25 weird, random, not so good and generally fun facts about me...

Oh, well would you look who I stumbled across! Hello there ladies and gents! 

It's only me. No need to panic…yet. 

Here I am once again with a new post for you all on this Monday evening…oh, and FYI, if you live in Stockholm, evening means 2.30pm throughout the winter period! Don't you just love it!?…NO. I'm yet to reach a conclusion on how i'm going to deal with the winter season in this country. It's going to be tough! I'm thinking lots of cosy fika's is a possible coping mechanism? Jättebra! 

So yeah, it's been nearly 10 days since my last message on here and well, it feels like tonight is a good time for a lovely, fresh update for y'all! If you ask me, this post really needs no introduction, lets be honest. Or does it? I dunno. Maybe I should just get down to it though. 

Well, here we go guys, 25 facts about me…because lets face it, who doesn't want to know this? 

1.) I am obsessed with scarfs: 

No but like, for real, I AM OBSESSED. Anyone that knows me well will tell you this off the cuff!  If It was up to me combined with being socially acceptable, I would wear a scarf every single day of the year! I'm that guy that whips out a good old chunky scarf in the middle of July as soon as a grey cloud appears overhead, regardless of the temperature.  No shame. I rock a good scarf. It's the perfect item to add that finishing touch to an outfit that lacks a little 'something'. I have more scarfs than I know what to do with and well, needless to say, the collection continues to grow…watch this space.

2.) I could live on Nutella:

I don't even want to know how much money I spend on this product every year. I have Nutella with every possible food - toast, bananas, pancakes, dry special K (it's good!) and not to mention consume vast amounts with no, not a tea spoon, but a table spoon. Somebody call the Nutella doctor! 

3.) I'm an Apple 'wanker':

Not the fruit, the product. I am a self-confessed, shameless apple 'wanker' as we would say in the UK! I refuse to use or invest in any other type of technology. I have an iPhone, a macbook pro, an iPod touch and old iPod classic that I still use as well as an Apple wifi router, Apple speakers and come December - when Santa Claus is done with his job for the year, I will have an iPad. Unnecessary? Absolutely. Fabulous? Naturally. I love Apple. 

4.) I have OCD:

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) is a very over-used term in the UK - but i'm convinced i've got this problem. Everything in my life has to be permanently clean, in place, pulled together and just right. Ask my nearest and dearest, they'll be able to tell you a thing or two…

5.) I'm a one-song-on-repeat type of guy:

Yeah, I have the corniest, most embarrassing taste in music and out of the abundance of music that actually exists across my iTunes and iPods - I listen to what? 1% of it?…awkward! I have literally had days (okay a week) where i've listened to the same song over, over and over again. I can't help it okay?

6.) I speak French:

So emm, yeah...good times for me I guess! Not much to say for this one really! VIVE LA FRANCE! 

7.) I HATE fish: 

This is actually something that I really wish I didn't hate so much. There are so many beautiful looking dishes and cuisines that include fish out there, but I just can't get over this 'thing' I have against it. It's the texture. It freaks me out. Oh god, and the smell. 

8.) I point-blank refuse to drink beer: 

Unless i'm completely wasted (like, to the extent i'll drink anything) I stand by this one! I detest anything and everything about beer. It's a truly vile drink that, in my opinion, men only drink to appear super-masculine and too cool for school. No one genuinely likes beer. I'm sorry, but they don't. 

9.) I love quotes: 

This has probably become most obvious - seeing as i've included a good few in posts on here already! I just love quotes, I don't even really know why - but when you stumble across one that sums up your day, week or how you're feeling at a particular moment etc it really is just such a great feeling! (Well, for me anyway). The majority of photos on my iPhone's camera roll consist of screen-shotted quotes. What is my life coming to? Hashtag midlife crisis comes early.

10.) I'm an extremely emotional being:

Yep. I cry far too much. I cry at films, thinking about the past, out of frustration or at photos of homeless dogs at Christmas. It's getting out of control. 

11.) I have a muddled accent: 

I'm often told this and it's something that i've not became as aware of until now. I have English, Scottish and Australian roots as well having spent a considerable amount of time abroad mixing with such a diverse range of accents, languages, cultures and dialects. I dunno what my accent is doing these days to be honest, at least people understand me though, right?

12.) I'm more 'savoury than sweet': 

I've always been like this - ask my bestie. I would always, always, ALWAYS rather have cheese and crackers, a danish or a packet of crisps (chips for all you Americans!) than a bar of chocolate. 

13.) I'm a terrible procrastinator:

I've always been the same, but yet always seem to do okay - thank god! It really is incredible how clean a room can be and how amazingly organised the 'folders' on your iPhone home screen can be throughout those exam revision/essay writing periods…

14.) I prefer Christmas to my birthday: 

Yeah, pretty much. As much as I love my 'special day' that comes around once a year, I just LOVE Christmas. The snow, the decorations, the music, the mulled wine, the scented candles, the mince pies. Oh my god the mince pies….

15.) I'm negatively-obsessed with my weight: 

This is something I really need to stop obsessing over as much. I mean, I know i'm not fat but at the same time, I'm not completely happy with my size/figure. But who is? I'm sure 99.99999% of you out there can relate to this one in some way! Weight is a horrendous insecurity. I look at how 'fat' my legs/body look in any possible reflection, as well as analyse the extent to which my collar bones are 'visible' way too much - in a mirror, a car window, the dark-reflective walls in the subway and god knows what else. It's terrible and I need to stop. 

16.) I wear glasses:

Yeah, so i'm blind! No, not really. I wear contact lenses the vast majority of the time and so many people find it a surprise when they see me wearing my glasses. They do, however, make me look incredibly intelligent. It's always useful.

17.) I'm a hopeless romantic: 

I'm the guy that's endlessly searching for that one person I want to spend the rest of my life with. All those 'perfect' moments you see in films - where people realise their un-dying for each other and share a passionate kiss under the Eiffel Tower in the rain…yeah that's my vision of love. Probably needs to change. Lets hope my man is out there somewhere though, right?

18.) I'm a traveller at heart:

I have been 'bitten' with the travel bug from a very young age - thanks to my extremely fortunate upbringing and having been able to visit a number of amazing places! However, this 'bite' means that i'll never quite be happy till i've seen all that there is to see. There is always something else out there that I desperately want to see, do or experience. The world is a big place and we were made, in my opinion, to explore it. 

19.) I love ceilidhs far too much:

This is one thing that makes me very proud to have Scottish roots. Ceilidhs are just phenomenal! They bring people together in a very, very special way through fun, laughter, dance and tradition. I know every dance and am THAT person that never leaves the dance floor the entire night. Standard. 

20.) I pretend i'm in a movie way too much. 

Now lets be real, we all do this at some point in our lives! (If you don't, can I please be as cool as you?) But I, however, do this far too much. There have even been moments where I pretend i'm in a film when showering…you know, one of those 'getting ready' scenes with music playing in the background and you're just loving life? Yeah…this needs to stop. It's not really okay is it? Who am I trying to kid…

21.) I use both roll-on and spray deodorants…together, everyday, all the time:

It makes you feel so much fresher okay?! Just do it…trust me! 

22.) I HATE watermelon:

Now i'm not actually a picky eater at all, I promise! However, I can imagine what you're all thinking with regards to this one - how can anyone hate watermelon? It doesn't taste of anything bla bla bla..well it does!! And I don't like it. The end.

23.) I have a 'passion for fashion': 

I really do, I walk past people in the street and can look like a serious stalker due to the amount of time I can spend analysing something on their body…but hey, it's a compliment! Who doesn't love a compliment? 

24.) I LOVE coffee: 

I do think this love is party due to university life - the so-called 'god' it proves itself to be when the endless all-nighters come around to get that essay in on time. I'm sure many of you know the drill! But I do love coffee, like I genuinely love it. The taste, the smell and all those different flavours! I have around 4-5 cups a day usually - and on a bad day, a hell of a lot more! 

25.) I'm gay: 

In case you all didn't know…now it may be quite a shock and stuff guys, but hopefully you're all okay with it…LOL! I couldn't resist that one! Going out with a bang. 

So there you have it guys, 25 fun, weird, interesting, negative and general facts about me

What are 25 facts about you? 

Speak soon, watch out for that ice and wrap up warm, winter is definitely here! 

L xo 

#yolo?

Bonsoir mes chéris, ça va?

I hope you're all well and have had nothing less than a luscious seven days since we've last spoken. 

As I sit here in my room with candles lit - accompanied by the smell of vanilla and 'fresh breeze' wafting around like there's no tomorrow, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming urge to write something to you all on this cold, and, in Stockholm's case, wet Saturday evening. However before this spiffing blog entry takes place, I had to slip into something a tad more comfortable in order to get those creative juices really flowing...don't get to excited now guys! 

That is what they say, right? Get the creative juices flowing?…I think so, well, that's what i'm saying anyway. 

So yeah, here I am, tucked away on a Saturday night sporting Jack Wills long johns tucked into woolen socks, an oversized sweater complete with massive scarf as well as my glasses on and hair that looks like a mop, oh, and not to mention a cup of herbal tea in my hand that apparently 'boosts and supports healthy liver and kidney function', i'll take some of that! Can't hurt, right? So emm, living the dream this Saturday is putting it lightly for me! Why am I so fabulous and insanely glamorous all the time? Go figure.

...

The last week has been a cray cray one for sure and one that is, in my opinion, good enough to write about. You know that feeling in the back of your mind that says you shouldn't really be doing something, but you know you're gonna do it anyway? Well, i've experienced a LOT of that mentality this week. 

Its come to my conclusion that all of us, yes you, stress far too much. We stress about money, we stress about deadlines, we stress about life and in general, do this all too often. Now, of course, stress is a very good thing and we should all feel it at some point in our lives - to motivate us, to make us want to continue and, probably most importantly, exhibit this built-up energy in a positive, beneficial way. This is what we're told, this is what we're made to 'think' we should do. But what if it's not that simple? Or even more, what if it's actually even MORE simple than this? Like, so simple. Really simple.

Over the past week i've used the phrase yolo countless times, in a sort of half-joking, half-being serious sort of way - i'm sure you all can relate!  We all know the phrase, we all use the phrase and, lets face it, we all love it! Lets just get it out there. We love to hate the phrase that is yolo. 

When I stop and think about it, this is how it is, you ready? There is always going to be something to pay for, something to do, something to worry about, something to replace that's gonna cost you 'more money that what you wanted to spend this month'  and something due for submission. It seems to me that us 21-century livers, get all too tangled up among the stresses, pressures and worries of our everyday lives and don't leave nearly enough time to let our hair down and, well, go bloody crazy! I mean, what's so wrong with just going out and having a damn good time just because you can? What ever happened to YOLO?! Come on people, we've got one life to live so lets do just that. Live it. Own it. It's OKAY to spend money on something other than food, university books and essential living items that you're not going to actually 'see' sitting on your bookshelf or in your kitchen cupboard. Drinks are always expensive, entry fees to clubs are indeed a pain, yes it is annoying that you also have to pay to put your coat in the cloakroom and yes, the cost of living is so expensive and no, it's not going to change but you know what? 'Surround yourself with positive people and just absorb that shit' - oh, and for the record, that anonymous quote also gives you a very good indication of what it means to be British, by the way. Loves it! 

Since last weekend, i've been to far too many parties, clubs and those good-old coffee houses for the classic time that is a Fika. I have spent over 3,000 sek - or 300GBP and of course i'm worried about money, of course i'm thinking to myself 'oh god…' but do I regret it? Absolutely not. I had and am still having, a fabulous time and would not change one moment of it. No regrets, bring it. 

I think it's very easy to forget that we deserve a good time alongside our stress and testings of life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going out and forgetting about what you have to do for a night or two…or in my case, a week. Lol, i'm so cray. I think i've realised that somehow, someway, god knows how, the uni work always gets done, those looming exams come and go before we know it and we actually end up knowing more than what we thought at the time. Things always turn out okay. We need to stop letting the insignificant worries in our lives seem like mountains simply too high to get over. Lets get it into perspective here, you didn't do your assigned reading this week for comparative politics…oh my god, wait a minute till I call the reading police! Big deal. Were you going to enjoy your reading anyway? Was it even going to be a beneficial experience, or more just a flick through the chapter, trying to convince yourself that you're being productive. Lets get real darlings. 

It's only money people, like everything else, it doesn't last forever so we may as well have a good old time with it while it's still around, right? And as for those little stresses? Ditch them! What are you gonna enjoy more - sitting in reading on a Friday night or going out and having an insane time at a club with your friends. If that reading really is necessary, the book will always be there when you get back. Hey, who knows, drunk reading might prove to be more productive. 

At the end of the day guys, it's the things we do and the memories we create in this lifetime that are going to last forever, as well as help to see us through the bumps along the road. Make the most of everything that comes in front of your path and look on things as opportunities for a good time rather than hindrances with 'costly' outcomes. Be spontaneous, be thrilling, be adventurous and well, yeah, that's it I guess. Just have a bloody good time! 

Oh, and did I mention that you only live once?

#YOLO 

Until next time. 

L xo 

five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes…

Y'alright there governor! What's crackin'?

Looks like i've stumbled across you guys yet again…what a fortunate situation! Here I am, back with a splendid new blog post for you all on this fine Saturday evening.

First of all, I hope you're all liking the new look for 'Ching ching, darlings!' ? - i'm still not completely sure if i'm honest. I wanted something more bright, uplifting and fresh to meet the eye on arrival to my blog page, so naturally, the current design seemed like a good idea at the time! The design may change again, actually, scrap that, the design will most definitely change again due to me and my OCD. Watch this space. 

I hope you've all had a productive, enjoyable and above all, fabulous week. As we move into the middle of November (I know what you're thinking - where is the time going and to be frank, I don't bloody know), we see Christmas decorations going up around us as well as everyone starting to feel that pre-festive season buzz that's in the air! After an all-too drunk night out on Thursday as well as a late-night yesterday evening for me, it's safe to say tonight will be spent in my armchair with a blanket around me and a good old cup of tea! I am exhausted…not to mention the weather here in Stockholm this Saturday is truly vile - rain, rain and more rain. Hashtag not impressed.

So over this week i've been feeling a very mixed set of emotions - most of which have involved the classic homesickness bug that never fails to kick you in the stomach every now and again! Totally normal, but can be excruciatingly mind numbing and in general, just not pleasant. I'm sure each and every one of you can relate. Now when I say I'm feeling homesick this does not mean that i'm not having the most incredible time here in Sweden, because I truly am and would honestly not change anything about where I am just now for the world. However, it seems that the more I Skype my loved ones back home, see my dogs held up in front of the camera, think about times gone by with the bestie or hear a song that reminds me of back home, I can't help but just feel so darn excited to return to the promise land in December! The flag at the top of this post, i'm sure will give a good indication of where it is i'm actually from. You guessed right kiddywinkles! Great Britain. The land of tea, bangers and mash, tweed blazers, barbour jackets, hunter wellies, bagpipes, tea and crumpets as well as a good old scone with butter and jam! Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. 

I'm so proud to be British, yes you heard me, BRITISH. Not Scottish, not English, not Welsh, not Northern Irish, British. I love the monarchy, I love the people that make Britain what it is, I love the talent we produce and the tourist population we attract,  I love our education system and the international outlook we're encouraged from a young age to adopt, I love the scenery, I love the student-life and god, so much more. This proudness I feel towards my home country is something that unfortunately, has taken me all too long to realise and truly appreciate, however, it's safe to say that i've made up for 'lost time' - if I can call it that. When I was in my early teenage years - you know, the times where the world hates you and you hate the world, the UK couldn't have seemed like a worse place to be. I hated everything about it - the people, the weather, school, everything. All I wanted to do was live in California and live the life you would see in High School Musical - where breaking out in spontaneous dancing and song was completely acceptable in the middle of the cafeteria…yeah because that's real! So yeah, safe to say I had an overactive imagination as a younger boy, and one in which couldn't see me getting out of the the UK quick enough! I know, right? Such a diva. 

Now another thing many of you may be wondering is why did I decide to name this title what I did? Well, as I sat today in my tired and generally hungover state catching up with sleep and most importantly, Glee (don't judge!) - I witnessed the song 'Seasons of Love' from the broadway musical, rent being covered by the cast during the memorial episode to Cory Monteith (cried the whole way through FYI, I can't even talk about it..) and in this song the opening line is 'five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.' It hit me like a bullet, this is exactly how I'm feeling about the UK at this moment in my life. It feels like i'm literally counting down the weeks, days, hours and minutes until I go home for the holidays. It therefore seemed like the naturally perfect title for this post to you all this evening, makes sense doesn't it?
By the way, I should probably say at this point that I don't really know where i'm going with this entry, hopefully somewhere good and it's one that y'all will enjoy reading! But for now i've got no clue as to what i'm really gonna say…so lets just sit back, enjoy the ride and see what happens, right? Sound good? Perfect! If you guys are happy, that makes two of us.

As I was saying, I bloody miss the UK. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss the countryside, I miss the scenery, I miss the nightlife, I miss the atmosphere, I miss the culture and oh my god do I miss my dogs! I think there's something so irreplaceably brilliant about belonging in an environment and just feeling comfortable without actually realising this is happening - this is how I feel when i'm home in the UK. It's a place where you know, just, well, the little 'things'  - how to dress for a night out, where the local store is, where's a good place to eat and grab coffee etc. You get my drift, right? Those 'insignificant' things I keep bringing up but are actually so important? Yeah, those.

Words cannot express my excitement to return home for the holiday season. I've got 21 days of incredible times ahead of me with the ones I love most. Christmas parties, ceilidhs, dinners, nights out, catch-ups, coffee dates, long walks along the beach with the dogs and my mother clinging onto my arm, cups of tea and pointless chat with my grandma, waking up with my babies (dogs, I do not own any children) under my arm in bed - moments in life that are just too special to put a price on. My levels of excitement make the trip unable to come quick enough. I know they always say 'oh yeah, don't wish your life away', but I would, without even thinking twice, wish away the rest of this month and into the next for December 17th to arrive. 

I don't really know if there has been much of point to this post tonight, however, I just wanted to put some words onto paper about how much I really do love and miss everyone and everything about UK life. It's a love that has taken me a while to realise, but nonetheless, a love that will last forever. The cities, the countryside, the liberal outlook on life, the universities, the opportunities, the style, the culture, the monarchy, the accents, the dialects, the diversity. Everything. I love you Great Britain. I've never been more proud to call myself British or to call you my home country as I am now. I hope you miss me as much as I miss you. You have provided me, and will continue to provide me with, some of the best moments and memories in my lifetime.

Friends and family - you know who you are, I love and miss you all. SO MUCH.

I'll be back soon - batten down those hatches! (Oh, and get the champagne cooling in ice as well please, thanks!)

Speak soon guys - oh, and, wherever you're from, appreciate it while you still have the chance.

Much love.

L xo