Life Swap by Jane Green

Is the grass greener on the other side?
Is life really better somewhere else?

Vicky, a single girl, have everything; a super trendy work, good economy and goes to parties with her boyfriend. But she misses something. She would rather live in the country with husband, children, dog and car.

Amber has all that; husband, house, dog, nanny and children. But Amber is missing something too; she misses her life as single and to be able to do whatever she wants to do.

Vicky put an ad in a ladie’s magazine about her offer to trade places – friends, family, house, work with a stranger. So Amber fly to England, live in Vickys house, use Vickys clothes, go to her work and is just like a normal English girl.

Vicky trade places with Amber and lived in an luxury house with pool, and got a taste of life as married housewife. Vicky changed her perception of life as married housewife.

Interesting! Would be fun to trade places with someone else for a couple a weeks!

How does an American housewife life? How does a desperate housewife live?

In the book, Amber lives in Highfield. Does this area exist in real life? I looked in Google Maps, and found this. Is this the real life’s Highfield?



Or maybe a desperate housewife live like this? With perfect lawns. Keep up appearances of a perfect life?



Or like this? Just like in the TV-serie "Desperate Housewifes"?


These pics are from Google Map. Interesting to see how places looks like on Street Level, almost like being there!

1408

I have seen on dvd movie ”1408”. Very good movie and very exciting and thrilling.
The movie is about a hotel room, room no. 1408. An evil room with some kind of ghost in there.

The ghost hunter Mike, decides to visit the room to see if there really is a ghost there. Mike doesn’t believe in ghosts.

The hotel owner refuses to give Mike the key to room 1408. Mike persuaded the hotel owner to give him the key. Finally the hotel owner give up and give Mike the key. Mike happily goes into room 1408.

Soon, things happens in the room, and Mike learns that there really is an evil ghost there and he try to escape the room. But he can’t, because he is stuck in the room for ever.

The movie is based on Stephen King’s book “Everything´s eventual”. The movie is as good as all his books.

Now, I actually work at a hotel, as room attendant. I check the rooms, both before and after the guest’s arrival and departure. I clean the rooms, replenish the toilet paper, puffs up the pillows and put chocolates on the pillows ;-)

After seeing the movie “1408” I started to think about one room we have at our hotel. Our room no. 19, no guest have stayed there for a long time. Hmmm.. wonder why? Now when I think about it... little scary to be in that room...

Nah, I won’t scare you up, or else you don’t dare to rent room with us! LOL

Recognise Sign Language

Recognise Sign Language in the world!

Here are some videos from the Deaf Awareness Day (29 Sept 2007) in the world:

Sweden:
- Deaf march and Sign Songs (video)

Copenhagen, Denmark:
- Rain doesn't stop us! (video)

Aarhus, Denmark:
- Recognise Sign Language! part 1 (video)
- Recognise Sign Language! part 2 (video)

California:
- Deaf Awareness Day (video)

China:
- International Deaf Day (video)

Gallaudet University, Washington:
- Celebrate Sign Language! (video)

Ontario, Canada:
- International Day of Sign Language Rights (video)

London?
I searched for some marches in London or anywhere in UK, but I couldn't find any. It seems that there were no BSL marches in UK on this day. (I read it from Grumpy's blog). I hope they can do something about it next year. Hope to see you next year!


Updated:

And this is from Mexico:
¡Día internacional de las personas sordas! (via Lenois Blog)

How did I learn BSL?

A couple of years ago, I travelled to Scotland and met some new deaf people there, and started to learn BSL from them. I learned that Scottish BSL and English BSL is different. So, when I left Scotland, that was no surprise when I started to learn more about BSL. I got some books and videos in BSL, and it was so fun learning a new Sign Language, and I'm still learning!

Later, I travelled to London, met some other deaf people, and learned London-BSL from them. Unfortunately, I've lost contact with my Scottish friend, but I'm trying to remember all my Scottish BSL. So, now I know about two BSL - Scottish and English BSL. I'm still learning BSL from the Internet, dvd's and books. Also from deaf UK-friends who visit me here in Sweden.

By the way, here are some great places for us BSL-learners:

Sign-on.eu

Signstation.org

The latest news in BSL

Eudeaf2003.org - maybe a little old, but BSL is there.

BSL in videojug - learn how to swear in BSL!


I would appreciate more tips on where you can learn BSL!

Confused about numbers in BSL

More about different BSL signs in North and South England. Also about numbers in BSL.
I'm confused about numbers in BSL... I have to learn more about it...

At the airport

At the airport, my friend is going home.

I'm talking about some BSL signs that are different in North and South of England/UK. Are there more different BSL signs in North and South of UK? Would be interesting to know! :-)

Visit to Denmark

I am travelling to Denmark with my friend. Nice places there in Denmark.

Chocolate

I compare prices for chocolate. Which is cheaper, chocolate in England or in Sweden?

A friend from England

A deaf friend from England is visiting me, and today we eat fish and chips in a Swedish pub. My friend told me, the food taste same as it does in England, so it was good food, he said.

New sofa

Now I have bought a sofa! A red sofa from Ikea.

I can't find my camera cord, probably it's in some of the moving boxes. So, still no pics in this blog yet.

Finished moving in

Now I'm finally finished moving, and I'm almost settled into my new flat. Now I'm packing up all my stuff from the boxes. I will show some pics from my flat soon, when I have sorted out cam , webcam and pc, downloaded etc.

Yesterday, I have been to the city centre and looked around , it looks nice. Easy to go by bus from my home to the centre. It's exciting to explore new surroundings, new buses and some new shops. Most shops are same as from my old town, H&M, Lindex, Ahlens, Duka, Konsum and many more. Feels good to recognise most stores and shops, you know chain of stores in every city here in Sweden. There is also Topshop here, an English shop. Nice clothes there but expensive...

Today my mum and her fiancé came here and helped me with lamps. I had no lamps, so they installed lamps in the kitchen and the hall. The living room is not finished yet. Also installing my vibrating doorbell, smoke alarm and pillow alarm clock. Everything works fine now.

Next week I will go to Ikea and buy a new sofa.

Cold

I think I have a cold. It's probably because of the sudden change of the weather. For one whole week, we had a very hot weather with strong sun, + 30 C degrees.

Yesterday, suddenly colder and heavy rain, + 15 C degrees. When I walked to the bus after my work, my shoes became wet. Not nice to walk with wet shoes.

It seems like I'm having a cold today, and I also feel a bit chill. Maybe fever too? Hmfpppfff..... :-(

My mobile

I think my mobile phone is getting old. Some buttons on my mobile don't work. The buttons A and E don't work. I tried to write an SMS and my text message looked like this:
"Hllo, I m hr in th . S you soon. y!"
It looks very funny. (Translation: Hello, I am here in the café, see you soon. Bye!")

Hmpfff... maybe it's time to buy a new mobile... this one is only 1 year old. I bought my mobile on May 26th 2006 and I am on 18 months contract. After 18 months I can upgrade my mobile to a new one for free. So I can't change to new mobile until November.
Maybe I can buy a cheap mobile on eBay, as substitute until I can change to a new better mobile? Hmmm...

Letter to the future

Recently, I read in the newspaper about people in a city in the USA. Before, in the year 1957, the city digged down a car. 50 years later, the city will take up this car again, i.e this year 2007. Interesting.

Now you can send an e-mail to yourself, to be delivered at a later date. You can receive that e-mail from yourself 1 year later, or 2 years later or 20 years later or so.

So, I have sent an e-mail to myself in the future. I wrote my e-mail on June 2nd 2007. I will receive this e-mail on June 2nd 2008, one year later. Where am I then? :-)

Try it yourself on Futureme.org!

Flowers

Beautiful flowers from the garden.
This pic is taken from my dad's kitchen table.

Learn Swedish Sign Language - Family

Family in Swedish Sign Language

Learn Swedish Sign Language - useful expressions

Useful expressions in Swedish Sign Language

Moving...

Yay! This summer I will move to a new apartment in a new town! Very exciting! I haven't been to the apartment and seen it myself, but my sister have been there, since she lives in that area.

She called me from her mobile phone and showed me on her 3G mobile, so I could see the apartment through the video in my mobile.

Then I e-mailed the new landlord and said yes to this apartment and signed the contract. (They sent it to me, and after signing it, I sent it back to them)
So, now I'm ready to move! I'm moving 722 miles, from North to South. That's far.

Now, some deep questions.
- How much is 50 sq ft?
- How to move with a computer?

I have contacted some movers and got their quotes, saying "Cost estimate for 50 sq ft". So, now I need to know how much is 50 sq ft? Is it 2x5 metres? Just guessing, I was never good at math in school... lol

And how do I move with a computer? I'm not allowed to send my computer with the mover. So I have to move it myself. Can my computer be checked in as baggage if I take the flight? Or is it better to send it as parcel with a delivery service?

Hmmm, lot of things to think about...

Cat + puppy

This Easter I have been babysitting my mum's cat Misse. I'm signing in Swedish Sign Language, translation into English: "I have been babysitting the cat during the Easter. Mum travelled to Norway, and I came here to babysit the cat."
The puppy in the end of the video, is my sister's puppy Morris. Cute!

My Easter diary:
April 5th:
Came to mum's house. I'm learning about the cat's needs, e.g when to feed her, when to let her out and when to let her in.

April 6th:
I'm reading books today. "The Lighthouse" by P D James and a book from a Swedish author "The Second Goal" by Jonas Karlsson. So far, the books are good.
The cat is fine and eats heartily.

April 7th:
Me and my sister went to a shopping centre. I bought a nice spring jacket and a cap.

April 8th:
My nieces are learning horse riding in a horse riding school. Today I was there and looked at them. They have learned a lot, and are good in riding horses.
It have been raining all day today. The cat refused to go out. She wanted to stay inside, instead of getting wet in the rain!

April 9th:
Today I baked a Lemon Cheesecake. I invited my sister and my nieces to taste it. They ate twice from the cake. It must mean the cake tasted good, or were they only polite? Hmmm...
The cat always go out through the front door. But suddenly she wanted to go out through the back door instead. Very strange. I'm confused.

April 10th:
My mum came home today. My mission is finished.
The cat followed mum like a shadow. I could see that the cat have missed her "mum" a lot. Cute!

Male interpreter

Right now, a new trainee is working as Sign Language interpreter this week and next week. Sometimes trainees come here and work as trainee interpreters. They are studying to become qualified interpreters.

But my deaf friends seems to think that this trainee is very special, they almost jump for joy and are very surprised. Why? Because this trainee is male.

Have they never seen a male interpreter? Sure, there are more female interpreters than male interpreters, but it's not that unusual with male interpreters.

I have lived here and there and moved around to different places, so for me, male interpreters are not unusual. Maybe my deaf friends in this town haven't seen any male interpreters? That's why they are so overjoyed with this male trainee? Hmmm... interesting...

Well, just my thoughts for today...