Day 27

Woke up feeling crap this morning – cold got worse overnight.  Good news is the back is feeling much better.  There’s still a twinge every now and then, but not the ache that I had yesterday, and I have to bend further for the pain to kick in.  All in all I think the worst of the back pain is behind me.

It was raining when I looked out the window – first time since I arrived.  I guess that means the weather’s getting a little warmer.  Put on my snow jacket (since it’s the most waterproof one I have) and headed off to work. 

Jen’s has taken pity on me and lent me a pair of his winter boots, so now I don’t have to walk around in the mushy melting snow getting my Nikes all dirty.  The first day I wore them I felt like a little kid does when jumping in puddles in gumboots – I purposely walked through the snow just because I could.  It was good not having to watch where I was putting my feet as I walked.

I actually did some pretty satisfying work yesterday.  Nothing worth going into details about here, but I got some good feedback on it today.  I’m starting to feel part of the team and know that I’m contributing – some things I actually have more knowledge about than the others, so my skills are put to good use (not just shifting work to me that someone else could do).

Meatballs and boiled potatoes for lunch again today.  To be honest, I’m kind of getting sick of them.  The other guys think it’s a bit of a joke that the canteen finds so many different names for what essentially turns out to be meatballs and potatoes.  The reason they get them is that a lot of the time it’s the best pick of a dodgy bunch.  I guess they have a point.

I’ve been invited to a dinner next Thursday with Heidi (my landlord) and another couple that’s staying in the house.  Apparently the girl lived in Australia for 2 years so she’s convinced we’ll have lots to talk about.  I’m never one to pass up a home-cooked dinner (that I haven’t had to cook), so it should be fun.

I’ve found the best ice cream too – it’s only like 11 Swedish krona (about $1.60) and comes in a cardboard box.  The box is exactly the same size as the plastic ‘tupperware’ containers I bought so I transfer it when I get home.  A box lasts about a week.  So far I’ve had the vanilla with chocolate flakes through it and the vanilla and strawberry – which tastes exactly the same as vanilla ice cream and Cottee’s strawberry topping.  In fact, I think I might have some now.