The Girl on the Train

I am always a bit cautious when I see nothing but great reviews about a book – Will it be so hyped that I will expect too much, only to be disappointed when I put my own eyes on the written word? I put my name on the library waiting list facing months before I can borrow it. Then comes a colleague, with whom I discuss and recommend books: “Read this! Read this” and he let me borrow his copy.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

In the Hitchcock movie Rear Window, Jimmie Stewart was watching tenants in the other building from his apartment sitting in his wheelchair as he has nothing else to do while recovering from an accident.

Change the scenery to a London train, where Rachel on her daily commutes between home and work, passes a house, where a couple lives. She notices the house every day and imagines the names and lives of the couple.

One day Rachel has a fallout with her ex-husband Tomas and his new wife Anna, while being drunk in the same area as the house, she watches from the train. She is so drunk that she has a blackout and therefore a hard time piecing events together afterwards.

It happens to be the same day where Megan is reported missing – the lady from the house she watches. Suddenly she remembers that she has observed something different at the house while passing it and shares it with the police. Sadly, her reputation as a drunk precedes her and she is not being taken seriously as the police discovers that her life is not what people believe it to be.

When I noticed the initial resemblance with one of my favorite Hitchcock movies I was doubted the success of the book. That was until the event of the book sucked me inside so I would not let go of the book until the last page turned.  I totally get the hype about this book. READ IT

Coca-Cola Christmas 2015

This is what the Coca-Cola 2015 Christmas edition looks like in Denmark. The 1,5 liter bottle with the bow thing is new - not sure I am fond of this idea, but they did try to spice up the Christmas tradition a bit with this opportunity to turn the label into a bow

Coca-Cola does,what Starbucks is failing to do: keeping up the Christmas tradition with a new Santa motif on their cans every year. Happy that someone is still keeping up with cherished Christmas traditions.

A couple of years' Christmas cans

Christmas Cards 2015

Merry Christmas everybody :o)

Time to show and tell about the Christmas cards that I created this year and sent to family and friends. I did blog partly about the process in January, when I made some initial preparations but let it untouched until November when the cards started to take form.

The Christmas tree is from a Christmas card that I decided to recycle (one of the vast numbers of Christmas cards that was sent to the company where I work and would just have ended up in the paper recycling bin) - cut out with the TREE, CHRISTMAS #2 Sizzix die that I got for my birthday last year. The red back background is made with a Sizzix embossing folder (can not remember the name) as I had several feelings when I found the folder: Sun sparks? Snow storm? Movement? The impression leaves a feeling of a nature's background.

Cutting out the trees carefully, the patters from the original card could be used a tree decorations - it took a few cuts until I realized the effect and after that every tree was cut out with most possible details in mind.

Soon I will collecting Christmas cards again for recycling, and I have some other dies that I can use to cut out Christmas themes - but if I will use them in the 2016 edition of my Christmas cards remains uncertain until next fall.

One thing I do know is, that I have to have all my cards finished earlier than previous year. From beginning of January our local postal services have decided to double the price of stamps on priority letters (to about 5 USD overseas!!) so sending future Christmas cards as economy letters.

Starbucks Christmas 2015

If you could not spot the siren - the Starbucks logo, this could just have been any cup. What happened to the festive, decorated cups, Starbucks? The ones that some of us were looking forward to and was collecting? Just a few months ago we saw this beautiful autumn decorated cup, that made us eagerly await this years Christmas/holiday cup?

No holiday decorations - just the color red...... That would be like having a real Christmas tree in your home without any decorations or lights.

The sleeve saves the cup, the stars add the Christmas/holiday touch to the cup - but it is still too plain and boring. I am disappointed :(

November 2015 In Books

Not much reading in November - have used the time to create and prepare this year's Christmas cards to family and friends - plus events when S/Y Oceans of Hope returned to Copenhagen. The book pile from the library begging for my attention signals, that much more will be read in December.

reuse - reduce - recycle - stuffocation

Screaming* Under Water by Gerlow & Tornbjerg
(Original title: Skrig under vand)
Denmark
Library Book

Stuffocation by James Wallman
USA

Swim With Those Who Drown* by Lars Mytting
(Original tiltle: Svøm med dem som drukner)
Norway
Library Book / November Bookfriend Book

Build Sustainable* by Signe Wenneberg
(Original title: Byg bæredygtigt)
Denmark


*Literal title: the book has not been published in English version, so title is not an official title of the book

White Christmas or?

Source: www.tv2.dk

It has begun - they have started guessing the chance of a white Christmas this year. Yes, I live in Scandinavia. No, our winters does not necessary mean lots of snow. A lot of times it goes just north of us to Norway, Sweden and Finland or south to Germany.

4% - Chance might be higher. Chance might be lower. What I do know is, that we will see this barometer on the Danish channel TV2 every day until Christmas. And if you ask a Danish child - he/she will have the fingers crossed for a White Christmas. So will I :o)