indescribable

The skydive was the most terrifying, exciting, amazing experience ever! It's just like nothing else in the world... It's beyond your imagination.

Before getting on the plane we spent about 8 hours waiting on the airfield, in a very sunny weather, so in the end we were quite exhausted emotionally and... tanned! :)
I decided to spend my last money on the account and order a video and pictures from my jump. And I don't regret it - it was spent in the best way!

The moment of hanging out of a plane was the most thrilling few seconds in my life - and right after that I was in the air, feet over head. It's barely describable. I felt like I am pushed into nothingness, there was nothing but air around me and I was freefalling...

The time when the parachute opened and I could actually stand straight, look at the amazing views with a big smile on my face and even steer the parachute, was the best reward for all the fear, hesitation and the courage to make this decision. I was staring at the beautiful world around me, being beyond the world at the same time... The landing was good too, I didn't hurt myself at all :)

We got our certificates and poured two bottles of champagne in the car park (no alcohol on the airfield!). What a day! Will this happen again ever? I think I would do this again if I could afford it. Maybe next year we could raise funds for charity again?

skydive soon!

The day after tomorrow.
Everything's ready.
We know what we need to take with us and what time we are leaving to the airfield.
I got my doctor's certificate saying that I can jump out of a plane...
No excuses now!

one advantage

...of living close to a seaside is the possibility (when the weather allows) of having warm dinner on the beach :)
So today after work we had barbecue in the sunshine and prepared some lovely home-made hot-dogs ;)

surprise!

My best high school friend and one the few friends I have joined me as an immigrant - she received an offer at work to relocate... which she eagerly accepted and I am not surprised! A. loves travelling and getting to know new places and new people, and this change is just another great opportunity for her, not mentioning all the other benefits.
I am very happy for her, also because there is something in it for me - now we can see each other more often than when I come to visit my family... Since she is moving houses we were supposed to meet next weekend maybe... But in the end we spend a day together today! Having a lovely time, walking up and down the cliffs...
I'm looking forward to more meetings like this, spending time at the seaside at mine, or hanging around in the capital where she lives and works now.

The lovely pictures were taken by my friend A.
You can see more of her great works HERE.

memories

And today I woke up again in the country of wet pavements, cold winds and grey heavy clouds covering sad sky... and I had to go to work!
The summer holidays are gone for me... And it seems like the summer in general as well, for me and for everyone around...
Oh well, now I have lots of lovely memories left and lots of pictures as well.

Just a few slides from the last days of my summertime.

:)

Melancholia and lots of treats

Last Monday was a lovely day... and it began terribly, with a thunderstorm!
But in the end the afternoon was lovingly sunny... I walked with my Mum through the narrow streets of the Old Town, jumping around puddles. We had delicious coffee in our favourite cafe and went to see "Melancholia" in our favourite old cinema.

A few words about the movie... which became famous in an unfortunate way, because of the controversial behaviour of its creator during Cannes festival! Well, that I think is... Firstly, if my Mum, who has a great (and demanding!) taste in movies, said it was really good, then it means it was good indeed. Secondly, I don't need anyone to tell me if it was good or not, I know it! I have seen a masterpiece expressing human emotions, suffering, the inner battle with the demons of the mind and spirit. Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg are amazing, I think the award in Cannes should be given to both of them.
I don't want to write too much about the story itself, it is so worth seeing that I won't spoil this experience. I can only add, as a hint for those who are not sure if they want to see Lars von Trier's last picture, that there are a lot symbols and symbolic scenes, the music keeps the tension growing, and the camera is, as usual, used without the stand, which makes the pictures shaky, wobbly and blurred sometimes (as in all Dogma movies), and which to me makes the presented story even closer and more realistic... although it is so metaphorical at the same time!

Trailer?


And that was not all for the day!
In the evening, when the sun was still shining, we continued our walk together with my Dad and discussed the movie, ending up in the same favourite cafe to pamper ourselves with mouthwatering desserts and delicious tea...

catching the sun

Which means: waking up early, getting a boat to the peninsula and riding by bikes all around this beautiful place...
There were short blueberry breaks, fast rides through sunny forests, ice cream on a small pier, sunbathing on the most quiet, clean and loveliest beach I have seen for a long time. And then biking back to the harbour...

biking again!

It's been a long time since I was on a bike (can't do biking too much where I work and live now:( ) but I still now how to do it! Lucky me:)
Yesterday we all went on a whole-day bike trip and it was fantastic! Well, my butt hurts today (a little), but that was totally expected after over 45km ride...
I hope the weather allows us to have at least two more days like that...

Pics coming soon...

holidays!

Oh how I needed this time...
It may be cloudy some days, sometimes it can be too hot. But finally I can stop for a while and think about myself, my life, my future. How Ii want to shape it? What I want to do? What are the smallest, easiest steps to start with?
And this time of relaxation and reflection comes together with fun, the company of closest, dearest people in my life, the feeling of comfort.

inspiration

Seems like it's weekend because I'm here again... Looks like Monday-to-Friday job plus some exciting extras in the evenings like gym, hot yoga, housework and cinema stop me effectively from reaching my blog during the week. I kinda feel bad about this... I don't want to be a "weekend blogger". It sounds like a "weekend driver", which in my country means someone who is a very inexperienced, and therefore lame... driver.

Anyway, until I find a way to write here more often, here's the once-a-week post.

I can't believe it's been just/already a week since I saw Stevie live in Hyde Park. I know, I sound like a nutter, but this experience was a huge emotional knockout for me, and I will be, wanting this or not, under the influence of the last Sunday's concert for a long time...

I adore people who can be inspirational and graceful, and they are so by being basically themselves and by doing the things they love and they do very well... I think this requires a lot of courage, determination, but also some kind of gift from God. A bit of talent and confidence to follow it... Just like Stevie Nicks. Or Tom Hanks.

Today I saw "Larry Crowne", co-written, directed and starred by Tom Hanks. His partner in the movie is charming as always Julia Roberts. Now that's what I call a good movie. A love story that is not an extraordinary or "different than any other", but then it is neither one of those rom coms, where "two random people" (who always happen to be young, beautiful, smart and rich) meet, fall in love, then after some turbulence they unite for the happy-ever-after-end.
"Larry Crowne" is a sweet, classy story, which could happen everywhere, with Roberts and Hanks leading the plot smoothly and lovely, creating real-life characters with their good and bad moments, disappointments, frustrations, fears and longings. Yet still it brings a lot of optimism. It reminded me of "good old" movies from the 90s (when I was young haha).
Very heart-warming and... if anyone ever had a crush on a college or uni teacher, then this picture will definitely bring also some memories back ;)