PUSH IT HARD FOR THE SUMMER

Howdy partner! Long time no see.

It feels great being back in Norway again for the summer, weird, but great. It's almost like you live two separate lives, like it's two co-existing worlds. When I go back I go into my old routine, full time work and hangout with friends. It's like flipping a switch.

One thing I noticed when I talked to an American mate of mine over the weekend is that it almost felt alien speaking English. I could already feel the Welsh/British "twang" slipping away... O__o That's something I'm not going to let happen! After heavy thinking I came to a conclusion; download "Gavin and Stacey". A BBC comedy show.

Anyhoodle, what's my plan for the summer? Well on Wednesday I start working for Oslo Pride making all the of their films, which is going to be great. Besides that, I'll be working full time in the grocery store, starting my dissertation and working out.

My workout plan for the next 12 weeks are now sorted. I'm using Skimble workout app to manage my workout program. It's available to both iPhone and Andorid devices. Both programs are created by me, with some inspiration from fitness guides online.

The first program is mainly dumbbells. You can download/view it here

- 20 min stationary biking
- dumbbell squats
- left leg dumbbell lunges
- right leg dumbbell lunges
- dumbbell chest press
- Dumbbell bent over rows
- Tricep kickback
- Tricep extensions
- right concentrated bicep curls
- left concentrated bicep curls
- dumbbell lateral shoulder raises
- overhead press
- 30 sec plank
- crunches
- left oblique crunches
- right oblique crunches
- leg lifts
- 30 sec plank
- stretching

Then the second program is a cardio interval program. You can download/view it here

The first program will be repeated three times a week and the second program one time a week. I don't increase the reps and the amount of sets stay the same for the six first weeks. from week 7 to 12, there will be an increase in the sets. Each week I need to adjust the weight so that I'm working so hard that I won't be able to do the 11th tricep kickback for example, thus gaining muscle strength. Depending on how the first week goes, I might tweak it a bit.

My goal is getting more toned muscles and a six-pack. I don't won't to become much bigger, or smaller for that matter, just gain muscle. Personally I wouldn't like looking like Arnold, too big for me. My goal is more Zac Efron kind, toned and six-pack, but not massive.

Why am I so determined on this? Well because when I look at my self I see too little muscle and too much fat. No, I don't want to loose weight. No, I'm going to stop eating, quite the opposite, I need to increase my food amount. No, I don't care much about the scale. It just bothers me that when I look at myself in the mirror I see fat. Not size wise, just lack-of-muscle-kinda-fat. ... If any of that made any sense.... And no I'm uncomfortable in my own body. And not THAT unhappy about either, just need to build some muscle. 

Call it whatever you want, vanity, pier pressure, low confidence blah blah blah... I don't care. All I know is that I need to do this for me and that right now this my number one priority. Do I think this will bring me happiness in life? Hell yes! And is that because of some conspiracy theory that Hollywood dictates how humans should look... well I don't know, probably influenced by that.

But mostly it's because I need to do this for myself.

Today's song: Jessie J - Who's laughing now

ANOTHER YEAR

Another year in university has come to an end. Scary isn't it? How quickly time flies. The big and scary world is coming ever so closer. Next year I'll be a graduate... now that's a scary thought. What will I do? What will become of me?

In the last year I've gotten the taste for production and the organising behind film/TV productions. I enjoy the pressure, the need to plan. Marketing, publicity, organising, logistics and administration are all key elements I've come to enjoy in the last few years, even outside media. When I sat down thinking what field I wanted to study, marketing or logistics were actually fields I was considering. Since I was 16 I've worked in a grocery store chain in Norway. From there I've learned a lot. I like my job, I do. A few times or lets be fair, several times, through the years, I've faceplanted and made mistakes. Messed up and pissed off a fair share of people. But after a while I started to learn from my mistakes and I improved. I might not always admit to it, but I can be stubborn as hell, seem rude and a know-it-all (even though I don't really intend to). Through my jobs I've learned a great deal and I'm greatfull to all the different people I've been able to follow and learn from!

Anyhoodle, I'm derailing here. My point is; next year I'm graduating and life is really starting. What are my thoughts of my future? I've set a goal and that is to try to get a job in BBC Cardiff, where most of BBCs drama productions are based. If I end up there, time will show. People ask me if I want to return to Norway... Not yet. I don't feel ready. My aunt said some wise words to me a little while back; why should you return? You're young. Stay abroad and enjoy! She herself have lived several years abroad in different countries. I'm planning on going through the BBC Welsh language site this summer, in an attempt to pick up Welsh or at least set the foundation for it. Reason for that is that is if you know Welsh you're more likely to get a jobb in BBC Wales. At least that's what I've heard.


Over the weekend I'm planning to apply for work experience at the BBC for September. I'll take anything. I'll work for free if I can. Even making coffee and tea will allow you to pick up things in the industry. And one day, your responsibility will expand and that will develop into more. Here my stubbornness is a good thing. Keep pushing. Keep fighting. And one day you'll take down that wall. My mum taught me that.

Not the nicest picture of me... but hell. It was raining and had been working for hours. The lovely girls are two of my AMAZING colleagues, which never fails to put a smile on my face.

This year has been a roller-coaster, mostly fun moments. Uni work took me to my very limits, alongside my other classmates. I swear the International Space Station could hear the 2nd BA (hons) Video class let out a sigh when the final assignment, dissertation proposal, was handed in. Outside uni it's been a amazing year with Student Swansea Events, filming and interviewing many of Swansea's lovely students. After a couple of months I considered quitting my job. Because some problems and because of the stress. But then my stubbornness kicked in and now I don't regret it a bit. It's been amazing, learned so much. And I've gotten to meet some celebrities to, like Tim Minchin.

I've made some more amazing new friends, become closer with the ones I already had and broken a few connections. Learned a lot from that to. Sometimes you realise that not everything isn't meant to last or to have a future. Is it one thing this year has taught me, is that you shouldn't give up, but it's okay to say "You know what? No. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to have a rest day" I sometimes try to be like Jim Carrey in Yes Man and say yes to it all, but I've learned you can't always do that and that it's no shame in that.

What am I doing this summer? I'll be working in the grocery store and working on a couple of event/TV productions. Then hopefully I'll be able to do some freelance journalism for the local paper. Besides that, it's all about family, friends, fitness and dissertation research.

With this I say goodbye to Swansea, Wales and the United Kingdom for the summer and hello to Norway. And I hope all of you guys have a lush and amazing summer!

And true to my tradition, today's song is of course Breakaway.

Today's song: Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

PRINCE OF WALES GARDEN: DAY 3

I've now gone as far in as planned. 

Mainly what I've done today is cutting down trees and bushes.

The garden waste pile has now grown to way bigger than me.

I've cleared all the grass and stuff from underneath one of the trees.

I only had like 3-4 hours available today to work, but still got a fair share done. Early in the morning I phoned up the Council to let them know what kind of waste that needed collection. If they think they can forget me, they'll have to think twice, haha. That said, they've really been great so far. After 20 minutes (!), one of the Environment Department managers, Neil, and another employee, Paul, was at my door. I was quite shocked at that, didn't expect them to come that quick. They took a look around and I explained what I was doing and why and they really liked it. Neil took some pictures of the broken/stolen fence and said that they will come and set up a new one. And Paul is coming back next week some time to collect all the rubbish.

I'm really enjoying this, good workout and much fun! Even though my arms and legs are filled with small scratches from the bushes and branches, but details details.

My plan is to host a BBQ or something similar when it's all done. Hopefully I can manage to get the Evening Post (South Wales biggest newspaper) to cover it. Was a couple of people that stopped and waved today, so hopefully people will notice the progress.

Again, if anyone in Swansea is full of energy and wants to do some good, you're more than welcome to come down!

Today's song: Calvin Harris - Feel so close

PRINCE OF WALES GARDEN: DAY 2

YESTERDAY

What I've done today

Mainly focused on part A today, same tomorrow. Because that is the area that needs the most work really.

Managed to cut, saw, pull and rake up a nice big pile today. It's about my height!

One pile of today's junk...

I've managed to remove all the torn bushes from the front side of the tree. My legs are now full of small cuts, but it's worth it.

That massive bush is now gone.

Another pile of rubbish.

And I've taken great care in preserving the Blue Bells. My house mate told me to be careful, because cutting down Blue Bells is illegal in the UK, which I didn't know. 

So what did I find today?
A left children's shoe, a right ladies shoe, about 30 bottles/cans, bags, a large carpet and enough black tiles to redecorate two bathrooms (if the hadn't been broken). Plus some other stuff. It's really disgusting what people throw away!

I also went to see the Council today about my project. They agreed to come and pick up all the rubbish. And I also said that if did a good job, could I have a nice bin placed in the "garden"? And she said bring them in and we'll see what we can do. I assume much of the cans come from a VERY VERY small selection of football supporters. (The reason why I ASSUME it's supporters is because everytime there was a match on, we'd always find new cans, haha ). Our road is one of the routes people that come from town and the train use to get to the stadium.

Believe me, I will hold the Council to their words. If they try to take me on, they're going to get a hell of a fight! I'm like my mum in that way, WE LOVE to fight with the government for what's right. Who knows how many time my mother was in the newspaper for something, normally related to my sisters kindergarten and later school.

Tomorrow more work will follow, so stay tuned.

Today's song: The Script - The man who can't be moved