet for the defence of the Earth", and Lufthansa Magazine called Elephant a "declaration of love".

Hope you enjoy the photos too, even if it’s only through my blog.

Cheers/Masha







Monday, September 10, 2007

Stockholm, a romantic and wet weekend

Hiya

Here are the photos of our trip. Suffice it to say we had a great time, although we were pretty washed out by the rain on Saturday and Sunday.

Eladio thought it was the most beautiful city he has ever seen. Not for nothing is it called the Venice of the North.

Great monuments, great views, great food and rather nice people too. And many thanks to Lena Dworen for the private tour of Stockholm, Town Hall included. Also much fun was driving through the city in her little Ford Ka; quite an experience.

We loved the Vasa museum, the Skansen park and above all the old town.

Cheers Masha
Album in Facebook

Eladio and I on one of the many ferries between the islands.

Eladio showing the candle holder we bought at the Skansen park souvenir shop

Me showing the Swedish horse (sort of symbol of Sweden) we also bought at Skansen. We actually went into the museum shop to escape from the horrendous rain!

Eladio filming the replica of the Vasa ship

Eladio and I outside the Town Hall. This photo is courtesy of Lena Dworen and is the one I look best in; probably because I still had some makeup on from after the meeting.
Eladio in the blustering wind near the Royal Palace.PS. Here are the pictures I posted on Facebook. To see them pictures, click on the cross.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Back to Santander with a splash!

Hi again,

And wow wasn’t it great to be back in Santander; seeing familiar faces, enjoying the beautiful city, the beaches and the food. I had been away for 2 years and was really roaring to be back. It was a very full 2 days of pr and socialising and now I am back home at my desk pretty exhausted but happy.


Julio and then me on the walk in the morning from the hotel to the Conference centre at La Magdalena
My main mission was the organisation of a big party for all the attendees which took place last night and I am glad to say now that it was a complete success to judge by the attendance (over 170 people) and the great atmosphere.

The party venue with our logos.

The Motorola clan at the party. They certainly know how to have a good time. Thanks guys for your enthusiasm.
Sunday night I had dinner at Zacarías with Julio (my “bestest” friend), my ex boss, Félix, probably the best boss I have ever had and my dear friend and colleague José Luis Pérez who is now the Nokia Siemens Country Director, Monday lunch was with work colleagues at La Posada del Mar (highly recommendable) and last night we were invited by Sony Ericsson to dinner at La Bombi. La Bombi is a Santander must for me and something of a tradition. This was arranged by a ex colleague of Motorola and great sector friend, dear Gonzalo Eguiluz – note how good looking he is just past his 40th birthday and to think we first met when he was 28; a spring chicken who had just married and used to eat pop corn for dinner as he and his child wife, Alicia did not know how to cook!! Thanks Gonzi for the wonderful dinner and the fun at the party. Sorry I’m such a lousy dancer.

Gonzalo and I, 12 years on and looking good.
I was staying at the hotel I nearly always stay at, called Rhin Santander (now Río Silken) and it is right opposite the Sardinero Beach; probably the most beautiful and certainly the best kept beach in Spain. It is within walking distance of the Magdalena Peninsula which is where the telecoms conference takes place. And, yesterday, in between the end of the conference and the dinner I had time to swim and finally took the plunge so to say. I have been going to Santander for years but have never ever bathed. So this time and in order to revive for the dinner and party after a long day of pr, I just couldn’t resist the opportunity for a walk and bathe on the beautiful Sardinero beach.

The view from my hotel room of the Sardinero beach.
I enjoyed it so much that I repeated the experience again today just before having lunch with Julio and his friend Javier after which I was to grab a cab to the airport and make my way home.

Home is where I am now, back safe and sound, but not for long as tomorrow we are off to Stockholm.

So more of my news next week (and here is the complete photo album).

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Update of the week; catching up with friends, some happy birthdays, welcome back Miguel and off to Santander and Stockholm.

Hi again

This week has been quite busy workwise, getting ready for our participation in the annual telecomms event in Santander starting tomorrow. But there has been time for quite a lot of after Summer holiday get togethers too.

Last Sunday we had José Antonio, Eladio’s beloved brother, for lunch as his family were nearly all in London settling Sarita in who is now back from China. We didn’t get to see her in between trips which we all very much regret. Eladio and José Antonio spent most of their time talking about old times which is a very respectable thing to do, so I left them to it.


Pictures of the two "boys" chatting and relaxing, one with darling Phoebe
During the week I met up with a journalist friend of mine, Vicente Fernández de Bobadilla. We hadn’t seen each other for over 2 years and there was a lot to catch up. Vicente is much more a friend than a colleague.

And on Friday Eladio and I went out to dinner with Eduardo and Graciela, ex colleagues from Nokia. They live very near us actually so we had been planning this dinner for sometime. We finally went to a place I have been dying to try out in Majadahonda called Ars Vivendi. And here is a picture of them both which I had fun taking and am having fun posting here because, in a way, I am “formalising” their relationship which was actually a bit hush hush when we worked together. As anticipated we did, of course, talk about old times, the good ones and the bad ones of which there were quite a few. But that is all over now.

Graciela and Eduardo
And this week I have to say happy birthday to 3 people: Pili, one of my favourite sisters in law, Ana Valdivieso, my lovely pregnant lawyer friend and also to Lars Wallmark, a fun colleague of mine from Sweden.

And finally I have to welcome back Miguel, one of my favourite nephews. He is returning to Madrid after a 2 year stint in London and he is returning to work for a British firm who are setting up offices in Spain. Great to have you back Miguel.

And I will be travelling this afternoon to Santander to the annual telecoms conference. I will be returning after a 2 year absence and am really looking forward to it as anyone who is anyone from the sector will be there. Also Santander is probably one of my favourite cities in Spain and we will be staying at a hotel right on the Playa de Sardinero, a short walk away from El Palacio de la Magdalena where the conference takes place.

Palacio de la Magdalena, UIMP Santander.
The return will be short and sweet though as I have to curtail the trip to return on Tuesday evening as I will be travelling to Stockholm on Wednesday for meetings on Thursday and Friday. The good thing though is that I will be taking Eladio with me and we will be staying the weekend.

So I have a great week ahead of me.

Cheers to you all.
Masha


Changes to my blog, link to Facebook, language translator and the weather. 9000 visits.

Hi again

Hope you have noticed the link to my spot in Facebook. If you click on me you get sent to my profile where you can sign up to Facebook if you want. But if you click on the picture below that takes you to my latest photo album in Facebook. I can really recommend Facebook as I have found so many “lost” contacts through it and can now keep up with so many friends and also have loads of fun with some of the applications. Do try it out.

Also you will see I have added a translator at the left hand side of the blog. You just have to click on the flag of the language you want. It is automatic but the quality, I am afraid, is a bit poor. The funniest thing I saw was Santa Pola (Spanish town) translated into Spanish by “Papa Noel Pola” because “Santa” was understood as Father Christmas!!!! I have to thank Roberto Hortal for the translator as he told me where to get the link. Thanks Roberto, my distant IT advisor.

Finally I have added a weather forecast for Madrid which updates daily.

One thing I haven’t done yet and that is change the complete look of the blog. I would like to but am petrified I will lose some of the content!! So it will just have to stay the same.

By the way, I now have registered over 9000 visits. That’s not bad for a private and domestic blog. If you look at the country and continent counter at the end of the blog, it’s amazing to see I have readers from all the continents in the world. I just don’t understand how my life could possibly interest people who don’t know me. After all it’s not particularly exciting. Or is it?

Cheers again.
Masha

Friday, August 24, 2007

You know you’ve lived in Spain when


Hi again,

In Facebook you can join all sorts of groups and one I have just joined is called “You know you’ve lived in Spain when”.

It’s for everyone who has spent more than a holiday in Spain & for whom some of the following are true....

1) You think adding lemonade, fanta or even coke to red wine is perfectly acceptable. Especially at lunch time.

2) You can't get over how early bars & clubs shut back home - surely they're shutting just as you should be going out?

3) You aren't just surprised that the plumber/decorator has turned up on time, you're surprised he turned up at all.

4) You've been part of a botellon.

5) You think it's fine to comment on everyone's appearance.

6) Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems so rude.

7) You're shocked by people getting their legs out at the first hint of sun - surely they should wait until at least late June?

8) On msn you sometimes type 'jajaja' instead of 'hahaha'

9) You think the precious aceite is a vital part of every meal. And don't understand how anyone could think olive oil on toast is weird.

10) You're amazed when TV ad breaks last less than half an hour, especially right before the end of films.

11) You forget to say please when asking for things - you implied it in your tone of voice, right?

12) You love the phenomenon of giving 'toques' - but hate explaining it in English

14) You don't see sunflower seeds as a healthy snack - they're just what all the cool kids eat.

15) You know what a pijo is and how to spot one.

16) Every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: 'bueno,' 'coño,' 'vale,' 'venga,' 'pues nada'...

17) You know what 'resaca' means. And you had one at least once a week when you lived in Spain.

18) You know how to eat boquerones.

19) A bull's head on the wall of a bar isn't a talking point for you, it's just a part of the decor.

20) You eat lunch after 2pm & would never even think of having your evening meal before 9.

21) You know that after 2pm there's no point in going shopping, you might as well just have a siesta until 5 when the shops re-open.

22) If anyone insults your mother, they better watch out...

23) You know how to change a bombona. And if you don't, you were either lazy or lucky enough to live somewhere nice.

24) You're either a Los Serrano person or an Aqui no hay quien viva person.

25) You don't accept beer that's anything less than ice-cold.

26) The fact that all the male (or female) members of a family have the same first name doesn't surprise you.

27) The sound of mopeds in the background is the soundtrack to your life.

28) You know that the mullet didn't just happen in the 80s. It is alive and well in Spain.

29) You know the differenc between cojones and cajones, tener calor and estar caliente, bacalao and bakalao...and maybe you learned the differences the hard way!

30) On a Sunday morning, you have breakfast before going to bed, not after you get up.

31) You don't see anything wrong with having a couple of beers in the morning if you feel like it.

32) Floors in bars are an ideal dumping ground for your colillas, servilletas etc. Why use a bin?!

33) You see clapping as an art form, not just a way to express approval.

34) You know ensaladilla rusa has nothing to do with Russia.

35) When you burst out laughing every time you see a Mitsubishi Pajero (thanks Stuart Line for reminding me of that one!)

36) You have friends named Jesus, Jose Maria, Maria Jose, Angel, maybe even Inmaculada Concepcion...

Facebook

Hi,

I thought I ought to tell you I’ve just joined a social networking internet community called Facebook and I am fascinated. It has loads of possibilities and works a bit like lifeblog from Nokia phones but combined with functions you see on My Space, Ringo, etc and the networking opportunities are endless.

If you want to try it out go to www.facebook.com and if you want to be my friend there, then invite me and the networking will begin.

Cheers/Masha
PS Anne, thanks for the tip.