It has sure been a long time since last time but I thought I should give this a go.
I left London with my Canadian boyfriend and traveled the UK thanks to National Express and a good pair of runners. I met the in-laws and their family friend through a two week journey of castles, mysterious fog, mountain glens, natural pools, wine, cheese and crackers and a moist sock smell in a crammed up car driving from Glasgow to Skye, around the Hebrides and then after a little Scottish Highland Game rainy mud hill running, landing in Edinburgh.
I have walked up to Highland cows, swam in a sea more turquoise then the Caribbean, ate snacks on graveyards, waited for a changed tire at a Outer Hebride scrap-yard, slept in bunk-beds, tried to enter year 1743 through the well used in Outlander, realized I seen way to many castles, had my boyfriend convinced to dress up for a back in time photo-shoot with his mother (who loves Outlander <3) drank rum and coke in Edinburghs hunted dungeons and waved at the Hogwarts train with around 58 other tourist lurking in the bushes.
I have said goodbye to the in-laws as I was left with their son, seen 2 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, had a small spoon of Haggis, visited the Golden Hare Bookshop, Soaked more clothes in the rain and then landed in Stockholm, Sweden. We got some stripey peppermint candy (still some left in the kitchen cupboard) and hid romantically in a corner under the royal castleyards roof from a sudden burst of rain. We entered Finland through Pancake paradise (also known as Åland Islands), hitch-hiked, took the local 6 hour ferry to Galtby harbour and got picked up by my father who immediately let my boyfriend (a boat novice) steer the wheel towards home. I met my parents new dog Edith for the first time and we cracked up a fire and sang songs in french for my Quebecois boyfriend (ok our linguistically talented neighbor did) as to celebrate the end of summer and beginning of fall.
Was that All ? oh wait. Now we live in our flat in Helsinki- modern yet old and cozy small studio dream, in a hipster part of the central city with a community hangout-space in the yard and regular intimate band rehearsals in the "Friendship-House's" garden closer to the street. We live on the 5th floor. The stairwell is rocky marble. Second-hand is the way to live- another persons left over is someone-elses treasure, and some of the beaches are just a 10 minute bike ride away. There is a Harley biker gang (no not that kind) cruising out from the courtyard every now and then and our handy janitor announced that he wants to learn english as he together with my not yet finnish speaking boyfriend attached tiny hooks to our new "tent bedroom" ikea curtain rail.
I have missed this, grounded simplicity.
I recently returned to doing covers at the Activity Center for adults with Disabilities- met familiar faces and got happily surprised by the added resources (was really not the case 5 years ago) and higher pay. Care-workers have for far too long been taken for granted- it is nice to see a change. New communication tools like I-pads for the service users have also entered the center.
I also (after much much work and 90% of unanswered open applications) cracked my way into the world of literature here on the other side of Europe. Starting 7th of October you can call me a bookseller at the country's biggest (and publisher owned) bookshop- I even get my suit ordered and will get to wear an apron where to keep pens, notes and mints for those less glamorous days. On top of this I will be based in one of the first malls working based on ecological values and community influence. I just got to do an online training including in which of the 7 bins to throw the fun bubble wrapper we all secretly like to play with.
My boyfriend has digged every chamber in trying to find work that will support him a Visa but has yet not been lucky. He has however gained interest among the french so who knows- maybe one day something could come out of this. In the meantime a job he is qualified for, and no European has or can will be suitable for, will hopefully magically emerge. We will however, despite firm belivers in magic, seriously look into applying for the Residence Permit based on Intimate Relationship- that is sending the Immigration office lots of Whatsapp texts, bribing cupcakes and staged syrupy pictures (ok...maybe that's not actually how it works.. ).. and we do actually have those so no acting is needed..that much. All I am saying is that we really want to be allowed to stay.... What was that ? A ring on it ? Marriage ? Well I guess if we have too.. not sure if we want each-other THAT much.. kidding.. I will marry him at city hall during office hours, beer will follow with some pizza, every boys (and little girls) fairy-tale dream come true. A weekend ceremony will cost 50 € extra, it does however sound like it is meant to be as that is the exact amount of our current wedding budget based on 50 % of us working part-time, heh. But yes, trying to find a path to be granted a visa (500 € and up to 8 months of waiting while staying low) is sure a killer of romance if you let it be. Luckily we are the kind of couple who remind each-other of our own story- admin is only a far less interesting (yet vital) chapter.
On another note, my boyfriend is back in Canada (since 3 days now) for some medical tests and more personal historically related doctor visits due to his last weeks condition. It has not been easy to see him in such a poor state without medical rights, and I have felt helpless to say the least so it is a re-leaf to know that he is back where he will get all the help that is needed. A few undefined months is a long time- and the decision to go back and a booked ticket came from all of us so sudden- but I know it will all be worth it in the end. Better to get checked and receive support now, then to suffer through it and be sorry later. It is not just for him- but for the both of us.
That is about 3 months in a package.
I will continue to write more on this and the perspective it takes to let go for a while, later.... Now it is 3 am.. and I have to put away this bag of crisps..no you're a potato...
Goodnight <3
I left London with my Canadian boyfriend and traveled the UK thanks to National Express and a good pair of runners. I met the in-laws and their family friend through a two week journey of castles, mysterious fog, mountain glens, natural pools, wine, cheese and crackers and a moist sock smell in a crammed up car driving from Glasgow to Skye, around the Hebrides and then after a little Scottish Highland Game rainy mud hill running, landing in Edinburgh.
I have walked up to Highland cows, swam in a sea more turquoise then the Caribbean, ate snacks on graveyards, waited for a changed tire at a Outer Hebride scrap-yard, slept in bunk-beds, tried to enter year 1743 through the well used in Outlander, realized I seen way to many castles, had my boyfriend convinced to dress up for a back in time photo-shoot with his mother (who loves Outlander <3) drank rum and coke in Edinburghs hunted dungeons and waved at the Hogwarts train with around 58 other tourist lurking in the bushes.
I have said goodbye to the in-laws as I was left with their son, seen 2 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, had a small spoon of Haggis, visited the Golden Hare Bookshop, Soaked more clothes in the rain and then landed in Stockholm, Sweden. We got some stripey peppermint candy (still some left in the kitchen cupboard) and hid romantically in a corner under the royal castleyards roof from a sudden burst of rain. We entered Finland through Pancake paradise (also known as Åland Islands), hitch-hiked, took the local 6 hour ferry to Galtby harbour and got picked up by my father who immediately let my boyfriend (a boat novice) steer the wheel towards home. I met my parents new dog Edith for the first time and we cracked up a fire and sang songs in french for my Quebecois boyfriend (ok our linguistically talented neighbor did) as to celebrate the end of summer and beginning of fall.
Was that All ? oh wait. Now we live in our flat in Helsinki- modern yet old and cozy small studio dream, in a hipster part of the central city with a community hangout-space in the yard and regular intimate band rehearsals in the "Friendship-House's" garden closer to the street. We live on the 5th floor. The stairwell is rocky marble. Second-hand is the way to live- another persons left over is someone-elses treasure, and some of the beaches are just a 10 minute bike ride away. There is a Harley biker gang (no not that kind) cruising out from the courtyard every now and then and our handy janitor announced that he wants to learn english as he together with my not yet finnish speaking boyfriend attached tiny hooks to our new "tent bedroom" ikea curtain rail.
I have missed this, grounded simplicity.
I recently returned to doing covers at the Activity Center for adults with Disabilities- met familiar faces and got happily surprised by the added resources (was really not the case 5 years ago) and higher pay. Care-workers have for far too long been taken for granted- it is nice to see a change. New communication tools like I-pads for the service users have also entered the center.
I also (after much much work and 90% of unanswered open applications) cracked my way into the world of literature here on the other side of Europe. Starting 7th of October you can call me a bookseller at the country's biggest (and publisher owned) bookshop- I even get my suit ordered and will get to wear an apron where to keep pens, notes and mints for those less glamorous days. On top of this I will be based in one of the first malls working based on ecological values and community influence. I just got to do an online training including in which of the 7 bins to throw the fun bubble wrapper we all secretly like to play with.
My boyfriend has digged every chamber in trying to find work that will support him a Visa but has yet not been lucky. He has however gained interest among the french so who knows- maybe one day something could come out of this. In the meantime a job he is qualified for, and no European has or can will be suitable for, will hopefully magically emerge. We will however, despite firm belivers in magic, seriously look into applying for the Residence Permit based on Intimate Relationship- that is sending the Immigration office lots of Whatsapp texts, bribing cupcakes and staged syrupy pictures (ok...maybe that's not actually how it works.. ).. and we do actually have those so no acting is needed..that much. All I am saying is that we really want to be allowed to stay.... What was that ? A ring on it ? Marriage ? Well I guess if we have too.. not sure if we want each-other THAT much.. kidding.. I will marry him at city hall during office hours, beer will follow with some pizza, every boys (and little girls) fairy-tale dream come true. A weekend ceremony will cost 50 € extra, it does however sound like it is meant to be as that is the exact amount of our current wedding budget based on 50 % of us working part-time, heh. But yes, trying to find a path to be granted a visa (500 € and up to 8 months of waiting while staying low) is sure a killer of romance if you let it be. Luckily we are the kind of couple who remind each-other of our own story- admin is only a far less interesting (yet vital) chapter.
On another note, my boyfriend is back in Canada (since 3 days now) for some medical tests and more personal historically related doctor visits due to his last weeks condition. It has not been easy to see him in such a poor state without medical rights, and I have felt helpless to say the least so it is a re-leaf to know that he is back where he will get all the help that is needed. A few undefined months is a long time- and the decision to go back and a booked ticket came from all of us so sudden- but I know it will all be worth it in the end. Better to get checked and receive support now, then to suffer through it and be sorry later. It is not just for him- but for the both of us.
That is about 3 months in a package.
I will continue to write more on this and the perspective it takes to let go for a while, later.... Now it is 3 am.. and I have to put away this bag of crisps..no you're a potato...
Goodnight <3
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