And now it's time again. In July 2011 we moved to the first rented house in this region, which then the owners decided to sell and subsequently we had to move, and since then we've moved both in March 2012 (to the rented house we stay in at the moment, which is for sale as well) and now, again, in mid February 2013 (to yet another rented house, which isn't for sale). This time we're supposed to stay approximately a year and a half, since the owners plan to move back then, but we believe this will suit us nicely.

We've had quite a few problems in the house we currently rent, and it will hopefully be a relief on so many levels to move to the next house, but before that there is a pretty tough transition period of constant packing, moving, and unpacking. We have begun to pack all our books, which is a huge job, and we'll continue with the rest of our stuff soon.

T. and I are hooked on The Sopranos at the moment. The box was one of his Christmas presents and now we're happily following la famiglia season by season. It's actually rather interesting how something so repulsive as the maffia can become so interesting and even entertaining in a dramatised form. The intelligent manner in which the series play with preconceived ideas and prejudices paired with very good acting makes it well worth watching again and again.

The holidays are over and my Christmas playlist has been put on hold until — at least — late November. I was up for something rather laid-back and this is the mix I came up with:

"Luna Nueva" (India Martinez)
"Á Primeira Vista" (Chico César)
"Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time)" (Etta James)
"Quédate" (Nuria Fergó)
"Ave Cruz" (Céu)
"Jardin D'hiver (Winter Garden)" (Emilia Mitiku)
"La Negra" (La Santa Cecilia)
"New Afro Spanish Generation" (Buika)
"La vénus du mélo" (Stacey Kent)
"Manhattan" (Ella Fitzgerald)
"Aganju" (Bebel Gilberto)
"Comadi" (Céu)
"Khedni Maak" (India Martinez)
"At Last" (Etta James)
"Tierra de Nadie" (Nuria Fergó)
"Malemolencia " (Céu)
"Esta Noche" (Federico Aubele)
"What A Difference A Day Makes" (Dinah Washington)
"Mal Por Mal" (Deolinda)
"Somos (Con la Colaboracion de Chucho Valdes)" (Buika)
"Cangote" (Céu)
"Your Heart Is As Black As Night" (Melody Gardot)
"Balance" (Sara Tavares)
"Se Va" (La Santa Cecilia)
"Take the "a" Train" (Duke Ellington)
"Un Beso Mas" (India Martínez)
"Lenda" (Céu)
"Sólo Tú" (Nuria Fergó)
"Feeling Good" (Nina Simone)
"Ces Petits Riens" (Stacey Kent)
"Maria" (Blick Bassy)
"Roda" (Céu)
"Lost Inside" (Emilia Mitiku)
"Dream A Little Dream Of Me" (Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong)

One of the books given to me by my father-in-law for Christmas was the luscious Design og magi written by Carolyn Quartermaine in the late 1990s. Her feminine and colourful designs might not be exactly to my tastes, but the manner in which she talks about colours, fabrics, textures and patters really appeal to me. She describes her creative process in a way that raises my awareness of the steps in my own creative process and it's a truly fascinating read.

Here we go again! I seem drawn to these colours as spring is approaching every year, although I seem to be a bit early this year. Perhaps that's because the "real winter" was, weather-wise, already in December and the view for the last few weeks have been green or beige fields. Previous evidence of my blue/beige spring mania can be found here (2012) and here (2011).

This year's examples are mainly provided by H&M's January sale: the blue patterned jeans for only 50 SEK, the beige jumper (which I can't find a link to anymore) for 150 SEK, the blue knitted sweater at a 100 SEK, and the pair of beige corduroy pants, also 100 SEK. In addition, I've added the shoes, model: Grace, from Vagabond which I found on sale at Brandos.

Yesterday, our youngest wanted to watch Inception again and we were more than happy to oblige. It might actually be the best movie I've ever seen and I think we've seen it four times by now. I love the way the different layers of dreams are woven together and the fast pace of it all. Christopher Nolan's script and direction is impeccable and the actors are all wonderful. Every time we watch it it feels as if the two and a half hour long movie only takes about 40 minutes and we're almost ready to watch it again right after it ends. We love the Lord of the Rings trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed The Hobbit, but Inception has nevertheless become a clear favourite.

T. had forgotten what I received for Christmas last year, and he subsequently bought another copy of a book his parents gave me last year. When we realised this we returned it and I found a "replacement gift," which happened to be Pia Jane Bijkerk's wonderful My Heart Wanders.

As a stylist and photographer, Bijkerk has become quite well-known in her native Australia as well as in Europe since moving here in 2006. In amazing pictures as well as texts, this book tells her story when deciding to move to Paris and, a bit later, to Amsterdam. We get glimpses of the apartment she decorates in Paris as well as the houseboat on one of the canals in Amsterdam, to which she and her boyfriend move. More of her work and her ideas can be found on her own blog and on Pinterest.

Just like Bijkerk, I have travelled quite a bit and, when I last counted, I have moved seventeen times. In February it will be my 18th move, as we move to yet another house — and we already know we will move again in another year and a half.

I recognize Bijkerk's struggle to find her bearings in a new culture and context. I recognize her joy when exploring a new place and when discovering her ability to read and discern the social cues — as well as her sadness when feeling completely out of place. The experiences are priceless and Bijkerk's book displays her amazing ability to show us this. A fine read and a beautiful book.

As I mentioned previously, I've been on the outlook for various green dessert bowls, since I like mixing and matching. They were especially nice as an accent on the Christmas table against a primarily red and white backdrop.

Today I managed to get hold of four more as I won an auction at Tradera. These four are very different from the ones we already have, but, because of their colour, I think they will work very well. I'm very much looking forward to recieving them. They will probably go straight into a box, however, since we've already begun to pack things for the move in mid February.